Chapter 20: Blossoms
Maura and Georgina were in the Countess's carriage as they travelled to the home of Jean the cobbler. Jean and his wife and two children had the fever. Maura's personal physician was taking care of the parents, while the Baroness was tending the children.
Georgina was obviously nervous as she tried desperately not to appear so before her beloved Countess. For her part the Countess Isles was pondering how she was going to ascertain the desires of her ward and then what she would do if the answer be yeah or nay.
As the carriage rode gently through the countryside with the two young women lost in their thoughts, Melody left the small hut to get some fresh water from the well to boil. Though the experienced frontierswoman didn't know why, she was actually doing the right thing by boiling the water before giving any of it to her patients.
Tiny parasites in the water were causing the 'spring' fever. All the water in the area was tainted with it and only boiling the water could render it harmless to drink. All the American Baroness knew was when she was a little girl an old Chinese woman who taught her herbs and medicine while working as her father's cook told her to boil water to cleanse it of impure gases and it always seemed to work.
Once the young noblewoman returned to the hut, she put some water on the fire to boil some tea of yarrow, rosemary, willow bark and elderberry. To make it smell better and take away some bitterness the savvy healer added chamomile and honey. The two small girls were feeling much better. Their fever had been reduced to almost nothing. So the confident noble decided to check on the parents, if they died the children would be left orphaned and she didn't want that.
When the weary young woman entered the parent's room she found the young doctor giving the mother fresh water from the well. The older woman appeared to be on fire with fever. With her tea in hand the anxious teenager rushed over to the doctor and commanded, "Move aside. Let me give her some tea. You do realize that the water you are giving her is poisoning her system. There are evil gases in water in early spring and it is what is causing the fever. You mustn't give them anything but boiled water. Try this tea."
The young physician was always open to new ideas and treatments. He knew his profession was outdated and undeveloped, so he asked, "What's in it?"
As the sharp noblewoman handed the handsome doctor the potion, she replied, "Yarrow root, rosemary, willow bark, elderberry, chamomile and honey."
The curious doctor took the concoction and queried, "Has it helped the children?"
A smile exploded upon her face, which made the lovely young woman even more lovely, as she responded, "They are out of danger. They have just a touch of temperature left and will be up and about by tomorrow."
The inquisitive healer questioned the intelligent beauty further as he fed his charges the hot aromatic tea, "How often do you give them the remedy and how much?"
The confident noblewoman answered earnestly, "As much as they can tolerate as often as they can tolerate it."
The attractive doctor feed half the bowl to the mother and then fed the other half to the father and asked, "Could you get me some more tea, while I bathe them?"
Cleanliness was one of the experienced physician's main treatments. In a world when most of its inhabitants feared bathing as a way of obtaining illnesses, it was necessary to clean most of his patients. Bathing he found helped cure many of sick. The young doctor didn't know that by bathing his patients, he was removing all the fleas and ticks that were invading his charge's hair and skin. These insects were disease carriers. The savvy doctor didn't know why it worked, only that it did.
Bridgette entered the room with a bucket of hot water and two fresh towels. The experienced maid moved the doctor unceremoniously away from the couple and started removing their clothes. The efficient brunette looked at the older man and ordered with her Lady's authority, "The Baroness says you are to leave this room and get some fresh air, while I bathe your patients. She is preparing a meal for you both. She says it will not do for the doctors to get as ill as the patients."
Feeling the weariness of the long hours of treatment coursing through his veins, the intelligent physician yawned and rose from his stool. His bones cracked and creaked from ill-use causing the tired young man to stretch and wobbled. After bending over to touch his toes the exhausted doctor left the room and walked out of the hut.
The fatigue was nearly overwhelming as the fresh air filled his lungs. He was nearly drained as he walked over to well to douse himself with a bucket of cool water. The cool liquid poured over his tired bones and the drowsy left him as a gentle breeze cooled his damp, warm skin.
The Baroness appeared holding a clean towel which he graciously accepted with a smile. As the solemn physician dried himself, the equally weary noblewoman announced, "I've prepared a meal of porridge and some ham steaks. Come and eat."
The two weary healers were eating their breakfast when the Countess and Bridgette entered the small hut. The honey blonde noblewoman asked, "Don't rise. Continue with your meal. I came not to interfere, but to inquire as to the state of things. How are you doing Melody? You look very tired."
After a brief silence and a swallow of ham, Melody replied, "I'm fine, Your Grace. The children here are recovering well and we are working on saving the parents. I have no idea what is happening at the other afflicted homes. I have eight other physicians working on the others. I have been concentrating on saving those darling little girls, I had lost sight of the overall picture."
The handsome doctor interjected, "I know what to do here. You must go and get a clear picture of what is going on elsewhere. People will die if this is not stopped."
Maura admonished gently, "You are the Baroness, Melody. You cannot lose sight of the total picture. You must trust others to work the small miracles, while you work on the larger one."
Georgina spoke in defense of the young noblewoman as she exclaimed, "Your Grace, who cannot feel sorrow for the illness of a young child and not be moved in action. I think from her words, the young miss recognizes her mistake and seeks to redeem her misjudgment. Might not I suggest, we all enlist our aid into going to the different places of illness and aiding the physicians there?"
Melody smiled and blushed as she felt the warmth of Georgina's earnest defense of her. From the moment the American frontierswoman entered the manor at Swansea, the young maid had been her champion. The now stylish noblewoman recalled their first meeting.
Melody and Jane had just arrived from the ship and she was soon forgotten at the meeting of the two young lovers. The out of place Texan was shipped to a lonely room and given hot water in copper tub, a towel, a bar of scented soap, a scrub brush and no further instructions.
