Lorenzo and the Turncoat by Lila Guzmán

Author:Lila Guzmán
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2006-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Not a breath of air stirred the humid August morning as Eugenie and Hawthorne made their way to Fort New Richmond, a quarter-mile from the house. Meadows of indigo and fields of sugar cane stretched behind them.

Using the back of her hand, Eugenie wiped away sweat forming under her bonnet brim. She cringed and hoped Hawthorne hadn’t noticed the mistake. Felicité would have dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief instead of wiping away sweat like a common field hand.

Eugenie glanced up at him.

He frowned in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

Playing the role of Felicité drained Eugenie emotionally. It took far more mental effort than she expected. She had been Felicité De Gálvez’s maid for several years and knew her likes and dislikes. It was one thing to be around someone day after day, but it was another matter entirely to be that person.

Hawthorne slowed his pace. “Are you quite all right?”

“I’m fine.” But she wasn’t. She felt awful. Her sore throat had prevented her from eating solid food, and she felt weak with hunger.

“I need to stop in the fort and speak briefly with the commander. Are you sure you feel well enough for a visit?”

“I’m just tired from the trip.” She liked the idea of going inside the new fort to see what the British were doing.

A dirt road led to a plank drawbridge. A high wooden gate, the only entrance to the fort, stood wide open. Two sentries leaned on their muskets. Apparently, they did not know Colonel Gálvez’s army was on the march and would soon reach Baton Rouge. But Eugenie did. The colonel had confided to her that he and his army would set out on August 22.

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