From Cornwall with Love

Chapter Nineteen - Something Fishy

-Abigail-

I sat with the others cutting up the fish I caught and salted yesterday. We began discussing recent arrests, connected to the smuggling trade that was going on during these hard times.

"Las' night in Sawle, they say another drop was ambushed." Jinny stated

"More cargo lost and four more sent to Bodmin Jail." Prudie continued. I hummed in agreement.

"Since the riots in Bodmin the districts been crawling with soldiers. I don't know what people expect, they're starving and thirsty." I shake my head in disbelief

"They', clean out of salt from Padstow to St Ives." Demelza told me

"It does not bode well for when the shoals come in, that's for sure." I add. Without salt, how could we expect freshness and longevity of a sort.

"Fish won't keep." Purdue commented

"Fish won't sell" I retorted. Salt was being bought up left right and centre then being sold at a extortionate  price.

"Mam says if it weren't for Mr Ross..." she trailed off. Just then Ross came into the kitchen. He glanced down at the fish we were cutting up.

"Where are these from?" he questioned. The four of us looked at one another before I turned my gaze up to Ross.

"Nampara cove." I answered

"You went out in the boat?" he scowled

"No, I whistled and they came dancing out the waves." I sassed. Demelza  snorted next to me then cleared her throat.

"Have you no sense?" he sighed retrieving his coat.

"Yes and a extra mouth to feed. It's not that big of a deal, you're making something out of nothing." I shrug off. He shakes his head

"At least do the courtesy of taking more care of yourself in future." he scolds causing me to roll my eyes.

"I always do." I went back to what I was doing

"I won't be home late." he left us to finish what we were doing. I stopped mid cut having an idea.

"You finish up, I'm off to pay a visit." I clean my hands and give Henry a quick kiss.

------

I arrived at Trenwith, Luckily for me. Agatha, Elizabeth and Francis were outside when I arrived.

"Abigail, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Elizabeth wondered

"I was actually hoping to speak with Francis." her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Francis smiled. In the past few months we had eventually become friends. In all honesty he found me fishing and we got to talking.

" of course." he offered me his arm which I took and we walked away. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Ross found out about my fishing expedition. Not that it was a secret of course." I informed him

"And how did he react to that?" he wondered

"Oh I expect the sour disapproving look maybe a cold shoulder for a little while. He insists that I take more care, though..." I trailed off and he nodded in understanding

"He probably means stop." I hummed in response "So, how can I help?" he asked

"I'm due to go back out soon, I was hoping you would accompany me, that way I've made a pre-emptive strike towards the inevitable judgement." We stopped

"I know that if I decline you would do it anyway so, I will come and row the boat the next time you come out. " he agreed making me beam "I wonder why you never thought of it before." he joked making me roll my eyes.

"You're hilarious, not."