Georgina came to her rescue. The young servant had taken it upon herself to see to the comfort of the displaced American. Then the thirteen year old had never been away from home except in the company of Jane Rizzoli. Now, Jane had forgotten the child, who was terribly afraid. The young teenager was lonely and scared.
The brunette Frenchwomen came into the room with an arm full of clothing…bloomers, petticoats, corset, stockings, dress and shoes. Then the pert maid announced, "Bon jour, mademoiselle, I brought you some evening clothes, because I presume you do not have much in that small chest. I'm afraid my mistress and your friend have forgotten everything and everyone else. I did want to make you feel at home and help you to adjust. I know how it can be in a strange place away from you home country. I am French and came here as a child, but it was very frightening for me."
The generous servant poured some scent bath beads into the copper tube and added two buckets of boiled water, as she continued, "Let me help you out of those wet things and get you into the tub while it is still hot. You will catch your death if you stay in those things."
The efficient maid had the young teenager down to her shift before the stunned American realized she was being disrobed. The frightened girl was about to object when she felt warm friendly fingers undoing the ties of her shift. Soon, the young woman was naked and being escorted to the hot copper tub.
The still bewildered brunette was sitting in the tub as she felt her back being scrubbed by the bright young maid. A sweet humming was coming from the gay Frenchwoman's lips and it helped to relax the timid youngster. Soon the brush and cloth was working on her lower extremities without any reservation the practical maid was cleaning virginal private parts.
It felt strange yet soothing. A wave of peace came over the young teen which soon turned to a warmth in her loins. Never before had anyone ever touched her there and it felt wonderful. Soon the cleaning was completed and the proficient servant was dousing thick raven hair with warm water and applying scented shampoo.
The luxury of being scrubbed clean was a new experience for the tough frontierswoman. Sure the pioneering teen had had baths, but she had done her own scrubbing. The feel of having someone else scrubbing your body gently was an intoxicating experience.
The young Texan's body was feeling strangely warm and was craving something that she didn't understand. All the aroused American knew was she wanted to keep feeling the sensation of this young maid's hands upon her.
After dousing the brunette thick locks with water to rise away the shampoo, the proficient servant began to massage scented warm oil into the youngster's curly black hair and scalp. The young Texan was melting with sensation and all she knew was she wasn't lonely at this moment.
The memory of that moment had kept the displaced American going in the Isles household for many months. Now two years from the time they first left Texas, the metamorphosis from wild frontierswoman to French aristocrat was coming to fruition and that was because a kind servant took pity on a lonely displaced teenager.
Georgina was right. They would have to divide their attention between the various outbreaks and direct each physician in the correct method for beating this fever. Melody didn't know what was causing the fever, but she did know that this combination of herbs and boiling the drinking water was working and the patients being treated in this manner were getting better.
***SE***
While the Countess, Bridgette and Melody covered the outbreak areas to the north, south and east, Georgina cover the outbreak areas to the west. The first place had been a farmer who grew oats and barley and raised a small herd of cattle. He, his wife, five sons and three daughters were all down with the fever. The local midwife was tending the family and was more than welcoming to anyone with any possible treatment.
It only took the efficient maid an hour to explain what the treatment and assist in its first application. The native Frenchwoman helped bathe the patients, boil the drinking water and leech the herbs. After giving the young boys the brew, the harried servant was forced to say her farewells and well wishes before moving on to the next location.
The next location was the home of an older couple, their oldest son, his wife, two children and their youngest unmarried daughter. All seven people had only mild symptoms and were being treated by two nuns from the local convent. The nuns were skilled nurses with experience with fevers while they were missionaries in Africa.
Much like Melody's remedies, the nuns used herbs and cleanliness to cure the fevers of this family. The nuns obviously didn't need the Melody's remedies, so Georgina told the good sisters of her mission and took her leave of them to go onto the next home on her route.
The next cottage was fairly large with a large courtyard and very neatly painted with a fresh soft blue milk paint. The garden was well kept and the windows sills were lined with a flower box with a well-watered bed of flowers. This was the home of the grain millers.
The owner of this cottage owned four watermills, each of which ground four hundred pounds of flour each day. The flour produced by his four mills fed most of the region. The Martine family had granted the Miller family the rights to this land four generations earlier. By all standards, the Millers were very wealthy commoners.
Georgina had a small cart driven by a single horse to make her rounds. As the single passage cart pulled into the courtyard, Doctor François appeared at the cottage door. The Belgian born physician had earned his reputation by curing one of the Holy Roman Empire's many princes.
As a reward for saving his life, the prince gave the good doctor an introduction letter to the courts of Europe. With his letter in hand he had traveled to Paris, where he was welcome as a worthy physician.
When this fever epidemic started, Doctor Francois was staying at a local inn, while traveling to Orleans to treat the Duke's daughter for the vapors. A messenger from the Baroness Martine was looking for physicians and nurses to treat fever patients and was offering a very lucrative fee. So the ambitious and greedy doctor 'volunteered' his services.
The grasping physician had heard that a fairly wealthy family of peasants had all gotten the fever, so thinking there might be additional payment from the cured family. When the good doctor arrived, he found his patients all had high fevers and low energy.
The father and mother were the sickest, while the two sons were just beginning to show a higher fever. The little girl had the lowest fever, but was the weakest. Without boiling the water, Doctor Francois started giving all his charges plenty of fluids.
When the fevers didn't lower, in fact they got higher; the experience physician started bleeding his patients in order to eliminate the bad vapors in their system. The good doctor was bleeding the little girl when a small buggy came into the courtyard.
