Riverbreeze: Part 3 (4 page)

* * *

Those last words certainly had their effect on Elizabeth. For the rest of the day, she could barely keep her mind on the present. And this annoyed her completely because the day was very pleasant indeed.

First, the shopping trip was fabulous! After Helen Boyle came ashore, crying and wailing and screaming at everyone, dripping water everywhere and looking like a drowned cat, they were rowed out to the Dutch ship.

The seaman who ferried them to the SeaHorse introduced himself as simply Janssen. He was almost too ugly to look at; he had rotted teeth, a lazy eye, horribly pock-marked skin and he stunk to high heaven. His clothes and hands were filthy and Elizabeth almost gagged when he took her hand to assist her into the boat. She certainly didn’t want to sit in the back of the boat where he could leer at her so when Robert suggested the girls sit in the front, behind Janssen, they were more than agreeable, and grateful. It was quite clear that Robert, and Jamie, didn’t want this unsavory character ogling their wives, especially after hearing some of the obscene comments he had made about Helen Boyle.

But despite the seaman’s poor looks and offensive personality, he did a fine job of rowing them out to the ship. His strokes were smooth and rhythmic, carrying them in a timely manner over the calm water. The ride was quite pleasant with a light breeze cooling their faces. Janssen chatted familiarly with Robert and Jamie, giving the girls some private minutes amongst themselves to speculate on the type of material and other goods Van Dijk was selling and to voice their wishes. They hoped he had some fine wool broadcloth for skirts and bodices, cambric linen for chemises and other underclothes and possibly some calico, but they realized that Van Dijk might not be carrying calico since this special cotton fabric was usually imported all the way from the Far East.

Once they reached the side of the ship, Elizabeth and Evelyn stared at the rope ladder in horror. “We have to climb up that?” Elizabeth gasped, looking up and up and up the solid oak hull. This ship wasn’t any bigger than the one the twins had traveled to Virginia on, but from this perspective, the ship looked enormous.

“How did you think we’d get aboard?” Robert asked.

“I guess I didn’t think it about it at all.” She answered, sounding dismayed. When Robert had first mentioned that Van Dijk had material to trade and then had agreed to allow Elizabeth to purchase some, she hadn’t thought about how they were to board the ship. She had been too excited to realize that since the ships were anchored in the river and not at the wharf, they wouldn’t just stroll onboard by way of a gangplank.

“Have no fear, Mistress.” Janssen said, holding on to the ladder with a tar-grimed hand. “I’ll keep the shallop steady.”

A friendly call came from the rail above them. “Hallo, Robert. James. You bring business to me?”

Robert returned the greeting, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. “Hello, Captain Van Dijk! Jamie and I have brought our wives to look at your fine wares.”

“Wives!” The Captain laughed out loud, a booming belly laugh. He was a tall, stout man with a round face, shoulder-length wavy brown hair parted in the middle and a perfectly trimmed Vandyke beard. “You work quick! Less than a month since I see you.”

“Can you blame us?” Robert shouted back, extending his hand in the girls’ direction as if to say, ‘Look how beautiful they are’.

“Nay, indeed I cannot. Bring them up.” He waved grandly.

Naturally, Evelyn volunteered to go first, eager to do some serious shopping. Now that she was a courageous horsewoman, heights didn’t seem to bother her. Jamie followed right behind her, preventing her from falling. Together, they made it look easy. Evelyn never tripped on her skirts or lost her footing all the way up the ladder.

Once she was safely on deck, she called down, “’Tis easy, Bess!” She was a little breathless, but her face was aglow. “Come on up.”

“Shall we?” Robert said softly, suddenly standing in front of Elizabeth, his feet spread wide apart to keep his balance and to prevent the boat from rocking too much. She had been watching Evelyn and didn’t see Robert moving towards her, although she had felt the boat rock back and forth. A flash of anger went through her; she hated it when he stood up in boats—it never seemed to bother him—but when she saw his face full of patience and understanding, she stopped short at yelling at him.

