Chapter Six:
Jesse couldn't remember the last time she had woken up in a real bed, the comforting warmth of a duvet wrapped around her. She snuggled down deeper into the covers wanting nothing more than to lie still for just a few more moments and enjoy the tranquil silence. It brought back bittersweet memories of her early childhood. Jesse could remember waking on a morning such as this, the gentle light from the sun streaming in through thin net curtains and falling onto her face, the small sounds of the rest of the house waking, the tread of feet on the hallway outside her room and the smell of breakfast being cooked on the floor below. She used to wake on such mornings when her mother knocked lightly on the door.
"Jessica. It's time to get ready for school," she would say. School… the very name used to make Jesse curse her mother though it was not really her fault. Madame Boss insisted that all 'rocket babies' went to normal schools. School was a place of shadows and for Jesse a daily torment of taunts and sometimes even physical attacks led by her own once best friend. She had wanted to just disappear into her bed and ignore her mother's calls.
There was a noise outside her door now, causing all dreams/flashbacks to disappear. Jesse jumped sharply at the knock.
"Come in" she called, pushing herself up from the bed, and leaning back against the silken headboard.
It was Meowth who entered; the little cat had been out all night it would seem. He shut the door behind him and moved to the small wooden dresser opposite, jumping atop of it, midnight blue eyes staring expectantly at her.
"Good morning" Jesse squirmed under his harsh gaze.
"Jimmy is already up" Meowth stated matter-of-factly, "He is downstairs with Judith right now."
"That's nice" Jesse yawned, quite deliberately to rile the cat Pokémon.
"I thought yous were gonna speak ta him about Judith?"
"I tried" she shot back, instant anger taking control again and Meowth ducked to avoid a mallet being thrown at his head, instead it hit the glass mirror, shattering it into several hundred pieces. Meowth screeched to avoid the shards and leapt onto the bed, his claws ripping the fabric in the process.
"Clumsy cat!" Jesse shrieked, backhanding him to the floor "Look at all this!"
Meowth hissed at this and snarled out in a furiously mad voice, the like of which Jesse had never heard him speak before. She could practically taste the poison in his words as he choked out "Yous hafta tell him before he gets hurt again! Yous owe him dat Jessica!"
"Me?" Jesse whispered, her knuckles turning white where she gripped the sheets "Why me? I tried and I just couldn't… he's so happy Meowth. How can I ruin that for him?"
Meowth's feral expression softened and he let escape a purr of affection "I'm sorry Jess. I know ya love him but he loves yous too and dats why yous hafta be da one to tell him."
"I can't" a sob caught in Jesse's throat "Please Meowth" she was so upset and hurt by the words and the fact that she would be the one to destroy James again that Jesse no longer cared for holding up the strong front and a tear trickled down her cheek "Let's keep an eye on Judith. We don't know for certain and if she… if she is up to anything she is bound to make a mistake sooner or later and then we can tell James. If we go to him now he will just assume that the servants forgot to take the price tags off of the clothes and then he will not take anything else we might find out seriously."
Meowth nodded, digesting her words and realising that what Jesse said made perfect sense, though he did not like it one bit.
"I'm going down to breakfast" he announced after a moment or two more "I don't wanna leave Jimmy alone with her for too long."
Jesse knew this was sensible and allowed the cat Pokémon to leave. Once he had gone she set about the ominous task of getting dressed. She could not wear her Team Rocket uniform now she knew and the only other clothes were the ones in the wardrobe. If their suspicions were correct and Judith had bought them for her, Jesse knew that she could wear any one of these garments without cause for concern. If, however, she and Meowth were wrong then it could place them all in a potentially embarrassing situation. Sighing, the red haired ex rocket, crossed the room to the wardrobe and selected the cheapest clothes in there, a pair of black trousers and a pink blouse and snipped off the price tags with a pair of ornate silver scissors she had found on the desk. Judith had thought of everything, she mused as she brushed her long hair loose from its usual style and allowed it to fall down her back in red curled waves. There was even rose scented writing paper on the dresser along with an expensive looking fountain pen. Perfect for a confession, Jesse thought darkly, hoping that it would never come to that.
Checking herself once more in the mirror, Jesse hurried out into the corridor. A maid was waiting patiently outside her room she found with surprise.
"What do you want?" Jesse demanded, wondering if the young girl was sent by Judith to spy on them. The maid, a pretty girl in her early teens, curtsied as if she were greeting royalty, a lock of blond hair falling free from her bun atop her head as she did so.
"I heard a crash Miss Jessica. I came to see if everything was in order here?" she stared, through nervous blue eyes, expectantly at Jesse.
Jesse herself was quite taken aback. Was there nothing one could do in secret in this house?
"Miss Jessica? Are you well?" the maid enquired after no response was given.
"Quite well thank you" Jesse snapped and instantly regretted it. Perhaps it was this house? It was turning everyone into monsters. Even Meowth had not been acting himself since they arrived. She allowed her voice to soften. "My Pokémon made a bit of a mess that is all."
