Twenty Seven Part Three

For the very first time since this crew sailed her, the Saucy Wench made her way boldly into the London port. Brutus was manning the helm as Pete and Sam labored to secure the lines.

An officer from the Omega stood patiently by on the quay, waiting for them to secure the ship and disembark. Eleanor was relieved that Eli had kept his word.

Marcus stood at the rail holding a long, heavy, handled case. He and Katherine planned to accompany Eleanor to the Omega, and Marcus was delivering to Violet the first gift for the King.

Marcus had taken Lady Eleanor aside earlier, sharing with her the records that Pastor Fielding had given him. The records of the young souls that Violet had saved, and also the recording of where the funds from their pirating had gone. Since Marcus had things he needed to do before seeing the King himself, he entrusted the records into Eleanor's safekeeping, in the case that they were needed before he arrived.

It did not seem that the crew would be held or arrested at this point. In light of that, Pete disembarked with the small group, lending Lady Eleanor his assistance on the gangplank.

Marcus held Katherine's hand tightly, attempting to keep her walking a safe line. Katy was so busy taking in the bustling wharf, Marcus was afraid she would walk right off of the dock if he did not keep her close to his side.

He did not know it but Katy was looking for children. She had heard that street urchins often took their chances around the quay, dwelling in alleyways near the taverns and docks, begging for help from the crew members and passengers that came off of the ships. Yet, all she saw as the walked the wharf, were sailors and ship merchants, no children could she find.

A short, brisk walk took the small group to where the Omega sat, her commander standing at the rail.

"Come aboard, my Lady, we have been awaiting your arrival." Eli called down to Eleanor.

Marcus, Eleanor and Katherine boarded the ship, as Pete went his own way, with his own agenda.

Pete looked around, taking in his hometown as he left the waterfront, it had been a long time since he walked these streets, yet he knew exactly where he was and he knew exactly where he needed to go. There were some things you never forgot, the people may change and the town itself may look different, but home was something Pete would always remember no matter how many years had gone by.

These were the streets he ran as a child, they would be forever emblazoned in his mind.

Pete found the nearest solicitor's office, and thankfully, they were able to lead him in the right direction.

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

Eli waited at the rail, he was glad he had not been kept waiting for too long. "Welcome aboard, my Lady, my Lord." Eli greeted Eleanor and Marcus, then he turned to Katherine. "I do not believe I have had the pleasure." Eli bowed gallantly over Katherine's hand.

Marcus performed the introductions, "Commander, this is Violet's mother, Katherine Petals."

Marcus drew Katy back from the man, keeping her close at his side.

Eleanor secretly smiled at the possessiveness of Marcus' action, it only confirmed Eleanor's suspicions about these two. Having seen through their actions quite a few times already, and she could see they cared intimately for one another.

She also had her suspicions about Violet's parentage, but that was none of her concern.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Eli was gracious towards Katherine, he was also excited to get going. He had sent a man over to notify Tootie he was home for a short stay, and hopefully there would be cake waiting for him this evening.

In the meantime, Eli looked forward to presenting Elizabeth to the King.

Eli rubbed his hands together and looked back behind him, "We only await the young newlyweds and we may be on our way." Eli looked very pleased with himself, his chest was puffed out, as he rocked back onto his heels and then forward.

Eleanor looked about for Violet and Betsy also. Not seeing them, she turned to the commander.

"They were treated well?" Eleanor gave him a look that brooked no nonsense. Eli would pay if he had made them suffer any unkindnesses.

"We barely saw them a tall, holed up in their cabin, they did." Eli grinned, knowing this would please Eleanor and calm her ire.

His wife and the Lady Eleanor were friends, Tootie liked the Lady very much, and she would have his head if he did anything to jeopardise their friendship.

He would not get any orange marmalade cake for a long, long time if he made Tootie angry.

Eli would never risk such as that, over a little bit of glory.

And Eli liked the pair, they seemed to genuinely care for one another, Eli could respect that. He genuinely cared for his own sweet wife.... and her cakes.

Violet and Betsy came topside, making their way across deck escorted by Jack, they held hands, wearing smiles upon their faces as they approached their loved ones.

Elizabeth went to Eleanor, to be taken into her embrace and fussed over.

Violet approached Marcus, who set down the case and embraced his son.

"Are you ready for this?" Marcus asked him.

"As ready as I could ever be, I am thinking." Violet was glad he and Betsy had taken the time to pray and seek God's will. Vi had found his peace and was committed to turning himself in. He was trusting God with the results.

His only true concern was Elizabeth, and whether the King would take great offense at her for taking a shot or two at one of his men.

"Thank you for delivering this, Marcus." Violet picked up the case with his right hand and held their bag in his left.

"Would you like me to return your things to the ship?" Marcus inquired.

