Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business', continued... (7/?)

[dwgm]

Another 400 words (exactly!) of the story for potc100's 'Bargain' prompt, kindly and expertly edited by my dear hereswith.

1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain


~ An Execrable Business, continued...


The meal that Mistress Whitby proceeded to serve them wafted Nell to a plane of ecstasy she’d seldom achieved in dining, even at the hands of her grandmother’s very superior French cook. These transports seemed to entertain Captain Sparrow, but Nell didn’t mind at all – so much the better, in fact. The stew was rich and delicious, full of good quality meat, fresh vegetables and savory herbs; the bread and butter were absolutely ambrosial; and it had been far too long since Nell had partaken of such a good meal. She had been most unwilling to spend her ill-gotten but desperately needed gains on any but the most basic sustenance, bread and cheese, the occasional apple, hot tea, cold lemonade. And in Harrison Claypool’s house, grief and fear had stolen away her appetite in those last weeks.

When she was almost finished with her first plate, Mistress Whitby brought her another. “Bless you, lad, one would think you were starving. Captain Sparrow! Have you been stinting this youngster, and him a growing boy?”

“Not I. He obviously has a hollow leg.” The captain’s fine eyes twinkled, and Nell couldn’t help smiling back.

But after Mistress Whitby left again, and Nell had embarked on her second helping, the captain’s next words engendered startled dismay.

"Claypool’s wealthy, too, as I recall. Very."

She choked, coughed, and grabbed up her napkin, pressing it to her lips, looking up at him quickly. There was something devious in his expression along with the amusement, and there was no use saying You wouldn’t! when it was quite evident he very well might. A bargain must be struck between them, if at all possible, and the sooner the better.

“I’ve saved nearly enough for my passage home. If you would but loan me the rest of it, I swear I’ll repay you tenfold, as soon as I reach England.”

“Ah. That’s very tempting. And yet, what would Claypool pay to have you back, I wonder?”

He said this teasingly, but Nell felt almost faint at the thought of falling once again into the hands of that man. Panic welling, she quickly glanced around to locate the dining room’s exits, but then gasped in electrified horror. Across the room, over by the wide door leading to the inn’s foyer, Martha Whitby stood, wiping her hands on her apron and speaking, in the friendliest manner, to Harrison Claypool’s agents.



TBC…

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! Miz Pearlseed has a real way with words, and some sharp insights to go along with them, as a rule. *g* So happy you're still enjoying! More soon, and a rather exciting bit, too.