Part 20
"In truth i am quite vexed with Michael. He is quite accomodating as a lover but such a nitwitted man in the matters of the heart." Maria sighed as she for the hundredth time-for the was how much it felt-list Michael's faults.
Liz sat in contemplative silence. An hour can indeed feel like a lifetime. For these past sixty minutes she had indured Maria's non-stop rambling and complaining of Michael from the way he pleasures to his table manners. Surely she has heard what no lady of good breeding would deem to even comprehend. Liz had flitted from being shocked, appalled, intrigued and amused all at once.
Ooh the things she had heard would make her mother swoon and her father shoot himself-Heaven forbid. "Is that truly possible?" Liz cut in disbelievingly as Maria explained some delicate matter concerning the 'bedchamber romp' as Maria phrased it.
If Liz had expected a simple answer for her simple question then she was decidedly mistaken as Maria launched into a most intricate description of exactly how it was possible. Liz immediately tuned out.
She allowed her mind to wander. Most particularily about her 'escape'. Was it still possible? even with Maria around? Liz sneaked a peek at her 'jail guard'. Not six feet. No overly bulging muscles. No hairy burliness. Easily evaded...If one underestimated a perky, talkative, petite blond named in particular, Maria. Liz did not.
She could not knock her over and run past. Because for one thing, she would still have the crew that was still on board to reckon with, and for another, she did not want to hurt Maria. Physically or emotionally. She was the only thing close to a friend she had on the ship. She could not bear it if that animated face discussing bedroom theatrics turn away in disdain.
Unless...she did not resort to the usual kind of escape...
"Maria" Liz interrupted suddenly. Maria stopped abruptly in the middle of her latest-most fascinating no doubt if Liz had been listening-chapter of her affair de couer with non-other, and looked at her questioningly. Liz cleared her throat. Lord how she hated to lie.
"It's getting very hot in here and I'm feeling very cramped in my position. I realise i must not leave the ship...but may we please go up on deck? I could benefit from the cool, fresh air" -ok not entirely a lie, she felt like strangling herself in here-she cast what she hoped were pleading eyes to her.
Maria immediately broke into a smile. "Nobody said anything about having a stroll up there. Why not!" she hopped off the cot where she was lying next to Liz .
"Let's go!" she piped making a grnad gesture towards the door. Liz took a deep breath. and preceded her into the hallway.
Sean Deluca swiped angrily at his desk , sending his orderly paperwork scattering into the air and onto the floor. It has been a week since his 'dear' fiance's disappearance, or rather, kidnapping, and he had accomplished nothing. Nothing!
A deadly coldness wrapped around him as he remembered Lord Parker's latest visit with important news. And what news it was! So the innocent daughter had run wild into the night, sneaked into an even wilder club and-that's not all- was spirited away by the wildest of men. A pirate.
"How nice" he sneered softly to himself. He burned with rage and humiliation. After the public announcment of the kidnapped of Elizabeth the entire town would be gossiping about poor Lord Deluca what is going to do, poor Lord Deluca can't keep his future bride within his grasp, poor Lord Deluca his fiance is now ruined.
"AAAARRRRR!" he rose from his chair and with all his strenght, toppled the exquisitely carved desk onto the heavily carpeted floor. No harm doen, but Sean didn't care. Because he knew, that his humiliation would not end there. Gossips were not simply like that. They would pass from one person to the next, each time the tale growing longer and larger and more extra-ordinary.
He knew that by tomorrow evening the whole town would be buzzing with the newest versions of the tale. Poor Lord Deluca that wanton child ran off with a penniless rogue. Poor Elizabeth, i heard he threatened her with a whipping if she was not an idealic wife. Poor Elizabeth and curse that Deluca, i heard he murdered her to get her dowry without the complication of wife. A bit early i'd say for that but who knows what goes on in his twisted mind.
Poor him. Poor her."I've had ENOUGH!" he shouted, and the words bounced back across the fall surrounding walls. If it took him forever, he would find that girl. Dead or alive, however state she is in. He will not tolerate this much longer.
In truth he was a ruthless man. His past was notorious, poisonous, and dangerous. How blissfully ignorant some people were of the true happenings on this earth. He knew many of them. He had witnessed and executed manay of them. He was the devil incarnate. He broke many a woman's heart and who knows how many bastards he has sired in his years. Some people doubted he possessed any human feelings at all.
"I will find you Elizabeth" he murmered to himself, "and your pirate Max."
Liz felt like she could see the entire world from her point of view. Perhaps because of her confinement and Maria's endless prattling- she she thought of that as an endearing trait rather than an annoying one. One would never grow bored with Maria.
"You have not spoken in a while Liz. Are you troubled?"
'You have noo idea.' "No Maria, i was merely thinking." Liz replied. Maria waited for an elaboration-since she did not believe in short sentences. When none was forthcoming she turned to prodd it out of her companion and saw her leaning over the rail, staring into the water. She followed her gaze.
"Yes. 'Tis nice water. Look 'tis blue, and it lolls." she observed sarcastically to catch her attention. It worked but Maria was not prepared for the passionate, vehement words.
"No Maria 'tis not just blue and it does not simply loll," she gestured an open palm towards the horizon, "the sea is so wide, so deep. It is endless." she turned her gaze back to the water and spoke softly, "It harbors so many wonderous creatures beneath its folds. It carries mircales, danger and fascination all around the world. No Maria. 'Tis not just water. It is freedom in liquifying form. It dribbles through your fingers here and scatters somewhere across the world, to be held in the palms of another." she drifted off into silence.
Maria was stunned, but recovered quickly. "You speak so passionately Liz of the sea. Why do you describe it so? I had thought you cannot bear it after this week" she raised a meaningful eyebrow.
Liz chuckled then smiled. "Whta can i say in my own defense? It has..affected me."
"That!...i can believe" Maria made a dramatic pose "just observe what the salty airs and burning sun has done to my treasured skin. Oh and look at my nails, " she held a finger up in Liz's face and looked as if she was going to burst into tears "I broke it" she whined.
They both promptly burst into laughter.
"So truly Liz. What of the sea?" she asked after they quieted. Liz looked at her seriously and retored with a question of her own, "Have you ever been taught how to swim?"
"Me? oh yes, i thought it necessary. Infact if you recall me telling you, that is how i got to Michael" she giggled.
Liz didn't but made no comment. Her plan was very dangerous and practically, 'not good' still...
She forced a bright smile on her face. "I feel like dangling my feet over the sea. What say we sit upon the rail?"
Maria's eyes widened. "Liz are you out of your mind. We cannot do that!"
Liz gave her a pleading look. "Oh come. It is wide enough and we can hang on to those ropes, whatever they're there for, it will be an adventure on the ship" she cajoled.
Maria couldn't help but laugh. "Indeed". Liz looked enquiringly. Maria appeared to think it through. After a few minutes of enless beseeching and Maria's vehement denials, they were both climbing onto a cargo box to get their feet over the railing. Maria stationed herself securely and turned to Liz.
Liz was, she saw, swinging precariously as she held onto the rigging rope. Maria felt a spurt of apprehension. "Liz, please be careful or you'll fall" she cautioned. Liz smiled again and nodded. Then praying silently for forgiveness...let go of the rope.