"That would be helpful." Violet handed him the bag, which Eleanor placed her hand upon.

"Is the journal inside?" Eleanor hoped so.

"It is, safe and sound, we were able to read it while we were here." Violet assured her.

"Bring it, please." Eleanor requested.

Violet did not question her as he bent and opened the bag, giving the journal into her care.

"Thank you." Eleanor held it close to her. She felt better now, if her cousin should ask for an explanation, she had it in her hand.

Marcus hefted the bag and looked longingly at Vi, he wanted so badly to take him aside and tell him, yet the timing was not right this time either.

Marcus sighed, he had to trust that when the time was right, he would know.

Marcus embraced Elizabeth, then held her at arm's length. He looked her up and down. "You are sure about this? I am sure we could find you a gown rather quickly if the commander would be patient." Marcus smiled at Betsy, a twinkle of laughter in his eyes.

"I, am fine, Marcus, I have a dress and chose not to wear it." She smiled impishly at him, "Violet said I could do as I pleased."

This brought a radiant smile to her face. which she turned to her husband, as she took his free hand.

"I think you are adorable and need no frivolous dressings to make you so." Katherine assured her.

"Thank you, Mama Katy." Betsy turned to Katherine and retained her happy visage.

"If we are ready then?" Eli wanted to get them going, he had waited long enough already.

"I shall see you there." Marcus spoke to Violet, as he rubbed Katherine's shoulder, "Do not worry, my Katy girl, pray and find your peace, all will be well I am sure." Marcus kissed Katherine's cheek before disembarking to return Violet's bag to the Wench.

The small group left the ship behind, Marcus heading one way, they, the other.

Eli had sent a man ahead to acquire a carriage, it was there dockside, waiting to take them where they needed to go.

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

Charles, being a servant, was servant minded, "My Lord, what should we do about Lynwood?"

Jude had forgotten Lynwood would be waiting for word from his mistress, "I do not want to leave the Lady, Charles, but I have to go about finding care for her, if you could tell Lynwood." Jude rubbed his temple, he could feel a headache coming on. He wanted nothing more than to go upstairs and sleep, yet he was afraid to close his eyes, afraid that he would see Gwen tumble down the stairs repeatedly if he did. He could not get the moving picture out of his mind as it was.

The doctor had given Jude the address of a place where a suitable nurse could be found.

"I will go and have them send a nurse, my Lord, you stay with the Lady, then I will notify Lynwood to return home and await her husband, someone will need to inform him she is here." Charles did not mind, he would rather do the leg work than stay in the house with the invalid in the next room.

"Thank you, Charles, that would help tremendously," Jude sighed in relief and took the slip of paper from his pocket and gave it to Charles, "Here is the address, if you tell them her needs, I am sure a suitable nurse will be sent along." Jude told Charles what he needed from the nurse, as Charles turned pale, and backed out of the room, nodding that he understood.

"If you could ask Millie to make up the spare room, the nurse will need somewhere to sleep." He called after Charles.

"Done, my Lord. I shall take care of it immediately." Charles' head had popped around the doorframe to answer him, the study door receiving a frantic look as his eyes passed it.

Charles was uncomfortable with illness, he had never been comfortable with things he could not make right himself, he would feel much better making himself scarce and doing what needed done outside the home.

Jude went into the study once Charles left, to sit quietly and rest, and watch Gwen sleep. To think that last night she was hale and hearty, today she lay broken beyond repair.

It amazed him that circumstances could change so abruptly. Here in front of him lay the mother of his son, dying, and it was completely his fault.

Jude had not felt much guilt all of his life, the lying and finagling of this woman had never bothered him in the past, it had simply been a means to an end. This was different, this time he had caused her irreparable harm, and he was not sure how he was going to deal with that.

It was not long before Jude's head fell forward and he slept along with her.

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

Pete walked briskly, the home he was looking for was just on the other side of the park he was cutting through.

Upon his arrival at the address he had been given, Pete's heart sank to puddle on the path below him. The black shroud upon the door told him he was too late.

He approached the door, knocked upon it, and waited a few moments.

The portal was opened slowly, an elderly servant answering his summons.

"I am sorry to disturb ye as I can see ye be in mourning, but I am looking for a Mister Farnsworth." Pete knew for certain, the moment he spoke the man's name, that Tim and Jonah's grandfather had passed. He could hear a soft, sweet melody coming from inside the home, quietly giving proof that there was still someone in residence.

"Mister Farnsworth has gone to his maker more than a fortnight ago, let me see if his daughter is receiving visitors."

The man closed the door before Pete could state his business, but the news that the boys had an aunt was encouraging.

Mayhap she would want to raise her brother's boys.

Pete prayed she was pleasant, as he and the entire crew had come to care for the boys as their very own.

A few moments later the servant returned, "The master's daughter will see you, Sir."

