Chapter 2
"Good gracious, my boy! You may be the governor of this colony, but I did not raise my son to keep people waiting!"
"Sorry Mother," he said as he kissed the old woman on the cheek. Mrs. Margret Andrews was quite old, yet she was as full of life and energy as a barrel of gunpowder, and though she was not tall, her anger caused even the tallest men to cower. However, she seldom grew angry, and it was merely her simple commanding presence which inspired respect and good behavior in those around her.
After Julieanne's final fitting, the girl and her parents went off to have tea with the groom's family while Mrs. Margret Andrews and her favorite granddaughter set off to the family's inn.
Long before her son had been made the governor of the colony, Mrs. Margret Andrews and her late husband, Admiral James Andrews, who died some ten years before, had lived in a fine home in the middle of town. Soon after the Admiral's passing their son James was appointed as the governor and the family moved to the governor's mansion. Margret put the Andrews family house to use as an inn and boarding house, catering to the needs of short and long term guests. It was a fine house which, like the mistress, seemed to strike respect into the characters of even the dodgiest lodgers, some of which over the years Emma highly suspected being of piratical employment.
Margret checked to see that all things were running smoothly before she and her granddaughter went into the house's gardens to have their tea. The tea was brought out to them and they drank and ate the small cakes for a few minutes, speaking of the wedding the next day, as well as other things. Margret set down her china.
"Now, my dear Emma, am I quite right to be inquiring about your upcoming marriage?" The woman asked curiously.
Emma choked on her tea. "Absolutely not! Where in the world did you hear such a thing?"
The older woman simply quirked her eyebrows as she raised her cup to her lips again.
"Grandmama!"
"I am a very prominent woman in this colony. I have my sources," the old woman said. The young woman raised her eyebrows much the same way her grandmother had just done. "Oh, alright. First, your uncle said something about talking to Master Livingstone at which time he mentioned something of how his son Jonathan admires you. Then, I saw young Jonathan waiting outside of the dress shop before you arrived there today. Second," she continued, "it is noised about the market how the handsome young Henry Thompson, who has only recently moved to our little colony of New Derbyshire, is already quite taken with you and that he has asked for the first two dances at the ball tomorrow night."
Emma blushed slightly as her grandmother said all of this, and when she had finished, Emma only sighed.
"So...is it true?" Margret asked.
"Well, yes."
"And...?"
"And what?"
"Well, either is a smart match. Whom do you prefer?" Emma looked into the bottom of her cup. "Ah...I understand," Margret smiled. "You not only look like your mother, you have her same disposition. She never fancied any of her suitors either."
"Really?"
"Yes, she was just like you, full of life, caring, the most beautiful girl in the colony..."
"Oh Grandmama..."
"Hush! I'm telling you a story! And make sure you listen, I have much more wisdom than you, for I have many more years." Emma giggled. "Now," Margret continued, "your mother was also much sought after by the young men of this colony, but like you, she found not the slightest bit of interest in any of them. Then, one day, there was a young man who sailed into port. He was a fine sailor for a merchant company in England. His name was William, and the two fell in love. They were married and Lillian sailed back to England with him. They were such a handsome couple. The last time I saw Lillian was the day she and William set sail for London. I was so nervous for her, but she of course was full of an adventurous spirit, and entirely in love. We heard from her often, talking all about you and your brother, and what a little lady you were, and about your father's business.
"Then one day we received a letter which was penned by your father asking for your grandfather to come and fetch you and your mother and brother from England. Your mother was extremely ill and William wanted to make sure that all of you were well taken care of while he was at sea. So your grandfather went to London, and not more than two days after he arrived, your mother passed away." Tears brimmed at her eyes, and Emma looked very dispirited. "And you know the rest of the story. Now my dear, I will tell you a different story. This is a story I've never told you before, and you won't know much about it."
