Chapter Eighteen Part Two

Jude packed his bag in a dour mood. He did not want to go to the country, he did not want to hunt, and he did not want to have to pretend to want Gwendolyn.

He had been making ground with his heiress, and did not want her to slip out of his grip. Having told her last eve he had a sick uncle he needed to visit, he hoped she would at least miss his attentions while he was gone, mayhap even pine for him.

While he did not want to go, he thought it prudent to keep abreast of Gwen and Alfred's plans. He could not afford to have them move ahead with anything nefarious without his knowledge.

He finished his packing, taking the bag downstairs with him to set by the front door, while he went to break his fast. He had already delayed an entire second day after receiving Gwen's note, taking the time he needed to reassure the lovely Terese, that he wished they were already wed, so she could accompany him to his uncle's estate. Luckily for him, he was an extremely smooth liar and she had not suspected a thing, she had even offered to say a prayer for his poor, sick uncle.

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"It seems you have been practicing, old man." Violet raised a brow at Marcus, as he was being backed up across the field behind Katherine's cottage.

"Mayhap, a little." Marcus chuckled a bit, as he was taken off guard by a quick counter attack.

Violet extended his blade, forcing Marcus back, as Marcus now found himself losing the ground he had just gained.

Everyone present had moved their blankets around back, sitting where they had a good view while letting their dinner settle, and were now spectators to the assault.

As the men took each other's measure, advancing and retreating, as they parried and reprised, they were either grinning or wearing a look of concentration, depending on which end of the engagement they found themselves on.

"Lessons from a master?" Violet asked, very impressed, as Marcus feinted an invitation, then launched his own counter attack.

"Just a new friend, willing to give an old man some pointers." Marcus drove the point home with an extension of his own, resulting in a flick against Vi's jacket, directly over his heart.

Violet laughed with surprise as the 'point' went to Marcus.

"Well done, old man!" Violet ceded to his opponent.

Marcus bowed gallantly.

They grinned at one another, until Brutus called "en guarde", wherein they took up their stances again.

Violet lead out this time, engaging Marcus in a point in line that had him parrying and reprising.

"Anyone I know?" Violet queried, as he retreated once again.

"I do not think you have had the pleasure." Marcus retorted, as Vi executed a riposte, coming back with his own extension and flick upon Marcus' jacket.

"Well done, son!" Marcus exclaimed with pleasure and pride.

"Brutus is a most formidable opponent, I have had to learn many a trick to outwit him." Violet grinned at Brutus, as that one nodded and smirked.

"En guarde" Brutus called out again.

The men continued their swordplay as Katherine and Betsy watched, each of them proud of the man they loved. Katherine thoroughly pleased, watching father and son enjoy themselves so with one another.

"How long has it been since you and Violet were wed?" Katherine finally got around to satisfying her curiosity.

"'Tis been over two fortnights now, mayhap a sennight longer than that." Betsy thought back to that day, and all that had happened since. It felt much longer considering all they had been through, and yet the passionate thrill of being newly wed had not left them whatsoever.

"That is not too very long, did you know each other for a while before you spoke the vows?" Katherine watched the men as she asked, darting glances at her new daughter as they spoke.

Betsy answered with laughter in her voice, "Three days."

"Oh my, only three days! How did you know to marry him after only three days?" Katherine asked, very surprised at her answer.

"Well, just look at him, Mama Katherine, if he proposed to you, could you say him nay?" Betsy giggled as Violet was on the attack, a more beautiful and virile man she could not imagine.

"I suppose not," Katherine laughed with her, "I wonder what made him propose, he had not shown any interest in being wed before." Katherine said this very kindly.

In no way was Betsy offended by her curiosity. "I did wonder the same myself. At first he just asked me to leave with him, but my Lady told him not without vows, so that is when he proposed." Betsy answered honestly and happily.

"I am very glad that he did." Katherine nodded.

"I am also." Betsy smiled at her. "I believe I loved him at first sight. At first, I admit, it was his beauty that captivated me. But after I spent a small time with him, it was something in his eyes, a kindness, an honesty, and mayhap a bit of loneliness. At the time I just felt drawn to him in a way I cannot explain, I do know we both now feel 'twas God that lead us to one another."

"I cannot doubt that after witnessing what I have today." Katherine smiled and patted Betsy's hand. "I am glad he waited for you, Elizabeth."

They returned their attention to the men, gasping or cheering as each man gained or lost their ground.

The last match was a draw, ending with both men smiling, embracing, and patting each other upon the back. They turned to rejoin the grouping behind the cottage, "Whomever it is you have been sparring with, has been a very formidable opponent." Violet remarked in relation to Marcus' improvement.

It usually took a day or two for Marcus to work the rustiness out of his arm, this time however, Marcus had been up to snuff immediately.

Marcus laughed, "He is indeed, a very formidable opponent." Marcus grinned at Violet.

Marcus had been practicing with none other than their King.

Marcus had gone to an instructor, that much was true. And so had their liege, to keep himself up to snuff, and to relieve a bit of boredom.

One day upon Marcus arriving for his private lesson, the monarch had just been leaving from his own. They had, most amazingly to Marcus, struck up a conversation and had liked one another immediately. The monarch had then taken his future lessons when Marcus did.

Occasionally, regency business interfered, but most often, as they were so well matched and the monarch enjoyed his company, they met every fortnight for a bout of swordplay. The fencing master had been giving them instructions on how to improve and outwit their opponents. It was one of Marcus' greatest pleasures, other than these visits and his animals, it was something Marcus looked forward to with pleasure. It was also a secret. One he kept very well, even his brother Damien had no clue he sparred with their King.

