Two for Texas

by Ajun Cajun

This is the story of two different families and how they become an integral part of the development of the Southwest starting in the 1830's and into the Twentieth Century. Rated M, because history is not always pleasant and change is always violent. Oh, and the sex. Yes to Rizzles.

23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Changes

When the party arrived in Galveston they headed straight to the waiting ship. The Lady Jane was one of Isles Shipping newest and fastest ships and was in Galveston with only one duty to be ready at a moment's notice to carry Lady Jane Ravenhill to wherever she wished to go.

So it was rather surprising to find only a guard crew on the ship when the trio and its escort arrived to take sail to France. Not a single officer was on board. When Hugh queried the guard crew as to the whereabouts of the ship's four officers and three midshipmen, all they knew was that they were in one of the taverns along the wharf.

Fortunately sitting in the harbor was a very familiar ship. It was the Swansea IV with Captain Prescott. Jane was so happy to see the familiar ship that she nearly jumped out of her cot, but four days in this wagon had taught to move gently. So the anxious brunette exclaimed, "Hugh, that's my old friend Captain Prescott. Go give him my compliments and ask him to come and see me on the Lady Jane. Rose, tell our escort they are to help me get in my cabin on the ship."

After the five stron men had carried one of the matrices with Jane into the main cabin on the ship, they placed her gently on the undersized cot. The matrice hung over the side of the cot and it barely fit lengthwise in the space provided. The commanding Italian waved off any fuss and ordered, "You are to wait here in Galveston for me to return. Find the representative for Isles Shipping and give them this letter. In it are requests for enough funds for you to rent a space to make a temporary Ranger office for one year. Each month you are to go to that same office and receive additional funds until I return. I will make good any funds they give you. Don't go tearing up Galveston, but make yourselves to home, you'll be here more than a year. I'll get back as fast as I can, but the trip is at least four months both ways."

A couple of minutes later Hugh returned with Captain Prescott in tow and the older sea captain asked, "Milady, wat kin I do fer ya?"

Lady Ravenhill replied, "You are going to take me to France in the Lady Jane. I want to be at sea in two hours. Transfer the crew from your ship to this ship and get to sea."

The confused sea Captain explained, "Milady, this is not my ship. My ship is in the harbor and it will take three days to offload and refit."

The commanding noblewoman steeled her voice and commanded, "You don't understand, Captain. I am not giving you a choice. You will do as I say. You know your standing orders. I need to get to France before a ship that has already set sail. This is the fastest ship in the Isles fleet and ready to go. You will do as I command.

Send word to the shipping office to have the crew from this ship rounded up and transferred to your ship. They will unload your cargo and refit your ship. You and your crew will not lose any bonuses or wages. I will see to it. Now, do you understand your orders, Captain?"

The stunned ship's officer snapped to attention and shouted, "Aye, aye, Sir."

***SE***

Jane relaxed in her bunk as she listened to the crew scramble aroung on the upperdeck. The tall Texan visualized the men pulling ropes and walking the sheets. The action oriented brunette was restless and knew she was going to have a difficult time just lying on her cot in the well-decorated but tiny room.

There was a loud bang at the door frame announcing the presence of someone wanting to see her. The commanding leader shouted, "Come in at you own risk. I'm in a very foul mood."

Hugh peeked in the door sheepishly commenting, "Don't shoot. Milady! I've got your nurxe with me."

Jane laughted at the alien look on the giant Welshman's face, as she said, "Just get in here, the two of you."

Rose rushed over and examined her charge to make sure none of her wounds had reopened. Hugh guarded the door while the young woman examined the Jane's wounds. The conscientious nurse announced, "Everything looks good…No more infection. Everything is healing nicely. I'll be able to remove the stitches in a couple of days."

The savvy noblewoman responded, "Thank you. I appreciate your efforts. I know you're looking forward to your visit to Europe, but the trip over is brutal. Rough seas, boredom and confined spaces are going to drive you crazy. Don't believe me; ask Hugh."

Hugh smiled warmly at the pretty young woman and said, "I'm afraid the Lady is correct, but there are the clear nights when you can count the stars in the sky while enjoying a cool night breeze. There are times at twilight when you can see dolphins and sailfish skipping across the water. Sometimes whales are sunning themselves on the water with their families about them.

And the sunsets are magnificient. The golden and firey hues that reflect across the water and beyond the horizon are the most beautiful things you have every seen. Sometimes on clear nights when the seas are totally calm you can see the stars reflected in the water and it looks like you're sailing across the sky."

Hugh stammered to a halt as he realized he was yammering. Lady Jane smiled knowing at her gigantic bodyguard as she had always known that despite his size and fighing ability, the man was a deeply sentimental man. Rose looked at him with new eyes as if she had never seen him before.

In an effort to recover from his lapse, the broad shouldered Welshman stuttered, "Ahmmm, Milady, do you need me for anything?"

With a wicked smirk, the wily noblewoman replied, "Why yes, Hugh, I need you to take our lovely young guest on a tour of the ship tonight, so she may see with her own eyes the specticals you described."

The pretty nurse smiled shyly, "I'd like that."

Hugh was stunned with silience… trapped by his own words, but then again maybe some traps were better than others.

