condescended to gaze at my skirt and blouse once
more.
"It is homemade. Grandmere Catherine made
both the skirt and blouse."
"See," she said, turning back to Beau. He
nodded and saw how I was fuming.
"I'd better go fetch your parents."
"Beau Andreas, if you leave this house without
taking me to the Mardi Gras Ball . . ."
"I promise we'll go after this is straightened
out," he said.
"It will never be straightened out. It's a horrible,
horrible joke. Why don't you get out of here!" she
screamed at me. "How can you send her away?" Beau
demanded.
"Oh, you're a monster, Beau Andreas. A
monster to do this to me," she cried, and ran back to
the stairway.
"Gisselle!"
"I'm sorry," I said. "I told you I shouldn't have
come in. I didn't mean to ruin your evening." He looked at me a moment and then shook his
head.
"How can she blame me? Look," he said, "just
go into the living room and make yourself
comfortable. I know where Pierre and Daphne are. It
won't take but a few minutes and they'll come here to
see you. Don't worry about Gisselle," he said, backing
up. "Just wait in the living room." He turned and
hurried out, leaving me alone, never feeling more like
a stranger. Could I ever call this house my home? I