- Summary: A.U.- Rizzoli & Isles on the High Seas; set in the age of wooden ships, privateers, pirates, and buccaneers.
A/N: Vincenzo is Italian for Vincent or Vince, Giovanna is Italian for Jane, Zio is Italian for Uncle, Tomas is Italian for Thomas,
Francesco is Italian for Frank and Angelina is the name of the Brigantine ship.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words, a few original ideas, Characters belong to TNT, Tess G,and Janet T. Written for enjoyment. No copyright infringement intended. No Beta reader all mistakes are my own.
Chapter Six ~~ Chess, and a Little Her Story
Susie smiled faintly, taking a last lingering look at Korsak. The robust grey-haired man was making shooing motions to his nephews, Frost, and the very drunk Irishman Derek Crowe.
Korsak opened the door to the carriage for hire and beckoned the others.
"Get in lot of you. He huffed, "before a night watchman comes this way. He will throw us all in the landlubbers brig." The older man winked at her before launching himself into the carriage.
Susie scanned the salon for her mistress and the stable-haired Miss Rizzoli. Hearing the voice of her employer, the lady's maid narrowed her search. Spying the flaxen-haired women and her guest bent over a chess board.
"To paraphrase Sir James Ware's Antiquities and History of Ireland," Maura ratiocinated, "I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over! is how Elisabeth R decried the assent of the current Irish ruling class. Thus, my father's family expanded their fiscal endeavors."
Jane privately speculated "This lady is not a typical English Rose. Women only concerned with class, cloths, and cattiness. We could be kindred souls. "
"Fiscal endeavors, why Lady Maura, this sounds surprisingly like a merchant class point of view. I thought it was unbecoming to speak of money." Jane rejoined with a glimmer of amusement.
Maura's heatedly responded "Only the foolish think money has nothing to do with class. One cannot ponder intangibles, if one doesn't have food, a roof and a means to keep both." Her eyes swirled from light green-brown to gold as she spoke. "Miss Rizzoli, the merchant class, the landed class and dare I say, the ruling class is still made up of the human class!"
"I agree. Checkmate, my rook and knight have your king." Jane gloated.
"Well played Miss Rizzoli, very well played. What say you to another game? We are at a draw. I won the first and you have won this game." Maura acknowledged.
"Clever use of her rook. Ms. Giovanna Rizzoli, is endowed with initiative and resourcefulness as her Uncle said of her. She is exotic. Lissome, and agreeable. A very diverting and congenial mixture." Maura's inner monologue was interrupted
"Lady Fairfield, are you ready to leave?" Susie inquired in a small high voice.
"Is it very late?" Maura speculated "I wished to challenge Miss Rizzoli to another game."
"I was unaware Master Garrett has a set curfew for us Ma'am" Susie quipped.
"No, he does not. Nor does he have a need. I did not intend to impose upon Miss Rizzoli overly long." Maura curtly rejoined. "Susie help yourself to the sideboard. After you have finished we can depart."
Quick as a hare the young servant dashed away without a backward glance. She was not one to waste time on the noblewoman's mercurial behavior. Holding a plate Susie rapidly filled it with roasted lamb, braised beef, and peas, carrots, and parsnips.
A flush faced auburn-haired woman spun about the room. She waved at Susie, "Miss Chang, I've come from the house, Cook sent me to warn you, Master Charles Hoyt is visiting Lord Fairfield. The two jackanapes are plotting some mischief."
"Beth, as you can see Lady Maura is not ready to return. She is quite content. Look she is starting another game of chess. Share a plate with me while Lady M. finishes her game " Susie replied.
The Auburn-haired servant observed "I've not seen her smile like that in months. Aye Lady Fairfield seems to be in good spirits, It is himself that puts her into a fierce mood."
"True that, her mood waxes and wanes. Garrett Fairfield can be boon or a baboon. I wish Lady M. was hard-heated; impervious to his boorishness. Master Garrett needs a firm approach." complained Susie.
"Ah Miss Chang as if our wishes were loaves and fishes we could feed the multitude. Master Fairfield's not a bad man, Lady M. knew of his vanity, and self-indulgences. She has made his vices manageable." Beth maintained. "He change much from when I knew him as a young dandy. You knew him and Lady M. as young ones?"