***SE***

It was a cool night breeze that greeted the pair as they walked the deck and look at the clear night sky with its twinkling stars and occasional streak of lights across the sky. Rose had seen many a night sky in the frontiers of Texas, but there were hills and mountains to conceal its total glory. Out here at sea, there was nothing to inhibit the beauty of it all.

In the distance Hugh pointed out a school of fish leaping, skipping and hopping across the water. The racing school of fish contrasted across the water in only shadows of what is real and tangible. A spray of mist doused the couple as they enjoyed watching a pair of dolphins dance and interweave their chase of the escaping school of fish.

Rose had never experienced the feeling of having a handsome man next to her in the warm embrace of a starlit night and it was moving her with feelings that she had never known. Deep within her the innocent young woman was exploring these new sensations. Many times in her life, the lovely virgin had dreamed and read about romantic love, yet she had no real frame of reference for it.

All the statuesque redhead looked beautiful in her new form fitting dress and felt more lovely than she had ever felt in her entire life. The Baroness had been so kind to her. When the young noblewoman had seen the extent of her wardrobe, she ordered the hiring of a seamstress for the trip to Europe. When the news of a good paying job and a trip to Europe reached the streets there were many applicants.

Jane had Hugh and Captain Prentiss buy every yard of cloth they could find to fill the empty hulls of the Lady Jane. Additionally to help fray the cost of the impulsive trip, Lady Ravenhill purchased a large consignment of cotton to sell in France, where cotton was sold at premium prices.

The seamstress had now made Rose six very stylish and elegant dresses, by the time they reached Barony Martine; the young lady would have a complete wardrobe fit for a noblewoman. As it was the crew were watching her much too closely for Hugh's comfort.

When one of the crew made a rude remark about the young nurse's virtue, the giant Welshman grabbed the hapless sailor by his collar and tossed him against the side rail. The impact of the collision knocked all the air from the tat's lungs, but Hugh was merciless. The large bodyguard picked the winded man off the ground like he weighed ounces instead of pounds and hung him from a hook on the main yardarms.

The officer on deck came to the sailor's rescue, but said nothing as he look into the angry Welshman's blue eyes. Hugh boomed in a loud voice for all to hear, "This Lady is under my protection, if you want more than this man received come forward now and speak ill of her. The next man will be tossed to the sea. Cross me and see what happens."

As the injured salt struggled to free himself from the nail, he received another winding blow to his stomach. Again the sailor had no breath in him as the air was forced from his lungs. Hugh got within inches of the man's face and stared at him with deadly eyes as he said, "If you get off that hook before the next bell, I will finish this fight."

The giant Welshman led the lovely American out from the ship's upper deck to the passageway to her Ladyship's room.

***SE***

After delivering the young nurse to her Ladyship's quarters, Hugh went back to the upperdeck. When the large angry man step onto the open deck he bellowed, "Listen closely! I don't have to worry about Lady Ravenhill, if you want to cross her you do so at your own peril. Just let me warn you Lady Ravenhill is Jane Rizzoli, the Captain of the Texas Rangers, and has killed more men than you can count so if you want to try your luck I hope you can swim to the nearest land!

However Miss Rose is under MY protection and the Lady's, if any of say anything rude to the young woman I will beat you until you cannot stand! If anyone of you thinks they can take me in a fight step forward and have at it! I will not kill you this time! My name is Hugh Jamieson and I have been the body guard of Countess Isles since she was born until me ordered me to protect Lady Ravenhill! I have never failed my charge! I can whip any man twice my size and I fear no man! So step forward and have at it."

One huge man at least 40 pounds heavier than Hugh stepped forward and exclaimed, "I ain't never been rude to no woman in me life and never will. My Mama teached me better than that, but I ain't lettin' no landlubber order me about with his fist lessen he shows me he kin do her."

Hugh sighed as he took off his coat, tie and shirt. The tall broad Welshman had rippled stomach muscles and wide chiseled shoulders. The giant bodyguard's arms looked as large and muscular as a normal seaman's legs. He once won a wager by crushing an apple in the crook of his elbow.

His expansive hairy chest couldn't hide the hard sculptured chest or his roughhewed back muscles. It was obvious the gigantic bodyguard worked on keeping physically fit. It was little known that Hugh had started his adulthood as a bare-knuckles boxer and sparred at least twice a week to retain his skills.

The dark man's physical display impressed everyone, but the slow-witted challenger, who had been egged on into this contest by the other members of the crew, who wanted to take this landlubber down a few pegs. They had no idea how much trouble they got the poor fellow into.

The gigantic sailor stepped forward and swung wildly at the skilled bodyguard who easily sidestepped the clumsy blow and hooked a left into the bigger man's gut. With the bigger opponent's momentum moving forward the punch to the stomach forced all the air from the huge man's lungs.

Hugh could have clubbed the man unconscious, but that would have been unsportsmanlike and not proven his point. So the experienced boxer allowed the brute to recover his wind. At that moment with the Captain supporting her Lady Ravenhill arrived on deck shouting, "What the hell is going on?"

Hugh smiled as he replied, "Milady, I am instructing this gentleman in the manly arts and persuading his fellows to respect the presence of Ladies in their midst."

The intelligent American didn't need a translator to understand that her bodyguard was inforcing his will upon the crew in order to establish a hierarchy with him and his Lady at the top of it. So without any further preamble, the savvy Texan exclaimed, "Okay! I have five to one on my man. I will take bets up to half your bonus. Do I have any takers?"

