Twenty Part Three

Pete and Sam delivered the rum and wine to the tavern and were on their way back to the ship.

The wind was starting to gust occasionally, and although it was night, the men could see the dark clouds building. Grey, heavy, and moving inland from out over the ocean, the distant rolling thunder could be heard from the docks.

The men bent their heads against the wind driven spray, quickening their pace, as the ocean had started churning up whitecaps and waves.

Hurrying to the Wench, they both checked the lines securing the ship to the dock, tying the ropes off as tightly as they could, pulling them taut, to keep the ship from hitting up against the quay with the ocean's increased movement.

Pete elbowed Sam as he saw a wagon appear at the end of the dock, a tall, thin man in a long coat and hat climbed down and approached them.

"Be this the Saucy Wench, my good men?" The man held his hat to his head as a strong gust of wind tried to steal it, and his words, and throw them back at him.

"It certainly is, can we be of service?" Sam answered the fellow, wondering who he was and what business he had with them.

"I have come with the Lady's trunks, she wanted them brought now, in case the rain comes in heavy." The man was extremely pleased with the size of these crewmen, as he had already loaded the trunks into the back of the wagon at Lady Eleanor's estate, they were not light, and these looked to be able bodied men. "Could you help me to bring them aboard?"

"Aye, we most assuredly can." Pete looked over his shoulder as the thunderheads were coming in closer, the light rain from the edge of the storm started to fall steadily upon the ground around them. "We best get it done right away, it looks as if the storm is moving in quick." Pete added, as he and Sam were already halfway to the wagon, the Lady Eleanor's man, Keeting, tailing behind them.

There were two good sized chests and one smaller one. Pete and Sam each grabbed an end and carried one of the larger trunks, as Keeting hefted the smallest of the three.

"Jus follow us, mate." Pete lead the way up the gangplank to the top deck. They then took the chest to the hold where it would stay dry and protected.

"This here is the Lady's man, he brought her trunks as ye can see, we hast to fetch another right quick, as the rain started to come down while we were out there."

Violet turned and acknowledged the man, "I am the Captain, please tell the Lady we will send word when it looks as if we will able to depart, we will not sail in this weather, and will be awaiting the storm's passage."

Keeting nodded curtly, "I shall inform her, Captain. This smaller chest is Miss Elizabeth's. My Lady thought she may want her things."

"Thank you, I am sure she will appreciate having them." Violet wondered if it contained more of the drab coloured dresses that she already owned.

Keeting nodded, and ascended to the top deck. He then hurried to return to his conveyance, to try to make it back to the estate posthaste, before the real downpour came.

Violet, Brutus and Marcus were finished pulling the inventory they wanted, Michaels coming behind them and sealing the crates once more. They had all felt the ocean start pushing the ship fore and back, the cargo needed to be tied down and secured again as soon as possible.

Pete and Sam returned with the other chest, then the men worked together until all was lashed down tightly.

"I wonder if there be any o' that cider left, the temperature out there is droppin' quickly." Pete started heading up, intent on checking in the galley to see.

The other men all followed him, they found the boys playing their new card game at the serving table. The men served themselves hot cider, and all except Marcus sat down to watch the boys play.

Marcus poured two cups of cider and went to Violet's cabin where he was putting Betsy's chest inside. "I brought you a mug, shall we?"

"Yes." Violet answered his father with a smile upon his face.

Marcus and Vi went to Brutus' cabin to check on the ladies progress, and to tell them that they were finished below.

Violet cracked the door open, "Is it safe to enter?" Vi peeked his head in, and grinned at Katherine, as she gave him a glare.

"Yes, it is safe to enter, if you plan on behaving yourself, Violet." She kept up the maternal glare, as Violet chuckled and said in a loud whisper to Marcus, "She is decent this time, Marcus, I think we are safe."

Betsy turned to Katherine, "Tis the joker himself."

Marcus chuckled at Violet, but then stopped, as soon as he saw Katherine's face.

"Ah ladies," Marcus fought to keep a serious mien. "And what have you come up with Katy girl?"

"Only perfection, Marcus, as always." She set her item aside on the table and gave the men her full attention, "There is one thing we will need you to find, to complete the package, other than that, I believe we are good." Katherine answered.

Violet looked through the patterns, then turned to his Mother with lifted brow. "You think so do you? How do you know he will like this?"

"Just a feeling I have, and I also know men, a new plaything will make him happy, I hope." Katherine nodded as she inspected the work she had done so far. "Do you think you can find one Marcus?" She looked up to him hopefully.

"I know just where to look. Ye shall have the finest we can purchase, we may even be able to match the colors." He thought it a fine idea his Katy had come up with.

"Good, now why do we feel as a cork bobbing in a tub?" Katherine asked.

