chapter 12
Martin was so eager to reach Italy he hardly slept. He took risks with the wind, putting
more canvas up than usual. He steered them through a storm he would normally have
gone around.
"Captain she will be there when you arrive, there is no need to hurry." Cero reminded
him one night when he was still at the wheel long after mid-night.
"I know Cero, but I'm driven. It is beyond my control." Martin answered him.
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alber' did arrive at the dock in time to meet Samantha. he was dressed in one of his
favorite outfits, he so loved to look good.
"I see him, the man you are searching for Carino, Samantha's new friend Maria pointed
towards Alber' on the dock."
"No, that can not be him. He's so...' she trailed off, not wanting to insult the man that
was going to be her only connection to Martin.
"He does look the fop at first glance, but he is far from it. He's the most notorious
rake with the ladies in this part of the country." Maria giggled. I wish he'd turn his
gaze on me, but then I'd never find a suitable husband.
"Maria, you shouldn't talk so, just because I've become someone's mistress doesn't
mean you won't find a husband. He looks like he will be a good customer once he
learns I'm a wonderful seamstress." Samantha smiled, then giggled.
"Captain, you have a passenger, Signora Filipo?" Alber' was up the gangway the
moment they docked.
"Si, she is there by the rail." He nodded, towards the two women.
Alber' turned towards the ladies, appraising them with a long look before approaching
them and bowing deeply, sweeping his hand out and to the side.
"Signorinas, may I introduce myself. I am Alber' Garcon, sent to welcome you home."
He smiled a huge smile with very white teeth below his dark mustache.
" Grazie, Signore Martin's letter reached you then?"
"Si, you are Samantha then?" he looked at Maria who was also beautiful, and continued
to smile. "It arrived only a few hours ago. But I have made arrangements for your
lodging, and have looked for a suitable shop."
"Grazie, you have been busy." Samantha curtsied to him and offered him her hand.
Alber' kissed her hand and bowed again.
"This is Signoina Ventresca, Maria Signore Gracon." Samantha made the introductions.
"A great pleasure to meet you," Alber' kissed Maria's hand also.
"Very nice to meet you Signore."
"I have a carriage waiting, to take us to your lodgings. May we offer a ride to your
friend?"
"Maria, your papa is meeting you?"
"Si, he will be along, he's never on time. But tell me where I can find you?"
" The Inn on Toro Strada."
The two friends hugged goodbye promising to visit with one another very soon.
Alber' escorted Samantha to the carriage. Then showed her to her room at the Inn.
" If you feel up to it later this afternoon, we will inspect the two shops I've found
that are available." He told her, I will leave you now to rest after your long voyage.
"Wait, I have a letter for you from Martin, and one for his banker."
"Grazie, I will read these and return for you in a few hours?"
"Si, I will be ready."
Alber' read the second letter from Martin, it was the same as the first one except for
the part added at the end.
Alber' by now you have met my wonderful Samantha. Is she not beautiful, I know you
will be protective of her for me. Keep her safe until my return and you will have my
undying devotion for the rest of my life. She isn't as young as you may think, and
she has had a hard life until now. Cherish her like a sister, and I will be home as
soon as this expedition is finished.
Martin
"He knows me well, asking that I treat her as a sister and protect her. He means from
harm as well as from myself." Alber' laughed.
"I will have to meet Maria again, perhaps she is available for a little enjoyment."
:::::::::::::::::::::
Martin was exhausted, he'd not slept for two nights. He lay in his bunk, dozing in
the hot confines of his cabin, when there was almost no wind. This sometimes
happened near Corsica, the winds just died and there was nothing to do but wait
it out. His mind drifted, as he dozed. He dreamed about Samantha, about her in
Naples waiting for him. But then the dreamed changed, it grew dark, she was running
screaming, a man was trying to catch her, to hurt her. Martin strugged to warn her,
but he couldn't yell out. He watched as the man caught up with her, she screamed
again as he lifted her off her feet and carried her to a near by house. There was more
screaming in his dream then he woke up, drenched with sweat.
"No, it was only a dream it is not a prediction. Per favore Dio, let her be safe. Keep her
safe for me."
::::::::::::::::::
Samantha was thrilled with the shop they had located. The past renter had recently died and
the wonderful location was freshely cleaned and whitewashed.
"You will have to make several garments as examples. Do you specialize in clothes for
women or men?" Alber' asked, helping her to arrange her few positions. There was a
large table for cutting out leather or material, and several chairs, there were a few shelves
on the far wall and two window that faced the street.
"I have only made vests and jackets for men, but Martin seemed to like the one I
made for him. I've done more dresses, than anything, but I've made capes, and coats
for ladies also."
"You should start with what you are best at, winter is coming people will need warm
clothes." He turned to look at her tiny shop, I wish we could have found a place closer
to the Inn, I do not like the idea of you walking through the streets so far each day.
"I will attempt to escort you in the evenings at least until you become comfortable
with the area."
