R &R!

Chapter Ten: The Plan is over.

Another day later, I was allowed on deck. Admittedly, I had to sit in a chair, but being out of my stuffy cabin was bliss, and being allowed to see my friends again made it heaven. Byrne obtained leave to help me on deck, and set up my swinging chair next to one put up for the Duchess.

It amused me- my real identity would be in the exact same position (minus injuries) if she was on board. The Duchess and I sat in our chairs, with Emily and whichever officers were off duty standing nearby, and chatted ceaselessly.

The Captain seemed a little annoyed by this, but the Duchess would not allow him to spoil her fun, and eventually he began to join in- enticed by flattery and cleverly put questions about his favourite opinions. Our fun was spoilt by bad weather the next two days, but on the day we reached San Rosado we were talking on the deck with Grange and Captain Wendon about Whist and Sea Battle Tactics.

"Land Ho! Off the Starboard bow!"

'James and Harry' [to me, Captain Wendon and Lieutenant Grange] hurried off, and the Duchess watched them go fondly. She was nearing fifty five or so now, and so viewed men of his age as children still. In many ways, they were. We watched them give orders, and I turned to her formally [I had to keep up the show of masculinity everywhere except my private cabin] and muttered

"Who will be at the Ball, Duchess?"

She thought for a few moments, swinging idly, before replying.

"Well, Governor Nicholson, and Mrs Nicholson, also Sir Percival Daniels and Lady Daniels, with Miss Reeves (her companion), Mr Reginald Harper and Mrs Harper [a lovely, intelligent woman- you'd like her] and Mr Anderton, Mr Eliot-Thomas, Miss Eliot-Thomas, Miss Hardy (her particular friend), Mr Denton [who wishes to marry Miss Eliot-Thomas] and his friends, Mr Grant and Mr Woodley."

This spiel of names seemed mad premonition until I remembered that the Duchess had visited San Rosado just before her kidnapping. Of course she would remember who had been staying there.

"I am good friends with Miss Hardy- she is so very sweet and kind, and I know of Miss Eliot- Thomas and her father, they invited me to stay with them a few months ago. Oh, I long to see them again!" I had to mutter this, for fear of being over heard. She whispered back, understandingly:

"You must attend! I am sure we can arrange it. You should attend, then when these persons return to England it will be another alibi for you! It may be difficult, though. Surely nobody shall guess. Who could?"

She began to laugh at the ridiculous notion. I did agree, but it would be a little harder to 'arrange' than the Duchess thought, I imagined. How was I to get Captain Wendon to invite Jack? And how would Jack transform into Evelyn so quickly? In my injured state, a corseted dress was a painful idea, and I could show only the smallest amount of décolletage- bruising extended on my left side until only an inch and a half below my collar bone. I had been lucky enough to protect my face and neck, but the back of my shoulders were not pretty at all. It would be testing, but I longed to see my friends, even if briefly.

"We shall see. What would I wear?"

I decided to throw my problem of clothing to her- it would be a pretty problem, but it was such that she would, I thought, enjoy solving. I muttered though, still cautious.

A stroke of luck- yes, another, my good fortune seemed to be increasing again- the Captain has gone ashore with Byrne and organised for the Duchess to stay with the Governor for the two days we will spend here. The Duchess was correct- a ball is to be held in her honour tomorrow night, and I am to attend as myself. The clever woman has set me an example in cunning- Jack was apparently in need of a 'bed that didn't sway' for two nights, the Duchess and Doctor insisted, and so I am installed in a 'small' [thrice the size of my cabin] room near to the Duchess's quarters.

Her idea is that the Doctor shall stay with me on the night of the ball, and refuse everyone entry as I am supposed to be sleeping, and I shall really be secreted away in the Duchess's rooms, changing, with Emily's and the Duchess's assistance, into my dress. Whereupon, I shall go downstairs with the Duchess and Emily shall accompany us. If anyone asks a really awkward question, Emily shall pretend to feel faint and I shall accompany her away. It really is quite a sound plan, as long as no one asks too many questions.

Xxx

Meanwhile, Byrne is testing me on flags and lights. He is stood next to me with the flag book (which he does not need, but insists upon having in his hand in case he forgets) asking me about the various colours and patterns, and so far I have got every question correct. I have not said, but when I am not asleep or talking to the Duchess and her court, I am studying. I have been lent some books by the Doctor, and my knowledge of Latin is assisting me enormously. Byrne brings me the Captain's letters and such to translate, and has asked me to continue teaching him Spanish, which I agreed to with pleasure. I have learned to trust him at my back, since our escapade in Santa Angela.

