Second Chances~ Iron Maggie, House Maid?
I wandered aimlessly, but not without purpose, through the alleys and streets of Port Royale. I was without ship and crew; deserted in the heart of the pirate-hunting campaign in the Spanish Main. My chances of getting away from this Port were very slim as I did not have money to purchase passage off. I wanted to be back in Tortuga with my crew and the Rose. But, as fate had her way, I was stranded in this Port with no way of escape.
I was seeking to change my financial situation while walking amongst the merchants and traders. I feigned interest in what the merchants were selling; I was really looking for a proper candidate to rob. And I found him, a young man of at least twenty years of age wearing halfway decent clothes, stealing from a food vendor. This was the man that I would steal from as I saw no harm in stealing from thieves.
I gracefully walked up behind him and inquired after the weather (it was, after all, a beautiful day). He took an interest in me too, as I looked like someone he could steal from. I could see it in his eyes; I was to be his next theft victim. I played his game as he led me away from the crowd that had assembled in front of the food vendors. I had to be careful picking his pockets as there were infantrymen and officers everywhere.
He led me over to an alley and I positioned myself against the nearest wall so his back was to the crowd and I was concealed from any unwanted attention. I lifted my right leg to my hand and unsheathed my dagger and hid the blade in the folds of my dress. He was babbling about the weather when I edged the tip of my dagger into his lower regions. He let out a startled gasp when he looked down to see the shining blade so close to his unmentionables.
"You have chosen the wrong lady to steal from sir." I said to him.
"Evidently so," he said. "What does milady want from a humble thief?"
"Common civility never ceases to amaze me," said I. "I want your coin purse sir, and any other purses you've stolen."
"And what would milady do with my property?" he asked.
We had been so focused on stealing from each other that neither of us noticed the tall shadow venture toward us. We, two thieves trying to silently unman each other, did not notice the tall, thin man standing before us until said stranger cleared his throat. I pity the thief that was standing inches from my blade, because when the stranger cleared his throat, the thief was so startled that he jumped forward-into my blade.
The thief let out a soft cry as his unmentionables were pricked by the sharp tip of my dagger. I was fighting a fit of the giggles when this occurred. The tall stranger barely noticed the thief's jump or cry; he merely cleared his throat again. My attention was drawn away from the thief before me to the man standing in front of us.
I almost gasped aloud. This new man standing in front of me was tall, dark, handsome, dashing, and I could sense his charisma from where I stood. He was beautiful, and he wasn't even smiling! He wore well-tailored clothes. His trousers were black with gold trim and he was wearing a tri-cornered hat over his powdered wig. But he wasn't wearing an overcoat, which was a relief to me. This handsome stranger was an officer, but not an incredibly high-ranking officer. I was so taken with his appearances that I had to make sure that I wasn't staring or drooling openly. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was speaking in my direction.
"Is everything all right milady?" he asked.
"Nay, sir," I said. "this thief has stolen my coin purse."
I was being bold and counting on the fact that this thief had previous unpleasant run ins with the law. My hopes were reassured when the thief remained quiet and still.
"Thief, return this lady's coin purse immediately." Commanded the stranger.
"My apologies milady." Said the thief as he handed over his very full coin purse to me.
I quickly moved my dagger behind my back, being careful to keep it hid in the folds of my dress. I took the coin purse in my left hand and graciously thanked the stranger for his help. He then took the thief by the arm and called over two nearby officers to take the thief to the stocks. I, in good nature, could not let the thief suffer for my crime. Believe it or not but there is some honor left amongst thieves, just not pirates.
"Wait, sir," I called to the stranger as he walked away. "I do not wish to press charges against this young man."
"I am sorry milady, but that is not for you to decide," said the stranger. "He has committed a crime and must be punished accordingly."
"I am not hurt, he has returned my property," said I. "And surely being caught mid-theft is enough of a punishment for such a young thief."
