Cacao or Joseph Ermeler's Travels
Copyright© 2026 by Argon
Chapter 8: Betrothal
Indeed, it was two weeks later that Joseph asked formally for Ursula’s hand and that his wooing was formally accepted. Elsa, Hubert’s wife, looked upon Joseph with fondness, too, for she could count on her own daughter finding a favourable marriage. After all, the cooper Bartholomæus was well respected far and wide, and in a wine growing country, his craft was a rewarding one.
Joseph and Ursula saw each other daily now, for she was helping in the shop already, learning the prices of Joseph’s wares and also how to keep them fresh. The shop was running better and better, so well in fact that Joseph saw the need to assemble four sturdy wagons, borrow five landsknechte from the Prince-Bishop’s service, and set out for Augsburg. Once there, he stocked up on the goods that would run short, chief of all cacao beans of which he bought twenty pounds, all the Welsers had in stock. As he had expected, His Eminent Highness had become quite enamoured with his afternoon Cacao and so had his senior clergy. Joseph had standing orders amounting to two pounds every month, with another three pounds of Venetian sugar added. These and the spices he sold to the Bishop’s cook made the Bishopric his largest customer and made him rich in the bargain, and he thought fondly of faraway Filomena who had set him on this track.
Joseph also bought wares for his future father-in-law, mostly rice and southern beans. He stocked up on cloth too, and he bought a bale of the finest linen for Ursula and Barbara’s wedding dresses. His wagons laden heavily, he started his way back to Heidingsfeld. Having to travel through a number of principalities, he held gifts ready for the local potentates, and he even made some business while travelling. He had to be careful in the towns however, for he was not a member of the local guilds.
A number of fellow merchants but also some idle onlookers assembled when Joseph arrived and had his wagons unloaded. Ursula was the first to greet him, much to the amused astonishment of the neighbours who barely recognised the lass anymore. Her eyes gleamed when she saw the piles of merchandise and she helped directing the porters who carried the wares to the storage.
In the evening, Joseph entertained the guild members with news from Augsburg and from the lands he had passed through. He was none too steady on his feet when he finally staggered home, and he slept long into the next morning. When he finally woke, he found the shop already open and Ursula doing business. She smiled at him and bade him a good morning, sending him to the back, where Gesine had a breakfast ready. He enjoyed it, and he also smiled with appreciation over Ursula’s initiative. With a business-savvy wife like Ursula, he could get a lot of things done in this town.
When he entered the shop again, Ursula was alone busying herself by bringing order to the shelves. He hugged her lewdly and cupped her bust causing her to squeal.
“Joseph, you mustn’t!” she panted, but she was not convincing. Joseph chuckled.
“How was business whilst I was away?”
“Wonderful! It’s a good thing you brought more cinnamon. We were almost sold out what with the apples ripe and winter coming. I saw that you brought clove for mulled wine, too; that was getting low as well.”
“We must be making good business.”
“Umh, another thing that came to my mind: what do you think of having a table and chairs out here? We could have our afternoon cacao without closing, and we could invite good customers to join. Once they know the taste, they may buy the cacao beans.”
Joseph weighed that, but inwardly he had to chuckle. Ursula was every bit as savvy as the lovely Filomena, even though being barely more than half the widow’s age.
“That’s a good idea, but let me speak to the tavern keeper first. He should not object, but it is polite to ask him. Now, betrothed of mine, did you settle on a wedding date with your stepmother?”
Smiling widely, Ursula nodded.
“Two weeks hence, on Sunday, I shall be yours in marriage. We spoke to Father Anselm already. Barbara will marry the Sunday after. We shall be busy in the next weeks.”
“I wager we shall.”
“I also spoke to Erwin, the carpenter, and we agreed to have the wood work done in the next spring, rather than ripping the house open in the autumn rains. I hope you won’t mind.”
Joseph shook his head and chuckled. “With an enterprising wife such as you, I can spend my days in the tavern and still get rich.”
“Your days perhaps, but not your nights,” Ursula whispered into his ear, pressing herself against him. “I can hardly wait.”
“Yet, we must, my Love. I shall extract a levy of kisses from you to make the wait easier,” Joseph grinned.
Ursula’s blue eyes became hooded and she was stepping close. They were interrupted by the sound of steps outside and broke apart. The shop door opened and a woman entered.
“I need black pepper,” she announced to nobody in particular.
Joseph nodded and went for the clay pot where he kept the pepper.
“How much do you want?” he asked.