The Adventures of Pocahontas and John Rolfe: Book II

Chapter 10: Heartbreakers

The moment Chief Powhatan saw John Rolfe enter his longhouse, he was taken aback by the white man's presence. The questioning word "You?" slipped from the chief's lips.

"Yes, sir," John Rolfe replied, keeping an open and honest expression on his face. He adjusted the position of the hat on his head to its proper place. Now that he and Pocahontas were ready to come clean about the true nature of their relationship, he was determined to keep things formal as the situation demanded. He was in his Sunday best, after all, and a marriage proposal always demanded proper dress by English custom. "I do hope you'll forgive us for not coming forward sooner, but we had many worries about such things as starvation and possible warfare between our peoples. We didn't want to burden you with having to make such an important decision about Pocahontas's future while such things weighed heavily on your mind," he explained.

Chief Powhatan was speechless at first as he processed everything. He brought a hand up to rub his jawline. "I see," he slowly answered. "Well, this is certainly unexpected, Ulkekahone."

"I imagine it is," John Rolfe affirmed, taking a deep breath. "Well, now that I'm here, I suppose I ought to do this properly," he spoke, straightening himself up. He approached Chief Powhatan, removed his hat, and brought it to his chest. "Great Powhatan, I would like your permission to wed your daughter. I love her very much and I would do anything to keep her safe and happy. As you know, I've made sacrifices for her in the past and will happily continue to do so in the future as necessity dictates. However, I do realize that a marriage such as this would break tradition in more ways than one. I am prepared to give you as much time as you need to consider, sir."

"I appreciate that," Powhatan replied. He sighed and ran a hand through the hair on the left side of his head. "I have questions before you depart. Without answers, I'll have no way of knowing what I might be getting my tribe into with such an odd union. Where is Pocahontas?" he asked, looking around. "She ran off when I was trying to question her, probably to go get you."

John Rolfe's eyes popped open. "Pocahontas? I'm not sure. She was so frantic when she came to find me. I last saw her in Jamestown with her friend Nakoma and Nakoma is here, so Pocahontas must be around here somewhere as well now," he replied, turning toward the door. He went over and poked his head out past the reed mat barrier. "Nakoma! Oh, there you are," he said.

The pregnant woman in question came back inside. "Is everything alright?" she inquired.

"I think so. But Chief Powhatan wants Pocahontas to come here. He has questions for us. Do you happen to know where she ran off to?" John Rolfe asked. "I haven't seen her since I got—"

"John!" shouted the voice of Pocahontas as she raced up the hill.

"There she is!" Nakoma triumphantly proclaimed.

John Rolfe glanced outside and spotted the Powhatan princess. "Pocahontas, come here," he called, chuckling. "Your father wants to ask us questions. Where did you run off to this time?"

"Unimportant," Pocahontas returned as she reached him. He held the door reed mats aside for her to enter, which she did. "Father!" she cried, taking hold of John Rolfe's free arm. "I'm sorry I ran off earlier, but I had to go get him. Please, please, please, say yes! I'll do anything!"

"Pocahontas!" Chief Powhatan and John Rolfe both said in a scolding voice.

The Englishman let go of the reed mats, allowing them to fall back in place, and patted her arm. "Give the man some breathing room. This is a lot for him to take in, I'm sure," Rolfe indicated.

Chief Powhatan rubbed his face with an open palm. "That it is," he confirmed. "Please, I need to know a few things first. If I was to say yes, where would you two plan to live?"

John Rolfe's face flushed a bit. "Well, that's a good question. To be honest, we haven't dis—"

"Here!" Pocahontas declared.

The Englishman's eyes popped open. He peered at Pocahontas. "Here? You mean… i-in this here village?" John Rolfe asked, completely surprised at the revelation. "In Werowocomoco?"

Pocahontas nodded fervently. "Honestly," Powhatan expressed, "this is where I'd prefer you live if you're going to be married to my daughter. My first concern when you came in today was that you were going to whisk her off to Jamestown or to somewhere even farther away like London."

"I have no plans to return to London," John Rolfe indicated. "Not if I marry Pocahontas."

"That is a relief. I would much prefer Pocahontas not leave again," Powhatan replied. "So, if you stay here, we will need to extend the family longhouse. It's pretty much full right now."

Pocahontas frowned. "Father, I'm pretty sure John would prefer a separate dwelling for us."

"Well, then he'll have to build you a house by himself—as is our custom."

John Rolfe appeared alarmed. "But I don't know how!"

"Is what my daughter says true? Do you prefer a separate dwelling to the family longhouse?" Powhatan inquired. "A longhouse is built by a group, but a yehakin is built by the groom."

John Rolfe rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes, I would prefer a private dwelling if possible."

"Then someone will have to show you how to build a yehakin, either myself or someone else," Chief Powhatan informed him. "The best time to build yehakins is later in the spring, so you would have to start soon. Unless you intend to put your marriage off until next year."

The diplomat frowned. "I doubt Pocahontas is going to want to put it off that long."

"Can I help him build the house, Father? I think it would be fun for us to do it together. I mean, I know it's traditionally done by the groom alone, but we're already breaking tradition as is," the Powhatan princess pointed out. "I've observed it being done more than enough."

