Indigo Page 29

  Galen held his sleeping wife against his heart. She was the most precious addition to his life. Without her he would have continued on his solitary path never feeling the fresh air of her love blowing across his world-weary soul. He harbored no guilt, admitting he was in many ways glad Vada's bitter presence no longer walked the earth. She would not have been kind to his Indigo. She would have found fault with everything about Hester and would have encouraged her venerable friends to take up the same posture. Granted he had friends who would not care about Hester's past, her ebony color, or her indigo hands, but many in Vada's set would—to gain Vada's favor many would savage their own kin, so he could well imagine how they would pounce on an innocent like his wife.

  But Vada was dead, undoubtedly suffocated by her own evil heart. Never again would he have to look upon her and remember the beatings and the foul treatment, or hear her brand his mother a whore and himself a whore's bastard. When they buried her a few days hence, he would pay his respects and then move on with his life.

  They reached Detroit at daybreak. Hester came awake still held in her husband's arms as he walked her into the doorway of a small cottage. She peered around like a sleepy child at the unfamiliar but well furnished surroundings. When her eyes brushed Racine's and then the smiling faces of a few other men and women she'd not met before, Hester came fully awake. Embarrassed, she quickly turned her face back into his chest and hissed, "Put me down."

  Instead, he said in a formal voice, "Everyone, my wife. Racine, you have my rooms prepared?"

  Hester could not see the reactions on anyone's face, but she heard Racine say, "Certainly, Galeno. Bring your lovely bride this way, please."

  Galen, his arms filled with his mortified wife, followed Racine to his rooms.

  Once they were inside, Racine remarked, "You may put her down now, neveu. No one is going to steal her from you."

  He did so reluctantly.

  Racine, dressed in a simple black gown, approached Hester slowly. "Hello, Hester. Let me say how pleased I am to be able to call you niece."

  "Thank you."

  "The others are eager to meet you, but I think we should let you rest for the time being. We will speak again later in the day." She took Hester's hands in hers and squeezed them with affection. "Welcome to the family, La Petite Indigo. The dragon chose a most worthy mate."

  She blessed her tall nephew with a smile, then left the room.

  Galen put Hester to bed, promising to check in on her later. Hester wanted to ask him when he intended to sleep himself, but she was asleep again before he reached the door.

  Downstairs, Galen joined his aunt for what he hoped would be a short discussion. He, too, needed sleep.

  She was in the study surrounded by stacks and stacks of ledgers and documents. He stared around at the crates occupying the chairs and most of the floor. "What is all this?"

  "Vada's business dealings. This is only a portion. The rest is being scrutinized by your uncle."

  "Can he be trusted to give a true account?"

  "With that money-grabbing wife of his? Of course not. I had everything that appeared to be of any importance brought here. I gave him the rest. All of the figures and legal Latin will bore him soon enough."

  Galen grinned tiredly. He loved her dearly. He could not imagine what type of life he would have had if this strong, beautiful sister of his mother had not come to his aid. Many times, Racine had stepped in to bear his punishments, taking his canings across her own back rather than let him suffer more. In many ways he owed her his life. Maybe now with Vada's death, his beloved tante could live freely. "So have you found anything of import?"

  "I've only been at this a few days, but it appears that although Mama had a horrid way with people, she had a flair for business. She more than quadrupled the money she received when Papa passed."

  Galen stared, impressed.

  "But much of it was accumulated in ways that are appalling. She brokered slaves, blackmailed friends and family, and charged a sinful amount of interest on loans she made to people in New Orleans. Those who weren't able to repay lost business, land, jewels. That box by your feet holds nothing but deeds to properties and shops signed over to her over the years. This one here on the desk is filled with ledgers containing the misdeeds and stumbles of everyone we know. Galen, this woman sat around controlling people like marionettes. There are payments here to midwives who kept her informed on illegitimate births. She has them organized by parish, for heaven's sake! She would then demand a payment from the woman's family in exchange for either her silence or help in finding a suitable man for the husband-less woman."

  "Are you certain?"

  "Yesterday, I made a few discreet enquiries using some of the information found inside these ledgers and yes, her heart was as evil as is painted here. I was told stories that curled my hair and some that turned my stomach. She will burn in hell, neveu, truly and eternally burn."

  "So what are you going to do with it all?"

  "Invite the most injured people on these lists, the ones she still held on strings until her death. One by one, I will invite them into the parlor and let them burn the paper which she held over their lives. Then I will see if the properties and shops can be restored to the rightful heirs."

  "No doubt, she's spinning in her casket just hearing you contemplate such actions."

  "Well, the more she spins, the more evenly she will roast."

  Racine said the words with such a straight face, Galen threw back his head and roared with laughter.

  Hester was surprised to see Maxi in the room when she awakened. "Maxi, what on earth are you doing here? When did you arrive?"

  "Oh, an hour or so ago. I came down with most of the staff in the carriage which departed a few hours after you and Galeno left. Since Racine has fired the woman masquerading as a cook in her mother's kitchens, I am here to help, but mainly I am here to see with my own eyes that Vada Rousseau is truly dead."

