Title: Daughters of the Empire
Chapter 1: The Mornings Breath
Author: Grizzled Rose
A/N: Thanks for the review Purple Sky, glad you like it.
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Almost a year later.
Elisabeth stood in her nightgown, covered discretely by her white dressing robe. The morning sun shone down on her, as she lounged out on her small balcony. The birds sang praise to the beautiful morning as she looked down upon the bay bellow. Her mind wondering to the fait that she belonged to. Really there was nothing wrong with Lt. Finn, on the contrary he was what any woman should have wanted. He came from a food family, and had all the standards that made a man. He was not abusive and would provide and protect her. Yet there was something missing, try as she might, Elisabeth just couldn't love that man. It seemed though that her father did. Any how there was little that she could do, they were to be married this summer and that was the end of it. As Elisabeth drifted away in her thoughts there came a knocking at her door.
"Elisabeth are you decent dear?" Her father's voice questioned from the other side of her door.
"Yes father." She replied as she made her way back into her room. As she did so her father entered with Elisabeth's two maids Cecily and Anya.
"My dear still not dressed, and at this hour of the morning? Never mind then, I have brought you a special gift." He announced as he made his way to his daughter and hugged her quickly. He then pulled a fancy gown from a paper wrapping. "The latest fashion from Europe, do try it on."
"What brings this about father?" Elisabeth asked as she was lead to her dressing room by her two maids.
"I need a reason to shower gifts upon my daughters now?" He asked with a smile on his face. Elisabeth knew better though, something was happening today. Soon she was finding it hard to think and breath as the two women helping her began to lace up the corset in the front of the new dress. Elisabeth couldn't take it any longer and gasped at the building pressure. "Something wrong?" He asked.
"It's difficult to say. I think women in Europe must have learned have to carry on with out breathing." Elisabeth remarked between a few gasps of air and small moans of pain.
"That's a shame; I was hoping that you would wear it out on your meeting with the Lieutenant this afternoon." Governor Summers said wringing his hands together. "I'm sure it just takes getting use to dear." He continued.
"Oh my!" Elisabeth proclaimed she had forgotten all about meeting Reily at the north tower this afternoon. They were to discus the up coming marriage. "I suppose that I will wear it, I should start getting ready anyhow."
"Fine, fine I do hope that." Governor Summers was cut off by a large crash from the hallway. He looked at Elisabeth and they both knew the cause immediately. "Dawn!" He yelled. Smiling and nodding to his eldest daughter, he then turned and headed in search of the youngest.
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He found her in her room, with one of her familiar weapons in hand. Since their last trip to London Dawn had picked up the nasty hobby of sword play. She was often the cause of many a broken peace of the house. Governor Summers had tried many times to break his daughter of such an un-lady like sport. Even at her young age, she had managed to find a few men that had thought it harmless or cute, and showed her a few tricks. They on the other hand didn't have to live or pay for her constant mistakes while practicing.
"Dawn Summers! What have I told you at least a hundred times!" He yelled as he entered the room.
"I'm sorry; I didn't realize that the stand was so close." Dawn pleaded with her father.
"I've had it with this nonsense, I don't see why you have to be this way, have you learned nothing? I've had enough of this, and it's un-becoming of a young lady! Why couldn't you be more like your sister? Don't you see how well she's doing? I'll tell you one thing; she didn't get there by playing these little games of yours." The Governor was red in the face; he walked up and forcefully removed the sword from Dawn's hand. He then turned and left the room, along with is crying daughter.
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Just outside the bay, the sea was choppy and the wind blow hard from the west. There aboard his sail boat stood a menacing figure, his body was lean and strong from a life of hard work. He's hair and beard was bleached from the expose to the sun, curled and tangled from nature's climates. Clothed in black, from hat to boot, but the most stunning was his long black leather sea coat. His eyes only left the horizon to check his compass as he made his way to Royal Portsmith.
As he entered the bay he was greeted by the typical warning for those in his profession. The rotten corpses of his fallen comrades, hanging from an old yard arm, anchor to the bay's sea floor. Still he sailed on, considering he was captaining nothing but a small dingy by himself. The fishermen all gave him an odd look as he sailed into the harbor. Landing he jumped to the wooden dock and headed to the main land. Only to be stopped by an elderly gentleman who stood watch over the cities docks.
"You can't leave that here!" The old man protested.
"And where do you suggest I leave it?" The man in black asked. The old man looked confused for a moment and then looked back to the strange man.
"I mean you have to pay to leave it here." The old man stated. "That's three shillings." The stranger throw the money at the old man, and turned back to his original direction. The old man bent down to retrieve the money, and as he did the stranger took the small money box that sat on the docks desk.
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High up on the north tower Elisabeth's escort, her maid Anya, stood back allowing her mistress some privacy with her future husband. Elisabeth walked over to the stone crowning that guarded these walls from enemy attack. From the north wall there was only a straight drop down to the bay below, where the tide crashed upon the sharp rocks. With long range artillery it was a good defensive point against attacking ships down in the bay. Or so the Lieutenant was rambling on about.