"I am glad you have found someone with which to engage, it will make beating you so much more satisfying than waiting for you to warm up every time." Violet grinned, teasing Marcus, as they were now fairly evenly matched it seemed.

Marcus cuffed Violet on the arm, "Impertinent young pup, you should be taught to respect your elders."

"Oh, ye are elderly right enough, mayhap I should give you a cane instead of this fine blade as a birthday gift." Violet grinned as he held out the blade he had been using.

Marcus was amused yet flustered, "I cannot take that Violet! 'Tis too fine a piece for you to give away, son." Marcus shook his head at the fine, jewel encrusted hilt. Violet could easily sell it and aquire a small fortune.

"I have more like it Marcus, and have wanted to give it to you for a while, please take it and know you have finally earned it, old man." Violet chuckled as Marcus did also. "Which also serves to remind me, I need your help, if you can think of any way to support me."

They sat down with the women, Marcus wearing a querying look. "Anything, Violet, you need only ask, and if I can, 'tis done."

Violet took Betsy's hand and smiled at his lovely bride. Turning his attention back to Marcus, he continued, "I need to appeal to the King for a pardon, for myself, and my men. We are readily known as pirates, and I would not have the fear of imprisonment, or a hanging, for my men in the future. We do not want this hanging over our heads either once we start a family." He looked to Betsy again.

Marcus was shocked, that Violet and his men would risk their necks, when they could simply try to fade into the populace. "Are you sure, Violet? What if he will not pardon you and wants to hang you for your crimes instead? You have pirated his own ships, have you not?" Marcus was more than a bit worried for these men he had come to love, not to mention his own flesh and blood.

"'Tis something I must do Marcus, I need to be free of these chains that bind me, and my men need to be free of them also." Violet put his hand on Marcus' shoulder. "I have made some friends in high places and am hoping they can help also."

Marcus looked to Betsy, who nodded, then Violet again, "Your men are aware you plan to do this?"

"Aye, I have spoken to them and they agree, we hope the children we saved and the minimal damage we have done will sway him, not to mention the fact that we are willing to stop taking from others, and find a way to make a living honestly. Brutus and some of the other men are more than willing to privateer for the King, if he wishes it." Violet rubbed his thumb across the back of Betsy's hand as he spoke. "I would not be arrested later Marcus, and have her raise our children alone."

Betsy squeezed his hand, and smiled, though she felt she would need to pray about this furtively. Violet was willingly placing his neck in the noose and she must trust all would go well. She needed to support her husband in his decisions however, and would do so in faith.

"Violet, I fear for you." Katherine expressed her worry, "You are just going to give yourselves over to the whims of one man?"

"I am going to trust our God and hope that by going to the monarch myself he will see I am trustworthy." Violet did not feel fear, just an impatience to have the matter dealt with, to be free of fear for the future.

"If you are committed to this path, I will do all I can to help you." Marcus was not sure his friendship with their liege would have any sway in the matter, but he could see that Violet was determined. All he could do was support him fully, hoping it turned out as his son wished. "When did you want to do this, Violet?"

"Tomorrow could not be soon enough, we wish to marry in the church, and Elizabeth would like a Lady invited. I am hoping to inform Lady Eleanor on our way north, and retrieve her for the vows on our way back."

Betsy was a bit surprised, she did not know this was his plan, and she was not expecting him to want to leave so soon.

Violet turned to her, "I did not know myself, my love. It just came to me that if I sail north it would be over with, and I could fetch your Lady myself. I would have the vows spoken as soon as possible." Violet did not want Betsy to think he would keep things from her, it had just come to him to expedite things along. "Will you sail with me, Marcus?"

"Of course I will, Violet." Marcus agreed.

"You two will not be going alone, Violet Petals, you had best make some room for me upon this journey." Katherine's visage brooked no argument, yet Violet was surprised. His mother had never left their small community before that he was aware of.

"But who will keep the children?" Violet asked her.

"Look around you Violet, there are many to help with that." Her words rang true, and he saw from her face he would not dissuade her.

"Then you best be about it Mama, I hope to leave with the morning tide." Violet rubbed Betsy's hand again, as he looked to his parents, "I will not be taking Josh, as he was never a permanent member of the crew, all else will have to go, though I wish I could leave Chaunce here, I am not sure he would not be better off with us, and with what he is used to."

"We will just make that decision after some thought, Violet." Betsy wanted to pray and see what the Lord thought about that, she knew they would receive an answer one way or the other, before it was time to sail.

"He could stay here with you, my love." Violet thought this may be a fine idea.

"Oh no, you will not be leaving me here either, Violet Petals! 'Tis my own connections to the Duke we will be seeking, not to mention the Earl." Betsy was shaking her head at her thick headed husband. That he would choose to try to keep her safe now, when he would need her the most, warmed her heart, but frustrated her also. "Do not even think of trying to leave me behind, I would go mad with the not knowing." Her face was as determined as Katherine's had been, and Violet knew he would lose if he persisted.

"I will allow it, but only because we have done no pirating since you have joined us, you cannot be tied to our crimes." Violet thought this would save her, at least, if the monarch would not see reason. "Then 'tis settled, I will tell the men, prepare for a trip Mama, your first. 'Tis too bad it could not have been for pleasure."

"Give me a grandchild and that will be pleasure enough for the rest of my days!" Katherine rebuked.

They laughed at her, and tried to keep the mood light, in spite of what may lie ahead.

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We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful.......wait, wrong story, lol 😉👑