Developing the Plan
The next ten days were the strangest, best few days of my life so far. Captain Wendon even went so far as to participate in a fencing lesson or two, and Captain Marshe's staring lessened to the extent that I could tolerate his presence if I had to.
Byrne, an expert at this sort of work, quickly grasped some basic Spanish, and slipped quickly into role. The female clothing was obtained on day six, and that day I must recount to you, for it was a landmark in my life.
xxx
The clothes were slightly fancier than the average ladies maids' outfit, but as maid to this particular duchess, I suspected that I would fit in perfectly. I transformed myself (having chosen a high necked dress for a reason- neither flat chested, nor well endowed it was difficult to conceal the realness of my upper body) into a woman again, and looked in the mirror.
I had washed my hair, and applied much more makeup than I might of at home, in the hopes that I could blame my sudden sex-change on it. I have to say, my new life agreed with me, and I looked rather lovely, slightly tanned and rosy cheeked, with my usual shiny curls. It felt very odd, and I wasn't just a little nervous about displaying my feminine side to a ship full of men.
When I emerged, Byrne had his back to me and was rummaging in a chest. He produced the fan we had bought, and turned saying 'here you a...' He was speechless. I was speechless that he was speechless. He stared at me- just stared- for a good minute, and I began to think my disguise was surely trouble, before he burst into raucous laughter.
"Jack!! That's grand, that is, you could pass for a princess!..." I thought 'Jack' should scowl at this, so he did, and I growled 'aargh, quiet you. So it's good?'
I couldn't help it, I twirled, and this sent him off into fresh gales. I grinned, and flounced about the cabin, fluttering the fan and putting on a 'girlish' voice (which was not difficult) I simpered. "Oh, dear, lieutenant, you're making me blush..."
He slapped his leg and roared again. A knock came at the door and a voice called through, "Cap'n wants to see you and Mr Westenra sir, in his cabin..."
We looked at each other. Byrne grinned. I grinned wickedly back. "No time to test it out like the present..."
Byrne entered first, announcing me as 'Miss Jane Westenra'. The Captain looked up, startled, and stared. I seemed to be getting a lot of stares lately. His eyes seemed serious, and it felt like he was looking into my soul, his gaze was so intense for those few, vital seconds, before he looked away.
I sashayed in, still high spirited, and asked 'how d'ye do, Captain?' He stood, and, playing to the jest, asked me politely to sit down. I did so, and after he and Byrne were seated, he broke the façade with a boyish grin that echoed our own.
"Well done, again you two have surpassed my wildest expectations. Jane, dear, you look lovely- extremely realistic. I wouldn't look twice if I saw you at Almack's! How is your Spanish coming along, Lieutenant Byrne? Good..."
xxx
On the tenth day, Marshe came aboard. The reason for their continued prescence was, in a nutshell, cavalry. If this plan failed, there would be just enough time to launch an attack on the hostile town, and perhaps regain the money that way, and any extra force would be incalculably helpful. Marshe took a look at me in my female clothing, and blinked.
After that, he seemed more interested in what Captain Wendon had to say. It dawned on me that Marshe's aide was a very pretty youngish man, who was looking at Byrne with admiration and something else... My eyes widened. Byrne and I exchanged another look, and suppressed scandalised looks and laughter.
Satisfied by this test, I changed back into my second assumed identity, a Spanish guard similar to Byrne, and packed my costume into a single bag. I then wrote a letter, explaining everything, and left it under my mattress. If I did not return in three weeks, my mattress would be turned, and the letter, adressed to Captain Wendon and Byrne, would be found. I left the instruction on the letter for it not to be opened before three weeks time, the 3rd of next month, and put my faith in God. If all went to plan, I would be safely in my own cabin within a week or less.
We put ashore in a boat about three pm, the Captain remaining with Marshe and his secretary (a quiet, timid little man, who spoke only above the bare minimum of Spanish for this to work) on board to begin negotiations.
Byrne was to get the girl out of the town while I took her place, get her to the beach and onto the ship and then return. Hearts beating loudly, we walked up the beach, idly chatting in Spanish (at which Byrne was pleasantly efficient, he had grasped Spanish with natural talent) and towards the town. To our luck, it was a festival day, and many people were dancing around by the town gates, the four guards (unaware of the British ship's approach) were sharing a jug of wine secretively. We passed in practically unseen.
Once within the town, we pretended to be slightly tipsy soldiers heading back to our barracks. In fact, we were aiming to get within the mayor's house somehow, and find out where the Duchess and maid were being kept.xxxThe Mayor's house was large and on the Eastern edge of the town, and we found it with the help of a dark eyed Spanish beauty, who took a fancy to Byrne (who I was partly disgusted to see, used it to his advantage).
We swayed around to the back door, and Byrne taking the lead, began to sweet talk a couple of the women who were laughing and dancing out back. My inner British woman was disgusted at the ease with which they allowed us to pinch their bottoms and whisper sly things in their ears, but the part of me that had survived on the Dominion amongst a crew of men found it funny.
Byrne was particularly good at this, and within ten minutes we knew that the Duchess stayed on the second floor of the house, and her maid took a walk in the gardens daily at six am. We left the women, promising to return soon (Byrne sounded as if he meant it, and I began to get a little annoyed) and went to spy out the gardens. There was a particularly low section of wall near an enormous bush that sported huge pink flowers that looked promising. We went away and found a safe place to rest the next hours.
By five thirty the next morning we were in place. I was dressed and veiled (a custom which had fallen into disuse, but that proved helpful in concealing the differences between me and the former maid). As we waited, Byrne turned to me seriously.
"Jack, I'm wanting to wish you luck, firstly. Secondly, I have a question. Will you marry me?" We both burst into stifled laughter. A few moments later, he laid a hand on my arm to quiet me. "Look, Jack, I- I mean, be careful, won't you? Watch wouldn't be half as interesting without you."
He had tried to turn it into a joke, but this soft touch from a man I admired so greatly felled me. Never had I heard him sound so... I didn't understand. He was half smiling, perhaps still at the joke that he'd marry me, and didn't know the turmoil I felt at such an unexpected phrase. Luckily, I was saved from replying by the approach of a female voice.Things are getting interesting..... r&r please! Luv Es
