This is a continuation of life with Erik and Gabrielle DuPuis from Time the Avenger. Count on hot Erik and Gabrielle action in future chapters.

-Leesainthesky

Sojourns 1

Gabrielle DuPuis felt like skipping. Since arriving in the States three weeks ago, she'd been struggling to keep a step ahead of the melancholy cloud that seemed attached to her like a balloon on a short string. The last time she'd been in New York City, it was 2005 and she was an entertainment reporter for a television Magazine show.

The year was now 1881. Gabrielle realized the city would look different from her previous visit. What she wasn't prepared for was the torrential anamnesis of her future-past.

But today things were looking up. She'd been commissioned to write an article for the new publication "The City Woman's Journal" concerning New York's growing prostitution problem. Gabrielle intended to expose how a good deal of unwed mothers often found themselves without a healthy support system, leaving them to the mercy of the debaucher's pleasure for survival. These unfortunate women needed compassion, shelter and hope, not reprimands and damnation.

Gordon Brasher, editor of the periodical, was thrilled to have the reputable French-American writer at his disposal and Gabrielle was trilled to have the American editor's ear. She only wished Mayor William Grace saw the need for helping these ladies and their children. Philanthropic though he was the mayor was also very protective of the monies he received from his good upstanding churchgoing constituents. Adding the plight of a few whores to his list of righteous causes would not be a prudent political move.

The two-week curtain of rain clouds finally parted and Gabrielle sniffed at the fresh air. She smiled, thinking of how nice it would be to take in a "before supper" stroll with Erik and their three-year-old son. Her happy thoughts, along with her body, took a sudden downward tumble. The toe of her boot had caught on a rough jag of sidewalk, sending her to her knees in the middle of a mud-strewn Fifth Avenue.

For once, Gabrielle was thankful she wore a petticoat. The bulk of the long skirt and the undergarment helped cushion her fall. However, the reticule she'd been clutching skittered across the cobblestones coming to rest at the foot of a seriously attired gentleman, its contents spilling out for all to see.

"Merde," she hissed.

"Patrolman Crump, do help the unfortunate lady to her feet if you would," instructed Superintendent Daily to the uniformed officer flanking him. Gabrielle was already back on her feet and scrambling to collect her runaway belongings when the obedient lawmen approached her and offered his hand.

"Thank you so much, gentlemen, but I'm good—really," she said, smiling and brushing off any real or imagined street grime from her cotton print dress—it was then that Gabrielle saw the Police Superintendent reach down and retrieve one of her fugitive personal items from the street.

"Do my eyes deceive me? Madame, it seems your bag has released into the streets of our fair city an item which we do heavily frown upon," said the Superintendent, his jowly face dropping in disapproval.

Embarrassed yet still clueless as to the meaning of the man's bluster, Gabrielle knitted her brows and tilted her head sideways at him. "Forgive me, sir, but I'm not sure I understand."

The Superintendent held up his find and waggled it at her. Lifting his chins in self-righteous indignation he then addressed the officer without taking his eyes from Gabrielle. "Do not dare play innocent with me, young woman. From the looks of things, you are far from it."

"Patrolman Crump, arrest this woman."

"Do what?" The normally articulate Madame Thomassen-DuPuis sputtered and wriggled away from patrolman Crump's attempt to restrain her. "Get your hands off of me!" she cried flinging her arm from his grasp.

"Madame, it would behoove you to cooperate with the law," bellowed the superintendent.

"I've done nothing wrong, you've no right to arrest me," Gabrielle yelled loud enough for most of Fifth Avenue to hear. She hoped someone might witness this blatant injustice and come to her aid. Instead, the good people of New York wanted no part of an unruly, disobedient woman. They merely crossed the street and gawked at the scene from a distance.

Superintendent Daily had had enough. "Crump, handcuff this insolent woman now," he demanded.

When the patrolman slipped the handcuffs around Gabrielle's wrists he brushed up against her breast. Whether by accident or design the unwarned contact inflamed her temper. She jabbed out a boot clad foot and struck him in the shin. Crump repaid her rebellion by jerking the cuffs tighter than was necessary.

"When my husband finds out about your gross maltreatment of me you'll both be more than sorry!" Gabrielle promised the lawmen.

"I wonder, dear woman, what your husband will say when he finds that you've been arrested and thrown into the New York City jail?" countered Daily with a vindictive snort.

"Take her away, Crump."

-()-

And now dear readers, a review if you would, please.

FYI:
Gabrielle's father is a physicist who studies time travel. She was a journalist who ended up in France, 1876, where she met and married Erik. Do not let the time travel part of it deter you from reading, it's not cheesy Sci-Fi. Read Time the Avenger if you'd like to know the history.

Details:
Notes: Mayor William Grace was Mayor of New York City in the early 1880's.
The City Woman is a fictitious, progressive magazine.
In 1880, suspects were often handcuffed with their hands in front of them.