Third Sentence Thursday

 

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme from Sniffly Kitty; see right-sidebar. In it we look at the third sentence in the book we are reading. Check it out — lots of fun!

Yesterday,  I reviewed

Secrets Volume 28 • Sensual Cravings –

by Juliet Burns, Jennifer Lynne, Kathleen Scott, Kate St. James

Trade Paperback 377 pages

Red Sage Publishing

Imprint Secrets Volumes

Pub. Date 12/09/2010

It 's an anthology, and the first story is The Pirate's Possession by Juliet Burns. Here is the description of the story from NetGalley:

When Lady Gertrude Fitzpatrick tries to bargain with a fierce pirate for escape across the water to her childhood home, she unwittingly becomes the possession of Merciless MacGowan, a fierce privateer on the run from Cromwell's army. Ewan MacGowan has been betrayed and mistakenly exacts revenge on this proud noblewoman. He may have stolen the lady's innocence, but buried beneath her plain exterior lies a hidden treasure he never thought to find: the true woman of his heart.

The story begins 8 months after the execution of Charles I in 1649. Cromwell is at the head of government and Scots are not in great favor.

The third sentence is:

"Och, this didna bode well."

Wiktionary defines "och" as an interjection

och
(chiefly Scottish, Irish) an expression of anger, frustration, surprise;

or, (in Scottish Gaelic) alas.

And, 

didna

(in Scottish English) did not.

bode¹vb

1. to be an omen of (good or ill, esp of ill); portend; presage

2. (tr) Archaic to predict; foretell

Thus, if this character weren't a Scot in 1649 the phrase might go, "Damn! This is not a good omen." Or, "That's not Going to be pretty!"

Things don't look good, a woman showing up at a tavern asking for him is sure likely to slow him down. If for no other reason the long skirts and pattens.  Of course, if he's on the run and has a ship, why is he in port and sitting at a  bar so a woman can find him to ask for passage? Why isn't he at sea  already out of reach of Cromwell's foot soldiers and desperate noble women?

If you don't want people to shoot you, don't stand in front of the target!

Turns out yesterday was a big anniversary for Cromwell:

Related articles

• The man who wouldn’t be king (newstatesman.com)