Author's Note: This chapter was quite complicated and difficult to write. With multiple characters going back and forth across the Atlantic, I had difficulty keeping track of who was where and when they were arriving and so forth. At one point, I completely dropped one character out of the story. So I had to go back and rewrite him into the proper place. Additionally, I had to modify some of the sections already written to account for his reemergence. So if you spot some inconsistency I missed, please tell me and I will correct it. Thank you. As always your comments are more than welcome.
Chapter 6: Communication
Jane was not happy with leaving her friend with having to deal with her father's illness, but there was very little she could do. The tall Texan had given the young heiress her a way to get a letter to her, but a letter would have to cross the Atlantic by ship and then go Dallas by mule train, where it would wait for pick-up by one of the Rizzolis on one of their monthly trips to Dallas. All in all, a letter coming from England would take six months to deliver.
The reverse was true for Jane to send a letter to Maura. However, the always optimistic preteen sat down and wrote her new friend the moment they had a layover in New Orleans. The anxious brunette wrote a long eight page letter. Then, the young woman went to the docks to find a ship that would take it to England for her.
The docks of New Orleans were a wild and untamed place, full of cut throats, shanghiers and other hard and desperate men. The tough Texan had changed into her buckskins getting ready for the trail to West Texas. The tall brunette found a ship going to Dover. The not so trusting Texan made a point that she would need confirmation that her letter was properly delivered.
The hardened fighter pulled her toothpick and held it under the rough looking captain's chin and said, "Mister, I don't know y'all from Adam, but let me tell y'all sumtin 'bout me. I once laid in the high grass of Texas for two days just to get one shot at an Injun that done me oh-fense. Iffin y'all don't get that there letter to my friend, I will know 'bout it and then I will come huntin' scalp. Do I make myself knowed?"
The tough sea captain knew a hardened killer from just a loud mouth and he saw in this young woman's eyes something to fear. He saw a young lady who had faced death and laughed, a young lady who had killed on more than one occasion. So, the veteran brawler swallowed hard and replied, "Miss, iffin I takes ya money, I does the job."
So Jane gave the man a five dollar gold piece and instructions on how to get the letter to her friend. The tall Texan also gave the man a promise, "Iffin, y'all make this delivery find the new offices of Rizzoli sugar and y'all get another gold piece just like her. I'll also give y'all more business."
The experienced sea captain saw a business opportunity when he saw one and quickly agreed to the arrangement. Satisfied that she had done everything she could to get her letter to her English friend, the wild-hearted Texas said her farewells and left the ship and headed to their hotel.
On her way home, the buckskin clad fighter encountered a three drunken sailors going back to their ship after a night on the town. The three seamen saw the unaccompanied teenager and thought they saw an easy target. The three drunkards staggered up to the tall lovely brunette and said, "What ya doin' out alone? I'm thinkin' ya need company."
The veteran fighter took a deep breath knowing there was no avoiding his confrontation. So, the experienced warrior did what came naturally, the tall brunette drew her Le Mat and clubbed the nearest sailor with its barrel. The half sober seaman dropped to the ground unconscious. The other two sots stared in total confusion at the gun pointed at them. The weary combatant sighed, "Just take y'all friend and go afore I get riled."
The two men sobered quickly and realized that the easy mark was a predator of the most dangerous kind. So they grabbed their unconscious partner under his armpits and dragged him away. The beautiful Italian teenager smiled at the image of her friend that danced lightly in her head and walked away thinking of how much she missed the young honey blonde, who she had only met a couple of weeks earlier.
***SE***
Once the Isles party was on board one of the vessels of Isles Shipping, the ship's captain ordered his craft to sea. Maura hurried her father into one of the passenger cabins and saw that he was comfortable, before the honey blonde heiress went to her own stateroom.
Upon entering her stateroom, the young noblewoman ordered her maid to find her writing desk. Maura then wrote four letters. The first was a letter to the Isles Sugar Company offices in New Orleans detailing her father's arrangement with Frank Rizzoli. The second was a letter to the Isles Bank in New Orleans directing a letter of credit for the Rizzoli family under the terms for which the two parties agreed. The third letter was to her buying agent in Texas outlining the Rizzoli deal and instructing the man to establish some sort of communication in order to coordinate the manufacturing of sugar and its eventual delivery.
The fourth letter was personal. In her letter to Jane, the honey blonde heiress told her teenaged friend about the letters she had written. The efficient businesswoman also told Jane how she would get the money from her bank. Then the English Lady told the tall Texan how her father was doing and how she feared he wouldn't recover. Finally the normally stoic pre-teen talked about her wants, desires and future outlook. When she had completed the letter, Maura sealed into an envelope and sent for her bodyguard and the ship's captain.
When the strict English sea captain arrived, the English noblewoman asked, "Captain Jones, it is my understanding we will come within hailing distance of one our ships on its way to Savannah, Georgia. Is that correct?"
The wily sea captain replied, "Yes Milady, we should be within proper hailing distance within the hour. Why, may I ask are you interested in such a thing?"
The lovely heiress chose to ignore the captain's question and not take offense. So, the intelligent young woman responded, "Captain, hail that ship and tell them that one of my servants will need to transfer to their ship."
See that the unfazed young woman would brook no disrespect, the cautious seaman answered, "Yes Milady. Is that all?"
The young noblewoman replied, "Yes. That's all I need for now."
After the middle aged seaman left Maura addressed her bodyguard, Hugh Jamieson, "Hugh, I need you to deliver my four letters to people to whom they are addressed and only those people. Then you are to wait for a reply from each letter. In the fifth envelope is one hundred pounds for expenses and a letter to my bank for additional funds should you require them. Hugh, this is very important to me both financially and personally."
The tall Welchman answered, "I'll get it done, Milady. You know I am your man now and forever. I'm just a little concerned about leaving you without protection for the remainder of this voyage."
