Usual disclaimers. oh well!

Sorry there are only two chapters, but I had a very busy weekend with family commitments!

***

Early April

The Catalyntie slid quietly into Port Royal harbour as dusk fell, her return causing hardly a comment in the taverns. Louis stood on deck watching the town hungrily, eager to get ashore. The Bahamas had been a profitable hunting ground and he had easily found enough goods to maintain his façade. He sent two of his men with a list of his wares to Mistress Groves and Mistress Spense for he was eager to see Mary again. He smiled to himself, wondering if she was a diversion or an ally. Time would tell - perhaps a diversion for now and an ally later for it would be useful to have an insider in the Groves' household.

***

The next day he called personally on Mistress Groves, pleasantly surprised to be readily admitted into the house. He carried his box of fabric samples under his arm, pacing in the lounge until she arrived. He eyed her appreciatively - she had certainly lost any sign of her pregnancy in the last eight weeks. Louis noticed that she was wearing a dress made from the fabric that she had purchased from him on his previous visit. She sent her maid for tea, leaving the two of them unattended in the lounge.

"Mistress Groves, what a pleasure to see you again..." He smiled, allowing just a hint of his attraction to enter his words, delighting when she blushed.

"Captain Valais, please sit." She took a seat and indicated the chair opposite. "I understand that you have more fabric samples... yes?"

"Of course Mistress." He opened the box, spreading his samples before her. "I chose these especially with you in mind, these colours suit your complexion so..." He reached across with a particular fine swatch. "If I may?" He draped it across her shoulder, his hand briefly touching the base of her neck.

Mary rose, standing and staring at the fabric in the mirror. For all his flattery, Captain Valais truly had an eye for colour.

"You look delightful Mistress," he smiled, rising and standing behind her - another swatch of fabric in his hands. "Or perhaps this one?" He stood behind her, reaching around to drape the fabric across her shoulder. He allowed his hand to linger briefly before letting it fall when he heard the maid returning.

"They are both delightful," she smiled, acknowledging the maid with a nod. "Pour and then leave us," she ordered as she sat down on the sofa again running her hand across the fabrics. Eventually she picked the first two samples before turning her attention to the list of foodstuff. "The brandy... is it French?" she asked.

"But of course Mistress Groves..." he replied smoothly.

"I will take a bottle then," she smiled, proceeding to add further items to her order as they made polite small talk.

Eventually Louis rose. "I will deliver the items to you later today Mistress Groves." He noticed that they were still unattended so took her hand, kissing it gently. "Until later..." he smiled, turning to leave.

"I will look forward to it Captain," she purred as she personally showed him out. Let Theodore think she had forgotten his outburst the night he left their marriage bed... she had not. She watched appreciatively as Captain Valais walked down the hill. Perhaps the attention of a smooth, Swiss Captain was just the tonic she needed to brighten her days... and maybe nights..

***

Louis Lact walked back to the Catalyntie with a spring in his step, sure that his charm was working. Perhaps he should include an additional gift with Mistress Groves' orders, make his attraction clearer... perhaps some of the jewellery that they had taken in one of their first raids. He smiled as he remembered a particularly fine pair of earrings... yes, definitely some jewellery.

***

"Captain Valais!" Mary gasped as he presented her with the earrings. She was glad that she had sent her maid to make tea and that she was not witness to the gift. One thing she had learned at an early age in the Spense household was never to trust the silence of servants. "They are beautiful... but it would be inappropriate of me to accept such a gift. I cannot accept them."

"Perhaps I like to see a beautiful woman adorned with fine jewels..." His hand touched her face and he leaned forward brushing her lips with his. She did not pull away so he kissed again, his hands encircling her waist. "And you are very beautiful Mistress," he smiled, his hand reaching for her breast.

They broke apart on hearing the maid returning, a guilty flush colouring her cheeks. The maid placed the tray of tea on the table.

"Will you be requiring anything else Mistress?" she asked politely.

"No, that will be all!" Mary dismissed her, watching as she bobbed a curtsey before leaving.

Louis watched her carefully, wondering what her reaction would be to his advances. He was, however, not prepared for the boldness of her gaze as she turned to him. "I think we can dispense with the couched talk," she smiled sipping her tea, eyeing him coyly over the rim of her cup. Yes, the Captain Valais would be a fine tonic indeed.

"If you wish," he smiled. "I find you very beautiful Mistress and I believe we both want the same thing..." He downed his tea with a gulp as he rose to leave.

"I think so too," she purred. "Come back this afternoon - an hour after noon. The old fool takes a nap after lunch..."

"The servants?" he queried, aware that such a tryst would have to be discrete.

"I will send the servants away... I am sure I can come up with a number of errands to keep them from the house." She smiled, running her hands across his chest in an open promise for later.

He grinned wolfishly. "An hour after noon then..."

***

Mary opened the door herself before Louis even knocked, aware of Edmund Groves sleeping in his room. She put her finger to her lips, ushering him indoors and up the stairs. As soon as the bedroom door shut her hands were on his chest, fumbling with his shirt.

"I want you too Mistress..." he smiled hungrily. "But we have a while..." His hands reached for her laces as he untied her dress, sliding it from her shoulders.

She threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hungrily. "My name is Mary..." she gasped between kisses. "I think we've gone too far for such formality!"

He groaned, feeling his body respond to her closeness. "Mary," he murmured, pushing her back onto the bed. "Mary..."

***

He awoke with a start, realising that they had both fallen asleep. "Mary!" He hissed, nudging her awake as he heard movement downstairs. She blinked awake, realising the time with shock.

"The balcony!" she gasped, realising it would not do to be caught with another man in her marriage bed. "You can jump into the lane and nobody will see..."

Frantically he pulled his clothes on, aware that she watched him hungrily. He carefully opened the shutters, checking that nobody was in the garden before slipping out. "May I return tonight Mary?"

He smiled at the panic in her eyes as they heard one of the maids downstairs, talking with Edmund Groves in the lobby. Her daughter was home and would need feeding. She jumped, hearing the maid calling for her. "Yes!" she hissed. "Now go!"

"Leave your window open," he suggested as he turned and fled along the balcony.

It was an easy climb and soon he was calmly walking along the street towards the dock. This plan for vengeance had suddenly gotten a whole lot more pleasurable.