New Orleans Noel

Part 2

by Stacey

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Chapter 9

Later that night, Victoria would think that it would have been a wonderful evening if she hadn’t overheard two conversations. Certainly, the dinner had ended on a happy note and their arrival at the Trudeaus’ was greeted with obvious enthusiasm. Jocelyn Trudeau welcomed the California Barkleys each by name, exclaiming that she felt like she knew them all from Peter’s and Samantha’s descriptions. Robert was greeted with a hug and a kiss that he returned easily and then informed Jocelyn he was going to see what kind of trouble he could get into and wandered off. Victor Trudeau arrived at the foyer a few moments later and also greeted them enthusiastically, explaining he had been Peter’s lawyer for years but that he had promised his wife that he would not corner Jarrod and talk law all evening.

“And Audra and Eugene, I know you both are wondering if this is a party full of old fuddy-duddies who are just going to sit around and talk,” Jocelyn added, “but don’t worry because Victor’s brother is here with many of his friends and we’re making him responsible for getting you two acquainted with the livelier set. Jacob, over here, please.”

A young man who had Victor Trudeau’s laughing eyes disengaged himself from a group of young people near the dance floor and made his way to the foyer. He didn’t wait for introductions but immediately offered Audra his arm, “You are, no doubt, the beautiful Miss Audra Barkley whom Sam has raved about for months. I am Jacob Trudeau, the best looking of the Trudeau brothers. Welcome to New Orleans. Now let me introduce you to a wonderful group of people who will keep you dancing all night. Come along, Eugene. There’s a bevy of pretty ladies who can’t wait to meet Peter Barkley’s younger brother from California. You’re Berkeley, right?”

“Um, yeah,” Gene was a little bowled over by Jacob’s enthusiasm, but Audra immediately took the arm that he offered. “I’m in my third year.”

“I’m Tulane, last year, thank God!” he said as he led them away. “I’ll be so glad to get out of those dusty lecture halls.”

Gene laughed, “I know what you mean.”

Jocelyn turned away from the laughing trio and started to speak to the remaining Barkleys when the door opened behind them, “Ah, Suzette and Nathaniel, you did make it . . . and almost on time!”

“Well, we would have been on time,” Suzette replied calmly, “if there hadn’t been a disturbance at the restaurant.”

“A disturbance?” Jocelyn’s eyes rounded.

“They didn’t tell you?” Suzette nodded toward Peter and Samantha. When Jocelyn and Victor just continued to look perplexed, she went on, “Oh, one of those carpetbaggers was harassing Jean Luc.”

“Oh, Peter, you didn’t!” Jocelyn started.

“Well, was it wall or window, Peter?” Victor challenged.

Suzette was the one who answered, “It was neither. You would have been so surprised with our Peter. He simply went up to the man, handed him a wineglass, and made this simply glorious toast. The man turned tail and ran.”

“A toast?” Victor couldn’t imagine what kind of toast that must have been.

“A toast,” Nathaniel confirmed. “It was very, very diplomatic . . . acceptable to both the Johnny Rebs and the Billy Yanks sitting in the restaurant. Our boy was quite smooth.”

“I think he was just behaving so well because his family was here and he didn’t want his mamma to know what a bad boy he can be,” Suzette poked Peter in the ribs.

Peter made a face as he dodged her finger, “I was just trying to defuse an intense situation before it got violent. You know how Nathaniel is. He’s always flying off the handle.”

“Me!” Nathaniel snorted. “One time. How does that stack up against your history?”

“I’m not that bad,” Peter rolled his eyes.

“Hah,” Suzette retorted. “I could see Antoine’s face. He was thinking, ‘Oh, no, Monsieur Peter, the door please, not the wall or the window, the door please.’”

Peter just gave her a grumpy look, but it was Nick who asked the obvious, “What is this wall or window stuff?”

Peter shook his head, Samantha rolled her eyes, and the two New Orleans couples broke into laughs before Victor explained, “Ah, once, when we were all together for a dinner party at the restaurant, Antoine had a particularly rude patron who made some disparaging remarks about the South in general and Jean Luc in particular.”

“Not unlike tonight,” Suzette interjected.

“Well, Nathaniel and I were just about to jump to Jean Luc’s defense,” Victor continued. “The boy had served in my regiment and Nathaniel was the surgeon who saved his life. But before we could get up from the table, Peter was halfway across the room. He jerked the man up by the lapels of his jacket. I swear his feet weren’t touching the floor. And Peter just asks, ‘Wall or window?’ The man looks at him like he’s crazy and asks, ‘What do you mean?’ Peter explains, ‘I’m going to throw you through either the wall or the window and you can pick which one. The wall will hurt more but you’re likely to get cut up some if I pitch you through the window. So pick. Is it wall or window?’ The man’s eyes are as big as saucers. Peter started to haul him across the restaurant and the man starts shouting, ‘Wall, no window, no wait, wall.’ And right behind them comes Antoine pleading, ‘Please, Monsieur Peter, the door, not the window, not the wall, the door.’ So Peter pitches the man out the door. He received a standing ovation but everyone still laughs about the ‘wall or window.’”

Jarrod glanced at Nick and Heath, who, like himself, were forcing small smiles in response to the story. But the tale had re-opened the wound that had been made earlier this evening. Peter obviously felt a great loyalty to his friends, men who had fought for the South. It was a deep enough loyalty that he had no problems resorting to using his fists to protect their honor. How did he reconcile this with the knowledge that his blood brothers had fought for the North? Was the division caused by Peter’s long absence just so great that he would always feel closer to friends than he did family?

The boisterous Suzette now took up the conversation, “Come, Peter, you must begin to repay me the many dances that you owe me, and I expect you to talk to me with that wonderful southern accent that I much prefer.”

“Southern accent?” Jarrod raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, yes, we had no idea that Samantha had married a Northerner until after they came back from France and his beautiful southern accent had disappeared.”

“It was then that we learned that Peter was a talented mimic, Irish brogue, Texas drawl, Boston accent, and Suzette’s favorite, that gentle Southern boy charming inflection,” Nathaniel added.

“That’s right, he is his most charming when he’s one of us. Come, Peter, show your family,” Suzette teased him.

Peter made a face and then answered in a soft Southern drawl, “Sugar, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but being a good Southern gentleman I will do my best to make you happy.”

The little performance brought laughs from the whole group. “Sounds like a Carolinan, don’t you think, Jocelyne,” Suzette said critically.

“That or Georgian,” Jocelyn replied. “I sometimes wonder if the voice he uses now is his real one or one he made up to sound like a banker.”

Victoria smiled softly, “Oh, it’s his real voice. He sounds just like his father.” The comment brought smiles from all around her and nods from both Jarrod and Nick.

“Actually,” Peter countered, “Father had this very slight Midwest twang. Let me see.” He hesitated for a moment, ducked his head, and touched his lips with one finger. His eyes were twinkling when he raised his head, “Boys, if you don’t stop horsing around and get your chores done you’re gonna have a meeting with the business end of my belt.”

Heath heard Nick gasp softly and he glanced at his brother’s face. There was a touch of pain in Nick’s eyes and he swallowed hard. Heath realized that he might have never gotten to talk to his father but he obviously had just heard his voice. It was a good voice, one that could make men want to follow him or make a boy want to please him.

“So your pappa was strict?” Jocelyn teased.

Peter nodded and smiled easily, “You knew what was expected of you. He never withheld his praise if you did well, but he sure let you know if you didn’t do as you were told. He was a good father.” He asked his mother, “Well, was I close to his voice?”

“Perfect,” Victoria whispered. As much as she was surprised with how well Peter mimicked his father, she was much more pleased with his words that Tom was a good father.

Jarrod joked, “For a moment I actually thought ‘what chores am I supposed to be doing?’”

The group laughed again and then Suzette commanded, “Quit stalling, Peter. We’re dancing.” She took his arm and tugged him toward the dance floor.

“All right, Nick and Heath,” Jocelyn took each of the men’s arms, “I’m leaving Jarrod in Victor’s care and I’m going to start your introductions then I expect you two to dance with every woman at this party. I do have one caution. Victor, please explain to Jarrod about Eve.”

“Eve?” Jarrod raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, Eve Evanston,” Victor sighed. “She lost her husband last January. The ladies convinced her that she shouldn’t miss all the holiday parties because she’s in mourning. Apparently it took a good bit of talking and promises that there would be no mention of Mike and no flirting. You will have no problem identifying her. She is in a black dress, well actually I was informed it is midnight blue but I see no real difference. I encourage you to dance with her but do be mindful of her feelings. So, enough of that. Please let’s see how the punch is holding up.”

As he guided the group into the main room, Victoria accepted the arm that Nathaniel offered, “So you’re Peter’s physician.” She wondered if there was any way that she could let him know that she was worried about her son’s seemingly frantic pace. She just knew that this was not good for his health.

“Actually, I am more the physician for Samantha and the children; Peter is never ill. I had the honor of bringing both Tom and Nicky into the world, and,” he reached over to tap Samantha softly on the nose, “I was gypped out of a very nice fee when this young lady took off to California and had our little Miss Lizzie V. there.”

Samantha took the teasing in stride, “Well, Nathaniel, I certainly wasn’t trying to rob you of a fee when I went to California. You know that Lizzie V. surprised us with an early arrival.”

“If you hadn’t been so sneaky,” Victor noted, “we would have kept you from going. Peter about had all our hides for not watching over you close enough. I’m still not sure how you managed your little escape. I still suspect there were some conspirators.” Samantha just smiled and shrugged.

The group then fell into comfortable conversation. Samantha teased Jarrod into dancing with her and Eugene appeared shortly afterwards demanding his dance from his mother. Samantha had been right, Victoria thought, as the evening slipped away, this ball was much more relaxed than the previous evening’s event. There was much laughter and the whole group seemed at ease with one another. She noted that Peter and Samantha did dance together a little more than the previous evening but most often Peter was dancing with either Jocelyn or Suzette or the woman named Eve and Samantha was dancing with Victor and, occasionally, Nathaniel or Robert or one of her brothers-in-law. The three couples seemed very close, she thought. It was good that Peter and Samantha had such close friends here, particularly since they had no family near them.

Chapter 10

Late in the evening, Victoria slipped from the ballroom at the Trudeaus’ through a small alcove to the beautiful gallery at the back of the house. She enjoyed the fresh air, letting it clear away her troubled thoughts about Peter and Samantha. Surely, she was just imaging that there were problems between them. Certainly, there had been times that she and Tom had not been as close when his business ventures kept him away from the family. That didn’t mean she hadn’t loved him; it was just part of the ebb and flow of a marriage. She had convinced herself that her concerns were unfounded when she heard voices coming from the little alcove behind her. Rightly, she should either move away or make her presence known, but she recognized the voices as Victor and Peter. A little shamefully, she held her position.

“What time’s our meeting tomorrow morning?” Victor asked quietly.

“6:30,” Peter replied.

“Arrggh, Peter, that’s a horrible time. After the party tonight, neither one of us will be thinking straight. And we’ve got the Armisteads’ dinner tomorrow night. We’ll be dead on our feet.”

“We’ll be fine,” Peter said calmly. “Branch set the meeting time. He did it on purpose; he knew about the party tonight. We’ll just drink lots of espresso. There’s no way that that old coot can best the likes of you and me. And as far as the Armisteads’ dinner, we’ll kick back at the bank and grab 40 winks in my office tomorrow afternoon. We’ll be fine.”

