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‘It was after you left that it all started to go wrong,’ she began. ‘As you know, Esteban, my father was a very proud man. I didn’t know at the time you left that I was carrying your child, I think the shame of that drove him to drink. It just got worse and wo—’
‘Where is the child?’ Esteban said unable to hold back the question that he so wanted to be answered.
‘He’s dead, Esteban, I’m sorry.’
Esteban sat at the table stunned by her words.
With a subtle nod from Rodrigo, the others left the room silently.
‘I’m so sorry, Esteban,’ she said as she knelt in front of him, holding his hands.
‘It was a boy?’ he said with tears in his eyes.
‘Yes, you would have loved him so much.’
Esteban fell into her arms, and they both sobbed as she held him tightly and stroked his hair. They stayed in that position for some time, undisturbed by the others. Eventually, they released their embrace, looking deeply in each other’s eyes.
‘I’m sorry, Esteban.’
‘Don’t apologise, there’s still plenty of time to have more children,’ he said. ‘That is if you’ll still have me?’
‘Of course, I will,’ she smiled. ‘But I cannot have any more children, Esteban.’
He remained silent for a while then said, ‘Oh, my love. How you have suffered.’
‘That is why the house is in such a state of disrepair.’
‘Tell me, in what circumstances did your father die?’
‘Drink,’ she said flatly. ‘I believe he was trying to drown his feelings of shame. An unmarried daughter, bearing the child of a man he saw as a common seaman. I waited and waited for you, but you never came back...’ she paused. ‘Oh, how I longed for you, Esteban.’
‘If only I knew. But your father was a very powerful and influential man,’ he said. ‘He said that if I stayed, then he would make sure that I would never gain employment in any port ever again. I thought that you would forget about me and marry someone more befitting of your social status.’
‘Well, look at me now,’ she laughed.
Esteban smiled. ‘How long ago did he die?’
‘Oh, I forget exactly. I’ve been living in a fog of despair and hopelessness since. But it has been years I’m sure.’
‘And you have been living like this ever since?’
She nodded.
‘And his business?’
‘I know nothing of it. I think he still has some ships in port, but they must be in a state of disrepair, much like this house,’ she said looking around her.
‘What have you been living on?’
‘The kindness of strangers, mostly. My father did have some savings, but I daren’t think of it for fear of what I might find. Gustavo mainly deals with that side of things.’
‘Gustavo?’ Esteban blurted out. ‘You trust that man with your life savings?’
‘He has been a servant of this household since I was a child, all the other servants have since left,’ she said. ‘Gustavo is the only one who stayed.’
‘And I’m sure I know why.’
‘Oh, Esteban don’t be too hard on him, please.’
‘I shan’t see you in this state again. It is my duty to look after you. Gustavo must know that there is a new master of this house now.’
Andrea wept tears of joy and relief.
They walked hand in hand together into the living room where the others were seated.
‘I’d like to thank you, Don Diego for your generosity in providing such a fine meal,’ Andrea said upon her entrance.
‘It was a pleasure, my lady.’
‘So formal,’ she teased. ‘Andrea, please. Now, if you’ll forgive me, it’s been quite an emotional day. I must retire, please stay the night and avail yourself of my limited facilities.’
They all stood as she made to leave.
‘Goodnight, my love,’ she whispered to Esteban. ‘I will see you come morning.’
Esteban kissed her tenderly on the cheek and then returned to the others.
‘Who knew that he was hiding a smile beneath his gruff features all this time,’ Don Diego quipped.
Esteban actually blushed and took their good-humoured ribbing with good grace. As the laughter died down, he was asked what had befallen Andrea and her father.
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Jabuti said after listening to his tale.
‘I hadn’t really thought about it much until now,’ Esteban said. ‘But I would have loved a son...’
Rodrigo gave a gentle cough and smiled.
‘What is it, Rodrigo?’ Esteban asked.
‘Jeronimo.’