The men wanted desperately to back their fellow crewmember and five to one odds was very tempting, but everyone had seen how Hugh had taken their man down with a single blow and had no faith in his ability to do any better. Seeing that no one was going to take a chance, Lady Jane announced, "Well, how about ten to one. Do I have any takers at ten to one?"

The big man who had been fighting announced, "I will bet ten pounds on myself."

With that every member of the crew came forward making their bets, ranging from a single pound to ten pounds, which was the maximum wager allowed. The courageous Texan had taken over two pounds in bets and stood to lose 200 pounds. When the last bet was made, the sharp brunette announced, "For the fighters I have a purse of 50 pounds to the winner and 10 to the loser… London Prize Fighting Rules… any knockdown ends a round and each opponent has one minute to toe the mark for the next round… any questions? Then let the fighters toe the mark for the first round."

With her ladyship acting as referee, the two big men walked up the chalk mark that Jane had drawn on the floor and when each man's right foot touched the mark the two men threw a punch. Hugh blocked the larger man's wide attempt at a hook with his left arm while curling an uppercut into the man's chest.

The solid blow caused the clumsy giant's heart to miss a couple beats, which staggered him backwards. The effient bodyguard followed the retreating man and connected with a sharp left jab to the face, breaking his bulbous nose. While blood gushed out of the man's nose, Hugh chopped him to the ground with a clubbing right to the jaw.

When the bigger fighter hit the floor the round ended and the two opponents went to stools away from each other. Hugh hadn't seen stools arrive, but he knew Lady Jane was responsible for them. While the big sailor staggered back to his stool, Hugh slyly glided to his, where the Captain was waiting with a bucket of water and a clean towel. Where the Lady had gotten two clean towels in the middle of the ocean was a mystery the experience fighter vowed to find out.

Hugh sauntered up the line like he was going to dinner and toed the mark impatiently. Meanwhile his opponent, still a bit dazed and bleeding from his nose had to be helped from the chair. As the giant old salt staggered to the mark, Jane looked at her bodyguard that told him to keep this going longer.

So to end the round quickly and not do much more damage, the experienced fighter hooked the larger man under his arm and flipped him to the ground over his hip. The flying mare, as the move was called, flopped the injured sailor to the ground ending the round.

The jarring blow winded the man a bit, but did less damage than hitting him. Though the wounded fighter was slow in getting up his head was clearing and he was getting some of his strength back. The minute rest between rounds aided the sailor, while it also gave his second a chance to stop his nose from bleeding.

When the two combatants toed the line a third time, Hugh fainted a blow to the man's chest while the large inexperienced boxer swung a strong hook to the shoulder. The experienced boxer saw the blow coming but let it jar him which gave him the opportunity to drop to the floor ending the round.

Hugh faked a stagger back to his stool in order to fool his opponent into thinking he was injured, but the savvy bodyguard was just setting the man up for the beating he was going to take in this round. It was time to stop toying with the brute and end this fight before the man was seriously injured. The Lady and her bodyguard had made their point. They were in charge, not the crew or their officers.

Meantime the huge sailor was smiling to his fellows and winking at them reassuring their bets. Several of the sailors who had not wagered their maximum did so now. Jane advised them against their bets though they took this to mean she was no longer confident in her boxer, so they insisted. The cagey noblewoman shrugged her shoulders in defeat and smiled with a brief wink to Hugh, which was his signal to end the fight as quickly as he could.

Both men swaggered to the mark on the deck. Before the expert pugilist touch the mark with his foot, he said, "Quit now or take a beating from which you will be slow to recover."

The big man took this to be the scared ramblings from a man afraid he was going to lose and only signal his opponent to toe the line. Reluctantly Hugh toed the mark and simultaneously sent a short sharp left jab to the stunned combatant's face smashing his damaged nose and spraying blood everywhere.

The jolted fighter used his fists to cover his face from further damage, which allow his opponent to send rapid rights and lefts to the sailor's exposed abdomen. The experience seaman's torso was hard and muscular from days of hard labor, but the punches to his chest and stomach were jolting his internal organs and he was having difficulty breathing and his heart was slowing its blood flow.

The damaged fighter was losing focus and his head was beginning to hurt and his thinking was foggy. Not knowing what else to do and not wanting anymore blows to his body, the weakening warrior tried to push his opponent away.

Hugh had been waiting for this moment and took advantage of it. While taking a step back faking a retreat, he hooked a short right to the man's temple further stunning his mind and making him see flashes of bright light. The experienced fighter followed this blow with a left upper cut to the chin, which lifted the bigger man to his toes and exposing his jaw to the left hook that broke it.

The damage big man grumbled to the ground in agony. His fellow seamen shouted their encouragement for the man to get up, but the man was too wounded to think of anything getting help to relieve his pain. Unable to talk and too injured to do anything else, the wounded warrior waved his hands in defeat and a plead for help.

Rose rushed forward to tend to the wounded man. Hugh and Jane looked about at the stunned crew with a look of conquest on their faces. The sailors now knew who was in control.

***SE***

Rose treated the wounded man's injuries with care and skill. The ship's doctor, a surly man and not a real surgeon, just a man experienced with treating common seafaring accidents and diseases, approached the skilled nurse and started helping her by treating the twice broken nose, while the young woman treated the much more serious broken jaw.

