Thirty Eight Part Four

Betsy and Arianna each approached their husbands. Resting her head upon Violet's firm chest, her face turned to the side, Betsy caught Arianna's gaze. They smiled at one another, both of them remembering that dark, stormy eve they left England. Both of them very glad that they had.

Betsy looked up into her husband's mischievous face. "All is well?"

Violet gave her a crooked smile, "Other than a bit of blackmail, all is well, kitten."

Betsy stood back a little to see him more fully, "She has a habit of doing that."

Arianna backed away from Drake a step and put her hands upon her hips, "I do not."

"Yes, you do." Will sauntered into the stables, joining them at precisely the correct moment. "Usually 'tis your brother, however, that you victimize." Will pointed out.

Arianna became bemused, " 'Tis not as if you do not provide me with plenty of ammunition, you know." Arianna smacked Will lightly upon the arm.

"Why is everyone always hitting me?" Will whined, rubbing his arm in mock injury.

Violet snorted with pleasure.

Arianna shot Violet a glare, remembering that he had laid her brother out flat for one reason or another. Arianna then turned, smirking at Will, before turning her saucy smirk upon Violet. Aye, she could easily imagine Will offending the pirate with his own, highly obnoxious self. If anyone should know, Arianna should, 'twas a fact that Will had been annoying her for years.

"Forgiven?" Violet asked Arianna, as if he could read her mind.

Arianna nodded while giggling, Betsy looking between the two of them, quite confused.

"Do not even attempt to figure them out, my dear." Drake informed Betsy knowledgeably, "New friends are always doing such things." Drake was relieved that his wife and cousin seemed to have made their peace with one another.

Violet addressed Arianna, "What about him?" Violet nodded his head at Drake.

Arianna raised a brow, "I would not assume he would know your act, pirate."

"Of course not." Violet agreed. "Yet... I have heard that he is quite good." Violet assured her.

"As good as you are?" Arianna queried, knowing this would get her husband primed, if he should be willing.

Betsy knew what it was they spoke of.

Now it was Drake's turn to look between the two of them, confusion upon his face.

"Do not even try, my lord," Betsy giggled at Drake, "new friends and such."

Drake gave Betsy a look that told her how he felt about her flippantly throwing his words back in his face.

"Saucy wench." Drake muttered.

Betsy grinned widely.

"Now, what is it I am supposed to be good at?" Drake arched a brow at his wife, seeming to dismiss the flippant maid.

Secretly, Drake was very happy for Betsy, and for his wife. Now that Drake, himself, had married the maid to his cousin, neither of the girls would be separated from one another for long. Incredible as it was, they were family now, their children would grow up together as second cousins, no doubt to band together, creating havoc at family occasions, just as Drake could imagine himself and Violet doing, had they grown up together.

Violet laughed his answer, yet he addressed it to Arianna, "He is very good, my lady, I have heard the tales." Violet then turned to Drake, "It seems you are cheating your wife, cousin. Withholding from her one of life's finer pleasures."

"I would never withhold anything from my wife, pirate." Drake smiled wryly down at Arianna as he replied. She returned his smile and added a questionable raised brow.

"She seems most eager to see me fence, have you not crossed blades for her?" Violet hinted at a match.

"I cannot recall ever needing to." Drake laughed his answer, as Arianna became even more intrigued.

Betsy grinned satisfactorily, her eyes becoming sultry, making Arianna think she was missing something.

Vi looked to Drake challengingly, "I am game, if you are."

"No doubt." Drake shot back at Violet. "I too, have heard tales. One involving an ancient claymore, if I am not mistaken."

"Oh yes!" Betsy exuberantly confirmed. "Would you like to see it?"

"Aye, I would!" Arianna's eyes gleamed at the thought.

"Come along then, we shall need to get them the foils as it is." Betsy and Arianna left with their heads together, making their way towards the manor. Arm in arm, Betsy told Arianna how the claymore had been a gift to the King, but that Violet had won it back for her.

"He dared to assault the King?" Arianna gasped, looking up to the veranda, to see the King sitting there, deep in conversation with her father in law. Arianna still was not sure how she felt about the Monarch. He had been so stern, keeping Drake and Pedro in a cell for a sennight, yet, he had let them go, and he had ended up caring well for Pedro and his family.

"The King loved every moment of it." Betsy assured her. "I wish you had been there, it was such an enjoyable evening. Brutus came also, then he and Violet demonstrated their skills for the King before supper. They are both excellent swordsmen, and watching Violet wield his blade just does things to me that I cannot explain." Betsy shot Arianna a knowing look.