The beautiful young Lady responded, "I will be careful. I am going to request the Captain to assign to me one of his lieutenants as my personal bodyguard. I will promise said officer a Captain's post upon my return to Swansea."
The savvy bodyguard knew men and smiled broadly, as he responded, "That's brilliant, Milady. Any ship's officer would kill for anyone who could get him his own ship. I'll get my gear and report to the Captain. I should be back in Swansea with your answer within the half year."
The engaging young heiress smiled her answer, "Thank you, Hugh. I have total faith in you. I cannot explain this, but I must be able to communicate with that wild-eyed Texan. I always felt so alone in this world, where men control everything and I had force my way in by stealth and cunning. However, this young woman command respect on her own merit and not only does she get it, but she expects it. Please, give the Captain my compliments and ask him for that officer."
The giant bodyguard left to perform his duty to the one person in the world that command his total devotion and the canny Welchman understood what the young woman had said more than she knew. He had watched her struggle over the years with finding her proper place in the world and he had witnessed the aura of the tall dark Texan. The experience fighter knew that in a battle with that Texan, he would lose. Not because she was strong or experienced, but because she was ruthless and she knew that the only way to win was to do what was necessary to win. The savvy bodyguard knew one more thing his young charge was in love and didn't even know it.
***SE***
Six weeks later, a very large Welchman was riding up to the main house of the Rizzoli ranch. Jane took her Sharps from it rank and went out to greet the hard looking stranger. The man had the look of a soldier and not a cowhand. However, there was something familiar about him. The shrewd Texan had a good memory for faces, but the beard and clothing was out of place for this man and she was having difficulty placing him.
The dark man smiled disarmingly as he approached her and said, "I don't know if ya remember me, but I remember you in a cream colored gown with gold trim and wide hoops. I work for Lady Maura."
Recognition shone on her face as the lovely brunette recalled the tall quiet bodyguard, who was always there, but never really noticed. Yet, years of living on her wits and never missing anything in her environment had made his threat very noticeable to experienced Indian fighter. Nonetheless, he had come from Maura and she wanted a letter or message from her desperately, so she responded, "I remember. Y'all were her bodyguard. Has she sent me a message?"
The cagy man could see the excitement in the young woman's manner and knew that his Lady's feelings were returned by this dark warrior. The insightful Welchman said, "I have more than a message. I have a letter from Milady and instructions to await a reply. Additionally I have a letter for ya from Mr. Conrad, Milady's buying agent in Austin. He's established a mail drop for ya. The managers of Isles Shipping in New Orleans have explicit instructions to assist you or a member of your family in any manner, unless it does damage to the company. Mr. Conrad is also awaiting your sugar deliveries. He understands that it will probably be months before you are full production, but with so many farmers converting from sugar to cotton, he is having difficulties keeping up with demand."
He anxious teenager franticly wanted that letter, but held her excitement as she offered, "Well, lit and set. We have food and coffee ready at all times, just in case we have some company. Come with me into the kitchen and meet my Maw."
The giant messenger dismounted his horse and removed two large envelopes from his saddle bags. The big Welchman handed the envelopes to the obviously desperate teenager. The ex-soldier kindly suggested, "Why don't ya read ya letter and answer it. I'll make sure it gets back to Milady. I wont ya to know Lady Maura wrote that letter the moment she was in her cabin that night we left Washington. She dint wont to leave. She had looked forward to spendin' time witcha. One more thing, Milady is very dear to me, iffin ya hurt her, I will do anything in my power to hurt ya."
The hardened teenager smirked at the threat. The veteran Indian fighter had heard them before and filed it away in the back of her mind. How could this man think for a minute she would do anything to endanger Maura? The thought of the young honey blonde hurt or in danger made her heart stop beating. So the experience warrior ignored the threat and said, "Follow me to the kitchen. By the way, I've been hurt by experts and they never hurt anybody else after that."
The two warriors entered the kitchen, where Angela had a stew simmering and two pies in the oven. Jane, though a bit distracted by the letters burning a hole in hands, told her mother, "This is Hugh… I'm sorry I don't know your sir name. He were Maura's bodyguard. He's brung me a letter from her. I thought you could feed him fer me, while I read and answer this here letter."
The loving mother had never seen her daughter so excited about anything in the young woman's entire life. Her daughter was such a self-contained, self-confident loner that Angela had thought that no one could induce such a strong reaction from her stoic teenager. So, the smiling Italian replied, "Of course, Dear. Y'all go and read y'all's letter and I'll take keer of ya friend, Mr…."
The large messenger smiled, "Jamieson, ma'am. My name is Hugh Jamieson, I would be proud iffin ya could call me Hugh."
***SE***
Jane sprinted to her room and spent the better part of three hours reading her letter and writing its response. The excited teenager started out by telling her business partner how they had almost finished the mill, which they had began construction, the minute they arrive home two weeks earlier. They had started planting beets, but wouldn't have their own crops for several months. Therefore, her pa was out buying every sugar beet and stalk of sugar cane he could find in the area.
The wily teen told her friend how the first load of sugar would follow this letter by only a couple of days. Then the lonely Italian wrote about the hills and plains of West Texas and the feel of the land, the sun and the wind. Next the wild Texan wrote about her friends, the Comanche and her fears of their safety. After that the quiet hunter wrote about her loneliness and isolation. The young woman scribed about how she was so different that people shied away from her out of fear and hatred of those who are different. People respected her, but they didn't want to socialize with her.
Jane told Maura about her hopes and dreams and how the young teenager planned on having her own ranch, where the brilliant horsewoman would raise the finest cowponies in the world. All in all, the letter took up twenty-one pages and would have been longed, except the young Texan ran out of paper.
The smiling young cowgirl folded the letter with reverence and placed it into a large envelope that could barely contain the long, heart-felt letter. After sealing the envelope, the sentimental teenager ran down the stairs to give Hugh her response. The wild Texan had Maura's letter tucked lovingly in her pocket, so she could read it anytime she wanted.