The crew watched all the care and compassion shown to their fellow shipmate and were moved to shame. The crass sailors who had made the lewd comments were embarrassed and blushed at their common guilt. None of this registered with the preoccupied nuse as she continued on her task of repairing the damaged big man. After resetting his jaw and tying it shut with cloth and twine, she quickly moved on to bathing his bruises with fresh salt wat, which his fellow seamen fetched for her. It seemed to soothe his painful bruises a bit.

The young nurse explained, "You cannot eat anything but broth and soft food that require chewing. You cannot talk, chew, or move that jaw in anyway until it heals in about six weeks. If you do, you will do permanent damage that could make it painful for you to talk or eat for the rest of your life. Now for two weeks all I want you eating is a little broth with some bits of rice in it.

Then for another two weeks I want you eating creamy mush that is almost liquid in consistency. Then for the final two weeks you can eat rice and bread soak in milk or broth. I don't think we have any cows so milk might not be available. I will check on you when my duties allow me to. The Baroness is my primary responsibility.

Doctor, I charge you with seeing that his dietary needs are taken care of and that his bandages are tightened three times a day. They will loosen and must be tighten as often as possible to keep his jaw from sagging and reinjuring him.

I am sorry for your pain and for the injuries you sustained on my behalf. Please forgive me!"

The compassionate young nurse was reduced to tears because of the guilt she felt for being the catalyst of such brutality. The crew were further shamed, because the young lady who had been offended was apologizing to them for the pain inflected on their fellow shipmate due to their rudeness and egging the big man on to fight.

One of the crew, who had made many of the rude remarks stepped forward and said meekly, "Milady, ye ain't got nuttin' to be surry fer. We'uns the ones that said what we said and war in the wrong fer it. Every man jack here has taken far worst than this fer fah less reason to larn a lesson. I recon we all needed a beat down to larn her.

I speak fer every tar on this here ship when I say, war the ones that ere surry for bein' jackarses, I beg yar pardon mum, but thar taint another word fer what we war. So I say war surry we war such arses to ya."

Every member of the crew voiced their agreement with the apology and verbalized their own apologies with murmurs of 'beggin' yar pardon, mum', 'surry mum', 'I apologize' or simply 'surry.' There words were almost simultaneous, but totally heartfelt.

No longer able to repress the emotions surging in her, the confused red-head mildy responded, "If you accept my apology then I'll accept yours."

With that said the humble young woman responded excused herself and hurried to the safety of her cabin below deck.

***SE***

Lady Ravenhill was sitting in the small wooden chair in her young nurse small cabin. The surprised young lady asked, "Milady, why do I hav e the pleasure of your visit."

The experienced leader responded politely, "You're angry at me and Hugh for than man's injuries and you are wrong to do so. We had to beat down the opposition in the ground or we would have lost control of tis crew.

You have to understand the brute was a set up by the disgruntled of the crew. The big man was not very bright and easy led astray. Those crew members didn't care much for our new rules or the change in ships. So several of those discontented crew members convinced that huge man that we were a threat to the crew and they hoped their champion could best mine.

You have to understand that when we forced the crew to change ships without any warning, they were removed from their familiar and comfortable environment, which upset them and made them a little resentful. So they thought to teach us a lesson and to show who had control.

So you see, it had nothing to do with you. If it hadn't been you, they would have found another reason to force the fight. However you played your role well. Your compassion and skill won them over. Now you can go anywhere you want on this ship and have an entire crew of bodyguards."

The young woman was confused for a second then the brunette noblewoman's words registered and she asked, "Did you and Hugh plan on this?"

The tall Texan smiled, "Yes and no. We knew with me ailing there would be a challenge of some kind. So we discussed what we would do if something like this happened. I made a point to include the entire crew in the beat down by causing them to lose half their bonus betting on their champion. Now they have been beaten and owe me half their bonus. I'm going to think of a way for them to get their money back and still keep their pride."

The bright young woman needed her acceptance of the need to do what was done, but the brutality of the beating still haunted her as she said, "I don't know if I can see Hugh in the same way. He seemed like such a kind and gentle soul. Now I see that he is also capable of much brutality."

The graceful noble rose from her seat and responded, "We live in a world that is brutal and cold for the most part. For there to be any place for the kind and passionate, the brutal must match cruelity with cruelity or anarchy and not law will rule the world. Hugh is kind and gentle when the situation warrants it. He is cruel and brutal when the situation warrants it. He is a good man in a bad world. You can accept that or not. It is up to you."

Without another exchange between the two women, Lady Ravenhill vanished from the room.

***SE***

Two weeks later, Countess Isles is sitting at her desk going over the accounts from the latest political dinner party held by Baroness Martine with no idea Jane was on her way to France by the fastest way possible. The parties were expensive, but Her Majesty the Queen was paying expenses when it involved French political officials.

Rarely did they glean any information from the politicians themselves. The gold mine of information came in the drawing room where the Ladies mingled drinking their sherry following dinner. The men withdrew to the library where they talked of what men talked about, but the women in the drawing room talked of nothing but their trials and tribulations with their husbands and their children.

During these conversations, the Baroness and her mentor were privy to all types and forms of gossip and hearsay. All the information had to be verified using other sources, but most of it turned into valuable material to send home to England.