Victor hesitated for several moments, “You do realize, my friend, that you are just about to cross your Rubicon. We are reaching the point of no return. Are you sure you want to go through with this? Once the papers are signed and the announcement is made, then your life will change forever.”

“Quit worrying, Victor,” Peter snorted. “It’s not the first time that I have made a decision that changed my life.”

“Ah, yes, my friend, but this time it will be changing the lives of Samantha and the children,” the lawyer pointed out. “Are you sure you want to do this to them?”

“It’ll be fine, Victor. I have thought this through. It’s what’s best.”

“All right,” Victor sighed. “I promised Jocelyn that I would try to talk with you one more time, although I knew it was useless. You are a most stubborn man, Peter.”

“This is best,” Peter repeated quietly. “Look, let’s not talk any more about it tonight. I think it’s about my turn to take Eve for a twirl on the dance floor.”

“I certainly wish that Jocelyn and Samantha could have talked her into wearing something other than that midnight blue dress . . . it looks almost black. It’s like she’s in mourning.”

Peter agreed, “I know, but Sam said that was the best they could do. Eve still feels like she should be in mourning. I’m not even sure how they managed to talk her into coming tonight.”

“Well, go take your turn, my friend,” Victor said. “In fact, take my turn, too. I’ll go dance with your wife instead. I think she needs a sympathetic ear. I doubt she is getting that at home.”

The two men moved from the alcove into the crowd. Victoria remained on the gallery for a few more moments, hoping that neither would notice when she stepped back in. As she stood in the darkness, she pondered what decision Peter was making that would change his life. She also wondered if Victor meant that because her in-laws were in the house Samantha wasn’t getting a sympathetic ear. Victoria loved Samantha, but was the young woman afraid to confide in her because she was Peter’s mother? She hoped not. She wondered if there was a way to let Samantha know that they shared much, including being married to very ambitious, stubborn men. Before she could move back into the house, two more people took refuge in the alcove. This time it was Suzette and Jocelyn. Victoria started to greet them, but something in Suzette’s voice stopped her.

“Therese and Andre aren’t coming at all?” Suzette said softly to Jocelyn.

“No, Therese stopped by this afternoon with their regrets,” Jocelyn answered. “She said that last night was bad enough, pretending that everything was all right. She said she was practically in tears all evening and playing the duet with Peter just about broke her heart. She said she just knew she wouldn’t be able to make it through tonight without just breaking down.”

“Oh, poor dear,” Suzette said and then added, “but she’s no worse off than the rest of us. I mean, all our lives are being turned topsy-turvy.”

“You’re right, of course, but you know how emotional Therese is. She just said that there was no way that she would be able to keep up a front for an entire evening around all of us. She said that maybe later, after the holidays, we could all get together for a quiet dinner.”

Suzette replied shortly, “That may be too late. You know things are moving quickly. Peter is pushing very hard to get everything settled out very soon.”

“I know, I know,” Jocelyn sighed. “I wish he would slow up just a little and really think about all the ramifications of his actions. I just hope he won’t regret this later. This is such a change for them. Poor Samantha, I am just so worried about her, about her future.”

“I know, my heart just breaks for her. She told me that she thought she knew exactly how her life was going to be and while part of her knows it’s probably for the best, she’s still afraid of what the future holds . . . if she’s going to be able to handle all the changes,” Suzette confided.

“Oh, the poor darling,” Jocelyn’s voice was laced with tears, “this separation is going to be hard on all of us; and I don’t care how brave Samantha is about it, it has to be just devastating for her. Nothing in her life prepared her for such a thing.”

Victoria’s heart froze in her chest. A separation? Were Peter and Samantha separating? She had felt the tension in their household but it hadn’t seemed nearly that serious. Of course, both Peter and Samantha might just be putting forward their best face, just to get through the holidays, just to get through Peter’s family’s visit – a visit that had been planned for months and could not have been cancelled without raising many questions.

Again, Victoria had to wait for the occupants of the alcove to leave. She stood in the darkness, trying to compose herself. This was terrible news. She had to take action right away before Peter made this awful decision. Tonight, she thought, or early tomorrow morning. Yes, tomorrow morning. She would catch Peter before he went off to his meeting. She would convince him not to go forward with his decision. He just needed to wait a bit longer, think on it a bit more, he would then see what the right course was.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped back into the ballroom. She was pleased that no one seemed to have realized that she had been out on the gallery. Her eyes automatically sought out her children and found them all either dancing or in conversation. She had just slipped over to the punch table to get something to quench her thirst when Suzette stepped up beside her.

“Are you having a good time, Mrs. Barkley?” the younger woman asked pleasantly.

“Very much so, Mrs. Varner,” Victoria replied.

“Oh, no, Suzette, please! That is what everyone calls me or just ‘the doctor’s wife.’ I prefer Suzette.”

“Of course, Suzette,” Victoria smiled at the lively young lady. She could certainly understand how Peter and Samantha would find this vivacious woman such a good friend. Guiltily, she wondered if she would remain friends to them both if Peter and Samantha went through with their separation and, God forbid, divorce.

“I have a small confession to make, Mrs. Barkley,” Suzette smiled at Victoria. “I love your Peter.”

Victoria was stunned. Oh my goodness, was this the cause of the problems between Peter and Samantha? In the deepest recesses of her heart, Victoria had feared this might be the problem, but she couldn’t believe it was Samantha’s close friend. Oh, dear God, Peter, not another woman. Don’t ruin your life over another woman. Don’t ruin the lives of Samantha and your darling children.

But Suzette laughed at Victoria’s expression, “Oh, not romantically! Why, Nathaniel is the only man that I could ever love that way. But, I do love Peter as, well as, good heavens, I don’t know how to explain it. I love him more than just a friend. You see, he saved my Nathaniel’s life.”

Victoria was so confused. Now it would make sense that Nathaniel, as a doctor, might save Peter’s life, but how in the world could Peter have saved Nathaniel’s.

Suzette reached over to pat her arm, “It wasn’t anything too dangerous for Peter, I promise. There was this man who was being rude to one of our widows . . . one who lost her husband in the war. He was really a carpetbagger. I know I say that a lot but this man really was. He was trying to steal her last cent, the poor dear. She wasn’t in the best of health and Nathaniel had just dropped by to check on her and that, that disgusting man was there. Well, he and Nathaniel got into an argument and, well, Nathaniel does have a temper.”

“What happened?” Victoria asked, thinking about Nick’s temper which had gotten him into trouble numerous times.

“Oh, Nathaniel just fell back on his good Southern breeding and challenged the man to a duel. A duel, of all things. I was just petrified,” Suzette confided. “You see, Nathaniel was hurt in the war . . . shrapnel in his right leg and arm. That’s why he doesn’t dance with me much. Peter’s so sweet, he knows I love to dance jigs and there’s just no way that Nathaniel’s leg can tolerate that so Peter always dances all the jigs with me. That’s one of the reasons I love him, but the real reason is because he saved Nathaniel. You see, Nathaniel’s right arm is weak from the damage done by the shrapnel. Now, he can work just fine as a doctor, even hold a scalpel and do surgery, but there’s just no way that he can hold a dueling pistol steady long enough to make a good shot.”

“Why in the world did he challenge that man to a duel?” Victoria asked the obvious.

Suzette rolled her eyes, “Why do men do half the things that they do? His stupid pride! He wasn’t going to let some Northern scamp treat one of our widows that way. He asked Peter to be his second and Peter agreed. I was so angry with Peter, for agreeing to go along with this. I went to his and Samantha’s and begged him to not let Nathaniel see it through. Peter told me that he couldn’t make Nathaniel back down . . . it was a matter of honor and that honor was very important to Nathaniel. I just wanted to spit in Peter’s face. Honor . . . honor . . . honor. That’s all I’d heard as a girl; that’s all I heard when our boys marched off to war. And now I was going to have my husband killed because of honor. Well, Peter calmed me down and promised he’d try to think of something.”

“That next morning, I begged Nathaniel not to go, but he refused to listen to me. I went upstairs and got our baby boy out of his cradle and rocked him and told him all the good things I could think of about his father. It seemed like it was hours and hours, but really it was a very short time. I heard noises downstairs and I had to make myself go to the top of the stairs. There were Peter and Nathaniel at the foot of the steps and Nathaniel didn’t have a scratch on him. I was so relieved, and then I was so frightened. Dueling is illegal. If Nathaniel had killed the other man, there was a possibility that he might go to jail.

Suzette took a deep breath and finished up her story, “I rushed downstairs and asked Nathaniel what had happened and he told me the duel didn’t occur, that he couldn’t take advantaged of a ‘handicapped opponent.’ He and Peter wouldn’t give me any more information, but two days later Jocelyn and I were at the train station to meet an old friend and we saw that carpetbagger waiting for a train. And he had a horribly black eye. I mean his right eye was all swollen shut. I knew then what had happened. Peter’s left fist just evened the odds a little. I never confronted him with it, but I knew. And that’s why I love him.”

“Thank you for that story, Suzette,” Victoria impulsively hugged the young woman. Peter was a good man, she knew it, the story proved it. He had just lost his way with all his business concerns. Things could be rectified, she swore to herself.

“Thank you for having such a fine son,” Suzette laughed as she hugged back. “Now, let’s go see what that circle of men is doing over there.” She nodded toward where Peter, Jarrod, Victor, and Nathaniel now stood. “I just have a feeling that they’re up to no good.”

The men greeted the two women easily. After a few moments of visiting, Victoria pointedly asked Peter where Samantha was. He jerked his head towards the stairs, “Upstairs with Lizzy V.”

“Lizzy V. is here?” Victoria was surprised.

“Yep, Jacqueline brought her over so that Sam could nurse her. That makes it so Sam can have a long evening away from home. Jacqueline’s just getting ready to take Lizzie V. back home, so Sam wanted to check on her once more,” Peter explained.

“So while Samantha is upstairs, you can dance with me,” Suzette prodded.

“Ah, Suzy girl, I’m tired, give me a little rest, sugar,” Peter turned on the southern accent.

“Don’t try to sweet talk me, Mr. Peter Barkley, you know you still owe me lots and lots of dances.”

“Ah, we’ve got a dozen more balls to go to before the holiday season is over, Suzette,” Peter pleaded. “I promise I’ll pay off my tab.”

“What’s all this tab stuff, Peter?” the lawyer in Jarrod just naturally probed.

Suzette was the one who spoke up, “Oh, it’s part of a bribe so that I won’t tell a secret that he has.”

“Secrets, huh, little brother,” Jarrod teased. “Have you forgotten that Mother doesn’t care for secrets?”

“Ah, but secrets are a part of Christmas,” Peter smiled mischievously. “She understands that, don’t you, Mother.”

Before Victoria could answer, however, Samantha gentle voice drifted down from the stairs, “Watch out, Victoria, don’t give him blanket approval to keep secrets. He’s terrible about them.”

“Oh, one or two at Christmas, isn’t too bad,” Victoria tried to telegraph her love to her daughter-in-law, but Samantha was watching Peter’s face. Victoria wanted to add something more, but was interrupted when young Jacob Trudeau arrived with Audra on his elbow.

“Some of us are going over to Madame Cerran’s for coffee and pastries, and we’re trying to convince Audra and Eugene to go with us,” Jacob started.

“Hmm,” Victor drummed his fingers on his armrest and glanced over at Peter, who had leaned against the stair banister. “I’m not sure how Peter feels about that.”

“Hmm,” Peter echoed Victor, his blue eyes boring into Jacob.

