A/N: Nothing much to say. I'm gonna try to get the plot to start moving it's little ass now. Oh yeah, and this chapter is the result of me sitting and swearing in language that would make a pirate blush. Because the bloody fanfiction was pissing me about. (gah)

Oh yeah, and sorry to any one who has already reviewed a chapter whatever this is, I got it wrong. And… yeah… what that said.

Disclaimer: Nope, nothing. Oh yeah, Jill is mine. And Ida and Suzi (Cue crap Gollum impression)

Ida sat back in her seat as Bartley came into view. She looked across to her father, who smiled nervously under her imperious gaze

"I'm sure you remember cousin Suzi," he told her

"Hmm…" Ida sat back. The only reason she was in Whitby was because her dad had told the slave she could go she her ill mother. The old bag would be dead anyway, Ida had told her father, but no, she had to go. She had wanted to go to Charlotte's masquerade ball than come to some old backwater like this.

At the house, Ida was helped down and looked round in distaste. It was so uncultured, so unlike New Orleans. She was sure she couldn't cope for a whole month. The butler opened the door and her Uncle Elijah smiled broadly.

Charlie!" He greeted her father "How the devil are you?"

Ida had a chance to take him in whilst he greeted her father. He wore plain clothes chosen for wear, not fashion, no wig, just roughly cut brown hair tied back. He had the look of a man who has had nature throw everything at him and rode out everything. He came towards her

"And this stunning young lady must be Ida. I swear you look like your mother more and more every time I see you," He bowed.

"Thank you Uncle," she replied stiffly.

He took them to a parlour and the butler brought tea. His teeth and eyes stood out alarmingly against his black skin when he smiled at her and Ida recoiled slightly. She had never liked Negroes. They always seemed to be slightly demonic, like they could see into her mind. It made her shiver.

"Perkins, please could you call Miss Suzannah?" Her uncle addressed the butler

"Yessuh," the butler nodded.

A few moments later there was a crash and running footsteps, and a pause outside the parlour door, such as might be made whilst someone adjusted their clothing and caught their breath. Then the door opened quietly.

"Are they here dad-?" the young man stopped abruptly when he saw Ida and her father.

"Uncle Charlie!" he cried and threw himself at Charles "It's so good to see you!"

"How are you Suzi?" her father smiled. He was a she? Ida was stunned. Suzi wasn't what she had expected, to put it mildly. Mildly enough to be chilled. Men's clothes, plain as her fathers, and carrot red hair tied back in a ponytail. Piercing green eyes, freckles and a body that was too long and made her look like a puppet. Doesn't she need to go back to the circus tent? She looks like all her joints are joined with string! Ida thought sneeringly. Obviously some of her thoughts must have shows, as Suzannah made an elegant leg, and kissed her hand, a dry brush of lip.

"Charmed I'm sure," she murmured. It wasn't until she had turned away to talk to her father Ida realised that Suzi had been teasing her and that rankled. She can't think she's better than me can she? The raw cheek of it!

"Suzi why don't you take your cousin to the beach? Tea won't be for a while,"

"Yes father," Suzi turned to Ida. And held out an arm. "Miss?"

Ida took her arm like she did some of the young men at balls, and they left the house.

As they walked the short distance to the beach, Suzi talked.

"I think you'll like it here its very nice we get people from all over the world and the dock is always busy but there's a bit of beach and you don't have to climb rocks or anything and sometimes the strolling players come through and do Shakespeare and sometimes they have a resident playwright who does plays about star-crossed lovers and me and Peter the kitchen boy and some of the other boys go and sit in front of the stage on the ground and boo the bad guys and throw peanuts and should advice like 'don't let him luv he only wants to look up your skirt' and things and tomorrow we'll go up to the cathedral and have a look round it fell down in high storms one time cos its right out on the rocks and if you don't go at the right time you have to take a boat out but other times you can walk and we'll take the horses and maybe see the strolling players because they'll be coming soon." She stopped for a breath. "What do you think?"

"You really throw nuts at them? How coarse,"

"Ah, we're only having a bit of fun miss. And we take 'em for a drink after,"

"You go into taverns?"

"Only for a while. And I get in my round, same as every one else,"

"You drink?" Ida couldn't believe it.

"Enough to keep the talk flowing," Suzi winked. Ida pursed her lips and said

"I would much like to go to the cathedral,"

"Right then miss. I'll make arrangements with Cookie. We can take tea in the ruins," Ida thought she hid a smile, but ignored it.

That night Ida wrote to her friend Charlotte:

"She is the most vulgar thing ever! She consorts with common actors and slaves! I wish I was with you and Martha and Georgina… she is to make me ride a horse tomorrow and I'll bet she'll ride a donkey and make out it's a stallion. She drank like the men at tea as well. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to cope these next few weeks in this awful back water I'm sure, I dare say their idea of a good read is the Farmers and Sailors Almanack, and their idea of good music is anything that can be played on a penny whistle. Oh, I do hope that dreadful boy-girl won't expect me to do much with her, if I am seen with her I will die, I swear. I can only pray she will never expect to come to Kingston."

The next day she was taken to the stables. There was a pretty little mare there, docile as anything.

"She's called Queenie. I thought she'd suit you Miss," Ida patted the mare's flanks. It was saddled with a side saddle. Ida was surprised. The stable hand was a white man with a Negro helper, and the Negro held the mare whilst the stable hand helped her up the mounting block. Suzi of course, had a mare with a wicked gleam in her eye, and swung her leg over easily.

"This is Angela. More like Devil though. Yes, this horse is a evil one all right,"

Angela snorted derisively and Suzi pulled a comical face, and winked

"None of that, Miss Angela, or I'll have your liver and lights!" Ida was shocked at the language, but hid a smile.

The horse whickered and Suzi slapped her side lightly.

"Come along then miss, we don't have all day,"

It was a pleasant ride up to the ruined cathedral, and Suzi helped Ida down, and made the horses fast on part of the ruin. She padded over to Ida and said

"Do you want a good view miss? I mean a really good view?"

Ida blinked. She had been caught by surprise. There was a better view? This one was quite spectacular. She could see the town below them, and the surrounding land, and the sea stretching off in the distance, with ships dotted about like black specks on a canvas. The church bells struck twelve.

"Maybe after lunch?" Suzi smiled and went to the saddle-bag on Angela. Inside were cold meats and vegetables, with new baked bread and a flask of juice. They ate silently. The horses grazed. All was quiet. When they were done, Suzi packed away.

"Now let me show you that view," she helped Ida up some rocks that were almost like steps. They stood at the top and Ida gasped. The sea was sparkling, like tiny jewels, and the land was a patchwork of green, with small towns like islands. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. She sighed, and realised Suzi had left her and was sitting a way away, sketching on a pad. She looked out to sea again, at the ships coming in and out of port. Suddenly, Suzi was standing.

"What the-?" she squinted. "Oh no…" and hopped off the wall to her horse. Ida was left to get herself down and lead Queenie to a place where she could mount her. By then Suzi was already galloping down the hill.

A/N: Don't worry. This is not the wrong chappie! It's an introduction. R'n'R. Toodle pip!