"My memory of him is a shy boy with ripe wheat colored hair, thin, and clumsy. Lady Fairfield was a chubby girl, awkward, and full of questions. The Fairfields and The Isles both summered at their adjoining estates in Ireland when he was in short pants and she was in pigtails. The Isles have many relations. Little Miss as we called her, was surrounded by family normally, but that summer the extended family were not invited. Mr. and Mrs. Isles said they wanted a quiet and peaceful summer. The Fairfields three sons and Maura entertained themselves. The oldest Fairfield lad enjoyed hunting, and teased young Master Garrett, because he was a poor shoot. The youngest would often sneak away from the nursery and join the others. He was a cleaver boy.
"At the time Little Miss, and Fairfield were made of the same cloth. Both would rather spend time watching sailing stick boats in the garden fountain, or learning Greek than learning how to make polite conversation. Ireland had a mild and as usual wet summer the year the two of them were of an age between nanny and schooling." Susie re-called.
So that is how they met, summers in Ireland. Why did the families decided to marry them off? Beth inquired.
"Beth, The two of them made their own compact. I enjoyed the gardens with them. Mostly as a convenience for the families. Madame Isles sent me to watch over them."
Madame said "Little one I think you were born old. Maura and the Fairfield boy may get into some impishness."
"I regret I did not tell Madame. It was a summer afternoon almost fourteen years ago. Skinny, and inept, Garrett was all elbows and knees at eleven. Shy, and freckled-faced ten-year old Maura, our Little Miss. The two composing their marriage-contract by the fountain. If you can call a pact between an eleven year-old boy and a ten year-old girl a contract."
"It's true; the families did not know about the arrangement?" The Auburn-haired girl asked.
"Not until the fall. The families considered it a fancy between the two, and in time the children would forget about the pact. Master Garrett was sent to a preparatory academy in the fall. Maura and her parents traveled to France. There they settled into Madame circle." Susie recounted
"Oh, the elder Mrs. Isles, did not push them together? She runs the Isles family. She and Master Fairfield's mum sent me to oversee a Proper Irish Nursery."
"The Isles women do rule the household. It has always been. I was born into service to the Isles family. My mum was a charwomen, and my poppa was one of the groundsmen."
"Er, I came to work for the elder Lady Fairfield from another household. Much like you I was born into service for the McRobbies. Me mum worked in the kitchens, and me father was a footman."
Mrs. Isles said to me "Elizabeth , the joining of our lovely Maura to handsome Garrett should bring bliss for all. We are sending you to my granddaughter to raise the children in a Proper Irish Nursery. Off with you to Dover, and send word to us when Maura is with child."
"Lady M. has been with child twice now. It is a sad thing to watch her try and act as though himself cared about the loss of the babies." Susie groaned.
"Master Garrett flirts with all sorts. I do not think he cares if he tarnishes the household." Beth whispered.
"Beth, he is a man. He does not think. It is a blessing that Lady M could be with child."
"If the Lady's bargain with himself is well and truly done, she and the staff will be rid of Garrett for at lest eighteen months." Susie though to herself.
RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI
"Lady Fairfield, you have not imposed on me. At first I was uncomfortable, because Zio Vincenzo, Francesco, and Tomas were not here, but you put me at ease. Tell me does your husband prefer his wife to be at home before the nightwatchmen make their rounds?"
"Zio Vincenzo, Francesco, and Tomas? Ah Your Uncle and your brothers, I forgot you are not English. My husband and I have independent lives. Ours is an arranged marriage." Maura Fairfield volunteered.
"Arranged by your families or a matchmaker?" the brunette remarked dryly.
"Miss. Rizzoli, Garrett, and I made an agreement. If nether had found an agreeable spouse by age twenty-one we would wed. We'd have offspring, then continue to pursue matters of our own interest. We are fond of each other but ours is not a love-match. " Lady Fairfield replied as she moved a knight.
"You will take my king in three moves, if I do not castle." Jane stated moving her king two squares towards the queen-side rock, then she brought her rock around to the open square beside the king.
Locking eyes with the golden-haired women across from her for a moment, Jane thought, "What does love have to do with a first marriage." Papà and Mamma chorused it to me over and over.