It isn't to say noting was gleaned from the men in the drawing room. The butler was there to serve to the needs of his Lady's guests and to overhear any talk of politics by the men, who felt free to talk as there were only other French officials in the room. No one ever noticed the servants. After all they were only there to serve.

After looking over the accounts, Her Grace started going over the latest intelligence gathered from the party. Melody had a terrific memory and made many notes immediately following the party, as did the servants. Only the Countess left making notes the following day, as her eidetic memory needed no paper or pen to remember what was said word for word the following morning.

After sorting and cataloguing the latest data, the blonde Countess wrote an incrypted letter to Her Royal Highness informing her of what intelligence was gathered and what she thought it all meant. As with her father, the intuitive young woman made a couple of predictions. One being with the reorganization of the Texas Rangers, Maximillian would move his attention to Mexico and Central America.

After completing the letter to Her Majesty, Her Grace rang for a servant to come and post the message. With the arrival of the servant came the arrival of the Lady Martine and her concubine, Georgina. Georgina by protocol allowed her lover to sit first. Then the loving servant took her place next to her Lady.

Melody asked, "Your Grace, it has come to my attention through a young man who had been trying to impress me that an ambassador for Maximillian is arriving from the Americas in two to three weeks with a progress report on his activities and a state of affairs there. Do you think it is time for another dinner party in four weeks time?"

Melody had several young men eager to please her in hopes they will be selected to be the next Baron Martine. They had no idea of Melody's sexual leanings and had no chance at achieving their goals. However they were given hope constantly by Melody and the servants so they would continue to feed her information in their attempts to show how important they were.

So the wily noblewoman responded, "A dinner part would look too suspicious so soon after the last one. I suggest a ball for La Fête Nationale, known in England as Bastille Day. It is in five weeks on Thursday, July 14. I think we can throw something together in five weeks that will attract every French noble and bureaucrat in France.

To make it further attractive, I think we should have the Earl of Derby in attendance. I'm sure Her Majesty can persuade him to attend our little get together after all the former Prime Minister and head of the opposition should be interested in the positions of the French government."

Melody thought for a moment trying to ascertain the real reason behind the Prime Minister's attendance; then it came to her as she asked, "Are trying to distract the Earl so as to help Lord Aberdeen by distracting his opposition. I know you have no love of Derby or Malmesbury in their ideas on foreign policy. I know their ideas of getting men like Louis-Napoleon to buckle under the pressure of economic isolation is dangerous, but isn't it equally dangerous to have such men in this house for a couple of weeks. They might learn some things we do not wish known."

The Countess smiled as she responded, "They will learn nothing we do not want them to learn and will learn little of what we want them to know. This idea of the Concert of Europe is ridiculous. With men like Louis-Napoleon, Fredrick William and Franz Joseph in power, economics will never rule. With their large armies, all they care about is the length of their manhood.

I will welcome the day when large armies are not needed, but as long as ambitious men exist, good must take up the sword to defend the innocent. Most of the leaders in Europe are short-sighted, self-absorbed men who care nothing for those they rule. I am a pragmatist and I know as Edmund Burke once said, 'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.'

I will not do 'nothing'. Derby and Malmesbury are well intentioned and as we know the road to hell is paved by good intentions. No amount of economic pressure will prevent men like the EMPERIOR Napoleon III, KING Franz Joseph of Austria and KING Fredrick William of Prussia from using their armies to enforce their will and private agendas."

Melody had heard these lectures before and was used to her mother's rantings about the monarchs of Europe. Save for her own Queen Victoria, the intelligent noblewoman had little use for any monarch and was a firm proponent of democracy and representative rule. So the inexperience Baroness replied, "I know you are right, but there is little we can do to change the face of Europe at a dinner party. However, all we can do will be undone if our private lives are examined too closely. You know we will lose the support of Her Majesty were she to discover our personal preferences for lovers."

The Countess smiled as she replied, "You do not have to worry about that, we will be discrete and no one will find out anything. Beside they are going to be too busy trying to recruit you to spy on me for them to worry about who is your bedmate.

You see we are going to have some very public disagreements on the validity of their theories and you are going to take their side while I argue against them. They will of course want to seduce you to their side and use you to ferret out my plans. You of course will feed them false information that will appear to be genuine, thus poisoning the well."

Melody laughed as she enjoined, "Jane rubbed off on you… two very American expressions in one sentence. I see your plan. Won't the Emperor hear of our disagreements and want to recruit me as well?"

Countess Isles laughed as well as she answered, "Yes, he will. While Jane has rubbed off on me. I appear to have rubbed off on you. It would not hurt to flirt a bit with Malmesbury. He is a bit of a rogue and it will be convenient having him think with the wrong part of his anatomy."

Melody frowned and said indigently, "I will not sleep with a man for any reason. The very idea is repugnant."

Maura laughed so hard she had to catch her breath, "I said flirt not seduce. I want him enflamed not sedate."

Melody nodded and the lovely noblewoman winked.

***SE***

Jane now walked the deck as she had done on her first trip to England, enjoying the fresh air and sea spray. The tall Texan was anxious about so many things of which she had no control. How was her company faring without her? Were they staying on the job or were they going their separate ways?

What were the Comanche and Kiowa doing in her absence; after all it was her reputation that made both tribes make their peace over their buffalo grounds? How were Pa and the boys doing? Were they having any trouble making her promised beef deliveries?