The young man shifted his feet as the stare became a little unnerving. Samantha came to his rescue, “Oh, let them go, you two. You know they can’t get into any trouble at Madame Cerran’s. Heavens, it’s just coffee and pastries.”

“All right,” Peter finally agreed. He looked over at Jarrod, who was actually Eugene’s and Audra’s guardian. “It’ll be all right. I promise.”

Victor reached over to pat Jarrod’s shoulder, “He’s right. Jacob knows that if anything happens, I’ll kill him. Of course, that will be just about two minutes before Peter kills me. So relax, things will be fine. There are too many lives hanging in the balance.”

Jarrod gave a smile and nod. He leaned over to brush Audra’s cheek with a kiss, “Have fun, honey, but don’t stay out too late. Tell Eugene the same thing.”

“Yes, Jarrod,” she wrinkled her nose at him and then tugged Jacob’s arm. “Let’s go before Nick finds out and can think of some reason why we shouldn’t go!”

The group sent the young couple off with a laugh.

Nick, however, had seen his little sister and brother leave with the group of young people. He walked over to where Peter stood and demanded, “Where are Audra and Eugene going?”

“Out for pastries and coffee. It’s a common practice among the younger party-goers,” Peter explained. “They’ll be fine. But I’ll tell you what, we’ll give them enough time to get to the place they’re going and settle in and then you and I can go check on them, just to soothe your conscience.”

“All right,” Nick nodded. As he turned back to the party, he missed seeing Samantha shoot Peter an exasperated look. But Victoria saw it, and her heart ached. Oh, what was wrong between the two of them?

Chapter 11

It was Gene’s lucky day . . . or night. He had managed to slip away from the group going out for coffee and pastries and made his way to Madame Doucet’s . . . again. Just as the night before, he had already finished “his business” by the time that Peter had arrived, this time with Nick in tow. Big Brother Nick had looked a little irritated when he had seen Gene, but he obviously realized there wasn’t much he could do about things given Gene was coming down the stairs just as Nick was getting there. The deed had already been done. Gene figured he’d probably get a lecture for leaving Audra with the group of young people, but he also figured that Nick wouldn’t say much about what happened at Madame Doucet’s. After all, chances were that Nick would be doing the same thing very shortly.

And his luck held as he arrived back at Peter and Samantha’s just as the carriage carrying Audra arrived. Together, they slipped into the house, intent on keeping the time of their late arrival a secret from both Jarrod and Mother. Tiptoeing through the entryway, they had just reached the stairs when the sound of breaking glass brought them up short. They exchanged a quick look and then, by silent accord, started toward where the sound had come from. Their journey took them to just outside Peter’s office. They could hear voices on the other side of the closed door. It was when they heard Samantha’s voice shout “Peter” that they knew for sure who was in the room. With a jerk of his head, Gene directed Audra to head back to the front stairway. The sound of breaking glass and Sam shouting . . . that could mean only one thing. That Sam was angry with Pete for something. It would be best if he and Audra weren’t anywhere near when either Sam or Pete came storming out of the office.

Although they exchanged a concerned look, neither Gene nor Audra spoke about what they had just heard. As they started up the stairs, Audra gave her younger brother a sharp look, “Just where have you been?”

“What do you mean?” Gene tried to play innocent.

“You know what I mean. You slipped away before we even got to the pastry shop,” she challenged. “Where did you go?”

Gene flushed slightly. He finally managed to mumble, “That’s really none of your business, Audra.”

She stopped and glared at him, “Look, if you want me to let everyone think you were with me all evening, then you have to tell me where you were.”

He whispered angrily, “It wouldn’t be proper for me to tell you.”

“Proper?” Audra challenged and, when she saw his embarrassed expression, she realized what he was avoiding telling her. “Gene, you didn’t!”

“I did,” he replied sharply, “and you shouldn’t know anything about it.”

“Oh, you’re two years younger than I am and it’s all right for you to do it, but I’m not supposed to even know anything about it,” she shot back.

“It’s different, you know it is, between men and women,” Gene repeated what he had always been told.

“I know,” his sister had been told the same, all her life it seemed. “A woman has to stay pure until she’s married, but a man is allowed to have experiences before he’s married. I don’t think it’s very fair.”

“Audra!” Gene was scandalized. “You’re not thinking about doing something, something irresponsible, are you?”

“No, I’m just saying that I think the different standards are unfair.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, Nick and Jarrod didn’t want me to do anything before I got married,” Gene admitted.

“But you have?”

“Well, yeah, several times now,” he confessed.

“Did you enjoy it?” she whispered.

“Audra!” Gene said through tight lips. “That’s not a proper thing at all to ask!”

“Well, I just wondered. Sam told me about her first time . . . .”

“She did?” Gene was thoroughly surprised.

“Uh huh, she said it was the most incredible experience in her life,” she related. “I just wondered if it was that good for you.”

“It was good,” Gene blushed deeply, “it was pretty darn great. But it’s not something I’m going to tell you about, and I’m not sure how happy Mother would be if she knew Sam had told you about her first time.”

“Well, she didn’t tell me about the exact act, she just told me how it was for her,” Audra said. Then she added in a confidential whisper, “Sam told me that she and Peter didn’t wait until their wedding night.”

Gene’s eyes widened. Now this was news. He couldn’t imagine someone as smooth and sophisticated as Pete would do something so irresponsible. At least that would be the way that Nick and Jarrod would characterize such an act. And Mother, well Mother would be so angry with Pete. And Sam, well, Gene sure didn’t think of Sam as a loose girl. Pete must have talked her into it; that’s the way it often happened . . . or at least that’s what had been indicated in some of his classmates swaggering tales. A smooth talker could get his way with even a prim and proper girl. Sometimes, he worried a little about Audra; she was so trusting. “Is that why they got married so quickly? I mean, was it because they had to?” he whispered.

“No,” Audra wondered how much her younger brother knew about women’s cycles and knowing when a baby would be coming. “They got married because they were so much in love and didn’t want to be apart ever again. They wanted to get married the next day but Sam’s father made them wait for two weeks. During that time, um, Sam’s, um, her, um . . . .”

“Her health came on her?” Gene said calmly.

“How do you know about that?” Audra was truly surprised.

“Ah, Jarrod explained it to me years ago. I mean when you started yours, he thought it was important that I understood why there would be times that you wouldn’t feel like riding and stuff. He also told me that when a married woman missed having her monthly it was often one of the first signs that she might be having a baby.”

“Oh,” it was Audra’s turn to be embarrassed. She had no idea that her brothers were so aware of her personal affairs. She thought only Mother knew.

Gene tried to end her embarrassment by returning to their original topic, “So, um, Tom wasn’t conceived that first time that Sam and Pete did it.”

“No,” Audra replied, “at least it would appear not. I mean, Sam said that Tom was conceived when they were on the ship going to France.”

“I’ve um heard that it can’t happen the first time,” Gene blushed again.

“You’ve heard that, too?” Audra gulped, surprised at the direction that their conversation was going.

“I don’t know if it’s true,” her younger brother said. “I mean, I don’t think I’d trust it.”

“Well, I um I’ve had several friends say that, too, but I’ve never been too sure whether it was the truth or just wishful thinking.”

“Wishful thinking?” Gene asked.

“You know, thinking you could get away with doing it and not having any, any, um, consequences.”

“Probably not a real bright approach to it,” the young man allowed.

His sister nodded, “I think you’re right.”

“So, you’re not going to do anything before you’re married, are you, Audra?” Gene asked softly, silently hoping that her answer would be the right one. He sure didn’t want Audra taking any chances before she was married. Double standard or not, he didn’t think it was right. Besides, it was always the girl who caught the worse of the gossip and the nasty looks.

“I’m not planning to. I mean, I really think it’s best to wait. Sam said she didn’t feel guilty about doing it before they were married, that she guessed it was because she felt like she and Peter had already made their vows to each other and that the wedding just made it formal,” Audra recalled. “But, I think she actually does feel a little guilty about not waiting. She really didn’t want Mother to find out. And I can’t imagine what she’ll tell Lizzy V. when she asks.”

“Lizzy V.?” Gene looked at his sister in shock. What a crazy idea. Why would Sam tell Lizzie V. anything about her and Pete’s physical relationship? Then, his eyes widened further, “Did you ask Mother about her and Father?”

“Uh huh,” Audra replied calmly.

“You’re joking!”

“No, I’m not. I asked when Rose Handlen and Jess Everhart got married. That was the first time that I understood what was so important about the wedding night. So I asked her what her and Father’s wedding night had been like and she told me that me that it had been very special.”

“That’s all she said?”

“No,” Audra drew out the word just to tease Gene a little. “She said that she and Father had, very properly and very responsibly, waited until their wedding night to consummate their love.”

“Consummate their love? Did Mother actually say that?”

“Those were her words, Gene. She said that they had waited and that, while she was very nervous, she did not feel any guilt about what they were doing because, since they were married, what they did as a married couple was sanctioned both morally and legally. She said Father was very gentle and patient with her, and she said that she hoped that the man I married would be just as gentle and patient because then I would learn to enjoy a physical relationship with my husband.”

“So you think Mother enjoyed her um relationship with Father?” Gene’s now permanent blush deepened in color.

“I’m sure she did. I mean, just the way that she smiled when she was talking with me, you just got that feeling.”

“And do you figure Father had had some experience before?”

“I guess,” now Audra blushed. “I mean, from the way Mother said she was nervous but he was gentle and patient with her, you would guess that he wasn’t nervous . . . so he must have been experienced.”

“The double standard, huh,” Gene pointed out. When Audra just shrugged, he asked, “So do you think that Sam enjoys her relationship with Pete?”

“I think so. I mean, she was pretty dreamy eyed when she talked about their first time and then their honeymoon, but she said some funny things about me not settling for someone other than the right man just so I could have children,” Audra shared, feeling just a little guilty. “Although she said she had seen it happen to other women, I was a little worried that she was talking about herself. But surely not, Gene. She and Peter acted so much in love last summer.”

“Well, they sure aren’t acting that way now,” Gene said a little grimly. “You know, they’ve hardly been together since we got here. Tonight’s the first time that I’ve seen them even be around each other except at meals.”

“Sam just keeps saying Peter is very busy right now. Surely, that’s just it,” his sister shrugged.

“Hope so,” her brother murmured. Silently, they finished climbing the stairway together, and Gene leaned over and placed a kiss on his sister’s forehead. “Goodnight, Sis. Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight,” she whispered as she slipped into her bedroom, Samantha’s girlhood bedroom. It would be several hours, however, before she fell asleep as she lay in Samantha’s old bed and thought about her brother, who was almost a stranger, and his wife, the woman who she wanted to consider a sister but was a little afraid that she might be losing already. It was all so strange.

Chapter 12

Victoria, remembering Peter’s statement that he and Victor had a breakfast meeting at 6:30, set her internal clock to wake up at 5. Although she was very tired from all the activities of the previous day, she knew she had to catch Peter before he left. She had to talk with her son. He was allowing his business life to make a mess of his personal life. She had to make him understand that the most precious things in his life were Samantha and their children. There would be other business deals, other opportunities to succeed, but he had only one family and, from where Victoria stood, it looked as if he was losing them.

She had just brushed out her hair and was pinning it up when she heard the sounds in the hallway. Stepping to her door, she opened it just a crack to look out into the hallway. She was stunned to see Peter standing outside his and Samantha’s bedroom, one hand on either side of the doorjamb, leaning toward the door and whispering in an angry voice, “Dammit, Sam, I don’t have time for this now. I’m going to be late to my breakfast meeting. Open this door now!”