Powhatan rubbed his chin. "It is not against tribal law for you to help, but if you do there is a good chance Ulkekahone will end up being mocked by the younger warriors."

John Rolfe's frown deepened. "That sounds awfully immature of them."

Chief Powhatan shrugged. "Some of our people really hold fast to tradition and they don't like seeing anyone break away from it. I am more open-minded myself, but I cannot control the hearts and minds of others any more than you can," he expressed. "Now, I have a few other major concerns. I know you were willing to oppose your chief to help my daughter, so this really should not bother me, but I need to know where your loyalties lie as of right now. If worse comes to worst, or a war breaks out that you are unable to stop, which side will you take?"

"Before I met your daughter, my loyalties lay equally with my God and my king. However, now that I have become aware that King James is capable of being influenced by the voice of evil, my loyalties lie first with God and Pocahontas and second with my king," John Rolfe replied without hesitation. "However, I must beg you not to repeat what I said to anyone in Jamestown. Though I do not intend it as such, it could be considered treasonous by some. But it is the truth."

Chief Powhatan nodded. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you, sir."

"So when you say your first loyalty lies with God, are you referring to the one we call the Great Spirit? Forgive my ignorance, but I haven't asked the settlers much about their 'God' because they always reply in a manner that is incredibly condescending toward our own people."

"I beg you to forgive them for that. Many English folk are not raised to be very open-minded. If the one you call the Great Spirit is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, then yes. God and he are one and the same," John Rolfe confirmed. "I do believe we're talking about the same entity."

Chief Powhatan nodded again. "Now, as for our other customs and traditions, I'm curious as to what degree you're going to be willing to adapt to our ways. Certain ways of doing things are more practical here than they are in Jamestown and vice-versa," the chief explained.

"Well, let me put it like this, Chief Powhatan. If a certain method of doing something makes more sense than other methods, I'll gladly learn to do it even if it's not what I'm used to," John Rolfe returned. "I'm naturally drawn to the most practical solution to a problem."

"I appreciate your flexibility," Chief Powhatan said. "Some men are incredibly stubborn."

Pocahontas giggled. "John can be stubborn," the Powhatan princess mischievously added as she snuggled the diplomat's bicep through his sleeve, "but most of the time he is very adaptable and receptive to new ideas. If he wasn't, I doubt I would have ever given him a second glance."

John Rolfe snorted teasingly. "Oh, well, thanks!" he jested. "When have I ever been stubborn?"

Pocahontas cast a glance up and to the side. "Oh, I can think of a few examples."

"As for children," Chief Powhatan spoke abruptly. "Do you plan to have them?"

The Englishman froze in response to the very sudden and unexpected inquiry. Then his face turned pink. "Oh, dear. Well, I-I… W-we haven't discussed it just yet, you see. And we—"

"Yes, of course!" Pocahontas interrupted. "I'd love to have children."

John Rolfe blinked. "Ah, well. I guess we'll go with whatever she wants. It's not like I'm the one who has to birth them," Rolfe blurted, laughing nervously. The pink shade of his face turned red and he brought a hand back to rub the nape of his neck. "Eh, heh. Sorry, bad joke."

Chief Powhatan beamed at his daughter. "Do you know how many you want?"

"Six!" Pocahontas proclaimed.

John Rolfe's eyes turned to beads. "Six?" he repeated in an unnaturally high-pitched voice. "Oh, my! That's quite a lot. Are you sure you want that many, love? I mean, that's a lot of birth-giving on your part! And giving birth is quite a painful, not to mention dangerous, thing for a lady."

"Well, my mother gave birth seventeen times and only once did she have any major issue. But she managed to survive even that," Pocahontas pointed out. "I'm sure it'll be painful, but it's what a woman's body is built for. And I am built just like my mother. Right, Father?"

Chief Powhatan smiled. "Yes, that you are. You look so much like her."

Pocahontas beamed with pride and squeezed John Rolfe's arm tighter. "Don't worry, John. It's very unlikely that what happened to Sarah will happen to me," she quickly told him.

The gentleman still looked hesitant. The chief raised a brow and asked, "Who is Sarah?"

John Rolfe turned his attention from Pocahontas back to Powhatan. "She was my late wife, sir. She died in childbirth years ago. It was quite an awful affair," he said, hugging Pocahontas.

"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that," Powhatan returned. He rubbed his jaw again, thinking. "Well, those are all the questions I have for now. I may have to call you back later if others arise."

Pocahontas felt like her heart was going to leap from her chest. "So can we get married, Father?"

"I cannot give you an answer just yet," Powhatan quickly replied.

Pocahontas's face fell. "But Father!" she cried. "Why not?"

John Rolfe gently ushered Pocahontas toward the door. "Love, give him some time to consider. This is a big decision. No need to rush things, I always say," he told her in a calm voice.

"I will need to meet with the elders to discuss the possible implications that this union might have for our people. Afterward, I might have more questions for you. Then I'll let you know of my decision," Chief Powhatan explained. "Furthermore, we need to arrange a meeting to sign the final version of the new peace treaty. I'll have my werowances with me in a couple weeks."

"We can discuss this more at the party this evening, sir," John Rolfe said.

Chief Powhatan bobbed his head. "I look forward to it."

