Isola
by Allegra Goodman
Contents
Chapter 8
Overview
Summary
Marguerite, Damienne, and Henri travel through cold rain and muddy roads toward La Rochelle. The journey is grueling—horses slip, Damienne's mount goes lame—and by the time they arrive, Marguerite no longer dreads her guardian's house. La Rochelle disappoints her: the city stinks of waste, and Roberval's mansion sits on a common street with no gardens or grounds, dark, damp, and moldy within. Henri leaves them in a poor chamber, and Damienne fears bedbugs and punishment.
The next morning, Marguerite ventures out for help and explores the silent house, discovering a great room filled with rich Eastern carpets that astonish her, suggesting Roberval's wealth and ambition. In the bustling kitchen, the cook, a small maid named Marie, and a friendlier maid named Alys prepare frantically for Roberval's arrival. Alys lights Marguerite's fire and brings her furniture, treating her kindly.
Roberval arrives, and Alys informs Marguerite she is invited to the banquet. Hopeful she might win back her favor and inheritance through patience and good behavior, Marguerite dresses in her silver gown despite Damienne's misgivings. Roberval greets her warmly as cousin but seats her at the foot of the table and quickly forgets her.
The guests—a banker, shipwright, navigator, and Captain Jacques Cartier—discuss voyages, the Spice Islands, and New France. Cartier describes his discovery of the Saint Lawrence gulf, the riches of Canada, and the violent yet awed natives who he claims worship and would devour him. Roberval declares his ambition to discover and conquer unknown lands for the King, revealing the obsession that will shape Marguerite's fate.
Who Appears
- MargueriteSeventeen-year-old orphaned heiress; arrives at Roberval's house hopeful of regaining favor; attends banquet observing her guardian's ambitions.
- DamienneMarguerite's old nurse; weary, suspicious of the moldy house, fears Roberval, reluctantly helps Marguerite dress for the banquet.
- RobervalMarguerite's guardian; greets her cordially as cousin but seats her at the table's foot; hosts banquet plotting voyages to conquer new lands.
- HenriRoberval's servant who escorts Marguerite and Damienne through the muddy journey to La Rochelle, then departs.
- AlysFriendly freckled maid of about twenty; warms Marguerite's room, fetches furniture, and informs her of the banquet invitation.
- MarieSmall, serious young maid with a stye on her eye; brings food but is timid and behind on her work.
- The cookRuddy, blistered woman who marshals the household servants in preparation for Roberval's return.
- Jacques CartierBold captain who has sailed twice to New France; describes the Saint Lawrence, native peoples, and proposes a northwest passage to the Spice Islands.
- The navigatorSkeptical guest who challenges Cartier's assumptions about where the Saint Lawrence leads, charged with mapping the route.
- The banker and shipwrightWealthy guests at the banquet, eagerly speculating with Roberval about funding voyages and discovering rich new lands.
- The blond secretaryRoberval's silent young assistant seated at his left during the banquet.