Thirty Nine Part Three

Betsy and Arianna exchanged a quick glance, both of them wondering why they had never noticed it before.

A short distance away, standing toe to toe, the cousins, Drake, and Violet, mirrored one another perfectly.

Their height, breadth, stance, and movements, were so perfectly matched, that in the lantern light, Violet and Drake, almost appeared identical to one another.

Arianna watched Drake fence so masterfully, she became thoroughly mesmerized, not even noticing she was holding her breath. She did, however, notice how warm she was becoming in spite of the evening's coolness.

Watching Drake gracefully, and assertively, engage in the lethal dance of swords, was a thrilling experience she had not witnessed before. Spellbound by the lighting strokes, Arianna almost expected to see sparks fly from the blades.

Finding herself having to draw in a breath, Arianna breathed, "My word..." Her eyes never leaving her dashing husband.

"Mmm hmm," Betsy smirked beside her, quite warmed herself, from watching Violet. "Told you." Betsy replied. Neither of them taking their eyes away from their men.

Violet and Drake found themselves moving about in a circle, as neither one could gain ground upon the other. They thought the same, and to their mutual astonishment, they fought the same.

The men began grinning at one another, and then laughing, as they realised it was futile to spar one another. Lowering their swords to their sides, they both shook their heads in amazement.

"What happened?" Gabriel turned to the King.

The King shrugged his shoulder, and waited to see what was revealed.

Brutus had turned at the first strike, noticing the solidity with which the swords struck. He quirked a brow at Violet in question.

"He knows every move before I make it, and I him." Violet's humour was evident in his voice.

Arianna, seeing her opportunity, rose and quickly approached her husband, laying a hand upon his arm. Drake turned to her, surprised to see her there.

"Are you well, love?" Drake leaned over quickly and grazed her cheek with his own, his lips speaking quietly next to her ear.

"Catch me." Arianna whispered back, letting her knees wobble and start to fold under her.

Drake scooped her up, "Should I be worried?" He looked pointedly into her eyes, as Violet snorted behind him.

"I will be fine," Arianna whispered fervently, "just take me to our room."

She hid her face in Drake's neck as he turned to the other men. "I am afraid Arianna needs to lie down, I shall have to test you another time, Brutus." Drake nodded to the man, receiving one in return from the Wench's new captain. Drake turned to Violet. "Until tomorrow, Cousin."

Violet tried to contain his mirth, as his glance sidled over to his own wife. Betsy sat upon her heels, her hands clasped in her lap, as she looked back upon him warmly.

"Aye," Violet chuckled his response, looking back to Drake. "Get your rest, you two, we have busy days ahead of us, I am sure all of the traveling you did to get here today simply wore her out."

Violet took the practice blade from Drake, seeing the impish smirk Arianna sent him over Drake's shoulder when Drake turned to go.

Violet laughed aloud at her, then turned and bowed flamboyantly at the audience. Tossing the blade to Brutus, Violet queried, "Shall we?"

"Most definitely." Brutus replied, stepping back a few steps then pointing the foil Violet's way.

Drake approached the King, his expectant wife in his arms, her face hidden in his neck. "Sire," Drake nodded in deference down the line, "my lords, and ladies, it has been a long day of traveling and my wife needs to rest."

The duchess began to rise, becoming concerned, "Are you alright, Arianna?" Kathleen inquired, standing from where she had been perched on the Duke's solid thigh.

Damien and Amelia looked on with a bit of concern also.

Arianna's head bobbed up and down, she peeked an eye at her mother, "I am just tired, Mother, it has been a long day." Hiding her face again in Drake's neck, Arianna could feel her blush deepening from their ruse.

"You should, by all means, lie down then, dear." Kathleen had caught the meaning in her daughter's behaviour. She became quickly amused, rather than concerned.

Arianna's father began to express his own concerns, this being his first grandchild, and all.

Kathleen patted William's cheek, as she sat back down upon his lap. "She is fine, dear." She then whispered to the Duke. "I shall explain later."

William looked at his wife curiously, before shrugging his shoulders, trusting that Kathleen would tell him if there were cause to worry.

