All the way from Fleur’s cabin into town, Bayard had talked steadily. Fleur rode her mare, and the two traveled at a fast clip. As they neared the city, Bayard saw that the girl was frightened.
Once in New Orleans, she looked around carefully at every-thing. “I have never see such a big place. How you ever find your way?”
“The same way you find your way in the bayou, I expect. By going over it and over it. Come. Our home isn’t far from here.”
When they arrived at the house, Fleur admired its size and said, “This is your house?”
“My family’s house. The stable is in back. We’ll have our driver take care of the animals.”
They rode to the back, and Robert met them. “Robert, this is Miss Fleur Avenall. She’s going to be staying with us. I want you to take good care of her mare. Grain her, and rub her down.”
“Yes, sir. Good to see you, Miss Fleur.”
“Your name is Robert? I am glad to know you.”
“Come along. Simone will be so happy. She talks about you a lot.”
Fleur grew tense when they entered the house. She looked around and saw the wallpaper with bright colors, the shining cypress floor, the light streaming through the high windows. “I’ve never been in a place like this.”
“Fleur, you’ve come to visit!” Simone had come down the hall, and she hurried forward with a smile on her face. She put out her hand, and when they had shaken hands, she put her arm around Fleur and said, “What a delightful surprise!”
“I have some bad news, Simone,” Bayard said quickly. “Fleur’s mother passed away last week.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Fleur. I wish you had gotten word to us so we could have come.”
“I did not really think of it.”
“But you’re here now, I hope for a long visit.”
“She certainly is—as long as we can persuade her. I want you to take her upstairs and let her have the green room. I’ll have Robert bring her things up.”
“Of course. Come along, Fleur.” Simone led the way up the stairs and down the hall. She opened the door and said, “This will be your room. I hope you’ll like it. It’s always been one of my favorites.”
Fleur stepped inside and then stopped dead still. “I have never see such a room,” she whispered. The room was wallpapered with green-and-gold flocked wallpaper all the way up to the high, white ceiling. The dark wooden floor was covered with a very large brown, green, and beige carpet with designs of flowers, leaves, and birds on it, and two tall windows were covered with dark green velvet curtains that were now pulled back to admit the day’s light. The furniture was all quite large and made of mahogany, with the bed dominating the middle of the room with its tall posts and covered canopy. Many pic-tures decorated the walls, all in ornate gold frames, and a beautifully carved mirror hung over the washstand holding a fine porcelain basin and pitcher.
“I think is too fine for me.”
“No, it’s just right for you.” Simone put her arm around the girl. “I’m so sorry about your mother, but I want you to stay with us for a long, long time. I’ve always wanted a sister, and now I have one.”
When Fleur looked up, Simone saw tears in her eyes. “I am too ignorant. I would not know what to say to your family or your friends.”
Simone said, “That’s foolishness. Why, you know a lot more about many things than any of my friends.”
“What could I know that a fine lady like you would not know?”
“Well, I don’t know how to skin a coon or dress a ’gator.”
Fleur smiled. It was not a full smile, but she no longer looked sad. “I will teach you how when you come and visit with me.”
“That’s a bargain.”
The two talked until Robert brought her things up, and when Simone saw the pitiful clothing, only one faded dress, she said, “I know what we will do first thing. I need some new things, and we’ll both go out and buy new dresses.”
“But I have no money.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. Papa is always generous. You are so pretty, and we’ll fix you up fine.”
Bayard saw during the evening meal that Fleur was overwhelmed by the world into which he had thrust her. His parents had welcomed her fulsomely, and Simone had made much of her. Still Fleur looked with panic, he saw, on the table that was set with china and a full set of tableware. Why, she doesn’t know which fork to use or even how to eat in a place like this, he thought. It must be terrible for her.
The others saw the girl’s embarrassment and tried to set her at ease, but Fleur ate very little and f inally whispered in a voice barely audible, “I would like to go to my room, if you don’t mind.”
“Why, of course,” Simone said. “You must be tired. Shall I go with you?”
“No, thank you. I can find it.”
As soon as Fleur left, Simone said, “She’s frightened by all of this.”
“Well, she might be,” Renee said. “From what you told me, she has absolutely nothing. Think how out of place we’d be if we were put in a cabin in the middle of a bayou.”
“Well, she will learn,” Louis said quickly. “She a fine girl, and I can see that she’s very intelligent.”
“We must be careful of her feelings,” Simone said. “I’ll spend every moment I can with her. I’m going to take her shopping tomor-row, Father. She doesn’t have a thing to wear. I must have some money.”
“Buy her whatever she needs, my dear.”
Bayard was troubled, for he had wanted things to be different. After everyone had gone to their rooms, he found he could not sleep. Finally he made up his mind: I’ve got to do something!
He went to the room assigned to Fleur and tapped on the door lightly. “Fleur, are you awake?”
There was a long silence, and then the door opened. Fleur had not dressed for bed. He realized she probably had nothing to wear.
“Are you sleepy?” Bayard asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“Come downstairs with me. I want to show you something.”
“You mean now?”
“Yes, now. Come along.” She stepped outside, giving him a strange look. He turned and walked down the stairs, and she accom-panied him. “Let’s just go outside.” Once outdoors, he said, “Come around over here, out from under the trees.” He led her to an open spot and said, “There’s what I wanted to show you.” He gestured at the stars and said, “I’ve never seen as many stars in my life. You remember we talked about that out at your home.”
Fleur looked up. The moonlight bathed her face with a silver light. She seemed small and fragile, but her eyes lit up as she looked at the sky. “They are ver’ beautiful. I remember I tell you God named each one of them.”
“Well, I know a few. There’s Arcturis right up there. You see?”
“Arcturis? That is his name?”
“That’s what the astronomers call it. And over there, that’s Sirius. They call it the Dog Star.” He continued to name off the few stars he knew, and she watched quietly.
Suddenly Fleur said, “I must go home. I do not fit in this place.”
Bayard saw that her face was drawn tight. He could not help but notice how lovely her skin was. The summer darkness lay over it, but her shirt fell away from her throat, showing the smooth olive shading beneath. Her black hair lay rolled and heavy on her head, a dense black that shone under the moonlight. The pale light revealed the soft lines of her body. Bayard remembered then how she had saved his life, nursed him back to health, and a great desire to do her good stirred in him. He asked suddenly, “Did you weep when your mother died?”
She held her head up, and he saw the tears glittering in her eyes. “No,” she whispered, “I did not.”
He saw the tremor in her body, and then the tears overflowed. He reached out and pulled her close, holding her head against his chest. “Maybe I can help,” he whispered. Her body continued to tremble, and he heard her quiet sobs. He made no attempt to speak, but he held her firmly until the weeping stopped. She straightened up and put her hands on his chest. “Is the first time I have cry.”
“We all need to cry, Fleur, even me.”
She looked at him shyly.
Bayard reached down, took her hand, and kissed it. “I learned so much from you and your mother. Maybe now you can learn a little bit from me and from my family. You must stay here and become a part of us. It will be exciting,” he said.
Her face seemed to glow then. She looked up at him and said, “Maybe I will stay for a little while, me.”