Thirty Eight Part Three

Betsy still could not convince Arianna to like Violet. Tolerate him, yes. Ignore him, not a problem. Speak to him civilly, fine. But to like him, Arianna refused.

Still, there was just something about the pirate captain she did not care for.

She and Betsy had caught up, some. It was difficult with Amelia there, as they did not want to leave her out of their conversation.

Betsy explained to Arianna about Violet rescuing the children. She told Arianna what Violet felt was his mission in life. However, Arianna knew in her own heart, that Violet must have used saving the babes as a ruse to further benefit from his pirating.

Amelia, and Katherine both came together in agreement. They would never have thought of having a fair to raise funds and awareness for the orphanage. They both saw it as pure genius for Violet to have thought of it.

Arianna blew a thin strand of raven hair from her nose, reaching up to rub where it tickled her.

Arianna then heard, from her mother's own mouth, of Violet's assault upon Will, how Violet Petals had hit her brother, knocking him flat upon their own drive.

Arianna gasped in outrage.

"Now dear, your brother had it coming." The duchess tried to assure her, "Your brother was rude, so your father said, and he deserved it. They ended it as gentlemen, and made their peace."

Her mother dared to defend such violent actions?

Arianna was growing angrier by the moment. All anyone ever did was defend the man, making him out to be some sort of savior, or the like.

Betsy indeed, still seemed to be ensnared by his looks, and Arianna's own mother was also. Amelia seemed not far behind, driving Arianna to make her excuses, before she be ill. She left the ladies to their Violetfest, rising quickly, leaving the room before she had to hear any more.

Making her way from the reception room, Arianna went immediately to the front portal, hoping to find a spot of fresh air.

Arianna walked out the manse's entrance, where the men were either sitting comfortably, or leaning against the railing.

Drake saw Arianna immediately, and came to her side, "Is all well, Angel?" He stroked her hair back from her face to look into her emerald eyes.

Arianna smiled up at him weakly, "I am fine, I just needed some air."

Drake leaned down to press a kiss to her temple.

The Duke of Marlborough came over, gruffly inquiring after her health, joining Drake, and standing beside her.

"I am fine you two," Arianna assured them, "Go back to your brandies and cigars, please. I am simply going to walk a bit and look around."

"You are sure?" Drake asked, "You would not like me to come with you?"

"No, really, I am fine, I shan't be long." Arianna smiled reassuringly at her husband, before lifting her skirts and descending the steps.

Arianna walked in the direction of the stable, thinking the horses might provide better company than the misguided women she had been forced to endure.

My word, Arianna thought, how could people be so blind, to not see that the man was a thief, that he had stolen for his living.

And to think he was Drake's cousin.

Arianna had not met Drake's uncle, Marcus, yet. But Drake told her he was a good, kind man, and Violet was apparently his bastard.

Arianna did not blame this Marcus person for not claiming a pirate as his son all these years. That must have been a truly, hard cross to bear, knowing his own son was a violent criminal.

And the King, how could he have been swayed? That, there, was pure insanity, as Arianna thought.

However, it was actually all the praise that everyone heaped upon Violet, that really rankled her.

Arianna entered the stables and came to a dark, grey steed, it's head extended forward in curiosity. Arianna raised her hand to stroke the velvety nose, and she began speaking to the horse, "You would think Violet Petals was the second coming, the way they all go on about him."

Arianna heard the bark of laughter, even as she realized she was not alone.

She spun on her heel to find the damned pirate was standing right behind her.

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Violet saw Arianna come out from the house, he watched Drake assure himself that she was fine.

Vi watched her set off for the stables, her brow perplexed, as something seemed to be weighing on her mind. Vi went to Drake, pulling him aside.

Drake looked at his cousin curiously.

"I know I have yet to prove myself to you, but I owe your lady an apology, and I would like to have it over with." Violet's amused visage assured Drake that his intentions were good.

"You can try. By all means, you can damn well try." Drake laughed at the possible outcomes, then took a drink of his brandy, smiling around the rim of his glass.

Wishing the pirate luck in his mind, Drake turned back to his father, who was busy discussing falconing with the King.

Violet was halfway to the stable by the time Drake turned to check on his progress. Drake then smiled ruefully, wondering who would come out the victor in their clash of wills. The pirate? Or Drake's own, little, caustic wife?

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Violet stepped inside the stable, he stopped, and he was deciding how to begin while Arianna approached the roan.

Violet made his way to her, just as she began talking to the horse.

He heard her words and could not help but to laugh, she sounded so put out by the idea that others thought he may be a good person.

Spinning about, Arianna fixed him with a glare, hands on her hips, she huffed with frustration at being caught.

"I only followed you to apologize, my lady. I did not mean to interrupt your discussion." Vi chuckled softly, and looked to the horse, receiving a forgiving nod from that one.

