Author's Note: I have found that shorter chapters are easier to write and read. So I am shorting the chapters from ten thousand words to two to four thousand words.
Chapter 14: Betrayal
Lady Constance read the letter for the third time. Its contents were clear the Queen was interested in pursuing a betrothal between the Queen's half sister's third son; Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. The prospect of her daughter marrying into the Royal House was intoxicating.
However her daughter had it made quite clear she was not interested in marriage due to her liaison with this Rizzoli woman. A dalliance was one thing, but to lose the prospect of becoming part of the Royal House was a travesty.
The ambitious woman failed to remember that her daughter was uninterested in marriage long before her dalliance with the wild Texan. Her daughter was not interest in marriage because she would by law lose control of her property and title which was a prospect that the young heiress wanted to avoid.H However the Lady Regent had decided to forget that reasoning because the statuesque brunette was blinded by her ambition.
As Regent of the Isles estate, the conniving noblewoman had the power to force this marriage on her daughter. However, her daughter had made it clear were she to attempt such a coupe, she would be removed from Regency and shipped to a convent somewhere remote and out of the way.
Additionally, the aging mother knew her daughter. The young heiress would never forgive her and that would end any contact between the two women. The prospect of such an occurrence was sickening.
So, the determined noblewoman decided that her daughter must be removed her lover's influence and charisma. The ruthless mother determined the only way to do that was to have the Rizzoli woman exiled from England. Therefore, the impressive noblewoman devised an elaborate scheme to do just that.
***SE***
Gina could tell her longtime lover was distracted and upset. All through dinner the lovely brunette had said little except in answering the most direct questions. Not once did the normally talkative woman volunteer a single word to the dinner conversation.
Lady Isles and her companion, Jane Rizzoli, were not at dinner again. Lady Isles had tickets to a new production of Richard the Third at the Convent Gardens. Miss Rizzoli had mentioned that she loved Shakespeare but had never seen a production of any of his plays. The well-read Texan had only read his words from books.
The experience of seeing one of the Bard's plays performed on stage was a magnificent treat in the eyes of the surprisingly cultured American. Though the young woman had been raised in one of the violent environments in the history of the world, the intelligent teenager had a fondness for the arts and a sense of wonder at seeing a master of those arts.
The young women were going to dine at Simpson's Grand Divan Tavern, where Maura was more than welcome as a master of chess. The Grand Master there loved to play with the talented young noblewoman as her style was so different from that which was fashionable at the time. Maura played defensive chess and waited for her opponents to err before she attacked with a vengeance. The popular style of the day was to attack relentlessly and beat down an opponent. Lady Maura's new style had shown its superiority.
Gina and her daughters dined with the distracted noble but they might as well have been in another room and that made the perceptive woman very suspicious. For days now her normally outgoing and loving relationship had been stilted and distant.
When the couple retired to their shared chambers, the worried Frenchwoman asked in French, "What's bothering you?"
The worried mother really didn't know if she should answer that question. The deviousness of her plan had caused her to become mistrustful of everyone around her. However this was the love of her life and how could she question where her lover's loyalties lay. So the reserved noblewoman answered, "I am worried about Maura's liaison with the Rizzoli woman. I have an offer of marriage from the Queen into her family and I know what my daughter's answer will be. It is such a great offer. Maura would become a princess and her children could one day be a king or a queen, but as long as she is having this dalliance with the American slut she will never entertain any marriage proposal."
The nervous lover remembered many discussions about this very topic with Lady Maura and the young woman was animate about not ever marrying, but for reasons that had nothing to do with the young Texan. Lady Isles knew that should she marry control of her finances and her title would go to her husband and the young heiress had no intention of giving up control of her affairs.
However, the longtime lover knew her lover's moods and the lovely commoner knew better than question the brunette's motives in such a mood as this. So the cautious devotee replied, "Constance, your daughter is in love and as such is smitten. How can you deny her such happiness? Have you not on many a night lamented how you were denied as a young woman?"
Not wanting to admit the validity of her girlfriend's argument, the confused noblewoman responded, "This is different. I married and took my place in society. Maura is ostracizing herself from society. I need to prevent that, besides it would be a good marriage for her. If it weren't for this silly flirtation, Maura would be royalty in just a year or two."
The words dalliance and flirtation danced in Gina's head. Is this how Constance thought of their relationship? If so, then her position in this household was very ambiguous. What if her lover became bored of their relationship or felt the dalliance had run its course? The anxious girlfriend decided to placate her lover in order to protect her daughters and her positions, "What can you do to stop it? Lady Maura has made it clear, she will accept no interference."
