“She didn’t know why I was wanting to go back to my old cabin, I just told her that was where I was going.” Elissa said. “I suppose it was a favor, but I was willing to be locked away in the dark, just so I wouldn’t upset you any more. I am sorry for upsetting you yesterday.” She began to peel an orange that had been on her plate. There had been two and she had made sure they each had gotten one. 

“Father doesn’t plan on dying anytime soon, so Blayne still has to wait awhile to get his money. Father just wants me gone and out of his hair. I’m a burden to him, even if I sail for his company. We hardly ever see each other anymore, I wish he’d just let me do as I pleased. However he doesn’t want to deal with me and figures since Blayne is willing to marry me that I can become his problem instead of father’s. He doesn’t care what happens to me. Father probably sees the dowry as a way of paying Blayne to take me out of father’s life. Almost like a reward. I mean nothing to either of them. The only people who care about me is my crew.” She sat the peels to the side of her plate. “I really did meet most of them in Bedlam. Philip was there because he couldn’t pay his debts, Johnathan was an orphan that was brought in because he was rambling. Turns out he lost his parents to a house fire and was in shock when they found him. Timothy was a beggar that I met once I was free. Mark was one of the assistants and hated his job, so I offered him a better one. Silas was a servant in my father’s house, he wanted adventure.” Elissa explained.  “Another reason father is allowing Blayne to marry me is because no one else will. I may be rich, but I don’t have a lot of suitors. None to speak of really. Men in town don’t like that I’m outspoken and work for a living. They want me to be quiet, obedient, and all that other nonsense.” She frowned. “I’m an equal to them, they aren’t better than me and I’m not better than them.” She was opinionated and stubborn, more attributes that men frowned upon when looking for a wife. Elissa wasn’t afraid to fight back if one struck her either.