Savory smells of freshly roasted pork and buttery rolls drifted down the hall into the room where Johnstone was helping Lucien dress. He took a brush to Lucien's beige short-coat and made sure the burgundy doublet beneath was properly buttoned. He fussed with the silk cravat until Lucien finally shrugged him off with an impatient wave of his hand. Lucien paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes cast to the floor.

"What's troubling you?" Johnstone stood steadfast, watching the agitated young man.

"Nothing's troubling me!" Lucien snapped and immediately regretted his callous tone. "I'm sorry, I'm just so irritated with this whole dinner business." He stopped pacing and faced Johnstone. "The second he found out Ysabeau wasn't coming for social visits he started up all these dinners and matchmaking again. I know he's still hoping if I'm enticed by a lovely maiden I'll change my mind and stay to join his business. It won't work. He can parade wealthy business men and their eligible daughters all day long and it won't change a thing."

Johnstone, seeming unfazed by Lucien's tirade, gave his attire one more curt glance. "I believe they're waiting on you."

Lucien nodded curtly and strode in long, even strides out the door and down the hall toward the dining room. The sooner they ate, the sooner it'd be over. The truth was he'd been preoccupied all day about a little island he wished to sail to. News of an outbreak of fever had reached him but his father had no ships lying in harbor to take. Not that he thought he'd let him anyway. It'd be a few short weeks until the new ship was finished, but that seemed like a long time to Lucien.

The table glittered with fine crystal and china, but those who would be seated at it stood behind their chairs.

"Ah, here he his!" his father exclaimed. "Everyone please be seated."

"So sorry to keep everyone waiting." Lucien flashed a wide smile at a young lady in a verdant gown as he pulled out her chair for her. He sent a look to Johnstone, standing stoically by the door, which said 'I told you so'. The girl tittered as she met Lucien's eye when he seated himself at the foot of the table.

"Allow me to introduce Lord Ashley and his lovely daughter, Lady Elizabeth," Mr. Bellemare said.

Lucien had seen them before on the island. His father continued around the table. Lucien nodded politely to each of the guests, all vaguely familiar. Thankfully, the ladies seemed to be married except for Lady Elizabeth. Finally the introductions came to an end with his father introducing the two men on either side of him. Lucien hadn't seen either before. The man on the left-hand side was Hortence Masterson, from London. And, not surprisingly, the guest on the right-hand was a governor. He couldn't have been one of much prestige, judging by the worn look of his clothing, so Lucien wasn't surprised to hear it was of the Bahamas, a newer settlement to the Caribbean. Many of its people emigrated from Bermuda. The man's name was John Wentworth. Lucien was eager to ask how the settlement was doing.

Lucien greeted them each appropriately.

The first course, clam soup, was served and the conversation was lively. Lady Elizabeth kept up conversation about trivial matters, almost entirely by herself, solidly into the third course of suckling-pig. Lucien hoped he was giving appropriate responses, for it all sounded like drivel to him. He tried at one point to catch the conversation between his father and the men on either side of him but, when he heard a snippet from Mr. Masterson bemoaning the late arrival of his daughter to the island, which was quickly followed by a calculating glance Lucien's way, he hastily reverted his attention back to the lady next to him, who was likewise staring at him as if he were part of the succulent menu. For the most part, dinner passed in a blur.

It wasn't until dessert Lucien regained his curiosity about the mysterious Mr. Masterson. He was a large man with a plumply-sagging face, covered with a sparse gray beard. His periwig was colored to match. His eyes were dark pits topped with bold eyebrows. A silk doublet strained over his round belly, making buttons pull at their buttonholes. Lucien wondered if the man could afford another extravagant meal without shooting one of them off. He disliked the somber man without knowing why. Perhaps it was the permanent look of unhappiness engraved on his face.

His father answered the question of his presence in an unexpected way. He cleared his throat after the servants poured sparkling white wine for everyone. "I should like to make a happy announcement."

The guests fell silent and directed their attention toward him.

"Please join me with a raised glass to celebrate the establishment of a new partnership between myself and Mr. Masterson." He looked at Mr. Masterson who stretched his face into a benign smile.

The dinner guests politely extended congratulations and drank to the partnership.

Lucien sat immobile, holding his raised glass. Johnstone caught his eye and mimed for Lucien to drink. He did so and took too big a swallow, making his eyes water. Looking blearily at Masterson, his dislike faded. A thankfulness replaced it, along with a minuscule amount of guilt for thinking ill of his father's intentions.

His father smiled placidly at Lucien and returned to the conversation.

Later, in the salon, finally relieved of the company of the chatterbox of a woman, Lucien got to more formally greet his father's new partner. He seemed pleasant enough. He'd be taking care of the business here while Mr. Bellemare went to London for a time. Lucien wouldn't have to worry about assisting his father any longer, other than his position as ship's surgeon.

Lucien couldn't have been happier.

He turned his attention to the governor. "Gov. Wentworth, how does your settlement fare?"

The man looked positively dour at the question and took a long drink. "Horrid. Absolutely horrid."

He'd drawn the attention of the other men at his pronouncement.

"Do tell! What is amiss?" queried Lord Ashley, whose interest at the bit of gossip was uninhibited.

"I've not received any aid whatsoever from the proprietors in two years."

"How ghastly!" Lord Ashley exclaimed.

"Indeed. I've been reduced to begging from Gov. Lynch of Jamaica for the most basic of provisions." He sounded like a beaten man. "The Spanish Guarda Costa positively delight in arresting any traders that happen our way. Lynch ignored my request for part of his fleet for protection, so my people have been forced to fend for themselves."

"Tell me, what do you mean by that?" asked Mr. Masterson.

"They've turned to wrecking and privateering to protect and provide for their families."

"Surely not! And who granted them commissions for this legalized pirating?" Lord Ashley asked again.

"I did," Gov. Wentworth said with a hint of challenge in his voice. "What else am I supposed to do? Live in terror of Spanish attack while my people go without food and medicine? Wrecking is quite easy on our shoal ridden coasts."

Wrecking was the practice of looting ships that foundered offshore. Sometimes the ships were intentionally led to danger by the 'wreckers' with false signals.

"I'm sure you wouldn't pursue those avenues if it weren't of absolute necessity," Lucien's father agreed.

Lucien wasn't surprised his father agreed with him. Wentworth was a man in power.

The governor nodded his appreciation for the show of solidarity, ignoring a few humphs disguised as coughs.

Lucien was struck with inspiration. "We'll be sailing nearby in a few weeks, perhaps we could stop with provisions?" His father obviously wanted to be thought of in good stead, it shouldn't be too hard for him to agree. Lucien looked at him for approval, and his father inclined his head.

"Why that's a capital idea, boy!" This from Mr. Masterson, who Lucien belatedly realized he should've checked with as well. "And while you're there you could profit the community with your doctoring skills. Your father told me how much you enjoy charity work!"

"Forgive me, Mr. Masterson, I should've spoken with you first." Lucien inclined his head respectfully.

"No matter, no matter," he waved a chubby hand at Lucien dismissively. "How sits this arrangement with you, Governor?" The flabby man turned to face the governor.

"Why, we'd be resoundingly grateful for such generosity," Gov. Wentworth said, diplomatically ignoring Mr. Masterson's reference to charity.

"It's settled then. I shall alert Captain Dewberry that the Bahamas will be your first stop," said Masterson.

Lucien couldn't believe it. Finally, things were going his way! He reminded himself to thank Johnstone later for not letting him evade dinner.

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Short chapter, sorry.

Anyone have day preferences for uploads?

Til next time,

zuz x