Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (13 page)

***

The appearance of his father-in-law at the docks didn’t surprise Daniel, but he had hoped to delay their reunion. Cecily’s parents treated him with kindness he didn’t deserve.

He had killed their daughter.

If not by his own hand, then by his insistence that she abandon her home. Cecily had never wanted to leave Port Albis, but his need to prove his wife wrong overrode her desires. Daniel was not a poor tradesman. He was the son of a gentleman and an heir to his maternal grandfather’s mercantile shipping company, one of the largest in the world, second only to the East India Company.

He would have showered Cecily with every luxury her mind could imagine once they reached home. She would have had a large household to manage, any number of staff she required, and her obsession for pretty things indulged to no end.

A sharp pang of shame pierced underneath his ribs. The foolishness of his youthful pride had cost Cecily her life, and he must live with this knowledge forever. Perhaps he was no wiser now, allowing Lisette and her family onboard, but they had held up well. He would see them safely to England as if his own life depended on it.

Lisette stood near the railing twisting her hands together as if wrestling with whether to approach him. Her distress added to his guilt. He should have prepared her for the ship’s arrival in Port Albis. She likely worried about where her family would stay, but Daniel would see her and her kin settled.

He swaggered toward the gangplank where she stood. Upon meeting her gaze, a trill of anticipation raced down his limbs, and he quickened his step.
Hellfire.
He had missed her over the last couple of days, but only now did he realize to what extent. He should have sent for her before their arrival instead of keeping his distance, but he hadn’t trusted himself to safeguard her from his troubles when she had enough of her own.

“Lis,” he greeted softly.

She extended her hand as if she were a man sealing an agreement with another. “Captain Hillary, thank you for your fine service. My family is grateful to you.”

Daniel captured her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Stay close, luv. I don’t want to lose you in the crush.”

“Captain Hillary.” She tried to tug free of his hold, but he refused to relinquish her as he led her toward the gangplank.

“I’m afraid I must subject you to an introduction to my wife’s parents.”

She stumbled, but he steadied her descent. “Daniel. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

The pomp and circumstance surrounding the governor and first lady’s arrival to greet him was embarrassing. Cecily’s father climbed from the carriage before assisting his wife then escorting her to wait at the bottom of the gangplank. Someone must have identified the
Cecily
early, because the governor and first lady had had time to dress in their best.

“I fear they will insist we stay as their guests,” he said to Lisette. “They don’t look kindly upon a refusal to partake of their hospitality.”

“No, not
us
. We’ll locate an inn.”

Daniel smiled when Cecily’s mother waved. “You don’t want to miss the ball they are sure to throw. Besides, I promised to protect you, and protect you I will.”

If he were honest with himself, he would allow that he wanted Lisette close to shield him from the overwhelming guilt that plagued him each time he stepped foot in the governor’s home. He needed her more than he liked to admit.

Thirteen

Lisette settled against the carriage seat and narrowed her eyes at Daniel. Serafine stared out the window, not even bothering to make eye contact with anyone, while Amelia fidgeted with her reticule.

It had been two days, a full forty-eight hours, since their arrival at the Governor’s House, and Daniel hadn’t allowed Lisette out of his sight except when she excused herself to her chambers. His unexpected attentiveness made it impossible for her to slip away to find another ship traveling to England.

And he’d been pleasant, which riled her to no end. She barely recognized him as the cold, dispassionate captain he had been before their arrival to Linmead Island. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t allow herself to forget what he was
underneath
his fancy waistcoat and brilliant white cravat.

He was unequivocally marvelous—
monstrous
!

Memories of his spectacular bare chest invaded her thoughts, sending hot tingles all over her body. She shifted on the seat and trained her gaze out the window, pretending interest in the passing landscape. Pondering anything lying beneath Daniel’s waistcoat served no purpose except to remind her of the reason she had to end their association.

Captain Daniel Hillary was her Achilles’ heel.

His chuckle broke the somber silence. “Such glum faces all around. I’ve never seen ladies so opposed to shopping for a ball. I should have insisted Jake accompany you instead.”

Amelia wrinkled her nose. “My attendance is hardly appropriate given my condition. I have no inkling as to why the first lady is insisting upon my participation.”

“This isn’t London,” he said. “Societal rules are more lax. Try to enjoy yourself.”

Serafine sniffed. “Lisette and I hold no place in society. We shouldn’t be attending high-ranking officials’ balls or wasting money on frivolous dresses we will never need again.”

A mischievous twinkle lit Daniel’s eyes. “Feel at liberty to discuss the situation with Her Excellency, ladies. I learned years ago to follow the first lady’s directives without question. It requires less energy than debate.”

“It’s difficult to believe anyone could direct you in anything,” Lisette said.

“Madame has a point.” Amelia sent a soft smile across the carriage for Serafine. “If I must attend this affair in
my
state, I’ll require someone to stand in front of me to block the view. Please say you will attend.”

Serafine offered a begrudging grin. “Only for
you
. I refuse to enjoy myself upon Captain Hillary’s suggestion.”

Daniel drummed his fingers on the hat resting on his lap. “Mademoiselle Vistoire, I have the distinct impression you don’t care for me.”

Serafine was spared from having to answer his accusation when the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a rustic shop with oyster shells set into the foundation. A tidy sign announcing their arrival at Madame Morel’s Boutique swayed in the ocean breeze.

