No excuse for innocence.

Why should everything that has been planned so well in advance be taking so long to execute it was the worry that the Acting Governor had on his mind. He was a strategist, a man with a mission as socially acceptability was everything in life. Having had his poor start in life meant he knew about hardships firsthand and he had no quelms to do what it takes to get were you needed to go to get to the top.

He knew he had to solve the piracy problem or the Cape of Goodhope harbour would not be able to serve as a depot especially now when the Britain had just taken over the colony from the Dutch. There was so much riding on the accessibility of the ships having access to the 6 months supply or in case of the more modern ships the 4months supply of fresh food needed to keep the sailors from getting scurvy and other malnutrition diseases onboard the ships. It was well known that the journey from the British Kingdom and the European Kingdoms took very long to circumnavigate the globe from those countries to the east and back as valuable commodities such as spices, silk, gold, porcelain and most of all slaves were brought back from the east and protection was needed for ships making it costly as three ships were neaded two ships to guard the one with the cargo.

One factor that definitely helped the cause of ant-piracy was the massive storms at the Cape point prevented ships from docking for at least 3 months but sometimes the weather persisted beyond the winter being June, July,August and it was the prolonged periods of heavy swells that would sink ships off the coast of Cape of Goodhope waters .

The weather and the pirates was a difficult unknown factor presenting the Acting Governor with difficult decisions to make but it was the piracy problem that he hoped to solve and his hope rested with this young man who now sat opposite to him. With his brown hair and bright green eyes with a tinge of blue he was a handsome devil. Even he who was her father wondered what was wrong with this two young people as his daughter with her beautiful youthful loveliness should have captured the heart of this young man by now.

Eric wanted to get back to his previous life with a hankering of a drunk man for a keg of ale yes he was beyond finished with this game of a life he now had of hardships in the fields just plowing with oxen and watching crops grow as the tilling of the soil made it ready to plant and the planting brought the crops that was needed by the important shipping lanes he needed to get back to his men instead if being here with his so called father-in-law who has practically now forced him to accept this challenge or he would have to go back to his men and become the laughing stock of the Pirates. He knows when this happens he would loose face and he would no longer be in command of the fleet of Pirate ships he had convoyed to the Cape of Goodhope.

This was a faceoff as Eric was definitely going back to the homestead and he had a mission to finally seduce his delectable bride not that he had not tried but now he would succeed as everything rode on his ensuing purpose of getting his life back to were he could go back to his men. His father-in-law surprised him by slapping him on the back as he shoved him out of the office his parting words were" Son remember you have to put in a good effort to get results, I want my grandchildren and you have to put your efforts in as 5 bags of gold is just the beginning. Oh and by the way here is the documents for your new title you are now the Count of Westham, congratulations..." and with that said he was dismissed.

He was once again escorted back to the homestead with the very stern looking Captain as it was obvious that the Captain had heard the last part of the conversation the Acting Governor had with him. What was it with this man as they rode their horses back to the homestead the Captain was silent not saying a word but looks spoke a thousand more.....

When he got home it was late afternoon and he was famished as he wondered what his wife had planned for dinner as she was a surprisingly good cook having taken over this duty with relish from a reluctant servant. He was met with the delicious smell of fresh bread and is that a pie of some sort his mouth watered in anticipation and when the Captain also pushed over the threshold of his door after him and his wife coming out of the kitchen smiling he was agitated when she invited the Captain to have supper with them. The Captain was hoping for this invite as he had now become accustomed to being invited and he enjoyed her cooking.

The meal was over and his wife took the dishes away and then he and the Captain was alone in the drawing room having a glass of brandy as it was a custom to present your guest with a parting alcoholic beverage before he left. The audacity of the Captain had no bounds when he turned around and challenged Eric Phantone Count of Westham by saying very softly and aggressively "Don't hurt her or I swear I will run you through with my sword. " Well the nerve of the man... Eric was so astounded and taken aback when he went on further and said "She is innocent and you are obviously not her type to come in from no where and don't you harm her I will definitely do something drastic do you understand...!" He said this as he put his glass down and marched out of his house...