Scent of Cloves Trivia Quiz

Answer: They were killed by Cromwell

With Cromwell's army not an hour away, Julia's father lets down the drawbridge to allow Maire, a servingwoman, to lead the frightened local people to safety in some nearby caves. The drawbridge breaks, giving easy passage to the Puritans. Julia, however, is saved, "for Maire's confidence in the caves of Cloonmagh as a hiding place had given her courage enough to carry Little Miss away with her."

Answer: she secretly hates her

Geertruida Belderdik is certain that Julia is Johannes' child by some other woman, and she hates and resents her, while taking care that Johannes does not know. "...the long years of hiding her true feelings, hiding even her real nature, came to her aid...opposition at this stage would be unwise; give way but be watchful and when the slightest excuse offers itself, edge her out."

Answer: The Klopstock Home

When Johannes is killed in an accident while on a voyage, Geertruida wastes no time in packing Julia off to the "Christian Benevolent Orphanage for Girls, more familiarly known as the Klopstock Home." Julia spends a few very unhappy years here, until she becomes a "Company's Daughter". Here, girls are trained to become the wives of nutmeg planters in the East Indies.

Answer: glove

"It was a glove of yellow silk with pearls sewn in a pattern on its gauntlet. 'Isn't that pretty? Well, take it, dear. It's for you. Your husband is named Pieter Vosmar and he is twenty-two...'" So Julia sets sail for the island of Rua, married to a man she has never seen.

Answer: Pieter's father, Simon Vosmar

"The small man in grey had gained the deck, looked sharply this way and that and now came towards them, and whereas Hendrick had had to push his way through, everybody stepped back to allow this man free passage."

Answer: an accidental fall

"'I will not have him called that! Idiots are born, not made. Pieter was like anybody else until that pig of a woman let him fall.'" Dr Hootman, Pieter's caretaker, does not agree. He believes that Pieter was born with his condition, and if the marriage is consummated, "'...you'll have an idiot grandchild on your hands.'" From the description given of Pieter, and from his behaviour, it seems likely that he has Down's Syndrome.

Answer: a starving woman in a cage

She had been Pieter's nurse when he was a child. During the month of Ramadan, she left the child for a moment, after a day of fasting, to get a drink of water. That was when he fell, and, so Mynheer thinks, caused his mental affliction. "'So, since Ramadan meant so much to her, more than her duty or my child's well-being, I decreed that she should keep it for the rest of her life.'"

Answer: a smuggler

Julia had been bringing food and water to the caged woman, Psyche. On this day, she allowed the woman to get hold of the water bottle. Psyche immediately broke the bottle, and, with a sharp piece of glass, cut her own throat. Julia was covered with blood, and aware that there was no way that she could hide what had happened from Mynheer, who would be furious that his long revenge had been terminated. Charles happened along just at this point, and cheerfully assured Julia that he would take responsibility for Psyche having access to a bottle. So simply, the flame of love is lit. Later in the book, we find that Charles has been smuggling cloves (which Mynheer has been growing illegally) off the island for Mynheer, and, unknown to Mynheer, smuggling unlimed (still fertile) nutmegs in cahoots with Dr Hootman.

Answer: a young kinsman of Mynheer's

The arrival of Nicolas is another step in Mynheer's grand scheme. He plans that Nicolas should impregnate Julia (with her consent if possible, if not, no matter). To the eyes of the world, it would seem that the odd, reclusive Pieter Vosmar was living a more or less normal life, begetting children, and running the estate with the help of his kinsman, Nicolas.

In reality, Nicolas would be in charge of the plantation, and living with Julia, secretly, as her husband. Any child would be born with the family features, and be accepted by society, and, more importantly, by the Company, as Pieter's son.

A fine scheme, ruined by Julia's love for Charles, and Nicolas' inherent decency.

Answer: Pieter

When Mynheer resorts to violence to show Julia that she has no choice but to fall in with his plan, Pieter's protective instincts rise up. "Bellowing he put his hands around Mynheer's throat and began to shake him...'Bad,! Bad! Hurt Julie! Bad!' said Pieter, at each word lifting Mynheer a little way from the floor and then smashing him down again." The book ends as all good romances do, with the lovers united, the enemies defeated, and even Pieter secure and happy.