The plotting mother smirked, "Ah, that is the question is it not? What can I do? There is only one answer to that question. Henri Martine must succeed in ridding us of this nuisance. I have a plan and need some help, but I was reluctant to involve you as it might not succeed and my daughter could do much to harm you and your daughters."
Gina consider all the consequences and came to the conclusion that her loyalty must be to her lover or she could lose all her favor. So the obedient servant answered, "What can I do to help?"
***SE***
Jane and Maura had a lovely evening. The diner at Simpson's was excellent and punctuated by a discussion of Lady Maura's new chess strategy with several of the resident masters. Though they had all been beaten by the stratagem they were reluctant to change their long-held beliefs.
The conversation had been invigorating and though Jane could see the validity of her lover's style of play, the dynamic Texan also had trouble not attacking at the outset rather than playing defensively and waiting for an opening. Her experience in battle had taught her that you created openings not wait for one to magically appear. However, Maura had never lost a match, so who could argue with success.
After their enjoyable dinner and lively discussion, the couple took their carriage to the theater. Jane had never been to a real theater. The only plays the lifelong frontierswoman was given by traveling bands of actors who performed in saloons or corals. When the plays were in saloons there was an admissions fee, but when they set up in corals, people would just toss coins at the players if they thought the performance warranted it.
In West Texas entertainment of any kind was in short supply. Mostly it consisted of church socials, barn raisings and town dances. Her pa had given several parties and everyone with riding distance was invited. Once the troops at Fort Worth had a dance and because the lovely Texan had been delivering horses to the cavalry, she had been invited. The beautiful teenager had been the belle of the ball, being one of only three single women at the dance.
Therefore it was a very special treat for the culturally deprived Texan to see a real play in an actual theater. The hall was magnificent and the acoustics were unnatural. Sitting in their private box the pair could hear the slightest sound and the view from the special box was right over the stage and unrestricted. Jane was in heaven.
Maura spent most of the play watching her young lover watch the play with such unabashed astonishment and wonder. To the inexperienced spectator each movement was a phenomenon and each effect was a wonder. The honey blonde teenager watched the passion and the awe in her girlfriend's face and enjoyed each sensation that passed across her expression.
The enrapture noblewoman watched her tough battle-hardened lover cry at the tragedy if the play and smile at its moments of warmth, though those are very few in Richard III. When the evil King called for a horse and then refused it because the warped man wouldn't accept help from someone of lower station, Jane said, "What an idiot! I wouldn't care if that horse came from Satan himself, I'd of took him."
While everyone clapped reservedly at the end of the play, Jane stood tall and cheered. The wild American clapped violently while cheering and whistling. Lady Maura would normally have been embarrassed by such a show in public, but the unashamed enthusiasm only made her smile.
***SE***
Three days later, while Lady Maura was in town gathering information on Henri Martine, the still slightly wounded warrior stayed in her room to recover. The tall brunette was startled awake was greeted by Georgina, who said, "Milady, I have a message from Lady Isles. She would like you to meet her at Isles dock number five. The message said that she has uncovered some information on Henri Martine and that the criminal has not fled English justice."
Jane was surprised that the Frenchman had not fled though it pleased her that she would be able to kill the evil man herself. The wily Texan asked, "Did the message mention anything else?"
The polite French maid curtsied and replied, "Nothing, Milady. May I help you get dressed?"
Jane hopped out of bed and responded, "I don't need any help putting on my pants, but I could use some breakfast."
The efficient young woman rushed to fulfill the request. Jane hurried to get dressed. Since the wily Texan was going to the docks, she dressed in her deerskin tunic and moccasins. While Georgina was getting the tough teenager's breakfast, the cautious Texan started concealing her knives. Sometime ago the wild American had promised her girlfriend that she would carry her pistols in public, but that would keep the careful Indian fighter from carry some concealed weapons.
The cleaver American used her two sleeve guns in case a real emergency arose. Georgina entered the room carry a large tray with a healthy breakfast of eggs, fresh ham, biscuits and a pot of steaming coffee. The famished westerner ate heartily.
After finishing her second cup of coffee, Jane felt tired and had trouble keeping her eyes open. The tired Texan started to get up, but her legs gave out and the veteran warrior fell to the ground. The weary American made one more attempt at getting up from the floor, but fell flat on her face. Before she passed out the dark brunette realized she had been drugged."
