He lay still; he became aware of the presence of someone else, and turned his head to see who was in the room. He frowned at her.
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"Lucie," he muttered. He raised himself on one elbow cautiously, looking around the dimly lit room. "What time is it?"
"A half after three, sir."
"I'm hot," Joshua grumbled irritably, and pushed back the top blanket and grimaced, for he had moved his leg.
Lucie cried, "I do it!" She took the top blanket off, and folded it back. She felt his eyes on her, and she straightened and looked back at him.
"I was dreaming," he said, frowning at her.
"Oui, m'sieur," Lucie said.
"Did I speak aloud?" he asked, keeping his frown.
She nodded, catching her hp in white teeth. "Oui."
"Well, tell me what I said!" Joshua gave a grunt as he started to sit up and feel for a pillow.
Lucie was torn between answering his question and helping him find the pillow; with his eyes on her she found difficulty in doing anything. But she lifted the big pillow and shoved it behind him. Joshua leaned back against it and rubbed his hand over his forehead to push the short hair back, "Well?" he asked.
"You said, sir—I am trying to recall exact—you said: 'Now that you have the ship I can't sail with you because of this goddamned leg!'"
Joshua said forcibly, "What a silly damn dream!" Then he smiled a little. "My language sounds incongruous on your lips." He drew a deep breath and tried easing his leg into another position. "Cramped," he said. Once more he looked up at her. "What are you doing here, Lucie?"
"Madame and I—" Lucie said. "We watch."
"Oh, God," said Joshua. "What are you watching? If there's anything I hate, it's women fussing."
Lucie's eyes regarded him. "I do not fuss, sir."
Joshua smiled. "Don't you?"
She hesitated. "I don't think I do." Then, "What does it mean— fuss?"
He laughed.
"I think I know," she said, gravely. "But perhaps I do not understand the male mind. Do you want your man?"
"Lord, no," said Joshua; he was amused. "Go on, Lucie. Explain further."
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She said, "You fight and receive a bullet. I make you comfortable and do what you ask."
"Direct and simple," said Joshua, "and there may be some merit to such a program, A pity I can't take full advantage of it."
"What, sir?" asked Lucie.
He grinned. "Fm thirsty. First I ask for half a glass of water."
"Oui, m'sieur," she said, turning away. Joshua peered past her.
"Hold," he said, as he watched. "Enough. Assez!"
She turned to look.
"Pour a trifle out and now fill it up with whiskey," Joshua said.
"Oui," murmured Lucie, filling the glass. She brought it over to him and watched him as he tasted it. "Does it suit?"
"Oui," said Joshua.
She said, "You mimic me."
"Oui," he said. He looked at her. "Damn it, you're a beautiful female. Your accent is music to the ears; you have me at a disadvantage immediately with it. Say something else to me."
She leaned forward, the candlelight shining on the auburn braids. "What do you wish I should say? No, I intend—what do you wish to say about? Is that right?"
"Where were you born?" Joshua asked.
"In Normandie. Near the sea. We have great rocky coast. It is very beautiful there."
"I know," said Joshua. "Do you want to go back?"
"No, m'sieur."
"No?" He drank the rest of the whiskey and water. Lucie took the glass from him. He yawned. "I don't know why I'm so sleepy," he said. "I was going to smoke a pipe."
Lucie said, "You had laudanum."
"Laudanum? How long did Dr. Hindman say I'd be confined in this damned bed?"
"He did not say. Captain Barney said to tell you he would call tomorrow."
"I think," said Joshua, "I'll stay drunk for two days and then get up."
Lucie dimpled.
"Do I amuse you?" Joshua growled.
"Oui," said Lucie. "You are so mad because somebody shot you." She held the glass, and she turned to put it down on the table. She came back to the bedside. "Now what you want, sir?"
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Joshua smiled and looked sleepy.
Lucie said, solemnly, "Is it fuss if I straighten the linen?" She waited for his answer.
"I guess not." He slid carefully down flat on his back again. Lucie bent over him, to smooth out and turn down the sheet.
"La," she said.
Joshua reached for her with both hands. "I couldn't resist," he began, looking into her dark blue eyes; he caught her head between his hands and pulled her down for a kiss on the red lips so near his. "Um," he said, releasing her. "That was nice." He smiled as she straightened up quickly. "Wasn't it?" he asked, catching her hand in his.
"Oui," she said. She sat down.
Joshua kept hold of her hand. His eyes closed. Lucie thought he was sound asleep. When his voice came, she jumped.
"What are you thinking about?"
His blue eyes were open again. She said, "I was thinking that was how a kiss worked, m'sieur." Her heart beat fast.
He grinned. "We'll work it again sometime, Lucie," he said.
She was silent. The next time she looked at him he was asleep.
Chapter 17
IT WAS THE THIRTIETH OF NOVEMBER, A COLD GREY DAY IN BOTH New York and Philadelphia. In New York harbor, aboard the flagship "Sandwich," Admiral George Rodney dipped his pen and began to write.
"The occurrence of consequence is Lord Cornwallis' retreat in North Carolina. The whole expedition appears to me to have been an ill-concerted measure and could only tend to weaken the army and give the rebels the opportunity of destroying our troops by detail."
He leaned back in his chair and frowned. Then he continued. This was an important letter, for he must make clear to Lord Sandwich the state of the war in these colonies.
"The Highlands of Hudson River, which cut off communication between northern and southern provinces here, was the post which
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Arnold was to have betrayed to us. The rebels would have been undone had the scheme succeeded. At all events it must," he hesitated and underlined, "it must be recovered. I offered every assistance but was told it was too late."
"The damned fools," he muttered aloud in the silent cabin. His anger enabled him to proceed strongly.
"The evacuation of Rhode Island was the most fatal measure that could have been adopted. It gave up the best harbor in America from whence squadrons in forty-eight hours could blockade the three capital cities. France has wisely taken advantage of our misconduct, and has made it now impregnable. I now come to the third evacuation—Portsmouth and Hampton, a post which commands the Chesapeake. I fear again this will hamper the actions of the fleet here immensely. Now I myself shall proceed immediately to my station in the West Indies."
He stood up. Retreat in Carolina; the loss of Portsmouth and Rhode Island! His mouth was bitter.
In Philadelphia that day the newspapers printed a newly written poem alongside the war news from Carolina. They boxed it on the front page, for Captain Barney was recruiting a crew.
"Come all ye lads that know no fear. To wealth and honor we will steer. In the Athena privateer Commanded by bold Barney.
She's new and true and tight and sound. Well rigged aloft and all well found. Come and be with laurel crowned. Away and leave your lasses."
Barney looked up from the paper. "I could have done better myself," he said. "And it gets worse."
Gouverneur Morris smiled. The paper lay on the table, and Gouverneur tapped it with his finger. "Seems now to be incontrovertible the British have bitten off more than they can chew in Carolina. God, that's a bloody campaign, Barney."