Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' (45/?)

[dwgm]

450 words, with thanks to my dear hereswith for beta reading, editing, and excellent suggestions.

Previous bits...

1. Tortuga 2. Happiness 3. Festive 4. Last Minute 5. Calm 6. Truth 7. Bargain 8. Spook 9. Down 10. Wounds 11. Moon 12. Monsters

13. Beauty 14. Name 15. History 16. Service 17. Advice 18. Captain 19. Awe 20. Cross 21. "You've made a big mistake" 22. Heroism 23. Gold 24. Echo

25. Greed 26. Advance 27. Challenge 28. Adventure 29. Sentence 30. Treasure 31. North 32. Coat 33. Good and Evil 34. Sickness and Health 35. Lost 36. Court

37. What if? 38. Island 39. That can't be 40. Prophesy 41. Ten Years Later 42. French 43. Deed 44. Tea

And here's today's...

45. Scarlett and Giselle


~ An Execrable Business, continued...


Her name was the Écarlate, and her captain, Armand Récamier, nephew of one of the richest men in France, was about to fail his uncle, as well as his illustrious passengers, Henri Pelletier and his wife, Louise, returning to France after three years in Cap-Français, Hispaniola.

Pelletier was a retired diplomat and had brought Madame to the isle for her health, after an inflammation of the lung had nearly carried her off one cold Paris winter. The fact that the Pelletiers had large investments on Hispaniola had been entirely secondary to the matter. Madame Louise must have the greatest care, the most salubrious climate, and the Parisian doctor who had prescribed for her and seen her through the worst of the malady, had recommended Cap-Français as an idyllic setting, sure to benefit Madame's impaired health.

But though Madame's health had indeed been almost entirely restored, her spouse had eventually succumbed to the ague, indigent to the island. For this reason, and because their daughter had written to tell them that they would soon have the pleasure to be addressed as grand-mère et grand-père, they were most anxious to return to France immediately, bringing along the many small comforts they had shipped from France three years before, to which a few minor purchases had been added while they were in residence on the island.

The small comforts – everything from furniture to jewelry to Madame's spoiled and very beautiful cat, Giselle – occupied nearly half the available area of the ship, while the other half was taken up by the usual load of spices, indigo, and excellent tobacco. In effect, the Écarlate was a miniature treasure ship, and though she was possessed of a few well-polished guns, her crew had seldom used them even for practice and it would surely have been wise to wait for the usual well-armed escort to be readied. Unfortunately, the Pelletiers were in a great hurry, a very great hurry, Madame must not be away from her daughter at such a time, and Monsieur Henri had taken it upon himself to provide an extra incentive to Captain Récamier, a token of their faith that he would deliver them quickly and safely to France.

Captain Récamier looked out at the shadowed monstrosity that was in the final stages of bearing down on his beautiful Écarlate. He raised his glass to study the evil, grinning faces lining the side, every one of them seemingly slavering for his demise. Moments before, a warning shot had been fired, whooshing over the bow inches from his second mate.

"Armand, when will you learn to trust your own judgment?" he said to himself, and then, regretfully, gave the order to lower the colors.


TBC...

Comments

[arwen-lune.livejournal.com]

Please tell me that the Pearl is about to obtain a ship's cat! :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I expect that might be on the agenda, yes. *g*

[jillianfish.livejournal.com]

Yes, wouldn't a ship's cat be a perfect gift for Lucky Nell? lol. Great chapter (and the previous ones I didn't comment on, cause well, you know, RL and such) I can't wait to see what lovely things come off this ship and how that spoiled French lady screeches and yells. Sure to provide much amusement. and yay! for Jack not locking Nell in the captains quarters.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

yay! for Jack not locking Nell in the captains quarters.

Well, he wouldn't do that as it's above the waterline and so more susceptible to cannon fire.

Very happy you're still enjoying the story! Thank you for commenting!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Another amazing subplot! And a wonderful idea with the cat - great use of the prompt! ^^

Fantastic installment! *bites nails in anticipation*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I have a fondness for cats. There is one curled on my chest as we speak. *g* I'm so glad you didn't mind the introduction of still more OC's. :) Thank you for commenting!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Too too fine! And a fat cat--but no ransom kinda things right? Oh, my word, Jack is going to er uh become physically pleased in that particularly unique manly way...massively pleased and his crew will be doing a piratey version of the Spring Break is broke dance. I'm feeling particularly inclined to salute this lovely chapter with a dot of rum or perhaps a puddle, yes--it's Monday and surely noon somewhere! Joyous description of wealth--lots more fun than a load of salt pork!! Poor "grand-mère et grand-père", what a story for their grandbaby!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I would have joined you for some rum, had I not been at work. They frown on that at school. Yes, I feel Jack will ultimately be pleased, and that French grandbady will be regaled with tales of the Pirates of the Caribbean! Thank you for commenting!!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Spectacular use of the prompt and thankfully, there will be no bloodshed, feline or otherwise to dissuade Nell from enjoying her first hunt. I suspect she'll be filled with glee from the excitement and adoring of her new pet and Jack'll be full of himself and strutting like a...well...'tis almost evening again, isn't it?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, evening is coming up. *g* Glad you liked the use of the prompt. I was wondering how I would manage it, but lo and behold, it just fit right in. Thank you so much, again, for commenting!!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Dood, pirates can tell when you're riding low in the water, there's a reason for it. *headshake* I guess he'll learn the hard way!

(Good stuff thus far!)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, Capitaine Récamier is going to have some 'splaining' to do. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you for letting me know!!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

*smirk* Well... If I were him, I'd give up. *nods* Also... A cat! *squee*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So glad you liked the cat! :))