"You should make your presence known, pirate!" Arianna breathed fire.

Violet held out both his hands in front of him, "And to have missed that, I think not." Violet continued showing his mirth.

Arianna spun her skirts, and began walking up the aisle away from him and the traitor horse, looking at the other steeds in their stalls.

"I am sincere about owing you an apology, however." Violet bent and grabbed up a piece of straw from the ground, he shredded it slowly as he meandered behind her.

She stopped to stroke the nose of another curious mare, "I do not accept." Arianna spit at him, still thinking he goaded her, which he did, a tiny bit.

"Well then, if you would rather not hear me grovel for a moment or two, I shall just leave you to your more worthy companions." Violet turned to go, it was only two steps he made before she called him back.

"Well, if you are offering to grovel, pirate, I can at least allow you that." She lifted her nose towards the animal, but still would not look at Violet.

Betsy was right. He was beautiful, and Arianna was afraid that if she looked into his gorgeous, iris eyes, she may just begin to believe his smooth lies as everyone else did.

He must have some sort of hypnotizing quality, she thought. One that did not effect her as it did the others. He had fooled everyone else into believing he was a decent man, while she seemed to be the only one alive who knew he was not.

"Have you ever taken a moment," Violet began, "to think of why it is that you dislike me so?"

Arianna frowned, "That is not grovelling, pirate."

Violet smirked at her, "Very well, let the grovelling commence."

Violet went down upon a knee and raised a falsely supplicant face to hers, "I beg your forgiveness, my lady. Firstly for being born."

Arianna's eyes snapped to his. He was not apologizing quite as she would like.

"I am a poor bastard who had no opportunities in life," Violet stood slowly and walked away from her a short distance, "I took what opportunity did come my way, when I saw it." Violet turned and sat upon a tall crate, crossing his ankles.

He looked down at the floor for a moment, before looking up into Arianna's confused visage.

"Your husband was fortunate enough to have a name, and a title with which to begin, Arianna. I had neither."

"But to take things from others, to steal, is dishonest and...." Arianna justified her feelings.

"And how did you finance your adventure, my lady?" Violet's head was down, but his eyes looked up at her through his lashes. He looked at her shrewdly, as he knew he had an advantage.

He had Elizabeth's account of what had happened.

"That is not even remotely the same, pirate." Arianna waved him off, "I but took my own jewelry that my father bought for me, 'twas mine to take." She lifted her nose and quirked her brow, in defense of her actions.

"Jewelry you lied to your father to acquire," Violet spoke kindly, "Which you then stole, with the intent to never return, causing your father twice the grief he endured after your mother's kidnapping."

Arianna's face took on purpose, "Yet, I ended up finding my mother for him."

Violet laughed softly, "Through no fault of your own."

Arianna smiled ruefully, that much was true enough.

Violet stood, and lifted a hand to her, "You also brought my wife to me, my lady, I shall be forever in your debt, and forever grateful to you."

Arianna gave him an astounded look, "That was much improved, pirate." She gave him her hand, curtsied shallowly and tilted her head, accepting his warm words with caution.

"I also wanted to beg your forgiveness, I let you annoy me on the island, and in return, I played you false."

Arianna tilted her head the other way, "In what way are you referring to?"

He let go of her, and stepped away to lean against a stall, "Do you speak of your annoying me, or of my behavior?" Violet goaded her a bit.

"Your behavior, you dumb brute." Arianna found herself relaxing as they sparred.

Violet chuckled, "I went to lengths to make you uncomfortable. To make you believe I would have you, just as well as I would have Elizabeth," He grew serious, "and 'twas not true."

Arianna knew exactly that to which he referred. He had stood too close to her, he had spoken too smoothly, and he had touched her, somewhat innocently, yet repeatedly.

"I shall forgive you, pirate, as long as it never happens again." Arianna thought this was very big of her.

"My thanks," Violet laughed before sobering quickly and then looking to her seriously.

"Now, back to my first question, my lady," Violet eyes hardened, he moved forward steadily, forcing her to back up against the stall across from him. He was doing worse than what he had just admitted to doing before. Before he had played her false, now he frightened her. "Have ye ever really thought o' why ye do not like me?"

Arianna sucked in her breath, but Violet did not touch her, though his body did keep her pinned there. Her eyes shot to his, seeing no evil intent, only determination. She flashed her eyes angrily, even as she realized he was a little angry also.

"Because you are full of yourself, Violet Petals!" Arianna spat.

"And you are not?" Violet raised a brow at her, his voice hissing a tiny bit.

"I am not!" Arianna averred.

Violet snorted.

She glared at him a moment. "Fine, mayhap, I am, a tiny bit." Arianna admitted angrily.