***SE***
Eight weeks after Jane handed Hugh her response, a tough looking sea captain arrived in Swansea. The rugged sailor had no difficulty in finding the manor of Lady Maura Isles. He walked up to the main gate and told the guard he had a letter for Lady Maura from Jane Rizzoli. The guard sent a runner to the main house. Shortly after, a well-dressed young woman arrived at the gate and announced, "I am Lady Maura's personal maid. She wishes you to describe Miss Rizzoli."
The brash captain would never forget the face of the girl who held a knife to his throat. So he replied, "She's tall with black hair and brown eyes and a look that tells you to be afraid. I'll tell ya this, lass, she put a knife to my throat and told me iffin I dint get this here letter to ye, miss, I might as well cut my own gizzards."
The young maid ran off with the description and returned moments later as she said, "Let him in and accompany him to the main parlor. Captain, you will accompany this man and refreshments will be awaiting you there. Don't try to go anywhere other than where you are told. Milady wants nothing to happen to you."
***SE***
Lady Maura Isles was sitting in the parlor anxiously fidgeting. Her two longtime friends and maids had never seen her so excited before this day. Obviously Jane Rizzoli had left quite the impression on the young heiress.
Bridgette and Georgina had heard about the heroism of the wild American from the savage land of Texas, but they hadn't believed all the stories until they read the newspaper clippings in their Lady's new memory book. Now, Georgina had come back with the tales of this sea captain who had had the fear of God or rather the fear of Jane Rizzoli instilled in him.
The aging seaman bowed stiffly to the daughter of a legend among his kind. Every ship's captain dreamed of doing what Captain Frederick Isles had accomplished in his lifetime. It was rumored along the docks of Swansea that the great Lord was ill and the child that sat nervously before him would inherit his title and goods, though her mother would stand as regent for several years. Therefore, the smart captain wanted to make a good impression on a possible source of great wealth.
He had heard the young woman was a brilliant businesswoman and a ruthless and formidable opponent. He wondered why the young noblewoman seemed so agitated. He wondered why the powerful young Lady seemed so anxious. Could his letter be of such importance? Any thoughts of withholding the letter in order to gain some benefit were quickly discard, fearing the eyes that held his death more than his greed, the sailor took the letter from his sea bag and presented it to the eager Lady.
Bridgette stepped forward and took the letter from the old man's hand and gave it to her Lady. For the first time the lovely honey blonde spoke, "Take this man to the kitchen and see he is well fed. Then take him to the servant quarters and have him bathe and rested. I will wish to talk with him in four hours."
The slightly confused seaman was led from the room. However, before he left the room, he witnessed the fine Lady tear open his letter with such glee.
***SE***
The honey blonde beauty read her letter with a huge smile on her face. Her eyes darted along the pages as the enraptured preteen absorbed every word. When the beautiful Lady read 'Your friend forever, Jane' she cried. It was at that moment the worldlier Georgina knew her Lady was in love. The teenager looked to her sister and could see the same conclusion in her eyes.
Their Lady ordered her writing desk and spent the next three hours writing a twenty-seven page manuscript of everything that came into her head. The blonde Ladyship was signing her masterpiece when the Captain was escorted into the parlor. The servants removed her writing desk as she placed the perfumed pages into three scented envelopes.
Her two maids and childhood friends were at a loss of how to feel about the wild American they had never met. Obviously their Ladyship was mesmerized by this fierce Texan and the two young women knew that absolutely nothing could come of this relationship. The Lady's mother was having an ongoing tryst with their mother, but Lady Constance was already married to a man. Someone in Lady Maura's social position had to marry and marry well.
The two friends knew that there would be tremendous pressure on their lovely charge to marry well for the good of the estate as soon as the Lordship passed. What they didn't know was Lady Maura Isles had no intention in every marrying anyone, so as to keep power over her estates and her own person. Any man she married would become her master and in charge of her estate and title, which went against her independent nature.
Another tough looking seaman was escorted into the parlor by two of the Lady's guards. At which point, the brilliant young noblewoman ordered, "You will take these letters to New Orleans, Captain... I'm so sorry for being so rude as not to inquire before this moment, but what is your name Captain?"
The somewhat bewildered Captain answered, "Prescott, Milady, Captain Jonathan Prescott."
The young noble smiled and continued, "Captain Barnes will take you on the evening tide. Once you have delivered these letters to my business offices in New Orleans, you will be given a ship to command and return here. Georgie go get the rosewood chest from my closet and the cherry wood jewelry case, please."
The young maid dashed off calling for the two large guards escorting Captain Barnes to accompany her. The honey blonde heiress continued, "You will take the chest and jewelry case to the very same offices. Should you fail to deliver them or should any item disappear for any reason, I will find you and have you boiled in vat of oil, slowly. Not to mention, Jane will find out about it and you know how she will react. I am not a person with which to be trifled, but Jane is a person of whom to be terrified."
Georgina entered the room carrying the jewelry box, while the two guards lugged in the hope chest. The pert maid asked, "Are you sure, you want to do this, Milady. There are thousands of pounds of jewelry and gowns in these chests."
The diminutive Lady became angry as she admonished her lifelong friend, "Georgina, do not ever doubt me again. I know full well what is in those chests. I packed them myself weeks ago. I had commissioned the gowns for Jane before I left Washington and had intended on gifting them to her there. The poor girl had never even owned a gown before I had one made for her for the inaugural ball. As for the jewelry, the woman saved my life and my virtue, a few older pieces of jewelry is small recompense for such service. I love you like a sister, but remember your station."
The older young woman has never heard her Lady assert her rank. The golden noblewoman had always gone to get lengths to make those of lesser station feel comfortable and at ease around her. Many time the two sisters felt their Lady should be more assertive, but they never expected to be the brunt of it.