"Really?" Arianna drawled.

"You shall see for yourself, I have no doubt." Betsy's knowing look turned to an amused one, as she knew her lady would find it as thrilling as she did.

"You have never seen Drake engage in swordplay?" Betsy asked. Betsy had seen him do so a little. Drake and Pedro had practiced on the tail end of their voyage to rescue Arianna and the Duchess from Marcus Bailey. Drake had tried to rebuild the strength in his arm, after being shot by Admiral Miser, yet, he and Pedro had gone at it easy, as Drake's shoulder had still been healing.

"Never... There was no need for him to ever do so, and we have been busy getting our bearings at Trent, which is absolutely lovely, by the by." Arianna looked to Betsy, smiling at her good fortune.

"I like it here, also." Betsy admitted. "I was a little afraid to leave the ship, I got quite used to being at sea, and I enjoyed it very much once the ship was brought up to snuff." Betsy giggled, remembering herself shooting at all those awful rats amongst all the filth. "But Violet brought all our things here, and has made it a home I am happy to be in. Violet has done much to make this a home where many shall be happy to live." Betsy returned Arianna's joyful look, before both ladies stopped upon the grass to curtsy, upon drawing even with the King.

The men sitting on the veranda, where Kathleen and Amelia had joined them, all nodded at the girls as they passed in front of them to enter the house.

"I still can not believe that the King sits upon your landing." Arianna shook her head in bemusement.

"There is so much to tell you," Betsy assured her they would catch up on all that had transpired later, "I cannot tell you how glad I am that you are here." They joined arms and climbed the staircase, Betsy leading Arianna to the rooms across from her own and Violet's, to show Arianna where she and Drake would sleep. Opening the door, Betsy waited for Arianna to enter.

The room was comfortably appointed, a fire burned cheerily in the grate, this room also, was paneled in wood, reminiscent of a ship's cabin. The bed floated off to the side, a pair of chairs and a small table sat before the fire. Drake and Arianna's things had been brought up, the room only awaited them. Arianna sat upon the bed and bounced, smiling at the comfort she and her husband would enjoy later. She then stood and walked to the table. "Cards?" She inquired.

"Have you played noddy since you wed?" Betsy asked.

"I cannot say we have." Arianna frowned as she thought back. "The last I played any cards... Was rummy with you."

"Violet likes to wager." Betsy said, grinning.

"You gamble with your husband?" Arianna laughed, acting appalled.

"For our clothing!" Betsy crowed.

"You do what?" Arianna sat upon the bed again, and turned, holding herself up with an arm, looking amusedly astonished at Betsy.

"Oh my," Betsy chuckled, looking to her lady with a slight blush, lying back upon the bed. "I have more to tell you than I even realized."

"I would say so." Arianna looked down upon her friend with amusement.

"I strip him down to his skivvies every single time." The two girls giggled.

"Are you sure he does not let you win?" Arianna laughed, her voice raising with her merriment.

"I truly do not care if he does." Betsy implied much with her wiggling brows.

"I can see your point." Arianna rejoined, laughter in her voice, and an appreciation for her friend's situation in her eyes.

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"You realize you shall have to fetch them, or they shall never return." Will imparted.

Drake and Violet exchanged glances. Then grins.

"Let us give them a while then," Drake suggested. "It has been some time for me." Drake joined his hands, stretching his arms up above his head as far as he could reach. He tested his arm, as it had been a long while since he had wielded a blade.

"Congratulations, on the babe." Violet leaned against a stall, Will perused the horseflesh in the stable, as Drake and Violet conversed.

"Thank you, I am quite pleased, I think." Drake admitted.

"You think?" Violet asked amusedly.

"I am not looking forward to labor, truth be told. My wife is not the sort to take to pain well," Drake shook his head, "I should say she does not take to discomfort at all well, actually."

"I do not know that much can be done about it." Violet offered.

"I am aware of that. And that is the reason for my trepidation. I am afraid 'twill be so horrible for her she will never let me touch her again." Drake worried.

Violet laughed at first, but then sobered quickly, as he realized his cousin was quite serious. "I have heard the pain is forgotten with the joy of the new babe, mayhap, you shall find this to be true." Violet offered.

"I shall pray that it is." Drake hoped for that very thing. "Will you miss the sea after all this time?" Drake asked.

"Do you?" Violet rejoined.

