Chapter 3: A Touch of Lace

Marieke glared into the looking glass, which glowered right back at her. She and the little copy cat hunched shoulders, crossed arms, and sighed in almost comical frustration as one. Finally, Marieke turned her back and they parted ways.

The dress, she decided, was not going to work.

And neither had thirty-two other dresses, all of which now lay scattered haphazardly about the room in little heaps of silk and lace. Marieke tugged at the bodice of the dress while nervously looking to the clock above the door. The little man had already visited twice warning her that time was running short, and each time Marieke had replied she was "nearly finished."

Marieke crossed her arms again in an effort to hide the embarrassingly low front showing off far too much skin for her comfort. The delicate gold lacing itched, but she loved how it flashed in the lamplight with every move she made. Right now she was moving to take it off. Arousing the captain was not a good idea in an already compromising position.

"Ma'am, are you quite finished, yet? Supper is growing cold and- well, you see- the Captain doesn't like to kept waiting!" Marieke rolled her eyes at the stuttering voice, but afterwards felt pity for the poor creature. With a tired groan she refastened the ties in back.

She sighed, frustrated, tugging at the dress front anxiously. "I'm coming!" she shouted back to the door. Hurriedly, Marieke took a swig of water from a jar left out for her while raking one shaking hand through her long hair and opened the door.

The tubby man stepped back, his eyes wide, and all motion on board came to a halt. Marieke stuck her nose in the air, as she had often seen her mistress do.

"I am ready."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you Mister Lam. That will be all," James dismissed the Bo sun, who then bowed out of the room to leave he and Marieke alone.

James sipped his wine and surreptitiously peeked at the girl from over the rim. The table was quite long, separating the two by at least six or seven feet, and yet she cowered in the chair, picking at the feast before her. A lifetime of servitude had kept her back bent in humility, and it was clear that sitting tall was a struggle for her now.

James smiled warmly. "Marieke, I apologize again for this dreadful mistake. It was my intention to kidnap the young Lady Wigner and return her as soon as ransom was paid. I regret that anyone else had to get caught up in such a terrible affair."

The girl smiled but her eyes remained lifeless. James frowned, taking another sip of wine, and then paused. Her hands shook as she reached for her own goblet. Lord, the girl must have been terrified, and it almost caused James to swell with pride that his figure could inspire such terror. Instead, he only felt sympathy and shame.

From across the table, the captain admired her. The crimson dress perfectly complemented her blonde hair and altogether she positively shimmered in the wavering candlelight.

Their gazes met.

James quickly looked away. Clearing his throat, James resumed the rather one-sided conversation. "Mr. Lam is at the moment preparing a room for you adjoining my own complete with clothing and other necessities."

Marieke snapped to attention. James continued.

"Lam will be available to assist you, if a need should ever arise. I will provide you with defensive weaponry as well, in the case that we are ever attacked and invaded-"

"My room?" the girl interjected.

James blinked, befuddled. "What about your room?"

Marieke blushed. "I am not to have my own room?"

He smiled, still confused. "Well, yes, you're to have your own room. It's just kind of- well, attached, to my own." She shook all the more at this. The captain's eyes narrowed to slits, and he cocked his head to one side questioningly. "Is that a problem?"

Marieke scowled. "Not at all, sir. However, with permission, I will require a dagger before going to sleep."

James smiled. "Suicide is not the answer, my love."

"I couldn't agree more. But I will need weaponry for…'defensive purposes.' I like to sleep undisturbed. "

James laughed and finished off the wine with a little toast. "Hear, hear!"