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Down below in the docks that stranger leaned against one of the thick poles of the upper dock and pulled out his pipe. Slowly he lit it, allowing himself to hide in the shadows smoking, as he watched the men loading the speedier ships. Of course he wasn't allowed on these docks, or for the matter anywhere near this area. It was for military personal only, for these were the ships of his majesty, it was part of the great British fleet.
The stranger just stood there observing the world around him, smoking in the shadows. Soon a guard finally noticed the stranger and approached him about his trespassing, and so the battle of wits began.
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Elisabeth was having a hard time attempting to breath, in that dress as Lt. Finn kept rambling on about military protocol and such. Finally he turned to look out over the bay.
"You look lovely Elisabeth." Though the subject had changed the flat tone of his voice did not. Elisabeth smiled and nodded in regards to his compliment, the entire time trying to breath and finding it impossible. "You have become a fine woman, I'm nervous about the up coming marriage." The Lieutenant continued talking even as Elisabeth began to falter and then fall from the wall.
Down below the stranger still stood, bantering with the dim-witted guard. As they continued on, they noticed as Elisabeth's body splashed into the bay's waters besides them. Up on the tower Lt. Finn was finishing his story, and turned to where Elisabeth should have stood. A quick glance around and he then realized what had happened. He then leaned over the wall and called out her name, which also got the attention of Anya. Who soon came running up to the wall herself. Lt. Finn was un-doing his jacket and preparing to jump after Elisabeth when Anya caught his arm.
"The rocks, Sir. I don't know how she missed them, but it's too dangerous to follow her." She pleaded. Realizing how correct the servant was he then turned and ran to reach the bottom.
Bellow at the docks the stranger and the guard watched as the body sank deeper into the water. The stranger then turned to the guard.
"Well, shouldn't you be saving her then?" The stranger asked. The dim- witted guard looked at him, then the water and grew a pale green color.
"But, I can't swim!" The guard stuttered out. The stranger looked at him with disbelief.
"Oh bullocks!" The stranger cried. He then dropped his hat to the boards of the dock, along with his coat, compass, broken watch, pistol, and sword belt. Once his valuables were off of his person, he took a running leap off of the dock, to the cold water. Just before hitting the water he took a deep breath, and then forced himself to dive deep into the water.
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Chapter 1: The Mornings Breath
Author: Grizzled Rose
A/N: Thanks for the review Purple Sky, glad you like it.
@@@
Almost a year later.
Elisabeth stood in her nightgown, covered discretely by her white dressing robe. The morning sun shone down on her, as she lounged out on her small balcony. The birds sang praise to the beautiful morning as she looked down upon the bay bellow. Her mind wondering to the fait that she belonged to. Really there was nothing wrong with Lt. Finn, on the contrary he was what any woman should have wanted. He came from a food family, and had all the standards that made a man. He was not abusive and would provide and protect her. Yet there was something missing, try as she might, Elisabeth just couldn't love that man. It seemed though that her father did. Any how there was little that she could do, they were to be married this summer and that was the end of it. As Elisabeth drifted away in her thoughts there came a knocking at her door.
"Elisabeth are you decent dear?" Her father's voice questioned from the other side of her door.
"Yes father." She replied as she made her way back into her room. As she did so her father entered with Elisabeth's two maids Cecily and Anya.
"My dear still not dressed, and at this hour of the morning? Never mind then, I have brought you a special gift." He announced as he made his way to his daughter and hugged her quickly. He then pulled a fancy gown from a paper wrapping. "The latest fashion from Europe, do try it on."
"What brings this about father?" Elisabeth asked as she was lead to her dressing room by her two maids.
"I need a reason to shower gifts upon my daughters now?" He asked with a smile on his face. Elisabeth knew better though, something was happening today. Soon she was finding it hard to think and breath as the two women helping her began to lace up the corset in the front of the new dress. Elisabeth couldn't take it any longer and gasped at the building pressure. "Something wrong?" He asked.
"It's difficult to say. I think women in Europe must have learned have to carry on with out breathing." Elisabeth remarked between a few gasps of air and small moans of pain.
"That's a shame; I was hoping that you would wear it out on your meeting with the Lieutenant this afternoon." Governor Summers said wringing his hands together. "I'm sure it just takes getting use to dear." He continued.
"Oh my!" Elisabeth proclaimed she had forgotten all about meeting Reily at the north tower this afternoon. They were to discus the up coming marriage. "I suppose that I will wear it, I should start getting ready anyhow."
"Fine, fine I do hope that." Governor Summers was cut off by a large crash from the hallway. He looked at Elisabeth and they both knew the cause immediately. "Dawn!" He yelled. Smiling and nodding to his eldest daughter, he then turned and headed in search of the youngest.
