The Eternal Horizon Sets Sail
Captain Peanut Butter • Chapter 26
New to Baron Britpop Blastfurnace? You can read Books 1 & 2 starting here:
In the previous chapter, The Continental Congress commissioned both Lafayette and Capatian Peanut Butter. This chapter will return us to Elise’s story.
I shall resume the telling of the tale.
With The Eternal Horizon fully loaded and the tide in our favor, we set sail for home. I stood on the deck and marveled at how Elise took command and handled the crew. I felt proud—a rather new experience for me.
Snoffduffle watched intently as we got underway. Eventually, he approached me and said, “The Grand Duke was shrewd in his decision to hire Miss Boissonneau. His confidence is well deserved. She will be a fine Captain.”
“Thank you, Snoffduffle. She will be pleased to hear it.”
“I am simply stating what I have observed.”
“It is appreciated, nonetheless.”
That evening, we all joined the crew for dinner. Andelbert had baked some of his bread, and it was always enjoyable to see first-time reactions to tasting it.
“My stars! Had Heaven opened its gates and sent bread to Earth, I can’t imagine it would taste any finer than this,” Celine Lavigne said after her first bite.
Those of us who had already experienced Andelbert’s bread smiled knowingly.
Beaumont Bulk took a bite, leaned back, closed his eyes, and gently swayed his head as he chewed. A few seconds later, he stood up, pulled Andelbert up from his chair, and wrapped his arms around him in a hug worthy of a bear. Andelbert’s eyes bulged in surprise, and he squeaked out, “I can’t breathe.”
We all laughed, and Bulk let Andelbert go.
“Lad, that is the finest bread I have ever had the pleasure to put in my mouth,” Bulk said as he sat back down.
“I agree. Will ya be teachin’ Cookie to make it?” Rawboned asked.
“Of course, it will be my pleasure,” Andelbert replied.
“I must warn you, the finest bakers in France—the King’s very own—have tried to duplicate Andelbert’s bread and failed. The results were good. Fit for a King, even. But Andelbert possesses some magic that can’t be learned,” Elsie said.
“Then pass me another chunk,” Bulk said.
Later that evening, Elise and I stood on the deck, looking out at the sea.
“I am so proud of you. You are a fine Captain, and I can tell the crew already admires you. I hope I don’t ruin it all.”
“What do you mean?” Elise asked.
“I bring terrible luck when I sail. I feel cursed.”
“That’s nonsense. Had you not sailed to France on a whim, you would not have met Captain Peanut Butter. And had you not sailed with Captain Peanut Butter, we would not have met. I would have never known about Kapri or Grand Duke Goatbeard. And I would surely not be a Captain now. You are my good luck charm, my love.”
Then she kissed me.
“I forgot,” I said. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
I went below deck. When I returned, I handed Elise the umbrella I had purchased in France.
“What is this?” Elise asked.
“It is an umbrella. It is all the fashion in Paris, but it has practical use, also.”
I showed her how to open it. “It keeps the rain off you while you walk.”
“That is clever,” Elise replied.
“Then it folds back up when you are done.”
“I love it. Thank you.”
We held hands and watched the sea for a while, then Elise spoke.
“I should tell you something that happened while you were at Versailles. Captain Brun tried to set The Eternal Horizon on fire.”
“What?”
“We suspected he might try something after he threatened me, so we were waiting for him.”
“He threatened you?”
“He is a bitter old man who lost his ship and drinks too much. I have my crew. I wasn’t worried.”
“What happened?”
“He met me at the ship and said I had no right being a Captain. That it was a fool idea. That women shouldn’t go to sea. More of that foolishness. Then he said I hadn’t heard the last of him. The following morning, we caught him trying to set the ship on fire.”
“What did you do with him?”
“I took him to my father, and he got him a job on a Spanish ship.”
“After all that, you rewarded him?”
“No. I showed mercy on the man who was a big part of my childhood.”
I was shocked at what I was hearing.
“I hope you made the right decision.”
“So do I.”
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I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, corrections, etc. Thank you.
Mark
Are you writing these chapters week by week, Mark? Or is this book already written? Just curious about how you work. Is this book 2 or book 3 of Britpop?