And, Janssen was doing a commendable job of steadying the boat. Elizabeth felt some of her fear subside. If Evelyn could do it, she could do it too!

She nodded once and Robert helped her to stand and steadied her as she approached the ladder. The first step was easy and actually, once she started up the ladder, she realized the climb wasn’t all that bad or as high as she had first imagined. Maybe only twice the height of an average man, which was high enough, on second thought. But Robert stayed right behind her, keeping her safe.

Once on deck, Evelyn gave her an enthusiastic hug and she let out a huge sigh of relief.

Formal introductions took place between the Captain and the women. He was a charming fellow, full of good cheer.
And why not
? Elizabeth thought. After all, he had a string of customers coming to look and purchase his goods.

Another couple, Alison Wyatt and William Barber, were waiting at the rail to depart. William Barber was holding a large bundle tied with string, but his face didn’t show any signs of regret or resentment towards the lady beside him. In fact, he looked utterly enamored of her.

“Oh, Evelyn, Elizabeth…” Alison smiled broadly, coming forward to greet the twins. She also glowed with new love and looked far younger than her forty-something years, like a
jeune fille
at her first ball. “I hoped I would see you two today. Evelyn, I’m going to need your expertise soon, and your talent, Elizabeth.” She glanced shyly at William, her cheeks turning pink as a primrose. “You see, William and I…” She hesitated slightly, glancing at William again as if for permission. When he nodded once, her words gushed out excitedly. “We’re getting married in two weeks, and Evelyn, I’ll need you to help me sew a gown. Will you do that, Evelyn?” She asked, pure hope in her eyes.

Of course Evelyn answered yes. That was her passion. And Elizabeth knew that this gown would be the fanciest gown in all of Virginia if Evelyn was given a free hand. The two of them embraced while Robert, Jamie and Captain Van Dijk all pounded William on the back, heartily congratulating him. He seemed to take the beating quite amicably.

“And you’ll sing, Elizabeth?” Alison continued. “At the ceremony? I do so love your voice.”

Elizabeth blushed. Of course she would sing! That was her passion! “’Twill be my pleasure.” She said.

“You’re all invited, of course.” William interjected. “The ceremony will take place after services on the 10th and Thom and Chiffock have graciously offered to have everyone over for a reception afterwards.”

“We’ll definitely be there, my friend.” Robert said, once again clapping William on the shoulder. Elizabeth would be surprised if the man wasn’t bruised the next day!

After a few more words between them, Alison had the last word. To Elizabeth and Evelyn, she said. “The merchandise is wonderful. You’ll love the selection. ‘Twas worth the climb.” She gave a short laugh, making her ample bosom jiggle provocatively. Elizabeth caught William Barber eyeing that bosom just then. Is that all that men ever thought about? Were all their minds always full of lustful thoughts? She glanced over at her husband, and he was watching
her
, Elizabeth, his eyes full of anticipation or remembering their wedding night! Yes, he was guilty!
Rascal
!

Elizabeth smiled to herself. At least he was watching her instead of Alison’s chest. She wondered how spoiled she could act on this shopping venture. How far could she push him?

And then as if he were reading her mind, he winked at her and slowly ran his fingers of his left hand over the palm of his right hand.

Oooh, the devil
!

She jerked her head aside, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Captain Van Dijk, will you show us your wares now?” She asked sweetly.

“Of course, Mistress. My first mate will take you below decks.” He said, bowing at the waist, oblivious to the silent exchange between them. And then as if the first mate had been waiting for the signal, he waved from the hatch where he had been standing the whole time. “Ladies, this way, please.” He called.

Robert and Jamie elected to stay behind, talking business while the twins went below one level with the first mate. It had been agreed upon that the girls could buy whatever they needed, up to a certain value. The value of the items would be subtracted off the amount of what the brothers’ tobacco sold for back in the Netherlands. This was a dangerous practice; potentially the items bought could exceed the brothers’ profit, but Captain Van Dijk was confident that their tobacco would bring a high price.