@@@
He found her in her room, with one of her familiar weapons in hand. Since their last trip to London Dawn had picked up the nasty hobby of sword play. She was often the cause of many a broken peace of the house. Governor Summers had tried many times to break his daughter of such an un-lady like sport. Even at her young age, she had managed to find a few men that had thought it harmless or cute, and showed her a few tricks. They on the other hand didn't have to live or pay for her constant mistakes while practicing.
"Dawn Summers! What have I told you at least a hundred times!" He yelled as he entered the room.
"I'm sorry; I didn't realize that the stand was so close." Dawn pleaded with her father.
"I've had it with this nonsense, I don't see why you have to be this way, have you learned nothing? I've had enough of this, and it's un-becoming of a young lady! Why couldn't you be more like your sister? Don't you see how well she's doing? I'll tell you one thing; she didn't get there by playing these little games of yours." The Governor was red in the face; he walked up and forcefully removed the sword from Dawn's hand. He then turned and left the room, along with is crying daughter.
@@@
Just outside the bay, the sea was choppy and the wind blow hard from the west. There aboard his sail boat stood a menacing figure, his body was lean and strong from a life of hard work. He's hair and beard was bleached from the expose to the sun, curled and tangled from nature's climates. Clothed in black, from hat to boot, but the most stunning was his long black leather sea coat. His eyes only left the horizon to check his compass as he made his way to Royal Portsmith.
As he entered the bay he was greeted by the typical warning for those in his profession. The rotten corpses of his fallen comrades, hanging from an old yard arm, anchor to the bay's sea floor. Still he sailed on, considering he was captaining nothing but a small dingy by himself. The fishermen all gave him an odd look as he sailed into the harbor. Landing he jumped to the wooden dock and headed to the main land. Only to be stopped by an elderly gentleman who stood watch over the cities docks.
"You can't leave that here!" The old man protested.
"And where do you suggest I leave it?" The man in black asked. The old man looked confused for a moment and then looked back to the strange man.
"I mean you have to pay to leave it here." The old man stated. "That's three shillings." The stranger throw the money at the old man, and turned back to his original direction. The old man bent down to retrieve the money, and as he did the stranger took the small money box that sat on the docks desk.
@@@
High up on the north tower Elisabeth's escort, her maid Anya, stood back allowing her mistress some privacy with her future husband. Elisabeth walked over to the stone crowning that guarded these walls from enemy attack. From the north wall there was only a straight drop down to the bay below, where the tide crashed upon the sharp rocks. With long range artillery it was a good defensive point against attacking ships down in the bay. Or so the Lieutenant was rambling on about.
@@@
Down below in the docks that stranger leaned against one of the thick poles of the upper dock and pulled out his pipe. Slowly he lit it, allowing himself to hide in the shadows smoking, as he watched the men loading the speedier ships. Of course he wasn't allowed on these docks, or for the matter anywhere near this area. It was for military personal only, for these were the ships of his majesty, it was part of the great British fleet.
The stranger just stood there observing the world around him, smoking in the shadows. Soon a guard finally noticed the stranger and approached him about his trespassing, and so the battle of wits began.
@@@
Elisabeth was having a hard time attempting to breath, in that dress as Lt. Finn kept rambling on about military protocol and such. Finally he turned to look out over the bay.
"You look lovely Elisabeth." Though the subject had changed the flat tone of his voice did not. Elisabeth smiled and nodded in regards to his compliment, the entire time trying to breath and finding it impossible. "You have become a fine woman, I'm nervous about the up coming marriage." The Lieutenant continued talking even as Elisabeth began to falter and then fall from the wall.
Down below the stranger still stood, bantering with the dim-witted guard. As they continued on, they noticed as Elisabeth's body splashed into the bay's waters besides them. Up on the tower Lt. Finn was finishing his story, and turned to where Elisabeth should have stood. A quick glance around and he then realized what had happened. He then leaned over the wall and called out her name, which also got the attention of Anya. Who soon came running up to the wall herself. Lt. Finn was un-doing his jacket and preparing to jump after Elisabeth when Anya caught his arm.
"The rocks, Sir. I don't know how she missed them, but it's too dangerous to follow her." She pleaded. Realizing how correct the servant was he then turned and ran to reach the bottom.
Bellow at the docks the stranger and the guard watched as the body sank deeper into the water. The stranger then turned to the guard.
"Well, shouldn't you be saving her then?" The stranger asked. The dim- witted guard looked at him, then the water and grew a pale green color.
"But, I can't swim!" The guard stuttered out. The stranger looked at him with disbelief.
"Oh bullocks!" The stranger cried. He then dropped his hat to the boards of the dock, along with his coat, compass, broken watch, pistol, and sword belt. Once his valuables were off of his person, he took a running leap off of the dock, to the cold water. Just before hitting the water he took a deep breath, and then forced himself to dive deep into the water.
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