A Fair Wind
The seventh of seven daughters, and all my sisters married, I was promised to a merchant of Moorish extraction in exchange for a cargo of Madeira.
The wine – sweet and rich, the colour of menstrual blood – restored my father’s fortune and I insisted on a male tutor, fair skinned but well-travelled. I mastered algebra and anatomy; the constellations and the continents; theology and food storage.
When my ship comes in I will not be locked in any fine palace, tending a full womb. There will be but two courses to navigate: to sail by my husband’s side or escape.
M J Lewis 2017
It’s Friday and so I’m late for Friday Fiction. I can only plead fantastic gardening weather. All hail to Rochelle, our indefatigable host, and to Fatima Fakier Deria for the nautical photo.
Thanks to all who visit and a huge thank you to those who stay and chat.
I dedicate this piece to all those (children and adults – you know who you are!) who have questioned the part algebra has to play in a well-rounded education.
MJL Stories 
that’s sad. any which way, she’s doomed.
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As the author of her fate I’d say she might have highs and lows, but she is certainly not doomed! Trouble ahead no doubt (and most especially for her husband methinks)…but that’s fiction for you.
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Lovely. A full-bodied character and a full-bodied story
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I raise a glass of something red and full-bodied to you sir!
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Whoa!!!! I love this. Such rhythm, so many contrasts. Madeira and blood. Everything about this is “Yum.”
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Thank you! A whoa and a yum!
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She really is well prepared for whatever comes her way. A smart husband would call himself lucky with her sailing by his side. Great writing.
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He might be getting a great deal more than he originally bargained for!
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Nicely written ‘the wine like menstrual blood’ one hell of a description. Nice tske on the prompt.
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Thank you Ellen. The sort of taboo-breaking (god knows why) description that is fun to write!
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Love the shock factor i slipped a big no no in a post a while back it was liberating.😄😅😃
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Counting Forbidden Fruits. – http://wp.me/p4CUfR-Nr
In case you would like a read.
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Dear Miranda,
I love the language in this. The comparison of the Madeira’s color to menstrual blood is powerful as is the remainder of the story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you , Rochelle and cheers! 🙂
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I loved the rhythm of this piece and the strength of the main character.
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Oh yes, hooray for such independence and a big hail to science and education.
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BTW I like the color of “menstrual blood”, however the best Madeira I’ve ever had was more brown than red.
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Oh, Picky, picky, Björn! 😉
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A bit like the colour of that sail maybe? Anyway who started this? Guess it was me!
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Indeed… an old process for a canvas sail…
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This was a powerful piece. I can only hope the man chosen for her will be one that is open-minded and happy to have such a knowledgeable and capable woman by his side. It takes a strong man to side with a strong woman. I, too, loved the descriptions!
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I love the description here. Such a smart, strong woman. I hope her new husband can appreciate her.
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Seems like a very strong woman who knows what she wants.
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I think she still has her work cut out, but she has come a long way. Cultural attitudes and role expectations can be so deeply ingrained in societies where women are viewed as possessions (PS I’m hopeless at algebra, so am glad my independence has never depended upon it!). I agree with everybody else who’s commented, wonderful descriptions.
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I’m going to be serious for a minute…What’s important is not the actual algebra, but a different view of the Islamic world. Here is the lovely Melvyn Bragg and friends.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08dr5qt
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That’s really interesting. Thanks for that link.
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Feisty character who seems to know her own mind
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