Gage Street Courtesan by Christopher New

Author:Christopher New
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Earnshaw Books
Published: 2012-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Jacob has waved his French friend off and the Duke of Edinburgh has waved Admiral Keppel off. While Jacob’s farewell was warm enough, Prince Alfred’s was more ceremonious - he ordered three rousing cheers from his oarsmen, which they lustily gave, and which, according to the reporter from the China Mail, brought a tear to the bluff old salt’s manly eye as he saluted from the side of the mail-boat. Now the Duke is back on board Galatea, preparing for his official welcome at Pedder Wharf, while Jacob is on his way to the charming old teahouse on Wellington Street, where he confidently expects to hear Franziska, having slept on it, assent to his proposal.

Meanwhile Ruth has reached the waterfront, where a gaily dressed expectant crowd has already gathered to greet and gape at the Duke, though what she’s doing there she scarcely knows. There is laughter and happiness all around her, but she moves like a ghost ship through this sea of celebration and sits down on a bench near the floral arch, which will shortly greet the Duke. If she stays there long, she’ll be asked to move, to make way for the dignitaries. But she doesn’t mean to stay there long.

Jade, Lo Tai’s favourite girl, is in her mistress’s bedroom, polishing her silver and gold jewellery. Inside the best jewellery case, a dark rosewood box with many drawers and ornamental brass hinges which opens up to disclose a mirror, lies the contract specifying the conditions of her sale to Lo Tai. Jade surveys her unsmiling face and deep eyes for some time in the mirror, then, first glancing over her shoulder, takes the contract out and slowly reads the difficult characters once more.

Wilhelm has set off to find Chang, the compradore with whom he means to fleece Schwarz & Co., but has decided to call on Christian Petersen in the German Inn first and announce the good news about Franziska.

‘She’s going to give it up and live with me,’ he tells Christian.

Mei-ling sets the schnapps bottle down with a little thump upon the table.

And Franziska herself has tried the Duke’s modest song again, which Ah Yi, in better mood now that Captain Fischer is out of the house, pronounced ‘Very nicee.’ Now she is leaving for her meeting with Jacob, which she’s afraid will not be very nice at all, but about as difficult and fateful as any she has ever had.

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