On Sunday afternoon Nathaniel made himself a cup of chocolate and settled at the kitchen table beside the fire to review his accounting, adjusting for those who had added to their credit in the last week and for those who had paid him. Most had only added to their credit. It wasn't long before Henri and Marie both joined him. Marie had changed into a simpler dress and settled nearby with some sewing. Henri hadn't bothered to change after their morning at church. Nathaniel wasn't certain he had brought anything simple from France at all. Much like Marie, Nathaniel had changed his most decent waistcoat for one that was already worn. He'd need to hand it off to Marie for repair soon.

Henri yawned as he sat down. "Is there coffee?"

"We aren't open on Sundays," Nathaniel told him. "But you are welcome to make yourself some coffee. There should still be grounds left from yesterday. And there is chocolate."

Henri smiled. "Even better." He found the chocolate Marie pointed him to and helped himself. "What are you doing?" he asked as he sat down at the table again, across from Nathaniel.

"The accounting," Nathaniel told him. 

"I always believed these towns could fine a man for working on a Sunday," Henri commented.

Nathaniel had to laugh. "If they could, they'd need to know I was working, wouldn't they? If the house isn't open, how will they know unless one of us tells them?"

Henri saluted him with his cup. "I've always found that a good way to live."

Nathaniel hoped the man wasn't confessing in some way to being a criminal in hiding. The way Marie always spoke of him, however, he was inclined to believe it was more in regards to having a private life. 

"I'm not quite certain how to record payments from John and Samuel," he said to change the conversation. "I don't wish to make any suspicious notes, but I feel it's important to record what they pay us."

"Entertainment," Henri declared.

"I'm sorry?" Nathaniel questioned.

Henri took a drink of his chocolate. "Entertainment. My arrival happened at a close time to the beginning of his payments to us. I am starting to have luck already in convincing the soldiers to gamble more now that their officers are away, using my own money I brought with me from Paris, and I assure you I can sing. Any money I win or am paid to perform will come to you – and I do not play on credit. Add their payments to that."

Nathaniel shook his head. He wondered how Henri expected to win money from soldiers who couldn't, or wouldn't, pay for their drinks in coin, but didn't question him. "I won't take your money," he said instead.

Henri laughed. "I'll keep what I need to recoup my losses, but the extra winnings go to you. I don't need much now. There was a time when I believed I did, but I'm enjoying the simplicity of life here."

"You've been here three days," Nathaniel reminded him, amused.

Henri shrugged. "Three days is time enough."

Nathaniel shook his head and dipped his quill in more ink before writing "entertainment" as an income category on his papers. He did the calculations to set aside what he needed for expenses in the next week, then divided the remaining money into three rather small piles. Finally, very aware of Henri watching him from behind his cup, Nathaniel took some coins from one pile and added them to the other two, putting one extra coin atop one. He took the smallest pile and placed it with the expense money in a wooden box. He locked it, then passed one pile to Henri. The one with the extra coin he handed to Marie, who thanked him and slipped it into her pocket.

"It isn't much, but you say you don't need much," he said to Henri. "Marie earns extra for doing the laundry and mending."

Henri had a strange expression on his face, but pocketed the money without argument and nodded. "Thank you."

Nathaniel returned the nod. "Of course."

"Now that you've done your work mostly in peace," Marie said as she continued to sew. "Did you see how most people watched us when we entered the church?"

Nathaniel had noticed not only the eyes on them, but that the number of people who had greeted them far exceeded the usual amount. Perhaps some of them had simply wished to meet the new handsome Frenchman in the city, though he considered that less likely. "I can't say I know why," he replied. "I'm hardly the only person to have his life disrupted by the soldiers."

"But how many others were so stoic yet defiant about it?" Henri questioned. "From what I've seen of this city, many people would have caused more harm in such a situation."

Marie nodded. "Quite true. The way you handled yourself was quite the talk, I'm sure. Mrs. Miller thinks you should marry her daughter so she can have some good grandchildren."

The thought turned Nathaniel's stomach. "I mean no offense to Mrs. Miller or her daughter, but I'll decline that request. If they start to make such suggestions to me I may start to remain here while you go to church. As it stands I made my peace with God some time ago and don't need professional men of God to tell me how exactly I should believe."

Marie shook her head and turned back to her sewing. "I could see more complications if you were to do that."

"I would join you here," Henri told him. "I've never had a mind for God or any church. Spoils a good day of relaxation, I say. But if others disagree it is their life to do with as they please, of course."

