Twenty Five Part Two

The Ducal residence was abuzz with activity.

The Duke and Duchess were traveling to Marlborough on the morrow, their things were being packed for the upcoming journey.

Now that Admiral Miser had received his due, Drake and Arianna felt free to pursue their own interests.

They were both very interested in visiting Drake's estate in Trent. Drake had not seen the estate for the last eight years. He had left it in the care of his father's hands, but Drake was ready to take over the responsibility now that he had returned. He looked forward to returning to Trent, he remembered it well and had thought of the place often while he had been away.

Arianna was looking forward to being able to set up her own household, she could not wait to get a look at, and get acclimated to her new home. Drake had assured her she would be happy there, and she had no doubts of that, as long as he were there with her.

Trent would be their home now for most of the year, and Arianna was anxious to make it her own, well before the baby came.

Pedro and Carmelita would be traveling with them, the King had given them a few months time before they needed to go back to the island that Bailey no longer ruled, the island where they would return to live and raise their children.

Arianna hoped to see Pedro relax a little once they arrived at Trent. He was always worried about something or another, and it seemed to Arianna, he could use some time to simply enjoy having his family back with him.

They would all be leaving together in a few hours time, once everyone had packed the things that they wanted to take with them.

Upon awakening that morning, Arianna had sipped her warmed milk and chocolate, as she nibbled on a point of toast cautiously. She paid close attention to her stomach to not eat too much and become nauseous again.

She did not feel as though she wanted to eat anything, but she knew to do that, would not be any better.

Arianna had decided to try something different every morning until she found the right routine that would ebb her roiling belly. So far this morning, she was doing fine.

She and Margaret were packing her things. Margaret's babe was sleeping, and while he did, Margaret helped wherever she was needed. And even though Margaret was very helpful, Arianna missed Betsy terribly.

Ari had known she would. It was just one of the many reasons she had not wanted Betsy to leave her, it was most strange to be home and without her.

Poor Margaret had been called Betsy a few too many times already.

"I am sorry Margaret, I just find it hard to remember that Betsy is no longer with me." Arianna smiled sheepishly at the small maid after doing it once again.

Margaret was not offended. She had liked Miss Betsy and she hoped that the pirate was taking good care of her.

Margaret had experienced mixed feelings about Betsy absconding with a pirate. Especially one that had ties to Marcus Bailey. Margaret had been given that information from the Wench's first mate.

Yet, the man, Brutus, had also said he was glad that Bailey had been apprehended. Margaret had enjoyed the few times she and Brutus had spoken together, and the pirate had even held her son once or twice. He had seemed very respectful and nice, for a pirate. Hopefully, Betsy's pirate captain was respectful and nice as well.

"I hope she fares well, also, my Lady." Margaret knew Arianna was more than a little worried about her friend, and she commiserated.

"She had better be fairing well or I know a pirate who will be incredibly sorry if she is not." Arianna adopted a shrewd look. She wished she could know for sure that Betsy was alright, but she prayed Betsy was well and happy. Hopefully, she would receive word from Betsy soon.

Though Arianna did not trust Violet Petals, she also hoped Drake had put enough fear into the man that he would take Drake's threats seriously.

"You are sure you do not want to come with me?" Arianna turned to Margaret, who was collecting Arianna's toiletries and packing them carefully into a small case.

"I am sure, my Lady. Your mother and I have been together for a long time, and she has asked me to stay and be here when she returns." Margaret was glad she would not be traveling with the babe quite yet, they had just settled in and they were both adjusting to a routine he was taking well to.

It seemed that since she had given birth to him, their life had been nothing but getting used to one routine then another. The island, then the ship, then the island they had wrecked upon, then the ship again.

It was nice to have a bed, good food, and light work to occupy her while the babe slept. Even though she did not care for London, Margaret was content to be in one place for a while.

"We shall return in a few months time, no doubt, as the King has planned a welcome home masquerade for mother. I do not think we would miss that," Arianna turned back to her task too quickly, "If you would like to change your mind and come to the country......" Arianna felt her stomach lurch and put a hand to her belly. "Oh no." She sat quickly and breathed deeply, in and out, trying to outlast the feeling of wretchedness that came over her.

"Margaret." Was all she had to say, though it was said most urgently.

