She hurried to the stable to order the gentlest horse available to be saddled. She knew herself to be an indifferent rider; however, that was not something she wished to confess to the count. Nonetheless, a little helplessness would not be amiss.
After giving her orders, she questioned the servants on the location of Mr. Talverton and set off to find him.
She was aware that her family and friends considered her a pretty ninnyhammer and hoyden. That didn’t bother her; it was a useful excuse, and it permitted her much freedom. And in truth, she knew herself to be disgracefully self-centered. But if she were not, how might she achieve her goals? Vanessa and Adeline could use some self-consideration. Bah! Everyone was tripping over each other to help, and nothing was being accomplished.
Impossible, theseAmericaines,making everything so complicated! Shaking her head, she headed purposefully down the path the stable boy had indicated, contemplating her course of action.
When finally she spied him, he was standing on a small levee at the side of a canal, studying its construction.
Silently she came to stand beside him. He looked down at her, the top of her saucy hat just reaching his shoulders. Some of the haggard grayness had left his complexion, and the deep furrows across his brow had eased. He was surprised and a little wary of her presence.
She sighed dramatically, which brought a smile to his face.
“I don’t know what I should do first,” she said conversationally as she looked down at the still waters, “beg your pardon, or call youimbecile.''
Hugh blinked, at a loss for words.
“I am very fickle, you know, and I did lead you a merry dance,” she thoughtfully said, pursing her lips. “My situation, it istres tragique,for I am neither fish nor bird.”
The corners of Hugh’s lips lifted again. “I believe,” he drawled, “you mean neither fish nor fowl.”
She shrugged. “N’importante pas.The Creoles, they are not happy withmon pere,they say he is tooAmericain.They do not wish their sons to marry his daughter for they feel I shall taint them in some manner, despite all I do to prove I am a true Creole.”
“Is that why your speech is often heavily accented, while your brother speaks near perfect English?”
“Oui."
“Miss Chaumonde, I fear you refine too much on the matter. Your brother appears perfectly well accepted, and his wife is an American.”
“Phtt! You do not understand. He is a man, and he can do manly things to prove he is Creole at heart, like fight duels and gamble till dawn. He is also rich.”
Hugh threw back his head and laughed. “And does he do these things, duel and gamble?”
She frowned."No,for he says words are his sword, and he gambles every day he invests.”
“Wise man.”
“Do you think so? I don’t know,” she said. “It seems so tame and not at all romantic. But what was I saying before?”
“That the Creoles do not accept you.”
“Oui, merci.It is very true. I shall most likely die a spinster if I wait upon a Creole husband. So I said to myself, Paulette, you must marry an aristocrat and then thumb your nose at the Creoles. Therefore, even before I met you, I decided I would marry you.”
“You did?”
“Naturellement, so long as you possessed wealth, of course.”
“Ah, now I know why Trevor teased me about being born to the manor.”
“He did that?” She shook her head dolefully. “Regardless, I regret to inform you, you will not do at all."
"No?”
"No.Now, my pardon is done, and I will tell you why you are animbecile.”
Hugh crossed his arms on his chest. “By all means, please continue,” he said, amused by Paulette’s disclosures.
“You are animbecilefor you do not realize Vanessa will never love Mr. Danielson.”
