Chapter 14: Consequences

“My study. At once!”

That’s all the greeting we get when Mama comes down to the kitchen. Annie had advised us to wait there after we walked in on her washing the breakfast dishes. She had bravely offered to break the news of our return to Mama.

Annie gives us cloaks to put over the dresses we acquired at Madame Baxter’s establishment. Mama marches us to her study. Eloise and I stand on the white line in front of her desk as Mama walks towards her rack of canes.

“Explain to me why the pair of you go missing all night and then turn up here dressed like a pair of dockside whores. And I want the full story, with nothing left out.”

She looks sternly at Eloise who promptly bursts into tears. I reach to comfort Eloise but one look from Mama and I freeze. Mama simply waits while Eloise composes herself. Eloise then starts to tell her story. Of how her uncle and family had been kidnapped by pirates, and she and her parents were forced to aide Colonel Vichy in his skulduggery. Of her task to report to Yvette on Rebecca’s movements. She tells how last night’s dinner party was part of the plot. How I had been taken instead of Rebecca, and of her own kidnapping. She says she thought the pirates were to hold me hostage and she knew nothing of their intention to murder me. She finishes telling Mama how I had rescued her from the ship and of our flight to Madame Baxter’s house as it was the only place open at that time of night.

Mama asks Eloise a few questions and clarifies a couple of points in her story.

“Very well, Mademoiselle d’Arles, you may stand over there. I want you to remain quiet while I question my daughter.”

Eloise does as she’s told and I silently thank her for what she’s said in my defence.

“Now, Mademoiselle Andrea Thibert. I believe you have some explaining to do.”

Her use of a formal name rather than just my Christian name leaves me in no doubt about the trouble I’m facing. I’m trapped and I must tell all. Well, nearly all. I confess I left the house on Saturday and I had gone down to the docks and overheard men talking about Rebecca. I admit to following Eloise on Sunday, and seeing Yvette and the Southern Witch. How I’d gone looking for Eloise when she went missing at the party, and the kidnapping that followed. Of my rescue by Lieutenant Clemençeau and my efforts to rescue Eloise with Captain Allen’s help. How we had been chased through the streets by armed men and sought refuge at Madame Baxter’s House. How Madame Baxter had given us clean dresses and allowed us to stay the night.

Of course there are several bits I leave out. I don’t mention James or his fellow sailors. Nor do I mention going into the Golden Anchor with Richard. And what happened last night at Madame Baxter’s is going to take much more than the threat of a caning to prise out of my lips.