  "Well, I am glad to see you. Whose home is this?"

  "Galeno leased this place after he left you last fall. Andre made the arrangements once we all came north in answer to the message you posted for Galeno."

  Hester remembered the message; she'd assumed it had been coded.

  "So, chiquita, I have your breakfast. Your husband appears as if he has not slept at all, but he awaits you when you are ready."

  "Thank you, Maxi. I'm glad you are here."

  "Let me know if you are in need of anything else."

  Hester nodded, and Maxi left, quietly closing the door.

  Hester found Galen in the small study poring over papers from behind a desk filled with ledgers and documents. True to Maxi's description, he appeared dead on his feet. "Have you slept?" Hester asked.

  "No, but you're the prettiest thing I've seen all day. Come give your tired husband a kiss."

  Hester walked into the room and complied. When they drew away from one another, she asked softly, "How was that?"

  Galen growled like a contented dragon as he held her in the circle of his arms. "So good, I'd like another..."

  She complied yet again.

  When they parted this time, she reached up and stroked the lines etching his face. "You need to sleep, Galen Vachon; not even you can survive without it."

  "I know, petite, but I need to go through as much of this as I can."

  "What is it?"

  "My grandmother's papers. It appears as if she has blackmailed every person in the city of New Orleans."

  "What?!"

  "Well, maybe not everyone, but a fairly large percentage. Her poisonous tentacles reached everywhere, I'm finding."

  Hester didn't know what to say.

  Evidently Galen read her face and said, "It's my worry, not yours. I'm going to finish up here and get some sleep. I'll join you later."

  Hester looked up at her golden, mustached dragon and said, "I will only leave if you promise to get some sleep within the hour."

  He raised her gloved hand to his li
ps. "You have my word."

  Hester left him then, and went off in search of a familiar face. The house was much smaller than the sprawling Folly. Here all of the rooms were on one floor. She entered the parlor and found Racine talking quietly with a blindingly beautiful woman. Both were dressed in mourning black. They greeted her entrance with a smile.

  Racine stood. "Ah, niece, come in. How was your rest?"

  "Fine, Racine."

  Racine invited Hester to join them. "Hester Vachon, this is a dear family friend, Ginette Dupree. Ginette, this is Galen's wife."

  Ginette's smiling cinnamon eyes appeared sincere as she said, "You've no idea how pleased I am to finally make your acquaintance."

  Hester was a bit taken aback by the woman's warmth. As Galen's contracted intended, Hester assumed the woman would be chilly at best.

  Ginette must have sensed Hester's thoughts because she said, "I assume someone has already informed you of my position in Galeno's life."

  "Yes. Maxi has."

  "Well, rest assured, I couldn't be happier that you are his wife."

  Racine stood and said, "I must meet with the priest this morning about the arrangements for the burial. You two stay and get acquainted. I'll return later this afternoon."

  So there Hester sat, alone with this stunningly beautiful woman who claimed to be happy over losing her intended.

  Ginette explained, "Galeno and I would never have suited as man and wife. I love him very much, but he's like a brother to me. He taught me to ride my first horse, and escorted me to my first ball. I thought him the bravest, smartest, strongest boy on earth. I still do. But I've loved him long enough to know he needs a woman just as brave and just as strong as he. Someone who will stand up to him as Raymond says you have done, someone he can converse with. I haven't had a lot of schooling, Hester, and he gets impatient with me when he wants to discuss issues I know nothing about."

  Hester told her softly, "Reading a newspaper can solve that problem, Ginette."

  "But I don't care about politics or talk of war or Mr. Douglass's position. Galeno sometimes teases me by saying my parents raised me with wool over my eyes and cotton between my ears, and he is correct. Galeno doesn't need a woman who can only discuss hemlines. Had he married me he would've wound up hating me. I couldn't bear that."

  Her face was set with such seriousness Hester could feel the truthfulness of the words.

  Ginette then asked, "Do you know where Galeno goes when he disappears for months on end each year?"

  Hester kept her face void of any response but Ginette took her silence as confirmation.

  "You do know, don't you? See, he would never trust me with his secrets, but he has you. Not even Vada knew, and even though she would roar at him, he never told her a word."

  Hester found this to be one of the oddest encounters she'd ever experienced.

  "So, shall we agree to be friends?"

  Hester, taken aback once more, nodded yes. "I would like that."

  "Then good. Now, tell me what you're wearing to the ball?"

  "Ball?"

  "Yes, Vada's burial ball. Her will states that a ball is to be given on the day of her burial or none of her relatives will get her money. Racine refused to plan it, so Galeno's uncle Reginald and his wife have instead. Reginald's wife, Mavis, is not known for her taste, but"—she shrugged—"we go and pay our respects, drink from Vada's celebrated cellars, and thank the heavens for removing her from our lives."

  Hester stared. She dearly hoped her friends and relations would not sit around savaging her name when she passed on, but then again, Vada appeared to have been a detestable woman; maybe she was only reaping what she'd sown.

  "Will this ball be a solemn event?"

  "Heavens no. Vada might have viewed it as some grand tribute to all she stood for, but everyone else, especially Mavis, views it as a celebration. The women will be wearing their best gowns and jewels. Did Maxi pack some of your jewelry?"