Marie laughed. "Two perfectly capable men leaving their female associate to attend church alone. Quite the talk of Boston it would be."

"Boston talks too much already," Nathaniel reminded her.

"Some of that talk will keep us employed," Henri stated. "Therefore, let them talk."

The following morning, Nathaniel made his way to see Mrs. Johnson with the majority of the money he'd made the previous week. He was determined to pay her in full for the supplies she had sent the day his house had been ransacked, though he'd need to have Henri pay her for his blankets and buckles. As it was, he hoped what he had available to pay with would cover the debt.

It was cold in the streets, the breeze colder still. Nathaniel huddled in his coat as he walked, thankful that it at least wasn't snowing. In the distance he could hear the unmistakable sound of military fife and drum from the Common. It, and the sound of muskets firing in drill, had become a part of the normal sounds of the city. In warmer months the streets would be filled with conversation and many people going about their days. In the winter, those who could remain indoors often did so. Nathaniel also did what he could to avoid leaving his establishment as often as possible in the cold months.

Much to his surprise, he passed Henri on the way, walking in the opposite direction from him. Henri gave him a nod from across the street and kept walking. Nathaniel hadn't noticed when he'd left the house earlier. Henri was usually one to sleep most of the morning away. He was certainly permitted his own leave to do as he wished before noon, so Nathaniel didn't think much of it.

"Why Mr. Hill, have you come for a visit then?" Mrs. Johnson asked when he entered the shop.

Nathaniel nodded to the man and woman already in the shop and stepped up to the counter. "I wanted to settle up about the supplies you sent me last week."

She looked surprised. "That French gentleman of yours was just here doing that. I thought you had sent him with your money."

The revelation caught Nathaniel by surprise. "No. I didn't know he'd come here."

She smiled. "Well, all is settled. Is there anything else I can get for you?"

Still stunned, Nathaniel shook his head. "No. Thank you. I'm certain we need other things but I can't think of what. I suppose I'll return later this week. Thank you."

He hurried out before she could keep him any longer and made his way home. While he had to admit that he wasn't overly shocked by Henri doing such a thing, it still distressed him. Henri shouldn't be paying for anything Nathaniel owed. His debts were his responsibility, no one else's.

He found Henri in the kitchen talking to Marie. They both turned to him as he entered and for a moment he was lost for words. Finally, he shook his head.

"Henri, please. My debts are my own. I don't seek charity."

Henri's blue-gray eyes grew wide. "I'm truly sorry. I thought I was doing something kind. I don't wish to waste my money on myself."

Nathaniel sighed, now feeling rather guilty for being upset with Henri. "It was kind, and I thank you. I simply wish to pay my own debts."

"Perhaps Henri could use his money to buy supplies," Marie suggested. "If he wishes to help, purchasing more of the things we need will do it without making any payments against your debts. In that way, you won't be growing the debts, either."

Henri nodded in obvious excitement. "That I could do. Just tell me what's needed. Until the money is gone I will buy what I can."

Nathaniel chose to relent and set aside his pride. "Very well. That is more preferable."

Henri's smile faded and he reached out to touch Nathaniel's arm. "I truly did not do it out of charity. I only wished to do something helpful with what I have."

Though he still wore his coat, Nathaniel found he enjoyed Henri's simple touch a bit too much. Still, he did nothing to end the gesture. Instead, he gazed steadily at Henri as he quietly said, "Thank you."

Henri gazed back at him and smiled.

"Henri really is too kind with his money," Marie commented, disrupting the moment. She had her back to them, stirring the coffee beans she was roasting. "Henri, tell him how much you are accustomed to spending on your family."

Henri had abruptly taken his hand away from Nathaniel's arm when Marie had spoken. He cleared his throat and looked away from Nathaniel. "Usually nearly half my income. Mostly on small things, whatever anyone needed my help with. Nothing grand or that required long-term investment."

"I regret that your income will be lower here," Nathaniel replied with honesty. "I did not mean to distress you in my response, either. I suppose I must appear ungrateful to you."

Henri smiled again. "I accept the apology if you accept mine."

Nathaniel laughed. "Very well."

"I knew the two of you would be good friends," Marie declared, smiling at them over her shoulder.

Nathaniel shook his head and finally removed his coat before he melted to a puddle in the hot kitchen. "Back to work then. What preparations do you have left to make for the day?"