Joanna:

I am starting to notice again that the world is filled with beauty. There is only one fear that gnaws at my heart and chases the sleep away - I may not be able to love again. Jonathan was the love of my life. I couldn't feel and I couldn't see when God torn him away from me. But when our carriage flies out onto the open cliff, overhanging the sea lit by the milliards of sunrays, my heart cannot hide in darkness. The platform is set with the long tables decorated by flowers, gold encrusted plates and goblets with the drinks and delicacies temptingly arranged.

The Admiral is waiting for us. His presence causes an agitated stir. Women make final attempts at arranging their ruffled curls into place and smoothing out beyond the redeemable dresses. Next to us, it appears that the road has made no negative impression on his attire. I spot a black stallion nearby. The Admiral must have gotten here ahead of us by riding that magnificent animal.

He helps each of us out. I am the last one to leave the carriage. He doesn't release me as soon as my feet touch the ground. I am grateful because the last segment of the road, leading to the sea side, cannot be called a carriage path. I've gotten ill from violently flying up into the air as the wheels hit each boulder, and then falling into countless pits. I've observed his interaction with the other women. The Admiral does not say much, but he is most attentive. A woman knows he is paying attention to her every need, most delicately holding her hand and opening the doors, and then stepping back as the propriety dictates. I instantly forget the small resentment I've harboured for disturbing us so early in the morning as soon as he invites us to the breakfast table. It's going to be a lovely day.

Amanpreet:

Disaster prevented. As in this is the most brilliant idea I've ever had. Before heading for the carriage, I've swept all my finery into a hand bag. I take up one of the tables and upend my priceless treasures onto it. I have my wonderful tortoise shell hair comb and powder box given to me by my admirer Captain Williams. How pitiful is it that he turned out to be so stingy after I've let him into my good graces. He hadn't given me another present in three weeks of our acquaintance. I had to leave him sadly. He was still better than Colonel Bray who was very generous, but his downfall was leaving me for some younger tweet. Such inconsistency in lovers, which leaves him in the clutches of his old wife, is hardly commendable. These men are destined to fail in love. They matter not; I have a finer man to impress. They will bite their elbows and be sorry for losing me.

The other women give me unpleasant looks and mutter something about the food on the table. I certainly ignore them. They're just jealous that I have the finery to make myself beautiful. The Admiral always looks perfect. He won't be impressed by anyone who looks terrible.

I have proof that I'm the best when obviously attracted to my unworldly beauty, the Admiral sits down beside me and asks what I'm doing. I'm very pleased to explain this female perspective to him. I don't know why he laughs when I'm being very serious. It must be because he likes me. Too bad Louisa interrupts his admiration of me. This woman takes up too much space and attention.

Ramona:

I admit I envy Louisa and Carmen. In the social setting they feel like the fish in the water, constantly drawing attention with free laugher and bold remarks. I do not have such ability to express my feelings so frivolously. In some way, I do look down on them because they lack tact. Our group date would end in a fight if everyone was as aggressive as they are at drawing Mr Norrington into discussion with them.

Left unchallenged, their behaviour concerns me. I'm worried that Mr Norrington will forget me. I may have received the first impression rose, but it will become meaningless unless we speak more to strengthen that connection. My personality is best revealed in private conversations. I may not have the chance to speak with him about any meaningful subject, drowned out by the chipper, meaningless chatter. I don't know whether to envy or feel sorry for some of these women who have never had a single complicated thought in their life.

As the morning heats up, so does the interaction. The Admiral is growing uncomfortable because too many women are touching, flirting and getting too personal. He is uncertain how to react to their lack of modesty. Strangely enough, Carmen makes a reasonable proposition after she asks one of the men who oversee that our picnic is not disturbed whether he can bring us the necessary items. She challenges Louisa to a game of nine pins. The team that loses will have to sit out one hour, and none of them will be allowed to approach the Admiral. I can see the advantage, considering that there will be twice fewer women plaguing him. I rise to play reluctantly as we are split into two groups. I am not good at these sorts of activities. I will surely not be presented in favourable light by participating. I go along with the plan to maintain peace. However, soon I learn that peace is difficult to come by.

Heather:

I can hardly call this game a friendly match. All women, especially the ones claiming to be the epitome of morality and fairness, are never missing a chance to hurl handfuls of dirt at each other whenever they can get away with it. Neither team wants to lose, thus the nails are sunk into the wrists whenever one lovely girl with a dazzling smile passes the ball to her competitor who in retaliation with an even brighter smile helpfully warns her opponent that her skirt hitches up inappropriately whenever she is picking up the ball from the ground.

