Chapter 10: The Count and Countess Jensan
Zapata had a room over the tavern. It wasn't much, but Jane and Kurt finally had a chance to clean up and change into cleaner clothes. Jane told her friend all about Briggs' attack, and the island where they'd found themselves stranded.
Early the next morning, Zapata woke the pair and said, "I think I found you safe transport."
"How can you be certain it isn't a trap, perhaps one of Briggs' associates?" Kurt asked.
"I don't think so. The Captain has no love for Briggs. And his associate, Patterson, is the one who has given me every lead on your daughter. If someone wants to know something, they ask Patterson."
"When can we meet him?"
"Her," Zapata corrected. "You'll meet Patterson and the Captain at an abandoned house outside of town. I'll take you there."
Jane kept the hat Kurt had stolen for her, and tied a scarf around her wrist to be sure the tattoo that identified her was covered. Zapata smuggled them out of town in a donkey-drawn cart so no one would see that she had company.
The meeting spot was an eerily overgrown house, with branches from surrounding trees growing through the windows and vines hanging all around. "I don't like this," Kurt whispered to her while she scanned the area for any reason for concern.
"Zapata is careful," Jane replied. "She wouldn't knowingly lead us into a trap."
"Briggs found us before and attacked," Kurt warned. "How can you be sure Zapata wasn't the one who turned on you?"
"She didn't. I just know."
Accepting the argument would do nothing to aid his cause, Kurt followed Jane as she met up with Zapata. Just before they went inside, Jane whispered, "Just in case…stay alert."
The house was dimly lit, and it took a few moments for Jane's eyes to adjust well enough to see. When she did, she saw only two people where she'd expected to find at least five of the Captain's associates. The man approached, held out his hand and introduced himself. "Reade, Captain of the Wolverine. You're Jane Doe?"
"Not what you were expecting?" she asked as she shook his offered hand.
"I try not to expect things…less chance of being wrong that way," he replied with an understated smile. Gesturing toward a woman who was staring at documents lit only by a rather pathetic candle, he added, "This…is Patterson."
"Weller," Kurt said, trying to introduce himself to the studious woman, but surprised when she shushed him and waved him away.
"She's a bit distracted right now," Reade explained. "We can talk over here."
Giving Patterson a little space, Reade joined Kurt, Jane, and Zapata on the other side of the room. "Zapata said you've had a bit of a…conflict…with Briggs?" Captain Reade began.
"That's one way to say it," Jane replied. She knew it was time to decide how much to trust this man. If he was working for Briggs, they were probably already in great danger. She saw Kurt casually strolling around the space, peering into the adjacent rooms, and he didn't seem to find anyone else. If she was going to convince Reade to trust her, she would have to at least open up a little.
There was something so familiar about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She told him part of her story, the part about Briggs taking her child, and he listened with patient empathy.
When she finished, he said, "Leaving out one important detail, aren't you…Alice?"
Jane shook her head, so shocked that he'd used that name. "What?"
"I met you once, when we were children," he explained. "My father had dealings with Briggs."
Jane felt suddenly concerned, wondering if Reade had some allegiance to the woman.
"It didn't end well," Reade smiled sadly. "The moment my father was no longer useful, he was dead."
On the other side of the room, Patterson gasped and smacked the table, hurrying over to Reade and showing him something she'd been working on.
"What is that?" Jane boldly asked.
Reade and Patterson exchanged a look, and when he nodded his agreement, Patterson explained. Speaking with rapid fire excitement, she said, "Briggs sends all of her communications encoded. The codes change, and, from what I can tell, only two people know the key…Briggs, and one of her top men. It took me a few minutes, but I cracked their latest code, I know the plan."
"Patterson can crack any code, solve any riddle," Reade explained.
"Eh, I have a knack," she said, trying unsuccessfully to hide her pride in her talents.
"She's the one who has given me all of the leads on your daughter," Zapata credited.
"We need to try to avoid bloodshed," Kurt said. "We don't want the girl to get hurt during the rescue."
"Then you're really going to appreciate my code breaking skills," Patterson crowed.
"Why's that?"
