Unexpected Visitors
Captain Peanut Butter • Chapter 29
New to Baron Britpop Blastfurnace? You can read Books 1 & 2 starting here:
In the previous chapter, Elise sailed to France without Britpop. There, she learned of the pirate Jenning’s plan to go to Kapri and visit Britpop.
I shall resume the narration.
I woke early. Sunshine was streaming in the window, making it difficult to go back to sleep. I should have drawn the curtains the night before. I got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to have Amelia make me some breakfast. I knew she would be up baking, chopping vegetables, or doing some other kitchen task.
“Can’t sleep?” Amelia asked as I entered the kitchen.
“No. I miss Elise.”
“It is difficult to be the one left behind. Waiting for loved ones to return.”
I realized she was talking about herself as much as me.
“But there is nothing to be done about it,” Amelia said. “Get on with your day and try not to worry. That is all you can do. Well, that and pray.”
“You are right. But I feel half-empty when Elise is away.”
“That is how you know she is your soulmate. What would you like for breakfast?”
Our conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.
“Who can that be at this hour?” Amelia asked.
I thought about going to see but knew Andelbert would beat me there. A few minutes later, Andelbert stepped into the kitchen.
“There you are,” Andelbert said. “Captain Brun and another man are at the door. They say they have urgent news about Elise.”
“Show them into the parlor,” I replied.
I gave Andelbert a minute to complete the task and then entered the parlor. Captain Brun and another man were seated. They stood as I entered, a common courtesy, but his distaste for me was evident on Brun’s face. I didn’t recognize the other man.
“Baron Britpop, allow me to introduce myself,” the other man said. “I am Captain Jennings.”
“Captain Jennings, Captain Brun. What news have you of Elise?”
“I am afraid that was a ruse to get your attention. We are here seeking Captain Peanut Butter, and Captain Brun thinks you might know where he is.”
“Then you have wasted your time. I do not know where he is.”
“Come now. Surely you have some idea.”
“He is a pirate. He goes where he pleases and doesn’t report to me.”
“Let’s approach this another way,” Jennings said, becoming angry. “Tell me where he is, or I will kill you here in your own house.”
Andelbert, who had been listening outside the door, walked into the room, looking ready for a fight.
“When I left him, he was about to sail for The United States,” I replied.
“Well then, lad, that’s where we are sailing. And you are going with us.”
“The United States is vast. How can I possibly find him there?”
“If you value your life, you will find him.”
“I know where he is going,” Andelbert said.
Maria, who had heard raised voices and was now standing outside the door, gasped and entered the room.
“Speak up,” Jennings said.
“As a pirate, Captain Peanut Butter has two options once he arrives in the United States. He can take on a new identity and hope no one recognizes him. But with his fame, that is a big gamble. A better option is approaching the Continental Congress and trying to broker citizenship, perhaps by serving as a naval Captain. His experience and ship will be hard to pass up.”
Jennings stared at Andelbert for a moment. “Then we sail for Philadelphia. And you are going with us.”
“No!” Maria cried.
“Quiet, wench,” Brun said.
They both pulled out knives. “If anyone follows us or tries to stop us, I will personally kill them both,” Jennings said.
“Let’s go,” Jennings said.
We left the house. They walked us through town with knives at our backs.
When we got to the dock, we entered the rowboat they had left waiting. They ordered me to row toward the canal.
Grand Duke Goatbeard will tell this portion of the tale.
Snoffduffle and I were reviewing the latest bank figures when Maria Swift and Amelia Kindly hurried into my office. They looked panicked.
“They’ve taken Andelbert and Britpop,” Maria said, out of breath.
“What? Who has taken them? And why?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Two men took them and said they would kill them if we tried to stop them.”
“Try to calm yourself. Start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
“Two men came to the manor and asked to talk to Britpop. They said they were looking for Captain Peanut Butter. Britpop said he was on his way to The United States, and it would be impossible to find him. Then Andelbert said he knew where Captain Peanut Butter was going.”
“How could he know that?” I asked.
“He doesn’t. I think he was trying to protect Britpop. He said Captain Peanut Butter was probably going to Philadelphia to meet with the Continental Congress. Then they took out knives and said that was where they were going. And that Andelbert and Britpop were going with them. And if we followed them or tried to stop them, they would kill them both.”
“One of them was named Captain Brun. I heard Andelbert say his name,” Amelia added. “We waited until they were out of sight and headed here to tell you.”
I opened my desk drawer and pulled out my musket.
“Snoffduffle, fetch my hunting rifle and meet me at the barge.”
Snoffduffle and I boarded the barge and rowed toward the culprits. We saw a rowboat in the distance. It was an exhausting row, but we eventually got closer. As we neared the rowboat, a man raised a musket and shot into the air.
“The next one goes into the Baron’s head if you don’t turn back,” the man yelled.
They were sitting too close together to attempt a shot. Even if I could get one off, the remaining man would likely kill Britpop or Andelbert. We had no choice but to return to Kapri.
When we returned to the office, Maria and Amelia looked up at me. I tried to keep my composure for their sake.
“I am sorry, but we couldn’t do anything without the likelihood of one or both of them being killed. My ships are all away, but as soon as one returns, I will sail after them and bring them home.”
Maria started sobbing uncontrollably. Amelia did her best to comfort her.
“Snoffduffle, fetch the wagon and give these ladies a ride home.”
As he fetched the wagon, I tried to reassure Maria and Amelia, but I knew the odds of bringing Britpop and Andelbert home alive were growing slimmer by the minute.
When Snoffduffle returned, I thanked him.
“Will this pirate ever stop haunting me? Snoffduffle, I want you to oversee the unloading of the first ship in. We need it stocked and ready to sail across the ocean as fast as possible. And I need you to round up as many weapons as you can find in town. Tell the owners I will reimburse them for their use or any loss.”
“I will see to it,” Snoffduffle said.
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I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, corrections, etc. Thank you.
Mark
"When we got to the dock, we entered the rowboat they had left waiting. They ordered me to row toward the canal." How humiliating! Bad enough being Shanghaied! But then made to row the boat!? Scoundrels! Blackguards! Fie!