…

By the time John Rolfe got back to Jamestown, it was almost noon and church was about to let out. He went in to partake of the final prayers. Giving thanks to God was important to him, even though he had missed most of the service due to unforeseen circumstances. Once church got out, everyone could smell the delicious scent of the feast wafting through the air outside.

The cooks were still hard at work in the town hall's gourmet kitchen, as well as in their own homes. Everyone who was not involved in the food preparation put up decorations inside and outside the town hall. Because there were so many people in attendance, a portion of the party would take place inside and a larger portion would be outside in the town square. Those who felt chilled could retreat inside the town hall to get some relief. There would be dancing and singing and games, as well as boisterous music. A whole band had been put together this time. Lon Wheeler, the blacksmith, would be on the hornpipe, John Hart on the fiddle, and various others would be playing other instruments as well, including the lute, fife, cornet, and drums.

Once everything was just about set up and the party was ready to begin, a guard on the walls blew his horn to notify everyone of the arrival of their guests. The Powhatans came in a long procession of canoes up the James River, men, women, and older children included. The chief was naturally at the front of the very first canoe in the line. Some men and women from the fort came out to greet them and help them carry the dishes they had prepared inside the settlement.

As Pocahontas entered the settlement, she glanced Naganwaya out of the corner of her eye as he followed Chief Powhatan to the town square. From his reaction earlier, she had gotten the sense that he might try to discover the identity of her love interest. She was still unsure what he would do with that information if he happened upon it, so she decided for safety's sake to keep it as concealed as possible during the party. She would make it a top priority to dance with different men, braves and settlers alike, to keep the great warrior guessing. Part of her hesitation was that she really did not know Naganwaya that well. For all she knew, he might accept defeat gracefully or he might put up a fight—Great Spirit forbid he attempt an assault on John Rolfe. It seemed an unlikely possibility, but she would not put it past any warrior who she did not know well.

All of a sudden, Eleanor Scott came running up to her. "Pocahontas, my dear, forgive my prying behavior, but I just had to make sure everything was okay from earlier. You caused quite a ruckus among the settlers when you showed up suddenly," the older woman said, taking the princess's hand. "Please, I just need to know if your little emergency has been resolved."

Pocahontas put on a smile. "Yes, it has. John Rolfe was able to fix it. Thank you for asking, Mrs. Scott. It's really something quite minor, but I'm not at liberty to discuss the details."

"Oh, it's quite alright. I'm just glad to know that you're okay," Mrs. Scott replied. "I'm so glad that Lord Rolfe was able to be of some assistance to you and your people again."

"Yes," Pocahontas said. "He has been indispensable to all of us."

The Quincy family arrived as well to greet Pocahontas, as did Mrs. Breckinridge and a few of the other older women in the settlement with whom she had become friends over the years. They all stood there just inside the fortress's gates chatting up a storm until someone addressed the crowd.

"Hello, everyone! Welcome, welcome! Please, come in," came the raised voice of John Rolfe over the crowd's clamor. "If those of you bearing dishes could drop them off with the women in the town hall, that would be much appreciated. The feast will be served in just over an hour and a half. Oh, I see you've brought some of your children! How lovely. Yes, thank you for coming."

When Pocahontas and Mrs. Scott looked up, they saw John Rolfe standing on the raised portico right outside the town hall. Women from Werowocomoco who had brought food were filing into the town hall as he beckoned them in, himself standing to the side. "Oh, there he is!" whispered Mrs. Scott to Pocahontas. "What a handsome young man. Makes me wish I was younger."

Pocahontas giggled as John Rolfe continued, "The band is just about ready to get started. We're going to treat the central area of the town square as the dance floor, so there is plenty of space for everyone. As the sun goes down, it might get a bit chilly and that's why we have the town hall open. Feel free to go in at any time. You'll find refreshments and hors-d'oeuvres inside. Outside, there are going to be plenty of torches and lamps for light. If you dance, you probably won't feel cold very quickly. It's going to be mostly fast-paced this evening and freestyle. That's right, we are starting with freestyle this time. For everyone who wants to dance, get in the middle. As for everyone else, please stand around the outside. You're free to watch and chat and play games."

When the music started, it was not long before Pocahontas felt someone tap on her shoulder. It was Samuel Quincy. "Hello, Pocahontas, how are you enjoying the day so far? Did you manage to get your problem from earlier resolved?" he inquired, holding a glass of wine in one hand and sipping it. "There was quite a lot of chatter about it during the church service, believe it or not. I'm ashamed to admit that English folks can be such gossips," he said in a jesting tone.

Pocahontas chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about it," she replied, leaning over to whisper something in his ear. "My father told me that a man had asked for my hand in marriage. I thought it was John, but it turned out to be a warrior. Father figured out that I already had a suitor and I had to get John to go ahead and make his marriage proposal. My father is going to take some time to consider, but it looks promising so far. I can't wait to marry him! We're going to be so happy!"

Samuel Quincy pulled back, grinning ear to ear. "Pocahontas, that's excellent news! You had me and the girls so worried, but now I can't wait to tell them," the bearded man lauded.

Pocahontas shushed him and pulled him back in. "Because I don't have Father's consent yet, it's not official. We won't be announcing our engagement until we get an answer from him."