"Not yet." Drake chuckled. His little wife was proving more than enough adventure for him lately.

"I feel at odds a small bit, I must admit." Violet stood from the stall. " 'Tis strange to stride hallways instead of a deck, to man a home, instead of a helm. I do believe, though, knowing Brutus is still out there, and that I am doing some good here will help, however."

" 'Tis amazing what you are doing here." Drake showed his respect for Violet's cause. "I shall be contributing, and I look forward to a tour of the site where you are building."

"It is all very exciting the way God has cleared a path for us to help so many more. I never dreamed, when I met Elizabeth, my life would change so quickly, and so drastically." Violet smiled wistfully.

"Wives seem to have that effect upon a man's life." Drake chuckled, thinking upon his own changed circumstances.

"I would not trade it for anything else." Violet admitted to his cousin.

Drake placed his hand upon Violet's shoulder, "Nor I." He agreed, "Let us go fetch our wayward women who seem to have forgotten all about us." Drake frowned a bit in mock concern.

"They have missed one another, I know Elizabeth has been most eager to see her lady." Violet smiled, imagining Elizabeth's pleasure at being with Arianna again.

"Also, there is something I would have you know." Violet stopped Drake, before going in search of their wives, "I am sorry I took off with your ship, though, the timing was right to break her free," Violet looked a bit sheepish, 'I coveted the chance to feel her fly, I do have to admit. I regret causing you undue concern." Violet's sincerity was evident.

Drake could tell that Violet meant what he said, "I hold no hard feelings, if I had stopped to think, you were returning with her, 'twas my own insecurity that prompted my swim." Drake's visage held humor, Violet saw that Drake was laughing at himself.

"You are an exceptional swimmer." Violet nodded.

Drake laughed appreciatively, "Why, I thank you, 'tis not so difficult when you feel your life's work is sailing away from you." Drake continued along in their humorous vein.

"A very good swimmer, indeed. Why 'twas amazing, and then to climb the line.." Violet shook his head in awe inspired humor.

"Please desist, 'twas bad enough the first time, I do not care to relive it. I was sore for days afterwards." Drake rubbed his shoulder where the bullet had hit him.

"Where is the Lady now?" Violet asked.

"She is at dock, I will not be letting her go." Drake looked at Violet pointedly, "Do not be getting any ideas, Violet."

Violet adopted a mockingly, serious mien, "Never."

Drake scoffed, "Lead the way, I mean to find my wayward woman."

Violet wholeheartedly agreed, he swept his arm, "After you."

Drake nodded his head, "We are after our women, Lord Ravenwood." Drake called, before he and Violet quit the stable.

Violet was fairly sure he knew where the girls were. Leading Drake, they passed the group on the veranda, nodding homage to the King. Not finding the girls in he and Elizabeth's room, nor the study, Violet crossed the hall and rapped upon the door.

Both men heard muted, high pitched laughter that came to an abrupt stop.

A flushed Betsy answered Violet's summons. Breathless, she ducked behind the door, hiding from the men's curious faces. Arianna attempted to rise from lying upon the coverlet, she was having some difficulty, flopping about as a fish for a second, or two. Betsy saw this and snorted, Arianna also, and they were overtaken with laughter once again.

"Good Lord." Drake went to the bed, and took one of Arianna's hands, gently pulling her upright.

"Thank you." She sputtered, burying her face against his chest, laughing as long as she could hear Betsy's mirth also.

Violet came around the door, as Betsy did the same, wrapping her arms around Violet's waist, hiding her face, she attempted to breathe deeply. Both girls began hiccuping, this almost making them set off again, but just a giggle or two escaped before being quickly contained.

"Having a nice visit, kitten?" Violet asked. Betsy nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet, nor look at him.

Arianna did, however, and imagined Violet in his skivvies. She began chuckling, as Drake looked down upon her head.

Elizabeth started quaking under his hand, and Violet knew the ladies had been having fun. He was glad for them, but now he had a different kind of pleasure in mind. One that would lead to another bit of pleasure, in due time, he found himself quite looking forward to later this evening. Raising Betsy's face, Violet placed a kiss full of promise upon her lips. Pulling back from her, he knew he had her full attention. "Shall we get the swords?"

"Aye, aye Captain." Betsy breathed, her heart overflowed with joy, contentment, and anticipation. Counting her blessings, Betsy led the way to Violet's study. Leaving the men to select their steel, Betsy led the way to her bedchamber to show Arianna the claymore.

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