"A storm approaches, the rain has already begun. Unless it blows out by morn we will be weathering it out right here." Violet then turned to Betsy, "The Lady's things have been delivered, now it will be up to the weather to see how long until she joins us. There is a chest of your things in our cabin if you would care to come look." He wiggled his brows at her, as she chuckled softly. She knew what that look meant.

Betsy smiled knowingly at him, "Now that we have a bit more time and we know what we are doing, I can help you more tomorrow, Mama Katherine." Betsy was looking forward to the evening alone with her husband, as it seemed he was also.

"Yes, go on you two, I will work a bit longer and Marcus will keep me company, will you not?" Katherine looked to Marcus hopefully.

"Of course," Marcus sat across from Katherine at the small table where she sat. He sipped his cider and watched her pick up her work as the young couple bid them goodnight and closed the cabin door behind them.

"Would you like to share my cider?" Marcus offered Katherine his cup, and she put aside her sewing to take it from him.

"Thank you, Marcus, what more did you men find down there?" She wondered what else the King would be receiving, in addition to the items she already knew about.

"Not too much really, we are counting on you to embellish what we already had." Marcus took Katherine's free hand and held it in his own.

"I have been doing some serious thinking this last year, Katherine. I have been wondering if there is a way I can seek an end to my marriage, to be done with this lie that I live." He looked to her with hope in his eyes. "If I could be free, would you consider my suit, Katy?" Marcus did not know if it were possible, but he was old enough to know what he wanted, and to not care what others thought. His father had been gone many years now, there was no reason to carry on as he had, now that Alfred was a grown man. He knew his mind and his heart, and he wanted out and away from Gwendolyn.

He was not sure what grounds he had, but he was tired of living this life where his heart resided somewhere else. "Even if it were not granted, I would still like to spend more of my time with you, as you are the only one I have ever loved, my Katy." Marcus looked at her pleadingly, as he thought of how his men could care for the things at the estate, with only occasional visits from him to make sure all progressed as he wished.

"I have never told you what to do, Marcus, and I will not start now. If you were free, of course, I would welcome you with open arms. You know how I feel if you have to remain married, however." Katherine had already made one mistake out of wedlock, though she refused to look at it that way, as it was her life and she had made it fulfilling, but she still would not waver from her morals again.

"I understand your feelings Katy, I just do not want to go on as we have, I know it has been my choice to do so, but I am willing to make a different choice now, as we are not getting any younger, and I am not as stupid as I used to be." He shook his head remorsefully, "I would like to think I am not, that is."

"You were never stupid, Marcus, you loved your father and I can not fault you for that, I only wish he had not wanted to see you wed before he passed away. But that is in the past and can not be changed, if the future can be, I would love to be able to see you much, much more." She held his hand tightly, as she did hope. Yet, she also knew better than to hope too much, for something that may never come to pass.

"I just needed to know Katy, to have the strength to do this thing. And as soon as I find out if it is possible I would like to tell Violet first thing who I really am." Marcus' eyes searched Katherine's for her approval.

"Good, I have only been waiting for you to be ready, I too hate the lies, Marcus." She looked back at him with much more conviction than she actually felt, as she hoped against hope, that Violet did not feel betrayed by them when he learned all.

"I, of course, will take full blame, my love, you were just an innocent victim in all of this." Marcus assured this woman that he loved more than his life itself.

"We all were Marcus, 'tis how life goes sometimes, we shall just hope it gets better." She patted his hand before picking up her work again. The next hour was spent sharing the parts of one another's lives they had missed over the last year, and agreeing on how wonderful Violet's bride was.

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Alfred heard the Countess' tale, and tried to fob it off as insanity to his friends. Pirates, and kidnapping, and his cousin Drake swooping in to the rescue, indeed. Was she imbalanced? Was she insane? No one would be willing to believe such a tale. It was probably more likely, she had behaved badly after running away, and wished everyone to believe her an innocent victim of circumstance.

Alfred continued to assure his cronies that he would be the rightful heir to the Marquess, as soon as the Duke's daughter's tales were exposed for the creative lies they were.

He bided his time, wondering if the so called, self proclaimed, 'Countess of Trent' would be asked to leave. But then again, he could not see why she would be, when she only added more drama to the affair. There was nothing a hostess liked more, than a good bit of gossip for the next day's papers, which would make Lady Harrison's ball the talk of the ton.

"The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, and the Marquess and Marchioness of Moonhurst."

Not again!

This time there was no doubt in Alfred's mind, the Duchess had indeed returned, as she obviously stood next to a decidedly smug Duke of Marlborough. Alfred saw a future as his Uncle Damien's heir slip completely away.

Alfred noticed when a footman came to collect Arianna Kent, or, rather, Mederios, as she had professed, and also her brother, Lord Ravenwood.

Now there was an embarrassment to his father, the Duke. The Lord's blatant affairs with half the women of the ton. Alfred shook his head, one would think if you had the title he held, you could act with a bit more discretion.