Margaret ran for the bucket Arianna had near for this purpose, and placed it in front of her mistress.

She moved around behind Arianna and held her hair back for her, just in case.

*****************************************************

Violet knew, as he was gathering the clothing, he was probably not thinking straight. What man could be expected to think straight when the woman he loved had been arrested and detained for attempting to kill a King's officer?

Violet set the bundle of clothing down on his bed. He sat beside the pile of dark material, putting his elbows on his knees, he then rested his head in his hands.

How could he have such rotten, bad luck? Here they all were, trying to do what was right, and everything was going terribly, horribly wrong.

Well, to be completely honest, not everything had gone wrong. Violet raised his head and stared at the wall.

Their wedding night had been very, very right.

More than right, it had been all he had hoped for and more. His wife was indeed his perfect mate, he knew it, and so did she. And that is why he needed to get her back.

Violet raised his head and looked upward. "I did not ask for Your help, did I?"

Should he have prayed first, then kept sailing straight at them, as Marcus suggested? Did the fault lie in him?

He had told God he would never doubt Him again. Had he, himself, doomed them by not asking God what He would have them do?

Had he moved in fear, and not faith?

Violet looked around for Betsy's bible. It sat on his bedside table, next to him. He picked it up and saw that Bernard's journal was tucked beneath it.

He and Betsy had planned to start reading the journal this evening. Violet picked up the journal, replacing the Bible on the stand.

Violet smoothed the worn leather. That it had been softened over the years by the frequent use of Bernard's own hands, did not escape Violet's notice.

Violet opened the book to the first page, seeing Bernard's name and the date he began making entries.

He turned the page and began reading about Elizabeth's grandfather's early days in the King's service. Bernard must have begun the writings at the same time he began his military career.

It seemed Bernard had been torn early in his military service, between serving his King, and serving his God.

After Bernard met and fell in love with Penelope Hastings, his journal was filled with these torn feelings, yet those writings were mixed in with others that were filled with adoration for his new wife.

Bernard's loyalties finally culminated in carrying out his civil duty. He served out his minimum required time in the King's service, then left the military to answer the Lord's call.

Violet read on, at one point turning on the bed to lie upon his stomach, his chin in in his hands, as he learned more about Elizabeth's family history from Bernard's point of view.

Violet's heart was pained when he read of Bernard losing Penelope to childbirth. Violet could not imagine his own pain, were he to lose Elizabeth that way. He was not sure how he would go on without her.

Bernard was stoic in his belief in God, but Violet could read between the lines, how very hard that had been for him at certain times.

Moments when Bernard would see Penelope in their son's face, and the grief came on hard and piercing, Violet could see where tears had marked the ink.

Violet continued to read of Bernard raising his son in those early years.

That was what had kept Bernard going, that God had given him a child, a gift from his dear wife to give him a reason to go on.

Violet thought upon that for a moment. He realised that while being difficult beyond belief, a child would help to ease the loss a small amount. Now he knew why Elizabeth had been upset that he had kept her from conceiving.

Not that he was planning on being hung, or anything.

He bent his head back to the book.

There were insights into Bernard and Eleanor's friendship and how much she had been there to help and support him.

Violet read that Lady Penelope's family had insisted Alexander attend school as a Hastings, they had payed the fees, and gained Alex entrance into the best institutions.

Even though Lady Penelope Hastings had married beneath herself, her family had insisted on involving themselves in her son's life.

Bernard had been proud of Alex, his hard work and excellent grades earned him the respect of his lofty relatives. The Hastings had used their position, their good name, and their money to give Alex advantages that Bernard could not.

Violet read on, growing more mesmerised by the words as the story unfolded.

*****************************************************

Marcus sat up in the crow's nest keeping an eye out for any changes aboard the Omega.

He had offered to spy upon the other ship, and report his findings for the kidnapping Violet was planning.

So far, things had been pretty darn quiet.

Marcus turned back from peeking over the rim of the bucket, seeing no change aboard the Omega, he sighed heavily.

He needed to tell Violet the truth, and the sooner the better.

Marcus knew he would reveal his relationship with Violet to the King, and that Violet needed to know first. Marcus did not want Violet to find out when the King did, and that was becoming more eminent as they went along.