"Grazie, Alber', you are to kind."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Martin was so eager to reach Italy he hardly slept. He took risks with the wind, putting
more canvas up than usual. He steered them through a storm he would normally have
gone around.
"Captain she will be there when you arrive, there is no need to hurry." Cero reminded
him one night when he was still at the wheel long after mid-night.
"I know Cero, but I'm driven. It is beyond my control." Martin answered him.
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alber' did arrive at the dock in time to meet Samantha. he was dressed in one of his
favorite outfits, he so loved to look good.
"I see him, the man you are searching for Carino, Samantha's new friend Maria pointed
towards Alber' on the dock."
"No, that can not be him. He's so...' she trailed off, not wanting to insult the man that
was going to be her only connection to Martin.
"He does look the fop at first glance, but he is far from it. He's the most notorious
rake with the ladies in this part of the country." Maria giggled. I wish he'd turn his
gaze on me, but then I'd never find a suitable husband.
"Maria, you shouldn't talk so, just because I've become someone's mistress doesn't
mean you won't find a husband. He looks like he will be a good customer once he
learns I'm a wonderful seamstress." Samantha smiled, then giggled.
"Captain, you have a passenger, Signora Filipo?" Alber' was up the gangway the
moment they docked.
"Si, she is there by the rail." He nodded, towards the two women.
Alber' turned towards the ladies, appraising them with a long look before approaching
them and bowing deeply, sweeping his hand out and to the side.
"Signorinas, may I introduce myself. I am Alber' Garcon, sent to welcome you home."
He smiled a huge smile with very white teeth below his dark mustache.
" Grazie, Signore Martin's letter reached you then?"
"Si, you are Samantha then?" he looked at Maria who was also beautiful, and continued
to smile. "It arrived only a few hours ago. But I have made arrangements for your
lodging, and have looked for a suitable shop."
"Grazie, you have been busy." Samantha curtsied to him and offered him her hand.
Alber' kissed her hand and bowed again.
"This is Signoina Ventresca, Maria Signore Gracon." Samantha made the introductions.
"A great pleasure to meet you," Alber' kissed Maria's hand also.
"Very nice to meet you Signore."
"I have a carriage waiting, to take us to your lodgings. May we offer a ride to your
friend?"
"Maria, your papa is meeting you?"
"Si, he will be along, he's never on time. But tell me where I can find you?"
" The Inn on Toro Strada."
The two friends hugged goodbye promising to visit with one another very soon.
Alber' escorted Samantha to the carriage. Then showed her to her room at the Inn.
" If you feel up to it later this afternoon, we will inspect the two shops I've found
that are available." He told her, I will leave you now to rest after your long voyage.
"Wait, I have a letter for you from Martin, and one for his banker."
"Grazie, I will read these and return for you in a few hours?"
"Si, I will be ready."
Alber' read the second letter from Martin, it was the same as the first one except for
the part added at the end.
Alber' by now you have met my wonderful Samantha. Is she not beautiful, I know you
will be protective of her for me. Keep her safe until my return and you will have my
undying devotion for the rest of my life. She isn't as young as you may think, and
she has had a hard life until now. Cherish her like a sister, and I will be home as
soon as this expedition is finished.
Martin
"He knows me well, asking that I treat her as a sister and protect her. He means from
harm as well as from myself." Alber' laughed.
"I will have to meet Maria again, perhaps she is available for a little enjoyment."
:::::::::::::::::::::
Martin was exhausted, he'd not slept for two nights. He lay in his bunk, dozing in
the hot confines of his cabin, when there was almost no wind. This sometimes
happened near Corsica, the winds just died and there was nothing to do but wait
it out. His mind drifted, as he dozed. He dreamed about Samantha, about her in
Naples waiting for him. But then the dreamed changed, it grew dark, she was running
screaming, a man was trying to catch her, to hurt her. Martin strugged to warn her,
but he couldn't yell out. He watched as the man caught up with her, she screamed
again as he lifted her off her feet and carried her to a near by house. There was more
screaming in his dream then he woke up, drenched with sweat.
"No, it was only a dream it is not a prediction. Per favore Dio, let her be safe. Keep her
safe for me."
::::::::::::::::::
Samantha was thrilled with the shop they had located. The past renter had recently died and
the wonderful location was freshely cleaned and whitewashed.
"You will have to make several garments as examples. Do you specialize in clothes for
women or men?" Alber' asked, helping her to arrange her few positions. There was a
large table for cutting out leather or material, and several chairs, there were a few shelves
on the far wall and two window that faced the street.
"I have only made vests and jackets for men, but Martin seemed to like the one I
made for him. I've done more dresses, than anything, but I've made capes, and coats
for ladies also."
"You should start with what you are best at, winter is coming people will need warm
clothes." He turned to look at her tiny shop, I wish we could have found a place closer
to the Inn, I do not like the idea of you walking through the streets so far each day.
"I will attempt to escort you in the evenings at least until you become comfortable
with the area."
"Grazie, Alber', you are to kind."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::