Sir Greene chuckled amiably, nodding his head in approval of course. Oh, he was [i]well[/i] aware that Jax had not given him the name of the ship - the long years of his life may have stolen away his sight, but that keen mind and even sharper wit remained honed to a razor's edge. But this sordid little jest had never been about gleening information at any rate, but rather to have a little fun at the expense of the young thief who broke into his home four years ago, and stole away with an enduring affection.

"Wonderful to meet you Master Jax, despite the unfortunate circumstances of course. Nathaniel Greene, at [i]your[/i] service - and apparently your coach today as well," he quipped. 

"[i]Sir[/i] Greene," the Commander said with one dark eye turned meaningfully toward Jax.

Still the elderly man continued on, as if he hadn't heard in the least. "Though you have more than earned this ride, simply by virtue of your fine story. A Jesuit book of astronomy you say? So you sail [i]and[/i] guide - a lover of the moon who rules the tides, and the stars above that keep a ship right. [i]Helmsman[/i] then, Master Jax. I will solve your riddle of a story, and call you helmsman."

The elderly man leaned over to Jax, his voice dropping a bit as he smiled widely, sharing his own "secret" with the amiable young man. "Once they called me 'Admiral' - though I'd not recommend such a thing if you can avoid it by any means. Do not mistake me: those beautiful ships, the sailors - many a good man among them... The seas from horizon to horizon, and the roof of heaven above... Ah, there is [i]nothing[/i] in this world to compare. But for the ruin that Kings and Parliament can make of a man's days, I would have counted every last one a blessing of our dear Lord above us."

Sir Greene chuckled warmly. "But no, no, nothing maudlin this day. Forgive me, but old men do tend to ramble on. To the Parakeet then, for a young boy with dreams of the sea and stars in his head. Antoinette, do you know the way?"

The carriage was already rounding a fountain, the same fountain in fact that Nicolette had washed in [to spectacularly pert effect] earlier, though none there could have known such a thing (But perhaps the young boy watching the passing carriage from the shadows, slowly savoring the crusty remains of a loaf of bread to make it last even longer). "Oui, Oncle Nathaniel," Antoinette replied, "I believe I do, though should I miss a turn? I imagine Monsieur Jax will set me right again."

The rogue's gloved hand reached for the book still setting in Jax's lap, lifting it gently from his hands just far enough that she could glance at the thick spine, and read the title for herself. She relinquished the book once more entirely, letting it fall back to the helmsman's lap with an approving pat of her fingers on its hard cover.

Some small part of her fought it hard, this feeling very like to gratitude to Jax. Her first thought when Sir Greene had not-so-subtly suggested visiting the [i]Skate[/i] - if he could finagle the ship's name from Jax - had been not so much a genuine thought really, as a sickening drop of her stomach. Everything about this day was designed to keep Commander Murray's attentions - and that of his officers - far and away from the unusually busy goings on at the [i]Dusk Skate.[/i] Though she loved the old man dearly, [i]nothing[/i] would have upended her plans faster than dear Robert visiting that very same berth.

And then of course, there was the matter of this book. No, she could not possibly know whether Jax had truly procured this book for Luc's sake, but it was exactly as he said, a book on astronomy. And [i]he[/i] could not possibly know, how dear that boy truly was to his Tante 'Tonia. Yet here he was, the 'grinning, chattering fool' she had not even imagined was literate, who called her 'wet nurse' and gaped at her breasts like a starving man staring at the last loaf of bread in the world - yes, here he was, offering to share this precious gift 'for the future of dreaming lads.'

Antonia's eyes lifted from the book to Jax's eyes, catching his gaze with her own beneath the veil of lace. She said nothing at all, but only offered him a smile of her own, genuine and true that shone brightly with both pleasant surprise and genuine gratitude, a small nod of her head before her eyes returned to the thoroughfare.