A pretty young French woman was driving the wagon so the good doctor went to meet her. The young woman approached the dapper physician and stated, "I am here from Baroness Martine. She has found a cure for the fever and has sent people in all directions to inform the doctors and nurses of what to do."
The arrogant gentleman laughed at the pert maid and responded, "I do not care for the opinions of amateurs. I am a physician of great renown and I do not need the imagined cures of ignorant noblemen. Tell the Baroness I will do things my way and to stay out of my business."
Georgina forced her way passed the arrogant older man and entered the large cottage, only to find five very sick people. They were pale and listless from the bleeding and fever. The compassionate maid shed tears for them as she wheeled on the incompetent doctor and exclaimed, "You stupid man, the Baroness has cured many people already. It is a proven cure. Why will you not listen?"
The haughty physician grabbed the slighter maiden by the arm and dragged her from the house and launched her through the door. Georgina managed to keep her feet as she shouted, "You're killing those poor people to protect your own conceit. You are a very small man and a smaller doctor. Listen to my Lady and you may yet save these people and learn something that you can use in the future."
The proud doctor backhanded the smaller woman and knocked her to the ground. Blood ran from a cut lip and her cheek started to swell. The undaunted maid rose from the ground and shouted, "You terrible man to hit a woman. The Baroness will have you whipped for this."
The angry bully slapped the bleeding brunette across the cheek and then backhanded her at her temple; again she fell to the ground. This time she was slower to get up and wobbly made her way to her cart. After a couple tries, the wounded young woman managed to make it into her buggy and ride away to the laughter of the overconfident physician.
***SE***
On her way back from the Miller's home, Georgina struggled with how to tell her Lady of her favor and to recall her relationship with the Baroness. Tears ran down the stinging cheeks of the beaten young Frenchwoman as she speculated on how disappointed her friend was in her.
Through the long months that Melody stayed at Swansea, Georgina became her best friend and boon companion. The isolated Texan had never really had any close friends before she met the lively French maid. The lonely frontierswoman's father had kept her working mostly in his saloon and had discouraged any female friends who might have befriended the young American.
So, when the spirited Frenchwoman had offered to befriend her, the solitary young woman seized the opportunity to have one female friend. Jane was more like a big sister to Melody and more family than friend. So the young lady started spending her days with the bubbly servant.
Of course, Georgina had work to do in the Manor, which occupied much of her time, but when the energetic maid had time the two went on picnics and talked long hours about each other's adventures. Soon, the intelligent Frenchwoman was teaching Melody her native language. Melody, who had always been good at learning new languages, was a quick study.
About six months into her stay at Swansea, Melody started studying under the Professor and therefore she had less time to spend with her friend. The future baroness didn't know it at the time, but she was being groomed to become Baroness Martine.
Despite the long hours of school and Georgina's job, the young women were able to find time for each other every day, mostly at night. Each night Georgina and sometimes her sister would come to the mopey American's room to talk and drink tea and eat biscuits.
Each night the kitchen staff would send a tray of tea and fresh biscuits to the quiet Texan's room, where she would share her bounty with her friends. It was the most fun the solitary American had ever experienced.
One day Jane and Maura had to leave for London. Georgina and Bridgette were also going. Melody was to stay behind and study at Swansea. The lethargic frontierswoman was saddened by the prospect of being alone once again. However the young ward did not want to demand anything from her 'big sister.'
So for several months there was nothing… but school. At night the tea and biscuit would go untouched until the tray was removed in the morning.
The loneliness was weighing heavenly on the lonely American and it confused her. The experienced frontierswoman had spent many hours alone and had come to terms with it. However this loneliness was closing in on her. For the first time in her life the young woman longed for human contact and friendship.
When everyone returned, Melody was determined to have some say in her life. However the chance at wealth and nobility were too much for the confident Texan to turn away. Her confrontation with her guardian had not gone as she planned, but it did yield an outline for the plans of her rise to nobility.
Since coming to France, Melody has been too busy to spend as much time with her young friend as she would have wanted. However the midnight tea parties in her room with Georgina and Bridgette started again.
The dynamic personal maid started brushing the young noblewoman's hair each night…100 strokes with the tortoise shell brush. The hair brushing had stirred feelings in the former Texan that she didn't fully understand. Georgina's light touch and soft strokes stirred something new in her loins, but she didn't understand these strange sensations.
Melody had finally decided to talk with her mentor, Countess Isles, about her strange feelings, when the fever had struck the village. Without asking permission, the determined Texan went to help cure some her tenants.
When Georgina discovered what her friend was doing, she become frightened that the fever might claim her Baroness for its next victim. So the vivacious teenager went to see the Countess and tell her of the danger in which your young protégé found herself.
While Georgina was talking with the Countess, Melody was boiling water and crushing herbs.
The more the young maiden thought of how the two were, the more she knew she loved the beautiful American
***SE***
Georgina returned from the Miller's home with a busted lip, brushed face, swollen eye and a torn dress. Her wounded pride was more painful than any of her physical wounds. The defeated maid failed in her mission given to her by her beloved Baroness.
The young brunette had desperately wanted to succeed in aiding her Lady's quest in saving everyone, but Dr. Francois was determined not to listen to some 'aristocratic amateur. When Melody saw her beautiful maid's condition she exploded in English forgetting her French facade with red fury, "What happened, Georgie? Who attacked you?"
Tears ran down the crushed young woman's cheek as she answered in French trying to get the bright Baroness to remember to use French in public, "Mr. Francois hit me and knocked me to the ground when I tried to stop him from bleeding the Millers. I failed you, Lady Melody. They looked so pale and sickly. I fear they are going to die."
The enraged noblewoman was overcome by the arrogance and ignorance of the man. That little man had the audacity to strike such a soft and tender soul, who did no harm to anyone and gave her heart to any who needed it. The self-styled physician was killing his patients to protect his own self-importance.
