Sorry for the long hiatus, but my dad was extremely ill, and I had no time to updatemany stories. However, he's much better now, and I'm back on track! Look for the next update soon! Thanks for your support. Luv Es xx
Chapter Two- A visit to Mother...
The next day, Byrne and I settled down for a whist tutorial. Byrne was, I had to admit, improving quickly, but he had begun so badly that he still had far to go before becoming a tolerable player. We had played four hands, with Byrne learning well, when a shadow loomed over us.
"Westenra? Byrne?" It was the Captain, looking rather angelic with the light beaming brightly from behind him. But his facial expression caused us to rise hastily.
"Yessir?" We answered simultaneously- it was becoming more and more usual- and Captain Wendon seemed in a rather irritable mood.
"Playing without me? And Daniels?" He seemed rather hurt, and I hastened to reassure him- we had grown rather close, and I considered him a friend who would benefit greatly from whatever status I had once I resumed my true identity.
"Of course not, sir."
"No indeed, Cap'n." Byrne added in, "Jack was attempting to improve my game again, so that we may be more evenly matched, sir."
"Very well, very well. We are to leave for my mothers house at exactly one thirty, straight after luncheon. Both of you, remember what I said about presentation."
James seemed to be in a most foul mood, I thought to myself, it is something he would usually trust us with.
But Byrne was already sitting down as Captain Wendon swung round without waiting for our courtesy, and practically ran back to his cabin.
"What do you think he's worried about?" Asked Byrne, puzzled.
"I think…his mother. She sounds…interesting."
I tried to convey my suspicion that Mrs Wendon was indeed one of the types of women I dislike most; one to whom grace, dignity and poise were fairly unfamiliar. In the first week of my 'adventure', I would surely have had no level upon which to meet her, other than extreme politeness, but my time among sailors had taught me very well. I would enjoy her company, amuse, charm, and be utterly unfathomable. It was a disguise I was beginning to tire of.
"Why is he worried? I mean, he invited us, didn't he? I'm sure she's a lovely old lady." Byrne grinned optimistically, and I simply couldn't help meeting his optimism with a grin of my own. Despite my concerns about Senor d'Aljaun and Captain Aubrey and my delight at the thought of seeing Stephen again, all I could think about for the remaining hours of the morning was the anxiety on James Wendon's face.
We left HMS Dominion at precisely twenty past the hour, and the Captain urged the rowing crew to their greatest speed, before looking sheepishly at Byrne and I (who were watching in a sort of amused fashion, our faces completely blank), and suggesting they might slow down now that we neared the quayside. Walking through a beautiful Spanish town, we saw long legged young men desperately trying to sell roses to pretty senorita's and their chaperones, heard the sound of guitars and singing (thank goodness we could not hear the words- I am sure they would have spoiled the idyllic picture completely!), smelled freshly caught salty fish, and felt the heat descend on us like heavy velvet. Rubbing the sweat away with our handkerchiefs, we moved towards the admiralty offices (our second port of call) and away from the dockside. Once towards the center of town, we took several turns before reaching a prosperous looking street, filled with white houses and fresh flowers.
Mrs Wendon's house was the second last on the right, and bunches of gaily colored Spanish flowers bobbed in the slight breeze, scenting the air with a heavy, musky smell. Outside, two soldiers lounged elegantly in the shade.
"What's all this? Soldiers at my door?" Queried Wendon, in an aggressive manner. His bad mood, it seemed, had taken a turn for the worse.
"Morning, sah. Sergeant Ledson of the 11th, at your service. Not to worry, Captain. We're just guardin' Senor d'Aljuan while he visits Mrs. Wendon."
Captain Wendon looked at him, long and hard. He slowly raised an eyebrow. It was a look I had the fortune never to have had aimed at me, but I had seen its power, and was moved almost to pity the soldier, while my mind reeled from the news that Veritas d'Aljuan, the 'trained spy' that was searching for Evelyn, was about to meet me. Even if he didn't know it.
"I'm sorry, sir…" Sergeant Ledson began almost immediately- clearly a veteran- but the Cap'n didn't wait.
"Very well. Carry on."
He started for the door, us following slightly reluctantly, behind. The sergeant clearly did not care to be involved, and had decided (correctly) that it was beyond his call of duty to interfere at this stage. Captain Wendon's face was like ice and fire; I was glad, in a way, for it would make avoiding d'Aljuan much easier on my part. He strode up the steps to the gaily painted front door, and knocked. However, it was clearly some sort of family code, for running feet were heard, and the door was flung open, by a rather young, rather beautiful young lady. My eyes, I realized, were hard, as she flew at him, laughing, and he gladly caught her and swung her around. I softened them, and thought wryly how well this boded for keeping my character before a trained spy.
"Mariana!" He laughed gaily, almost singing her name, and I felt a strange sting of jealousy, as I saw her smooth away the tiredness and wrinkles I had been unable to dislodge, in a mere moment.
"James! I have missed you; why did you go away for so long this time? We have not seen you for what seems like eternity! Come, your mama, she will be anxious to see you, even if she cannot leave that odious little man."
Her accent was tinged with a Latin edge, which I could tell Byrne found rather attractive, and, in her joy, she seemed completely to overlook our presence. He, still chuckling, paused as he was being dragged into the house.
"Mariana, my dear, I have brought some friends to introduce to you and Mother. This is my secretary, Jack Westenra, and one of my best lieutenants, Mr Byrne. Byrne, Westenra, my mothers companion and friends, Miss Mariana Avery."
He introduced us well, and we both stepped forward to bow slightly to her. She gave us courtesy (rather well, I believe) in return, and smiled brightly at us. It was hard not to smile in return, but a seed of jealousy which I could not fathom, had been planted in my heart, and I yearned to return to the ship, where he was my Captain, and I his secretary...
I caught myself thinking this romantic claptrap, and at once pinched my hand sharply. What on earth was I thinking? This was no game, no time for amateurish mistakes! I would need every wit I owned not to be discovered in the next few hours, and could not now, nor for a long time into the future, spare a thought for weak, female, girlish drivel! My family name, my honour, my very life, and those of my friends, relied upon this strange task I had set myself. I could not afford the luxury of those type of feelings.