Margret took another drink of her tea before continuing. "Young William was such a fine sailor. He was the first mate of the ship Destiny for the Harrison Shipping Company. All of his fellow sailors admired him, and William was about to be named captain when the shipping company lost four of its other ships, leaving the company no alternative but to sell all of their ships and goods and close. However, the owner of the company loved your father like a son, and Mr. Harrison gave him the Destiny, which he owned in his own name and not that of the company. Mr. Harrison was ruined, and your father could not bear it, so he set off with his ship to repair the name of the man he loved as a father.
"Now, how, you may wonder, did he plan on doing this? Well, of the ships that the Harrison Shipping Company lost, two were seized by pirates; the other two were lost to the sea by the elements. And so your father set out to-"
Margret broke off, for a servant had just appeared. He whispered something in her ear and went away.
"What? What is it Grandmamma?"
"We will finish your father's story another day, for time begins to slip away from us, and you must go. But before you leave, a guest has just arrived that I wish for you to meet."
The two women went back into the inn, and the older led the younger to one of the private parlors. Before entering, Margret turned to her granddaughter. "Emma, this man has quite the sense of humor, and if for some reason he happens to be dressed as a pirate, think nothing of it, for he is simply a seaman who deals in the transportation of goods."
"Alright," Emma said with a hint of curiosity in her voice. They went into the parlor and Margret closed the door behind them.
The man had been looking out of the window, and turned when he heard the door close. As he turned to greet them, Emma was glad that her grandmother had warned her beforehand. The man standing before her looked more like a pirate than any person she had met in her life. He wore a pair of worn boots, and dark leggings which were also well worn. He wore a sword at his belt, and she also thought she could see a pistol. He wore a vest over a billowy white shirt, which was partially unbuttoned, revealing his tanned chest, and he sported a beard and mustache, and topped it all off with a bandanna and hat. This man had indeed gone all out to make the piratical impression on her grandmother, even purchasing a wig of dark unkempt hair. Emma would have laughed if she hadn't been so surprised.
Margret and the man began chatting immediately as he walked over and gave her a hug. They were obviously long time friends. After parting from the hug, Margret directed her attention to her granddaughter. "Emma, I want you to meet Mr. Charles Everett."
Mr. Everett bowed slightly and took her hand, raising it to his lips. As their eyes met, Emma's heart jolted. "Charles, this is my lovely granddaughter, Emma Margret," she paused and Everett kissed Emma's hand, "Emma Margret Andrews."
"I must say, it's quite a pleasure to meet you, Miss Andrews, I've heard so much about you," he said.
"Thank you, sir," Emma blushed slightly as she curtsied. Emma quickly looked away, but Everett's gaze stayed on her for a moment longer as Mrs. Andrews began to speak.
"Now, Emma, Mr. Everett and I will excuse you to return to the mansion, I'm sure there are many preparations yet to be made, I will be along soon to help."
Emma agreed and bade farewell. Once Emma had gone, the two sat down. "What is this the two of you are making preparations for?" Everett asked.
"The wedding tomorrow."
"She's getting married?"
"No," Margret laughed. "Her cousin is. Julieanne is the one who is getting married."
"Oh, I see," he said. Neither said anything for a moment.
"You know, I do quite like that alias you use," Margret remarked thoughtfully. The young man sat in silence, thinking. "In fact," Margret continued, "it would be quite an excellent name for you to take on if you were to give up piracy."
Margret laughed at the look of shock on the lad's face concerning this suggestion. "Oh, indeed, you speak blasphemy woman! Never suggest such a thing again!" The two laughed. "Speaking of living on land," he added, raising an eyebrow, "you never said one word of your granddaughter's beauty."
"Does it change matters? You're still pirate and-"
"What? Does she not fancy pirates? Apparently you've forgotten, love, I'm Capt-"
"Oh, pish, don't start. Emma has many fine suitors here in New Derbyshire who do not live at sea, and we'll leave the matter at that. Now, I am told you have news for me?"
"That I do, milady..."
