chapter eleven
Martin was gone from the ship when she woke. He had gone ashore to learn what if
any news there was about their supplies. The ship had docked with the morning tide.
She was waiting from him, pacing the cabin.
"Samantha I have news. I've booked for you a return trip to Italy. I've sent a message
to Alber', I have things to give you. Letters for you to give my banker."
He kissed her quickly, then put her in the chair and knelt in front of her.
"This my love if for you." he opened a small wooden box and spread out on his
palm a beautiful sapphire necklace.
"Oh, Martin!" her finger trembled as she reached to touch the blue stone.
"Wear if for me now, then hide it away when you travel." He fastened it around her
slim neck. "You are molto bella," He kissed her, holding her tightly.
"Now, here are letters for you, my banker and another for Alber', incase the first
dose not beat you home. Are you ready do you have anything to pack?"
"Now, I'm leaving now?"
"Yes, my sweet the ship is waiting for you." Martin picked up her small
bag of belongings and took her hand. He rushed her up the stairs to the deck.
Most of his crew where off the ship, he'd given them the day to them selves.
Martin hurried with her to the ship anchored only a short distance from his ship.
She was the Andrea , returning to Italy that morning.
"Captain here is your passenger. Samantha Filipo, Captain Genoese."
"Welcome signora," He bowed. Then returned to giving orders to his men.
"You are sharing a cabin with another young woman. Her father is the owner of
the ship and is returning home." Martin explained.
" I will miss you Martin." she hugged him goodbye not caring if they were observed.
Martin hugged her tightly in return. He was sad to be leaving her so soon.
"I will see you again cara. Don't forget to read the letters." He kissed her one last time,
lingering longer then he had intended.
He had to leap for the dock from the rail, his cape lifting up in the breeze as he traveled
through the air. He turned and waved to her, as the wind filled the sails and the ship
moved into the harbor.
Samantha waved back, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Alber' received Martin's letter two weeks later. On the morning Samantha's ship was
expected to return to port.
Alber' my friend. I must ask a favore of you. A young woman is returning to Naples
on the ship Andrea. She is my new mistress, whom I intrust to your care. Find apartments
for her and help her to establish her shop. She is the most beautiful of woman, who is
also very skilled with thread and needle. I've sent letters with her for my banker, and you.
Please treat her with tender care my friend, I've never fallen to hard so quickly.
Via con dio, Martin
"He's done it again." Alber' exclaimed, putting the letter down and looking out his
window that faced the street. He could see if any ships were docking, but there were
no new arrivals that morning. He still had time to arrange things before she docked.
Samantha was at the rail looking at the faces on the dock. She felt sure she would be
able to find Alber' from Martin's description. She looked at each man on the dock
but none looked anything like the man her captain had described.
Martin was still in Spain the Queen had declined to see Columbus when he requested
to see her. They were told to wait. She would send for him when she was ready.
Spain was at war with Greece and all of her resources were tied up. The audience
was finally granted and she informed her Captain's that the voyage was postponed
until the next year.
Columbus was crushed. He's been so close to his dream. Martin was thrilled, he would
be able to return home. He knew another chance to explore would come his way. Now
he could spend a few weeks with Samantha before needing to find cargo that needed
transporting. His mind was ever thinking, but his heart was beating only for her now.
He'd never felt so foolish about a woman before.
" Cero, we leave now. Have all men return to the ship at once." he gave the order to
the man on watch.
"What has happened Captain?"
"The voyage has been postponed, we are going home." Martin was smiling.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Martin was gone from the ship when she woke. He had gone ashore to learn what if
any news there was about their supplies. The ship had docked with the morning tide.
She was waiting from him, pacing the cabin.
"Samantha I have news. I've booked for you a return trip to Italy. I've sent a message
to Alber', I have things to give you. Letters for you to give my banker."
He kissed her quickly, then put her in the chair and knelt in front of her.
"This my love if for you." he opened a small wooden box and spread out on his
palm a beautiful sapphire necklace.
"Oh, Martin!" her finger trembled as she reached to touch the blue stone.
"Wear if for me now, then hide it away when you travel." He fastened it around her
slim neck. "You are molto bella," He kissed her, holding her tightly.
"Now, here are letters for you, my banker and another for Alber', incase the first
dose not beat you home. Are you ready do you have anything to pack?"
"Now, I'm leaving now?"
"Yes, my sweet the ship is waiting for you." Martin picked up her small
bag of belongings and took her hand. He rushed her up the stairs to the deck.
Most of his crew where off the ship, he'd given them the day to them selves.
Martin hurried with her to the ship anchored only a short distance from his ship.
She was the Andrea , returning to Italy that morning.
"Captain here is your passenger. Samantha Filipo, Captain Genoese."
"Welcome signora," He bowed. Then returned to giving orders to his men.
"You are sharing a cabin with another young woman. Her father is the owner of
the ship and is returning home." Martin explained.
" I will miss you Martin." she hugged him goodbye not caring if they were observed.
Martin hugged her tightly in return. He was sad to be leaving her so soon.
"I will see you again cara. Don't forget to read the letters." He kissed her one last time,
lingering longer then he had intended.
He had to leap for the dock from the rail, his cape lifting up in the breeze as he traveled
through the air. He turned and waved to her, as the wind filled the sails and the ship
moved into the harbor.
Samantha waved back, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Alber' received Martin's letter two weeks later. On the morning Samantha's ship was
expected to return to port.
Alber' my friend. I must ask a favore of you. A young woman is returning to Naples
on the ship Andrea. She is my new mistress, whom I intrust to your care. Find apartments
for her and help her to establish her shop. She is the most beautiful of woman, who is
also very skilled with thread and needle. I've sent letters with her for my banker, and you.
Please treat her with tender care my friend, I've never fallen to hard so quickly.
Via con dio, Martin
"He's done it again." Alber' exclaimed, putting the letter down and looking out his
window that faced the street. He could see if any ships were docking, but there were
no new arrivals that morning. He still had time to arrange things before she docked.
Samantha was at the rail looking at the faces on the dock. She felt sure she would be
able to find Alber' from Martin's description. She looked at each man on the dock
but none looked anything like the man her captain had described.
Martin was still in Spain the Queen had declined to see Columbus when he requested
to see her. They were told to wait. She would send for him when she was ready.
Spain was at war with Greece and all of her resources were tied up. The audience
was finally granted and she informed her Captain's that the voyage was postponed
until the next year.
Columbus was crushed. He's been so close to his dream. Martin was thrilled, he would
be able to return home. He knew another chance to explore would come his way. Now
he could spend a few weeks with Samantha before needing to find cargo that needed
transporting. His mind was ever thinking, but his heart was beating only for her now.
He'd never felt so foolish about a woman before.
" Cero, we leave now. Have all men return to the ship at once." he gave the order to
the man on watch.
"What has happened Captain?"
"The voyage has been postponed, we are going home." Martin was smiling.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::