A few hours later, Martina was deeply asleep when someone called to the door of her cabin and awoke her.

"Miss Martina, I'm Bernard, the captain sent me."

"Yes, Bertrand, tell me please," answered her without opening the door. "How can I help the captain?"

"Oh, no miss. The captain sent me to inform you that the dinner time is about to come and he wishes to introduce you to the passengers and the crew."

"Oh, of course! Tell the captain that I'm coming."

Very well miss, I'll tell him"

She washed her face, combed her hair and settled her clothes to rush into the dining room.

"Martina!," exclaimed the captain. "Finally girl!, come near, you'll have to practice your English because it is the language common to all the presents. Come, come here. Sirs! Your attention please. I want to introduce you miss Martina from Argentina. I'd like to ask you to be chivalrous to her who is my protected on this trip.

"Over here, over here dear," indicated the captain towards some of the guys. "This is Mr. Richardson from England and Mr. Bahl."

"Pleasure to meet you Miss," said both at once, bowing with their heads and removing their hats.

"Pleased to meet you sirs." repeated Martina bowing as it was accustomed in the high society of Europ."

"Mr. O'Connel from Ireland, Mr. Collins from England, Mr. McNair from Scotland and Mr. Secondat from France."

"Oh! Of course, the view was delightful," pointed out Collin suggestively.

"A pleasure, nice to meet you, pleased to meet you," they take turns one by one to say hello.

Martina bowed each one of them by courtesy but inside her, she wished to turn around and flee towards the other side of the little salon that hardly could contain 16 diners at a time.

The captain continued introducing more passengers, all males, while they approached to the kitchen. It seems that she had not been lucky in that trip and she was not going to have a girl friend to share the journey.

Once in the kitchen he addressed to the chef and his aprendices.

"Sirs, please meet Miss Martina. She is traveling with us under my protection. I ask all of you please be kind to her as you are with me and please her at anything she requires." All assented between mumbling and continued their tasks. The captain approach one by one to introduce her individually until they reach the chef. "Mr. Buchanan and his son Martin." Under the table appeared a head covered by a beret and his owner said: "Pleased to meet you milady."

"Oh! How sweet can you be?! I'm delighted gentleman!," replied her to the little boy of around twelve or thirteen years old that rose with a big smile.

"Mr. Buchanan has brought his son to learn the craft at sea. I'm pretty sure he'll be an excellent company for you dear during this month," informed the captain.

"Miss, I'm entirely to your service," said her little namesake.

"I have no doubt that my son will have enough time to dedicate to the lady," confirmed Mr. Buchanan bowing with his head.

"Nice to meet you sir. It will be an honor to have the company of such a noble gentleman," she answered to the boy bowing with her legs and head.

The boy blushed although followed every movement she made around while finishing with introductions.

"Very well Martina, let's get back to the dining room. You have a chair reserved next to me." Without any more delay, they went to the table arm in arm.

The dinner went cheerfully between discussions of economy, law, politics and some religion. In the table talk, the wine disinhibited to the young people who started bringing instruments and improvising dances, and singing each one their native couplets. Everybody clapped and sang merrily.

Martina recovered the spirit again accompanied by her young friend Martin, that taught her the songs he knew and encouraged her to sing. She noticed that young man McNair was being called Lionard. She observed him when she could avoid his gaze and noticed him dismissive with everyone, acting as if sniffing rotten fish continuously. She'd never really seen anyone so miserable who everyone was fawning so intensely. Rightly he believes himself such important thing. He must be thinking that everyone is like those flatterers. Of course she would show him who he was messing with, that cocky.

"Martina, you are the only lady in this ship, dear. Come on, you should dance with the guys. Wouldn't you accept this piece to Lio?," proposed suddenly the captain, cheering to Lio, gesturing him to stand up.

Lio was caught unprevented and wouldn't want being impolite, so he stood up and extended his hand to Martina that immediately excused herself to dance arguing lack of practice in that particular rhythm. He stared at her with angry eyes. It was evident the contempt made openly before all presents. Nobody could state that needs practice for a simple vals.

The evening continued for some more hours while all enjoyed a delicious dessert and chatted between song and song, between a drink and the next. Lio seemed upset. After her successful scene, Martina felt in the clouds all night. She felt, had given that petulant conceited what he deserved.

Around ten, Martina apologized to everyone and leave to her cabin.

Lio followed her with his eyes. His thoughts bounced from one scene of the evening to the other. Martina taking her hand off him twice the very same day. "How she dares. That smug brat. They should teach her manners. Who knows the barbarian lands she comes from, to behave in a such impolite way? When knows who have she offended to, she'll regret it, that conceited."

"How old is Miss Martina?," asked suddenly Lio to the captain.

"She's fifteen. Her father is a very important farmer from Buenos Aires. She is a very educated girl. Her father has provided the best teachers for her. She's very intelligent. You'll see. She've been in France during the last year to complete her studies. Her great aunt received her in her mansion. They have a very important and influential family. But dear, you are very young and that little girl cannot be taken lightely. Be careful. She's under my guard on this ship and I won't allow nobody to flirt with her under any circumstance."

The rest of the boys started to joke with the possibility of a dead body appearing floting in the sea to whoever dare with Martina. It be in the hands of the captain, the influent family or by herself if all before had failed. Lio was the target of all jokes due to the snubs she'd made him in a few opportunities and how it discredit his reputation with his acquaintances. Laughs out loud due to the wine and following exaggerations about Martina's courage, were heard in the salon.

The Vessel continued its quite but fast way, breaking through the Atlantic's waters.

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Thank you for reading so far!!
If you help me I'll continue translating my book. It is really interesting and exciting. It has conditioned material but I will add it apart as adult content so everybody can read this cute story of tango, malevos, and others. The Gaucho land.

Thanks!!!