The infuriated former frontierswoman spied a bull whip for driving the cattle home from pasture. The incensed teenager looked at the marred features of her Georgina and snapped inside. The high and mighty little man was going to feel her wrath.
Grabbing the bull whip from its place on the coral fence, the furious Texan fighter ran to one of her guard's saddled horses and leapt upon it, ignoring the fact she was not dress for riding across a saddle. Though she never liked their purpose, for once she wished she wore spurs. The fuming young woman kicked herhorse into a gallop which became a sprint.
Both the Countess and Georgina were shocked by the normally demure Lady's reaction and stood stunned for a long moment before Countess Isles ordered the guard, "Follow Lady Melody and see no harm comes to her and arrest Dr. Francois. I want him in chains before me by evening tea."
***SE***
The infuriated Baroness spurred her horse into the courtyard of the Miller's family cottage with the skill of a Texas ranch hand and found the nicest cottage in the area in flames. Five bodies were stacked like cord wood outside their burning home. The young noblewoman's resentment was magnified to fury as she leapt from her charging steed with the bull whip in hand.
As the enraged skilled frontierswoman uncoiled the weapon, the unsuspecting physician emerged from the now burning building. With a strength buoyed by rage the dark brunette shouted, "You prancing pony! You ignored my message. You attacked my messenger and you murdered these people with your arrogance and your indifference.
Then you had the audacity to injure my friend for trying to save them. You sir are a cur, a menace and a charlatan and I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget."
With those words handing in the air, the enraged Lady lashed out with the thick leather whip. The tip of the whip ripped through the astonished doctor's frilly silk shirt taking a good bit of skin with it. The lash travelled down his chest causing a long bleeding gash along it.
The wounded man staggered back against the now blistering door. The intense heat from the scorching door seared his back, but before he could recover a second lash rent his tattered shirt and chest within a quarter inch of the first blow.
The injured gentleman steeled himself from further contact with the now enflamed door. While flinging his arms over his face to prevent the obviously insane young woman from blinding him or damaging his looks, the injured physician tried to escape.
As third strike of the long damaging whip tore into his biceps and rent another gash in his chest, the staggering doctor tried to turn and run to safety though he had neither a clear plan to escape nor the ability to think of one as the pain was so intense thoughts were difficult to manage. All his brain could envision was escaping another blow.
Then the fourth stroke flayed his now exposed back leaving his rather fashionable shirt merely torn rags clinging to his body by its collar and cuffs. A fifth blow quickly followed and the weak man fell to his knees, succumbing to the pain and force of the whip strikes. The infuriated teenager taunted, "What's the matter? Don't like the pain. Imagine what the pain of the family as your idiotic methods robbed them of their lives. Do you know the pain you of their loved ones, who will be without them because of your arrogance? Do you know the pain you caused my Georgina? Do you know the pain you caused me, when I saw her damaged face?
I should and by rights could kill you, but that would be a kindness. I am going to whip you to lessen my torment, then I'm going to place you into the stocks in the town square with baskets of rotten fruit and vegetables all around your new residence for villagers to use to lessen their pain.
Then after a fortnight I will replace the fruit and vegetables with baskets of small stones. Then I'm going to have you hobbled and release you into the world crippled and disgraced. So you may wonder the world seeking a redemption you neither deserve nor understand."
Five more lashes, one following another in quick succession, sent the man sprawling from his knees to the ground unable to move or escape. The still infuriated noblewoman then walked up to the collapsed man who was writhing in pain and struck him across the back of the head with the whip handle. The damaged man stopped struggling and crumpled into unconsciousness.
Three soldiers from the manor rode into the courtyard to see the blow from the whip handle and were stunned by the rawness of the man's back. The sound of their horses restored the enraged Baroness's senses as she commanded, "Take this filth to the village square and put him in the stocks. He is to get no treatment for his wounds until I say so. He is to get only bread and water twice a day until I say otherwise. Then get a wagon to recover these poor souls and have them laid to rest in the church cemetery. I want them to have a proper funeral and I will forego the expense."
The men hesitated, as the leader of three men ventured to say, "Milady I was commanded by the Countess to bring this man to her before tea."
The look on the young noblewoman's face caused the young guardsman to retreat two steps. None of the Manor soldiers had ever seen this look on the lovely young Lady, who had the reputation of being the gentlest of souls. Look how she had rushed to treat peasants with her own hands, risking her personal safety to cure them.
However, one glimpse of at her expression belayed such assessments. Yet the Manor guardsmen had orders directly from the Countess, so he continued, "Milady, I have my orders directly from the Countess."
The angry brunette exclaimed, "I am the Baroness for these lands. You are my men to command. I do as I see fit. Let me talk with my mother and you do as I command."
Without another word the Lady strode to her mount with the bloody whip in hand and the three soldiers were filled with pride for their Lady. No Lord could have been so regal in that moment. The dynamic teenager leapt into the saddle with the practice of many years on the Texas prairie and rode away leaving the trio of stunned guards to do as they were told.
One of the subordinate guards submitted, "What do we do?"
The leader replied, "We do as the Baroness commanded. She is right. These are her lands. You find a wagon and you find some help to put out this fire. I will deal with the prisoner."
***SE***
Jane Rizzoli led her company toward Kiowa lands. The Comanche had agreed to no more raids and no more killing as long as the Kiowa agreed to the same thing. So the bold Italian decided to talk with the Kiowa chief, Wild Dog.