The perplexed sea captain asked, "Could I possibly borrow a cart or wagon to carry these chests to the ship?"
Lady Maura ordered Captain Duncan, "Captain Duncan, have some of your men insure that these trunks make it aboard your ship. Captain Prescott you may accompany the chests or depend on Captain Duncan and your men. Please, remember however, these boxes are in your personal charge."
The still shaken sailor asked, "Milady, I already have a ship, why should I take this responsibility for a ship of yours?"
The confident young woman replied, "Bridgette, give him the purse."
The saucy French maid handed the shocked sea captain a leather purse, as Lady Maura remarked, "You will find one hundred gold sovereigns in that purse. That is one month's pay for one of my Captains. In addition, my captains receive ten percent of all profits from a voyage with a like share for their crew. Can your previous employer match that offer?"
The savvy seaman pocketed the heavy purse and replied, "I'll stay with the chests. I would hate for there to be any misunderstanding between us."
The young heiress smiled as she remarked, Good. I'm glad everything is satisfactory. Georgina and Bridgette, ready my bath, I must get ready for Sir Jasper's dinner party. It will be a dreadful affair, but with father unable to go, I must at least make an appearance.
With a wave of her hand, the young noblewoman dismissed them all. After everyone left her alone, the contented young maiden started rereading her letter.
***SE***
Jane Rizzoli took over the operation of the sugar mill and oversaw its production. Three months had passed since Hugh had delivered his letter. In that time Big Frank had returned with every sugar beet and stalk of sugar cane in West Texas. When her father arrived with twenty-seven wagon loads and told her more were being delivered to the mill, the tall Texan took over. The very next day, the energized brunette ramrodded the wagons to the mill.
For three long months, the hard-bitten fighter managed the sugar mill, gathering bags of sugar against her excuse for a trip to Austin. Finally with forty-two wagon loads of sugar and the salted beef and pork from there smokehouses, Jane was ready to go to Austin.
Not only had the dark warrior bank sugar against the trip, she had also banked letters. Each night the lonely teenager would write a letter to her friend. Each night, the obsessed teen would put the letter in an envelope and date it. In a sugar sack sat ninety-three of these letters. In that same period, her letter from Maura had been read to tatters. On the ninety–fourth morning, her wagon train was on the trail to Austin.
On each wagon was a Comanche lance, which told all the Comanche warriors the wagons belonged to a friend and were to be left alone. Some warriors approached the wagons out of curiosity and were rewarded with a small sack of salted beef and a small bag of sugar. Jane knew word would spread quickly and soon she would be inundated with curious Comanche. The Indian fighter didn't mind they were her friends and she would help them in any way she could.
***SE***
Joseph Conrad was excited about the line of freight wagons entering his warehouse area. For months the main office in New Orleans had been harassing him for sugar, beef, pork and other ship's stores and he had been unable to really make any significant delivery. Now he counted fifty-seven wagons and at their head was a tall lean raven haired teenage girl in buckskins, which could only be the infamous Jane Rizzoli.
The dangerous-looking Texan rode up to the middle-age slightly paunch man and asked, "Are you Mr. Conrad?"
The engaging man smiled and replied, "Why yes ma'am, I'm Joseph Conrad and you must be Miss Jane Rizzoli."
The lovely brunette's smile lit the morning as she responded, "Yes sir, that be me. Where y'all wont my wagons. I gots forty-two wagons of sugar. Each sugar wagon has fifty one-hundred pound sacks. I gots eleven wagons of salted beef with fourteen two-hundred pound barrels on each wagon and four wagons of salted pork with fourteen two-hundred pound barrels on each wagon."
The quick businessman did start filling out the tally sheet, "Let's see that's 21,000 pounds of sugar, 30,800 pounds of salted beef and 11,200 pounds of salted pork. That comes to $8,915."
The smart Italian had come up with the same tally in her head. The thrifty Texan would never waste good writing paper on something she could do in her head. Not wanting to take up too much time Jane asked, "Where do you want it?"
Mr. Conrad answered, "My men will show your men. Why don't you join me inside for coffee?"
The tall Texan dismounted with a smile and responded, "Why sure. I could use a cup. I also got some letters for Lady Isles."
The man nodded with a grin as he replied, "Why I expected as much. Why don't you give them to me."
The shy young woman handed the man her sack of letters to which the man asked, "How many are there?"
The blushing teenager shyly replied in a whisper, "114"
***SE***
The warm kitchen assaulted Jane's nose with the smell of fresh bread and hot coffee. The aroma of frying eggs and bacon sifted through the other odors. The jovial man buoyed by his latest windfall invited the young woman to breakfast; after all he had some business to discuss, "I don't have as many letters for you, but I do have on really long letter and two chests for you from Lady Maura."
The shocked young woman asked, "Chests?"
The happy buyer replied, "Yeah, one large chest of dresses and the like and one large ornate jewelry box with some rather nice jewelry in it."
The stunned warrior stammered, "I'm much obliged to Lady Maura, but what the hell am I gonna do with dresses and jewelry in West Texas. I know I should be wonting such frills, but there ain't many balls in West Texas."
The sympatric gentleman had a reply ready, "I thought that would be you initial reaction. However, in my opinion, these items were in hopes you would use them to travel and see Lady Maura in England. Her father is not doing very well and she cannot leave the country at this time. Should you ever choose to travel to Swansea, such a trousseau would be necessary."
On that thought, a smiled warmed the West Texan's face as she replied, "Thank you. By the way, I need my money in silver and gold, no paper. Papa hates paper."
***SE***
Hugh Jamieson arrived in Swansea two days after Jane Rizzoli arrived in Austin. His voyage had been a rough one, pirates and a hurricane had almost sunk his ship, but the ship's captain was a savvy and competent seaman and they had managed to escape.