The renewed clash of swords stole everyone's attention, allowing Drake to leave with his wife held securely in his arms.

Kathleen laughed softly hearing her daughter giggle upon Drake making the landing.

Drake swept Arianna into the manse, vaulting up the stairs purposefully, he carried her straight

up to their room. He thought he should, as his wife was unbuttoning any and all of his shirt buttons she could reach.

Kicking the door closed behind him, Drake lowered Arianna's feet to the floor, while she gained access to the rest of his shirt's fastenings. Her tongue peeked out from the corner of her lips as she concentrated on her task.

Revealing his broad chest, as she stripped Drake's shirt from him, Arianna tossed it aside with a predatory smile.

Drake's grin was highly evident as she growled softly and reached for his trousers.

Is that all it takes? A bit of swordplay?

Drake now knew what Violet had hinted at.

Drake realized that watching him fence, Arianna must have felt much as he had when watching her dance on the deck of the Green Eyed Lady.

Just thinking of her seductive, gypsy dance did things to him he could not control. Kicking off his pants, Drake took his wife up into his arms, carrying her to the bed, as she held on tight and kissed him madly.

After hurriedly removing her clothing, while still kissing her as much as possible, Drake fell upon the bed beside her, taking her tightly into his arms.

Exchanging heated kisses, they thought only of one another, their passion taking over and guiding them in their dance of love.

So taken with one another were they, their supper was forgotten about, and neither of them would be seen outside of their room again this evening.

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Violet and Brutus used the entire ship, their audience clapping, and gasping, Betsy chewing upon a knuckle, awaiting the moment when she could drag Violet away.

Violet made it easy for her. He and Brutus used the children's slides and bridges, the helm was used for the acrobatics, as the guests whooped with pleasure, the children laughing aloud at the men's antics.

Brutus finally nudged Violet out onto the plank, Violet taking his dive, only after he tossed Brutus his blade.

Betsy jumped up, grabbing the blanket that she and Arianna had sat upon, running to meet Violet upon the shore and wrap him up in it.

The King was standing and clapping, laughing his pleasure aloud, all of the others doing the same to either side of him.

Violet walked, dripping, wrapped in the blanket, next to Betsy.

"Well done, very well done." The King expressed his pleasure as they approached, and he would have gone on, had Betsy not interrupted him.

"Did I not tell you 'twas better aboard the ship?" Betsy's eyes sparkled, as she knew better than to await his answer. "Must get Violet dry, we can not have him catch a cold, too many things to do, would not be wise to get ill...."

They heard Betsy saying this, as she dragged Violet towards the manse.

Violet looked over his shoulder, at the patriarchs, and the ladies, his grin shining white in the darkness of night.

Betsy tugged Violet along by his arm. He let her, until halfway to the manse, whereupon he laughed and opened his arms, swooping her up into them, her dress becoming damp quickly against his wet clothing.

Betsy smiled widely, her arms coming tightly around Violet's neck as he made his way to their rooms, he calling out to Sadie to please have their bath filled.

Violet sprinted up the stairs, sweeping through their sitting and bathing rooms, he pushed their bedroom door closed with his shoulder.

He set Betsy down and dropped the blanket from around him, her hands already upon his shirt bottom. Her eyes roamed his sculpted chest that was visible through the light linen. Her small nose wrinkled as she found the wet fabric had shrunk around him and was difficult to lift past his arms.

Violet's eyes warmed fondly, as he kissed the tip of her wrinkled nose, then pulled the wet shirt from his body.

Her hands were upon his waistline before the shirt cleared his head.

Violet reached behind Betsy's back and deftly loosened her laces, sliding her wet dress from her, as she quickly loosened his laces.

They smiled at one another, their love for one another, and the joy found in each other, shining brightly in their eyes.

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"I believe we lost them." The King said to Gabriel.

"I would say so." Gabriel agreed, both of the men chuckling at the folly of youth.

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Sorry I took so long, my own Violet has been keeping me busy. ;)

I am humbled and truly blessed. I am thrilled to call you all my readers, thank you all for your encouragement and your loyalty to my humble tale. It made #1 on the list today and I am beyond amazed! Thank you to each and every one of you! May you all be as blessed as I feel today!