***SE***
Lady Constance had given specific instructions that the young American was not to be harmed in any way. Two men were hired to transport the unconscious teenager to an Isles ship that was waiting for a special cargo to be delivered.
The two men gently took the lean Texan and loaded into a cart and drove it to the dock where two sailors and a ship's first officer were waiting to receive the goods. The two sailors then transferred the unconscious young woman to the ship where she was locked in the captain's cabin. Lady Constance's orders were very detailed on the treatment of the young woman after all she was a gentlewoman and not a savage.
The Lady Constance made only three mistakes. The first was from inexperience in dealing with fighters like Jane Rizzoli the unknowledgeable noblewoman hadn't had the veteran warrior frisked for weapons. Her second mistake was the lifelong noble assumed everyone would obey her instructions without question. Her third and most dangerous mistake was underestimating Jane Rizzoli's resolve in not going home yet.
Her choice of ships had been carefully selected. The intelligent woman didn't want a ship's captain that had had direct dealings with the dynamic Texan. Additionally the conniving noblewoman wanted a ship that was going to America. To a noble who had never been to America, any place in America was the same as any other place not calculating on the vastness of the country.
This particular ship was bound for Haiti then Boston. In Haiti the ship would deliver its cargo of raw sugar and English textiles and load a cargo of rice and rum.
The ship's captain was familiar with the standing orders of Lady Isles that Jane Rizzoli was to given any assistance she required at any time. However the man had never met Miss Rizzoli and he only had a description to recognize her. It had not occurred to him that this young woman might be the very same Jane Rizzoli…mistake number four.
***SE***
Jane fought her way through the fog of the drug that had been given her. When the veteran warrior awoke she was instantly aware of her surroundings. The experience traveler knew a ship's cabin when she saw one and from the rocking of the vessel the wily Texan could tell they were at sea. From the porthole the intelligent teenager knew it was twilight.
The cagy American had no idea how long she had been unconscious and therefore had no idea how long she had been at sea. What the experience fighter did know is that no one had taken her weapons. Silently the angry fighter inventoried her available weapons. With eight knives, two sleeve pistols and a hideout Le Mat the hard-bitten killer had enough weapons to take on a ship's crew.
Like most merchant ships the crew would be unarmed except for working knives. They only armed if they sensed the ship was in danger.
Jane tested the door quietly and found it was locked. However like all cabin locks it was designed to keep people from entering unannounced not from keeping prisoners locked in a room. The cagy Texan looked through the keyhole and it was clear. So they had been prudent enough to take the key but the locking mechanism was simple.
Looking around the cabin the wily American found a letter opener and a silver toothpick and it was perfect for what she need to do. Using the opener to hold the tumblers and the toothpick to push the locking bolt the door quickly unlocked.
The careful fighter opened the door as quietly as she could and glanced outside. There were no guards. Obviously this was a merchantman. Since a merchant ship was always crewed lightly, men couldn't be spared for guard duty on a door of a woman's cabin. Jane chuckled…men.
Creeping down the small corridor to the ship's stairway, Jane still encountered no resistance. At the top of the stairs the twin doors of the cabin hatch opened onto the deck. From the lack of light coming from under the door, the veteran warrior knew that the moon was either clouded or not there.
Jane opened a single side of the double doors a little and as she thought only a skeleton crew was on deck this time of twilight. The crew was probably at dinner, which also meant the Captain would soon be coming down to eat.
Moving silently and efficiently out of the door blending effectively into the wall of the quarterdeck, the veteran fighter scanned the immediate area for possible enemies. From the voices on the quarterdeck above, the proficient warrior knew the Captain was on the quarterdeck and as suspected he was issuing final orders to the night officer of the deck
Cautiously the tall brunette edged her way to under the gangway of the quarterdeck on the right side. Knowing that most people moved to their right, the cagy fighter figured from this position the Captain could easily be intercepted as he came down the stairwell on his way to his cabin.
Sure enough a couple of minutes later the Captain was strolling causally down the quarterdeck stairway. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard the click of a hammer of a gun locking into firing position and a young woman's voice coming from the shadows, "Who ere y'all and what ship's this one?"
The Captain chuckled, "Why Lass, earnt cha gonna tell me not to move and put me hands up?"
The experienced tactician replied, "No, I don't wont y'all's hands raised as a signal to y'all's crew that sumtin's gone amiss. As fer not movin' that aint rait either. I wont y'all to move smartly to the gangway doorway and open it; count to four; then close it. Iffin's y'all think y'all kin get through the doorway afore I keel ya; go fer it. But let me warn y'all this here ain't my first rodeo."
