Claudette walked under the shadows cast by miles of grape trellises. She made the same contemplative tour every day at the same time, just after lunch, and as she walked she would glance down the slope toward the sea, far below the vineyard. Whenever she passed one of the clearings, she would look, hoping, always hoping, to see Archard’s ship.
The children walked with her and always asked her the same thing when she stopped.
“Do you see Father’s ship?”
Claudette bristled whenever she reached that first clearing in anticipation of her inevitable response.
“No, my dear. Father is still attending to his business.” She had recently given up adding, “But he will come home to us very soon.”
For their part, the children had not a care in the world. They ran, played, picked grapes that were underripe, and hardly noticed the tears Claudette would wipe after passing that first clearing.
They approached it now.
She paused. The youngest jerked against her hand, trying to go forward with the others. He looked up at her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly carried on.
As the shadow of the nearest vine gave way to the warmth of the afternoon sun, Claudette saw the vast blue sea to the north and a pristine sky to match. She turned her gaze closer to the shoreline and stopped in her tracks, putting a hand to her mouth.
“Mommy look, a ship,” her oldest daughter pointed out. “Is it Papa?”
Claudette put a hand up to shield her eyes from the glare.
“I…I don’t know.”
It was clearly not the ship Archard had left on. It was much smaller, but a similar style, and Claudette had certainly never seen it before. It must be. She picked up the boy at her feet and strained to focus on the distant harbor.
“It’s too far away. I can’t see who’s on it.” It must be. Could it be? Hope energized her, and her heart beat faster. “Come, children!” she said with a laugh. “Let us find out.”
They headed back in the direction of the estate, and this time the small legs strived to keep up with the flying skirt folds of their mother.
“Wait here children, I’ll be right back,” Claudette said before bounding up the stairs and into her dressing room. She stood before a large mirror, ran her hand across her brow. I should change. I’m a sweaty mess. But her vanity was overridden and instead she quickly smoothed out her dress and fiddled with her hair for a second before abandoning the hopeless endeavor and, opting for a hat, rushed out.
She tried not to run as she ushered her children’s small legs down the maze of rooms and staircases on the way to the lower level. When she reached the corridor that connected to the grand entrance hall she slowed, steadied herself, and caught her breath. She could hear voices echoing in the high ceilings of the entryway up ahead. Archard’s father spoke.
“And who might you be, sir?”
“Ah yes, Father, let me introduce you to Kadir, he…” Claudette didn’t listen to the words her husband spoke. Hearing his voice was enough, and she sped down the corridor and burst through the door.
Archard was startled by the sudden entrance. “Mon amour!” he said, cutting himself off and rushing up to Claudette. He took her hands and smiled at her, almost ignoring the pleas of his children who chirped, “Father, Father!” around his legs. Archard was uncharacteristically lost for words as Claudette beamed. He kissed her, then kneeled, still holding one of her hands and wrapping his free arm around the children in a succession of hugs.
“Father, we wondered if you’d ever return,” his daughter said.
“Nonsense. Did you forget what I told you when I left?”
“I guess,” the children admitted.
Claudette pulled Archard back to standing and looked in his eyes while answering the children.
“He told you he’d return before we pressed the new wine,” she smiled, “and he never breaks his word.”
“Yes, fabulous. Now,” Archard’s father interrupted, “you were saying?”
Archard turned to his father and Kadir, who both stood behind him. “Yes, yes. Now, where was I? But no, wait!” Archard took Claudette by the hand and led her forward. “My love, I must introduce you to this most extraordinary man. Kadir, meet my Claudette.”
Kadir bowed. “Mademoiselle,” his deep voice boomed, “it is a pleasure.”
“Sir, I’m pleased to meet you indeed. However,” she looked around the hall and now addressed Archard, “I had expected, my dear, that certain other gentlemen would be accompanying you home.” A look of sadness washed over her.
“Oh, fear not, my love. We returned by another route, you see. They are quite well.”
She gave him a concerned look. “All of them?”
Archard smiled. “Yes. And in fact, some of them are much better off than when you last saw them. But, alas,” he stooped down to the children, “we shall save those tales for later. After a round of treats, what do you say?”
The children clapped and bounced around the room, and even Archard’s father softened a little.
“Sir,” Kadir bowed to Archard’s father, “I’m afraid the cause for his delay should be laid upon myself. I convinced Archard here to join me in a business venture.”
“A business venture, eh?” the older man said with skepticism.
“Yes, Father,” Archard said, “a rather lucrative opportunity, near the New Florin chain. There is a lovely island people who turn out some of the most delectable and impressive exports. Kadir and I have just returned from a meeting with their king, a man by the name of Tamati, and we’ve laid the groundwork for an exclusive partnership. Kadir here plans to resettle there to oversee the enterprise.”
Claudette spoke. “But isn’t that region teeming with pirates?”
“In the past, yes,” Kadir answered. “That was quite true, but recently all the worst pirate bands were dispatched. I and Guilderian gentleman had a hand in that personally. Rest assured the routes are quite safe now, it is a marvelous opportunity.”
“Yes, indeed,” Archard put his arm around his wife. “I should think none of us will have cause to grapple with pirates…ever again.”
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