Francis shook his head. “Haven’t a clue. I only recognise two trunks. The rest must be gifts.”
“Your grandmother picked the gifts?”
“Yes,” Francis answered, and noticed Archie smiling. “Why? I dare say she’s better at picking gifts than I am.”
Archie chuckled. “I dare say you’re right, old boy. Well, if you want my guess as to what’s inside? It’ll be a handpicked selection of the finest trade goods the House of Hannover can show off. Wines, textiles and garments, furniture, jewellery. Quality second to none. Fit for a king!”
“Yes, probably,” Francis said, hoping it would be enough to impress.
He was acutely aware he was supposed to be the crown jewel of this trade offering.
He hoped he too wouldn’t disappoint.
Chapter 3
The voyage across the Mediterranean Sea was pleasant, and thankfully uneventful.
Francis and his party spent much of it playing cards in their private quarters, losing game after game to Maddie, in a bid to stay out of the crew’s way.
Even a galleon had limited space when the crew was large.
Sometimes the captain and first officer joined them for a game of cards and lost their coins to Maddie’s superior game.
When the deck was less busy, Francis passed the time whale and dolphin watching with Archie, having borrowed Captain Lenaert’s telescope.
Francis loved the whales for their sheer majesty, but it was the dolphins that brought him the most joy. They swam right up to the ship, and the water was so clear it was easy to see them pass under the bow like shadows. They glided effortlessly through the water and occasionally broke the surface in fluid jumps.
Francis asked Christian to sketch them, but the dear fellow struggled with moving subjects.
“What’s that supposed to be?” Archie questioned, leaning in to observe the sketch with his one good eye. “Looks like a flying ghost.”
“Well, you try drawing, then!” Christian grumbled. “They’re too bloody fast!”
Francis shared a look with Maddie and they smiled.
“Hopefully the one thousand cats will sit still, Christian,” she commented.
Christian sighed at the reminder.
Francis had tasked him with drawing the surroundings once they got to Türkiye. He would show the drawings to Grannywhen he returned, so she could share in the adventure.
“If there really are one thousand cats, then at least by the end of this trip you should have mastered drawing one animal,” Archie quipped. “Hopefully they’ll look better than your dolphins.”
“I’ll hear less of your lip, sir!” Christian told him smartly.
“Archie, stop teasing him,” Francis said. “Two more days, and we’ll be there.”
“Should we pick out our clothes for the arrival?” Maddie asked. “If it stays like this, sunny but breezy, it will be perfect!”
“It’s breezy because we’re at sea,” Archie pointed out. “But I spoke to Captain Lenaert, and I’m told the city is on a strait, so there may be a nice breeze even if it’s warm.”
“Like a river?” Maddie asked.
“No, it’s still the sea,” Archie explained. “Lenaert said we can sail in from the sea, right onto the palace’s doorstep.”
“Oh, that sounds useful!” Maddie said. “We’ll need hats, then. Can’t arrive with windblown hair. Especially you, Francis, with those floppy bits of yours.”
Francis raised his eyebrows in mock offense. “I’ve told you before, Lady Villiers, to not mention my floppy bits in polite company.”