"We will not marry you off to some poor bell ' uomo without famiglia or money. God willing you should respect your first husband, and he respects you."
Mamma and Papà never spoke about Jane's friendships with Luce, the tavern server, or Sara, the seamstress. After all as her aunt imparted upon her.
"Amante, and Inamorato are as different as Ti Voglio Bene and Ti Amo. A lover and one you love are not always a possibility. Perhaps you will be lucky with Carlos and find a place for both just as you have for Luce and Sara."
The Lanky dark-haired woman fidgeted with the fringe on the end of her shawl.
"Ah now I have to reconsider my next gambit." Mindlessly twrilling a ringlet of hair, the petite honey blonde mused." She moved her knight taking the white queen.
"In chess as in life the lady must be resigned." Maura giggled.
Jane took a sip of tea, "I now have to reconsider my next move. Your husband and you enjoy a fond rather than a passionate relations. How will you seal your bargain to produce a bambino."
A blush quickly rose from the blond's chest to the tips of her ears. She lean forward and whisper in Jane's right ear.
"We have the situation well in hand. Garrett has remarkable aptitude in the bed chamber. Although as I said we do lead separate lives. His appetites can be extended to...umm others."
The blond woman's breath feathered across the Italian's ear, check, neck, and collar bone. Jane felt herself comes deliciously alive.
Unhurriedly long tan fingers brushed the exposed skin of Maura's wrist. "He entertains others? Not solely you? Have you not indulge your appetites for others?"
The gentle caress caused the blond to inhale deeply. The elegant lady pull back and gazed into dark eyes. The desire swirling in them made her pulse jump. The curve of the dark haired woman's smile made her fingers itch to trace it.
Maura's unexpected impulse, caused her blush to deepen. Looking away from her guest, the blond saw Susie and Beth enjoying a shared plate.
"My maid has been joined by one of the house servants. Beth and Susie have become rather friendly. I will need to investigate as to why Beth has come from the house before she and Susie take advantage of my purse."
Pulling back from the game, Maura swiftly joined her servants at their small table.
"Elizabeth, why are you here?" Maura Fairfield voiced crisply.
Beth looked up from her plate "Master Hoyt is visiting Lord Fairfield. Cook sent me to tell you and, I saw you were enjoying a game..."
"Yes, that is true." Maura replied as she discreetly observed the brunette at the game table.
Susie Chang injected "Ma'am, I f can be so bold, you and Miss Rizzoli seem to be having a fine time. Why not continue your game whilst I get you a room at Old Sheppard's Inn?"
Jane felt the weight of Lady Fairfield's eyes. Flashing the blonde a smile, she walked over to join her.
"...whilst I get you a room at Old Sheppard's Inn?"
"What your husband has locked you out for the night?" Jane teased.
"Er um, no He and his cousin, Charles Hoyt have commandeered my bibliotheca or the setting room..."
"Charles Hoyt you say, pardon me, but My Uncle, bothers, and I have exported and imported wool and other goods for him. He gives me il malocchio Er the Evil Eye. " Jane said as she quickly crossed herself.
"Lady Fairfield, My family has rooms at Cooper's Arms, you are welcome to join me there..." Jane sputtered.
Susie injected breathlessly. "Miss Rizzoli, your Uncle, Master Korsak instructed me to pass on he and your brothers will be entertaining Master Navigators Crowe, and Frost at your rooms."
"I reckon I'm off to sleep in the bosom of Angelina." Jane paused her brown eyes crinkling in mirth.
Maura, Susie , and Beth turned to gaze at Jane with varying degrees of astonishment.
"Angelina always has a soft bed waiting for me." Jane continued. "She may only be a Brigantine, but she has the soul of a Manila Galleon. Lady Fairfield my offer stands. Hoyt and your husband, may have commandeered your beloved library, but my humble book collection is embargoed from them.
"Miss Rizzoli, your collection intrigues me. Beth, thank cook for me. Susie, I will be aboard the Angelina. Tomorrow bring my travel valise to me. Miss Rizzoli, er Jane or do you prefer Giovanna, shall we walk or take a carriage to your soft bed?"
Chapter Six ~~ Chess, and a Little Her Story
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