Marcus looked up to the sky and spoke to the same God his son believed in.

His thoughts were questioning, asking for the right time, asking for Katherine to not be blamed whatsoever, asking for the strength needed to do this thing, and most of all, asking that his son would take it well.

In the midst of Marcus' thoughts, Katherine's head popped up by his feet, and she allowed him to assist her up into the crow's nest.

She was wearing the breeches she had made for herself the first day out, and she had fixed her issues in the same way Betsy had, with a blouse and a belt.

Marcus smiled, thinking that Katy was showing her support of Elizabeth in this way.

"I could not climb up here in my skirts, Marcus Medeiros, now quit that asinine grinning."

"Yes, ma'am." Marcus' smile only grew, as she sat cross legged next to him, then leaned her head upon his shoulder.

"He is planning something stupid, is he not?" Katherine glanced up at Marcus, a touch of worry on her face.

"Of course he is." Marcus continued smiling, as Katy drew her brows together. "He is a man, you know."

She smacked him lightly on the arm, "What can we do?" She asked, as she lay her head back down to rest upon him.

"Not a lot, really....... I am trying to help, I am spying upon the other ship, gaining reconnaissance information that I can pass on to the idiot." Marcus grinned, as Katherine frowned, looking up at him again.

"You are going to let him do it........And you are helping him?" She asked, a bit confused. "Why would you encourage him?"

"Something to do, perhaps?" Marcus shrugged his shoulders, then raised a brow at the disgusted look she gave him.

"Men!" She huffed, and sat with her spine straight, now a space away from him.

"Well, he asked me to. And this way I knew he would not take off and attempt something without finding me first. He will want the information I have been gathering." Marcus smiled down upon Katherine, nodding.

"And what information is that?" Katherine asked.

"Nothing, so far, but I am working on it." Marcus nodded again, sounding so serious that Katherine laughed.

"Well, as long as you are helping, Marcus." Katherine patted his knee, and then turned up and over, onto her own knees, so she could peek over at the other ship.

"It is quiet over there, is it not?" She turned to look at Marcus.

"Yes, it is too quiet......," Marcus said suspiciously, "They must be up to something."

"Oh you," Katherine swatted his chest lightly, again, "You are warming to your role as spy I see." She smiled at him before he pulled her down beside him and put his arm around her.

"I know of a way we could distract him." Marcus kissed her brow, as she tried not to melt in his arms.

"How is that?" She thought Marcus was doing a fairly good job of distracting her, as she closed her eyes and accepted his tame affections.

"We could tell him I am his father." Marcus said it, he just spit it right out there, to see how she reacted.

Katy raised her startled eyes to his, "You are sure?" She searched his eyes for any doubt, and she could find none.

Marcus smiled a confident smile at her, "I am, I needed to see if you were ready, also." He cupped her jaw in his hand and kissed her cheek. She closed her eyes and simply breathed, taking in this moment.

He held her tight for two seconds, then released her to scoot to the ladder, "Follow me down?" He held a hand out to her.

She took his hand and let him help her to descend in front of him, her backside rubbed against his frontside, as they made their way down, her face was rose red when she finally made it to the planks.

Marcus had not minded in the least, he had been pleasantly entertained by the close proximity. He lifted her face by placing a finger under her chin.

"Stop, Marcus,.....one thing at a time." She placed her hands upon his chest and looked beseechingly up into his eyes. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"I think I will brave this alone, my love." Marcus kissed Katherine quickly upon the lips, before turning and leaving her, smirking as he made his way below deck.

Just wonderful, Katherine thought, what was she supposed to do now? She looked around and saw Brutus looking at her, his brow raised in question and a smirk upon his lips.

"Care to enlighten me, Mama Katy?" Brutus teased.

He had known which way the wind blew long ago, Brutus had seen the looks exchanged between the two of them for years. He had also seen enough to know who Marcus was.

"Just mind your business, Brutus." Katy climbed up to the helm and joined Brutus.

"Yes, ma'am." Brutus started whistling, trying to hide his smile.

"Stop that, Brutus, I swear, you men are so annoying sometimes." Katy rested her arms on the railing, and took up Marcus' post, spying on the other ship.

"Pretty quiet over there." Brutus observed.