"Got it," Samuel returned in a hushed tone. "But may I go sneak off and tell my family at least? Hannah and Rebeccah are helping the other women in the town hall kitchen at the moment. I'm sure they're dying to know what the hubbub this morning was all about."

"Sure, go ahead!" Pocahontas whispered.

Samuel Quincy nodded and ran off through the throng of people. Pocahontas was about to join the dancers by herself, but she felt someone else tap on her shoulder rather unexpectedly. When she spun around, it turned out to be her old friend Thomas Savage. The redhead gave Pocahontas a wide grin. "Hey, Pocahontas! Did the thing from this morning turn out alright? Was Lord Rolfe able to help you with whatever the problem was? You've had a lot of people worried," he said.

Pocahontas nodded. "Yes, yes, John solved our problem. Thanks for asking. Would you like to dance?" she inquired, shooting a glance over her shoulder toward Naganwaya. He was looking her way. She intended to dance with several unmarried men to throw him off Rolfe's trail.

Thomas's eyes lightened. "With you? Sure, I'd love to. It'd be an honor."

…

As much as John Rolfe wanted to get to the dance floor, he was surrounded with a sizable crowd of mixed Powhatan people and settlers who desperately wanted to talk to him. He entertained the crowd with jokes and stories before he caught a glance of Pocahontas on the dance floor with a young ginger man. The diplomat grinned to himself. He had been worried that Pocahontas might get bored while he was preoccupied with the others, but it seemed that she knew how to entertain herself just fine. And, fortunately, she seemed to be receiving plenty of attention of her own.

He was regaling the group with the story of how he and John Smith had broken Pocahontas out of the Tower of London and then exposed Ratcliffe's lies to the king when Mrs. Breckinridge joined the group, slowly but surely weaving her way toward the English diplomat. John Rolfe interrupted himself when he saw her. "Ah, Mrs. Breckinridge! So nice of you to join us. I say, how are the feast preparations coming along?" the young gentleman queried.

"In timely order, my lord. Now, you don't want to miss the opportunity to dance before the food is served, do you? There's a long line of lovely young ladies waiting to prance around the town square with you," Mrs. Breckinridge informed him. "You wouldn't want to disappoint them."

John Rolfe chuckled. "All in good time, madam. There will be dancing after the feast and well into the night on this particular occasion. There's plenty of time for every would-be dancer to get a turn with as many partners as he or she would like," the diplomat confidently answered.

Mrs. Breckinridge gave a small pout. "Oh, but there are a few people I'm wanting to introduce you to. An upstanding gentleman and his wife arrived on the Winifred with their daughter and son. You might find them quite cordial. Believe me, they've heard all about you. Oh! There are so many who want to meet you after hearing about all you've done for the settlement."

"Alright, alright! You've convinced me. Bring them over," John Rolfe declared.

As Mrs. Breckinridge paraded off to retrieve the other people, John Rolfe gestured for the crowd around him to part down the middle. Before long, a well-dressed gentleman and his wife were standing before him. He bowed and she curtsied as their teenaged son walked up behind them. The man approached first and shook Rolfe's hand. "Lord Rolfe, it is a pleasure to meet a man of your stature. My name is Lord William Worthham from Essex. Ever since we left England, my wife and I have heard you're quite the social climber. Lord advisor to the royal court? It must've been God's grace that sent you back here to rescue the colony from winter starvation."

"You're a hero, Lord Rolfe," his wife added. "It's an honor to meet your acquaintance."

Lord Worthham put an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Delores and I would love to hear more about your travels and accomplishments. I know that you are a busy man, but could you by any chance spare an evening sometime soon for dinner? We look forward to becoming familiar."

"Actually," John Rolfe began, "since you've mentioned it, I should inform you that I've penned the tales of my travels with Princess Pocahontas. I intend to send a copy to King James and Queen Anne. I ought to have a copy written up for you too. I'd love to have dinner with your family, but the story is quite a long one. It would take a lot of energy to tell the whole thing."

Lord Worthham smiled. "Then we look forward to receiving a copy. We haven't had a house of our own built yet, but perhaps we could have dinner in the town hall sometime soon."

"That sounds delightful," John Rolfe replied, glancing their teenaged son standing beside them. "And who is this young man? He looks just like you, Lord Worthham," he remarked.

The boy looked like he was resisting the urge to roll his eyes, but his father looked delighted and proud. "This is our son, Jacob. He's fifteen years old and quite an avid learner," said the father.

"Ah! It's delightful you've mentioned that because I have been mulling over the idea of founding a school for the children of the colony this spring and summer. Indeed, it looks like we will have lots of work to do in upcoming weeks," John Rolfe replied, flashing them a smile.

Lord Worthham raised a brow. "You… want to found a school for commoners?"

"Yes," John Rolfe replied. "Of course, it won't be just for commoners. Any child can attend."

Lord and Lady Worthham exchanged glances with each other. "Well, alright, Lord Rolfe. If that's what you want to do," Delores replied, placing a hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle.