Traditionally the Comanche and the Kiowa were allies especially since the treaty of 1840 sponsored by William Bent. However a local argument over the buffalo lands of West Texas has caused this conflict between traditional allies. These two tribes needed each other to survive. They had damaged each other so much that their tribes were declining in size and strength and the only way to end the fighting was to settle the buffalo issue.
When they reached Kiowa lands, Jane announced, "You will camp here. I will go on alone. I will camp three hours inside their lands with a large fire. If for any reason you see that fire go out come arunning. I will be in trouble and need help."
Hugh came forward and announced, "I am going with you, Milady. I promise the Countess, I would keep you safe and I cannot do that from here."
The tough Texan smiled as she replied, "Hugh, I have to this alone. I need them to come and talk. If I go in there with a large armed party they will hide in the hills and try to wheedle us down then attack. I need to be over so I get back to making a place here for us."
The stubborn body guard responded, "I don't think one more person will really matter and besides who will watch while you sleep? I am going with you or I am going to have to tell Countess Isles that you went into danger and left me behind. She will not like that."
Jane bowed her head and shook it. She knew when she was defeated. The hardened brunette could fight all the Indians, bears and wolves she wanted, but that little honey blonde was a different story. The wild Italian was defenseless against the obstinate young noblewoman. All the dangerous leader could do was wave him on and say, "Don't you dare say anything about what is happening to Maura. She had enough to worry about in France without worrying about me. I can take care of myself."
Hugh laughed. This young woman was best warrior he had ever seen and was probably the most dangerous person in the world. Yet, the hard-hitting two-fisted fighter trembled at the thought of her lover being even the slightest bit angry with her. To keep on the difficult brunette's good side he replied, "My lips are seal as long as you keep me with you. I don't want to face the Countess if anything were to happen to you. I would rather share your fate. To tell you a secret Her Grace can be very scary when she gets angry."
Jane had to laugh, as she responded, "Tell me about it."
***SE***
The lone two figures rode into the Kiowa territory for exactly three hours by Jane's gold pocket watch, a gift from her father for her tenth birthday. After the short trek, Jane announced, "We make camp here. Get plenty of cow biscuits and any wood you can find. I'll start the fire and make camp."
Hugh looked confused for a moment and was wondering about the definition of cow biscuits when he recalled how they had been burning dried dung in their campfires for days. The light of recognition shone on his face, as he was off to collect the wood first. The tough body guard was not very anxious to start collecting cow biscuits.
***SE***
The Countess Isles was listening to the guard she sent to retrieve the errant doctor. All the honey blonde noble had gotten from her ward was Melody was determined to handle it herself and already taken steps to punish the worrisome physician.
The leader of the group explained, "When we arrive, Your Grace, the Lady was clouting the man on his head with the butt of her whip. The man was already prostrate on the ground with lashes and burns all over his back.
When we turned over later we found he had been lashed severely on his fronts and forearms as well. The Lady Melody had beaten the man to near unconsciousness. Had we not arrived when we did, I think she would have beaten him to near death.
Any way when we told the Lady we had orders directly from you to bring the doctor to you before tea. She said that these were her lands and that we were to put the man in the stocks in the market square."
The Countess smiled, if Melody was already seizing the mantel of Baroness, she was even nearly to completing her goals in France than she thought. This was an important breakthrough. The only thing that bothered her was the reaction of the normally placid young woman. Why had the young noble exploded with anger and rode off in such a vengeful manner?
Surely his ignoring her commands would have angered her and made her want to punish the man and his placing that family's lives in danger would have been troublesome. The mill was an important part of the local economy and replacing the longtime miller was not going to be easy. However it still didn't explain the young noblewoman's violent reaction.
Secretly, Maura was quite pleased with the results. The word of her whipping the man into oblivion would spread and she would have instant creditability and respect. No one would doubt she was a noble after this.
However the Countess was disturb by the outright cruelty of the attack. The violence displayed by the raw American was beyond the scope of the crime. Even if you factor in the man had hit her servant it still didn't explain her response.
Then the honey blonde noblewoman remembered Georgina's face after her encounter with the horrible physician and it struck the intelligent noblewoman. The violent response was due to the blows to Georgina. The reaction was due to the emotions those wounds instilled in Melody.
Quickly, the bright Countess asked the guard, "Can you tell me to the best of your recollection, what the Lady said to you?"
The older man answered, "Your Grace, I can tell you exactly what Her Ladyship said. How could I forget it? You should have seen the look on her face. It made me back away from Her Ladyship. Her Ladyship has always been such a kind and gentle woman, which made her transformation all the more frightening.
Lady Martine said, 'Take this filth to the village square and put him in the stocks. He is to get no treatment for his wounds until I say so. He is to get only bread and water twice a day until I say otherwise. Then get a wagon to recover these poor souls and have them laid to rest in the church cemetery. I want them to have a proper funeral and I will forego the expense.'
Then I tell her that I orders directly from you and she said, 'I am the Baroness for these lands. You are my men to command. I do as I see fit. Let me talk with my mother and you do as I command.'
Your Grace, the prisoner said something that was interesting while we were transporting him to the stocks. The man was in pretty bad shape, but he kind saying he was sorry he had tough the Lady's little whore. He said it over and over."
The intelligent Countess needed to time to reason everything out, but one thing was clear to her. Georgina may not be the only one smitten. It appears that the Lady Martine has fallen under the young maid's spell as well.
The real food for thought was how Melody had now claimed the Barony as her own and how she had accepted its care and responsibility. The honey-blonde teenager, who was nearly the Baroness's own age, smiled and reddened as she felt pride in being called mother by the inexperienced noblewoman.
Technically since Countess Isles had adopted the displaced Texan, she was the young woman's mother. The sharp noblewoman had never thought of the fact. However there was no denying it. The Countess Isles was the Baroness Martine's mother.