"So I have heard." Katy replied.

"Do you think Violet will attempt to go get her?" Brutus had heard Violet's kidnapping plans when Vi had shared them with Marcus.

"I do not know, we shall just have to wait and see." Katy was not able to think about anything, other than the moment when Marcus told Violet the truth.

Brutus heard something in her voice, a distractedness she usually did not display.

"What is it? You are worrying over something, and if it is not Violet attempting a kidnapping....? Do you fear we will not get Elizabeth back?" Brutus asked, as Katy stared across the water at the Omega.

"No, I am sure, eventually we will have Elizabeth back," Katherine turned.

She then asked Brutus pointedly, "Brutus, do you know about Marcus?" Katy continued looking at Brutus shrewdly, as he stared straight ahead of himself, manning the wheel.

He seemed to think about this for a moment, "About you and Marcus?" Brutus was not sure to what she was referring.

Katy blushed and looked down to the planks, "Well, yes, I suppose it started with me and Marcus."

They looked one another in the eye finally, and Katy smiled at her son's best friend.

"Marcus is telling Violet that he is his father." Katy saw the surprise in Brutus' eyes. Not at the revelation of Marcus being Violet's true father, but that they were finally telling him.

"Why now?" Brutus wondered why Marcus would pick this time, when Violet was already upset about his wife being arrested, and it seemed as if he had enough on his mind.

Did Marcus think to distract Violet from his worries, or to mayhap try to give him something in return for losing his wife?

"It is far past due, actually." Katy tried to justify the timing in her own mind. Was it a good idea to tell him now?

Of a sudden, she wanted to be there when Marcus told Violet. "I have to go." Katy left Brutus staring after her, as she rushed quickly below deck.

She walked briskly along the hallway, only to stop suddenly at Violet's cabin door.

*********************************************************

"And you did not know?" Marcus asked his son.

"I had not a clue." Violet replied bewilderedly.

Katy brought her fist up to her mouth, she did all she could to remain silent, to wait and see how this progressed. Inside, she trembled and quaked, fear of hearing any pain revealed in Violet's voice, gripping her and holding her frozen.

"I do not think she even knows." Violet said.

Katy furrowed her brows, She, she who?

"Well son, that is some development you have come across." Marcus' voice revealed astonishment, then conviction, "We can assume Eleanor knows, and she will use the information if she thinks it will help."

It did not sound as if Marcus had told him.....Katy did not know if she was relieved or not. She put her hand to her heart to still her rapid heartbeat, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

"What are you two planning now?" Katy walked into the cabin and found her two men sitting at the table in the far right corner.

"Violet has been reading Elizabeth's family history, and he came across something he did not know." Marcus looked at Katy pointedly, she made an effort to look more relaxed as she joined them.

"What did you find, Violet?" Katy tried to keep her voice even as she perched on the edge of Violet's desk.

"Elizabeth's father was a very well known man, who personally served the King." Violet smiled ruefully at his mother. "Very well known." He emphasised.

A mother knew when her child was asking her to guess something, and that was what he was doing. Marcus sat in his chair, grinning, as Katherine thought, "King's man, hmmmm, well there have not been any really notable ones since,....." Katy's eyes grew wide as Violet and Marcus both nodded at her.

"He can not be!" Katy said disbelievingly, "His name was...."

They all said together, "Alex Hastings."

Katy stood there with her mouth hanging open as Violet and Marcus grinned at her.

Violet thought, surely they could get Elizabeth freed eventually, with this information.

****************************************************

Eli calmly and quietly answered Elizabeth's outburst, "I will not apologise for attempting to arrest a known pirate," He held his hand up, as she opened her mouth. "And I do not apologise for arresting a young lady, and I use that term loosely, here, you understand," Eli looked pointedly at her, as he watched her close her mouth and dry her tears with a fist, she then began glaring at him again.

Wherein he gave her an expressive look conveying that her continued actions only confirmed his words. "For arresting a young lady, .....who shot at me, twice." He finished that thought.

She opened her mouth again, again he held up a hand.

"However, I do apologise that we have met under these conditions."

Betsy snapped her mouth shut and looked at him confused, she was sorry she had met him at all. She would not mind never having to see or speak to him ever again, if he thought he was sorry........