The diplomat grinned and Lord Worthham mirrored him. "Last but not least, we would like to introduce you to our daughter, Grace. She's two years older than her brother and a debutante!" William said, beckoning his daughter forward from the crowd. She was a beautiful young lady with wavy and lustrous black hair and furtive hazel eyes. Despite her young age, Grace appeared fully developed in body and mind as the young girl was both voluptuous and confident.

In an expansive green dress, Grace Worthham came forward and did a perfect curtsy in front of John Rolfe, flashing him a bright smile. "I feel privileged to meet a noble hero face-to-face."

"Oh, you're too kind, young miss," John Rolfe replied. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well." When the girl offered him her hand, he stepped forward and happily shook it. "I hope you enjoy your time in our small settlement. There are quite a lot of adventures to be had out there."

Grace Worthham giggled. "It sounds wonderful!"

"Perhaps you two would like to have a dance later?" William suggested. "Of course, we're all quite hungry. But after dinner would be ideal, don't you think, Lord Rolfe?"

John Rolfe gave his assent with a nod. "Yes, I'd be delighted."

…

Pocahontas was parched by the time she finished dancing with one of her warrior friends. It was almost time for the feast. Meeko had run off somewhere with Percy yapping at him and she went in search of them both. As she passed by one house, she thought she heard the sound of feminine weeping. When she froze in her tracks and listened, she thought she was able to hear the sound of a comforting female voice as well as the crying. Pocahontas, out of pure curiosity, crept closer to the window of the house in question and glanced inside. An adolescent girl was face down on her bed. She was crying her eyes out as her mother sat at the bedside rubbing her back. "Love, that is not true. She's not prettier than you. She has more meat on her bones, but that's something that can be fixed. You've gained weight over the past few days, Yvette, and you are ravishing."

"But what about her status?" sobbed Yvette. "She's the daughter of a gentleman. I'm just the daughter of a gunsmith. She has more money and prettier dresses than I'll ever have!"

"Yvette, my dear, you're acting like you know nothing about Lord Rolfe. He's not like the other gentlemen. He does not think lowly of people of our station. The man nearly laid down his life to save ours. He'll not be fooled by pretty dresses and false confidence," Mrs. Spurling soothingly told her. "Now, I need to get to work on prettying up some of your old dresses and you, my dear, need to get to that feast and eat, eat, eat! This Worthham girl may have a couple advantages over you, but you've also got some over her. Your flaxen hair and sapphire eyes are bound to get his attention. And don't you worry about the Worthhams inviting Lord Rolfe to dinner. We will do the same and we are excellent cooks, you and I. If we put together a delicious repast, the man is bound to take notice. The fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, after all."

Yvette whimpered. "So Daddy has gone to invite him to dinner? Oh, Lord, I hope he says yes!"

Overhearing the discussion, Pocahontas's eyes widened in shock. While she did not know who the Worthhams were, she could gather enough as to what the conversation was about without that knowledge. This pretty young sixteen-year-old had feelings for John Rolfe. Very intense feelings, by the looks of it. The Powhatan princess frowned sadly. It was bad enough that her relationship with Rolfe had broken one heart already. How many more would be broken when they ultimately announced their engagement? There was no telling just how many women in the settlement were secretly in love with the English diplomat. The thought saddened Pocahontas quite a bit.

She cast her gaze downward and trudged back to the town square, forgetting about Meeko and Percy for the time being. Suddenly, she heard the ringing bells which were intended to announce the feast. Both hungry and thirsty, she rushed off toward the town hall and nearly ran into John Rolfe along the way. "Oh, Pocahontas!" the diplomat cried, setting eyes on her. "There you are."

"John!" Pocahontas blurted, surprised that he had escaped the crowd from earlier.

The Englishman flashed her a coy look and then she noticed his hands were behind his back. "I've got you something," he announced, flushing slightly. Before Pocahontas knew it, she was presented with a small bundle of beautiful purple crocuses—the first flowers of spring.

She gasped. "Oh, John, they're gorgeous! Where did you find them?"

"Just outside the settlement between patches of ice. They're the first I've seen so far. I think we can expect many more in the coming weeks," John Rolfe told her as he nudged the little bundle behind her left ear. "This is one of your spring festival traditions, is it not? Bringing a lady the very first flowers of the season. I do recall you mentioning something like that."

Pocahontas glanced around warily, not seeing Naganwaya. It was likely that he had already gone inside to the feast. It seemed everyone was filing inside to retrieve their meals and coming back out with plates. There were chairs and tables set up outside, as well as Powhatan sitting mats and cushions. "Yes, it's a tradition," she confirmed, wanting desperately to kiss Rolfe. Unfortunately, she could not do that in public until after they had announced their engagement.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go get something to eat."

"I'm really thirsty," Pocahontas replied.

John Rolfe smiled. "Then I'll fetch us some refreshments while you're getting your meal. You want water again, I presume?" he inquired. "You must be parched after all that dancing."

Pocahontas nodded. They were about to part ways when suddenly a heavyset man with a bald head and blond beard walked up to John Rolfe. "Lord Rolfe, I presume? Forgive my intrusion. My name is Kellam Spurling and I've been looking for you. I couldn't get to you earlier when you were surrounded by the throng. I can see you're quite the popular fellow, my boy."