"Good gracious, my boy! You may be the governor of this colony, but I did not raise my son to keep people waiting!"
"Sorry Mother," he said as he kissed the old woman on the cheek. Mrs. Margret Andrews was quite old, yet she was as full of life and energy as a barrel of gunpowder, and though she was not tall, her anger caused even the tallest men to cower. However, she seldom grew angry, and it was merely her simple commanding presence which inspired respect and good behavior in those around her.
After Julieanne's final fitting, the girl and her parents went off to have tea with the groom's family while Mrs. Margret Andrews and her favorite granddaughter set off to the family's inn.
Long before her son had been made the governor of the colony, Mrs. Margret Andrews and her late husband, Admiral James Andrews, who died some ten years before, had lived in a fine home in the middle of town. Soon after the Admiral's passing their son James was appointed as the governor and the family moved to the governor's mansion. Margret put the Andrews family house to use as an inn and boarding house, catering to the needs of short and long term guests. It was a fine house which, like the mistress, seemed to strike respect into the characters of even the dodgiest lodgers, some of which over the years Emma highly suspected being of piratical employment.
Margret checked to see that all things were running smoothly before she and her granddaughter went into the house's gardens to have their tea. The tea was brought out to them and they drank and ate the small cakes for a few minutes, speaking of the wedding the next day, as well as other things. Margret set down her china.
"Now, my dear Emma, am I quite right to be inquiring about your upcoming marriage?" The woman asked curiously.
Emma choked on her tea. "Absolutely not! Where in the world did you hear such a thing?"
The older woman simply quirked her eyebrows as she raised her cup to her lips again.
"Grandmama!"
"I am a very prominent woman in this colony. I have my sources," the old woman said. The young woman raised her eyebrows much the same way her grandmother had just done. "Oh, alright. First, your uncle said something about talking to Master Livingstone at which time he mentioned something of how his son Jonathan admires you. Then, I saw young Jonathan waiting outside of the dress shop before you arrived there today. Second," she continued, "it is noised about the market how the handsome young Henry Thompson, who has only recently moved to our little colony of New Derbyshire, is already quite taken with you and that he has asked for the first two dances at the ball tomorrow night."
Emma blushed slightly as her grandmother said all of this, and when she had finished, Emma only sighed.
"So...is it true?" Margret asked.
"Well, yes."
"And...?"
"And what?"
"Well, either is a smart match. Whom do you prefer?" Emma looked into the bottom of her cup. "Ah...I understand," Margret smiled. "You not only look like your mother, you have her same disposition. She never fancied any of her suitors either."
"Really?"
"Yes, she was just like you, full of life, caring, the most beautiful girl in the colony..."
"Oh Grandmama..."
"Hush! I'm telling you a story! And make sure you listen, I have much more wisdom than you, for I have many more years." Emma giggled. "Now," Margret continued, "your mother was also much sought after by the young men of this colony, but like you, she found not the slightest bit of interest in any of them. Then, one day, there was a young man who sailed into port. He was a fine sailor for a merchant company in England. His name was William, and the two fell in love. They were married and Lillian sailed back to England with him. They were such a handsome couple. The last time I saw Lillian was the day she and William set sail for London. I was so nervous for her, but she of course was full of an adventurous spirit, and entirely in love. We heard from her often, talking all about you and your brother, and what a little lady you were, and about your father's business.
"Then one day we received a letter which was penned by your father asking for your grandfather to come and fetch you and your mother and brother from England. Your mother was extremely ill and William wanted to make sure that all of you were well taken care of while he was at sea. So your grandfather went to London, and not more than two days after he arrived, your mother passed away." Tears brimmed at her eyes, and Emma looked very dispirited. "And you know the rest of the story. Now my dear, I will tell you a different story. This is a story I've never told you before, and you won't know much about it."