"If he is not properly punished, then he will continue to commit these crimes." Said the stranger, who I now definitely recognized to be an officer.
"Then may I choose his punishment?" said I. "I am after all the victim here."
"What would milady wish for this petty criminal to suffer as punishment?" asked the officer.
"I wish for this young man to be given another chance in such a civilized society, sir." Said I.
"And how do you propose this be done?" inquired the officer.
"If I am not mistaken, sir, this young man is of proper age to enlist in the infantry." Said I.
"You wish for him to become an enlisted member of the infantry?" asked the officer.
"Yes I do, sir." Said I.
"Very well, milady." Said the officer. "This thief shall be reformed in the infantry, as punishment for his crime."
"Thank you sir." Said I.
I glanced over to the thief being held between two infantrymen. He smiled softly to me; a thank you of sorts. No one should ever have to steal to make a living, especially at such a young age. I was giving this young man another chance at life. He could be successful in the infantry and leave his thievery in the past.
I watched as the thief walked away with the two infantrymen in the direction of the fort. Part of me wished that I could just walk away from piracy, but the sweet trade is not so easily given up.
I now had a conundrum in my hands. I still had the dagger in my hand behind my back and I needed to sheath it. But the officer had not left with the infantrymen. He just stood there, watching me as if another thief might try to rob me. It wasn't completely uncommon for a woman to carry a dagger, but the fact that I had it out would draw attention to me in an unkindly light.
I unslung the brown leather bag that had been helping to conceal the dagger against my back with my left arm and placed my coin purse in it. I then made some comment that my right boot was feeling loose and moved my right leg away from the officer. I lifted my skirt just enough to reveal my boot, and just as I had hoped, the officer averted his gaze. What a gentleman! I didn't waste time and quickly sheathed my dagger and lowered my skirt. I then stood and placed the brown leather bag back around my back. I have to admit that right then I felt like I was treading on thin ice. At any moment I could have made an error and been arrested by that officer. But there was something about that officer that calmed me.
"May I inquire after your name, milady?" asked the officer.
"My name is Irene Montague, sir." Said I.
"Miss Montague, if I may be so bold, you appear to be a woman of profession. May I inquire after your profession?" asked the officer.
"You are not too bold sir, I am a recently unemployed maid," said I, which wasn't a complete lie; I've been a maid in the past. "I am new to Port Royale and have already lost my employment."
"That is most regrettable Miss Montague." Said the officer. "If you are interested, a position for a maid has come available in my house."
"I am most interested sir," said I. "But I am afraid I do not know which house to apply to, as I am without your name."
"Oh, my name is..."
At that moment we were interrupted by another officer, a Lievtenant to be exact. He had apparently fetched another overcoat for the officer that I was currently conversing with. But how he addressed this officer startled me in a way that I never want to be startled again. I nearly screamed with shock.
"Commodore Norrington," said the Lievtenant. "I have your overcoat."
"Thank you Lievtenant Gillette." Said the officer.
Commodore, Commodore Norrington. This officer standing before me, conversing with me was none other than Commodore Norrington. Commodore Norrington, the Pirate Hunter himself. He was single-handedly responsible for making pirates an almost extinct lot. The Commodore had just aided me in committing a crime! And he had just offered a place of employment to the most feared She-Pirate in the Spanish Main. How could I, in good conscience, let an opportunity to work in the Commodore's household pass me by? Answer, I couldn't.
"Sorry, Miss Montague for this interruption. This is Lievtenant Gillette, my second in command," said the Commodore. "Lievtenant Gillette, this is Miss Montague."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Montague." Said the Lievtenant. I was still in a quiet shock that I had the two most hated men, to pirates that is, within killing reach when the Lievtenant took my hand in his and gently kissed it. He too was a perfect gentleman.