Victoria could just barely make out Samantha’s equally as stern, “No, go now” from the other side of the door. She watched as Peter continued to stare at the closed door and then turned on his heel and headed downstairs. Quickly she drew on her robe and hurried after him. She hesitated when she reached the ground floor, not sure of which direction he went. She turned toward the direction of the dining room thinking he might be getting some breakfast but a movement in Peter’s study caught her eye. She stepped to the doorway and was confused as she saw her son pick up some loose items of clothing, “Peter?”

If she hadn’t been so concerned about what was going on with Peter’s family, she would have found his look almost comical. It was as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He hastily thrust the handful of clothes behind his back and responded, “Mother? What are you doing up so early? I expected the whole family to sleep late after last night’s party.”

“I want to talk with you, Peter,” she said firmly. She sadly realized that Peter had slept downstairs in his office last night. She now wondered if he slept downstairs every night. Certainly, since they had gotten here, she had never seen Peter and Samantha go upstairs together. Victoria remembered the few times that she and Tom had slept apart because of some argument. It had always been a mistake; they both had learned that they needed to resolve their disagreements before they went to bed . . . never go to bed angry. And now their son and his wife were making an even worse mistake.

“Mother, I would love to visit with you but now’s not a good time. I’m running late for my business breakfast and it’s very important that I arrive on time. You’ll just have to excuse me. I promise I’ll make time for just the two of us later this week,” he tried to edge her toward the door.

But Victoria stood firm, “No, Peter, we need to talk now. I’m worried about you . . .”

“Everything’s fine, Mother,” he continued to ease her out of the office, the bundle of clothes still poorly hidden behind his back. “You know how it is; sometimes business just gets a little hectic. You remember how it was for Father.”

“Yes, son, I remember exactly how things were with your father. Peter, one of your father’s deepest regrets was that he didn’t spend more time with you children when you were young,” Victoria started.

“He spent time with us, Mother,” Peter started. “I meant what I said last night; he was a good father.”

“But he felt he missed out on too much of your lives. Later in his life, just before he was killed, he told me that he knew his business dealings had taken him away from the family too much. That he truly regretted having been away from you children, especially you three oldest boys, when you were growing up. I don’t want you to have the same regrets when your children are grown, Peter.”

Her son shook his head, “Mother, really, I do spend time with the children. Right now just isn’t a good time for me, but things will slow down shortly.”

“Peter, I know how that works. I heard your father say the same thing when you were small. Things won’t slow down and the days will slip by, darling, and one day you’ll turn around and your children will be grown. These are precious days, Peter. You need to cherish them; you need to cherish your family,” she tried to explain to him.

His smile was gentle and he was obviously trying to be patient with her, “Really, I do understand, Mother, but I’m telling you the truth that things will slow down very shortly.”

She sighed, feeling that he was just placating her. She didn’t know whether she should divulge the conversations that she had overhead the previous evening. But Peter wasn’t even going to give her a chance, “Mother, I’m sorry, but I really do have to hurry. I promise, we’ll talk more later.”

“Peter,” she grabbed the sleeve of his linen undershirt, “please listen to me. You have to make time for you and Samantha. I’m so afraid that you two are growing apart. I’m worried about you.” She didn’t add that the worst thing for them to do was to give up on their marriage so easily. They needed to work together on it. The last thing they needed to do was separate.

He shook his head and leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead, “Don’t worry, Mother. Everything’s fine. Now I have to go and get changed. I’ll see you this evening.”

Victoria closed her eyes to hold back the tears. She was not making any progress with this stubborn son of hers. He was so much his father’s son; why couldn’t he learn from his father’s mistakes. Sighing, she slowly climbed to the second floor. Apparently, Samantha had relented and allowed Peter into their bedroom so that he could get ready for his business meeting, a business meeting that may well be the one that was going to change his life. Victoria quietly slipped back into her own bedroom and sat down in front of the mirror. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Last summer, it had seemed such a miracle when Peter had come back into their lives, bringing with him Samantha and the children. The few weeks that they all had spent together in California were precious. After they had returned to New Orleans, she had cherished each letter she had received from them, conjuring up in her mind the many little scenes that Samantha had described. Tom’s intense concentration as he very carefully printed his name at the bottom of one of the letters and Nicky’s loud protest that he could write too . . . and Victoria had saved the delightful scribble right along with the large block letters. Tom and Nicky, holding little Lizzy V. upright between them, all of them squishing mud between their toes. Peter falling asleep in front of the fireplace with a tiny Lizzy V. asleep on his chest. She had happily given up the Christmas customs that they had forged over 30 years and taken her family to New Orleans for the holidays just so they could all be together. She had literally counted the days until the trip, hardly able to contain her excitement at getting to see her only grandchildren again.

But now, the joy was slowly slipping away. For all the wonderful moments she had had with the children, there was now the overriding fear that this might be the last time she would see them. If Peter and Samantha separated, would Samantha even answer her letters, would she feel any need to keep Victoria updated on the children’s lives? Would Samantha feel at all comfortable about having her estranged husband’s family visit her and the children? It seemed unlikely that Samantha would ever leave the comfort and support that she had from her many friends in New Orleans to bring the children to California for a visit. Victoria had so hoped that this trip would help strengthen the fragile tie between her wayward son’s family and the rest of the Barkleys. Now it looked as if that small thread was about to snap.

It was some time before Victoria could bring herself to finish dressing. It did not seem that any of the rest of the family was up when she slipped from her room. Apparently, Samantha had gone back to sleep after her and Peter’s argument this morning. The rest of the family was enjoying sleeping in after the long evening out. Thinking that a walk in the beautiful gardens might clear the dull ache in her head, Victoria went out on the back gallery and into the gardens. She wandered for a time, trying not to think of what the future might bring, but the sadness still hung about her. She turned back toward the house and only then realized that Robert was sitting on the gallery. Taking a deep breath, she approached him and greeted him in a soft voice.

“Bonjour, Mrs. Barkley,” the young man smiled softly.

Victoria did not bother to encourage him to use her first name. If the world was changing, maybe “Mrs. Barkley” would be best for Robert. “You’re up early,” she smiled back.

“I have to go to the bank later this morning to sign some papers,” he explained. “I thought I would spend some time sipping coffee to clear my head. Last night was quite a party, but then it always is at the Trudeaus’. I also like just sitting out here in the mornings. Would you care to join me?”

“It is very peaceful,” Victoria said as she sat down in the chair that he had gestured to. She would have preferred not to, but that would have been rude.

“For the moment,” Robert acknowledged, “but that will change when Tom and Nicky arrive.”

Despite her worries, Victoria laughed, “They are energetic, aren’t they?”

Robert snorted, “Wild Indians. But it is good to hear the garden filled with their voices. It was a lonely place for far too many years.”

Victoria hesitated for a few moments, not wanting to disturb the young man, “Samantha said that your parents gave wonderful garden parties.”

“Ah, yes,” the man smiled, his eyes obviously looking back in time, “I remember them well. Of course, they were before Samantha was born. After Mamma died, well, Pappa did not do well.”

“I’m sorry about your mother, Robert. You were just a young boy when you lost her, weren’t you? That must have been terribly hard,” Victoria could see the small boy in the man’s troubled brown eyes.

“I was 10,” Robert replied. “I can remember the excitement as they awaited Samantha’s birth. I think, I think there were some disappointments between my birth and Samantha’s. I can remember my pappa telling someone that this time, this time, everything was going wonderfully. I remember how beautiful and at peace Mamma was. I think that made it all the harder for Pappa, the fall from all that happiness to total despair when Mamma died must have been a tremendous one for him.”

“And you were sent to relatives in France?”

“Actually one of Mamma’s brothers came to New Orleans afterwards. He was concerned about all of us. He convinced Pappa to allow me to go back to France with him, but he could not persuade Pappa to allow him to take the baby back. So Samantha stayed here and I ended up staying in France until after I completed the university. When I finally came back, instead of a tiny little baby, I found a skinny little girl with long braids of dark brown hair and enormous green eyes. I fell in love with her immediately. Pappa had sent her off to convent school; he thought it was better for her than living in this house with just him. He kept her there even after I came back, but I used to slip down to see her. Pappa was a good man but a part of him had died when Mamma died so sometimes it almost seemed like Samantha and I were orphans,” Robert said a little ruefully. “You know, when Peter joined the family, I actually thought of us as three orphans forging a new family. That was before I really knew about Peter’s past, that he really did have a family.”

“Robert,” she reached out to touch his hand, “I’m glad you and Samantha and Peter built a family because if you hadn’t I don’t think Peter would have ever come back to us.”

“Yes, we have made a family. Peter is very much my brother,” he patted her hand. “You know, we tease about Pappa bringing out his secret weapon to keep Peter here, but it really was not that way. Pappa certainly never tried to bribe Peter to stay by saying something like ‘marry my daughter and I will give you my bank.’ No, I do not even think Pappa considered Samantha old enough to fall in love, to capture a man’s heart. I think she was still a schoolgirl in Pappa’s eyes. I think Pappa brought Samantha home for the long visit because for the first time in many years Pappa was enjoying life. Having Peter at the bank, having a protégé, dreaming that his bank would go on after his death, that made Pappa happy. And he wanted to share that happiness with Samantha.”

“And Peter’s becoming your father’s protégé did not bother you?”

Robert laughed, “Oh, not at all. Peter truly freed me from a life for which I was not suited. I could never have stepped into my father’s shoes. It was a Godsend for us all when Peter Barkley came to New Orleans.”

Victoria, recalling Peter’s honest portrayal of his life, whispered, “I think Peter believes that coming to New Orleans saved his life.”

“Perhaps,” Robert shrugged, “perhaps it was all just meant to be. And now . . . .”

Victoria waited for him to finish his sentence, praying that he was going to share with her what was causing so much tension in Peter’s household. But Robert suddenly smiled and his voice changed, “And now, I must go finish getting ready. My brother-in-law has commanded my presence at the bank today and, since he does own controlling interest in the institution, I guess I should comply.”

Her eyes followed him as he stood. “Peter owns controlling interest?” It was curious, she had never considered what their business relationship was. She had just assumed that Samantha and Robert inherited whatever shares their father held in the bank and that Peter, as Samantha’s husband, oversaw her share and served as bank president.

Robert grinned, “Ah, yes, Pappa’s will was most interesting. He left Samantha Mamma’s jewelry – not an insignificant inheritance. He left this house to us two to share equally. Pappa held about 75% of the bank’s stock. When he died, he left 51% to Peter, not to Samantha but to Peter, and the balance to me. His will said he wanted to be sure that there was no doubt who controlled the bank. He did just that.”

“Oh,” Victoria said softly, wondering how Robert really felt about this, wondering if this placed an added strain on Peter and Samantha’s marriage.

But Robert winked, “My pappa was an excellent businessman, Mrs. Barkley. He made a very good decision when he drew up his will. A very good decision. Now you must excuse me. I look forward to seeing you this evening when we all go to the Armisteads’.”

“Good day,” she nodded and watched as another young man walked away from her, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Chapter 13

Another party, Victoria had thought tiredly as she dressed that evening. She wasn’t sure she could keep up with the pace of Peter and Samantha’s life. She supposed an enterprising banker had to use his social contacts and she knew that the holiday season was a particularly busy time, but she was so glad that Samantha had just planned a quiet day at home today. It seemed as if they all needed to catch their breaths. Victoria had even caught the usually energetic Nick yawning a few times. So they had all spent the day with the children, taking turns being entertained by their antics – well, all except for Peter. Once again her third son was conspicuously absent. Busy at the bank, Victoria knew without even asking. And, as usual, he arrived home just in time to change to go out this evening.