Elizabeth could no longer be irritated with Robert. After that last gesture, she had wanted to test him; she had wanted to act like the spoiled Helen Boyle, picking out anything and everything she wanted. But how could she act like that when he had been more than generous, arranging for her to purchase material and one piece of Delftware for their home, especially since she knew he didn’t like this way of doing business even if it was common practice.

Both girls had mixed feelings about descending into the body of the ship, even if it was only one deck below. They didn’t want to be reminded of their horrible journey to Virginia, but once they saw the crates and barrels that covered the floor, all opened and items spilled out everywhere, their discomfort vanished.

The entire deck had been cleaned up as much as possible and wasn’t as foul as the ‘tween deck had been on the ship they had arrived on. Sunlight poured in through the hatch and six small windows, three on either side that had been opened to let in light and fresh air. Otherwise the place would have been awfully dark and smelly and not conducive to a pleasant shopping experience. Of course it was nothing like shopping in London’s fancy fabric shops or dressmaker’s shops, but it was far better than no shopping at all!

Like children in a sweet shop, they rushed to each crate, fingering the wide assortment of fabrics. They were thrilled to see finely woven wool broadcloth in tawny brown, olive green and indigo. There were bolts of various linens, beautiful pure white cambric, course buckram, and fine Holland linen that was not quite pure white. There were expensive silks, jonquil brocade, crimson sarcenet and a gorgeous sky blue satin they went mad over, but put back with a sigh. And the laces! The girls nearly fainted at the selection.

But they knew they had to be practical. For skirts and bodices they chose ten ells each of the olive green and indigo broadcloth. For chemises they chose the fine Holland linen and for hose, drawers and shirts for the men of the house including Robin, they selected twenty ells of the coarse buckram. Four ells of canvas for breeches and a new jacket for Robin, red flannel for winter petticoats and underwear for all, and finally a length of Vandyke lace which neither of the girls could resist. Besides, lace was almost a necessity if one wanted to be in fashion. Surely, their husbands wouldn’t deny them one small length of lace! Along with three rolls of ribbon to match the broadcloth. And five large spools of thread. And two packages of straight pins and one package of the finest needles. And three parcels of buttons made from brass, leather and silver-plate.

The list could have been longer, but the girls stopped there. While two kindly, and not so smelly, seamen helped bundle everything up, a third kept a tally. The three men were quite proficient; it was obvious they were used to the routine.

Just then, the first mate called out to the girls to take them back up to the main deck, but surprisingly, Evelyn stopped their progress by putting a hand on Elizabeth’s arm and saying sweetly to the first mate, “I’m sorry, could we have another minute, please? I think I missed something in that crate over there.”

Elizabeth looked at her curiously, but said nothing. The first mate hesitated a moment—he had been given the task of moving things along and they had already heard several sets of footsteps above them and knew others were waiting for their turn—but in the end, he consented. “One minute, Mistress.” He said.

Evelyn grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and towed her towards the last crate.

“What are you doing?” Elizabeth whispered.

“I wanted to talk to you before we go up and this is the only time we’ll be alone.” She said, peeking back at the first mate waiting for them at the foot of the ladder. She started looking through the fabric again, pretending to be interested in one particular length of violet taffeta, which was very beautiful, by the way.

“What do you want to talk to me about?” Elizabeth asked as if she didn’t know. She had wondered when Evelyn was going to approach her about Robert’s earlier performance, and her own, to be truthful!

“I wanted to ask you if you are alright.”

“Of course I’m alright!” Elizabeth declared, but of course, Evelyn knew she was lying.

“Be truthful, Bess.”

“You’re right.” Elizabeth sighed, picking up a length of peach satin and stroking it idly. “I’m not alright.” Exasperated, she looked back up at her sister and in a loud whisper, burst out, “He is so unpredictable! And he says I surprise him!”