John Rolfe rubbed his chin. "Kellam Spurling? That name rings a bell. Oh! You're the gunsmith, aren't you? Well, I say, Mr. Spurling, it's a pleasure to meet you. I heard you were ill at our last celebration. It's a relief to see that you've recovered," he replied, shaking the man's hand.

Kellam Spurling gladly accepted the handshake. "You've heard of me? How flattering. In fact, Lord Rolfe, I just wanted to say that you've been so good to the people of this settlement, my own family included. Sometime, if you're available, we'd love to host you for dinner. My wife and daughter are excellent cooks and I think you'll find the cuisine quite to your liking."

John Rolfe beamed. "Why, that sounds like an excellent idea. Now, come to think of it, there is something I need to consult you about and I think dinner would be the perfect opportunity to get that done. I hear you're excellent at what you do, a very talented man. I'd be honored to join you and your family some evening soon. How about Wednesday night after the evening service? I have not made plans yet for that time. We can get together right after church lets out."

"That's perfect! I'll go tell my wife and daughter right away. Oh, they will be so excited you're coming," Mr. Spurling declared. "Our house is the one across the square from the town hall with the black doorframe. Church is between five and six, so how about seven o'clock sharp?"

John Rolfe tipped his hat. "I'll be there in my Sunday best, as usual."

The man smiled happily, bowed, and then plodded off to relate the news to his family. As the Powhatan princess watched him go, she frowned. She thought that maybe she should tell John Rolfe what their true intentions were, but part of her wondered if doing so would demonstrate that she had a lack of faith in him. Of course, she knew he was not going to go off and marry some pretty sixteen-year-old and just ditch her, so she should not worry about it anyway. But somehow the thought still bothered her. She tried her best to shake it off as she and John Rolfe headed inside the town hall to retrieve their dinners and drinks. "Would you like me to get you a plate, John? I'll get you a sampling of as much as I can," Pocahontas offered.

"Oh, well, that would save time," John Rolfe replied. "Sure!"

Pocahontas watched John Rolfe walk away as she waited in line. He was still too slim from the harsh winter. She decided it would be a good idea to fill his plate up as much as possible and encourage him to eat all of it. Her father's earlier words that he might get mocked by the young warriors had her concerned. They would probably be a lot less likely to mock him if he did not look so scrawny. It was not just about immature men though. For the sake of his health, John Rolfe needed to regain the weight he had lost. He had looked so much better right after they had escaped the pirate ship. He was still handsome, of course, but a man's handsomeness was always enhanced by muscle and bulk, at least in Pocahontas's opinion. It was likely that English women felt differently, as being scrawny seemed to be a sign of nobility among the English. Having bulk and muscle was a sign of menial labor, but Pocahontas did not care. If bulking up made John Rolfe less appealing to the women of the settlement, that would be a plus in her mind.

When she got to the buffet tables, she took two plates and started loading them with meats, fish, bread and butter, mince pie, apple pie, and all other manner of delicious culinary items. She doubled up John Rolfe's portions until his plate was twice as high as hers. With her own plate in her left hand and John's in her right, she shuffled back outside to find Rolfe as Francis Couper held the door open for her. The diplomat had graciously selected a place to sit on Powhatan mats instead of English chairs, knowing Pocahontas would be more comfortable with the former.

He had gotten them both glasses of wine and water. It was sunny outside in the late afternoon and relatively warm, so there was no need for hot spiced tea just yet. When Pocahontas came and John Rolfe caught sight of her, his eyes widened. "Whoa! You must be hungry," he said, noticing the plate piled high with food. She gracefully lowered herself into a cross-legged position while balancing both plates and, to his surprise, placed the plate with the most food before him. "For me?!" he exclaimed. "Why? It's so much. My stomach isn't big enough for all of that!"

Pocahontas grinned. "You'll have to stretch it until it gets bigger. You're too thin, John. You need to regain the weight you lost this winter," she told him, stuffing mince pie into her face. "Mm."

John Rolfe frowned. "Well, you lost weight too. How come you don't have to eat as much?"

Pocahontas swallowed the bite in her mouth. "Because I'm a woman. It won't take as much for me to get back into shape. Plus, you lost more weight than I did and you know it."

John Rolfe pouted. "You're not being fair."

"Eat," Pocahontas ordained, pointing to his plate.

John Rolfe sighed and did as she commanded, eating as much of the food on his plate as he possibly could. By the end of it, his stomach was so full that he was in no shape to get on the dance floor. He would need at least an hour to digest his meal. Luckily, the dancing and singing would go on late into the night and it was not even dark yet. He stayed there sitting on the mat and conversing with Pocahontas, feeling a bit sleepy from all the sustenance he had ingested.

As soon as the music started again sometime later, a young lady in a green dress approached. "Lord Rolfe, I do believe you promised me a dance. What do you say?" Grace beseeched.

John Rolfe politely stood to receive her. "Give me about half an hour, Miss Worthham. I've eaten quite a lot and I'm afraid I'll end up with cramps should I attend the dance floor now."

With a coquettish look in her eye, the bold adolescent smiled and curtsied. "Very well then, Lord Rolfe. I'll hold you to it. The feast was delicious, by the way. I am told you are the one who has organized the festivities. My mother and I organized parties every weekend when we were back in London and they were always a hit. Perhaps, for the next celebration, we can get together and throw ideas around for some possible divertissements, don't you think? Great minds think alike."