The experience sea Captain wasn't goin' to take any chances with figuring his chance would come later when the young woman let her cuard down. So the ship's commander answered, "This be the Sea Sprite III out of Swansea.
I'm Elijiah Smith. You were brought here at the behest of Lady Constance Ialw. She said you were a quest at the Isles Manor in London. Additionally she said you got drunk and nearly killed her daughter. Not wanting to hurt your feelings the Lady had chew sent home quietly. You were not to be harmed in any fashion."
Jane cursed under her breath. Maura's mother had trapped the normally untrusting warrior nicely. Goes to show you, you can never let your guard down under any circumstances. The dark Texan had become complacent and had paid the price.
The angry teenager responded curtly "Captain I don't drink excepting at a party and then never more than two. My name's Jane Rizzoli and y'all gonna turn around and go back to London."
The name astonished the Captain as he recalled his standing order concerning Jane Rizzoli. Remembering her description made it clear that this teenager matched it. The Captain cursed as well it seems Lady Isles and her mother were in conflict over this young woman. So he said cautiously, "How does I know yar Jane Rizzoli?"
The dark Texan responded, "Wal, y'll don't fer shore, but y'all wont to chance getting Lady Isles mad at chs?"
The veteran seaman nodded his agreement with that logic. However the ship's Captain thought about losing the time turning around. He was already eighteen hours out of London with the coastal winds behind him. It would take almost three full days to tack back to London against those same winds, unless somehow the prevailing winds changed. So the cautious commander replied, "I would lose at least five days and that could cost me my bonus."
The savvy brunette responded, "I'll talk to Maura and guarantee your bonus even if I have to take it out of my own pocket."
The stunned sea Captain replied, "How kin ya guarantee such a sum?"
The tough Texan wasn't used to anyone questioning her word, as she answered, "Mister, war I comes from callin' somebody a liar kin gitcha keeled. But y'all don't need to worry about chore money. I got it. Besides y'all got two choices: y'all kin turn around and go back or I kin keel ya and the chew kin turn around and go back."
When put like that the old seaman had little choice in the matter.
***SE***
Lady Maura came back her meetings slightly vexed. There had been talk that the Queen had offered her a betrothal with her Royal nephew. Though the honey blonde teenager had received no such offer officially she did not doubt it would come and soon. Her Highness would be savvy enough to see the advantages of having Isles Shipping with the wealth and ships that it offered.
Such a marriage would leave her less freedom than a marriage to anyone outside the Royal House. Additionally the Queen would want control Isles Shipping, which her nephew would certainly give her. If Maura was going to keep control of her ships and title she could never agree to a Royal marriage or any marriage for that matter.
When the young woman entered the London Manor she was greeted by Georgina, who greeted her by saying, "Milady, I have a message from Miss Rizzoli. She received another letter from her father. It seems her mother has taken ill and she was needed at home. She left this afternoon on the first available ship to America."
The young noblewoman was taken aback momentarily. This was the last thing the anxious teenager expected. Wanting time to consider all the ramifications of what was happening the honey blonde noble asked, "Do you know which ship?"
The efficient childhood friend replied, "Yes Milady, The Sea Sprite III."
Now the brilliant businesswoman knew something was amiss. Maura had perfect recall and knew that the Sea Sprite III was bound for New England. No matter the emergency, the level headed Texan would never have taken a ship to New England. Jane would have taken a ship to Charleston or New Orleans. So the suspicious Lady asked, "I expect there was a note?"
The saucy maid replied, "I beg Milady's pardon but Miss Rizzoli didn't have time to write a note. The ship was being held for her. I believe your mother made all the arrangements,"
Something definitely wasn't right Jane wrote notes for communication within the house why wouldn't the politician take the time to scribble a couple of paragraphs. It didn't make any sense.
Lady Isle handed the terrified maid her hat and umbrella and dashed off the check of Mrs. Cane. When the irritated honey blonde Lady entered the room she knew that Jane had not left of her own accord when she saw Jeremy laying on his new mother's bed. The protective Texan would never have left her ward behind. The angry noblewoman rushed off to confront her mother.
Author's Note: I've written the rest of this scenario from the confrontation with Constance to the fight between Jane the ship's crew, but if I am going to keep it in the 2 to 4 thousand word framework. I must leave you with a cliffhanger. So enjoy. All comments are welcome.