Pete followed the man through the foyer to a front sitting room, he paused at the door 'til he heard a sweet voice bidding him to enter.

He looked the direction the sound had come from and his eyes smiled appreciatively.

A very buxom blonde woman sat behind a harpsichord, her hands folded into her lap.

As Pete entered and approached her, she stood and offered him her hand. He took it and held it softly, looking at a woman who was definitely related to their boys.

She was large boned and curvy, as Timothy was a stocky youth, he seemed to take after his aunt. Pete wondered if their father had been a good sized man also.

But it was her eyes, blue as the boys' were, and her hair, all blonde and curly like Jonah's, that was what had brought the smile to Pete's face.

Her sorrow filled, yet, kind eyes looked at him questioningly, "You are looking for my father?" She asked of him.

"Yes, ma'am, I understand he has passed away, but I bring news of your brother and his boys." Pete spoke compassionately, she could hear the affection in his voice for the children.

"You have seen them? We have been so worried, we received word they were coming, but they never arrived, where are they, Sir?" Her eyes begged an answer, but Pete thought she should sit down for his news.

He gestured towards a pair of chairs as she looked flustered for a moment.

"Of course, I am sorry, please be seated, I am Rebecca Farnsworth, and you are.....?" Rebecca took her seat and looked up at Pete expectantly, as he lowered himself down across from her.

"I am Pete, ma'am. I sail on a ship that found your nephews, I am sorry to say your brother no longer is with us."

He took in her black dress which she wore in mourning, he hated to add to her burdens, but the boys may just help to ease her sorrow.

Rebecca's face fell as she thought of her brother being gone, a decade her senior, he had been her hero, she had missed him terribly when he had sailed away twelve years ago.

She lifted tear filled eyes, "Those poor boys, first their mother, and now this. What happened to him, Sir, and where are his children?"

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

Marcus knew where he was headed, he walked briskly up the street, finding the shop he was looking for, he entered and browsed around.

He found the perfect one without too much trouble, and waited while the merchant packed his order. Marcus thanked the man and hurried out of the shop, he wanted to get back to Violet and Katherine as soon as possible.

Heading up the lane, he was focused on his destination when he heard a familiar voice calling out to him, "My Lord, Baron Shelly!"

Marcus looked over his shoulder to see Lynwood atop his carriage across the street.

Marcus turned and made his way to his man, "Lynwood, what are you doing about town?"

Lynwood had come down off his perch, "I brought your Lady wife yesterday, and left her at her cousin's, my Lord. I was going over there to see if she would be needing me, when I saw you."

"Fortuitous for me, Lynwood, I actually could use a ride." Marcus grinned at his luck.

"My pleasure, my Lord." Lynwood would much rather tote his master around town, than the man's wife.

Marcus placed his parcel inside the coach, as Lynwood assisted him and gained directions.

"As quick as you can, Lynwood." Marcus encouraged the man.

"Yes, my Lord, I shall make haste."

Lynwood hopped back up top, circling the block to head the other way, it was the quickest way he knew to get to the King's castle.

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

Accustomed to the King's protocol, Commander Eli Fielding, Lady Eleanor Kent, and those that came behind them, signed in with the King's man at the desk.

Eli then went to stand and chat with a few of the officers that were minding the doors, while he waited for his audience with the King.

Katherine and Eleanor sat along the wall, both of them sitting stiffly in the upholstered chairs that were provided for their wait.

Both of them being anxious for different reasons, they talked about anything they could think of to keep their minds off of why they were there.

The case Violet had brought rested beside them, as Vi and Betsy admired the weapons wall. The Monarch had quite the collection, each country being represented it seemed.

Most seemed to be gifts, from other hierarchies, to the King of England.

Betsy pointed and read descriptions, telling where they had come from aloud, as Violet appreciated the workmanship it took to create the pieces.

There were weapons of every century, mace, spear, sword and knife. Bow and arrow, jousting lance and shield, Violet smiled when he found a sling, a rock slung in it's pocket.

Betsy nudged him and pointed to a Claymore. The King's was extraordinarily beautiful, it was a ceremonial sword, with an intricately designed hilt on the two handed weapon. It had never seen battle, much less dirt, or a speck of blood, it shone in mint condition.

Violet smiled as he pictured himself wielding it. It was too bad he did not like killing people, because he sure liked swinging that type of sword. There were not many uses for them other than beheading, maiming or impaling, which Violet had no reason to do.

Violet smiled indulgently, thinking back, the pure intimidation his Claymore had brought had definitely been evident the times he had brandished it though, in spite of it's actual lack of use.

As they continued to peruse the wall, a large door behind them opened, and a King's man stepped out calling for Lady Kent.

Eleanor stood, clutching the journal tightly to herself, she prepared herself for her cousin's ire.

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

;) Until next time