The maid smiled shyly "Then would you allow me to clean up for you?"
"Sure" Jesse waved a hand in the direction of the door "It's unlocked. Be careful, there is glass on the floor," she added not wanting the girl to hurt herself.
The maid smiled and stood, as if waiting for something. Then when Jesse simply turned to go she called out "Will that be all Miss Jessica?"
Jesse paused on the stairs, turning around to meet the pale blue eyes waiting for her to answer. She is waiting to be dismissed, Jesse realised in embarrassment. Her face flushed red, cursing her poor upbringing as she mumbled that the maid could go before hastily hurrying down the flight of stairs and into the marble hallway. She could hear James and Meowth talking loudly from an adjourning room and took a step in their direction when Hopkins brushed passed her, carrying a breakfast tray.
"Good morning Miss Jessica" he called as he walked passed and into the study. Jesse was getting a little tired of people calling her Miss Jessica by now. Shaking her head and scoffing at the upper class society she again turned towards the breakfast room. Pushing open the mahogany door she found James and Meowth seated at one end of the long, lace covered table.
"Morning Jess" Meowth greeted her as if they had not had the conversation of earlier.
"Morning Meowth, morning James" Jesse forced a smile and took a chair beside her best friend, again a blush creeping across her cheeks as she regarded her best friend and the conversation of the night before. James was wearing new clothes too, a pair of jeans and a black shirt. They looked expensive Jesse realised uncomfortably.
Ignoring her growing sense of unease Jesse helped herself to a slice of toast and concentrated on spreading butter rather than the conversation that was taking place between Meowth and James until a comment the little cat made caused her to pay attention.
Meowth asked, in passing, if Judith was going to join them for breakfast. James shook his head, looking a little disappointed, explaining that she had a guest and did not wish to be disturbed.
"A guest?" Meowth echoed, "Dis early in da morning?"
James shrugged, equally troubled, "It is nothing to do with me" he half-heartedly defended the woman, "She said she would contact our lawyer later today" he added as an after thought.
Jesse and Meowth exchanged glances when James's attention was elsewhere. The look in the cat Pokémon's eyes was easy to read and indeed Jesse shared the same sentiments. She did not like the sound of this. Who could possibly want to visit Judith so early in the morning?
*******
Judith quickly ushered Hopkins from the room as he set the tray down, ignoring the disapproving look in his eyes. Judith smiled sweetly and dismissed him, making a mental note to dock his pay later on and advise him to refrain from mentioning this encounter to anyone. She knew she was playing a dangerous game with James only across the hall but Judith had to admit her guest and the motives driving them intrigued her and after all she needed a little excitement in her life now. Still she could not let them think that Judith Morgan was an easy person to buy. She accepted the offering and sat back on the white leather sofa of the study, her violet eyes gazing intently into that of her visitor's.
"Will you just think about it? That is all I am asking."
"Why? I do not want my reputation to be soiled because of your bad name."
Her guest smirked and shook their head "It is really in your best interests to consider what I am offering you."
"Oh really?" Judith felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she sipped her tea. "And why may I ask is that?"
"Do you really think James will stay here forever? Believe me Mrs Morgan I know your son well enough to know that he brings trouble wherever he goes. I myself have been most unfortunate to experience his bad luck."
Judith giggled, "Bad luck? You accuse my son and heir of being bad luck? I fear you are mistaken. The only misfortune to befall him was getting involved with you to start with."
"And who's fault was that?"
Judith scowled, setting the cup down "I believe you go too far."
"You are right, please accept my apologies."
"I do but you can leave right now. I do not want to risk James seeing you here."
Her visitor nodded again, "At least think about my offer?"
Judith nodded, "I will. Believe me I know a good deal when I see one."
Giovanni smiled and made his way to the door "I think so too. I will visit you again if I may?"
"Of course" Judith replied, also standing "Shall I ask Hopkins to show you out?"
Giovanni shook his head, pausing only to collect his briefcase "I can find my way out, please do not trouble yourself… Judy."
Judith forced a smile and sat back down, watching him leave, suddenly feeling weak and sick inside. What if James had seen him? What would he think? Could she really endanger all she had worked so hard to get? Was it all worth it? Yes it had to be. Still if this got out… it would ruin her reputation. She would be ruined, her family would be ruined… James's future as the Morgan heir would be nothing but a sham.
I will be careful, Judith told herself. Nothing can go wrong if I plan ahead. Reassuring herself that it would all work out, Judith quickly exited the study and retired to her quarters, complaining to the maid of a headache. She had promised James that she would give the Morgan family lawyer a call first thing to discuss her husbands will. Of course Judith had no intention of contacting Mr Roberts and how could she? He had died ten years ago. She would keep James here until he realised that staying with her was the best option. Judith knew she would do anything to keep him and even tolerated his Pokémon and that vulgar woman of his to keep James happy. Only this latest turn of events could upset everything she had worked for. Judith sighed, that headache becoming reality now. This was such a mess. She just hoped that she could put it right.