Disclaimer: Guess they were not nightmares because when I went out to get the paper this morning, there were deep scratches on my windows and doors. Will have to put bars on windows, and heavy duty locks on doors. Didn't look to see what the big thud against the door was as I came back in and shut it. Might look tomorrow. Might not

Inaccuracies historical or otherwise will be forced to listen to Mr. Gibbs sing "15 Men On A Dead Man's Chest" over and over and over again

Chapter 25

Rebecca could not remember when she had been so uncomfortable. When she wasn't in her disguise to visit the Harbor, she usually just wore a simple shift, and most of the time went barefoot or wore a simple pair of slippers. She absolutely couldn't stand this stupid dress, this stupid hairdo, and these stupid shoes. And probably the most stupid, and the most uncomfortable was this devilish corset she was forced to wear. Who ever thought this thing up had to be the meanest, cruelest person on earth!!! She couldn't breath, she couldn't bend, and she couldn't turn. All she could do is stand there like an over sized doll.

Then Jannika had the nerve to tell her to smile. SMILE????? "You look so much prettier all dressed up like that if you have a smile on your face." Jannika told her.

"SMILE! Not bloody likely!" Rebecca thought to herself, but outwardly she did manage to put a very very small smile on her face, just so Jannika would leave her alone.

Jannika did leave her for a few minutes, but then was back, with a necklace. Rebecca had to admit it was a very pretty necklace.

" It should go very nicely with your dress. I've been told that's a real ruby on it." Jannika said as she held it up next to the dress.

"It's lovely Jannika, where did you get it?" Rebecca asked.

"A long ago gift from an admirer." Jannika replied. "Where he got it I don't know, and never had the nerve to ask. He was a seafaring man, though honest or pirate I couldn't tell you. Came sailing into port one day with this, left the next day, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of him since. That's been nearly 10 years ago." Jannika said this last with a wistful sigh. Then shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Here child this will look fine with the dress." and put the necklace around Rebecca's throat.

"Now off you go to your fine party." Jannika said trying to sound more cheerful.

Rebecca was absolutely miserable. She was bored to death, the food was terrible, and Christine had to be the biggest twit in the world. All she wanted to do was talk about herself. What amazed Rebecca was that everyone around the dinner table nodded and smiled, and let her talk about herself.

"……and then the Duke's son told me he had never seen such a lovely girl!"

"When I walked down the avenue in my new dress everyone was looking at me like I was a princess!"

"Lord Cavanaugh specially requested my presence at all of his dinner parties!"

All of this presented in the most irritating singy-songy whiney voice Rebecca had ever heard.

"No wonder she came back from England." Rebecca smirked to herself; "No one there could stand her anymore!" Rebecca let out a pretty loud snort, and then everyone was looking at her, including singy-songy whiney Christine, who had a look on her face as if to say, "How dare you interrupt all the attention I am getting by telling my fascinating, intriguing stories."

"Excuse Me," Rebecca blurted out. "I just need a bit of fresh air." and practically ran out of the dining room onto the balcony.

She looked around, and seeing no one within earshot, she started to giggle. Which turned into a laugh. Which turned into what could only be classified as very loud guffawing. Between the corset, and laughing so hard, she found it almost impossible to catch her breath. Her laughing turned into wheezing and coughing.

Suddenly there was a hand and a glass of water in her face. She looked up through the tears in her eyes to see the Butler standing there. She tried to cough-wheeze out she was sorry; she didn't mean to be a bother or so rude. She wasn't sure how he understood her, but evidently he did, because he began to speak. " You have no reason to apologize to me young lady." and then in a more conspiratorial whisper, " The Young Miss inside should be apologizing to everyone she has ever met for being such a git."

Rebecca had managed to stop wheezing and coughing and had started to drink some of the water. Water that now came back through her nose and mouth. That is, the water that wasn't running down her throat trying it's best to choke her.

The Butler began pounding her on the back, and she finally got herself under some kind of control.

" I may not be wise to be talking to you like this, but I sense your reaction to the Young Miss inside, and most of the other people present, is close to the way I feel, and I do so need to blow off some steam. She has only been here a few days, and already has the whole household in an uproar. "Get me this." "Get me that." "Do this for me." "Do that for me." "Hand me this." "Hand me that." "Take me here." "Take me there." "This is not suitable." "That is not suitable." "Do this over." "Do that over." "Do you realize Who I AM?" It has brought me to my boiling point. I am ready to find a position in a sane household somewhere." Then as if thinking about his tirade, "I trust my words will go no further than your ears?"

" You can be assured, sir, I shall repeat them to no one." Rebecca said with a grin.

Rebecca returned to her seat at the table, and was able to survive the rest of the party. She caught a glimpse of the Butler several times during the rest of the evening, and at these times he would give her a sly wink, and she would return said wink.

Finally it was over, and they were headed home. She couldn't get there soon enough!

She couldn't get out of this dress! These shoes! This corset! soon enough to suit her.

They were, at last, getting out of the carriage, her Mother and Father walking 5 or 10 feet in front of her, seeing as she had trouble maneuvering herself out of the carriage in the dress and bloody corset!

As she walked towards the house, thinking of nothing more than getting said dress and corset off, something hit her in the side of the head. It felt like a small stone or something. She looked around, and not seeing anything, kept walking. There it was again. Ouch, that one hurt a little. Again she looked around and didn't see anything. "Now this was just strange," she thought to herself. She was at the door now and was just going through when something hit her in the back of the head this time. "Bloody Ouch" she thought but didn't turn around this time.

To Be Continued

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