  "Maxi and I brought along gowns, but I don't have many jewels. I lead a very simple life, Ginette."

  Ginette's eyes widened. "Galeno should be ashamed of himself. His wife should have chests of jewels."

  "I don't need jewels."

  Her eyes widened with astonishment. "Hester, never ever speak such blasphemy, especially not within earshot of any male. Just wait until I see that Galeno."

  Hester shook her head. Her amusement could not be hidden. She found she did like Ginette, even if the woman's priorities in life contrasted sharply with her own. "As my friend, you must promise you will not speak to Galen about my lack of stones."

  "But Hester, people will talk—"

  "Ginette, you've no idea of the talk I've endured lately. To have someone denigrate me for not having jewels is something I can survive."

  Ginette searched Hester's face. "Are you certain?"

  "Positive."

  Ginette sighed audibly in frustration. "I'll not speak to Galeno. I promise."

  "Thank you, Ginette."

  They spent a few more moments talking idly about the ball and the people who would attend. Ginette explained that only local members of Vada's family and friends would be at the burial. Racine had received a wire saying no one in Louisiana would be attending.

  Hester asked, "Are there many family members in Louisiana?"

  "Very many, but none wanted to go to the expense of coming all this way just to bury Vada. She was as mean as a croc, and didn't care that people knew. In fact, it seemed she went out of her way sometimes just to keep her legendary evil alive in people's minds. Poor Mavis and Reginald were reminded every day that they were eating her food and living in her house. The poor servants never stayed more than a season."

  "But why did she treat people this way?"

  "Bitterness. Her husband, Galeno's grandpere kept a dark-skinned mistress in the quarter. Vada was humiliated and appalled by her husband's choice. She used her influence to have the woman implicated in a slave insurrection and nearly succeeded in having the mistress sold into slavery. Galeno's grandpere was outraged. He used his own formidable influence to save the woman from the block, then publicly denounced Vada. He vowed never to live with her again, and he never did. He escorted his mistress to balls, the theater, the races, and didn't give a cat's tail about what people thought. He was happy. Vada had much thinner skin. The whispers and scandal drove her here to Michigan where her side of the family still owned land given to them by the French. According to my parents, she'd always been a manipulative person, even as a child. After her husband's denunciation, the bitterness and the thirst for revenge apparently consumed her. It seemed as if she weren't happy unless someone else was miserable."

  Hester shook her head at the sad tale.

  "Did she love her husband?"

  "No. The marriage had been arranged. It was touted as the coming together of two very wealthy and powerful New Orleans families, but she treated him just as she did everyone else—as if he were mud beneath her feet. My mama says Vada would shriek at him at parties, hired men to shadow his movements every moment of the day. My papa says Galeno's grandpere showed much restraint by not having her visited by a paid assassin. She was simply awful."

  She sounded simply awful to Hester as well. On the surface, one could hardly fault her husband for seeking peace in the arms of a lover, but what fate did Racine and Galen's mother suffer as a result?

  "How did the children fare in the face of the scandal?"

  "Vada brought Racine, Ruth, and their younger brother Reginald here. They lived with her during the winter months and spent summers in Louisiana. They grew to adolescence listening to her berate their father and his whore, as she always termed the mistress."

  "It must have been a very unhappy life for them."

  Ginette agreed. "Yes. Reginald grew up without any direction at all, Racine turned to her faith, but Ruth was headstrong and rebelled. Her choice of a dark-skinned man as her husband led Vada to banish her. Ruth went willingly. No one learned her fate
until seven years later when Maxi brought the orphaned Galeno to Vada. Maxi had been the cook in the house down in New Orleans. When Vada came north, Maxi stayed to serve the grandpere. Galeno's parents were killed on a sea voyage and when the grandpere died a year later, Maxi had no choice but to bring him to Vada. His father James had no other family able to take in an orphaned boy. Maxi said at that time she thought about raising him as her own, but she felt his grandmere had more of a right to him, even though Maxi knew Vada's true character. Vada agreed to house Galen only if Maxi would stay and cook for the household. The two never got along well down in Louisiana, but for Galen's sake Maxi stayed."

  Ginette's voice softened with emotion as she continued, "Vada used her own grandson as a slave. He slept in an unheated room with the servants, and spent every waking hour doing chores. He was a seven-year-old boy but he cut wood, polished furniture, silver, emptied the slop jars, helped the yardmen. There were beatings, punishments for the smallest offenses. She never forgave Ruth for not honoring the marriage arrangements she'd made and for loving a man whose color, as far as Vada was concerned, qualified him to do nothing but make deliveries to Vada's back door. Maxi was outraged, but she was powerless to change Galeno's fate alone, so she wrote to Racine in France and his aunt returned home immediately."

  "Did Racine know of Galen's birth?"

  "Yes, she'd been in New Orleans when he was born, but Racine had joined an order in the years following and so had no idea her neveu was suffering at the hands of her mother. She'd been notified of her father's death by his solicitor, but no one other than Maxi had written her of her sister's death or of Galeno's fate."