The Countess' Lucky Charm by A. M. Westerling Read Free Book Online

altogether. Besides, it wouldn’t do to turn down his wife’s invitation,” he said, ignoring the clanging cacophony of warning bells in his mind.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Three hours later, before the first course even appeared, Temple regretted accepting the invitation.
    The evening had started innocuously enough.
    He and Simone entered the empty dining room to find the table set with a white damask tablecloth, gold rimmed porcelain, fine glassware, heavy silver and even place cards. Several heavy silver dishes, a cut crystal decanter of red wine and a woven basket of oranges graced the sideboard.
    “You sit here. I’m across from you.” He pointed to her chair.
    He strolled around the table to read the rest of the place cards while she sidled past the side board to her chair. From the corner of his eye, he noticed she snatched an orange and stuffed it into her pocket, looking at him all the while with a wary expression. He pretended not to notice; she was, after all, a paying passenger and perfectly entitled to an orange if she so wished.
    They sat down and Simone immediately picked up her card. “This says my name?” At his nod, she tucked the card into her sleeve.
    Not surprising, she didn’t know how to read. How, then, would she comport herself at dinner if a simple place card held fascination for her?
    Foreboding tickled Temple’s spine.
    However, she sat with hands demurely folded in her lap, a hesitant smile on her lips. It was a promising sign and he turned his attention to the other passengers as they trickled in.
    As a cargo ship, not a passenger ship, their dinner companions were small in number and consisted of the first mate, Allan McCabe, the ship’s surgeon, Dr Nicholas Taylor, and Gordon Dixon, a clerk bound for Montreal. Last to arrive were Mrs Featherstone, who smiled at Simone, and the captain. He gave Simone a fierce look then made a point of ignoring her, stomping to his seat at the head of the table.
    No sooner had the introductions been completed than Simone proceeded to inspect the cutlery before declaring “This be fine silver.”
    She picked up the dinner plate and turned it over, running her finger along the gold trimmed edge before replacing it. The crystal glasses were inspected with the same thoroughness. These she flicked with her finger until they produced a fine ring. “Nice,” she declared.
    Foreboding again tickled Temple’s spine. He wanted to enjoy his first real meal at sea in peace but this could be an awkward situation if he didn’t handle it properly. He would have to count on her quick wits.
    He made an extravagant show of unfolding his napkin and placing it on his lap; she followed suit. At least she had noticed.
    “Are we having them?” Simone pointed toward the basket of oranges.
    Bloody hell, what was her fascination with the fruit? He opened his mouth to answer but the captain’s wife forestalled him.
    “No.” Mrs Featherstone shook her head. “Perhaps later. Why do you ask?”
    “They’re me favourite,” she replied enthusiastically. “I don’t know why, I’ve just always liked them.” Her voice trailed away when she noticed Dr Taylor looking at her.
      “Good choice,” Dr Taylor said. “We have a barrel of oranges on board. They’re good for the scurvy.”
    “Scurvy?” Simone’s brow wrinkled.
    “Aye, scurvy. It’s caused by a deficiency of ascorbic acid. Its symptoms are bleeding gums, loose teeth, aching joints and red spots.” Dr Taylor stopped. “Oh, dear, I must sound like a medical encyclopaedia. I just finished my studies last week,” he explained apologetically.
    “That sounds like spring sickness.” Her brow smoothed in understanding.
    “Spring sickness, scorbutus , scurvy, it’s one and the same.”
    “And oranges fixes that?”
    “Well, fresh food of any kind is good,” interjected Allan McCabe, the first mate. “It’s just that citrus fruits keep well.”
    “I see.” Simone was silent