Melody was obviously further along taking her place as Baroness than the Countess expected. Maura said to the guardsman, "You may go. Thank you so much for your information and your extraordinary memory. Could you ask one of the servants to see me and would you be so kind as to find the Lady Martine and have come and see me."
The honey-blonde noblewoman felt a heavy weight lift from her shoulders. Melody had declared herself and now would have to take the responsibility for it. The anxious Countess remembered the diaries and what they represent. Taking the diary in hand, Countess Isles took quill and ink and began to write about how well Melody was doing.
The next thing to do was to talk to Melody and to see if she wanted to explore how she felt about Georgina. Then they would have to talk about the next step in the overall plan.
***SE***
Lady Melody was directing several local townspeople to place baskets of rotten fruit and vegetables at strategic locations about the stocks. The more rational noblewoman had relented and allowed the young physician who had worked with her to treat the Broussard family. Though her motives for permitting the treatment were less than admirable, if the man developed an infection and died, he would getting off too easily for what he had done.
As the intelligent teenager sat at the village cafe to have a cup of chocolate and a cheese roll for a mid afternoon snack, the disturbed young woman explore her irrational outburst hours earlier. Never in her life had the normally dossal American lost her temper as she had done earlier that day. Why had the incompetent doctor ignited her ire?
The fact the man had blatantly ignored her instructions was only mildly disturbing. The powerful noble could have the man imprisoned or had him ran out of the area. So, that really wasn't the reason she exploded. The man had also killed the Millers, who were a key family in the district and would be very difficult to replace. However the Lady of the district could have had arrested and tried for murder, but the savvy Texan had flailed the man.
If the young woman was honest with herself, the reason the normally rational noblewoman had been so angry was because of the injuries to Georgina. When Lady Martine saw that the face of her friend had been marred by the stupid doctor, she became enraged. Now, why had those minor injuries angered the dark noblewoman so?
There was only rational explanation of her behavior and that was the young noblewoman was in love with older more experienced maid. What did she have to offer someone as lovely and competent as Georgina? Though the wild Texan was inheriting a title and large tract of land, she was still a backwoods innkeeper's daughter with a sketchy background and little education.
Lady Melody had never thought of herself as being a lesbian, but her father had made all men look unattractive and brutish. While Ladies like Lady Ravenhill and Countess Isles had gone to great lengths to help her. Other woman such as Bridgette, Katlyn and of course Georgy showed her love and kindness.
There it was even in her thoughts, Georgina stood apart…separate. What could the inexperience teenager do to see if the object of her affection had any feelings for her? Could the normally inarticulate youngster tell her properly? There was only one solution to the problem; the confused young noblewoman would have to consult with the Countess. The brilliant Countess Isles would know exactly what to do.
***SE***
Countess Maura Isles was waiting in her office for her ward to come home and be ushered in to see her by the butler. However, the honey-blonde noblewoman need not have left orders for her to come and see her, her golden haired adopted daughter was anxious to see the woman she had called 'mother' only hours earlier.
The inexperienced noble entered the room and curtsied politely to the lovely Countess, who interrupted any polite greeting by saying with a bright grin, "There need be no formality between us as we are mother and daughter."
The golden blonde teenager was confused as she replied, "I know you have adopted me as your daughter for the sake of inheritance, but you are no older than I, though I would be honored to call you mother. You do seem so much older than your years. I have come to love you dearly."
The honey blonde teenager responded with a smirk, "Earlier today you told one of the guards you would speak to your mother about countermanding my orders. Do you not recall?"
As the nervous noble blushed and shook her head to the affirmative, she answered, "As a matter of fact I do recall making that statement and I stand by it. I do think of you as the mother I never had and though she would laugh to hear it, I think of Lady Ravenhill as the father I wish I had had. Though the Lady is a woman, she is more of a father than I ever had."
The Countess laughed as she stated, "I do not think you know Jane as well as you think. Jane would be complemented by such an inference. You are very dear to her and she does feel responsible for your well being. If that is not the role of a father then I do not understand the role at all."
The young woman looked down at the floor trying to get a hold on her emotions as she reveled in the thought of having the two women who she held most dear as her parents. With a single tear running down her cheek , the yellow haired noblewoman retorted, "I wish I did know her better. We did not get enough time to talk while she was here, which brings me to the topic of wanting to see you."
The higher ranking noblewoman held up her hand and declared, "Let me interrupt you. I have a matter of my to discuss and then you may say what you will. I need to know from your own lips what transpired today and what punishment you have doled to the errant physician."
The anxious teenager squirmed a bit as she replied, "I don't know what came over me. I heard how he had ignored my orders and how he had endangered that family. Then I saw Georgy's face and I lost my temper. I don't even remember the ride to the Miller's cottage.
When I got there I caught him coming out of the Miller's house after he had just set it ablaze. My first lash made him back up against the burning building then I whipped him along his chest several times before he regained his wits and started to run. That's when I started thrashing his back.
When he collapsed I wanted to whip him some more, but he was nearly unconscious.. So I made unconscious with my whip handle. That's when my guards arrived.
I ordered them to take the man to the village square and put him in the stocks and not to have his wounds tended until I said so. They informed me of your orders, but I reminded them that I was the head of this household and that my orders took precedent. They complied and I rode away.
I have ordered the man's wounds tended and several basket of rotten fruit and vegetables to be placed around the stocks. People are welcome to use them to pelt the man with the rotten vegetation for a fortnight. Then I will replace the vegetation with stones."
The Countess could see the anger was still in the young woman's face as she spoke and that she was harboring an irrational grudge against the poor physician. Not wanting the blonde teenager to hold onto such hatred, she queried, "Why are you so angry with the man? Surely, his crimes are minor in nature."