She paused on the walkway to savor the sweet scent wafting on the air. Port Albis was a different world compared to home, and they hadn’t yet traveled a quarter of the journey. How displaced would she feel once they reached London?

For a brief moment, she considered abandoning her search for a new captain. Daniel had given his word to deliver them to England and had kept them alive this far. Perhaps it was unwise to entrust their livelihood to an unknown entity.

Lisette shook the notion from her mind. As she and Serafine had discussed at length, surviving the journey was just the first step. If any of them hoped to stay alive for any time in London, Lisette must find a husband. And in order to secure passage on another ship, she would need to find someone willing to assist with the task of locating a Britain-bound vessel. Although Daniel wouldn’t allow her to venture into the town alone, he couldn’t stop her from seeking assistance from one of the governor’s guests at the ball.

Bamboo chimes clanked as Lisette and Serafine entered the establishment.

“Oh,” Lisette said on an outpouring of breath. A rainbow of exquisite bolts of silks lined the back wall from ceiling to floor. A shimmering plum caught her eye, and she crossed the room to glide her fingers over the sheer fabric.

“
Si
belle
,” she murmured.

“A divine choice, mademoiselle.”

Lisette snatched her hand back and glanced at the dressmaker who had slipped up beside her. “Oh, no. I couldn’t…” She had no business donning such bold colors, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the elegant cloth. “Perhaps a dress of pale yellow or ivory would make a better choice.”

“Pale yellow? Nonsense.” The woman wrestled the bolt of fabric from the display and held a corner to Lisette’s cheek. “The plum enhances your dark coloring to perfection. You should listen to Madame Morel. I am the most sought after modiste on Linmead Island.”

Considering the small geographic area, Lisette wasn’t certain this was any great accomplishment, but she had to admit her choice in cloth was divine.

Madame Morel guided her toward an oval looking glass and draped a corner of the silk over Lisette’s shoulder. “See for yourself. Madame Morel is never wrong.”

“
Oui
. It is nice.”

Daniel sidled up beside the shop’s proprietor and tipped his head to the side, studying Lisette’s reflection. “I must agree with Madame Morel. It’s perfect.” He smiled at the modiste. “Madame Lavigne requires a gown for the Governor’s Ball. Show me your sketches.”

The woman twittered like a young girl when he offered his arm and led her away.

“Captain Hillary,” Lisette called, but he didn’t pay her any mind.
By
the
saints.
She would not leave the style of her gown up to a man. She made to follow, but Serafine detained her.

“You’ll not allow him to dress you like his mistress,” she hissed. “And he cannot purchase either of our gowns. I won’t stand for it.”

Lisette’s gaze darted toward Amelia, appalled that she might have overheard Serafine’s outrageous assumptions. If she had, she was polite enough to pretend to be engrossed in comparing bolts of lace.

Lisette pried her arm from her cousin’s grasp. “I’m sure Madame Morel would not steer me in the wrong direction. Now if you will excuse me.”

“Lisette,
please
,” she whispered.

Serafine’s commanding manner was wearing Lisette’s patience thin. In fact, if her fortitude were a cloak, it would boast gaping holes. She swept by Serafine. “’Tis only a ball gown.”

As she reached the table where Madame Morel and Daniel pored over the pages of a sketchbook, he stood and offered his chair before pointing to the current drawing. “That’s the one. Can you have it ready in time?”

“
I
will decide which gown suits me best,” Lisette snipped and hauled the book across the table for a better look.

She suppressed a sigh of pleasure as she sank onto the chair. Daniel’s choice was divine with a daring neckline and ethereal skirts that would sway with each step so she would appear to be walking on a cloud.

Merde.
She couldn’t agree with him now. She flipped through several sketches, all adequate, but…
Oh, why must he have seen the fashion plate first?

She studied the other drawings and debated between making a different selection to spite Daniel and following her wishes. In the end, she turned the page to his favorite gown.

“This one is quite nice,” she mumbled.

Daniel smirked. “Excellent choice, madame. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.”

How she wanted to tell him to take a plunge off a tall cliff, but instead she tossed her head and ignored him, earning an infuriating chuckle.

“This way, madame.” The modiste ushered her through a set of crimson velvet curtains trimmed in gold fringe and urged her to stand on a platform. With speed that marked her as an experienced seamstress, she took Lisette’s measurements.

“I shall have your gown ready in plenty of time before the ball.”

“
Merci
, madame.”

Lisette commissioned Madame Morel to create three more looks then wandered to the front of the shop and stood with her back to the shop window to wait for Serafine and Amelia.

With time to think upon her ball gown, uncertainty buzzed around in her head like a persistent housefly. Perhaps she should have solicited her cousin’s advice before choosing the style. Serafine, her senior by two years, had enjoyed a season in New Orleans society. She knew about societal expectations and judgments whereas Lisette wallowed in ignorance.

Her
social interactions had been limited to attending the cathedral every Sabbath, which hadn’t prepared her to don daring gowns or dance within the circle of a man’s arms. Lisette’s heart tripped and tumbled end over end.

Lord, have mercy.
Balls involved dancing. Why hadn’t this dawned on her earlier? She would look like a fool at the Governor’s Ball. How was she to charm a gentleman into assisting her and her family if she moved like a one-legged hen on the dance floor?

She clasped her hands at her chest and took a slow, deep breath to calm her riotous belly. She needn’t panic, not yet. Surely she could figure out something before the Governor’s Ball so no one would realize she didn’t know a minuet from a—a—
another
dance.