Were they going to bet that damned letter to France or was she wasting her time? Would they cross paths somewhere in the Atlantic? All these questions and more were running through her head as she wrestled with the answers, both good and bad.

The observant veteran Indian fighter watched Rose and Hugh walk shoulder to shoulder across the deck talking about things couples discussed when they were enjoying each other's company. Occasionally Rose would rock ackwardly against a large wave and fall into the dark Welshman. Jane knew for a fact that girl was as nimble as mountain goat and would never have such a balance problem. It made her laugh inside; women were very sly in their dealings with men.

Then the young Texan recalled some of her walks with Maura and remember many a fall in which the experienced tracker had been forced to catch the tumbling noblewomen. Suddenly it was obvious to wily American it wasn't just men women in which they used the tactic. A smile crossed her face as the duped brunette thought of how she had been deceived.

As Rose laughed at some supposed joke from the normally humorless Welshman, one of the crew came to to the comtemplating noblewoman and said, "Milady, the Captain's complements, but he'd like a word witcha. Thar be atrouble brewing to the Southeast."

The suddenly anxious pragmatist called out, "Hugh, get Rose below and meet me on the quarterdeck. Something is wrong and the Captain is going to explain it to me."

Hugh picked up the young nurse in his huge arms and rushed her toward the cabins, while Jane followed the bosun to the quarterdeck to meet with the Captain. Once on the quarterdeck the veteran seafarer offered the savvy brunette his telescope. The intelligent young Texan took the glass and looked to the indicated southeastern direction and saw what was causing the commotion.

A mass of clouds was closing in on them and from the circular patterns of the rotating clouds, it was a hurricane and it was headed north northwest. As the ship was sailing in an almost eastern direction, the two were going to collide. The Captain volunteered, "We'll be ahittin her in bout eighteen hours give or take."

The concern noblewoman asked for direction, "What are our options, Captain?"

The experience seaman outlined their choices, "One, we kin continue on course and ride out the storm as best we kin. We've a good ship and savvy crew, so our chances be good. Two, we could steer due south and let the storm pass us to the north, but that'da mean skirtin the South American and Aftican coasts and costing us a week or more. Three we could steer due north and let the storm pass us to port. Then turn to the southeast and would only cost us three or four days. However, we'd be takin the chance of havin the storm change course and smack us good. Fourth we could head to port at Bermuda ride out the storm at anchor thar. That would cost us only two days and five us a chance to resupply."

To stall for time to make her decision, Jane asked, "What is your recommendation, Captain?"

The cautious seafarer didn't hesitate as he replied, "I'd head for Bermuda and ride it out thar. Tis the least costly in time and we mighten ketch the Island Song thar waitin fer us. Twould be logical fer her to run fer port too."

Jane had considered the fact the ship they were chasing might also run afoul of the storm, but the odds were that ship was well north of here on its way to England and well out of the storm's reach. Time is not on their side. Two days might be the difference between getting to France ahead of that letter or having to catch Maura racing to America.

Hugh arrived to hear the Captain's suggestion and knew his Lady's mind as he responded, "Captain, the Lady does not have two days to spare. However, Lady if we are lost at sea then we will accomplish nothing, but confirm the Countess's fears. She will still rush to Texas and find nothing. She will comb the Atlantic and find no trace of us and that will kill her as if you shot her through the heart."

Every fiber of her being told the bold Texan that going forward was the best option, but Hugh was equally right she had an obligation to get to France alive and not cause her love the pain of her death. Finally giving in to the obvious she announced, "We go to Bermuda."

***SE***

Three weeks following her letter to Her Majesty, the Queen replied:

My Dearest Countess,

We welcome your suggestions and think a trip to France by the former Prime Minister and his aide would be both beneficial and enlightening for all parties concerned. Direct negotiations between Our government and the Emperor's should be advantageous to both parties.

We are saddened to hear about the rift between your adoptive daughter and yourself. We know how trying being a mother can be. We can only hope that a measure of reconciliation can occur from the negotiations that are about to take place.

Lords Derby and Malmesbury are arriving with their wives on or about June 29th, which will give you ample time to educate them on the situation in France. Please give the Lords the attention due their station and ensure that the negotiations with the French meet our expectations.

Sincerely yours,

Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland

The Countess handed her protégé the letter and asked, "What do you think?"

Lady Martine took the letter and read it closely and then said after a moment's thought, "Her Royal Highness is afraid her correspondence is being read. The Queen is being very coy and cryptic about what she is saying. Her Highness's first paragraph indicates your plan meets her approval. Since I know you told Her Majesty the entire plan in a coded message, Her Highness has given you carte blanche in the matter. The capital 'O' in our means Her Majesty wants the negotiations to stress Her Highness's position and not their Lordships.

I know you told Her Royal Highness that our rift is a charade to place in position to spy on the opposition, so by going along with the charade Her Majesty is approving the idea and is telling whoever is reading Her Highness's correspondence about the rift in order to advance its purpose. However Her Majesty doesn't want the rift to compromise the overall mission and suggests that should the rift become unprofitable, we use the negotiations to terminate it.

Lastly, Her Majesty has sent the wives so we may glean information from them through gossip and rumor. The comment about their station is to remind you they are not to be trusted with Her Majesty's thoughts on the matter."

