River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

“She looks dressed to me,” Travis said appreciatively, looking at the low-cut muslin gown Leah wore.

“Travis,” Regan warned, ready to tell him what she thought of his ogling of Leah.

Nicole laughed and prevented the impending quarrel. “No, Leah must go with me. The fabrics I ordered have come at last and my seamstress is there. Also, I’ll start teaching her how to manage a plantation. She can start on someplace small before tackling this monster of yours, Travis.”

After a frown, Travis smiled, then took Leah’s hand and kissed it. “I’m going to miss your pretty face around here but Clay’ll take care of you.”

Later Regan walked with Leah to Wes’s bedroom. “Nicole has an army of French craftsmen at her place. She and Clay went back to France last summer and returned with people Nicole had known when she lived there. Her dressmaker used to work for the queen. Now sleep well because you’ll leave early in the morning. Good night.”

Leah removed her dress, an altered one of Nicole’s, put on a clean nightgown, and slipped into bed. It was July now, she thought. There was all the winter to go and then spring before Wesley would return to her. Touching her clean, soft hair, she knew she looked very different, and she prayed that she’d please him when he returned. More t

han anything, she wanted to please him. “I will be the best wife in the world to you,” she whispered and fell asleep smiling.

In the morning before it was even light, Nicole and Leah were escorted by Travis to the dock. In the five months that she’d been there, Leah had barely seen the plantation except from her window, because she’d always been inside with Regan and Nicole, practicing her walk, her grammar, her table manners, how to sit, how to stand, whatever ordeal could be imagined for her.

At the dock, Travis bent and kissed her cheek, and touching the place, Leah looked up at him in wonder. “We’ll miss you,” he called as a man helped Leah into the waiting sloop.

Smiling, she waved to them until they sailed out of sight. How heavenly, she thought, how warm and kind and loving everything was. For moments she could almost forget what it was like to be angry twenty-four hours a day.

She turned to Nicole, who was watching her. “If Wesley were here it’d be perfect,” Leah said laughing, hugging herself.

“I hope you’re right,” Nicole murmured, mostly to herself, before looking away.

Chapter 4

At the dock of Arundel Plantation waiting to greet Nicole were identical twin boys, six years old, and two beautiful seventeen-year-old twins who were introduced as Alex and Amanda. Clay waited impatiently while everyone else hugged his wife, then he swept her into his arms for an embarrassingly passionate kiss, after which they walked away, each holding one of the boys’ hands and looking into each other’s eyes.

“They’re always like that,” Alex said half in disgust.

“They’re in love, you idiot,” Amanda snapped before turning to Leah. “Would you like to see the cloth that came in? Uncle Clay says it’s for you.”

“I have better things to do, so if you ladies will excuse me,” Alex said as he mounted a beautiful roan horse and rode away.

“We don’t need him anyway,” Amanda said. “Come on, we have to hurry. Madame Gisele is awful when she’s kept waiting. If she bullies you too much, just threaten to send her back to France. It makes her keep quiet for a few minutes at least,” Amanda confided.

As Leah and Amanda walked together, Amanda chattering away, Leah was watching the early morning bustle going on about her as people went in and out of what seemed to be hundreds of buildings. Leah asked questions.

“The overseer’s cottage, workers’ quarters, ice house, the stables through there, the kitchen,” were Amanda’s answers. “She’s upstairs waiting for us.” Amanda led Leah through an octagonal porch at the back of a big brick house, up some beautiful stairs, past tables covered with freshly cut flowers. “Mom—I mean Nicole—likes lots of flowers. Here we are, Madame,” Amanda said politely to a tiny little woman with a big nose and fierce black eyes.

“You have taken your time,” Madame Gisele said in such an odd way that Leah didn’t quite understand her.

“It’s her accent,” Amanda whispered. “Took me awhile too.”

“Out!” Madame commanded. “We have work to do and you are in the way.”

“Yes, of course,” Amanda said, laughing as she curtsied before leaving the room.

“Insolent girl!” Madame snapped, but there was affection in her voice. Then her eyes were on Leah, walking around her, examining her.

“Yes, yes, a good figure, a bit large in the bosom but your husband likes that, no?”

Leah smiled, turned red, and began to study the wallpaper of the attic room.

“Come, come, don’t stand there. There’s work to be done. Show me what you like so we can begin.” She motioned toward shelves along one wall that were loaded with bolts and rolls of fabric.

Leah stuck out her finger to touch a piece of deep blue velvet. “I…I don’t know,” Leah said. “I like everything. Nicole and Regan usually—.”

“Ah!” Madame Gisele cut her off. “Madame Regan is not here and Nicole is no doubt in the throes of passion with that magnificent man of hers and she will be of no use for days. So! Now you must learn to rely on yourself. Stand up straight! No dress will ever hang properly if your shoulders droop so. Have some pride in yourself. You are a beautiful woman, you have a rich, handsome husband who will return to you soon and now we will dress you splendidly. You have much to be proud of so show it!”