Chapter 18: Landfall Part 4

An older version of Meireka came out to stare at them.

"Please announce to Meireka that Señor Calamphi has come to make amends for the mistake he made. It is inexcusable that I accused her without proof." Señor Calamphi looked at his feet.

The woman's eyes widened, but she called to her daughter in a liquid language. Meireka came out of the hut holding a toddler in her arms; her eyes red from crying.

"Señorita Meireka, I have made a terrible mistake, please accept my apologies." He placed the sovereign in her hand. "Forgive me."

Meireka looked at the coin in her hand, then at the manager, Cal and Sir Shillingsworth. She put her hand on the manager's arm. "I have my job?"

"You do."

"Please, stay. We have a little bread and fruit from the forest."

"We would be delighted." Cal's heart lifted. It would be all right after all.

One of the men ran off and returned with more people carrying food. Soon a celebratory party filled the street outside the hut. Cal stood to the side and sketched the people. Cericia babbled in delight, but soon fell asleep in her mother's arms. The picture of Meireka holding her daughter, looking down with tears of love on her face was one Cal wished she could capture in colour and hold for the rest of her life. She did what she could in pencil. As the party wound down, Cal tore the page from her sketchbook and handed it to Meireka.

"A gift for you and Cericia, so you never forget."

"I will never forget, Lady Cal. Never." Meireka tenderly stroked her daughter's face, then gazed at the drawing. "It is like a miracle. I never knew Señor Calamphi was such a brave and honourable man. I will see you tomorrow." She smiled brightly. "I knew those clothes would fit. My mother sews for a shop in the city. I hadn't delivered them yet."

"They are beautiful, you must tell me where the shop is. I would like to take more home. You may tell everyone Lady Shillingsworth will wear your mother's sewing on the streets of Anglia's capital."

Meireka leaned over and kissed Cal's cheek. "You are an angel."

Cal climbed back into the carriage followed by her father and Señor Calamphi. They rode down the hill, accompanied by the men. Cal's eyes grew heavy and she leaned against her father's shoulder and let them close.

***

Pentam woke and stretched. He put the drawing away carefully before wandering to the galley to see what he could scrounge for breakfast. Sir Shillingsworth sat at a table and waved Pentam over.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"I did, Sir. I have some good shots of the harbour and the Peregrine."

"How did your thinking go?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest." Pentam sighed. "I seem to keep annoying Cal. I don't know why she puts up with me."

"She is an extraordinary young woman." Sir Shillingsworth smiled. "But I might be a little biased. Let her be who she is, and you be who you are. It's all you can do." He stood and patted Pentam's shoulder. "Go and see the city. It would be a shame to have visited and not seen anything of the place. Cal plans to go shopping, maybe you can accompany her." Sir Shillingsworth put a stack of coins on the table, then headed out to the deck.

Pentam shrugged, knowing that might as well have been an order. He picked up the coins and left for the hotel.

Cal was still eating breakfast with the scientists when Pentam arrived. She smiled brilliantly and waved him over. Pentam's heart flopped painfully.

"While we were sleeping, this young woman was out righting wrongs and seeing the sights." Lahdin pushed a sketchbook over to Pentam. He looked over at Cal, she nodded and he opened the book. Sketches showed people gathered around a fire. There was a lot of laughter. Sir Shillingsworth and another man stood out from the crowd, but both were clearly enjoying themselves. A great many sketches were of a young woman holding a little girl. They held a kind of glow as if Cal had trapped their obvious love on paper.

"These are amazing. There must be a story to go with them."

"Indeed, young Sir." The manager stood behind him. "She was kind enough to teach me a lesson in humility." He smiled and bowed in Cal's direction. "Would you be wanting anything to break your fast?"

"Thank you, but I ate on the ship, though it wasn't nearly as good as your food appears."

"Lady Cal, I've arranged for transportation for you for the day. Nothing as fancy as last night, that wouldn't be safe, but comfortable."

"Would you mind if I came along?" Pentam asked, his mouth suddenly dry. "I could carry your packages."

"You've been talking to Father." Cal shook her head. "I would be delighted to have your company."

"Really?" Pentam's voice squeaked and the men at the table laughed.