His eyes turned kindly upon her, "I knew both your grandfather, and your father, Elizabeth, and I held them both in the highest esteem." Eli stood slowly and nodded, gesturing towards the chair that sat in front of his desk. "Please, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth chewed on her lip, he had not exactly apologised as she saw it, yet she took the seat and perched upon the edge of it, she was not yet sure if she would speak to him or not.

"I knew your grandmother, also." Eli folded his hands down onto his lap.

She remained silent.

Eli braced his arms on the desk and leaned as far forward towards her as he could, "Did you know that your father could wield any weapon better than any man I have ever witnessed before?"

Eli spoke with awe in his voice.

This caught at Elizabeth and pulled her in, as she had not been aware of this fact about her father.

"No one has told me that." Betsy wore a confused look upon her face, "I wonder why...?"

"It was the part of his life he left behind when he met your mother and became a reverend." Eli waved it off.

Eli did not want to anger Eleanor, so he was careful what he revealed. "I happen to be a career military man, and I serve the same King your father did. Alexander was a very well respected man in our ranks. None had the talent he had, and he was highly esteemed by our King."

"He was?" Elizabeth felt a pride well up in her, that she shared a gift with her father, her father that she could not remember, and had never known.

This man was telling her that her father had used his gift to serve their King, to fight for the greater good.

She looked up at Eli for the first time without glaring at him, so he took the opportunity to steer her in a different direction.

Eli stood and started moving around his desk, "Would you mind demonstrating your talent? I did hear you say you are equally matched with pistols and knives, as well as stones, did I not?"

Betsy stood, and nodded distractedly, she was still somewhat bewildered by her father's past, and this man's interest in her, but she had no more answers about her future then when she came in.

And that had been her entire purpose in coming here. She wanted to know when she could return to Violet.

She had no choice but to follow the old man. He moved with a sudden spryness that had Betsy striding along at a good pace just to keep up with him.

"Commander," Betsy spoke to the old man's back, as he strode ahead of her down the hallway, "When can I see my husband?"

Eli kept walking, he started humming a tune, instead of answering her inquiry. Eli had found in the past, that his hearing problem could work in his favor once in a while.

*****************************************************

Violet sprinted up the steps that took him top deck. He went straight to the helm and joined Brutus, "Still quiet over there?" He could see for himself that more men had come topside the Omega, yet there still was not much activity on board.

Brutus eyed Violet warily, had Marcus told him, or not? "More of the crew has appeared, but they have yet to do anything." Brutus answered.

"Marcus thinks they are up to something." Violet grinned at Brutus.

"Marcus is bored." Brutus replied.

"I have come across some information I did not know about Elizabeth." Violet shared with his first mate.

Brutus could tell Violet was fairly bursting at the seams to tell him what this new information was. "That is nice." Brutus teased Vi.

Violet frowned at Brutus, "Ass......, you are a real donkey, you know that?"

Brutus grinned, "So I have been told."

"Then I will not tell you what I know." Violet leaned upon the rails to watch the other ship as Brutus counted in his mind.

One, Two, Thr......

"Her father was Alex Hastings." Violet could not stand it, and he turned and blurted out his information to Brutus.

Brutus furrowed his brow, "Her father? How could her father be Alex Hastings?" Brutus was lost.

"He used her grandmother's name. It is all written down in a journal Bernard passed on to her when we wed. I do not think she knows at all." Violet could see Brutus processing the information.

"That is good for us, is it not?" Brutus asked.

"I would say it is very good for us." Violet nodded, and then he was feeling so much better, he called across to the other ship, "Did ye all forget how to catch the wind?"

Violet's men laughed, even as they all noticed there was new activity cropping up on the Omega's stern deck.

Violet gave his full attention to the commander, and Elizabeth, as they came topside and walked to the stern rail.

His eyes burned into his wife's form as she turned to scour the Wench with her eyes, waving her arm when she saw Violet.

He waved back mechanically as he noted she looked none the worse for wear. She was wearing a coat in the King's colors, and that was the only difference he could see from when had she left him.

Except for the rifle she was holding, that was new too.

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I just want to thank you all for each of the reads and follows. I appreciate each and every vote, and it is so fun for me that you continue to enjoy the story!