Chapter 46: Limping to Port Part 3
"We're in port, can't you let someone else do that?" Pentam would have taken back his words, but they rang out through the lounge making everyone turn and look at him.
"We'll be here a while." Cal's expression didn't change. "There will be time for us to spend together." She waved down a waiter. "I'll have a brandy, please, the best you have available."
"When did you start drinking brandy?" Prof. Orthin spoke up quickly as if he knew the question was on Pentam's lips.
"Captain Cully and I shared a toast to the destruction of the sea serpent."
"At least you've ordered the best." Pentam sighed.
***
By the time Pentam got up, Cal had broken her fast and gone down to the Peregrine. He sat at a table in the corner and sipped at his tea.
"You must be Pentam Booksdale." A lilting voice lifted him from his sulk. "Calliope told me you knew your way around town and might show me the sights." He looked up to see Miss Dimant standing, somewhat uncertainly. "You must think me terribly forward." She turned red. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"No, wait." Pentam stood and pulled out a chair. "I apologize, I am not nearly awake yet."
"Calliope did say you had quite an adventure?" She leaned toward him. "I didn't understand any of the science, though she said she couldn't talk about most of it."
"Yes, well, we sailed to the Sargasso Sea on a scientific expedition. Most of it wasn't that exciting, crabs and fish, and lots of seaweed. We had engine trouble and had to limp back to port."
"That must have been horrible."
"It gave us time to read our notes over a great deal."
Miss Dimant laughed.
"Now tell me about this divine shop Calliope mentioned."
After tea, Pentam called a cart and helped Crysabel into the seat then jumped up beside her.
"The market please, Joliu, you know the one. Miss Calliope asked me to show her friend around the town."
Crysabel oohed and aahed as they passed the sights.
"Please, can we drive about the market? I was never allowed in a market like this. Mother worried I'd be kidnapped and she'd never see me again."
"Joliu will keep you safe." Pentam nodded to the man, who nodded back.
"And you too, surely?"
"I will talk chemistry to them until they die of boredom."
Crysabel's laugh echoed through the market and people turned to point to her. She waved back smiling brightly and Joliu started off at a walk. The girl admired the work at the booths and wistfully looked at a tray of necklaces made from brightly coloured feathers.
"Mother would never let me wear them, but they are so beautiful."
Pentam hopped out of the cart and went to talk to the woman selling the necklaces. He negotiated briefly, then picked out one made with the brightest shades of blue. Climbing back up he handed it to her.
"I wasn't sure which you liked, but this matches your eyes. You don't need to wear it to enjoy it."
"Oh, but I must wear it. She lifted her hair out of the way. Please put it on."
Pentam tied the thong for her and she let her hair fall. "How does it look?"
He had to swallow to get the words out. Her eyes were so open and filled with wonder.
"It is beautiful."
"Mother will be furious." Crysabel sounded pleased at the prospect.
They meandered through the market. Crysabel wouldn't eat any of the food sold there, but insisted on buying an inordinate amount for some sad-eyed children who had taken to following them. Pentam had her stop at the dress shop where she bought a couple of hats and gifts for her servants back home.
"Tell me about Calliope." Crysabel asked as she finally allowed Joliu to carry them back to the hotel.
"She's a brilliantly talented artist." Pentam smiled. "And she is kind and caring like you. Everyone here calls her Lady Cal because they love her so much."
"You sound like you're in love with her yourself." She lifted a brow at him.
"I just wish she weren't so busy, you'd be fast friends I'm sure."
"What is she so busy at? There's nothing to do on this island."
"She's meeting an engineer about getting the ship fixed."
"Calliope owns the ship?"
"No, she's the ship's engineer."
Crysabel looked at him in disbelief.
"When our ship was damaged, the engineer was hurt. Cal took over and somehow got it back here. I guess she feels obligated to see it repaired properly." Pentam tried to sound proud of her. He should, Cal was an astonishing person, but it didn't come out the way he intended.
Crysabel started giggling, and Pentam's gut twisted. He shouldn't have said anything, now Crysabel wouldn't want to be anywhere near Cal.
"Does she have a uniform?" Crysabel's question pushed all thought out of Pentam's head. "Please tell me she has a uniform. There's a fancy-dress ball next week. Wouldn't it be marvelous if I could go dressed as a sailor?"
"You'd make an impression." Pentam said.
"Oh, you, you're no fun at all."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
