A Simple Deception

XXVI

"Madame Lily Devalier always asked "Where are you?" in a way that insinuated that there were only two places on earth one could be: New Orleans and somewhere ridiculous." Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume

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XXVI.

Susanna would not have known the date had the on-board clergyman not held a Christmas service a few days before the ship docked in New Orleans. It didn't feel like Christmas. It was difficult to feel any sort of joy for the season knowing that she was still so far from Alex.

The long days at sea made it easy for Susanna's mind to wander, and often it went to dark places. She was ignorant of much of the slave experience. How could she be privy? She had been raised to believe that the world's biggest problem was being unmarried at an age beyond twenty. Despite Alex's stories, she still knew that she was very ignorant. But she knew now a fraction of what the masters were capable of. She could still vividly see the map of scars on Alex's back as she pictured him being whipped again and again.

Was he alive? She didn't know.

It had been months since she had last seen him. It had been months since their meeting down at the pond had been interrupted by Mr Bishop and her family, and Alex had begged her for a chance to explain. Susanna, too hurt and overwhelmed at the shock of it all, hadn't listened.

She prayed to God that she was not too late. She prayed to God to protect him, to free him, and all others like him, from such a fate.

These feelings did not stop Susanna and Adam from observing the fourth anniversary of her father's passing on the day after Christmas. It grieved them both that they were not at Ashwood to visit with him by the pond as was tradition on this day.

Their ship sailed up the Mississippi River and docked at the Port of New Orleans a few days after Christmas. Susanna had not known what to expect of the New World when she departed the ship. She had not thought much of the Americas, but she was amazed to see such a settlement so far across the ocean. Growing up in London, it was easy to feel as though England was the centre of the world. But people lived and worked and enjoyed their lives on all parts of the Earth.

"We must find a ship immediately to take us to the British Virgin Islands," Susanna told her brother as Adam carried their bags. She looked around the Port anxiously, searching the neighbouring ships with her eyes, looking for flags. She didn't want to waste a minute.

"We will, Susanna," promised Adam, "but first calm yourself."

Susanna's eyes flared. She didn't like to be angry with her brother, not especially now as he had journeyed so far with her but being told to calm down did not make her feel calm. She worried that every minute spent standing still was a minute wasted. It killed her enough that they had had to journey to New Orleans instead of Road Town because every damned sailor in England was too superstitious to carry a woman.

Were Adam not with her, she might have stowed away. How, she did not know. But she would have found a way.

"Don't look at me like that," scolded Adam. "I've been told to find a hotel on Rue Bourbon," he informed her. "Le Chat Dansant. It is apparently frequented by the many sailors who travel through this port. It will give us a greater opportunity to get our bearings and travel to this place safely."

Susanna knew her brother was right. He had spent their journey making sensible plans while she worried her days away. "Alright," she agreed. "Where do we find Rue Bourbon?"

Susanna and Adam walked north along the river for about a mile before turning onto the street named for the once powerful French House. She couldn't help but marvel at the people whom she saw while they walked to find Le Chat Dansant. Alex had been the first man of colour that Susanna had ever seen.