John Rolfe smiled. "That sounds like a splendid idea. Come to think of it, would you like to join Pocahontas and me until we're ready to dance? I'd love to continue this conversation."

"You…" Grace began, peering down at Pocahontas with a disapproving look. "You want me to join you… on the ground?" the girl inquired, frowning at the notion. "Oh, dear."

"Oh, we can put down more sitting mats if you'd like," John Rolfe replied. "That's no problem."

Grace Worthham curled a lip slightly. "Oh, I'm going to have to pass on that right now. I would not want to sully or crinkle my dress. I'll come back to get you in half an hour, Lord Rolfe."

John Rolfe shrugged. "Suit yourself."

As the girl walked off, Pocahontas had to take another bite of food to rid herself of the bad taste in her mouth. Now she knew what Worthham girl the Spurlings had been talking about and Pocahontas did not like said girl one bit. She could not help but relate to poor Yvette, thinking the black-haired girl did seem like hard competition. Fortunately for Pocahontas, she already had John Rolfe wrapped around her finger. But still, the thought of him dancing in the girl's arms gave Pocahontas a certain unpleasant sensation in the pit of her stomach. She could not place the emotion, but it felt like a smoldering hot spot. The Powhatan princess took a deep breath as John Rolfe sat back down by her. She dared not say anything about her negative feelings lest she reveal her insecurity to the English gentleman. "Well, she seems… pretty," she uttered, not sure what else to say. "I like her dress. What is her given name?" Pocahontas inquired.

John Rolfe shot Pocahontas a devious look. "Not as pretty as you," he retorted, gently brushing a hand over hers. "Her name is Grace. She seems to be the spoiled daughter of a gentleman from London. Don't worry about them. I'm only being nice for the sake of etiquette."

This statement gave Pocahontas some immediate relief from her negative feelings. Apparently, John Rolfe did not particularly like the Worthhams either. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Pocahontas wished she could share that information with the Spurlings, but she did not want to seem like a gossip. Plus, there would be no point in giving Yvette hope since John Rolfe was not even available to begin with. "Well… maybe she's a bit spoiled, but I still like her dress."

John Rolfe raised his brows. "You want one like it?"

Pocahontas shook her head. "It's not my color, but I think it looks good on her," she said shyly.

The Englishman casually propped his head up in his hand, a dreamy look in his eyes as he gazed at Pocahontas longingly. He quickly masked the expression when she caught him staring. Both of their faces flushed and he laughed nervously, clearing his throat. "Pocahontas, I hope you don't think me too bold, but… when I look at you, my heart starts to beat very fast." He sat back and ran his fingers through his hair, mostly avoiding her gaze. Yet he seemed to be fighting against the impulse as, every now and again, his eyes flicked back to hers. He poked his fingers together. "I realize I appear to be in full control of my faculties most of the time, but I-I…" He paused, considering his words. He sighed in a look of frustration. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that, well, that that is mostly a facade. It's a facade that takes years of training to master."

His face turned even redder as he slapped a hand to his forehead and dragged it down the length of his face. Pocahontas reached over with one hand and interweaved her fingers with his. "It's alright, John," she said soothingly. "I understand. Everyone at the Hunt Ball seemed to wear a mask of sorts. I realize it must have been difficult growing up in your culture."

John Rolfe squeezed her hand as he relaxed a bit. "Yes, things were quite strict," he confirmed, straightening up. He took her hand in both of his. "Remember how you were nervous about slipping up at the Hunt Ball?" he asked. Pocahontas nodded. "Well, you weren't alone in that. Everyone in high society is constantly on edge because we're all afraid of slipping up. Slipping up is so easy to do. All the rule books on etiquette in the world can't predict every situation one might find oneself in. Sometimes bold risky moves must be made, like the one you made during the bear baiting. It was risky, but it had to be done. You see what I'm saying?"

Again, Pocahontas nodded. "Of course. That makes perfect sense."

"Right. So what I'm getting at is that even the most well-practiced individuals slip up, sometimes in a big way, which can cause a major embarrassment or some other serious consequence. You remember when I first came to your village with the intent of convincing your father to come to England and meet the king?" John Rolfe inquired, maintaining a focused gaze between them.

Pocahontas raised a brow. "Yes?"

"Well, when I told you that you couldn't handle a diplomatic job, that was an example of one of my slip-ups. I broke two rules of etiquette. The first was to never make assumptions about people you don't know and the second was to always be polite even when you disagree with someone."

Pocahontas's lips curled into a smirk. "You're not still thinking about that, are you?"

John Rolfe's eyes shot open. "What? No! I'm only using it as an example for the point I'm trying to make next," Rolfe blurted, pausing again. He bowed his head and huffed, looking discouraged, but then looked up again to meet her eye. "I am sorry to be so long-winded, but I am trying to express a rather complicated sentiment that I haven't been compelled to express to anyone in a long time. It's not easy because I'm afraid I'll slip up and offend or… or even frighten you."

Pocahontas's eyes widened in slight alarm. "Frighten me?"

