On another voyage I was leaving the French Port of La Nouvelle Orléans (New Orleans) laden with New World luxury furs from French trappers; beaver, fox, wolf, mink and ermine. There was gold and silver ore to be refined and turned into luxury jewelry. There were also casks of salt and salted salmon and trout. There were casks of all sorts that a New World merchant thought would turn a handsome profit.
There were few colonists willing to return to the Home Land. But there were New World rich merchants traveling to protect their precious cargo. One rich French merchant was willing to travel with his wife and young daughter. I discussed the fare and the protocols I demanded of my passengers. I would not allow sickness aboard my ship.
When I told Antoine my requirements for cleanliness for himself and his family before finalizing boarding he exploded into a fit of French curse words, questioning my parentage among other things. I looked at his daughter who was blushing deep red when she understood the bathing and inspection that would be required.
I turned to her and since by now I spoke at least five languages fluently I asked her some questions in French.”
“Quel âge as-tu princesse? ” (How old are you princess?).
” J’ai vécu dix-huit étés, Mon Capitaine. ” (I have lived eighteen summers, My Captain).
“Et quel est ton nom, princesse? ” (What is your name, princess?).
“Elodie, le sens est la richesse étrangère. Mon père m’a nommé d’après sa fortune du Nouveau Monde. (Elodie, the meaning is foreign riches. My father named me after his fortune from the New World).
I turned to the mother, Marguerite, and explained the bathing requirements for boarding. She blushed just a little and asked if I would be doing the washing and inspection for both herself and her daughter.
“Si vous le désirez,” I replied. (If you so desire).
((Thus ends the French translations in this story.))
Antoine exploded again and demanded more private quarters for himself and his family. Since all his goods were already in the cargo holds I demanded yet twice more the fare and held out my hand. He refused and I ordered the crew to throw his goods overboard.
He yelled profusely at the crew to stop and pulled out his purse. I held it open as he dropped gold nuggets into my palm. When satisfied I closed my hand and ordered the crew to boil the seawater. I let Antoine use the room first and after some time he exited in a clean shift waiting for his clothes to dry on the yardarm.
Marguerite was French, a la tête, a les pieds; from her head to her feet. She took my hand and I led her to the washing room. She called after her daughter to follow. I heard a high squeak from Elodie as she realized her mother meant to follow through being washed by the rugged Captain.
In those quarters there was one barrel of steaming seawater into which the clothes would be placed, one by one as they were removed. The other barrel held the hot bathing water. Marguerite stood beside the barrel and facing me began to unbutton her dress of the highest quality cloth. Once done she dropped it into the hot water.
“Mother?” I heard Elodie whisper behind me.
Marguerite stood there in her underclothes of again the finest fabrics and embroidery. She untied the bows at her shoulders and the fabric slid down catching first on the swell of her matronly breasts then dropping to her feet. She stood quite still not covering herself in modesty and let my eyes roam over her mature form.