Countess Isles applauded the effort and responded, "All most everything…however by not sending the message in code indicates Her Royal Highness knows exactly who is reading her letters and wanted the message intercepted. Additionally Her Majesty has given the men private messages from Her Highness to the French Emperor and the men have no idea what is in those messages. Lastly the Ladies are here to spy on you and I to ascertain who our romantic interests. The two Ladies will be questioning the staff and the local populace to see who has our hearts. Her Highness is worried we might be sidetracked by some Frenchman and could give away something we did not intend to give away."

The beautiful blonde smiled as she released her held breath and replied, "You must show me how you got all that from this message."

Maura chuckled, "I didn't get that from this message. I got it from my spy in the palace and my spies in their Lordship's households. I think it's time I started letting you read through the reports I get from our network of spies and informers.

Right now, you need to talk to the staff and remind them of their dury to us. Additionally you'll need to go and talk to the local leaders and remind them that they are Frenchmen and need not speak to any visiting English Ladies. Suggest the prosperity of the region depends on them keeping your secrets."

The Countess handed the Baroness a large folder of papers and said, "The reports you need to study and I want a detailed analysis on my desk by tomorrow afternoon and before you ask. I am testing you."

***SE***

There were several ships safely harbored in the Bay when the Lady Jane arrived in Bermuda, none of whom were the Island Song. Information from the local shipping office showed that the Island Song had reached Bermuda a week earlier and headed north-north-east in route to Swansea. The ship would be well passed the Hurricane.

After hearing that news, Lady Ravenhill regretted not heading onward and begrudged the delay making this side trip has caused. Jane, Rose and Hugh took refuge in the Governor's Mansion away from the main port. Since Bermuda was a territory of Great Britain a permenant governor was in residence on the island. Sir Charles Elliot was more than pleased to entertain such a famous personage as Lady Jane Ravenhill.

The former seaman was a personal friend of Countess Isles's lat father and had had dinner at the former sea captain's manor in Swansea many times and was happy to tell all the tale tells he knew about the man. Sir Charles owed much of his fortune to Isles Shipping. When Lord Isles was raising financing for his first venture, Sir Charles was one of his investors.

His small holdings in the company had multiplied over the years and now the career diplomat was worth in excess of a hundred thousand pounds. When the former sailor was Administer of Hong Kong, he had many dealings with Isles Shipping and knew a lot of the situation in the Far East.

Lady Jane made a mental to remember every detail of this conversation so she could relay the information to her girlfriend. When Sir Charles mention an expedition by Admiral Perry to Japan a year earlier which opened trade from that country to the United States. Jane's interest was peaked. Wondering if there was any way her family could profit from the opening market.

In an effort to establish what trade goods would be most profitable and how she could establish a trade partnership with other Americans. So the ambitious Texan asked, "Sir Charles, what sort of goods do the Japanese require?"

The former administrator answered simply, "They finished manufactured goods like clocks, watches, glassware and especially firearms. Modern rifles and cannons bring premium prices. However there is a great commercial market for clocks and watches. They also like any kind of new technology like mechanical toys, bullseye lanterns and bicycles. They can use some raw materials."

The intelligent young woman queried, "Which raw materials?"

The elegant Englishman responded, "They love sugar and rice and it is my understanding you have access to large quantities of both commodities, though if I were you I would trade your raw materials for finished products from England, France and Switzerland.

Then you could trade for Japanese silver and buy tea in China to sell in England. The profits are tremendous. However you need ships at least four, though ten is optimum. You see you need that many to be operating in different areas of Asia at different times and the Pacific crossing is much more difficult that the Atlantic crossing."

Hugh interrupted the conversation as he interjected, "Milady, the Countess has over a score of ships that sail the triangle. I'm sure she would welcome your cargo to ply the silver from the Japanese and the tea from the Chinese. After all a partnership with you would mean everything to her."

The innuendo was not lost on was not lost on the bright brunette as a blush forced its way into her cheeks. Their host failed to notice the redness in the young Texan's face as he agreed, "Yes, if the Countess Isles were to agree to handle your cargo it would be well handled. Her Grace has as many or more ships in her merchant fleet than Her Majesty has warships."

After his innuendo, the giant bodyguard nearly chocked on his wine as he had been taking a sip when Sir Charles mentioned the Countess handling the Baroness's cargo. Jane on the other couldn't surpress her laugh quickly enough and both Rose and Sir Charles looked at her with questioning eyes.

Following a menacing glare at the big man who had started all this, Lady Ravenhill attempted to cover her social error with, "Sorry, but your statement about the size of Her Graces's flight brought to mind a private joke between us."

A private joke between a Countess and a Baroness was something a mere knight would never dare to ask to which to be privy. So the matter of the unexpected laugh by the Baroness was dropped, but Hugh had to hide his smile behind a sip of wine from his concealing glass.

Rose knew there was something she was missing, but she was sure that there was a private exchange of jests between Hugh and the Lady Jane. The young woman felt a pang of jealous though she didn't know why. There was also something the pert nurse didn't understand about the relationship between the Countess Isles and the Baroness Ravenhill.

The intelligent redhead knew the Baroness was racing to intercept a letter that told the Countess about her injury and made it sound as if her life was in danger, which it had been at the time. The young doctor's daughter also knew that should the letter beat them to France for some reason she didn't know or understand the Countess would rush to America to her friend.

