Thirty Two Part One

Two of the King's carriages arrived early the next morning to wait at the docks. They would make up a caravan, along with Marcus' carriage, taking all who wanted to go, out to Marcus' estate.

Elizabeth had spent the night comfortably aboard ship, after wheedling the King just a mite, he had agreed, as Marcus and he had plans of their own.

The King and Marcus had decided to ride out early, before dawn, to alert the staff of everyone's eventual arrival, and to hunt with the falcon.

Mornings were a good time to catch the nocturnal creatures as they ended their nightly foraging before retiring for the day.

It was also a good time to catch the early risers, who ventured out of their holes and nests to break their fasts.

It was also easier for the King to move through the city less obviously, as the streets were mostly occupied by tradesmen's wagons picking up and delivering goods, getting their business done at that early morning hour.

Most of the population would still be at home, tucked up snugly in their beds.

As was Betsy this morn, waking in her own furs, with Violet's scent lingering upon his pillow.

Betsy breathed in the spicy aroma, wrinkling her nose a bit in frustration, as all that was missing in her world at this moment, was her husband.

She hugged the pillow to herself as she prayed for Violet's safety and his swift return.

She rose from the bed reluctantly, straightening the furs, she then went about readying herself for the day.

After using the privy and washing up, she brushed her teeth, then sat upon the bed to brush her hair.

The thought suddenly came to her. This cabin would not be her own much longer. She and Violet would be sleeping and spending their time somewhere else soon.

Where, she did not know, and it did not matter, as long as she and Violet were together, they would make a home wherever they landed.

If only the cabin could go with them.

They had made so many memories here already, that she did not want to give it up.

The first time Violet told her he loved her, being at the very top of her list.

When he told her of his miracle and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Betsy giggled, as she thought, she would welcome forgetting spitting her tea all over him, but then she saw Violet in her mind, upon the floor, singing, while giving Jonah his bath.

She saw her pirate husband, sitting in the overstuffed chair, telling fanciful tales to the enraptured, wee babes.

Aye, she would miss this space, very, very much.

She stood and went about dressing in her breeches and boots, she plaited her hair into a braid over her shoulder, donned her blouse and cinched her belt tightly.

She lifted a holster from the desk as she started to vacate the cabin, stopping at the door to look back around the room longingly for a moment.

She then closed the door behind her, making her way to the galley to break her fast.

The boys had convinced the King and Marcus to take them along this morn, bundled up in blankets, in the back of a wagon, the boys had gone before dawn with the early birds.

Jonah had remained behind, he and Paulie sat to the end of one galley table with Katy, all three of them spooning their porridge and chatting while they ate.

Brutus sat by himself at the other end, Betsy asked the galley crew for her tea and went to sit by the ship's first mate.

"I dreamed of her again." Brutus lifted his baby blues to gaze at Betsy, this time with a certainty upon his face.

"The girl or the penguin?" Betsy asked, as she lowered herself down across from him.

"Both, as one this time." He answered as he smiled.

"How is that possible?" Elizabeth wondered.

"It took me seeing her again to know. 'Tis the maid, Margaret." He said with a surety.

"The small maid from the island? The girl with the babe?" Elizabeth asked, extremely surprised.

The small maid had helped her and Lady Eleanor raid Arianna's armoire, she had been very sweet and pretty.

"Yes, that is she." Brutus nodded.

"How is she a penguin?" Elizabeth asked, a bit bewildered at Brutus' reasoning.

"She told me upon the beach one day, had she not been used by bad men and then conceived a child, she would have chosen to serve Christ in the church." Brutus looked a bit sheepish, "She told me that Carmelita had shared her faith with her, and had told her how some women dedicated their lives to service. Margaret had thought that it sounded peaceful and inspiring."

Betsy smiled widely at him, "You were dreaming of a nun?"

"Aye. A nun, my dreaming mind took over from there." Brutus' visage showed humour and enlightenment as he smiled back at her.

"What do you plan to do now?" Elizabeth asked him conspiratorially.

"I was going to stop in and ask if she would like a day in the country." He looked at Betsy doubtfully. "Do you think I should?"

"Do you?" Betsy laughed softly at his indecision.

"I would like to, I would like to know her better and can think of no surer way, as of this moment." Brutus seemed to be asking for encouragement.

"All she can do is refuse, and you will have at least tried." Elizabeth wondered how Margaret felt about Brutus, did she share the attraction that Brutus was feeling?

Betsy would not like to encourage him and he to end being hurt.

"I think I shall try at least, will you, Katherine, Paulie and Jonah share a coach with me? She may be more inclined if there are other women and children along."