My admiration of Captain Wendon has also risen- his sailing is much more than competent, his conversation is pleasant, he seems to show more and more intelligence each day, and he tries hard to conceal his fondness for his friends aboard ship. Byrne has been taken into his confidence more and more since we returned, and the Captain has sent greetings and compliments to me every now and then with enquiries as to my health. Byrne has been called away and I am to go below again for a sleep.

A knock a few hours later- a soldier popped his head about the door at the Doctor's called 'enter!' I am requested on deck, for transportation to the Quayside with the Duchess. I am ready, and my smaller trunk has been swung to land before me. Doctor helps me above deck, and I feel better in the warm sunshine.

The Duchess has already been swung over the side, and the doctor has climbed down. I don't want to go in the swing, I am getting better and it will not harm me to climb, only cause me pain, which can be lived with. Also, only women, civilians and children ever use the crane, which might cast suspicions if anyone ever catches on- a man wouldn't ride in the swing unless he was fatally wounded or unconscious, and I am almost completely convalescent. How to persuade the others?

Byrne is at my elbow, strong and reassuringly warm, and I stood, proud not to be swaying more than any of the other men on deck in the slight swell. The Captain watched me critically, and then asked neutrally 'Climb or Crane, Westenra?'

I looked him in the eye and replied "Climb, sir- I need to stay flexible."

I hoped that was enough of an excuse. Apparently it was, although Byrne tried to insist on climbing beside me (a dangerous and little done thing) to check me if I slipped, and became cool when I refused. However no mistake overcome me, and I made it to the small boat that bobbed alongside. Byrne was not to accompany us ashore, so he simply nodded once to me, the epitome of phlegmatic behaviour, and disappeared from sight.

Xxx

Whisked to the docks, bundled into a carriage, jolted along dusty roads and carefully helped to alight, my senses were already in disarray when I looked about me at the end of our journey. The duchess, Emily and the Governor's son, Eduardo, began to brush the dust away from themselves, and dazed, I copied. The duchess must have noticed, for she said brightly that she could not wait to see her friend the Governor again and should like to hurry if we could. So we bustled along a lush lawn to the garden, where our hosts awaited.

"Percy dear! How delightful! Oh, Miranda, dear, you look lovely!"

The Duchess was effusive in her welcomes, and the poor Governor and his wife seemed pleased and equally delighted to see her. Emily was dismissed to go and prepare her mistress' rooms, and I was left with Eduardo. We shared a similar glance, that of youth wishing to hurry the older members of the party, and Eduardo called his father's attention to me.

"So this is the brave rescuer, eh, my dear? Well done, sir, good show. Anything we can do, just ask- we owe you an undoubted debt for returning this jewel of society to her rightful position..."

"Thank you, Governor, I assure you, it was all in the line of duty, and nothing any other man wouldn't have done."

The duchess shrieked slightly, making everyone jump.

"My dear Mr Westenra! How terribly modest you are! La, sir, if you call that duty, what horrors you must face every day! I tell you, Miranda..."

She and the Governor's wife, Mrs Miranda Nicholson, wandered over to the other ladies, leaving myself, Eduardo, and Governor Nicholson alone together.

"Well, Mr Westenra, I assure you that I am much more inclined to believe you are being excessively modest than I am to believe that the duchess' imagination has gone mad. I thank you, and perhaps Eduardo would have someone show you your room? You must be fresh for the ball tonight! I have invited the crème of society that resides here and you will surely enjoy it very much."

I bowed, making my ribs ache.

"Thank you, sir, for your generous invitation, but I may not be able to attend- I must be fit for service again as soon as possible, and dancing would be difficult, given the condition of my rib cage."

I replied hesitantly. The Governor smiled at me kindly.

"As you wish, sir, if you feel well enough, please join us."

"My thanks for your entirely kind actions sir, and I hope you enjoy the ball."

"Thank you, I look forwards to meeting the rest of your fellow officers."

Eduardo led me away, mind reeling- I hadn't quite realised that everyone from the Dominion would also be attending- at least the senior officers would accept. This was the sort of event that made promotion happen. We went inside through a huge oaken door, beautifully carved in the typically Spanish style. Eduardo was watching me anxiously- I must have looked ill with shock.

I grinned boyishly at him and asked, "So, Eduardo, what do you do for fun around here?" He grinned back, unsure at first, then enthusiastic, as he tried to tell me all at once. He was younger than I and obviously slightly in awe of a 'man' in service.

"Do you enjoy polo? Or perhaps shooting?"

I was on topics I was well versed with, as long as I didn't let on that I knew so much about polo from watching and occasionally practising with my brothers and friends. We talked companionably until reaching my room, where I found I was feeling much better all round. The coolness inside the house had assuaged my slight dizziness, and now that I could rest for an hour or so before operation 'smuggle me into the duchess's room' and even before Doctor came to check me over and begin guarding the room. Tonight was to be indeed 'the night of my life'.