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“Monsieur St Croix, a friend of the family from France.” Jamie came to the rescue again as they toured the house, acting as a much needed buffer, pulling Gabriel along by the hand, chattering excitedly about his room and asking questions of all three of them. It was a warm and comfortable house. The main floor had an airy open design consisting of a long gallery with interconnecting rooms. With the doors open, one could move freely from music room to library to salon. The furnishings were sturdy and inviting, made for relaxation and set in conversational groupings to provide a quiet refuge and placed to enjoythe view. The overall effect was open, eclectic, and unusual, not unlike its inhabitants.
    Sarah found herself watching Gabriel curiously, trying to gauge his reactions, indeed she had made somewhat of a game of it. He had blinked several times during Ross’s lecture on plumbing and indoor heating, signaling she thought, a keen interest. He seemed to have little interest in the music room, looking polite and bored as she showed them the various instruments, but when she bent to help Jamie return a violin to its case, she saw him from the corner of her eye, his fingers poised over the keyboard with what might have been a wistful look.
    Caught up in her study of their enigmatic new friend, Sarah was finally rewarded in the library. Gabriel walked slowly along the shelves of books, his index finger tracing covers and spines as he searched the titles, interest sparking, then flaring in his eyes. She watched as his face relaxed into a slight smile, and ventured to address him. “It’s an impressive collection is it not?”
    He turned to her with an excited smile that made her heart flutter. “It is indeed mademoiselle. I am permitted to make use of it?”
    “But of course! This is your home now. You are welcome to use the library whenever you wish. Perhaps you’d like to take some books to keep in your room.”
    His smile widened into a grin that pierced her to the quick. “Thank you, mademoiselle, I should be delighted.”
    She decided not to correct him. If he wished to smile at her, he could call her madam, or mademoiselle, or whatever he damned well pleased.
    Sarah’s hopes that their conversation in the library signaled a more comfortable relation between them were quickly dashed. Jamie grew in size and confidence as spring changed decisively to summer. He was a delightful child, quick of wit and curious, and the combination of good clean air, plentiful food, exercise, and safety, helped him adapt quickly to his new surroundings. He showed little visible effect from the years he’d been away, his recuperative powers astonishing, but Gabriel struggled to adjust.
    He had no complaint about his treatment. Sarah seemed to harbor no animosity in regard to his rudeness aboard ship. Her smile was friendly, and she continued to make efforts to include him in conversation. He found himself watching her when she didn’t know he was looking, noting with some degree of surprise that she often wore men’s clothing, and sometimes went barefoot. No one seemed to remark upon it, not even her brother.
    He remained a solitary character, avoiding company, though Jamie often sought his. He was generous with his time with the boy. They went exploring together, learning to fish, climbing cliffs, and exploring the many caves that dotted the shoreline, but he ate alone in his room unless Ross insisted he join them. His manners were impeccable, but he remained withdrawnand ventured nothing in conversation. When asked a direct question, his responses were cold and clipped, and though he had a clever wit, he used it to distance rather than endear himself.
    The truth was that, at Madame’s, he rarely spoke unless spoken to. He hadn’t been paid to give his opinion, and except for the boy, he’d kept his thoughts to himself. His social interactions had revolved around the rites of seduction and the negotiation of payment. They had