"We can't wait three or four hours for the wind to pick up En. Blakestaff will start demanding compensation if we don't get to port in time for him to take luncheon at his club. He really hasn't changed at all since your mother's time as Protector". Lavender nodded, "I'll go ask Leonora to work her magic, and get us under way again".

The Captain pulled out his prized pocket watch from his waistcoat, and pressed the button that opened the cover to look at the time, "It's a quarter to seven bells". Lavender winced, Leonora believed religiously that there was only one seven bells in a day, and that was in the eventide. The Captain chuckled at En's expression, and patted her on her shoulder, "May I suggest that you call in at the mess and get some food, for yourself, and Madame Leonora".

Lavender sighed, and rubbed the bridge of her nose, she could feel a tension headache forming, "It's always best to come baring gifts, I suppose…" As En reached the main deck, the Captain leaned over the quarterdeck railing and shouted, "Don't forget the coffee, lots and lots of coffee!!" and his laughter followed En as she made her way below deck to the mess.

Lavender looked around the room when she entered the mess, there were plenty of people sitting at the long tables; those eating sausage, bacon and eggs, had probably come off the night watch, whilst the day watch were tucking into thick creamy porridge with raisins, and fresh apples for dessert.

En noticed that George had also come down to grab some breakfast, as he was on the dawn watch, and was currently stood in line for food. As En came up behind him, she made him jump as she spoke, "You should go for the bacon and eggs rather than porridge today. We're due in port at high noon, so your shift is likely to run on as we unload, and Cook won't make lunch as most of the crew will be taking shore leave, and the skeleton crew can fend for themselves."

George nodded nervously, and asked for the cooked breakfast when it was his turn. En sighed, he was still so nervous around her, and when George was about to go sit down, she stopped him, "Wait... hold out your hand." George juggled the plate into his left hand, and held out his right hand to En, into which she placed a sweet smelling apple.

George opened his mouth to speak, and Lavender could guess what he was about to say, so she quickly interjected, "Put it in your waist pouch for later, it's going to be a long day." George hesitated before nodding firmly, and En was pleased to see him take his pouch out as soon as he sat down, placing the apple inside carefully, and then double tying the strings as if he was scared it would fall out, and then tucking the pouch back into his waist sash securely.

Satisfied En turned back to where the Cook was waiting, he grinned at her, "It's like watching someone trying to tame an alley cat with food." En rolled her eyes at the man; she'd known him for over a decade, since the current crew of The Sea Witch had come into being. "George is much cuter than any alley cat I've ever met; I kinda want to pat him on the head every time I talk to him."

George was the only newcomer to the crew, and this was his first solo voyage, since the previous weather sensitive Old Joe, had finally retired at the end of their last voyage to the Isles, and was probably at this very moment being woken up by his grand kids, at his small cottage in Black Pearl Village on Mother Island.

"I've got to go wake Madame Leonora up so she can work her magic, and get us moving again, so I need a tray with porridge and apples, enough for both of us, and a large pot of coffee." The Cook put everything on the tray, and pushed it towards En; she picked it up, and carefully made her way to Leonora's cabin.