Now as they rode in the carriage to the Armisteads’ home, Samantha explained that this was an annual banquet that centered around Mrs. Armistead unveiling her monstrosity of a Christmas tree. “It’s always huge,” Samantha said with a roll of her eyes, “and I’m not sure where she gets her decorating ideas. We all just ooh and ahh and then spend the whole next year talking about how ugly it was. I’m not really sure how she always manages to make the next year’s even uglier.”

“Samantha,” Victoria gently scolded.

But Samantha brushed aside the scolding, “Wait and see, Victoria. Even you will be hard pressed to think of something nice to say about it.”

The “even you” surprised Victoria; she wondered what Samantha meant by it, but they were pulling up in front of a large home so there wasn’t time to question Samantha. Sighing softly, Victoria found herself pulled into another swirl of introductions. Resolutely, she pasted a smile on her face and strove to be as gracious as possible. She was almost relieved when she saw the familiar faces of Victor and Jocelyn Trudeau.

“Bonjour,” Jocelyn greeted her and pressed her cheek against Victoria’s. “It’s good to see you all again . . . and so soon.”

“It is good to see you, too, dear,” Victoria smiled back. “Are Nathaniel and Suzette going to be here this evening, too?”

“Oh, they were supposed to be but had to send their regrets. It seems as if someone is going to be blessed with an early Christmas gift. Nathaniel and Suzette seem to get to make only about half their planned social engagements. I guess a physician’s schedule is never his to control,” Jocelyn smiled.

“Only slightly worse than a banker’s and a lawyer’s,” Samantha accepted the glass of champagne that Victor had taken from a waiter and handed her.

“Funny,” Victor teased, “seems like I’m the only lawyer who has no control over his schedule. I think it has something to do with being the lawyer for a certain banker.”

Peter just shrugged and sipped his champagne. Audra tucked her hand into the crook of her brother’s arm and asked, “Where’s Jacob? He said he would be here this evening.”

“I’m not real sure where that little brother of mine is,” Victor was obviously a little irritated. “He arrived with us and then promptly disappeared.”

As if on cue, Jacob Trudeau came striding up, “Good evening, Miss Barkley. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Jacob,” Victor scolded, “could you pretend you have a few manners and at least acknowledge the rest of the Barkleys . . . and where have you been?”

“Good evening, rest of the Barkleys,” Jacob’s eyes were dancing. “And I have been in the dining room moving placecards.”

It was Jocelyn’s turn to scold, “Jacob, how could you! You know that Mrs. Armistead works very hard to get her seating chart just perfect.”

Her brother-in-law just grinned, “I just made a few improvements. Come along, Audra, I happen to know exactly where you are sitting. And, Gene, I made sure you were sitting next to some interesting young ladies.”

“Good deal, Victor,” Gene smiled widely and followed Audra and Jacob toward the dining room.

Victor shook his head and groaned, “Ah, little brothers!”

Jarrod smiled and agreed, “Tell me about it.”

“He wants to go to Europe after he completes his degree this spring and I don’t know whether to let him or not,” Victor shook his head.

“Let him go,” Peter said instantly.

“Well, you’re very quick with unsolicited advice,” Samantha scolded her husband.

“I just think if it’s something Jacob really wants to do, Victor should let him,” Peter shrugged. “We generally regret the things we didn’t do. That’s one thing I’m going to teach my children.”

“Spoken by a man whose oldest child is four years old,” Victor said dryly.

“My oldest child is older than yours,” Peter retorted.

“No, my oldest child is 22,” Victor replied, his eyes following his little brother as he made his way into the dining room. “I’ve been responsible for him since Father was killed when he was 11 years old.”

Jarrod looked over at Victor quickly. As he watched the other man’s eyes remain on his younger brother’s back for a moment more, Jarrod could almost name the emotions Victor was feeling. It was a mixture of pride for the young man’s independence, some exasperation with his impetuousness, and a little fear over his own ability to properly guide him. Jarrod had those feelings often when he was having to deal with Eugene.

“Well, if you have a 22-year-old then I have a 33-year-old,” Peter shot back. “Samantha insists on treating Robert like he has absolutely no clue as to how to take care of himself and she expects me to constantly intervene.”

“I do not, Peter Barkley,” his wife snapped.

“Please,” Peter snorted. He mimicked his wife, “Oh, Peter, does Robert look thin to you? I don’t think he’s eating right. Did he tell you anything about what he’s been doing? I’m sure it is something dangerous. You really must talk to him about giving up this job.”

She sputtered, “Well, I’m just naturally concerned about my brother.”

“Speaking of Robert,” Victor sought to put an end to the bickering, “where is he? He is coming, isn’t he?”

“He said he had a stop to make before he came here,” Peter replied. “I’m not exactly sure what he’s up to.”

“Well, I am,” Jocelyn said, looking past Peter toward the front door. “Look there.”

They all turned to see Robert standing just inside the door with a woman whose beauty still shone beneath her thin, pale countenance. It took a moment for Victoria to identify the woman; she was the young widow Eve Evanston.

“Well, my, my,” Jocelyn raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Samantha. “Did you know?”

“Not a clue,” Samantha shook her head. “Peter?”

“Actually, we had a little bet that it looks as if I’ve lost. Robert said he could get her to come with him tonight, said she knew she was perfectly safe with him since he’s the most avowed bachelor in all of New Orleans,” Peter smiled.

“And she’s not wearing black,” Victor nodded. “That’s a real improvement.”

“Yes, it is,” Samantha smiled and then sighed “Oh, Peter, I wish that you could extend her mortgages just once more. That would solve all her problems.”

The smile on Peter’s face disappeared immediately, “This isn’t the place to discuss that, Sam.”

The note of reproach in Peter’s voice caused Victoria’s eyes to snap from the pleasant tableau of Robert and Mrs. Evanston greeting other partygoers to the sight of her son and daughter-in-law. Peter’s face was stern; his eyes hard. She saw a flash of anger in Samantha’s eyes and then her daughter-in-law bit her lip and looked away. Victoria bit her tongue to keep from scolding Peter for being so harsh. There was no need for Peter to be so sharp with Samantha; she was just concerned about a friend.

Surprisingly, Samantha said softly, “I’m sorry. I sometimes forget that a banker’s wife has to remember never to blur the lines between business and friendship. You’re right, Peter, this isn’t the place.”

Victoria watched as Peter’s face relaxed and he reached over to touch his wife’s arm and, when she looked up at him, he winked at her. Her answering smile seemed sincere. Victoria let out a slow breath and glanced at Jarrod’s face. Her eldest son was watching Peter and Samantha also, but he did not seem concerned about their exchange. For a moment, she thought she saw a flash of understanding in Jarrod’s eyes, and then he seemed to nod slightly in approval.

Fortunately, Wilton Markham, the former colonel that Victoria had met at the first evening’s festivities arrived then, chuckling softly and then greeting them all heartily.

“Will, what have you been up to?” Jocelyn asked suspiciously as she received his buss on the cheek..

“Moving placecards,” the old man smiled widely.

“Oh, heavens, I just scolded Jacob for doing that,” she rolled her eyes.

The old gentleman grinned at her, “I know, I saw him.”

“Colonel,” Jacob shook a finger at him, “you are not being a very good role model.”

“Spoken like my most disciplined major,” the colonel clapped Jacob on the shoulder. “And I see my very undisciplined captain over there,” he pointed a finger at Robert. Robert noticed the gesture and proceeded to reward the old gentleman with a sharp salute. The colonel chuckled, “Ah, Samantha, your brother was an outstanding soldier and a natural leader and an atrocious officer and gentleman.”

“I can imagine,” Samantha said softly, but her eyes unconsciously turned to where both Heath and Nick stood, talking to two ladies they had met the previous evening and then, hesitantly, to Jarrod. Jarrod’s eyes were carefully veiled as once again the disturbing knowledge that the men he was talking and joking with had once been his sworn enemy. Samantha had no idea how the pain showed in her eyes as she looked at her husband’s oldest brother. Colonel Markham, however, saw and understood.

“Ah, Samantha, not to worry. We’re not going to start talking about the war,” he placed an arm around her shoulders and gave her a fatherly hug. “We have learned long ago never to talk about specific engagements when we’re with our friends from the north. We all know that there were noble, courageous if sometimes undisciplined men on both sides just as there were malicious cowards on both. We all accept that both shaped our memories of that unfortunate time and we try to live with those memories and move forward. So tell me, Samantha, where are Nathaniel and Suzette this evening?”

“Duty calls for Nathaniel, I’m afraid,” Jocelyn explained.

“Good. That woman could talk the ears off a cornstalk,” the colonel said dryly.

“Will!” Jocelyn slapped his arm as the rest of the group laughed.

“Ah, Will, she’s not that bad,” Peter said softly.

“Oh, we all know you have a soft spot in your heart for her,” Colonel Markham replied. “I do believe you are the only one other than Nathaniel who can tolerate her for long spells. In fact, I think you do better than Nathaniel.”

Peter smiled gently, “Oh, Suzy’s talking got me through some rough times. I kinda like the sound of her voice. Sorta reminds me of the comfort that a lighthouse gives you as you’re moving in on a rocky harbor.”

Victoria’s eyes moved quickly from Peter’s face to Samantha’s, but her daughter-in-law did not seem concerned about Peter’s sentimental statement. She wondered what rough times Peter could have been meant. But she knew by the expression on his face that he was going to offer no further explanation.

“Well, that as it may,” the colonel shrugged, “I’m glad my ears are safe tonight. Now, Mrs. Barkley, would you allow me to escort you to your seat. It just so happens I know exactly where it is.”

Victoria took the arm that he offered and allowed him to lead her into the banquet room. As they crossed the threshold, however, her step faltered as she beheld the ugliest Christmas tree she had ever seen. It was decorated in Spanish moss and ribbon-festooned birds’ nests. It was, it was, hideous.

“Well, Victoria,” her daughter-in-law whispered in her ear.

“It’s, it’s,” Victoria struggled, “rather ingenuous.”

Samantha laughed, “Only you, Victoria, only you.”

And with that the family began to move to their seats scattered throughout the room.

Chapter 14

As had been their habit all week, the family met at the foot of the stairs and started drifting toward the dining room for a late breakfast. There were many yawns and a few laughs as they struggled along. Samantha began explaining their plans for their open house this afternoon. Nick started to ask sarcastically whether Peter was going to make it home for this when he was temporarily silenced by finding his brother already sitting at the dining table.

“Good morning,” Peter smiled at his family, enjoying their obvious surprise at seeing him. Even Sam looked a little stunned. She knew he had gotten up very early this morning and gone out; she hadn’t expected him back until noon. He did so enjoy surprising her.

“What is this?” Samantha looked from a box setting on her plate to Peter’s face.

Her husband gave her one of his enigmatic smiles, “Open it and see.”

She raised an eyebrow and carefully untied the ribbon around the box, “Early Christmas gift?”

“Uh-huh,” he leaned back in his chair. “Thought you might like to have this for the open house today.”

She gasped softly as she opened the box. Inside was a single strand of pearls but what caught her eyes were the three small gold hearts spaced out along the necklace. Each had a single jewel in its center. She looked back up at Peter, “The children’s birthstones?”

“That’s right,” his smile suddenly became shy. “Open one.”