Reade continued, "Patterson cracked the latest communication. It states that your child will be given to Adlar Jansen and his wife. His father, Count Daniel Jansen has great sway with the Dutch Trading Companies. It sounds like your child is being exchanged as part of a deal to allow Briggs and her fleet to sail without interference."
"She's selling my daughter?" Jane growled.
"Does that really surprise you? She's done things far worse than that," Patterson replied, still full of enthusiasm.
"You know as well as anyone just how far Briggs will go," Reade added.
"There is good news," Patterson offered. "Well, everyone knows Daniel Jansen…but most people haven't met his son. He's been studying at Oxford the last few years. He and his wife are on their way to finalize the deal and get the child."
"And?" Kurt followed up.
"If no one knows what Adlar looks like," Patterson replied like the idea was obvious, "What's to stop you from posing as Adlar and his wife, and going to see the girl? Look, if you get there before the real Jansens, you can find the child, maybe even get her to safety before Briggs shows up."
"That's good," Jane replied, nodding at Kurt.
"But my crew knows Patterson," Reade added. "Doe, we'll have to send you and Weller in as the Count and Countess."
"You're going to need a decent dress," Patterson added.
"And to cover that tattoo," Reade chimed in.
"You're going to have to look…like a lady."
"Me?" Jane said, shaking her head.
"Yes, you," Kurt replied. "You're not going to be happy waiting around while someone else goes in and finds your daughter, so it's best if you come with me."
"I could be a guard, or a servant," Jane suggested.
"A female guard is going to make them suspicious, draw attention," Reade stated. "You're somewhat recognizable, but without the tattoo and pirate clothes, and given the fact that you're supposed to be dead…I don't think anyone will realize who you are until it's too late."
"You could be seeing your daughter tomorrow evening," Patterson added.
"Okay," Jane said, exchanging glances with Kurt. "I don't have any dresses or—"
"Leave that to me," Patterson replied.
"We'll have to teach you to be a proper lady," Zapata added, unsuccessfully muting her snicker.
"What about him?" Patterson asked, pointing at Kurt.
"Oh." Zapata stared at Kurt like he was going to be the bigger problem. "You need to make them believe you've been at Oxford, taught to be an English Gentleman, raised as part of the Dutch royal class…you think you can handle that?"
"Of course," Kurt huffed.
Reade's eyes widened with disbelief, and he turned to Patterson and Zapata and said, "Good luck with that one. They'll have to be …ugh…transformed…before they get on the ship. Every person on my crew needs to believe these two are who we say they are."
"You guys stay here," Patterson said. She turned to Zapata and added, "Come to town with me, help me get everything we need."
"I'll return to my ship and tell the crew we're expecting guests," Reade added.
"We didn't discuss payment," Jane said. "I know the risks you're taking, and I'm sure you want to be compensated."
"Briggs is a menace," Reade spat. "And when she took my father from me…" his voice fell off as he shook his head. "This is personal. You get your daughter, and I get a chance at Briggs."
Jane nodded, but came closer. "If you help me get my daughter back, I'll make certain you're rewarded."
Reade shook her hand. "I'll see you at the docks by dusk."
Jane had been through various hells in her life, but that afternoon was a whole new kind. When Zapata and Patterson returned with arms full of paper wrapped parcels, she wondered why on earth they thought she would need so many items.
Patterson opened some of the packages, and Jane cringed as she saw the equipment necessary to make her look like a proper lady.
"Is this all really necessary," Jane sneered.
"You always said you'd do whatever it takes," Zapata replied. Gesturing at the clothing, she added, "This…is what it takes."
It wasn't as bad as Jane had expected, it was worse. Although she was quite slim, the bone enforced stay pushed her into a shape that wasn't quite natural, and her posture into something a bit too erect. There was a silk petticoat, a linen shift, and all of the ghastly garments were nothing more than underwear to build the rest of her costume on.
The dress, long and weighty, fell over something that looked like scaffolding. Her sleeves were puffy and ruffled, layer upon layer of things she'd never wear. As if she weren't hot enough already, crammed into this strange wrapping, they adorned her head with a fancy broad-rimmed hat, and covered her shoulders with a silky kerchief.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, she was certain she'd been abducted, and replaced by a strange twin. "You look lovely. A perfect lady," Patterson praised.