"I assure you Lievtenant, the pleasure is all mine." Said I. I flashed him an almost mischievous smile. Thoughts were running through my mind so fast that I could barely think. I had a bunch of 'Kill them, kill them now. Go down in history as the pirate that killed the Pirate Hunters' thoughts swimming around in my head. But I'm not that stupid. If I did try to kill them, I'd be killed as well.
"Well Commodore Norrington, Miss Montague, I must return to the fort." Said Lievtenant Gillette. He causally stalked away in the direction of the fort. He obviously wasn't in any kind of a rush.
"As I was saying before Gillette appeared, I am Commodore James Norrington." Said the Commodore.
Oh-ho-ho-hooooooo, I wanted to shout to everyone who I really was and laugh hysterically at the same time. But that would have meant a one-way trip to the gallows.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you Commodore Norrington." I said. I was going to enjoy every minute of this chance meeting.
"Finally?" asked the Commodore.
"You are the Pirate Hunter, are you not?" I asked. "I've heard all about your exploits with pirates."
"I am indeed the Pirate Hunter Miss Montague," said the Commodore. "It has been my life's work to eliminate piracy and all those individuals that insist on sailing under a pirate flag."
Self-restraint was the key action here. I knew that if he knew my true identity he would not hesitate to see me hang. And I had to remember that Irene Montague was just a humble maid; Iron Maggie Jericho was the pirate.
Our conversation continued on with the formalities expected of society as we walked toward his house. We passed the fort, which sent cold shivers down my spine to think of how many good pirates had lost their lives there, on our way to the Commodore's House. His house was more of a small mansion than a house. It was at least three stories tall, had a brown exterior, cobblestone driveway, and an dark iron gate. I stopped once we were in complete sight of the mansion. I had never been hired to clean such a large residence.
Commodore Norrington noticed my sudden stop and smiled at the look of shock on my face. His smile was rather quite pleasant and I thought to myself that he should smile more. He reassured me that I would not be the only maid cleaning his house. As we neared the front door he told me that he had four maids, a butler, a cook, and several harness men for the carriages currently employed. And now, unbeknownst to him, a She-Pirate too!
We were greeted by his butler, a man called Vendalham, and the Commodore led me to the drawing room, where two of the maids were bustling around dusting. The two maids ceased cleaning when they saw their master enter the room. They introduced themselves as Lillian and Maria. They seemed pleasant, but I was unable to spend any time in their company as the Commodore had to return to the fort and so left me in the charge of Vendalham.
Vendalham was a kind elderly chap that enjoyed a good laugh. He showed me all the important rooms before handing me over to the head maid, Steele. Miss Steele, yes unmarried (what a shock!), was a short, stocky man of a woman with a stern disposition. She was very strict and viewed me as nothing but trouble. I didn't even need to say anything to know that I was on her list.
"Despite your common features and attributes, I fear your youth will distract the Commodore." Said Steele to me.
Out of the real fear that I might 'distract' the Commodore, she placed me in the Scullery of all places! She believed it to be the one place I would not be able to 'distract' the Commodore. Did I even need to say that he is a Commodore and I am a She-Pirate? Of course I couldn't say that less I wanted to hang at the gallows.
My accommodations were more welcoming than the Inn I had stayed in the previous night, but that wasn't saying much. I was to sleep in the attic, a large drafty area with a few sparse windows. The previous occupant had cordoned off a corner of the room where the bed was. This corner, unlike the rest of the attic, was dust free and had a hinged window. Aside from my bed, nightstand, burrow, and few a boxes, there really wasn't anything of great importance in the attic. This cold room was to be my home for the next few weeks and I had to adjust to the life of a simple servant.
So Iron Maggie Jericho, the proclaimed Sea Witch of the Spanish Main, became a Scullery maid for the Pirate Hunter himself, Commodore James Norrington.
Author's Note: If you are familiar with Broadsides by CommodoresLady, then you are already familiar with the Lievtenant spelling. For those of you that are not, Lievtenant is the old spelling of Lieutenant. I have borrowed this spelling from CommodoresLady as it is appropriate to the time period.