Page 62 of Echo in the Wind

On her right, she saw a dressing table, mirror and side table. To her left stood a magnificent four-poster, its cover, headboard and curtains all done up in azure blue velvet. Next to it was a fireplace with a white marble mantel.

She walked to the bed and ran her fingers over the soft blue velvet.

“The bed linens you see are the same color as the waters off Guernsey. I like the colors of the sky and the sea in my home.”

“I can see why. Guernsey must be a beautiful place.”

“I said you would like it. I do not think I am wrong.”

She turned to face him. “I doubt you are ever wrong, are you?”

“Not often. Not about you.”

That he should have such confidence in knowing her rankled, but then he had been the only one to see through her disguise. She had to give him that. Turning toward the door, she said, “Perhaps it is time for tea?”

He chuckled as if he had read her mind and gestured her out of the room.

While they waited for tea, Joanna looked around the parlor. Like her bedchamber, it was decorated in shades of blue. The curtains framing the lace-covered windows were a deep shade of Prussian blue. The two sofas that faced each other in front of the fireplace were a blue toile with white figures of a girl and a boy.

The housekeeper brought tea on an oval tray and set it on the small table between the sofas. Joanna poured, feeling Donet’s eyes on her as she did.

She sat on one sofa and he on the other. Behind him, she spotted a large ball hanging from the ceiling in one corner of the room. “Is that a globe?”

“It is.”

She set down her teacup and walked to the globe, turning it slowly. “I have never seen one hanging from the ceiling.”

“I thought it unique when I first saw it, like the planetarium clock I bought in London.”

She turned from the globe to see his wry smile. “I will grant you that both are truly unusual.” She was certain neither of them wanted to do battle again over a clock.

After they finished their tea, Joanna begged leave to rest. Though her wound no longer pained her, all the twisting and changing at Madame Provot’s left her in need of a rest before supper.

“I must see to some matters of business and my quartermaster will be by this afternoon, so I would not be good company in any event. By all means, do have a rest.”

Joanna returned to her bedchamber. A fire had been laid. Perhaps the housekeeper had a lad to help with such tasks. The air in the room was cool. She imagined the night might present a chill. A fire would be welcome.

On the bed was the package Madame Provot had given Donet. She took off her hat and managed to unlace her gown and slide it from her shoulders. She laid it across the chair sitting next to the fireplace. Until she had others, she would need to treat this gown with care.

She didn’t bother to remove her stays and petticoat. Inside the package, she found a shift-like garment decorated with delicate lace and pale green ribbon. She recalled the modiste had spoken of a chemise de nuit. Folded underneath was a lovely robe in green brocade silk. She set aside the chemise and donned the loose robe. Pulling back the velvet cover, she slipped between the soft sheets.

A moment later, she drifted to sleep with visions of a dark pirate standing on the deck of his ship gazing toward a dark shore.

“Rose, I need a maid for Lady Joanna, one who is free to travel with us to Saintonge. Do you know of a girl in Lorient who might be qualified for such a position?”

“Oui, Capitaine. My niece is training to be a lady’s maid and would leap at the opportunity. She is good with hair and even speaks a bit of English.”

“Excellent. Have her come around tomorrow morning so Lady Joanna can meet her to see if they suit.”

“Oui, Monsieur.” The housekeeper bowed and left as Vernier entered the study.

“Monsieur Bequel is here,” his valet announced.

“Show him in.” Jean set aside the ledgers he had been working on and greeted his quartermaster. “All goes well on the ship?”

Émile grinned. “Tout va bien, Capitaine.”

“Did you replace the one sailor?”