The Grey Ribbon
By Pup-of-Power
This is a rewrite to "The Captain's Girl" I've changed Isabella's name to Victoria as Isabella is a little too conceited for the character as well as the fact that Isabella has no Italian history behind her. So I hope you enjoy the story and drop me a line to tell me what you think.
It was 1933, the year of the Great Depression. Its venomous claws reached across the world, tearing countries apart in its ferociousness. Cities were reduced to a state of grunge that competed against ancient villages. New York, however, was a city filled with contradictions. On one hand, the slums crept throughout the flashy metropolis, slinking through Central Park and towards the central business district. Yet on the other, The largest building, the Empire State Building, was well on its way to completion, having offered a large amount of men a chance of employment and the blue bloods of society and those who sought their fortunes in the suffering of others, partied and flitted to one performance to another showing off their riches in large diamonds and sparkling jewels.
One of the families was the DeLioncourt Heirs. Although their father had passed away, his children offered a class to the American society that hadn't been seen since the royal British family had visited. Tyler DeLioncourt was an oil and shipping mogul, taking his father's business to the skies. He supported his sisters financially as they flitted from circle to circle promoting their family company to the wives and daughters of potential clients. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, lived and adored the life of a socialite, securing a very well of fiancé. Tyler's youngest sister, Victoria, was a dreamer, more interested in adventure and romance to ever take being a socialite seriously.
Concerned over Victoria's idealism, Elizabeth convinced her brother that it would be advantageous to find their little sister a husband somewhere abroad. Through all of her and her fiancé's contacts, she decided that going to Singapore and finding Victoria a husband there would be beneficial for their family business. However, Victoria was less than impressed with their decision.
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Victoria hopped out of the cab, smiling tightly at the man as she paid him the fare. Unfortunately for her, she was unable to be dropped off at the pier that she needed to be at. Smoothing her hands down her dove grey double breasted suit she looked around the grungy port, spotting the dirty sign pointing her where to go. Two teal suitcases thumped down beside her, followed by a hat bag and a carpet bag. Victoria stared helplessly as the man got back into the cab nonchalantly and drove off.
Okay, this is fine, I'm a modern day woman, I can carry my own luggage down to the ship in, Victoria checked her watch before gasping, five minutes! Picking up her luggage, she raced down the little alleyway, ignoring the homeless and ruffian sailors that leered at her. At the other side her sister waited impatiently in a royal blue matching style skirt suit.
"Victoria, hurry up! The ship isn't going to wait for us before leaving!" Elizabeth glared at her.
"I'm coming," Victoria huffed, her palms sweaty on the handles. Her older sister huffed and stalked forward, grabbing two bags and started to hurry them over to one of the planks. The ship in front of them was a sad looking vessel. Dirty, rusty and dubious came to mind as her ocean blue eyes drifted slowly over it.
Elizabeth marched them over to the group of men standing around one of the loading planks. "Captain Englehorn, I presume?" Victoria watched as she walked straight up to the one wearing the stained once white Captain's hat. Walking slowly over to them, she took in the captain with an interested eye. The man's untidy dress didn't take away from his impressive muscular physique, piercing blue eyes. His dirty blonde hair and two day stubble unsuccessfully tried to hide the chiselled jaw and sculpted face.
"Captain, this is my younger sister, Victoria, and I apologise for her tardiness." The Captain took her in from the grey ribbon holding her chestnut hair in an elaborate twist, the matching grey skirt suit and the tight heels that encased her feet. A light flush rose up on her pale creamy cheeks.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss DeLioncourt." He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently. Victoria's cheeks grew redder.
"The pleasure's all mine, Captain Englehorn."
"Englehorn, cast off, set sail, or whatever it is you do, we gotta leave," a loud obnoxious voice floated over them. Anger flashed through his pale cold eyes and he smiled at her apologetically before he turned to the fat man behind him.
"I cannot do that, Mr Denham, we are waiting on the manifest."
The brown beady eyes looked at him unable to comprehend. "English please."
"Paperwork, Mr Denham, paperwork." The Captain leaned back as the slimy man moved in close.
"I'll give you another thousand to leave right now."
The Captain leaned in, his eyes filled with menace. "You haven't given me the first thousand yet. In fact, only the DeLioncourt family are the only passengers that have actually paid me." Victoria's eyes widened at the threatening hiss of his voice. She had never met someone so dangerous and commanding. Biting her lip, she tried hard to quell her blooming interest from blossoming further.
"How about my sister and I go on board, hnm?" Elizabeth cut in expertly. The tension was so thick as the two men stared each other down for another moment. The Captain shifted slightly, turning his body so that he faced the two sisters but still not turning his back on the man who seemed somewhat a threat.
"I'll have Jimmy show you on board while I deal with him." He hauled a teen from one of the loading parties and told him his orders. "Jimmy show the Elder Miss DeLioncourt to the state room and Miss Victoria to the Captain's quarters." His eyes warmed as they turned to the youngest sister. "Forgive me for placing you in my quarters, but we are unfortunately short of rooms. I will of course sleep elsewhere."
"I do not wish to be an inconvenience to you, Captain," Victoria protested quietly.
"I refuse to have you share or sleep in an enclosure, it goes against my code, Miss Victoria, I assure you that it is no inconvenience." She bit her lip and looked at Elizabeth for confirmation. A sharp nod was what she received in return.
"Well, if you're sure," she replied, not wanting to cause waves.
"I assure you, it is no indisposition."
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