Violet saw he was getting somewhere, so he continued, "And why, why do you dislike me other than that?" Violet asked for her honesty.

She glared at him a moment longer, then grinned, trying to hide it, but unsuccessfully. "Because you know you are beautiful, and you use it to your advantage?" Arianna said somewhat sheepishly.

Violet snorted with laughter, she laughed also. He calmed, as did she.

"And the fault in that, my lady?" Violet chuckled.

"Oh, there is really no fault in that, Violet, as long as 'tis my own self doing it. You, however, are far too pretty to be a real man."

"Oh ho, a real man, is it? I shall have you know, your maid is very feisty and I have heard no complaints there!" Violet stated in his own defense.

"You would not, she is probably too busy staring at your face the entire time, pretty boy." Arianna gave him a falsely shocked face, as she gave as good as she got.

"Why you minx! You have the tongue of a serpent...." Violet gave her the reaction she wanted.

"It takes one to know one, Violet Petals." Arianna squinted at him, in a minute study of his form, from head to toe.

"Indeed it does, my lady." Violet chuckled softly, he had known he would find the real Arianna in there somewhere.

"I again thank you for taking care of my wife until I came for her." Violet took her hand and bowed over it, kissing the back softly. His eyes raised to her own, as they smiled at one another. He in subservient gratitude, she, in an impish smirk.

The damned pirate had done it, Arianna thought, he had swayed her over to his side. It was funny, but it did not hurt nearly as much as she thought it would.

"Come, I have something to show you." Violet kept her hand and pulled her along.

Violet took her to the puppies, where she gave them a good five minutes of her time, stepping over the board and letting them run amuck over her skirts.

Violet smiled, as he saw the small girl she had once been, the one without a mother. The one who had to fight for her existence, in a world where her father was very distracted, and her brother missed his mother also. Violet could understand her. Mayhap, that was why they both pretended to have such thick skins. To protect themselves from the hurt only having one parent had brought.

"My parents wed a fortnight ago." He volunteered.

Arianna smiled up at him brightly, "And you saw how happy my parents now are."

They shared a look of healing, of self realization, that an awesome gift had been given to them both, and they had one more thing in common.

Violet then took her to the back of the stables to see Hope, where he watched her fall in love with the small, sweet, spindly foal.

Violet let Ari inside the stall, Arianna knelt down as the tiny horse came forward and nuzzled her cheek.

"Will you forgive me, Violet?" Arianna wrapped one arm under the foal's neck, holding it to her, she stroked behind it's ears with her other hand, as she looked up to Vi happily.

"Of course, my lady, you need not have asked. I am forever your servant, if it pleases you....."

Arianna laughed, hearing a more familiar line out of him, "Aye, you are indeed pleasing, Violet Petals. I must say, the Lord does...."

"Work in mysterious ways." They both said together, then smiled at one another. She, finally seeing the similarities so clear between them, that she had never wanted to see before.

He was right, Arianna realized. She had judged far too quickly, and harshly. All she had needed to do was to look in the mirror, and recognize the same qualities in herself, and she would have found why he annoyed her so much.

He had confidence, and beauty, genteel manners, and yet, he could be a tempest to deal with.

Now Arianna's only problem, was that everyone liked him more than they liked her.

Arianna wrinkled her brow, then realized how truly self centered that was, and she laughed aloud softly, at herself. She stroked the sweet, small horse another few moments, before standing, stroking it's head one last time, then raising her hands to Violet.

He opened the stall to allow her to pass out, and closed it softly behind her. "This way, Arianna." Violet swept an arm gallantly to inside the stable, where a water barrel, a bowl, and a bar of soap lay next to a hanging linen.

"What gave you the idea of having a fair, Violet?" Arianna asked, asked she wet her hands.

"It really was not my idea, my idea was simply to have my first mate help me entertain the nobles with our swordplay. The idea just grew from there." Violet admitted.

Arianna did not bother to gloat that it had not been him to come up with the idea, even though the ladies thought he had.

"You engage in swordplay?" Arianna sudsed in the bowl, washing the horse and puppies from her hands, as Violet leaned against the post.

"Brutus and I have a little act we do..." Violet knew where this would lead, as he stood from the post and poured clean water over her hands for her.

"I must see it, I shall not truly forgive you until I have seen your act." Arianna dried her hands and then placed them upon her hips.

"You never relent, do you?" Violet laughed the words, "Good Lord, woman, I must remember to pray for your good husband's patience."

Arianna laughed, "Well, I do not know how Betsy puts up with you, either!"

This was what Drake and Betsy found when they entered the stables, Arianna swinging her hand at Violet's arm to playfully hit him.

Drake and Betsy grinned at one another, their concern had been unfounded, and they were both very relieved.

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Well, was it worth the wait? :)