In his breast pocket, a letter warmed his soul. He knew how much this letter meant to both the young women in the exchange. He had seen the light in his Lady's eyes when she had handed her letter for delivery and he had seen the excitement in the young Texan when she had handed her letter to him. They may not know it but these two young women were infatuated with each other.
In women so young, you couldn't really call it love, but the possibilities were there. In most men of his era such a tryst would be abhorrent and unnatural, but the hardened wounded man knew how love didn't know the boundaries of society. He had seen his mistress and her lover and how they healed each other's wounds.
Maura's bodyguard arrived at the front gate and was greeted like a long lost brother by the standing guards. It seemed that Lady Maura was becoming surly without any communication from the Texan in question. Lady Isles had not received any communication in months and was beginning to think the young Italian girl had stopped writing her. It seemed his letter was just in time.
The giant Welchman hurried down the path to the main house, where he heard raised voices coming from the main parlor. The anxious dark haired man could hear his Lady practically yelling, something he had never heard her do, "Georgie, you were so right, she wasn't worth the effort. She has absolutely forgotten me. How could I be such a fool?"
He heard the maid reply as he entered the front door, "Milady, we know nothing. There hasn't been enough time for your message to get to New Orleans and across Texas, much less there and back again. You don't know she has forgotten you. She thought enough of you to send you a letter the minute the opportunity availed itself. You mustn't despair. Hugh will return soon with a message."
The big man entered the room saying, "Hugh has arrived with a letter from the very person you are discussing. She just as anxious to hear from your ladyship as it seems you are from her. From the moment I handed her your letter to the moment she handed me this letter was three hours. She practically ran up to her room to read and answer your letter and did run down to give me her answer."
Hugh was smirking as he approached his Lady with the tall Texan's letter. Maura as calmly as she could muster took the letter. With precise movements, the honey blonde opened the letter and began to read it. A wide grin and slight chuckles accented her scanning of the letter with her hazel eyes.
When the young noblewoman looked up from her letter, she was greeted with her writing desk, which her maids had saw fit to retrieve. Maura smiled and asked, "Am I that predictable?"
Hugh answered for all those assembled, "Yes, when it comes to that wild Texan."
***SE***
Lord Fredrick was in bed again. His days out of bed now number fewer than those in bed. However, this was a meeting he could ill afford to miss. Patrick Doyle was waiting for him in the conservatory. Thus, he was forced to have his business associate meet in his bedroom.
Eight months had passed since the former sea captain's heart attack and he was getting weaker, not stronger. The formerly robust man was now haggard and thin. The great Lord knew he was dying. The brilliant strategist and businessman had hoped for more time to groom Maura, but now he knew he was out of it.
There was nothing Lord Isles could do but have Doyle contact his biological daughter and help her through the coming very trying years. Louis-Napoleon was quickly solidifying his power and would soon be causing all kinds of trouble in Europe and around the world. Doyle was coming back from a two year stay in Asia forestalling several plots launched by the ambitious Frenchman.
Patrick Doyle did not look the same. Much of his flaming hair was gone and the man's receding hairline was becoming quite pronounced. His eyes looked red and tired. It was obvious that the trip had taken a terrible tool on the vibrant Irishman.
The former sea captain sat up straight in his bed and greeted the man, "Good evening, Patrick."
The wary smuggler responded, "Good evening, your Lordship."
The great Lord couldn't help but notice the Irishman's harried condition, so he asked, "What is wrong, Patrick?"
Doyle replied, "The Assembly has played in Louis-Napoleon's hands. They passed a law that essentially limits the right to vote to nobility and land owners. Not to miss an opportunity like that Louis has gone about France ranting against the Assembly and their violation of universal male suffrage."
The ill man laughed a bit, but his cough prevented him from laughing too hard, as he said, "Maura predicted the Assembly would give Louis-Napoleon an excuse for a coupe by the end of 1851. We don't have much time. You are going to have to inform Maura of your real purpose and all information you have. I'm afraid I'm dying and she is going to have to take over."
The tough smuggler knew a dying man when he saw one. So he just nodded and left the sick Lord to his sleep.
***SE***
Patrick Doyle went straight from the Lordship's bedroom to the parlor to find his daughter. The lovely young woman was writing in a small book, probably some sort of diary when he entered the room. The young maid, who had led him here, announced, "Milady, Patrick Doyle, your father has sent this man to talk with you about business."
Another saucy maid about his daughter's age was sitting on one of the settees in the room sewing, while a large dark man stood between him and the young blonde. It had been several years since he had seen his child and he was amazed at how beautiful the shining heiress had become.
However, nice it would be to get to know her as his daughter, it was not an option. The young woman could never know her real origins; it was too fraught with danger. So, the tough Irishman said, "Milady, your father sends his regards and has ordered me to tell you of my business with him and to relate to you my information. However, I can only do such alone. I know it is unusual and improper. I can allow you to keep one other person in the room for you propriety and safety, but the information I have is very sensitive and not to be given without certain precautions."
The brilliant businesswoman knew that her father had had a special information source that was both profitable and precious to the Queen, this must be that source. However, this man looked to be very dangerous. Hence, the young heiress turned to her large bodyguard and said, "Hugh, I need you to stay. Georgie and Bridgette, I need you to wait outside by the door. Please inform mother that father has taken a turn for the worse and won't be recovering. Tell her I will meet her in father's room in an hour that I have important business with which to attend."
The two maids curtsied to their Lady and left the room, closing the door behind them. The dark balding man asked, "How did you know your father has taken a turn for the worst?"
The honey blonde preteen smiled and replied, "My father sent you to discuss with me his secret business, which means two things. One, you are his special source of information. I have been privy to the information over the years, but never their source. Two, for my father to have sent you to discuss this means he is feeling death and has been forced to share his secret source with me. I have always understood why this data source has never been revealed to me. The more people that share a secret, the less secure that secret are."