“Lockets?” she replied as her fingers sought the tiny latch. When it sprung open, she bit her bottom lip and quickly looked up at Peter. Looking back down, she slid her fingers to the other two lockets and opened them also. Her eyes were tear filled when she looked up again and whispered, “You saved one of Nicky’s curls?”

“Yep,” he now grinned at her, uncommonly proud of himself. “And I found where you’d saved Tom’s curls and I snipped one of Lizzie V.’s.”

She tried to become stern with him, “You went near my baby with scissors!”

“Relax,” he refused to be chastised, “she was sound asleep and I was very, very careful.”

“These pictures, they’re from . . .,” she started.

“The family picture we had taken Tuesday evening,” he chuckled. “And before you ask how I managed to get them so quickly, remember that I’ve known Raoul for years and just traded some information for a little preferential treatment.”

Samantha’s eyes had returned to the necklace. She leaned toward Victoria and extended the box, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Victoria smiled softly and reached out to touch one of the lockets. The right side of each locket held a small picture of one of her smiling grandchildren and the left side a lock of that child’s hair. “Beautiful,” she echoed. Her eyes went back to Peter’s face. He looked tired, but it seemed to be a happy kind of tired. She remembered that look from when Tom would come home after successfully completing some particularly difficult business venture. Sighing softly, hoping maybe things were going to get better, she added, “It’s the perfect gift for the mother of your children, Peter.”

Peter smiled at his mother easily, knowing that his gift to her Christmas morning would be well received. It was a set of three silver frames, each with a larger version of his child’s picture and a curl of hair tucked in the corner. Even Sam didn’t know about this secret Christmas gift.

Samantha took the box back from Victoria and cradled it in her hands for a moment. When she looked back up, her eyes were filled with love. “Merci, my Peter,” she said simply.

“You’re most welcome, my Sam,” his eyes twinkled.

Nick broke the sentimental moment with a snort, “Well, thank God, I was beginning to think that all you two could do was fight.”

Samantha looked over at him in confusion, “Fight?”

“Fight?” Peter echoed her.

“Yeah, fight,” Nick said flatly. “Since we got here, Sam’s been unhappy about just about everything you have and haven’t done, and you just haven’t been sticking around much at all.”

“Nick,” Peter started, “I’ve been a little busy . . . .”

“Well, I have been a little exasperated with how much my husband has been away from home the last few weeks,” Samantha interrupted. “And I wasn’t too happy about what he chose to give his brothers as early Christmas gifts,” she added pointedly.

Nick, Heath, and Jarrod all exchanged uncomfortable looks; they weren’t aware that Sam knew about Peter’s special gifts. Gene used his usual ploy of avoiding notice by concentrating on eating his breakfast. Finally, Jarrod murmured, “Well, Sam, I appreciate that you might be a little upset but I can assure you that Peter himself did nothing inappropriate.”

“Oh, I know Peter did nothing inappropriate, but I still had to deal with Marie Manet catching me at the back wall this morning to inform me that her husband had reported to her that MY husband had been at Madame Doucet’s the past four evenings,” Samantha pursed her lips.

“And what did you tell Mrs. Manet?” Peter grinned broadly.

“I simply told her that MY husband was ensuring that his four bachelor brothers’ visit to New Orleans was entertaining and what was HER husband doing at Madame Doucet’s four evenings in a row.”

Peter chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling. His family ran the gamut from snickering amusement on Audra’s part to a knowing roll of the eyes on Victoria’s to ranging amounts of embarrassment on the brothers’ faces. Suddenly, Nick’s brow wrinkled in confusion, “What do you mean four evenings? Gene was there the same night I was.”

Both Jarrod and Heath stared at Nick . . . and then at each other . . . and then at Eugene who was doggedly working through the food on his plate and avoiding everyone’s eyes. “Well, boy howdy, Gene,” Heath teased softly. He remembered his slight embarrassment when he had encountered Gene going down the stairs at Madame Doucet’s as he was going up.

“Eugene?” Jarrod tried to be stern but his own evening of entertainment tempered his scolding. Peter had gotten Jarrod away from the house after their return from the banquet on the pretense of taking a little walk to help digest the heavy dinner. As it turned out, Peter had another idea of how Jarrod could work off the heavy dinner . . . a very pleasurable approach. Jarrod had encountered Eugene in the upstairs hallway last night, being tugged into a room by a very buxom blonde just as Jarrod was about to enter another room with a petite redhead. He had been so surprised that he had only nodded as the boy gave him a smile and a wink before he disappeared into the room. Jarrod had intended to have a “little talk” with Gene today about this new experience for him. Now, given all the experience that the boy had apparently garnered in his days in New Orleans, perhaps it was a little late for the talk.

Gene slowly raised his eyes and did his best to project total innocence, but the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth and the twinkle in his eye gave him away. Peter had explained to him their first night in New Orleans about his early Christmas gift for all four brothers, an evening at Madame Doucet’s. But Peter had added that since this was Gene’s first opportunity that he would cover the cost of as many visits as Gene wanted to make to the establishment during his stay in New Orleans . . . just as long as Mother didn’t find out. Gene had been very successful until this morning, but he was confident he could sneak in a few more trips before they had to return to California.

“So you can see why I was a little irritated with my husband,” Samantha pronounced.

“Well, Sam, it was like you said, Pete was just seeing that his bachelor brothers were being entertained. It’s not like he did anything wrong,” Heath replied.

“Was it better than the houses along the docks?” Samantha challenged mischievously.

“Samantha!” Victoria scolded.

Heath turned bright red and then rose to Samantha’s challenge, “Real nice place. Seemed to me that it was a nice place for a man to go to have a drink, maybe play a little cards, talk business with his friends. I expect that’s the only reason that Pete knows about that place.”

“Oh, I know why Peter goes there and I know he’s never even put his foot on the first riser of the stairs,” Samantha said calmly.

“Samantha,” Victoria rolled her eyes. Her daughter-in-law knew far too much about what went on in houses of ill-repute. “I think you’ve teased Peter’s brothers enough. Since Peter is the only one married, I guess he should be the only one that we should be truly concerned about. It’s apparent from his brothers’ statements that at least Peter behaved himself there. I’m not going to ask about the others.”

Gene tilted his head to one side and raised his fork to emphasize his words, “Let me see if I can remember what Madame Doucet told me last night. It was something like there’s nothing better for her business than a married man who’s not in love with his wife and nothing worse than a married man who is in love with his wife and that Peter was her absolute worst customer. In fact, he couldn’t even qualify as being a customer because all he did was come and play whist with her and make business deals.”

“Madame Doucet said that about Peter?” Samantha turned to look at her youngest brother-in-law. Victoria also studied her youngest son. She wasn’t too pleased to hear that he was having conversations with a brothel madam. She telegraphed her disapproval to Peter with a sharp look. Peter tried Gene’s approach and picked up a fork and began to play with his food.

“Yep,” Gene answered Samantha and then ducked his head to continue eating his breakfast. He thought he might just have gotten out of having a Nick and/or Jarrod lecture over his introduction into the wonders of physical relations with a woman. Now if he could just get Mother to quit scolding him with her eyes.

Nick, deciding it was time to change the conversation, swung his eyes from Gene back to Sam, “Well, you can’t tell me you weren’t angry when Peter played the fiddle at that first ball and then was so sweet to that little piano player. I saw your face. You were jealous and I don’t rightly blame you.”

“Violin and pianist, Nick, and I wasn’t angry at Peter and I wasn’t jealous,” Samantha instantly denied the charge. “I was put out with myself for not listening to him. He warned me not to wear that dress.”

“What happened?” Nick’s hazel eyes flashed. “Some fancypants make a pass at you while Peter was up there playing the fiddle? Is that what you were so upset about? You shudda told me and I would have decked him.”

Peter chuckled loudly, his eyes dancing, but he left it to Samantha to answer. She looked down the table at her husband and then crinkled her nose, “Oh, heavens, no, it wasn’t anything like that. Peter warned me that the dress was too tight, that I wouldn’t be able to put any padding in.”

“Padding?” Nick was totally confused. Sam certainly didn’t need any kind of padding. She had a pretty lush figure and that dress had shown every bit of it.

“Hmm,” Samantha made a face and, in response to her husband’s challenging look, forged on, “I was listening to Peter play the violin and I started thinking about how much I loved him, and then I started thinking about the children, and, well, when I started thinking about Lizzy V., well, my milk came down.”

Heath would have spit out the sip of coffee he had in his mouth if it weren’t for the fact it would have gone all over Victoria. He choked as he tried to swallow and started coughing. Nick, to hide his own embarrassment, started pounding Heath on the back. Gene was just staring at Samantha with his mouth wide open; and Jarrod, well poor Jarrod was looking everywhere but at Samantha.

Peter was almost gleeful as he tried to scold his wife, “Sam, please, you’re embarrassing my brothers.”

“Well, they’re just going to have to get used to it. Good heavens, they’re all grown men; they’ve all seen babies nurse,” Samantha waved a dismissive hand and then turned to Victoria and continued, “Peter warned me not to wear that dress, but I had ordered it especially for that evening, for that ball. I wanted to be a little dazzling, if you must know. I knew that the jewels and the dress and the fact that I would be showing, how did Nick put it, so much skin, well I knew that would cause a stir. Of course, I was already just about to come out of the dress, so I didn’t dare put any padding in to take care of any leaks. Peter warned me it would happen; he told me to save the dress until next year after Lizzie V. was weaned, but I didn’t listen. When the milk came down, I knew it would show immediately on that material so all I could do was cross my arms and wait until Peter could take me home.”

“I see,” Victoria said diplomatically and then bit her lips to keep from laughing at her bachelor sons’ discomfort. It was true, they were all grown men and they had all seen babies nurse but their sister-in-law talking about such things at the breakfast table had thrown them all for a loop. “Well, I’m glad to know that you and Peter weren’t fighting that night. I must tell you, Samantha, however, that I was a little concerned when I saw that Peter had slept downstairs the next night.”

“Slept downstairs?” Peter stared down the table at his wife. “I didn’t sleep downstairs.”

Victoria started to remind him she had discovered him clearing his clothes from his study just yesterday, but she decided that it would probably be best not to continue this conversation. Obviously, Samantha and Peter were getting along much better. After all, for the first time since their arrival, Peter was at the breakfast table, and he had given his wife a wonderful early Christmas gift. Maybe they were trying to make amends. Robert’s arrival saved her from having to awkwardly change the subject.

“Bonjour,” Robert came into the dining room with a newspaper tucked under his arm. “I trust all are well today.”

General murmurs of assent greeted him, but Samantha demanded, “Nick says that all Peter and I do is fight. Is that true?”

“Fight?” Robert cocked his head as he sat down at the table, laying the paper next to his plate and picking up his napkin. As he spread the napkin across his lap, he continued, “Fight? Was the roof raised with the shouting? Was there the sound of breaking glass? If not, I do not think it could be classified as a fight.”

Most of the table laughed at Robert’s description of Peter and Samantha’s fights, but Gene and Audra traded a guilty look. Nick saw it and demanded, “What’s wrong with you two?”

“Well, ummm,” Gene started. “It’s just that, well, the other night, when Audra and I were coming in.”

“What time was this?” Jarrod interrupted.

“I don’t remember,” Gene lied, but then added, “but it was late.”

“It was the evening of the Trudeaus’ party when we went out for coffee and pastries after the ball,” Audra said. “When we came in, well, we were being quiet so that we didn’t wake everyone up.”

“More likely you were sneaking in so we wouldn’t know what time you were coming in,” Nick snorted.

