Chapter 11 - Ex-mapmaker
Disarming the boy was easily done. James had only to reach over and take the sword from his hand. He led his dazed son to his office and sat him in a chair near the fire. Jonathan stared silently into the flames. Up to now James had never seen his son defeated. He was too arrogant for defeat. Although he denied his grief Jonathan sat silent and numb unable to articulate his thoughts. "There was so much blood. She's so small" he finally said to his father. James thrust a mug of rum into his hand.
"Drink up boy. You won't have to pretend to feel nothing after a few of these. This always helps made life right again."
Jonathan drank and James drank with him. A few hours later Charles knocked on the door and was given permission to enter.
"I'm sorry Jonathan I really am. The things I said were created to inflame you. It had nothing to do with her. I am so sorry."
Jonathan didn't care. He didn't care that Charles was sorry or that he hadn't killed him. He didn't care about anything.
"Look Jonathan" Charles continued. "There is great talk about the crippling cost of Baltic timber lately. We are considering the possibility of building mills in the colonies. Timber is plentiful there and if shipping issues could be resolved it could be a good move financially."
Jonathan looked up at him through a trauma and rum induced fog. (What the bloody hell is he talking about? What the fig do I care about timber?)
Charles continued.
"I was thinking. You've always wanted to prove yourself as a navigator. Perhaps you could take on the project?" Charles sputtered "Oh of course not now. Not now. The project is, um, months away. Uh, when Sidi is healed I'm sure it will be fine." Jonathan couldn't think. Everything was foggy.
"I think Charles that you will be hating me again by then."
Charles forced a smile. "That is highly likely Jonathan so if you are as quick as I think you are, you will shake my hand on it now."
Jonathan stared blankly into his brother's face. Charles lifted his hand and shook. Charles, Jonathan and James sat together drinking rum. Silently Jonathan listened. He didn't like this. He didn't want to think about blood or a dead baby. He wanted everything to go away. So, Jonathan drank and fell asleep in the chair in front of the fire.
Sidi remained unconscious for two days. When she awoke Jonathan held her until the tears stopped flowing and she fell asleep. There was no consoling her in the weeks that followed so Jonathan hid himself away in the map room and relied on Courtney to pick up the pieces. But as always time is the great physician. Soon she was able to get up and around. She relayed the story of Diana the maid to her husband burdened with guilt that she hadn't reacted or taken it seriously. Troubled he confided in his mother.
"Mum she keeps talking about a ghost telling her the baby would die. She told me it was a nursery maid named Diana."
Courtney was disturbed. Diana was the nursery maid to her years ago but had died of pneumonia. Courtney was sure she hadn't mentioned her to Sidi. Jonathan saw that the topic disturbed his mum and didn't want to tell her that ghosts seemed to be a popular topic with Sidi lately and she seemed to be talking to ghosts around every corner. She started to openly read cards and cups and crystal balls. No. Perhaps that was something Courtney didn't need to know. His wife was going insane.
Time went by and Sidi got stronger. Jonathan decided it was time to discuss the opportunity Charles presented to him with her. She readily agreed that it was indeed time for Jonathan to get out of the map room and onto a boat. Although they were still at each other's throat Charles was true to his word. Jonathan was finally on a ship where he had always wanted to be. Sidi missed him terribly when he was gone. The trips to the colonies lasted months at a time and he spent long periods of time at home only to leave again but the trips were not so very frequent and he was happy so she could ask for no more. Every morning she would gaze into the crystal and read the cards to see what was happening in her husband's life. Every evening she would look into her cup and many times Courtney's teacup to glean information there as well. She found exciting news in the cup. She and he would travel together and there would be a baby born. It made Courtney nervous.
NEXT : Ghosts Ghosts Ghosts
Disarming the boy was easily done. James had only to reach over and take the sword from his hand. He led his dazed son to his office and sat him in a chair near the fire. Jonathan stared silently into the flames. Up to now James had never seen his son defeated. He was too arrogant for defeat. Although he denied his grief Jonathan sat silent and numb unable to articulate his thoughts. "There was so much blood. She's so small" he finally said to his father. James thrust a mug of rum into his hand.
"Drink up boy. You won't have to pretend to feel nothing after a few of these. This always helps made life right again."
Jonathan drank and James drank with him. A few hours later Charles knocked on the door and was given permission to enter.
"I'm sorry Jonathan I really am. The things I said were created to inflame you. It had nothing to do with her. I am so sorry."
Jonathan didn't care. He didn't care that Charles was sorry or that he hadn't killed him. He didn't care about anything.
"Look Jonathan" Charles continued. "There is great talk about the crippling cost of Baltic timber lately. We are considering the possibility of building mills in the colonies. Timber is plentiful there and if shipping issues could be resolved it could be a good move financially."
Jonathan looked up at him through a trauma and rum induced fog. (What the bloody hell is he talking about? What the fig do I care about timber?)
Charles continued.
"I was thinking. You've always wanted to prove yourself as a navigator. Perhaps you could take on the project?" Charles sputtered "Oh of course not now. Not now. The project is, um, months away. Uh, when Sidi is healed I'm sure it will be fine." Jonathan couldn't think. Everything was foggy.
"I think Charles that you will be hating me again by then."
Charles forced a smile. "That is highly likely Jonathan so if you are as quick as I think you are, you will shake my hand on it now."
Jonathan stared blankly into his brother's face. Charles lifted his hand and shook. Charles, Jonathan and James sat together drinking rum. Silently Jonathan listened. He didn't like this. He didn't want to think about blood or a dead baby. He wanted everything to go away. So, Jonathan drank and fell asleep in the chair in front of the fire.
Sidi remained unconscious for two days. When she awoke Jonathan held her until the tears stopped flowing and she fell asleep. There was no consoling her in the weeks that followed so Jonathan hid himself away in the map room and relied on Courtney to pick up the pieces. But as always time is the great physician. Soon she was able to get up and around. She relayed the story of Diana the maid to her husband burdened with guilt that she hadn't reacted or taken it seriously. Troubled he confided in his mother.
"Mum she keeps talking about a ghost telling her the baby would die. She told me it was a nursery maid named Diana."
Courtney was disturbed. Diana was the nursery maid to her years ago but had died of pneumonia. Courtney was sure she hadn't mentioned her to Sidi. Jonathan saw that the topic disturbed his mum and didn't want to tell her that ghosts seemed to be a popular topic with Sidi lately and she seemed to be talking to ghosts around every corner. She started to openly read cards and cups and crystal balls. No. Perhaps that was something Courtney didn't need to know. His wife was going insane.
Time went by and Sidi got stronger. Jonathan decided it was time to discuss the opportunity Charles presented to him with her. She readily agreed that it was indeed time for Jonathan to get out of the map room and onto a boat. Although they were still at each other's throat Charles was true to his word. Jonathan was finally on a ship where he had always wanted to be. Sidi missed him terribly when he was gone. The trips to the colonies lasted months at a time and he spent long periods of time at home only to leave again but the trips were not so very frequent and he was happy so she could ask for no more. Every morning she would gaze into the crystal and read the cards to see what was happening in her husband's life. Every evening she would look into her cup and many times Courtney's teacup to glean information there as well. She found exciting news in the cup. She and he would travel together and there would be a baby born. It made Courtney nervous.
NEXT : Ghosts Ghosts Ghosts