A smile betrayed the pride the dark man felt for the product of his union with his beloved Hope. This beautiful child was also very brilliant and intuitive. Thus the Irish spy was relieved that his new 'boss' was so competent, "My name is Patrick Doyle. I am a smuggler in France. As such, I am privy to a lot of information. People come to me for special deliveries, which enable me to uncover a lot of their secrets. One of my best customers is Charles de Morny, duke of Morny. As you may know, he is a very successful businessman and one of his ventures is in sugar beet production. However, with the restrictions of trade between France and England, the English market is legally closed to him. I am his go between into this market.
Your father had knowingly purchased all of the French sugar beets from Duke de Morny in exchange for Chinese silk and Indian tea, items which are difficult and costly for the French to obtain. Morny sells these items at fantastic mark ups.
This business arrangement allows me free access to many of Morny's people and as you know a lot of secrets can be gathered from the servants within any household. For instance, I have heard from several sources in your household about your infatuation with a young Texas woman named Jane Rizzoli. It is said among your servants that you had a sexual relationship with the woman, like your mother is having such a sexual relationship with your two young maid's mother."
The canny spy let that information sink in, but he didn't have to wait long for a reaction. The young heiress glanced at her bodyguard who nodded. The dark Irishman had no idea what was going to happen, but this rumor was going to be stopped. The savvy smuggler knew that Lady Maura was going to have to marry soon for the sake of her empire and that meant such rumors could not exist. The young woman smiled and said, "Miss Rizzoli is merely a very good friend, whom I met in Washington at the Presidential augural. I am in constant communication with her, because we share common problems. You see, we are both independent young women trying to succeed in a man's world."
The engaging manner of the young woman was extraordinary, so Doyle continued, "I need to tell you a few things about what is going on in France."
The young woman interrupted, "Hugh, put your head out the door and tell Georgie to bring some refreshments. I would like tea and Mr. Doyle likes Madera. Have Georgie get those lovely cakes that Martha was saving for the lady's luncheon tomorrow, she can always bake more. Now, Mr. Doyle let me interrupt you for a moment. I already know about the Assembly's stupid move on limiting the male suffrage. I have my sources as well. Louis is using this attack on voting as a speaking point to incite the military and the itinerant male population. He is setting up his coup d'état. So, is there something else?"
Patrick Doyle was very impressed. It was obvious this young woman was a spider and her webs were being spin in abundance. The dark man smiled as he continued, "Morny and Fialin have been securing the support of the Army. Additionally, Harriet Howard has been siphoning money into the right places. The idea is a swift coup and to make Louis dictator."
The young woman nodded, as if this information only confirmed what she already suspected. Patrick Doyle knew this young woman was a dangerous player in the high stakes of foreign politics. The young honey blonde said, "The only thing we can do right now is delay the inevitable. You need to return to France and try to counter some Howard's money with some of mine. I think we can delay this until next year, but by the middle to end of 1851, Louis-Napoleon, will be dictator of France and that means an unstable Europe.
Thank you, Mr. Doyle. I hope you will join me for tea. Hugh, this man is to have access to me instantly day or night. Any correspondence must be sent to me using Jane Rizzoli as the correspondent. What funds do you require?"
The cagy spy saw the brilliance of that play. Since the young heiress was getting a lot of correspondence from this Rizzoli woman, letters for Maura in her name would never be suspected as being other than more of the same. The Rizzoli name coming from France would be the flag to tag that correspondence as being from the smuggler. The dark man replied, "I will need about Ᵽ40,000 and I will need some trade incentives. I don't know which ones, but if you could give me some leeway I could steer a truer course."
The brilliant Lady smiled, "Any incentives you make I will honor. Now, let's enjoy our tea."
***SE***
Lady Maura Isle would sit with her ill father each day for two hours. While there the bright young woman would write her friend in a diary. The young noblewoman had had one gross of these leather tomes made with gold lettering that read, 'To Jane, Love Maura.'
The young heiress could no longer deny her feelings for the dark brooding Texan. Jane's letters were read over and over until the lonely Lady of Swansea had memorized every word, ink stroke and page crease. It had been nearly three months since Hugh had returned with the second letter, but Hugh's tales of the wild American's reactions to her letter had proven to her at least that her feelings were being returned in kind.
The sweet preteen no longer doubted her American friend. The brooding mood that had captured her before Hugh's return had been vanquished by twenty-one heart-felt pages of gossip and chatter. The ending was her favorite:
I'm so sorry I've got to end this here letter. I've done run out of paper. I'll make the trip to Dallas and get more. I know, I'll go back with Mr. Jamieson and I can ask him to tell me more about you. We really didn't get much chance to talk in Washington. It will also be safer for him. Nobody knows the country around here better than me. I got to stop. I'm barely going to have room to sign this thing. Your loving friend, Jane.
The signature was crammed at the bottom of the last page, but it was the best part of the letter. The fact that the gorgeous Italian had used up every scrap of paper she had was evident in the torn edges of two pages that had obviously been salvaged from bills of some kind. Four pages were evidently blank pages torn from books.
The wealthy heiress had already order her fierce friend several reams of scented stationery with 'From the hand of Miss Jane Rizzoli of West Texas' printed on each page. In addition, the practical young woman had obtained two boxes of twenty-four bottles of black ink, two boxes of twelve gold tipped pens and a box of one-hundred envelopes with her address and Jane's return address pre-printed on them. The honey blond pre-teen was taking no chances.
The dutiful daughter had just completed her daily vigil when word came from the front gate that Captain Prescott had arrived from America. Bridgette had quietly approached the door and was just about to knock discretely when Maura opened it. The younger maid whispered, "Captain Prescott is at the front gate."
The normally stoic heiress quietly shut the door and dashed down the stairs to the main parlor.
***SE***
Lady Maura Isles was seated quietly in anticipation as the old sea captain entered the parlor. The captain was dresses neatly in a Isles Shipping standard captain's uniform, which was a far cry from the drab worn garb he had worn in her presence previously. The old seaman bowed appropriately and said, "I've some letters fer ya frem Miss Rizzoli."