Esteban looked over towards where he lay sleeping. ‘Sorry, do I disturb him?’ he said whispering.
‘No, Esteban. Do you not see?’
Esteban shrugged his shoulders, looking around him in confusion.
‘Why don’t you and Andrea adopt him?’
‘Oh...’ was all Esteban could say. ‘I... I’m not sure.’
‘Come now,’ Rodrigo said. ‘You’ve only been in his presence for a short while, but I see the way you look at him.’
‘He is an extraordinary boy,’ he said smiling at the sleeping youngster.
‘Of course, he is. He was the product of a union of love. Imagine how happy Isabella would be knowing that it was you who now cared for him.’
‘But it seems so unfair that she is still held captive and she has lost her only son.’
‘She made her peace with God a long while ago, Esteban. I shall soon be back with her to administer to her spiritual needs.’
‘I’ll have to see what Andrea says in the morning.’
‘Of course,’ Rodrigo smiled.
‘My, my! What a day,’ Don Diego said. ‘Come, let us retire.’
Despite Jabuti’s intense longing to rescue Wanadi, he could not help but be happy for Esteban. Bizarrely, he knew that without Wanadi’s capture, Esteban would never have been reunited with Andrea. It brought small comfort though, to a still challenging situation. Once more, Jabuti found himself in a grand house, albeit one in a state of disrepair. But in his bedroom, the sheets were clean, if a little damp, and before he knew it, he had drifted off into a deep sleep. Come the morning he awoke feeling refreshed and full of optimism. Jabuti was unused to feeling this way, but on his long journey, the slow realisation dawned on him that worrying helped him none.
I shall try to worry less and take life as it is, he thought. I now know that I have friends who care about me. I shall not live life so alone, he resolved.
He walked downstairs to familiar voices and the smell of cooking.
‘Good morning, Jabuti,’ Andrea greeted him upon her arrival.
‘We might have some good news for you,’ Esteban grinned.
‘Oh, yes?’ he said excitedly.
‘Yes, Andrea’s father still has a small fleet of ships in Valencia.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, and she has given us permission to take one for our mission.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Don’t thank me just yet,’ Andrea said. ‘I haven’t seen my father’s ships for many years. But I still have an agent in Valencia who looks after my father’s affairs.’ Looking towards Esteban, she said, ‘He gives me a small retainer each month for the ships’ trading activities.’
‘I bet he does,’ Esteban said with a hint of suspicion. ‘You really are too trusting, my love.’
She smiled. ‘Oh!’ she said excitedly. ‘You haven’t told Jabuti about our news.’
Esteban beamed from ear to ear. ‘We are to adopt Jeronimo,’ he said proudly.
Jabuti looked towards Rodrigo.
‘It would make Isabella happy,’ he said.
Jabuti rushed forwards and hugged Esteban. ‘I’m so happy for you,’ he said.
Breakfast was served, and they ate, chatting amongst themselves.
‘When do we leave?’ Jabuti said.
‘Well, we have a lot to consider first,’ Don Diego said. ‘Namely, our negotiations with the king, and Rodrigo’s mission.’
‘Of course. I’m sorry, Rodrigo.’
‘No need to apologise, I know you are eager to be reunited with Wanadi.’
‘But what do we need of the king now?’ Jabuti asked. ‘We have a ship.’
‘Yes, but we need men to sail it, and soldiers,’ Esteban said. ‘The governor is unlikely to give up easily.’
Turning to Rodrigo, Don Diego said, ‘What is this promise of horses to the sultan?’
‘The sultan has excellent relations with King Louis of France,’ Don Diego answered. ‘He is well-acquainted with the king’s complement of Andalusian horses. Indeed, their relationship is so amiable that the king has sent him several, over the years by way of a gift. The sultan places a higher degree of importance on the lives of his horses than he does of men.’
‘And how are you to procure these fine animals?’
‘I was hoping to rely on the generosity of his majesty.’
‘Well, let us return to the palace and see what mood we find the king in,’ Don Diego said.