"I think that sounds perfect, I shall inform Mama Katy and Paulie, and you can tell the others to go on ahead, whenever they are ready." Elizabeth patted Brutus' joined hands upon the tabletop, "A penguin...... You are a funny man, Brutus, and I love that about you."

Brutus grinned as Betsy stood, taking her tea and pistols with her as she moved to the other end of the galley. She sat down to wish the others a good morn and fill them in on their plans.

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Violet got a very early start. Anxious to see his bride, he praised God he had learned to ride a horse, and had kept his skills honed over the years.

Marcus had always ridden a mount when he came to see Katherine and Vi.

Violet had learned at an early age to sit a horse, but he had to refresh himself every year when Marcus came again, as there were not many steeds upon the sea.

Violet settled the horse into a loping gait, and was reassured by the sound of the other horses hooves around him.

The duke had sent four men, one at a time to drop off throughout the journey, to patrol back and forth at intervals between the towns.

Violet had enjoyed his evening with the Kent's. The men had finished their cigars and then joined the ladies in the parlour.

Will was a different man in front of his mother.

He was still puckish, yet Violet could see it was still a huge novelty for Will to have his mother back with him.

Violet could not imagine having his own mother disappear like that one day, and to not know what had happened to her, to not know if she were still alive..... Or not.

Violet wondered how different Will and Arianna may have been if their mother had been there for them when they were growing up.

He did know Arianna probably would not have bolted on a ship that night, and he, in turn, would not have met Betsy.

Some would call that fate, Violet attributed it to God.

That God could take a bad situation, and bring good from it, was something Violet was beginning to see for himself.

The commander arresting Elizabeth had seemed so dire at the time, and yet, Violet had ended up on the same ship, cuddling with his wife. He really could not complain about that.

The storm that delayed them at Lady Eleanor's had seemed to be working against him. Yet they ended up wedding in her Papa's church, becoming truly man and wife much sooner than he had even hoped.

As Violet passed the spot where he and Eleanor had been waylaid, he felt the anger rising up in him at the theft, yet quickly he prayed it away. He had to believe that the lass who robbed him needed the funds very badly. He remembered the look of desperation he had seen briefly upon her face.

He was going to assure Elizabeth he would still try to find the band, even though he had no idea where to begin.

He would now have to transfer his skills to be used on land, and he was not quite sure how to go about that.

But if God could use the bad, and bring good from it, Violet hoped that is what would happen.

He would have to have faith that is exactly what would happen.

Somehow, someway, Violet prayed he could get the ring back for his wife, but if he could not, he prayed it helped the lass greatly in her endeavour.

Violet ruminated as he traversed the miles that would take him to Elizabeth.

God was good. He knew that with the essence of his being. God had been very good to him, he had a wonderful wife, and they had a dream it seemed would now be realized. He had a father now, and a mother who loved him above all else, Violet could only pray to be found worthy of all his blessings.

He had felt bad about punching Will, so had asked God to help him with his temper in the future. At the time, he acted without thinking, striking out in his frustration, and in violent defence of his wife's character.

He knew God understood, and forgave him, just as Will had. But that did not mean he needed to continue to act in that way, if God could help it.

And just look at all God had done for him in just a short amount of time.

Violet had a draft in his pocket that was a seed. A large seed to be sure, one that would give them a start to realising their dream, and he could not wait to share this good news with Elizabeth.

Violet quickened the horses pace, knowing they would stop to eat something soon, giving the horses a chance to rest while they did.

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Marcus waved at his wagon drivers as they passed them on their way out to the estate.

The wagons full of milk were on their way to be delivered to the businesses in town that Marcus had contracts with.

The King had inquired about this before, he knew Marcus was industrious and liked his husbandry.

The men rode ahead of the wagon full of sleeping boys, gaining the estate before too long.

Marcus went to the barn and told the grooms to look out for the boys' arrival and to let them help with the feedings when they arrived.

Marcus also sent a man to inform the house staff they would be having guests.

The groomsmen and farmhands did not know who Marcus' friend was, but bowed their heads in deference just the same, when they passed him in the yard.

Marcus rejoined the King, mounting up, he led the monarch behind the barn to ride up a hill and find sprawling, open acreage over the rise.

"This is where I hope Violet will build the orphanage." Marcus leaned on his pommel as the king removed the cover from the bird.

"'Tis a fine piece of land to be sure, we must do something to help him, I believe, as his cause is a highly worthy one." The King gave his attention to the raptor, pulling the hood and giving her leave.

She pushed up off the King's arm, his indulgent smile paired with a feral gleam in his eye, "I am curious as to what she brings in first." He looked to Marcus excitedly, as Marcus sat up in his saddle, keeping his eye upon the searching, hunting bird.

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Yea, Violet's coming home :)