Before the pretty Baroness thought about her response, she retorted, "MINOR? MINOR? I will lose my anger when the bruises heal on Georgy's face."
Inwardly the Countess smiled after all she had wanted to ascertain if the two women loved each other. Now the honey-blonde teen definitely knew that they did love each other. In order to quell some of the anger the crafty Countess responded, "Is that why you are so angry, he damaged the face of Georgina?"
Earlier Melody came to that conclusion as to motives behind her explosive anger, so there was no denying her purpose for her anger. So the truthful teenager responded, "You are correct. I came to same conclusion before I came here. In fact my objective in coming here was to discuss this topic. I am in love with Georgy.
She has been there for me since I arrived and we have spent a lot of time together. I just don't know if she feels the same way. I'm afraid to be hurt by her or to hurt her. I'm here for advice. I don't know what to do or how to start or how to approach her and if she is receptive what I do then? How do I proceed?"
The bewildered teenager was running out of breath and took the opportunity to be quiet as she had been rambling. The Countess Isles smiled broadly as she responded to the minor filibuster by stating, "Well you do not have to ask her how she feels, because she came to me last evening for advice in ascertaining your feelings about her. It seems she is love with you and did not know if you were even interested. As to what you do next, the two of you have to have an intimate supper and talk out your feelings for each other. If you were a man and a woman I would recommend a courtship, but as we must keep this liaison a secret from Her Majesty, you must settle for a dinner in your apartments."
The French noblewoman retorted, "I am a French noble and are not the French more liberal about such matters? "
The Countess took a deep breath and explained, "We are here on a mission commissioned by Her Majesty the Queen, who is not quite at odds with Louis-Napoleon, but will eventual be so. Additionally Louis-Napoleon interests in Mexico are a direct threat to Texas and by extension Jane. So we need to be discreet in our liaisons until such time as we do not need to be.
When I move to Texas, Jane and I will live quite openly together. I understand that people of the plains mind their own business and not yours. As for you, when Louis-Napoleon is defeated and he will be, French nobility will take be damaged and eventually be abolished again. At such time you will be too wealthy to be bothered.
You will have supported the French Republic and will be part of it. I have planned for your future and being a Baroness is only the prelude, the main act will come after the fall of Louis-Napoleon."
The golden maiden asked, "What am I do in the meantime?"
The savvy Countess responded, "As you did today. I forgot to tell you how proud I was of you today. What you did in healing the sick and did to exercise your power was perfect. You endeared yourself with the local population, while improving your image in French society.
Additionally, you gained a huge standing with your soldiers, who saw a leader take charge and use brute force to enforce her will. As a woman they would have seen you as weak, however today you showed them you can take care of yourself. The guardsmen respect that. Did you know those three who found you were afraid of you? I cannot tell you how proud I am of you."
***SE***
Countess Isles took it upon herself to make the perfect evening for her adopted daughter and her life-long companion. These two young women were dearer to her than her own mother and the romantic teenager was determined to see them both happy and from her conversations with the couple she knew they would make each other happy.
The passionate honey-blonde had Daniel bring up a small dining table and two chairs, while Maddy set the table with a lace table cloth and the finest china in the manor. The tender maid like both women and as with most the staff, she had no objection to lesbianism.
After placing the lace napkins in their silver rings and the silverware properly by the plates, the lovely servant went to help her mistress dress for the evening. For her part Melody was struggling with what to wear. The inexperience noblewoman was nervous about the dinner and wanted to wear the perfect dress.
Maddy knocked on her Lady's bedroom door and asked, "Milady can I help you?"
With a anxious whine, the golden blonde queried, "Maddy, what do I wear? I have to make a good impression."
The resourceful maid went to the large closet and pull out a lonely blue silk dress and six petticoats. The excited teenager was dressed in only her bloomers and corset, which amused the young servant. Her mistress was still new to being a noble and often reverted to her American ways.
The proficient professional sat the lovely noblewoman down in front of her vanity mirror and took the brush to start straightening her golden hair, which was damp and unruly following her bath. After managing the yellow blonde teenager's flowing locks, the tart brunette began to apply the slightest bit of makeup to enhance the natural beauty of the gorgeous blonde.
Once the helpful servant helped her mistress into her petticoats and then into her gown, she gazed at the radiant image reflected in the mirror. Maddy smiled as she pronounced, "Perfect!"
***SE***
Countess Isles was sitting in the small quarters of her two life-long companions. Bridgette was working diligently on the hair of her sister, who was squirming at all the attention. When Her Grace had come personally to inform her of the dinner party with her beautiful Lady, the brunette Frenchwoman nearly fainted with ecstasy.
The honey-blonde noblewoman felt cramped in the small room which she felt was too small for two women. The brilliant Countess resolved to resolve this matter by having the girls moved into one of the guest rooms in their wing of the manor. The young woman chastised herself for not finding out how poor her friends' quarters were before this.
The younger of the sister rapped her older sister on the head with her brush as she ordered, "Sit still. Taming your wild mane is difficult enough without have to chase you down to do it."
Most of the time the practical maid had worn her hair in a tight bun so as to keep her unmanageable hair from causing trouble, however for tonight's festivities her sister had insisted the older teenager wear her hair down to enhance her natural good looks.
Georgina, unlike the Lady Martine, was not a beautiful woman. The olive skinned brunette was pretty with round features and a rather angular nose. However, what the cute maid lack in beauty, she made up for with a rather generous figure.
Her large breast, narrow waist and tight buttock caused many a man to ignore her face in order to behold her more prominent features. Many noble gentlemen were admonished by the Countess for trying to take advantage of her boon companion.
