Fic : The Significance of Tamarind for the ' Way to a man' s heart' challenge
This is late but I have been writing navyboys most of the day : )I am looking forward to reading the other entries here as soon as I can.
Author: Nodbear
Word Count : approx 950
characters: Susan Pellew, HAnnah Bracegirdle, Archie and Horatio, Bracey
Summary : Susan and Hannah organise a last minute party on the feast of St Valentine
and some properties of tamarind are discussed. Archie is well ahead of the game.
Rating: Gen (but,in the imagination !)
A/N : Susan's shopping list really did include tamarinds. The evidence is here :
and finally yes you read that right under characters. Ned is offstage in this ficlet :)
The Significance of Tamarind
'Of man’s first disobedience and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree’
Milton, Paradise Lost
February 12
Hannah Bracegirdle sat at the head of the kitchen table surrounded by small casks , jars and bottles and sugar and flour sacks.
Shall I cross them off your list as we put them in their places? She enquired of her friend helpfully.
Lady Pellew was still scanning the list, checking that all the items on it were present but she looked up and smiled ‘ I would be most grateful - having surprise news that Indefatigable will be home after tomorrow and for only two days and then to have Mrs Trelowan fall and injure herself just when Ned tells me that most of the officers will not be able to get home because their stay is too short but we could cheer them up maybe with a little informal supper- I am so glad you were only at Exeter my dear- ‘
‘As am I Susan, or I would have missed the visit entirely -and on such a date too !’ replied Hannah with one eyebrow quirked as she waited for her friends response.
But Susan was still distracted somewhat - ‘ I know the preserved oranges came and the tamarinds came - but where have I put them?’
Here they are’ said Hannah, bringing them over from a table near the pantry doors and crossing off the duplicate list she held.
‘ I fear I was not listening attentively - you said something about a date ?’
‘The fourteenth of the month - the day of St Valentine my dear. I don’t have time for saints as a whole but one of the stories of this one is that his crime was to perform marriages for roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry on active service. Worth noting don’t you think?’
‘Of course St Valentine ! yes honour a man who unites the men who serve their country with those they love- ‘Susan paused and Hannah nodded.
‘Of course it could have been merely a Christian ruse to ensure that their active service was active on the battlefields of the empire rather than of the kind that - ahem -causes diseases while on march. Much like the problems port doctors have still’
Susan’s frown of mild censure was belied by the light of amusement still in her eyes - O tempera, O mores, she added. I prefer we take the romantic view - though I am glad the girls are at school - the thought of them being able to gaze at Mr Hornblower and Mr Kennedy and Mr Pateshall and so on under the aegis of St Valentine …she laughed. No doubt they are full of imaginings with their school friends as it is.
Hannah nodded. Then, ‘Tamarinds’ she said thoughtfully
‘But tamarinds now - it looks as if you had known both the date and the legend and this was deliberate ‘Hannah had her slightly wicked look about her again.
‘They are for fruit ices - for sweet syrup - a receipt I had from a cousin who has been in India- I think we will use them for dinner on the 14th, but I can see you are going to spring me one of your naughtier surprises so pray tell ! What other feature should I be aware of ?’
‘Well I have read that besides being appetising to the palate a little syrup combined with honey and milk and the seeds can increase the appetite for -well, what comes after dinner.’
‘Hannah! this is two days shore leave following six weeks at sea , the lack of appetite will not be a difficulty’ Susan was keeping her face straight but at her friend collapsing into laughter she joined her.
‘You are right -don’t think we require any for post prandial encouragement.’
‘ All the more for ices then. Now where had I that book of receipts ?’
February 14th
The first half an hour had gone by with middies on their best behaviour and the ices - which were a prelude to dinner - had then emerged together with some marsala which was something normally only to dream of ( though Archie thought he recognised the labels as oddly familiar ).Mr Bracegirdle who was always a fund of esoteric facts from voyages he or friends had made was entertaining some of the shore bound guests and three or four mids with peculiar stories of tamarinds. Archie and Horatio were in a group with Nicholas and Will talking to their hostess and Mrs Bracegirdle.
‘Tamarind - It has an air of romance that fits well with the feast of valentine’ Bracey was commenting to murmurs of assent >Archie found himself quoting sotto voce :
Of mans first disobedience and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree’
Except the murmur of voices had reached one of those odd moments in a crowded room when a sudden silence falls and he realised Lady Pellew had heard him - perhaps others too and certainly Horatio whose anxious face had appeared: the one he sometimes wore when he did not really understand but sensed something slightly amiss. Blushing , Archie met Lady Pellew’s gaze and what he saw in it was worth the courage that it took - a look of understanding.
She smiled at Hannah who picked up a tray of spare ices and offered it to Horatio and then added
Do have another ice Mr Hornblower and some more tamarind syrup . I have heard tell that it is good for the ……digestion’.
