The Chocolatier's Wife (63 page)

He
did
laugh,
then,
and
said,
“Forgive
me,
Miss.
Didn’t mean
any disrespect,
and
to
answer
your
question
fair-like,
I
don’t
rightly
know.
She has
a
reputation
around
here,
for
sure,
but
people
try
not
to
speak
of
it much.
Ain’t
rightly
healthy.
I
just
didn’t
want
you
to
get
too
interested, what with Himself asking
after you.”

She
patted
his
arm. “Thank
you.
Your
kindness
is
quite
refreshing
and most a
p
preciated.”

“I
heard
Himself
say
you
were
from
the
North. My
own
wife,
bless
her heart,
was
from
there.
‘Tisn’t
always
easy,
for the
Northern
Kind.
But
then it ain’t
easy for
the Southern Kind in
the North,
so I
guess all is fair.”
He
pointed.
"If
you
get
to
that
overhang,
it
will
take
you
to
the
main road
without
you
even
getting
your
feet
wet,
save
for
the
first
few
steps.
I gather
you know
your
way
from
there."

She
curtsied
low
and
thanked
him
before
following
his
directions.
Her head
felt
full
to
capacity,
and
she
had
no
one
with
whom
to
speak.

Chapter
1
9

Ferou 28
th
,
Sphr.
Mn.
Qtr. 1790

Tasmin,

I
t
i
s
wit
h
grea
t
relie
f
tha
t
I
a
m
abl
e
t
o
tel
l
yo
u
tha
t
w
e
hav
e
finall
y
mad
e
ou
r
port
,
thoug
h
th
e
deliver
y
o
f
th
e
goods
,
many yard
s
o
f
f
in
e
silk
,
di
d
no
t
g
o
a
s
wel
l
a
s
hoped
.
A
hars
h
stor
m
wracke
d
m
y
poo
r
vesse
l
an
d
som
e
o
f
th
e
se
a
water
,
despit
e
carefu
l
packing
,
ha
d
go
t
i
n
an
d
ruine
d
th
e
fabric
.
I
a
m
wel
l
use
d
t
o
suc
h
losses
,
an
d
alway
s
mak
e
allowance
s
sinc
e
som
e
los
s
i
s
expected
,
bu
t
a
n
extr
a
furiou
s
blac
k
mol
d
ha
d
als
o
se
t
in
,
an
d
i
t
sprea
d
lik
e
a
fire
.
I
hav
e
neve
r
see
n
it
s
like
,
an
d
fea
r
tha
t
i
t
will tak
e
muc
h
wor
k
t
o
assur
e
mysel
f
tha
t
th
e
hol
d
itsel
f
i
s
n
o
longe
r
contaminated
.

Durin
g
th
e
voyag
e
her
e
w
e
cam
e
acros
s
th
e
wreckag
e
o
f
a
ship
,
anothe
r
victi
m
o
f
th
e
Pandora
.
W
e
recovere
d
a
fe
w
able seame
n
an
d
som
e
passengers
,
on
e
o
f
whic
h
i
s
th
e
Bisho
p
o
f
th
e
tow
n
fro
m
whic
h
I
hail
.
H
e
ha
s
begge
d
me
,
remindin
g
m
e
o
f
my fa
m
ily’
s
lon
g
connectio
n
t
o
him
,
(includin
g
m
y
ow
n
baptism
)
to tak
e
afte
r
th
e
Pandora
.
H
e
seem
s
t
o
fee
l
tha
t
h
e
know
s
m
e
well enoug
h
tha
t
I
ca
n
b
e
truste
d
t
o
pursu
e
th
e
Pa
n
dor
a
an
d
tak
e
wha
t
sh
e
holds
.
H
e
wil
l
no
t
tel
l
m
e
wha
t
i
t
is
,
onl
y
tha
t
a
s
lon
g
a
s
th
e
Pandor
a
an
d
he
r
captai
n
posses
s
it
,
tha
t
th
e
Pandor
a
will continu
e
t
o
b
e
th
e
terro
r
o
f
th
e
seas
.
Also
,
i
f
he
r
carg
o
fall
s
into th
e
wron
g
hands
,
ou
r
trouble
s
wil
l
b
e
doubled
.

S
o
th
e
chas
e
begins
.
I
hav
e
n
o
choice.

Yours,

William

That
is
an
outrage,”
William
said,
trying
not
to glare
down
at
the
woman
in
front
of
him.
“You don’t
think
you
can
even
save
the
original
dress,
and
yet
you charge double what it would take to make
a
new one.”

“‘Tis
the
materials.
If
you
want
me
to
combine
the
old
dress
with
a
new one, and
make it
not
look like
jester’s
motley,
then
you
will
have to
pay more.
Indeed,
and
you want it so swiftly. I
cannot
possibly face such a
task for
less.
Besides,
we
need
the
pearls,
where
shall
I
get
the
pearls
at
this
time of year?”