Once Countess Isles caught a young nobleman with his hand in Georgina's dress attempting to arouse her. For her part her life-long friend had battle the unwelcome attention. In order to stress her point the angry young honey-blonde took a cane and bashed the budding rapist repeatedly with the instrument.
After looking at herself in the mirror, the earnest teenager asked herself what a beauty like the Lady Melody saw in such a common creature. The apprehensive brunette asked her little sister, "Bridgette, would you shot me if I mess this up."
The Countess laughed as she interceded, "You will do no such thing and I do not think it possible for you to mess things up as the Lady in question loves you already. Now let us build a relationship and I pray it is half of what Jane and I share.
Georgie, I have spared no expense to make this evening perfect. Remember you are not a servant, but a suitor tonight. Your job is make her comfortable around you and not worry about all the other things around you.
Bridgette, I meant to ask. How are things going between you and Katlyn doing? Have you won her love?"
The younger teen blushed as she replied, "Can't I keep one secret to myself? Kat is doing as well as can be expected. She is showing now and her mother is about to crow in excitement about her grandchild. As for the romance of it all, we kissed for nearly an hour last evening. I think I'm in love, but I'm not sure, but Your Grace you stay out of it. I don't need a matchmaker."
Her Grace only nodded her agreement, as she said, "I can only handle one couple at a time. You will have to wait your turn."
***SE***
Jane had taken second watch and was building up the fire as she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. While trying to appear causal Jane reached over to wake Hugh by saying loudly, "Time for your watch Hugh."
The sleeping Welshman woke with a start and was a bit foggy when he noticed his charges moving her eyes to her right. While forcing himself up in such a manner as to look in that direction, the cagy bodyguard saw a glimpse of movement.
At night it was difficult to distinguish objects from threats. However all movement could be seen if your eyes are adjusted for the darkness, which is why Jane was diligent in not looking into the fire she was tending because it stole your night vision.
The wily Indian fighter told her Welsh friend, "I'm gonna go to the privy, keep a close eye out."
Pretending to go in the bushes to use the privy, the cagey tactician moved silently around to where the movement had last been seen. The wily Texan soon found two Kiowa braves watching the camp and beginning to wonder where she was. With a victorious smirk, the cunning brunette whispered playfully in Comanche, "Here I am and I wouldn't move too quickly I will kill you."
The two braves froze eager not to move in order to save their lives. With a delicate ease the pair of warriors dropped their bows and extended their hands to prove they held no weapons. The clever Lady said, "Tell Wild Dog, Death has come calling and wants to speak with him here in two days. If he hasn't come in two days, I will come to visit your village with all the men I left outside your lands. We have come to make peace between the Comanche and Kiowa and will have that peace even if I have to kill Wild Dog and all his braves to do it. Now get and you can take your bows and you can try and use them if you feel lucky."
The dark Italian was smiling and casually holding her pistol almost daring them to their luck. Both warriors walked away without a word as neither tried their luck. Too many legions were told about the dark woman warrior who knew no fear and killed swiftly without mercy or conscience. Besides they had to live to bring their vital message to their leader.
***SE***
The two young women greeted each other awkwardly as neither of them was experienced in such situations. Maddy whispered into her Lady's ear, "Hold out your hand so she may kiss it."
Melody shyly extended her gloved hand and waited for Georgina to kiss it. Then the nervous Baroness waited some more. The beautiful blonde waited until Maddy walked over and slapped the back of the ignorant Frenchwoman's head and said boldly, "Kiss it you clod."
A light went on in her eyes as the bashful maid took her mistress's hand and kissed it reverently. Maddy rolled her eyes back in her head and hissed expiration. Then the gregarious young woman exclaimed, "You two have a lot of work ahead of you. You both have no romance in your souls. Now Georgie, pull out the Lady's chair so she may sit."
Nodding her up and down like she should have thought of it on her own, the common looking brunette rushed to her Lady's chair in order to pull it back, so her Ladyship could be seated. After pushing the occupied chair forward slightly, the plainly pretty teenager hurried to her seat so they could start dinner.
Jeffery, one of the Isles butlers and the only man in the room, opened the bottle of Château Rauzan-Gassies, 1834. It was a very nice and fruity Bordeaux. The efficient butler poured each young woman a glass of the wine and placed the rest in a silver bucket of expensive ice.
Ice was cut from the mountains and then stored in the manor ice house, which was sealed tightly and used the cold of the ice to keep the blocks from melting. The ice house itself was a stone building lined with buffalo hides to keep the heat out and the cool air in. So the manor enjoyed ice the year round.
Bridgette entered the room carrying a tray of sweet cakes, chilled fruit and liquid fruit glaze as an appetizer. After sitting the two platters of cakes and fruit on the table, the younger sister winked at her older sibling and scampered out of the room.
The young couple each began to take the warm cakes and dip them in the liquid glaze. A smile leapt on the faces of both teenagers as they began to try different fruits in the flavored glaze. Boldly Georgina placed a strawberry into the glaze and held it out to her Lady for her to try as she suggested, "Try this Milady."
Melody took the berry in her mouth as a bit a glaze escaped her mouth. The normally shy maid took the opportunity to touch the Lady's lips with her forefinger to capture the fleeing drop. Then the smiling brunette placed the drippy finger in mouth to taste the drop and her Lady's lips.
Maddy smiled as she thought, 'Well now we are getting somewhere.'
The Lady Martine explained, "Georgie, under the circumstance, I think you can stop calling me Milady and call me Melody. Since I intend for us to be lovers, we need not be formal in private."
Maddy beamed with delight as she thought, 'Yes, we are getting somewhere.'