Gene started to say that he knew that Nick wasn’t even home that evening, but decided to skip the confrontation. Instead, he protested, “Just trying to be considerate, Nick. Anyway, when we came in we heard voices in Pete’s office.”

“Actually,” Audra corrected, “we heard the sound of glass breaking and when we went to investigate we heard your voices in Peter’s office and then Sam shouted at Peter. We assumed you were having an argument so we went upstairs right away.” She stopped, embarrassed that she and Gene had eavesdropped as much as they had.

“Argument?” Sam looked down the table at her husband, who was grinning widely. Then she suddenly realized which night they were talking about, “Ohhhh. I just came downstairs to keep Peter company while he was waiting for you two to get in. And, well, we weren’t arguing.”

“The broken glass?” Gene questioned, remembering distinctly Robert’s stories about Sam throwing vases at Pete when she was angry with him.

“Oh, Peter and I forgot he had a glass of brandy sitting on the corner of his desk,” Samantha smiled mischievously. “We accidentally knocked it off.”

“But we did hear you shout at Peter,” Audra added.

“Oh, I shouted Peter’s name,” Samantha lifted her cup and took a sip of coffee. She looked over the rim of the cup towards Peter’s end of the table, her green eyes smoldering. She added in a sultry voice, “But I wasn’t shouting it because I was angry at him.”

Once again, her brothers-in-law fidgeted in embarrassment. It took a moment for Audra to understand her sister-in-law’s explanation and then she blushed and dropped her eyes to her plate. Victoria suddenly realized that that was the night that she had thought Peter had slept downstairs. She now knew that what she had seen the next morning was Peter gathering up the clothes that he and Samantha had discarded during their, their marital tryst in his office. No doubt, Samantha had insisted that he go down to take care of this task before the rest of the family got up. That was the argument that she had overheard. Her eyes shifted from Peter to Samantha and back. She could remember Tom giving her just that kind of look when the pleasure of their private time together had been especially good.

“Well, I think we all now understand that Peter and Samantha haven’t been fighting,” Victoria sought to put an end to this line of conversation.

But Samantha decided to make things perfectly clear. “That’s right,” she said as she got up from her chair and walked down the table. “Peter has been very busy and away from his family far too much, but I believe that is about to end. Am I right, my darling?” she settled into her husband’s lap and curled an arm around his neck and kissed his cheek.

Peter shook his head at her but just answered, “I believe you are right, mon ami.”

Robert, however, feigned total indignation at his sister’s romantic gesture, “Good heavens, not at the breakfast table, Sam. We’re all trying to eat.”

“Oh, hush,” Samantha aimed a sharp kick at Robert’s leg.

“Oww, Sam,” Robert snapped. “You know from whom Nicky gets his penchant for kicking, don’t you?”

“Well, I can certainly relate to his frustration with having to deal with a big brother,” Samantha wrinkled her nose at her brother. “And I can sit on my husband’s lap and kiss his cheek any time that I feel like it, particularly after he has given me such a wonderful early Christmas gift. Oh, I need to show you what Peter gave me!”

“The lockets?” Robert said calmly. “I have seen them. Who did you think did all the running around yesterday to get the pictures put in while Peter was so busily handling things at the bank?”

“Oh, I see. It wasn’t a secret you kept from everyone,” Samantha wiggled her eyebrows at her husband, who just shrugged. She would have teased him further but was interrupted when their butler announced they had a visitor. Samantha hastily jumped to her feet. It was one thing to sit on her husband’s lap in front of the family; it was another to do it in front of visitors. She could have relaxed because the visitor was a very young man bearing a basket.

“Good morning, Madame and Monsieur Barkley,” the boy dipped his head. “My mamma wanted me to deliver this basket of her honeycakes. She said that she remembered that both Monsieur Barkley and Monsieur Lasueur liked them.”

“Well, thank you, Michael,” Peter smiled and reached out to take the basket the boy extended toward him. “Your mamma remembers very correctly. I love her honeycakes. Please tell her thank you so much. Michael, these are members of my family. My mother and my sister and my brothers. Family, this is Sir Michael Evanston. He is the very fine son of Mrs. Eve Evanston, whom I believe you all have met.”

“How do you do?” the boy properly dipped his head to all the grownups around the table and then carefully recited, “Mamma said to tell you that this is a small token to thank you for all that you have done for us.”

“Tell your mamma that there was no need for her to thank me. I was just doing my job; however, tell her that I am just selfish enough that I’m going to keep the cakes,” Peter winked at the boy, and then dug into his vest pocket for a coin. “Here, here’s a tip for you.”

“Oh, no, monsieur,” the boy refused to take the coin that Peter held toward him. “I cannot accept charity.”

“It’s not charity,” Peter said quickly. “You’re a delivery boy, and delivery boys get tips. In fact, at Christmas time they get double tips.”

“Really?” the boy’s eyes rounded.

“Really, here, take this. Maybe you would like to buy your mamma a Christmas gift,” Peter suggested.

“Oui, monsieur,” the boy bobbed his head as he accepted the coin. “Merci, Monsieur Barkley, merci.”

“You’re welcome, Michael. And merry Christmas to you,” Peter replied as the boy slipped out of the room, almost skipping with his excitement.

“That was sweet, Peter,” Samantha slid back into her husband’s lap. “But why did Eve send you honeycakes? Hmm, if I were a jealous wife, I might be suspicious. A beautiful young widow sending my husband a thank you gift for all that he has done for her. But, Nick, I’m not a jealous wife; I trust my husband.” Samantha wrinkled her nose at her brother-in-law, who just hmmpffed in reply. She turned back to look into Peter’s eyes and suddenly realized what must have happened, “Oh my goodness, did you extend the mortgages for her?”

“No,” Peter said patiently. “I told you before that that would not be a fiscally responsible act for the bank. You understand I can’t do things for people just because they’re our friends and you know that as a bank president’s wife you have to be doubly careful not to say anything. I did, however, find a private individual who executed a partnership agreement with Eve in exchange for paying off the loans.”

“A private individual, a partnership?” Samantha frowned in concern. And then she showed she was not only the wife of a bank president but also an intelligent young woman who had grown up hearing talk of financing at the dining table, “How will this work? Is there a chance that Eve might lose the warehouses? She counts on those warehouses for her income, you know. Can this person be trusted?”

“I think everything will work fine, Sam,” Peter replied. “In exchange for the partnership, the individual has agreed to take over management of the warehouses. We worked out a profit sharing arrangement that kicks in after Eve receives a fixed income each month. If he’s going to make a good return on his investment, he’ll have to make the warehouses successful. I think this will work well.”

“And you trust this person?” Samantha pressed.

“Pretty much so; he’s a pretty trustworthy person and, as I said, it will be to his benefit to see that the warehouses do well,” he patted his wife’s arm. “Trust me on this one, will you, Sam?”

“All right,” she relented and then put her arm around his neck again. “You usually have pretty good instincts on these things. You know that I’m just concerned about Eve, she’s been so lost since Mike died.”

“I really think things are going to be much better for her now,” Peter assured her once more.

“Well, thank you for getting this done before Christmas; it will make hers and Michael’s Christmas so much better without all the stress of worrying over money. I don’t know where you found the time,” she suddenly softened her tone. “You’ve been so busy with both those big negotiations as well as just the regular things at the bank and then to settle all this for Eve. Or was this another one of your little secrets that you have been working on?”

“No, things just fell into place all at once for Eve,” Peter waved a dismissive hand.

“Well, thank you anyway,” she bent to kiss his lips, but when she straightened up her eyes were narrowed. “Peter, have you been drinking?”

He held up his hand with his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart, “Just a little.”

“Peter, it’s 8 o’clock in the morning!”

“It was just a little champagne to celebrate,” Peter tried to explain.

“Celebrate?” her eyebrows went up.

“Yep, I picked Bart up at the train station at 6 and we went to the bank to celebrate closing the deal. Frederick saw the lights and came in and we celebrated closing the other deal,” he defended his early morning tippling. “It seemed totally appropriate to pop the cork on a good bottle of champagne.”

“So, everything’s all settled,” she asked cautiously.

“All settled,” Peter confirmed.

“Well, good,” Victoria interrupted, “I hope that means you won’t be working so hard, Peter. You’ve been working nonstop since we got here. You need to slow down some before you make yourself sick.”

“I’m not going to make myself sick,” Peter chafed under the mothering that he was not used to. “Besides, work is good for a body, I remember being told that all the time I was growing up.”

“Work is, overworked is not,” his mother scolded in her firmest voice, “and that’s exactly what you’ve been doing, overworking. And I know that your overworking has caused Samantha extra worry.”

“Mother,” Peter started to protest, but was interrupted by his wife, “You’re absolutely right, Victoria, Peter has been overworking, but he’s promised me that that’s all over now. Correct, darling?”

Her husband sighed deeply, “Yes, dear.”

“And everything’s settled,” Samantha smiled happily.

Robert picked up Samantha’s sentence, “And you were celebrating this morning and did not invite me.”

Peter snorted, “You were sound asleep when I left this morning for the train station to pick up Bart, and you were probably sound asleep when we popped the cork on that bottle of champagne. But I did bring you back something.”

“Something for me?” Robert questioned. He raised his eyebrows and watched as Peter reached into his coat pocket and extracted an envelope. Peter extended the envelope to Robert who cautiously took it. He broke the seal and laid back the flap enough so that he could see the contents. Robert stared at the paper in the envelope and then at Peter and then back at the envelope. “This is my share?”

“Yes,” Peter smiled broadly.

“My share after the warehouses?” his brother-in-law asked.

“After what warehouses?” Samantha started and then her eyes sparkled. “Oh, my goodness, you’re Eve’s new partner! Oh, this is wonderful.”

“Oui,” Robert answered absently. His eyes moved from the envelope to Peter and back again, “This is AFTER the warehouses?”

“Yes, Robert,” Peter repeated. “It’s after the warehouses.”

“Sacre Dieu,” his brother-in-law shook his head. “I am impressed.”

“Well, thank you,” Peter started and was interrupted again by Samantha, “So you’re leaving the marshals and coming back to New Orleans?”

“Oui,” Robert repeated automatically.

Samantha teased, “So, does this mean we are going to argue over the furniture?”

“Probably,” Robert murmured. “Well, ferere, this is very, very good. Merci.” He leaned over to clap Peter on the shoulder and then, impetuously, leaned out of his chair and placed a kiss on each of Peter’s cheeks.

Nick, still not at all comfortable with the French show of affection, groaned, “Hey, Robert, like you said, some of us are trying to eat our breakfast.”

“Sorry, Nick,” Robert sat back down in his chair. “You must understand that I owe your little brother much. In fact, I will never be able to fully thank him for all he has done.”

“Ahh,” Peter waved his hand. “I was acting selfishly. You just got some of the side benefits.”

“Perhaps,” Robert smiled softly, “perhaps not.”

“Well, are you gonna share what’s in the envelope or is it another one of the big secrets around this place?” Nick demanded.

“Secrets?” Peter pretended to be confused.

“Yes,” Jarrod replied. “At both the Trudeaus’ ball and the party at the Armisteads’ there were several mentions of secrets being kept.”

“And,” Heath added, “Tom and Nicky both have been teasing us with a secret they say that they can’t tell us until Christmas.”

“Really?” Peter grinned broadly. “And they didn’t tell? I’m impressed.”

“So, c’mon, squirt, spill the beans,” Nick ordered.

“Um,” Peter hemmed and hawed.

