Chapter_7_ old Hearties

No more than 20 minutes later I heard multiple footsteps on the porch. "Ahab, old hearty!" Lord Griffin's voice boomed cheerfully; I went into the entre hall to see lord Griffin yank the captain into a jolly man's hug, the captain awkwardly and uncomfortably hugging back.

I put my fist to my lips to stifle my giggle. Lord Griffin then led Ahab inside.

All that night I served the Griffins and Captain Ahab, Katrina eying me every time I would smile. I enjoyed listening to the old sea stories very much. At dinner mother and I sat in the kitchen with the other servants as the Griffins and the Captain sat in the dining room. As I sat at the head of the small kitchen table he sat like a king at the head of the long dark wood table. Candles set all around him giving him a glow, I could not help but watch him so elegantly eat, his manners were almost princely. I felt my body freeze when he looked over and cast a glance in my direction. I dropped my eyes and blushed.

"Thy help here is impeccable." He stated to lord Griffin who nodded with a mouth full of turkey.

"Charlotte Wilder has been with us for as long as Margret and I have been married and her daughter, little Jeze was born on this very ground the same day as our Katrina."

After dinner I stood and readied the parlor and Lord Griffin's pipe. They sat in the sitting room by the glowing hearth and I watched from the other room as I scrubbed the floor.

Listening while drying dishes I could hear Katrina was inquiring about how her uncle Ahab and her father (who was lounging in his armchair) met.

"Well my dear." Lord Griffin began drawing on his pipe. "In my early 20's I had made my first investment in a whaling vessel known as the Pequod. Well there was some dispute on who should captain her on her maiden voyage since the death of the pervious captain,… Skaggs I believe it was." Ahab gave a nod of consent then lord Griffin continued. "I approached the two owners of the ship suggesting that the young chief mate Ahab who had so bravely captained her after the death of Skaggs was perhaps old enough now to captain her again. The owners liked the idea and told me to fetch the young man in the South Seas, and fetch you I did! Didn't I old chum?" Lord griffin then threw his head back in glorious laughter.

"Aye, and how glad was I to be off those cannibal isles!" the captain added.

"In short my dear child, I invested in your Uncle Ahab and after the voyage's success your dear uncle intern invested in my berry fields!'

I felt my lips unwilling turn up in a smile; it surprised me that even as a young man this "cannibal" sea captain seemed to know no boundaries when it came to kindness.

Lord Griffin snorted happily turning to the captain. "Well, with that bargain of ours as you know, I attained my modest wealth and shortly afterward was blessed with Margret and my dear Katrina."

"Don't forget Charlotte and Jeze father, they were a blessing too!" Katrina cheerfully added.

He withdrew his pipe and waved it in consent. "Why don't you play for us dear? A sweet homecoming tune for your uncle."

With a grin Katrina rose and sat at the piano, gracing the ivory keys with her fingertips, the sound left the mental image of soporific icicles dancing upon a cold dark, snowy wet tree. I recognized the song right away, it was a lullaby…the lullaby that we always heard as children. With dishrag still in hand I retreated to the parlor door and rested my head against its frame and listened to the sweet, restful melody with delight.

The lullaby told of a great, tender love overseas that was unlike any other.

When the song neared its crescendo I spotted mysterious captain eying me from the corner of his eye and my eyes dropped quickly. When the song had reached its end Katrina's audience applauded and with a half-smile of congratulations I wordlessly returned to my dish-drying.

Shortly after the captain departed and like Katrina I bid him goodbye with a simple curtsy.