Chapter 8: Arrangements for the Party

Rebecca visits us the next morning to ask if I want to join her shopping. As I’ve nothing else planned before lunch, I agree. My allowance from Mama doesn’t let me buy much, but window shopping is fun. Rebecca and I are is happily chatting away and I nearly miss Rebecca’s comment about her being invited to the party tomorrow night.

“Did you say that you’re going to the mayor’s party tomorrow night?” I ask, making sure I haven’t misheard.

“Yes. Father has invited me instead of taking mother. She’s busy preparing for their departure for Jamaica at the end of the week, and he says it’s time I was properly introduced into Fort Royal society.”

“I’m going as well. How are you getting there? Is your father collecting you?”

“That’s wonderful! The Comte d’Arles is arranging for me to be collected. I’ll be meeting father at the mayor’s house. I suppose you’ll be travelling with Eloise and her mother.”

Actually Eloise hasn’t mentioned our travelling arrangements, although she wasn’t in a very talkative mood yesterday; at least not to me. In light of what I overheard on the dockside, I’m more than a little concerned about Rebecca being escorted alone by someone she probably doesn’t know.

“We could all travel together. Wouldn’t that be fun?” I suggest.

“What! Four of us in one coach. Our dresses would be crushed. We’d arrive at the party looking a mess.”

She has a point, but I don’t want to give up on making sure Rebecca is safe. So far the only evidence of danger I have is a partially overheard conversation, and Richard Allen’s appraisal of Vichy. Not enough to raise alarm bells, but sufficient to be wary. Telling Rebecca of my concerns may only frighten her unnecessarily.

We meet Charity while we are browsing and she joins us for a while. Her presence effectively ends our conversation about the party. I don’t want too many people sharing my thoughts and concerns about what is going on in case they turn out to be nothing but silly fantasies.

I finally get to talk to Eloise after lunch. She confirms that I will be taken to and from the party with her and her mother. I thank her for inviting me to the party, but she admits that she didn’t have much say in the matter. She repeats what she said to Charity. I’ve been invited simply because I can speak fluent English and French, and because of my mother’s social standing in Fort Royal. Eloise’s explanation doesn’t quite ring true, but I’ve no evidence to the contrary.

“Who will be at this party?” I ask, eager for any information about tomorrow night.

“I don’t know for certain. A number of government dignitaries from Saint Pierre arrived in Fort Royal with their wives yesterday. I’ve only been told there will be a mix of military and business men. You’ll probably know more people there than I do. Commodore Beaufoy and his wife are coming, as well as most of the town council.”

Something Eloise said catches my attention. She referred to Rebecca’s father and his wife attending. She doesn’t know Rebecca is attending instead of Mrs. Beaufoy. Given the events of the last few days I decide not to correct her.