The dress, pale blue and unendingly feminine, confused Jane. "How am I to keep this clean while we sail? There's so many layers I won't be able to move."
Patterson and Zapata exchanged a long, nervous look, and then Zapata said, "You don't need to move. You'll sit on the ship. Maybe stroll around. You won't do anything that might make you dirty."
Jane glanced at herself in the mirror again, her dark hair scarcely visible beneath the hat, green eyes vibrant against so many muted colors. She closed her eyes, and imagined the moment when her child was finally there before her. She firmed her jaw and nodded at her reflection. "Let's go."
"Not quite," Patterson said.
"You can't walk like that," Zapata added.
"Like what?" Jane countered.
The two assistants pointed at her, Zapata turning Jane back toward the mirror. Jane's arms were crossed, legs in the wide stance of someone used to absorbing the movement of the ocean. "Like a pirate," Patterson answered.
"Can you show her what she needs to do?" Zapata asked.
"I'll do my best," Patterson skeptically replied. "Can you go make sure Weller is ready?"
Zapata grimaced slightly, then parroted Patterson, "I'll do my best."
When Jane was finally brought to Reade's ship, crammed and strapped into her costume and stuffed with instructions on ladylike behavior, she didn't see Kurt waiting for her. She was told he was on deck. Finally, the tall gentleman standing near the bow turned toward her and her mouth momentarily gaped with surprise.
Kurt was entirely clean shaven, with a long doublet jacket and waistcoat, hose, and white linen stocks around his neck. She watched the way he admiringly gawked at her, and, filled with awkwardness, she burst out a laugh. His face scrunched for a moment before he stepped over to her and extended his hand to help her come to join him.
Stifling the instinct to push his offered hand away, she politely nodded and hooked her fingers over his in the way that Patterson had shown her. She noticed how Kurt scanned the crew working around them, and she realized that several of the men were looking at her with similar approval.
"I'm sorry I laughed," she whispered. "This is really strange."
"It's not a problem," he replied softly. "It's as strange to me as it is to you. But you look very lovely."
"Thank you. I truly can't wait to rip these garments off and never wear them again."
"Funny," he responded with a gentle smile, "I'd love to do the same thing to your garments. Although I suspect for different reasons."
She felt herself flush, still not quite accustomed to his flattery.
Jane had an incredibly difficult time remaining passive on the ship. She felt like she should be doing something. Few times in her life were so idle. As comfortable as it felt to be sailing again, it wasn't truly home as long as she stood there like a useless decoration.
Kurt remained by her side as much as possible. Nervousness built between them. She was grateful for his silent strength, standing next to her as resolutely as a man could stand. Jane wanted to be hopeful, to feel like this was the last step in the journey, but she'd been disappointed so many times that she tried to mellow her expectations.
She was deep in thought when Kurt gently took her elbow, and pointed to something in the distance. "Ville de St. Jean," he explained.
Jane felt a wave of anxiety as she looked at the looming fortress in the distance. Hopefully her daughter was behind those walls.
"Almost there," he added.
She was too overcome to talk, her mind already trying to play through scenarios and possibilities, to be prepared for whatever may happen.
"You're meant to be at sea, aren't you?" he whispered.
She nodded and replied, "It is my home. My life."
"I'd love to share that life with you," he shyly said, looking down on his hand as it gripped the rail. "With both of you."
Her instinct was to push him away. His words, his devotion, sometimes frightened her in their intensity. Funny, she was entirely unafraid of things that made most people scream and shiver, but words could bring her to panic. She saw the way he looked down, dejected by her lack of response.
Finally, she answered, "If I could have the sea, and my daughter, and share those with you…that is the only life I wish to live."
His hand tightened on hers, and she saw his smile even though she didn't look directly at his face. Her eyes were stuck on the fortress in the near distance. It seemed like it was all at once hurdling toward her too quickly, and still too far away.
Patterson approached. "We're here!" she said with overt enthusiasm, lacking Jane's worry. "Time to meet your daughter."