The aging seaman produced a sugar bag which seemed rather full. The confused blonde heiress asked, "She sent me a bag of sugar?"
The savvy sailor smiled as he answered, "No, Milady, there be 115 letters in this here bag."
The excited young noblewoman's face exploded with avarice as she breathed, "115?"
The smirking captain replied, "Yes, Milady, 114, each one dated wit the date she writ it. She done wrote cha a letter every day, no matters war she be. Still does fars I knows."
The middle aged captain stumbled forward and handed the anxious pre-teen the bag. Apprehensively, the lovely girl opened her bag almost reverently. The young woman took out several envelopes and examined them like they were precious stones or some exotic treasure. While the honey blonde heiress fingered her precious letters, she commanded, "Georgie go get the diary I completed and the other items I have for Miss Rizzoli."
Taking the unfinished diary, pen and ink bottle from her apron pocket, Maura walked over to a nearby parlor table and pulled up a chair. The young woman wrote:
September 29, 1850
Dearest Jane,
I just received your letters and I am near tears. Never has anyone sent me so fabulous a prize. I cannot express the emotion that is in my heart. I am not sure as to your feelings towards myself, but as for me I am in love with you. I do not know the future, but a future without you in my life is no future at all.
With all my love,
Maura.
Tears formed in her hazel eyes as she closed and locked the diary. Taking a candle from the table, the honey blonde young woman sealed the lock with wax and using her ring placed the Isles seal upon it. When Georgina returned with the other diary, she repeated the process and turned back to her ship's captain and asked, "Did you speak with Jane?"
Captain Prescott shook his head negatively and replied, "No Milady, Mr. Conrad, your purchasing agent in Austin, Texas took the letters from her and had them sent to your offices in New Orleans. It's me understanding, she delivered sugar, salted beef and salted pork as per yourn agreement. As a matter of fact, me crew and me benefited frem her delivery. We got six barrels of that beef and two of the pork. It were our meat rations fer the entire voyage home."
The curious noblewoman asked, "Meat ration?"
The experienced officer answered, "Yes Milady, each man receives one meat ration, one tobacco ration, two vegetable rations, three water ration, three bread rations and one rum ration every day. Of course other rations ere given at certain times for instance every jack be given a lime ration every third day and a beer ration on the Sabbath."
The canny businesswoman continued the discussion, "How much is each ration?"
The practical seaman knew informing your owner of the difficulties of your job was beneficial answered, "Milady, that depends on rank. A common seaman gets four ounces, a midshipman gets eight ounces, a lieutenant gets twelve and the captain gets sixteen. Of course, the captain usually has his own stores and gives his rations back to his men, iffin he's smart. Men appreciate the gesture. Most times a soup or stew is made by the ship's cook, who takes all the rations and cooks them together."
Lady Maura stored the information in her formidable memory for future thought and ordered, "Captain, I want you to delivery these books and items to my New Orleans office."
The canny sea captain responded, "Of course Milady, be there anythin else?"
The anxious noblewoman answered, "No, you may go."
The obedient captain bowed and gathered the items in a wooden box produced by the tall bodyguard. The older man then retreated to the front door. The eager heiress commanded, "Get my writing desk and a new diary. Then leave me alone to read my mail. I wonder how long it takes to read 115 letters."
***SE***
Lady Maura spent the first hour just sorting the letters reverently in chronological order. The excited young woman wanted to read them in the order they were written. Then the eager young woman opened the first letter and read about Jane's trip to Dallas with Hugh, the enraptured young heiress read about sugar production and the sunset over a barren plain. One letter after another provided insight into the heart and mind of Jane Rizzoli.
The honey blonde pre-teen was on letter twenty-seven when her friends brought her a tray for her midday meal. The totally engrossed youth hadn't realized how hungry she was. So the ravenous pre-teen ate while consuming her letters. Her two maids and life-long friends waited quietly while their Lady finished her meal. The two sisters could not believe how long the time conscience youngster was taking to eat. Normally Lady Maura did not linger over meals. It was like she was digesting the words along with her meal.
When the honey blonde heiress had completed her meal, the young woman suggested, "Georgie could you get me that hand carved box from under my desk in my bedroom. I require it."
Georgina curtsied and hurried off to carry out her Lady's request. Bridgette retrieved the tray and took it to get her Ladyship some tea. The engaged heiress returned to her mail.
Bridgette returned first carrying a tea service with some biscuits and cake. From the looks of things, their Lady was going to be at this for a long time. Georgina returned shortly after with the ornate chest and brought it to her Lady. The high spirited heiress took the box and started arranging the letters in chronological order as she placed them gingerly into the chest. As the honey blonde noblewoman completed a letter it was added delicately to the box.
Letter fifty-one was completed when dinner arrived. The diminutive Lady refused to dine in the dining room, insisting on reading her mail, while she ate. The maids were worried about their Lady. Lady Maura had been reading these letters for nine hours and she wasn't even half way finished. Unsure of how to broach the subject, Georgina rushed off to see Lady Constance.
Bridgette sat quietly watching her young charge read and catalogue each letter. The bright smiles and flowing eyes of the normally placid honey blonde was nearly enough for the saucy maid to forgive the untamed American for disturbing their peaceful existence. It was Hugh who made the first suggestion, "Milady, it's getting late. Miss Jane wrote those letters over months of days. How could you possibly read them all in one day. Why not get a good night's sleep and start fresh in the morning?"
The young heiress considered the suggestion for a moment, but then rejected the idea. At that moment, Lady Constance entered the area and observed her young daughter diligently studying a pile of letters. The statuesque Lady asked, "Maura, do you intent to read all those letters into tomorrow?"