Alfred needed a drink, and though he would like something stronger, he excused himself from his friends in quite a bit of frustration, and went back to the refreshment table, which immediately brought back to mind the pretty redhead. He reached for the ladle.

"Oh, excuse me, I am sorry." This time it was Terese who had timed their arrival at the bowl perfectly.

Alfred managed to smile at her and inclined his head, "I am at a loss as to how to address you, except the obvious, which is, most beautiful. May I again be of service, Beauty?"

She smiled radiantly at him, as she would not like to see his attention wander again. "You may, and just a bit please, as I would rather dance, if it would please you, my lord." She answered him honestly, and as she took the cup from him this time, he was smiling broadly, which made him quite a bit more attractive in her eyes. "I am Terese Ferguson, in answer to your earlier inquiry, my lord." She then sipped from her cup, her eyes never leaving his, as he drank from his own.

Alfred took both their cups and set them down, bowing to the lovely lady, "I am honoured to make your acquaintance, Beauty, shall we?"

Terese smiled and nodded quickly. Alfred lead her to the dance already in progress, they swept in and joined the other dancers, however, they only had eyes for one another.

Alfred was coming to the stark realization , he needed to pursue his own interests, not those of his twisted mother.

He was doubly glad of the company of the lovely Terese, when his Uncle Damien escorted the Duke's daughter into a dance. When Alfred then saw his cousin Drake appear and take her from his own father, kissing her scandalously in front of all, he actually grinned. Apparently, her tall tale was truth, or would be believed as such, with the peerage that stood behind and beside her.

Would that not just send his mother off? He could just hear her rantings now. He was now so very glad he had finally seen her for the persuasively sick individual she was. To think she had actually tried to get him to kill his own father. Alfred felt remorse for those thoughts more than any other, and he was glad that it had been time with Marcus himself that had enlightened him, before any lasting damage had been done.

Alfred turned and gave the beauty in his arms his full attention, as she was watching the kiss between Drake and Arianna also, "That is my cousin." Alfred informed her with pride, as Terese darted her eyes to his own.

He grinned and raised a brow at her, as she blushed prettily, and giggled at the Earl and Countess' display.

Yes, Terese would much rather have a young Baron's full attention, than an old Baron's feigned adoration. Jude Kensington had become a bit too possessive lately and she was having a hard time putting him off. Mayhap, if she had a serious young man courting her, her father could send Jude on his way to find another rich heiress. She really did not care, just as long as it was not her that he pursued any longer.

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"Would you like water heated for a bath, my love? 'Tis still a bit early in the evening to retire. I could have it started while you look in your chest of things." Violet lead Betsy down the hallway to their cabin, his hand riding her lower back.

"Only if you wish to Violet, I did have my heart set on a game of noddy, truth be told." She smiled up at him suggestively as he bowed his head to her wishes.

"Anything your heart desires, Kitten, I am at your beck and call." He grinned down at her and opened the door, gesturing to her to lead the way.

She spied her chest of belongings in the other room. It would be minus the few things she had taken with her on her and Arianna's flight that stormy eve.

"Tis just a few more dresses, shoes and shawls. Though, I would like to hang them if it is alright. I will need something to wear when we arrive in London, and I have seen far too much of the ones I have." She told him, as she went to the chest he had set upon their bed. "I would love a cup of tea though, if it would not be too much trouble."

"As I said, at your beck and call, my sweet." Violet took a languorous kiss from her in thanks, before leaving and whistling his way to the galley.

Betsy opened her chest, prepared to see the things she had left behind so long ago, a lifetime ago it seemed.

Yet that is not what met her eyes. A white papered bundle took up a good amount of space in her small chest. She opened it, more than a little curious, as she unwrapped a dress that was definitely made for a wedding. She held it up in front of herself and sucked in a swift breath. It was her mother's wedding dress.

Her aunt had sent some of her parent's things on her and Polly's journey from the new United States. Betsy recognised it, from finding it among her Papa's things years ago when she was very young. Everything had been packed up from their small cottage when her Papa had passed, and Lady Eleanor had stored their things for her.

Betsy sat on the bed as tears welled up in her eyes and a sad smile resided upon her face. How could she have forgotten? She set the dress beside her, so she would not cry upon it and turned back to the chest on the other side of her, to find the rest of her mother's wedding trousseau tucked in amongst her things. Her mother's wedding ring was there also. Although she did not remember her parents, other than the stories Papa had told her, it meant the world to her to have these things they had worn and touched. She looked from one side of her to to the other, at her legacy left behind from her parents.

Then she realized Violet would return soon, and she did not want him to see the dress. She carefully rewrapped it, smiling at her secret, wiping away her happy tears, and tucked it back into the bottom of the chest. She kept the ring in her hand. She had a plan for it, and wanted to act on this plan, immediately upon her husband's return.

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Blessings my lovely readers :)