Perfect Duet's paid account and the Oakum Meme (II)

[esteven]

Some lovely person was so kind to gift perfect_duet with two months of paid time. Whoever it was, please pm me, so I can thank you properly. :D The gift makes the Oakum Meme so much easier because it brought the subject headers back.

So, once more onto the breach:

Here at this post you will find all prompts/requests we have so far received on LJ and on DW

Comments

Re: 007 - physician - naval officer - spy - oh my (2)

[anonymous]

A few days would surely pass before Sophie returned, so Stephen felt he might as well make the most of his free time by going to Tarragona, where several members of his large and sprawling Catalan family and various acquaintances lived. His mind made up, he put the stone into his bag and walked briskly away from the ruins towards the road leading into the large city. The morning air shimmered around him, already distorting the lines of the horizon.

An ox-cart rumbled past and then stopped, and the driver, having asked Stephen the where-from and where-to, offered him a seat. The peasant may have been looking for some company on his long way to the city market. Before long they discovered acquaintances they had in common, and so they passed the time amiably enough, stopping at a well just past a small village where they rested and where the farmer shared bread, cheese, olives and wine with Stephen.

Once in the city, they bid each other a good day and Stephen threaded his way through the narrow side-streets near the cathedral towards the home of his Tarragona relatives, where la seva Tieta Nuria was delighted to welcome him. While his aunt brought out wine, fruit and bread, she asked him what he had been doing these past years and what had brought him here, without leaving him time for a reply.

‘Esteve, you have not visited for so long, I will not let you leave before the month is out. Your cousins have near forgot what you look like, and I will not hear any argument from you.’ She shook her finger at him as if he were still the small boy she had known two decades ago, and told the kitchen maid to bring out ham, cold chicken, butter, more cheese and honey and to set the table well. She would never condone having guests stand up from an empty table. She then told Stephen that his uncle was out on business and would not be expected before the evening.

Another thought occurred to her. ‘You did like music, did you not? They will be performing Palestrina’s Missa Brevis at the Cathedral. One of your uncle’s friends will be arriving shortly, and he will have come a long way just to attend the concert, as will you, yes?’ She did not wait for a reply and continued telling her nephew about the visitor, a part-English, part-Catalan merchant from Barcelona.

Stephen only smiled and nodded, never getting the chance for a word in edgeways, not that he expected it, as he knew his aunt well and loved her even if she was talkative and delighted in jumping from one subject to the other.

She cocked an ear towards the door, and sure enough they heard several forceful knocks. She excused herself and went into the large hallway where she greeted the visitor with her usual cheerfulness. ‘John, how delighted I am to see you. Do take off that coat; did you not find it too hot to wear one? You know that you must not stand on ceremony in this house, after all we regard you as a brother.’ Stephen heard a deep male voice but could only make out his aunt’s words when she sent a servant out to run and tell his master of merchant Somerville’s arrival.

*****
When Stephen climbed into bed, the sun was not far from rising. He had stayed up with En Jordi and his friend well after his aunt had excused herself and gone to bed. He liked what he saw in John Somerville, who showed pride in being the fourth generation of a family of Barcelona merchants.

Stephen had explained that he was working as ship’s surgeon in the English Royal Navy. That had at first raised a few eyebrows and then his uncle had nodded gravely, but without saying anything, and Somerville had stayed silent, too.

Later, Stephen had noticed a look pass between his uncle and his friend, but dismissed it when they continued talking about their varying businesses. Stephen’s thoughts had wandered and again he felt an undercurrent in their conversation, as if subjects were being left unsaid because of his presence.