The tired young child replied, "Mother, I have been waiting months for these letters. Jane lives in Texas and it takes months to get letters back and forth."
The kindly mother responded, "I understand all that, Dearest and I am so happy you have finally found another old soul with whom to converse. However, it is late and you need your rest. So off to bed with you."
The distraught blonde anguished, "Mother, please let me finish."
The lovely mother stayed firm and responded, "Go to bed."
***SE***
Jane Rizzoli could no longer devote herself to the sugar mill. Things were not going well on the ranch. Several head of cattle were missing and the only explanation was rustlers. The hard-bitten fighter was angry with herself for getting so distracted that she failed to notice the intrusion on Rizzoli range.
The veteran tracker took the Wakefield brothers and Korsak and started trailing the missing cattle. The Comanche trained hunter examined the trail closely. The rustlers didn't even bother to try and cover their trail. Not that anyone could cover the trail over several hundred head of longhorn steers, especially from a tracker of the tall Texan's skill.
The skilled tracker said, "They're four days ahead of us and headed southwest rat at Comanche territory."
Adam exclaimed, "Ere they loco? Red Blanket will toast their hides for even having one of your brands."
Benjamin suggested, "Maybe, they figure they kin git through before anybody notices."
Korsak chuckled, "You're the one's that loco. A gnat kint cross Comanche country witout that old man aknowin."
The dark teenager agreed, "Mustang's rat. Ain't no way through Comanche territory lessen Red Blankets gives permission. No, they've somthin else in mind. I'm thinkin they drive at Comanche lands then veer south and a mite east at the last minute."
Korsak nodded understanding, "San Antone."
Jane made her decision, "Korsak, you take Adam and Benji and I'm atakin Cain. Follow the trail; hell my blind grandma could follow their trail. Cain and me are heading due south and cutting them off north of San Antone."
Everyone agreed with the plan. Not that their input mattered. It was Rizzoli cattle, so it was a Rizzoli decision.
***SE***
The eight men had been pushed hard for four days. They knew that the Rizzolis were trailing them. What they didn't know was how many hands there were or who they were. Everyone knew about Big Frank and his daughter Jane, so the fear was it was them. They had no illusions if it was Big Frank, he would hang them from the nearest tree without any trial or any hesitation. So for the past few days, they have been pushing their stolen cattle hard, letting several cattle every hour drop from the herd in the hope that the trailing riders would slow down to pick up stray cattle.
From the three hundred or so steers they had rustled, only a few over one hundred remained. The eight desperate men figured they would be in San Antonio tomorrow at the latest. What they didn't figure on was what they saw in front of them, two riders sitting their horses in the middle of the trail. One of the two was a tall lean teenage girl and the other a large broad man. The girl was obviously Jane Rizzoli, but the man was too young to be Big Frank.
The two riders just sat there between them and San Antonio. Suddenly the big man broke off and rode to cover. While the tall lean girl rode causally towards them. The wild woman put her sheathed her rifle and slowly drew two pistols, then spurred her horse. The men were caught flatfooted. They had not expected two hands to attack eight. A boom from the rocks to the right and a man was torn from his saddle and the cattle scattered.
The slip of a girl was raining shots from her pistols and before the rustlers could draw their weapons five of them were lying on the ground bleeding. There was no fight left in the other three as they shucked their pistols and raised their right arm, while holding their horses' reins with their left hand.
The cold eyes of the dark haired young woman held their deaths and they knew it. She coldly said, "Iffin y'all manage to get every steer back here in the next hour, I might not hang y'all. Otherwise, I'm gonna to swing every son of a mother of ya using leather rope."
Unarmed and with nowhere to run the three rustlers hustled off to round up the scattered herd. Forty minutes later Korsak, Benjamin and Cain rode up with the rest of the missing cattle. The rustlers had managed to get most of the cattle and were in the process of herding the final few stragglers when the other herd appeared.
Korsak asked as he spotted the five bodies covered with a saddle blanket, "Where they any trouble?"
Jane smiled, "Gentle as lambs to the slaughter."
***SE***
The next day, a herd of some three hundred longhorns were herded into town, along with five men tied across their saddles. Jane and her crew herded the cows into a stock pen and signaled for three of the men to lead her to the sheriff's office. There they were met by a lean man, no more than seventeen with a shotgun, who said, "Hold it right there stranger. Who might you be?"
The tall lovely young woman smiled her best Rizzoli smile and answered, "Jane Rizzoli and these three yahoos rustled my herd north of here. I trailed them and their five dead friends over there and took my cows back. I brung these three in cuz I promised not hang them if they helped me get my herd here."
The deputy responded, "Wal, the sheriff is out to the Hadley place, old Jonas had some trouble too. Circuit judge is due in three months, y'all can give witness then."
At which point Jane drew her pistols and shot the three men from their saddles. Then turned to the deputy and said, "Waste of time, I don't have. I just tried 'em and found 'em guilty. I would have hung 'em, but I had to keep my word. Iffin y'all got any problem wit it I'm at the Rizzoli Ranch north of here. Y'all kin bury them and my men will foot the bill."
The young killer turned her horse and rode back to her men and said, "Korsak, get this beef salted and shipped to Austin. Trade hides and tallow for what y'all need. I'm leavin' y'all in charge. I'm heading to Austin to see Mr. Conrad. I've got some mail that needs delivering.
***SE***
Jane rode into Austin to find a crowd in front of the newspaper. The tall Texan rode up to the nearest on-looker and asked, "What's goin' on?"
The man replied, "President Taylor died."
The young woman rode to Joseph Conrad's office and found the heavy man standing outside his place as if he knew she was coming. He said, "I'm glad ya here. I just got word, Lord Isles is dead. He ain't got much time. I figured y'd wont to write Lady Isles some comfort."
Jane asked, "Is that trunk she sent me still here?"
The heavy set man replied, "Of course."
The dark warrior responded, "Get her out. I'm on the next boat to England."