Margret took another drink of her tea before continuing. "Young William was such a fine sailor. He was the first mate of the ship Destiny for the Harrison Shipping Company. All of his fellow sailors admired him, and William was about to be named captain when the shipping company lost four of its other ships, leaving the company no alternative but to sell all of their ships and goods and close. However, the owner of the company loved your father like a son, and Mr. Harrison gave him the Destiny, which he owned in his own name and not that of the company. Mr. Harrison was ruined, and your father could not bear it, so he set off with his ship to repair the name of the man he loved as a father.
"Now, how, you may wonder, did he plan on doing this? Well, of the ships that the Harrison Shipping Company lost, two were seized by pirates; the other two were lost to the sea by the elements. And so your father set out to-"
Margret broke off, for a servant had just appeared. He whispered something in her ear and went away.
"What? What is it Grandmamma?"
"We will finish your father's story another day, for time begins to slip away from us, and you must go. But before you leave, a guest has just arrived that I wish for you to meet."
The two women went back into the inn, and the older led the younger to one of the private parlors. Before entering, Margret turned to her granddaughter. "Emma, this man has quite the sense of humor, and if for some reason he happens to be dressed as a pirate, think nothing of it, for he is simply a seaman who deals in the transportation of goods."
"Alright," Emma said with a hint of curiosity in her voice. They went into the parlor and Margret closed the door behind them.
The man had been looking out of the window, and turned when he heard the door close. As he turned to greet them, Emma was glad that her grandmother had warned her beforehand. The man standing before her looked more like a pirate than any person she had met in her life. He wore a pair of worn boots, and dark leggings which were also well worn. He wore a sword at his belt, and she also thought she could see a pistol. He wore a vest over a billowy white shirt, which was partially unbuttoned, revealing his tanned chest, and he sported a beard and mustache, and topped it all off with a bandanna and hat. This man had indeed gone all out to make the piratical impression on her grandmother, even purchasing a wig of dark unkempt hair. Emma would have laughed if she hadn't been so surprised.
Margret and the man began chatting immediately as he walked over and gave her a hug. They were obviously long time friends. After parting from the hug, Margret directed her attention to her granddaughter. "Emma, I want you to meet Mr. Charles Everett."
Mr. Everett bowed slightly and took her hand, raising it to his lips. As their eyes met, Emma's heart jolted. "Charles, this is my lovely granddaughter, Emma Margret," she paused and Everett kissed Emma's hand, "Emma Margret Andrews."
"I must say, it's quite a pleasure to meet you, Miss Andrews, I've heard so much about you," he said.
"Thank you, sir," Emma blushed slightly as she curtsied. Emma quickly looked away, but Everett's gaze stayed on her for a moment longer as Mrs. Andrews began to speak.
"Now, Emma, Mr. Everett and I will excuse you to return to the mansion, I'm sure there are many preparations yet to be made, I will be along soon to help."
Emma agreed and bade farewell. Once Emma had gone, the two sat down. "What is this the two of you are making preparations for?" Everett asked.
"The wedding tomorrow."
"She's getting married?"
"No," Margret laughed. "Her cousin is. Julieanne is the one who is getting married."
"Oh, I see," he said. Neither said anything for a moment.
"You know, I do quite like that alias you use," Margret remarked thoughtfully. The young man sat in silence, thinking. "In fact," Margret continued, "it would be quite an excellent name for you to take on if you were to give up piracy."
Margret laughed at the look of shock on the lad's face concerning this suggestion. "Oh, indeed, you speak blasphemy woman! Never suggest such a thing again!" The two laughed. "Speaking of living on land," he added, raising an eyebrow, "you never said one word of your granddaughter's beauty."
"Does it change matters? You're still pirate and-"
"What? Does she not fancy pirates? Apparently you've forgotten, love, I'm Capt-"
"Oh, pish, don't start. Emma has many fine suitors here in New Derbyshire who do not live at sea, and we'll leave the matter at that. Now, I am told you have news for me?"
"That I do, milady..."