Truly, all these women are low class, insufferable cheaters who have no mind nor manners to learn the proper etiquette of playing the game. I try to play my party gracefully whenever it is my turn, with a bad feeling that our team will lose because we have armless nuisances Yulia and Ramona. I would normally let them wallow in their pitiful failure had the Admiral not taken a great interest in our game. I suppose he is a competitive man, interested in watching anything that requires both skill and great luck. I have no choice except smile prettily and with a feigned patience keep giving them good advice, none of which makes them any better. I am doing my best to discourage the other team. I wish Louisa acted smarter than Carmen who chose her team members by their playing skills rather than by her sympathies.

Tracy:

For Heavens sake, daughter, talk less when you meet the Admiral. It is better to keep silent and let the other wonder about your lack of intelligence than for you to open your mouth and banish all doubt. Else, he is as likely to choose you as the mangos will start growing in England.

My mother is too mean, though she says she is realistic. I know that mangos grow in England. I'm not that stupid. I think the Admiral finds me comely and agreeable enough. At least I'm not mean like Heather. She looks very elegant at playing nine pins. In secret she tells me that she is so good at knocking them down as well as looking sophisticated because she takes the wind into consideration. She shows the heavy, wooden ball to me and explains that the wind carries it sideways. When it is my turn to knock down the pins, I need to roll it against the wind and forcefully. I do so, and the ball misses the pins and falls off a cliff! One of the soldiers gives me a bad face. I don't think he wants to go and get it. I suspect Heather hadn't been trying to help me after all. I wish I've asked the Admiral for advice instead like Joanna does. He wraps his arm around her waist, showing her how to stand properly to knock down the pins. I don't think his advice is very effective because she completely misses the pins as soon as he steps away from her. Heather smiles nastily when it happens.

She must be bitter because her team is losing. I'm glad that I didn't get picked for her team after all. At first I didn't want to be on Carmen's team because she picked Olivia. Socialising with Olivia casts shadow on any girl's reputation. We know she is no longer a virgin. Her fiancée took what he wanted from her, if you know what I mean, and left her. I'd die of shame should I ever be involved in such an awful scandal. I guess Carmen can use her for the game. The ball rolled by Olivia strikes down all pins, and the other team moans. They've lost by a long margin.

Lucia:

As the morning turns into late afternoon, we abandon the magnificent breakfast spot and move into the shade. Our team has lost, thus I am sitting out and sadly away from the cheerful circle. We must keep our word and not bother the Admiral unless he approaches us first. Some women try to see him regardless. I find I cannot break my word, silly as it is. I sit alone in a quiet spot as lonely as the black stallion. I feel sorry that he is tied to a tree all alone.

I go back to the breakfast table and choose a few apples to treat him. Unlike in England they are not common in these parts. As I approach, his head rises proudly and his ears flicker in minor annoyance at the interruption of his peaceful napping. He is an intelligent horse trained to accept only certain riders. He will not allow everyone to reach his side.

"Hello. What is your name?" I speak gently to let him know that I mean no harm.

"His name is Admiral."

I spin around quickly, nearly dropping the apples and thinking much out of place that the horse won't like them off the ground. The one responsible for giving me an awful fright doesn't look very repentant.

"My friends have meant it as a joke when they've gifted him to me."

"He is beautiful," I say. I feel much calmer seeing that Norrington is holding a couple of apples as well. I'm glad that we thought the same.

"Thank you for taking care of him."

"I love animals," I say. When I've seen him late in the evening and at a distance I thought he was older. His clothing style adds years to him. Here, with a bright sunlight shining onto his face, I can see that he is barely thirty. "You have the same eye colour as my cat," I blurt out. I can slap myself for being so silly and try to amend; only making it worse. "I mean it as a compliment. My cat is wonderful. I like him very much."

"Thank you." This must be the most awkward compliment he had ever received. Neither of us is comfortable with it. "What is his name?" he asks.

"Snow."

"That is an unusual name to hear at the Caribbean."

"I'm a little bit nostalgic. I've always loved snow, not the cold though or when the roads are too slippery. Yet, it's beautiful. I've always waited for snow on Christmas. Otherwise, I prefer summers. I like the heat more than the cold."

As I say this, I hear swift footfalls, and Carmen pounces on me. She is like a whirlwind that sweeps the apples out of my hands and feeds them to the stallion. I am wistful at how easily everything comes to her. Even the horse likes her at once. She informs us that she is excellent at riding horses. I feel anxious that she will get the permission to ride, and they will leave together, but we are interrupted by an indignant chorus of voices.

I am a little sad that Commander Groves joins us surrounded by protesting women. I know immediately that he comes to end our date. When both Admirals leave us, to compensate our loss Mr Groves presents us with a sealed envelope. The poor parchment is nearly torn to bits as we realise that this is the date invitation.

A brief note inside reads,

Let our hearts find what we seek in the place of God, Yulia.