Subj: Grammar Story -- 11
Date: 7/3/00 1:13:06 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Beverly LaCroix

Jeremiah entered the drawing room, an idea having formulated in his mind, he knew now was the time. "I must be crazy, and I know I will regret it later, but here goes." Jeremiah mumbled aloud. "Jeremiah! What in the world has happened to you?" Abigail stated, while Joshua simply stared, and Naomi poured another drink.

"Whatever are you talking about, dear sister?" Jeremiah said, and winked at her, watching her grow angrier than she already was.

"You certainly look like you've been in a fierce battle. Has a war started, and I was not informed?" Joshua said piously.

"No, of course not. I just came in, and I heard the somewhat loud conversation going on in here. You know, Joshua, with servants hanging about, and listening at doors, hiding in shadows, you should learn to control your temper. You, too, Abigail," Jeremiah said before she could say a word.

"May I ask what happened to you?" Joshua questioned his younger brother, not biting the bait about the volume of the family quarrels. He simply changed the subject.

Jeremiah knew he should have changed, and cleaned up before coming in here, but he didn't have time. Time was important, and he realized now, he was freezing, among other things. He felt like all his energy had been drained out of him by some huge vortex hovering in the heavens with no other purpose but to defeat mortals, when they needed it.'

"Joshua, I know I should have changed before coming in here, and interrupting this little tete a tete, but after hearing what you and Abigail were saying about Mademoselle Bouchard, I felt I had no choice." Jeremiah responded.

"Before we get off on that tangent, I need to know if you have seen Barnabas?" Naomi slurred, pouring another drink.

Jeremiah walked over to her, and very gently took her by the shoulders, looking into her beautiful eyes, he couldn't help thinking, as he had thought so many times before, another tragedy brought on by his well-meaning brother. He was careful to not soil her beautiful gown, mourning wear, but his sister-in-law always managed to wear clothes like royalty.

"Yes, I have seen Barnabas, Naomi. There will be no duel." Jeremiah told her softly.

Gazing up at Jeremiah, Naomi said, "thank you, Jeremiah."

"Well, that is certainly a relief. Poor Josette was bewitched, and probably Barnabas. We need to do something about Miss Winters, Joshua." Abigail said indignantly. Jeremiah noticed she had the look of a hungry wolf that had found its prey, and was toying with it.

He shook that thought off, and said, "Joshua, I did not come in here to indulge our sister's favorite new pasttime, witchhunting." Jeremiah said vehemently, all the time shooting daggers at his sister.

"You are quite right, brother. Would you like a drink before you go upstairs to clean up?" Joshua said walking to the small bar, noticing Naomi was very intoxicated by now.

"Certainly, Joshua. Brandy, please." Jeremiah stated.

"Now, what was so important to bring you in here, ruining the floor with all that mud on your boots, and dripping wet? It had better be good, because I do not want to hear the housekeeper's complaints about your
lack of concern for how hard she works.

"Abigail, where is that upstairs maid. Find her, and see that Naomi is escorted to her rooms." Joshua said looking at his wife with disgust.

Abigail and Naomi had left, leaving Joshua and Jeremiah to talk alone, which is what Jeremiah preferred. When he had walked Naomi to the double doors, he had saw a shadow, it was Angelique eavesdropping he knew that, so he had to be very careful not to draw any suspicion to himself, not even a hint that she would know that he knew about her, and her evil copulating with the devil, leaving in her wake, death, pain, and
destruction.

"Well, what is it?" Joshua said to his brother, coming straight to the point.

"It concerns Madamoseille Bouchard, the personal maid the DuPr=E9s' left behind for Josette. She cannot go back to them, you know that. She would never survive in Martinique now. She would be blamed for Josette's death. Their custom would allow her to be put to death by her peers, and they would do it in a very cruel manner, believe me, I saw it once. The servants, and inhabitants loved Josette. They had known her since she was a young girl, and watched her grow up. She had been very good to them all, and especially Angelique. If you send her back, you will be signing her death warrant." Jeremiah said knowing Angelique heard his every word.

"That is preposetrous, Andre would never allow such a barbaric act," Joshua said.

"Yes, he would. There's nothing he can do to stop it. It's none of his concern how the islanders punish their own, and you know it. She cannot be sent back. She's a young and very beautiful woman, a maiden," Jeremiah said, not finishing because Joshua interrupted him.

"That is one thing you do not know for certain. Andre held a light hand over his servants," Joshua said.

"Yes, but the Countess did not." Jeremiah shot back.

"What is your point, Jermiah?" Joshua said, finally exasperrated with this whole conversation.

"My point is she cannot be sent back to Martinique." Jeremiah said, equally as exasperrated with his brother.

"And how is that my concern?" Joshua said, anger threading the question.

"She did find Sarah, and probably saved her life." Jeremiah said in answer, shooting a quick prayer of forgiveness towards heaven for his little lie.

"Jeremiah, Sarah would have been found. Boston is a civilized place, and anyone seeing a little girl like Sarah wandering around would have taken her to the local constable." Joshua said shortly.

"Joshua, she could have been kidnapped, held for ransom, violated and then murdered." Jeremiah said not mincing his words. He was prepared for this particular argument.

"Back to Miss Bouchard, what exactly is your interest in her?" Joshua questioned.