Love At Sea: De La en Glässer

Lies of flattery

He punched his mate's shoulder and they both shared a smile. "I bet the cap'n will 'ave her afore the months end." Cockerell said too simply. Loomy shook his head 'no.' "I doubt that, but I wager he will nah touch the lassy this month. He be a good scallywag that one, an English born gent. He wouldna take her t' his pleasure at least nah yet." "Aye." Cockerell responded. "But form now on, they will be sharin' a cabin. I heard it meself." Loomy bit the insides of his lip. "Deal, but one more thing how would ye know if the cap'n has had her?" At that the man turned his back on the sailor. "'t would nah be so hard if ye be mighty observant.

Bernadette whistled a melodious tone as she stepped into the kitchen. It was too hot from the heat that came out of the stove, but the chef did not seem fazed about it. "Ah mademoiselle I see you are awake yes? Did you go aboard ship last night? The woman at port Ivnany are like little flowers but with hungry stomachs. They know how to give a man a pleasurable fill of-" He cut short and looked at the woman. "Oh, go on Francis. I have heard and seen way worse." The French man blushed all shades of red. "Forgive me ma'am. It is just that, we usually have these things once we reach port and at times we do not arrive at land for many months and one is left with his thoughts day in and day out." Bernadette grinned and picked a stool. There were carrots and green peas, she could not help her hands. She began her maiden chores of helping in the kitchen however she could not resist pinching a few pieces.

"You could settle down and find yourself a lassy, then you would be able to have the pleasures day in and day out." The man gave a deep chuckle. "When you are my age, settling down is out of the option. I have more than five children from different women and I always have to send coin to them. I am more of the onetime man, have my pleasure and disappear." Bernadette giggled and a sad look crossed the man's features. "I had a family once, a wife and a son. But being at sea takes you months without seeing those you loved. By the time I came back to see my woman and child, she was already off with a lad that earned less than I did, and to make it all worse she was with his child. She could not wait for me!" The knife slammed into the wood and Bernadette jumped. Francis regained his posture. "I am sorry Bernadette. A times it gets to me, and the emotions spill out." She nodded and snack a small piece of carrot to her mouth.

"Do that again and I will chop your fingers off!" She watched him but a small smile graced his lips. He did not seem angry. "I know what it feels like. My mother sold me for the streets, a cup of rum in exchange for me. It still hurts to this day. It is only harshness I know. And the cold hands of men that always try to defile you because you have nowhere to go or sleep." His large palm held her rough hands. "I am sorry about that lassy." Bernadette allowed for the little comfort. It felt nice talking to someone even though the man was at least twenty years older than her. "We cannot change what has happened can we?" A sad look crossed his features and he picked up his knife. "No, we cannot." He scrapped the skin of a whole carrot and handed it to her. "You need it, you look like you have lost all your flesh." She happily accepted the vegetable and munched hungrily on it. He stood up. "Well dinner will not be long, though it can only be consumed in the dead of the night."

The smell of whatever he was cooking wadded up in her nose and she held her stomach. The food he had cooked for the captain was by far different from what he cooked for the crew. The stingy lot. "Francis, do you know you are a remarkably talented chef." She went for flattery. If she wanted what was good, she had to sacrifice her lies for it. "Never have I ever tasted the good works of anothers hands like yours." The man blushed for the second time. His cheeks heated up to a pinkish colour. "Why thank you lassy that means a lot- wait a moment. You are simply doing it because you want something?" He turned with the spoon pointed at her direction. "No." She looked up. "I am saying it because it is true. Not many have complimented your food have they?" It was a small shake of the head but she saw it. "Well I tell you sir Francis it is divine." The man turned back to the stove with a smile on his features.