Archie reflected that he really should have learned by now how not to snort marsala crudely when overtaken by silent laughter.
Author: Nodbear
Word Count : approx 950
characters: Susan Pellew, HAnnah Bracegirdle, Archie and Horatio, Bracey
Summary : Susan and Hannah organise a last minute party on the feast of St Valentine
and some properties of tamarind are discussed. Archie is well ahead of the game.
Rating: Gen (but,in the imagination !)
A/N : Susan's shopping list really did include tamarinds. The evidence is here :
and finally yes you read that right under characters. Ned is offstage in this ficlet :)
The Significance of Tamarind
'Of man’s first disobedience and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree’
Milton, Paradise Lost
February 12
Hannah Bracegirdle sat at the head of the kitchen table surrounded by small casks , jars and bottles and sugar and flour sacks.
Shall I cross them off your list as we put them in their places? She enquired of her friend helpfully.
Lady Pellew was still scanning the list, checking that all the items on it were present but she looked up and smiled ‘ I would be most grateful - having surprise news that Indefatigable will be home after tomorrow and for only two days and then to have Mrs Trelowan fall and injure herself just when Ned tells me that most of the officers will not be able to get home because their stay is too short but we could cheer them up maybe with a little informal supper- I am so glad you were only at Exeter my dear- ‘
‘As am I Susan, or I would have missed the visit entirely -and on such a date too !’ replied Hannah with one eyebrow quirked as she waited for her friends response.
But Susan was still distracted somewhat - ‘ I know the preserved oranges came and the tamarinds came - but where have I put them?’
Here they are’ said Hannah, bringing them over from a table near the pantry doors and crossing off the duplicate list she held.
‘ I fear I was not listening attentively - you said something about a date ?’
‘The fourteenth of the month - the day of St Valentine my dear. I don’t have time for saints as a whole but one of the stories of this one is that his crime was to perform marriages for roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry on active service. Worth noting don’t you think?’
‘Of course St Valentine ! yes honour a man who unites the men who serve their country with those they love- ‘Susan paused and Hannah nodded.
‘Of course it could have been merely a Christian ruse to ensure that their active service was active on the battlefields of the empire rather than of the kind that - ahem -causes diseases while on march. Much like the problems port doctors have still’
Susan’s frown of mild censure was belied by the light of amusement still in her eyes - O tempera, O mores, she added. I prefer we take the romantic view - though I am glad the girls are at school - the thought of them being able to gaze at Mr Hornblower and Mr Kennedy and Mr Pateshall and so on under the aegis of St Valentine …she laughed. No doubt they are full of imaginings with their school friends as it is.
Hannah nodded. Then, ‘Tamarinds’ she said thoughtfully
‘But tamarinds now - it looks as if you had known both the date and the legend and this was deliberate ‘Hannah had her slightly wicked look about her again.
‘They are for fruit ices - for sweet syrup - a receipt I had from a cousin who has been in India- I think we will use them for dinner on the 14th, but I can see you are going to spring me one of your naughtier surprises so pray tell ! What other feature should I be aware of ?’
‘Well I have read that besides being appetising to the palate a little syrup combined with honey and milk and the seeds can increase the appetite for -well, what comes after dinner.’
‘Hannah! this is two days shore leave following six weeks at sea , the lack of appetite will not be a difficulty’ Susan was keeping her face straight but at her friend collapsing into laughter she joined her.
‘You are right -don’t think we require any for post prandial encouragement.’
‘ All the more for ices then. Now where had I that book of receipts ?’
February 14th
The first half an hour had gone by with middies on their best behaviour and the ices - which were a prelude to dinner - had then emerged together with some marsala which was something normally only to dream of ( though Archie thought he recognised the labels as oddly familiar ).Mr Bracegirdle who was always a fund of esoteric facts from voyages he or friends had made was entertaining some of the shore bound guests and three or four mids with peculiar stories of tamarinds. Archie and Horatio were in a group with Nicholas and Will talking to their hostess and Mrs Bracegirdle.
‘Tamarind - It has an air of romance that fits well with the feast of valentine’ Bracey was commenting to murmurs of assent >Archie found himself quoting sotto voce :
Of mans first disobedience and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree’
Except the murmur of voices had reached one of those odd moments in a crowded room when a sudden silence falls and he realised Lady Pellew had heard him - perhaps others too and certainly Horatio whose anxious face had appeared: the one he sometimes wore when he did not really understand but sensed something slightly amiss. Blushing , Archie met Lady Pellew’s gaze and what he saw in it was worth the courage that it took - a look of understanding.
She smiled at Hannah who picked up a tray of spare ices and offered it to Horatio and then added
Do have another ice Mr Hornblower and some more tamarind syrup . I have heard tell that it is good for the ……digestion’.
Archie reflected that he really should have learned by now how not to snort marsala crudely when overtaken by silent laughter.