Chapter Twelve: L'accusation (The Accusation)
Québec did impress Hermioniah. As a matter of fact, it still impressed Henri. The citadel upon the hill overlooking the river. The church of Notre Dame ringing for Vespers. The busy docks and marketplace. A bit of France in the midst of the wilderness.
"Master Henri!" Waiting on the beach along the river was Henri's servant Daubé. He had a huge grin on his dark face as he took hold of the bow of the canoe and helped pull it up on the sand. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon," said Daubé. "Then Monsieur Tonquet came riding in and said you had been seen just outside the city. He's gone to fetch Lupin."
"Exactly the man I want to see," replied Henri. "Daubé, this is Hermioniah, an ally in our battle against Le Sieur Sans Un Nom. Hermioniah, this is Daubé, a servant in my house and a good friend."
Daubé bowed. "I was the slave of a follower of Le Sieur Sans Un Nom. Master Henri won my freedom from him when he was only twelve years of age."
"Yes, Henri is a hero," said Ronald impatiently, "in case you didn't know that already. Daubé, is there any chance of a good dinner when we get to Henri's house? I'm famished."
"Everything is ready for you. Dinner… and baths."
Ronald sighed happily. "Daubé, you are a hero."
Henri's coach was on hand, and as he sunk into the luxurious cushions, Henri marveled at how he'd survived the discomforts of the wilderness for so long. Hermioniah was examining the cushions with a rapt expression on her face.
"You have many belongings," she stated at last.
"Henri's rich as Croesus," said Ronald. "He was wealthy enough in the first place - his father's family had done well in the fur trade - but he also inherited the house and money of his godfather, Cyrille de Nigelle."
"So we are going to the house where we hope to find the locket?" Hermioniah asked.
"Yes," said Henri. "Perhaps we might find it this very evening, if le bon Dieu wills it."
"First we eat," warned Ronald. "I'm not scrambling about until I'm properly fed and cleansed. Hermioniah, I suppose you've never had a hot bath…"
She raised her eyebrow. "Explain."
"If Tonquet's there, she can show you everything," said Henri quickly. It was hardly proper for Ronald to teach Hermioniah about bathing, even if they were betrothed.
"Tonquet? I thought you spoke of Tonquet as a man," said Hermioniah, puzzled.
"Ah, yes. We had better explain that to you. Tonquet is actually Dora Tonks. Her father, Theodore Tonks, is an English merchant in Boston. Her mother, though, is Andromède de Nigelle, my godfather's cousin and the sister of Narcisse and Isabelle de Nigelle. Andromède left her family behind and never looked back, but her daughter Dora longed for adventure. So she left Boston, where everyone knew her, dressed as a man, and came to New France as Isidore Tonquet, an assistant to the Intendant. Dumbledore knew her secret, of course, and helped her carry out the plan. He was like that, always encouraging people to make the most of their talents…" Henri trailed off, suddenly remembering how alone he was now, since his mentor's death.
"Very few people know she's a woman," said Ronald. "You, me, Henri, Daubé, Remy Lupin, a few others. My family, of course. And you mustn't call her anything but Tonquet. She doesn't like the name 'Dora.'"
"I look forward to meeting her," said Hermioniah. "I already admire her for her courage."
Tonquet and Lupin had just ridden up together when they arrived at the de Nigelle house. As Henri had hoped, Tonquet immediately took Hermioniah under her wing, and whisked her off to be cleaned up and briefed on whatever it was that a woman in New France should know.
Remy Lupin had embraced both Ronald and Henri and was now smiling at Ronald's boasts of heroism on their adventure, as they sat about the kitchen waiting for the water for washing up to finish heating. The water for Hermioniah had already been taken upstairs by Daubé.
"There's not a day goes by but someone asks me if I know where you are," said Lupin, after they'd finished their tale. "You're more famous than ever here. But there's very little else to tell you. It's been very quiet here, except for Flêcher's unfortunate burglary of the Bishop's residence."
"He WHAT?" splurted out Ronald.
Lupin nodded. "Very unwise of him. He's probably going to be sent back to France in the Spring. Right now he's cooling off his heels in a cell."
"Poor man," said Ronald, his sympathy sounding somewhat less than heart-felt. "So, how have Wilfred and Georges been bearing up with us gone?"
"Piling up gold, the two of them. What with their contraptions. The clockwork mouse is especially popular with their customers. Give your friends a jump, that sort of thing."
Henri smiled. "Now, about that locket," he began. And stopped, interrupted by a frantic banging on the door.
Daubé came running down the stairs and then, taking a second to compose himself, opened the door. A young woman, wearing the white cap and neat, drab clothes of a servant, was there, breathing rather heavily, as if she'd been running. Henri had never seen her before.
"Is Captain Véslée's brother really here?" she demanded.
Ronald pushed by Daubé. "Yes," he said. "I'm here."
"Madame Véslée's been asking for you since she heard you were come," the maidservant explained.
"Tell Pénélope that her husband would not approve of his family visiting his house behind his back," said Ronald scornfully.
"You don't understand. She wants to see you because she is… dying." The maidservant burst into tears.
"Dying?" asked Ronald sharply.
