DECEMBER 8, 2007

Barbados Christmas
Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks

Nathaniel Collins hunted through the market stalls of Elizabethtown as he had in every other port for the last month.  There was nothing.  Nothing spoke to him and said “I am for Adlai.”  Christmas was coming, less than a week now, and he already had something a bit special for the crew, but there was nothing for his lover.

He had left the ship early, wanting to get the choicest goods.  As he had gone down the gangplank, he'd seen Adlai standing at the rail, looking up the hill to Breakfront.  The only thing his beloved wanted was that house.  He hadn't even asked for his freedom.

Nathaniel sighed.  He should free Adlai as a gift.  But the pragmatic side of him moaned over the loss of the five hundred guineas.  Adlai had expressed no desire to be free, either.  It was safer to keep him, since, that way, he would have the right to harm anyone who harmed Adlai.

He made his way back to the ship.  Adlai was still at the railing.

“I will have her,” he whispered, still staring up at Breakfront plantation.

Nathaniel slipped up behind him, and put one arm on either side, holding him close to the rail.    “You will.  I will see to it.”

Adlai turned and smiled.  “Master Nathaniel.  Forgive me, I was lost in thought.”

“A fine way to be on Christmas Eve.”  He kissed Adlai's neck, letting his mouth trail up to Adlai's ear and hair.

“Happy Christmas.  I have a bit of something for you.”

Aye.  I have a bit of something for the lads as well.  Let me give that out and you can show me yours.”

Collins called the crew up to the deck and broke out the double rum ration, and passed out the gifts of new clothing, cutlasses and guns.  Most of the crew still used old flintlocks instead of the newer ones.  Now the Horizon had one of the best armed crews on the sea.

Adlai followed him below.  Collins stopped in the door and sniffed.  “What is that?”

Adlai slipped around him, smiled and produced two mugs of hot toddy, which had been keeping warm in a bucket of heated sand.  “My father required it, and it did not seem like Christmas without one.”

Collins laughed and took it.  “My Adlai, you think of everything.”  He sipped the drink, and looked guilty.  “But I am a poor lover.”

“Master Nathaniel?”  Adlai stopped with his drink almost to his mouth.

“I could not even find you a gift this night, despite searching for weeks in every port.  Nothing suited me, nothing was fine enough for you.”

Adlai set his mug down and moved to lay his head on Nathaniel's shoulder.  “That is, perhaps, a sign that you take such splendid care of me that I want for nothing.  But I have yours here.”  He let go and pulled small wooden box from his writing desk. 

Nathaniel opened it to see a dagger of Spanish steel lying atop a hand-tooled leather case.   He looked up.  “This is beautiful.  Did you make it?”

Adlai nodded.  “Only the case, Master Nathaniel.  I claimed the dagger from some loot.”

Nathaniel drew him close.  “My love.”

Adlai looked up. “Beloved  Nathaniel,” he whispered, his voice soft, showing he scarcely dared to believe he was being so forward.

At that, Nathaniel clutched him tightly, dropping kisses all over his face.  Adlai looked up, relief writ large in his blue eyes.

“I am not... ill-behaved?”

“You never are.”  Nathaniel kissed him again.  “I love you.”

Adlai smiled.  “That, my master, is the best gift of all.”

Breakfront Hot Toddy Batter

1 pound brown sugar
1/4 pound butter
1 pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon each ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves
Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth, as you would for a cake, then add the spices and mix well.

Add 2 oz dark rum, 2 TBSP batter, and fill the rest of the mug with hot water.

Note: This will keep for a very long time when refrigerated.

Angelia and Naomi are frequent contributors to Torquere Press. Their Arcana, Paying Forfeits will be on sale for 15% off until 12-11-07.