cover, and for a certainty, I believe in God. Strangely, though, it is in the middle of the ocean I feel the closest to Him. It’s easy to find faith on the high seas.”
“In what way?”
“Sometimes I sit alone on the deck at night and look up into the sky. You would not believe the stars when it is all dark on the sea. It makes me feel so small I know there must be a creator. It’s only that I haven’t found the right way to worship Him yet.”
Suddenly he smiled down at her, dimples playing at the corners of his mouth, his dark blue eyes, twinkling. “And also, I‘m afraid I’m much more sinner than saint.”
“Well, I don’t think so,” she said, smiling back at him. “Of course, what Papa believes is another matter.”
He laughed, and then quickly turned serious. “About us—your father and I discussed it on the way to the chateau. He didn’t exactly say ‘never;’ however, he definitely won’t let you marry until you’re settled in London.”
“Did you ask him if we could at least be betrothed?”
“I didn’t press the subject. We both got rather heated, I’m afraid.” He sighed audibly. “I’ll have another talk with him in the morning. I don’t see why we can’t announce our engagement to the family. Anyhow, I’ll come to London as soon as I’m back from the orient. I’m sure I can get work there. We certainly can’t live in France as Huguenots.”
“Well, I think I could put up with England if you were there.” She again smiled into his eyes.
“Then London is where I shall have to be. Now, I think you should go back to the house, Louise. You shouldn’t be wandering about alone down here. The sailors frequent the taverns and they can get dangerous when they’ve been drinking. I’ll walk with you as far as the city gate, but I have to come back as I have business at our warehouse.”
When they reached the large arch that opened to the city, he suddenly stopped walking and looked down at her, eyes bright as if an idea occurred to him. “Could you get away tomorrow early do you think?” he asked. “I’ll get the little gig and take you to the ocean proper. There’s a beautiful beach where we can look across to Ile de Re, and I’ll tell you all about the siege of La Rochelle. It’s an interesting story that involves our great grandfather. I’ll have the cook pack some food for a picnic. It will be just like when we were children. We always had such good times together.”
“Oh, Marc, yes. I’d love to do that. Shall I meet you here then? What time?”
“I’ll be here at ten. Don’t worry if it’s difficult to get away. I’ll wait for you. Good night, Cherie. Tomorrow we will make many plans for our future together.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and headed back towards the harbour.
Louise found Marc waiting at the gate with the gig the following morning at precisely ten o’clock. He was frowning. Her heart dropped at the look on his face. “What is wrong, Marc? Did you speak to Papa?”
“My father and I both have been with him all morning. However, it’s of no use. He won’t give his permission—not even to be betrothed. He’s worried I will succumb and become a Catholic while I’m with the French East India Company. He won’t make a decision until I come back from this trip.”
“Oh, Marc. That’s terrible. How can he be so cruel?”
“Sweetheart, don’t be upset. Let’s not spoil our day together. Come; we’ll go for our drive and our piquenique.”
“Do you think it is it safe?” She asked as she climbed aboard the gig. She was almost crying from disappointment. “What about the dragoons?”
“Unless they suspect something, they wouldn’t go that far from the harbour. The beach we’re going to is about a league away from the city, so it will take a while to get there. I hope you are not too uncomfortable,” he enquired as they bounced along.
“No, I’m fine. I’d love to hear about the journey you took with your
“In what way?”
“Sometimes I sit alone on the deck at night and look up into the sky. You would not believe the stars when it is all dark on the sea. It makes me feel so small I know there must be a creator. It’s only that I haven’t found the right way to worship Him yet.”
Suddenly he smiled down at her, dimples playing at the corners of his mouth, his dark blue eyes, twinkling. “And also, I‘m afraid I’m much more sinner than saint.”
“Well, I don’t think so,” she said, smiling back at him. “Of course, what Papa believes is another matter.”
He laughed, and then quickly turned serious. “About us—your father and I discussed it on the way to the chateau. He didn’t exactly say ‘never;’ however, he definitely won’t let you marry until you’re settled in London.”
“Did you ask him if we could at least be betrothed?”
“I didn’t press the subject. We both got rather heated, I’m afraid.” He sighed audibly. “I’ll have another talk with him in the morning. I don’t see why we can’t announce our engagement to the family. Anyhow, I’ll come to London as soon as I’m back from the orient. I’m sure I can get work there. We certainly can’t live in France as Huguenots.”
“Well, I think I could put up with England if you were there.” She again smiled into his eyes.
“Then London is where I shall have to be. Now, I think you should go back to the house, Louise. You shouldn’t be wandering about alone down here. The sailors frequent the taverns and they can get dangerous when they’ve been drinking. I’ll walk with you as far as the city gate, but I have to come back as I have business at our warehouse.”
When they reached the large arch that opened to the city, he suddenly stopped walking and looked down at her, eyes bright as if an idea occurred to him. “Could you get away tomorrow early do you think?” he asked. “I’ll get the little gig and take you to the ocean proper. There’s a beautiful beach where we can look across to Ile de Re, and I’ll tell you all about the siege of La Rochelle. It’s an interesting story that involves our great grandfather. I’ll have the cook pack some food for a picnic. It will be just like when we were children. We always had such good times together.”
“Oh, Marc, yes. I’d love to do that. Shall I meet you here then? What time?”
“I’ll be here at ten. Don’t worry if it’s difficult to get away. I’ll wait for you. Good night, Cherie. Tomorrow we will make many plans for our future together.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and headed back towards the harbour.
Louise found Marc waiting at the gate with the gig the following morning at precisely ten o’clock. He was frowning. Her heart dropped at the look on his face. “What is wrong, Marc? Did you speak to Papa?”
“My father and I both have been with him all morning. However, it’s of no use. He won’t give his permission—not even to be betrothed. He’s worried I will succumb and become a Catholic while I’m with the French East India Company. He won’t make a decision until I come back from this trip.”
“Oh, Marc. That’s terrible. How can he be so cruel?”
“Sweetheart, don’t be upset. Let’s not spoil our day together. Come; we’ll go for our drive and our piquenique.”
“Do you think it is it safe?” She asked as she climbed aboard the gig. She was almost crying from disappointment. “What about the dragoons?”
“Unless they suspect something, they wouldn’t go that far from the harbour. The beach we’re going to is about a league away from the city, so it will take a while to get there. I hope you are not too uncomfortable,” he enquired as they bounced along.
“No, I’m fine. I’d love to hear about the journey you took with your
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