"Yes," the woman sobbed. "She's been in labour for almost two days now, and the doctors say there's no hope, that she won't be able to deliver this child. She's barely conscious of us, and the priest has given her Extreme Unction, but when she heard your name mentioned, she insisted on seeing you."
Henri felt sick in the pit of his stomach. He had known Pénélope Claireau in the old days, well, only three years ago, really. Percivale Véslée had courted her, and though Henri had no idea what the lively Mademoiselle Claireau had seen in Ronald's stuffy brother, she'd returned his affections. In fact, the last time Henri had seen her was at her wedding. Since then, she'd had one child, a daughter. It was rumoured Percivale had been very disappointed it had not been a son And now she was dying?
"We'll come immediately," said Ronald, and Henri nodded. They were just about to run out the door after the maidservant, when Tonquet and Hermioniah came down the stairs. Hermioniah was washed and wearing a lovely blue dress that Tonquet had apparently produced. Ronald's mouth fell open at the sight.
"You're beautiful," he muttered.
"Only now that I'm dressed like a Frenchwoman?" asked Hermioniah, frowned.
"No, you're always beautiful," stammered Ronald. "But Hermioniah, we have to go. Lupin will explain it to you."
"Pénélope is near death in childbirth," Henri said to Tonquet, then turned to leave.
"Wait!" said Hermioniah, and ran after them.
She caught up with them a little down the street. Ronald turned on her. "For Heaven's sake, Hermioniah, go back to the house!"
"You're going to a childbirth, Ronald. Have you ever even seen a woman giving birth? Because I have. In fact, I've helped my mother assist on every birth in our village for most of the years I can remember. I know what to do. I could save this woman's life."
Ronald grumbled, but they kept running. "The doctor here has studied at school," he told her as they went along. "What can you know that he doesn't?"
"Orenda," said Hermioniah simply. "You've forgotten that I've been trained in the use of the healing powers."
The doctor was leaving the house when they arrived at its front door. "There's nothing more I can do," he excused himself when he recognized Ronald. "And I have an urgent call elsewhere. Madame Pommefret is watching over her."
Madame Pommefret was the most respected nurse and midwife in the town of Québec. Some people in fact thought better of her than of any doctor. She'd set Henri's arm once, and it had healed perfectly.
A sad smile appeared on the good woman's face when they entered. "You've come in time," she said quietly. "Just in time." She turned towards the bed. "Madame Véslée, Ronald is here."
Pénélope was lying against two pillows, her face streaked with sweat and her hair a tangle all about her. Hermioniah knelt down beside the bed and took her hand. Madame Pommefret stared.
"Who is this savage?" Madame Pommefret demanded of Henri.
"My name is Hermioniah." She was speaking to Pénélope, rather than the midwife. She gazed into Pénélope's frightened eyes, trying to calm the woman. "I'm here to help you. Breathe deeply."
Pénélope shuddered. "I've tried!" she cried out in anguish. "I've pushed and I've pushed, and I just can't! It's going to start again soon, and it'll kill me this time! I know."
"This time, you'll have me to guide you," said Hermioniah soothingly, and Pénélope seemed to calm down a little.
"Tell Ronald he must make peace with Percivale," she whispered. "For my daughter's sake. She'll need a family now she's losing her mother."
Tears trickled down Ronald's face. Then suddenly Pénélope screamed. The contractions were beginning again.
"Let go of her," Madame Pommefret ordered Hermioniah, then tried to pull her away from the bedside.
Hermioniah didn't even look up. "Please remove this woman, Ronald and Henri," she ordered.
They only hesitated for a moment, then they dragged Madame Pommefret out of the room, kicking and protesting
Five minutes later, Pénélope's cries were joined by another sound. The fierce angry tones of an infant.
"You may come in now," called Hermioniah, and letting go of Madame Pommefret, they ran to the door.
Pénélope lay peacefully upon the bed and Hermioniah was holding a squirming red baby boy in her arms. A triumphant smile was on her face.
"How?" demanded Madame Pommefret, putting her arms out for the child.
"She did… something magic," piped out the maidservant, who'd remained in the room. "Said heathen words."
"Orenda," said Hermioniah, once again. "The mother and child will be all right. I promise you."
Ronald flung his arms around her, and without thought for the opinions of the onlookers, kissed her.
A little while later, they were all in the kitchen, joined by Lupin and Tonquet, and discussing the events of the night, when there was a hammering on the door.
Tonquet went to open it. Her eyebrows rose at the sight of soldiers at the door. Captain Daulaishe was at their head.
"Monsieur Tonquet." He bowed. "I am sorry to disturb you, but I have been informed that there is an Iroquois witch in this house."
Henri gasped.
"I have had a report from the maidservant of Captain Véslée that this savage practiced her witchcraft upon the captain's wife. You must hand the woman over to us, so that she may be examined by the authorities."
Author's Notes: Yes, I'm ending this chapter on a bit of a cliffhanger. Hermioniah is in trouble. Can Henri and Ronald get her out of it?
But next chapter is back to Ginevre, who has her own troubles, and you'll finally meet Lunette Bienamour, who's blissfully unaware that Ronald has dumped her. I hope I'll be able to write it relatively quickly and get back to Hermioniah's predicament.