John Rolfe started to sweat. "What? No! I mean… Obviously, I'd never want to frighten you. That'd be contrary to all my intentions. What I mean is, some women get frightened more easily than others in response to these things. It depends on how well the man in question succeeds in using tact and good discretion." He frowned. "I'm sorry. I sound like an idiot, don't I?

Pocahontas appeared confused. She thought she had known what he was trying to get at, but his tangents had begun to obscure his point. Her curiosity compelled her to do what it took to help him get his thought out though. "No, you don't. Go on," she said encouragingly. "What is it that you are afraid might frighten me? You are one of the least frightening men that I have ever met."

John Rolfe looked surprised. "Really?" he asked. Pocahontas nodded, taking a sip of water. The Englishman appeared hesitant. "Is… i-is that a good thing?" he worriedly added.

Pocahontas almost snorted the water out of her nose as she chuckled. "Of course! Why would anyone want to be frightened by someone else?" she pointed out, laughing.

John Rolfe poked his fingers together. "Oh, right. I mean, yes. Sorry, that answer should've been obvious," he replied, wanting to bang his head on a wall for asking such a silly question. He took a deep breath and started again. "Okay, so what I'm trying to say is that the… the sentiments that some men have for certain individual women can be quite intense." He paused, trying to read her facial expression but finding it frustratingly unreadable. "Remember that forest fire which nearly killed us both?" the English gentleman seemed to ask completely out of the blue.

Pocahontas raised a brow. "Yes, how could I forget?"

He scooted forward and pulled her toward him until their faces were inches apart. "I'm trying to help you understand the intensity of the sentiments I'm talking about. Pocahontas, symbolically, that wildfire is the perfect metaphor for how intensely I feel about you," he declared. Pocahontas gasped when he pressed her hand to his chest. His heart was beating faster than Flit's wings.

Pocahontas yelped. "John! Are you okay?" she cried, worried he might keel over any second.

John Rolfe jerked back, releasing her arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you! Oh, sakes alive, this is exactly what I was afraid of," he chided himself, shamefaced.

"John, I'm not frightened of you, I'm frightened for you! Are you sick?" she countered.

The Englishman nodded. "Yes. Yes, I am very sick indeed. Lovesick."

Pocahontas had never heard the term before. "Lovesick? What does that mean? Do… do you need me to help you lie down in your bed at the inn?" she worriedly offered.

"Don't put ideas in my head!" John Rolfe charged. Pocahontas blinked. The Englishman rose to his feet and knelt before her, taking her hand again. The Powhatan princess flushed. "I'm saying I love you so much that sometimes it feels like there is a wildfire raging inside of me. It feels like I'm literally burning. Feverishly. That's what lovesick means. And I can't even show you what I mean to the fullest extent because we're not married yet. I struggle madly to keep control. So if I ever slip up or go too far before the appropriate time, you must tell me right away!"

Pocahontas frowned. "John, I do not think there is anything wrong with you expressing your feelings, even if they are intense. What's wrong with that?" the Powhatan princess asked.

"Because certain forms of expression are not sanctioned outside of marriage," Rolfe shot back.

Pocahontas blinked. When the realization of his meaning dawned on her, she flushed. Then she giggled and brushed a finger over the tip of his nose enticingly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to be patient then. I'm sure my father won't take too long to get back to us anyway." John Rolfe could not help but bite his lower lip almost hard enough to draw blood as his body trembled at the sound of her voice. Her eyes brightened as she looked up. "Speaking of whom."

John Rolfe glanced back over his shoulder and panicked when he saw Powhatan and a couple of his elders approaching. Red-faced, he grabbed an extra cushion and pulled it over his lap. Then he waved to them. "Chief Powhatan, how are you and your people enjoying the festivities?" John Rolfe inquired, chuckling nervously. "Forgive me. I'd rise to greet you, but I've rather developed a numbing cramp in my leg. Nonetheless, I take it that you've had your fill of all the food."

Chief Powhatan nodded as he reached them. "Yes, it's been great so far. My council and I just wanted to come over and let you know that we'll be ready to sign the peace treaty in fifteen days from now. My werowances will be visiting Werowocomoco to discuss the upcoming war with the Monacans and we'll all be together. I thought then would also be a great opportunity for us to discuss weaponry and whatever support you are willing to lend toward the war effort."

"Yes, that sounds like a good plan to me," John Rolfe returned. "I'll add it to the calendar. Fifteen days from now should be precisely the 10th of April. As far as I know, the Jamestown council is available on that day. I'll let the governor and other councilors know about it."

"Thank you," Chief Powhatan said. "I should also have come to a decision by then concerning your proposal to my daughter. I just need to discuss the matter in detail with my council first."

John Rolfe nodded. "Pocahontas and I understand. Please, take all the time you need."

The rest of the evening passed very pleasantly. Even when the sun went down, it did not get very cold at all. Torches and lanterns were lit, allowing the partygoers to keep on partying until the hour grew late. Powhatan and English children, despite not speaking the same language, figured out how to play games together like leapfrog and a variety of other fun activities. They laughed and played all evening as adults and adolescents tore up the dance floor. In the later hours, a trio of warriors performed an impressive fire-spinning dance for the entertainment of the crowd. It was not until around midnight that people started to retire. After the feast was all consumed, the Powhatan people returned to their canoes and used moonlight to navigate their way home.