“Oh, Peter, we can tell now, can’t we,” Samantha encouraged her husband. “I just don’t think I can keep this secret another day. I mean, all the deals have been completed, haven’t they?”

“Well, yes, it’s just I hadn’t really thought about exactly how to tell the family,” Peter murmured. “I had thought we would wait until Christmas to make our announcement. I’m not really prepared right now.”

“Ah, such foolishness, a man who manipulates the titans of commerce can’t make a simple announcement,” Robert snorted. “Here, there is a story in the newspaper. Perhaps it will explain things.”

“A story in the newspaper?” Samantha looked from Robert to Peter.

“I told Frederick he could disclose the agreement today. I guess he figured that meant he could get something in today’s newspaper,” Peter murmured.

“What does it say?” Samantha encouraged her brother.

“Ah, let us see,” Robert cleared his throat. “Ah, here it is, ‘After months of speculation, confirmation was received yesterday that brothers-in-law Peter Barkley and Robert Laseuer have sold their controlling interest in Merchants Bank to a consortium headed by Frederick Branch.’”

“You sold the bank?” Jarrod was dumfounded. Well, that explained the auditors, he thought suddenly. But how curious, Peter had said he loved running the bank that Samantha’s father had started. Why would he sell it? Perhaps he was in serious financial straits. Jarrod silently wished that his brother had turned to the family for help. Maybe they would have been able to forestall such a serious action.

“Yep,” Peter nodded but offered nothing further.

Robert continued his reading, “‘Most of New Orleans will remember that Merchants Bank was founded by Monsieur Laseuer’s father, the honorable Henri Laseuer, almost 40 years ago. Monsieur Barkley, who is married to Henri Laseuer’s only daughter, joined the bank approximately six years ago and assumed the presidency during Monsieur Henri’s final illness. The brothers-in-law inherited controlling interest in the bank following Monsieur Henri’s sad and untimely death five years ago. While Monsieur Robert Laseuer has pursued business interests outside the city . . . .’ Hmm, ‘pursued business interests’ what a curious phrase.”

“Well, it’s better than ‘While Monsieur Robert Laseuer has been chasing all over the country and getting in all sorts of scrapes,’” Samantha informed her brother.

“Hmm,” Robert shook the paper and continued, “Let’s see, where was I, oh, yes, ‘While Monsieur Robert Laseuer has pursued business interests outside the city, Monsieur Barkley has remained as president of the bank. Conservative estimates are that during his tenure Monsieur Barkley has tripled the assets of the institution.’ Given the size of my check, that is a very conservative estimate, ferere.”

Peter just smiled and shrugged, and Jarrod realized that it wasn’t financial straits that had caused Peter to sell the bank. But why, Jarrod wondered.

Robert continued, “The story goes on ‘Monsieur Branch confirmed the sell yesterday in a meeting in his offices. He told this reporter that negotiations had been ongoing for about three months but, true to his reputation, Monsieur Barkley was a shrewd and obstinate negotiator.’”

“So that’s the big secret?” Audra asked cautiously. While she knew that the bank was important to Peter and Robert, she didn’t understand all the secrecy over a sale. Then she asked the question that was on everyone’s minds, “What are you going to do now, Peter?”

“Ah, yes, Peter,” Robert teased, “what are you going to do now? Travel to the continent, enjoy a life of leisure with your new-found wealth?”

“Hardly,” Peter snorted, “I made a very good profit but it’s not like I can retire for the rest of my life on it. I’ve got a wife and children to support.”

“So, squirt, what are you gonna do?” Nick demanded. He was a little concerned about Robert’s prediction that Pete and Sam and the children might go to Europe. Damn, they had just gotten Pete back into their lives; they didn’t need him to go wandering off again.

Peter hesitated for a moment as he seemed to be searching for words, so Robert jumped in again, “Ah, well, you see, the newspaper tells us that also.”

“It does?” Peter looked over in surprise. “I didn’t make any announcement.”

Robert smiled sweetly, “Ah, but never underestimate an enterprising reporter. See here, it says, ‘A telegram received by this newspaper yesterday also confirmed what has been rumored for several weeks. Close confidents of Monsieur Barkley have predicted that he may be leaving this fair city in the near future. This newspaper has learned that, indeed, Monsieur Barkley and a business associate from New York . . . .”

“New York?” Gene questioned. Dang, now Pete and Samantha were going to be even further away. They’d hardly ever get to see them.

“Oui,” Robert frowned at the interruption, “‘. . . Monsieur Barkley and a business associate from New York have purchased controlling interest of the Mercantile Exchange in San Francisco.’”

“San Francisco!” this time Gene and Nick’s voices blended in a shout.

“You’re moving to San Francisco?” Audra’s eyes rounded in surprise. Then she leapt to her feet, reached over to pull Samantha out of Peter’s lap and hugged her tightly. “I can’t believe it; you’ll be in San Francisco! We’ll get to see you anytime!!”

“That’s right!” Samantha returned the enthusiastic hug. “Now you’ll be able to show me all the best dress shops in San Francisco.” The young women shared a laugh and another hug.

“This is great,” Gene stood up and stole Samantha from Audra’s grasp. “You all will be right there in San Francisco. I’ll be able to run over from Berkeley just about anytime.”

“Yes, college boy,” Samantha teased, “we’ll be right there in town so that we can keep an eye on you. And given what a bad influence your big brother Peter has been on you already, I think I’ll be the one keeping the eye.”

“Ohhh,” Gene suddenly realized that his mother had just gained an ally in keeping a watch over him.

“And you can come over anytime for a home-cooked meal,” Samantha offered a conciliation prize.

“Ohhh,” Gene perked up.

“Well, boy howdy,” Heath grinned broadly and reached over to clap Peter on the shoulder. “You two are just always full of surprises, aren’t you? So when will you all be moving to Frisco?”

“Soon,” Peter replied. “I’m supposed to take over the bank on March 1^st.”

“Well, you’re gonna come to the ranch for a while before you settle in, aren’t you?” Nick asked anxiously.

“Actually, it’s worse than that, Nick,” Samantha grinned over at her brother-in-law. “I wasn’t teasing about Robert and I fighting over the furniture. We are going to be shipping some of the furniture west by ship. We figure it’ll be two months from the time that we leave here until we will be settled into a house in San Francisco. Peter says we’ll be staying at the Palace while we’re waiting on things but the idea of trying to keep two little boys and a baby entertained in a hotel . . . .”

“Oh, heavens, no, Samantha,” Victoria finally found her voice. “You and the children need to come stay at the ranch until all your belongings arrive. Peter can come down on the weekends to see you. That will be so much easier on both you and the children.”

Samantha sighed loudly and smiled brightly and then bent down to hug her mother-in-law, “Oh, thank you so much for inviting us, Victoria. I was so hoping you would say that.”

“Inviting you, girl?” Nick stood up and walked around the table to gather Samantha into a big hug. “Don’t you understand that the ranch is your home, too? There’s always a place for you there, you and the children, anytime! If you want Pete tagging along, that’s fine, too, I guess.”

“Nicholas,” Victoria scolded but hid a smile as Nick winked at his younger brother and Peter managed to maintain a poker face but winked in return. The camaraderie between the brothers was growing.

“And, Pete, there’s no reason for you to stay at the Palace. I have a perfectly good home in San Francisco for you to use. It’s a little small for a family and not the best location for children but for just you it should work well. I have to admit this is a very nice secret that you finally decided to share,” Jarrod’s eyes were twinkling as he regarded his brother. “I also have to admit that I’m a bit surprised. You and Samantha seem very happy here; certainly, your friends are going to be devastated that you’re leaving.”

“Oh, I think devastated is too strong of a word,” Peter shook his head.

“Oh, Peter,” Samantha turned back to study her husband, “you know that Andre and Therese are going to miss us terribly, and Victor and Jocelyn, and Nathaniel and Suzette and, oh, others. But, they are also close enough friends that they understand that this is something that we very much want to do, to be closer to the rest of the family. And, despite our separation from them, they wish us only the best.”

Victoria caught her breath as she realized now that Jocelyn’s use of the word separation had nothing to do with Peter and Samantha’s marital status. And, she now instinctively understood what had been said about Samantha’s fears for the future. The young woman was leaving the only home she had ever known, leaving friends who had seen her through her first years of being a wife and a mother and lady of society. She was going across the country to an unfamiliar place where she would not only have to make new friends and re-establish herself in society, but also deal with becoming a very real part of a family that she hardly knew. And, instinctively, Victoria knew that Samantha often felt the terrible weight of having to raise her children by herself as her husband’s business responsibilities took him away from them – a weight that Victoria had often borne herself when her children were small. And, finally, Victoria realized that as a banker’s wife Samantha had the additional burden to bear of never voicing opinions about how her husband handled his customers’ business – that a casual remark on Samantha’s part could cost Peter not only customers but also his reputation. So much to deal with, Victoria thought, for such a young woman. Victoria resolved that she would do her best to help her new daughter on all fronts.

“As pleased as we all are with this news, I have to ask what prompted this sudden decision?” the lawyer in Jarrod continued to prod.

For once, Samantha held her tongue and looked to her husband to explain. The words needed to come from him, she knew instinctively. The family needed to understand what this meant to him.

“Oh,” Peter’s eyes dropped to the tablecloth where his index finger was unconsciously tracing the pattern in the lace, “I just thought that San Francisco would be a healthier climate for Samantha and the children. I always worry that we’re going to have another yellow fever epidemic.” He glanced up at his wife’s face and knew that she expected more from him, so he fumbled along, “And, the thing is, I want the children to grow up knowing the ranch as not just a place that they visit maybe once a year, but as sort of a second home. I want them to grow up knowing the rest of the family. I want them to have lots of memories not just a few vague recollections of people they’ve seen just a few times during short visits.”

He stopped for another moment and then gathered his courage, “And, the truth be known, I wanted to be sure that when the day comes, when one of my boys gets so angry at his bull-headed father, something that is bound to happen given the temperament of this family, well, when that day comes, I wanted to be sure that when he runs away that he runs only as far as it takes him to find one of his uncles, who he knows will be there for him, who will listen to him, and who will help him reason with that bull-headed father.”

Peter raised his eyes and studied each of his brothers, in turn, Heath who sat next to him and who placed a strong hand on Peter’s forearm and gave him one of those beautiful half smiles that tugged at your heart; Jarrod, whose brilliant blue eyes shown brightly and who in one look reaffirmed for Peter what he had always known, that his big brother would always be there; around the table to where Nick stood, one arm still resting around Sam’s shoulder, his chin raised slightly and his eyes narrowed, but Nick who nodded his head slightly letting his younger brother know that he would always protect Peter’s family; and Eugene, standing on the other side of Sam, his face calm and confident and somehow more mature, full of the pride that he felt for being entrusted with Peter’s loved ones.

Nick broke the silence. “Good,” he said firmly. The one word said it all.

At that moment, Tom and Nicky came tumbling into the dining room and breakfast was forgotten as shouts and laughter filled the room as the boys were allowed to share their “secret.” (Tom – “We’re moving to San Francisco, Grandmother.” Nicky – “No, California.” Tom – “It’s the same, silly.” Nicky – “Not silly!” accompanied by a swift kick.) It took Peter a few moments to work his way to his mother’s side. He gently took her in his arms and hugged her close, his face buried in her neck as he would when he was a small boy. After a moment, he whispered, “Merry Christmas, Mother.”

“Merry Christmas,” she replied although it was two days early, kissing his cheek. “And, thank you, darling, for a wonderful Christmas gift.”

THE END