for Valentine's Day: a story of love 1542 style

It was a sunny spring day in 1542. Marguerite de la Roche, a dark-haired girl in her teens, stood on the deck of her Uncle Roberval's ship. Her heart pounded with excitement as she watched the coast of France fade into the distance. Seagulls squealed and soared overhead. The air was filled with the smell of salt water and tarred rope. What an adventure! She was going to the New World.

As she gazed across the waves, her dark hair streaming behind her, she became aware that someone was watching her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the admiring look of a handsome young sailor who was standing near by, coiling an anchor rope. Marguerite blushed and lowered her eyes. Then she turned and darted away.

She spent the rest of the day exploring the ship with her faithful old nurse, who was accompanying her on the voyage. "Aren't you glad you came along?" Marguerite asked, looking down at the tiny stoop-shouldered woman beside her. "I'd rather be safe at home in France," the little woman replied. "I only agreed to come on account of your poor dead parents. I know they wouldn't have wanted you sailing into the wilderness without me to look after you."

Roberval's fleet hadn't been at sea for long before it ran into a driving rainstorm. No sooner had it weathered the first gale than another one struck. The constant heaving and tossing of the ship made Marguerite's nurse seasick. The little woman retired to her cabin. She spent the rest of the voyage there, too miserable to take much notice of what Marguerite was doing.

She didn't remain alone for long. The young sailor she had noticed on the first day began to find excuses to speak with her. As the days passed, their conversations became more frequent. Soon they were spending every spare moment together. It was an exciting day for both when the coast of the New World appeared on the horizon. They stood together on the deck, hand in hand, watching the rocky shore draw nearer. "Marguerite," the young man said, "I have something important to say to you." "Yes?" The girl turned her brown eyes on him. The sailor cleared his throat. Then he plucked up his courage and went on. "I love you," he said. "I know you come from a wealthy family while I am only a poor peasant. But perhaps in the new land such things won't matter so much. Will you please marry me? I'll do my best to make you happy." Marguerite's eyes shone as she confessed she was just as much in love with the young man as he was with her. "Tomorrow," she said, "we'll go and ask my uncle to allow us to marry."


What happened to the young couple? You can read more of their story in my book YesterCanada: Historical Tales of Mystery and Adventure. It's available online from Amazon, Chapters Indigo, or the publisher, Borealis Press of Ottawa. For more information, please visit
https://elmams.wixsite.com/elma .