At the same minute Lucie came flying down the steps in a whirl of haste and petticoats. Since Joshua had approached the bottom step from the side of the hall, she did not see him. She hurtled into him.
"Uh," grunted Joshua, catching her with one arm and the newel post with the other. The boots clattered to the floor.
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Lucie gasped in dismay. "Mille pardons!" She looked up at him shyly. She was gathered close in his arms. She breathed: "Did I wound you, m'sieur?"
"Not mortally," Joshua said, releasing her and the newel post. She stepped back hastily to allow him to go on upstairs, and stepped on his boot. Joshua caught her again.
"My god, girl," he said, both arms around her. "Can't you stand upright for more than a minute?" Once more he set her on her feet.
" 'Twas your footgear," she said, abashed at her clumsiness. She bent hastily and picked up the boots; she held them out. "Allow me, sir."
"Thank you, Lucie," Joshua said absently, taking the boots. Her face was lovely; so was her figure. This morning she had had her cloak on. Now the tiny white lace apron she wore accentuated her small waist. Joshua did not move and his presence held her prisoner for he blocked her way while his gaze traveled slowly down to her feet and up to her face again.
"Madame helped me fashion this dress, m'sieur," she said breathlessly.
"She did, Lucie?"
Her eyes questioned him. "You do not approve, m'sieur?"
"I approve," he said, putting his free hand under her chin and tipping her face up. He looked into eyes shadowed by curling lashes. Then he dropped his hand. Douglass was coming down the stairway. Joshua said:
"Fetch me a pair of shoes, will you, Lucie? And take these boots up for me."
He felt her fingers on his as she reached for the boots. She asked, as she moved away, "But which shoes, m'sieur?"
"Any pair," said Joshua. "Ask Partridge."
"Oui, m'sieur." She started upstairs and Joshua watched her go. Her ankles were good. Into this thought Douglass' voice came.
"I'd like a word with you, Joshua." She passed by him and went on into the drawing room.
Joshua followed her into the room he had just left. He went over to the fire and stood with his back to it.
Douglass put her black velvet cloak down on a chair. Her gown was black and a froth of lace fell over her white shoulders and arms.
"Very nice, sister," Joshua said.
"Thank you, Joshua," Douglass replied, eying first his stocking
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feet and then slowly raising her eyes to his face. He was looking back at her, one eyebrow lifted.
"Did you wish to speak with me?" he asked.
Douglass thought of the scene she had just witnessed. "I want to—" She stopped.
His blue eyes were frosty, "Well?" His voice challenged her.
Douglass spoke fast. "Lucie came here to meet her brother." The words tumbled out. "It had been six months since he had last written her. She finally obtained passage, and when she arrived ten days ago her brother had gone. She went to Mrs. Denny's, on Water Street, where he had been living. Mrs. Denny told her that her brother had despaired of her coming and had joined the army!"
"Well?" said Joshua.
"I just wanted you to know, Joshua." She hesitated. "She is very unworldly, having spent the last three years in a convent. She is seventeen, she—"
"Here is Barney," Joshua said. "And for your information, sister, I'm old enough to judge the innocence or worldliness of a woman."
Douglass turned. Marston had taken Barney's hat and cloak, and he was coming toward her. She extended her hand. "We were talking of Lucie, Captain." Barney released her hand. "Did you know she had been in a convent?"
"No, madam," Barney said. Standing over her, he was looking down at the shining waves of blonde hair and the curve of her white shoulder half concealed by the black lace.
"Couldn't you tell by her English that she had been educated?"
"I never thought about her English."
Joshua broke in. "Indeed, sister, it is you who have been spared some blunt English from me, because of Captain Barney's timely arrival." He swung around and then decided to see if Lucie had returned yet with his shoes. He looked out into the hall; she was coming down the stairway, shoes in hand. Joshua took them, thanked her and sat down. "Would you care for something to drink before we go?" he asked Barney.
"No, thank you," Barney said. He was amused. Douglass had risen and was standing, looking from one to the other. Barney grinned. "I've no doubt you deserved the reproof, English," he said. "How do you like it here?"
"In the colonies?" asked Douglass.
Joshua looked up from his shoes; he met Barney's eyes. Barney
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bowed to Douglass. "Touche, my dear. But would you answer my question?"
Douglass flipped her fan open, and looked over it. "I find a very tolerable French influence everywhere, gentlemen. Also I must confess surprise. I rather expected to hear much talk of politics, and such like; instead the gentlemen of the city here are divided into two opposite camps—over the rival merits of two French hairdressers!"
Joshua had finished with his shoes. He stood. Once more Douglass looked from one to the other. "And, sirs, I was told I should have to conform, whereas both of you do exactly as you please! Yes, and so does Miss Goodenough next door. Being a Quaker, she doesn't even pay her taxes for the upkeep of the war!"
Joshua said, "There is a vast difference between you and Miss Goodenough, aside from her intellectual achievements."
Douglass drew a deep breath.
Joshua went on, "Miss Goodenough is seventy-seven. Are you ready to go, sister?"
"I believe so," Douglass said haughtily. "Lucie!"
Lucie had been standing in the hall waiting. She could not have helped hearing Joshua, As he came out into the hallway she was hardly reassured by the quick look she received; her hands clasped tight over Douglass' bag. Douglass came out in the hall with Barney and the four cf them stood there while Joshua asked:
"Was it your intention that Lucie attend you at the theatre, sister?"
"Yes," Douglass said, handing Lucie her fan, which Lucie put into the bag.
"It is hardly necessary, sister. Not usual."
Then Joshua looked at both of them. The candlelight in the wall sconces gleamed on Lucie's coiled braids and her eyes, so soft a blue they were almost violet, were fastened on his in appeal. Joshua caught Barney's eye and Barney threw up his hands helplessly. He laughed.
"Damned if I know who won this encounter, sir," he said, as they went out the big doors with Lucie coming behind. She had never been in a theatre before. She climbed up front with the driver. Barney handed Douglass into the carriage he had waiting. "Careful of your brittle bones, Miss Goodenough," he said.
It was a few minutes after six when they arrived at the theatre, so
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the first skit was being presented. Douglass sat between Barney and Joshua, and Lucie sat just behind in the box, after she had carefully put madam's cloak and muff on another chair. By this time they had succeeded in getting the attention of most of the audience so that when the curtains swung closed, Lucie became aware that everybody was looking in their direction. The theatre got noisier than it had been and Lucie wondered how anyone heard what was going on or what the actors were saying. Barney's name was being called out loudly.
Then the curtains opened again. A man came striding out on the stage and almost up to their box; he bowed to Barney and a very pretty girl ran out and curtsied to him. They waved their hands for silence, and the audience, sensing something, actually became fairly quiet.