Read Online Pride of the King, The by Amanda Hughes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amanda Hughes
Tags: United States, Historical fiction, Romance, Historical, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Genre Fiction, French
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girl's wounds.
"Rene was here to see you again this morning," said Eugenie.
"I suppose I was upstairs with Madame as usual ," said Lauren.
"Yes, I think you were dressing her at that time."
"Oh," Lauren sighed, dabbing a poultice on the blisters, "I wish I could get away from here, even if it was only for an hour. I feel too young to be buried here."
The reflection from the fire danced over the girls as they sat deep in thought.
"I've been thinking, Lauren. Why can't Marianne and I take care of Madame while you go out some afternoon with Rene?"
"Oh, yes,” said Lauren sarcastically. “You have nothing better to do than to take on my work.”
“We could do it,” Eugenie protested.
“I won’t let you and Marianne do my work for me," she said indignantly.
"Then do our work sometime, so we can get away too."
Lauren straightened up and smiled, "Do you suppose we could do such a thing?"
"I don't see why not," returned the girl.
"Oh!" cried Lauren, grabbing Eugenie’s hands. “You’re brilliant! But what if Monsieur comes home?”
"Well--" Eugenie said, biting her lip, "Let's see. Of course! Take the dogs with you! We shall say you are walking the dogs, and when it’s our turn you can say we are at market."
"Oh Eugenie, you are wonderful!" cried Lauren, hugging her friend.
The following day Lauren finished her work as quickly as possible and settled Madame down for the afternoon. She removed her apron, put on a straw hat and tied the green ribbons under her chin into a smart bow.
Marianne was in the kitchen when Lauren burst in. The old woman stopped turning the spit and marveled at the girl. Lauren had chosen a flowered waist with a green skirt Anne had made for her. She wore a pale yellow linen neckerchief tucked smartly into the matching green bodice. She had tied her auburn hair into a loose knot at the back of her head and her cheeks wore a blush of excitement.
"Slow down, slow down girl! Don't you be getting into trouble now," warned Marianne. She could still remember how springtime filled a young girl with fancy.
“I won’t,” promised Lauren as she raced around the kitchen preparing an apple butter sandwich and pouring a mug of milk. She stuffed the bread into her mouth and guzzled down the milk as she ran out the door.
“Don't forget the dogs!" reminded Marianne.
“Oh! I was so excited I almost forgot," she said with her mouth full.
Baroness and Duchess were delighted to go for a walk in the warm afternoon sun. The Great Danes danced and tugged at the leash. With several sharp commands, the dogs settled right down. In spite of Madame's spoiling, Lauren had taught the dogs to respect her, and they knew that she would not tolerate insubordination. She opened the gate and turned to look back. There in Madame's window was Marianne waving to her. Eugenie was in the kitchen preparing afternoon chocolate, and Monsieur was at the lead mine. All was going as planned.
Summer had come at last to Kaskaskia, and it seemed like the whole village was alive. It was a grand day, and Lauren marveled at how fresh the air smelled. This time of year in New Orleans the atmosphere grew sultry and the fevers began, but here in Kaskaskia there was new life. There were gardens to tend, crops to plant and new babies being born.
Lauren took the dogs down through town directly to the Lupone home. Anne was on her knees weeding the garden when she came through the gate. She stood up and wiped her hands on her apron smiling broadly. "Well, well I didn't think I was ever going to see you again," she said hugging the girl, "We've all missed you terribly Lauren, but it is Rene who has been lost without you."
Lauren looked down. She had been cold to Rene lately, and she hoped that his feelings had not changed for her. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing him again.
Little Celeste Lupone was sitting at Anne’s feet smiling as she smeared handfuls of mud all over her face and gown. "Look at Celeste!" Lauren laughed
"Rene was here to see you again this morning," said Eugenie.
"I suppose I was upstairs with Madame as usual ," said Lauren.
"Yes, I think you were dressing her at that time."
"Oh," Lauren sighed, dabbing a poultice on the blisters, "I wish I could get away from here, even if it was only for an hour. I feel too young to be buried here."
The reflection from the fire danced over the girls as they sat deep in thought.
"I've been thinking, Lauren. Why can't Marianne and I take care of Madame while you go out some afternoon with Rene?"
"Oh, yes,” said Lauren sarcastically. “You have nothing better to do than to take on my work.”
“We could do it,” Eugenie protested.
“I won’t let you and Marianne do my work for me," she said indignantly.
"Then do our work sometime, so we can get away too."
Lauren straightened up and smiled, "Do you suppose we could do such a thing?"
"I don't see why not," returned the girl.
"Oh!" cried Lauren, grabbing Eugenie’s hands. “You’re brilliant! But what if Monsieur comes home?”
"Well--" Eugenie said, biting her lip, "Let's see. Of course! Take the dogs with you! We shall say you are walking the dogs, and when it’s our turn you can say we are at market."
"Oh Eugenie, you are wonderful!" cried Lauren, hugging her friend.
The following day Lauren finished her work as quickly as possible and settled Madame down for the afternoon. She removed her apron, put on a straw hat and tied the green ribbons under her chin into a smart bow.
Marianne was in the kitchen when Lauren burst in. The old woman stopped turning the spit and marveled at the girl. Lauren had chosen a flowered waist with a green skirt Anne had made for her. She wore a pale yellow linen neckerchief tucked smartly into the matching green bodice. She had tied her auburn hair into a loose knot at the back of her head and her cheeks wore a blush of excitement.
"Slow down, slow down girl! Don't you be getting into trouble now," warned Marianne. She could still remember how springtime filled a young girl with fancy.
“I won’t,” promised Lauren as she raced around the kitchen preparing an apple butter sandwich and pouring a mug of milk. She stuffed the bread into her mouth and guzzled down the milk as she ran out the door.
“Don't forget the dogs!" reminded Marianne.
“Oh! I was so excited I almost forgot," she said with her mouth full.
Baroness and Duchess were delighted to go for a walk in the warm afternoon sun. The Great Danes danced and tugged at the leash. With several sharp commands, the dogs settled right down. In spite of Madame's spoiling, Lauren had taught the dogs to respect her, and they knew that she would not tolerate insubordination. She opened the gate and turned to look back. There in Madame's window was Marianne waving to her. Eugenie was in the kitchen preparing afternoon chocolate, and Monsieur was at the lead mine. All was going as planned.
Summer had come at last to Kaskaskia, and it seemed like the whole village was alive. It was a grand day, and Lauren marveled at how fresh the air smelled. This time of year in New Orleans the atmosphere grew sultry and the fevers began, but here in Kaskaskia there was new life. There were gardens to tend, crops to plant and new babies being born.
Lauren took the dogs down through town directly to the Lupone home. Anne was on her knees weeding the garden when she came through the gate. She stood up and wiped her hands on her apron smiling broadly. "Well, well I didn't think I was ever going to see you again," she said hugging the girl, "We've all missed you terribly Lauren, but it is Rene who has been lost without you."
Lauren looked down. She had been cold to Rene lately, and she hoped that his feelings had not changed for her. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing him again.
Little Celeste Lupone was sitting at Anne’s feet smiling as she smeared handfuls of mud all over her face and gown. "Look at Celeste!" Lauren laughed
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