Now Rose had many friends, but there was none of them for whom she drop her life and rush to see in foreign country. The only person the young nurse had ever met she would want to see dispite any obstacle was the big Welshman. The tart redhead had come to think of the huge man as someone with whom she could spend the rest of her life.

Then it began to dawn on the innocent young woman, what if they felt the same about each other? What if the Baroness and Countess were actually lovers? The naïve nurse had heard of women who loved other women, but never expected to know any. Then the guible redhead shook her head to toss away the silly notion, after all hust a little while ago she had been jealous of the private jokes between her Hugh and the beautiful brunette.

Now Rose had other thoughts, was there something between the Baroness and her Hugh? That thought was terrifying to the inexperienced young woman. After all in the romances she had ever read when one person fell in love with another person that person fell in love as well and for the first time she had to admit to her innerself, she was in love with the giant of a Welshman.

***SE***

It wasn't until the first day of July when the Derby Party arrived from England. The Countess Isles and the Baroness Martine were there to meet the ship as well as local French officials who took this opportunity to have a very public and very advantageous gathering. A band played 'God Save the Queen' and 'La Marseillaise' before there were several speeches of welcome from every public official available.

The ship had arrived before 8 am and the final speech ended after young Baroness had arranged the entire affair in order to distract the opposition party from their true purpose in coming and that was find fault in the new Baroness Martine. The Baroness wanted to demonstrate how well she was being received by the locals and how much influence she had over them.

The idea being that if these men believed the new noblewoman was popular and well-liked by the common man and the aristocrat alike then she would appear to be more French and less American, because the sharp blonde needed to prove to them she had gone native and was more concerned with the local politics than national intrigue.

The Countess had very little to do with the planning and intrigue of the coming of the former Prime Minister. The experience noblewoman concentrated on the disturbing message from Texas that had suspiciously arrived from Texas two days earlier. Men had arrived from America with rumors that the American Baroness was missing and had vanished in the Texas wilderness.

The only thing that had kept the suddenly concern Countess from rushing to America on the next ship was the ludicrous idea that Jane Rizzoli would get lost in the wilderness. If there were one person on whom you could rely not to get lost…it was Jane Rizzoli.

Melody, knowing the unreliability of second hand information from Texas, it was the native Texan, Melody. The young woman had great instincts and had told her adoptive mother that such information was normally hogwash and poppycock. So, Her Grace compromised by having her fastest ship ready and waiting in case bad news arrived from Texas.

Nothing more was said or considered until a household spy in a prominent Frenchman's home was heard to tell another prominent bureaucrat that the Lord Maximillian was shifting his focus to Northern Mexico and the Texas City of El Paso. There was no way Maximillian was going to even consider El Paso as a target when Jane was protecting her State with her band of reinstated Texas Rangers.

So either something happened to Jane or she was too busy with something else to be watching El Paso closely. Add her previous bit of news from Texas and things were not looking good. However, Melody had convinced the powerful noblewoman to wait until the next volume of diary from her lady love.

With only a couple of days to the big event they were planning for Bastille Day, there was little the worried Countess could do but wait for word from her Jane and hope it was good news.

***SE***

The 'Ravenhill Clipper' was the newest ship in the Isles flight. Designed in Boston, Massachusetts and built in New Haven, Connecticut, this ship was fastest ship in the world. It was one of twelve ships being built in American for Isles Shipping and was the first to arrive.

The original purpose of the twelve ships was for the triangle trade of the Far East, but this ship had been commandeered by her owner to be her personal vessel and to wait in dock ready to set sail at a moments notice anywhere in the world the powerful Countess wanted to go. At the present time the ship was in ready to go to Galveston Texas and had already been outfitted and crewed with no cargo in the hold and more ships rations than were needed for twice the journey.

The honey blonde noblewoman was very worried by the limited information she was receiving and only Melody calming influence was keeping her from rushing to America. At that moment Melody came into the office and said, "Your Grace, I have some more news from Texas. I just was paid court by a young man in Lord Maximillian's office and he overheard a messenger from Texas tell his Excellency the Captain of the Texas Rangers was now a man named Jack Hays.

It seems this Hays had been Captain of the Rangers once before. There was no mention of Lady Ravenhill or any indication as to why the change was made. I know you are going to want and run off to America, but there can be a hundred reasons why Lady Jane would have resigned or been replaced. Number one reason could be the Governor not wanting a woman in charge of his Rangers."

The suddenly very concerned honey blonde said, "We need to find out more information before I go insane. I will hold off until we get word from Jane or Hugh, but if I do not like their message I will be going to America on the 'Ravenhill Clipper.' I will give it until after the ball and if I don't have word from either Hugh or Jane; I am headed to Galveston with or without word."

The Lady Martine tried to quiet her adopted mother by reminding her, "Your Grace, Lady Ravenhill is quite capable of taking care of herself. I think you should give her a chance to explain everything to you. Why don't you wait until the next diary from Texas?"

The anxious young noblewoman nodded her agreement and replied, "You are correct for the time being. However if there is even a hint of anything wrong with Jane and I will be on the that ship. Do we understand each other?"

This time it was the Baroness's turn to nod her agreement.

***SE***

The Lady Jane lost two days in Bermuda. The hurricane had brushed the exposed island with just its most northern portions. The winds and seas were barely above normal, though the Governor assure the anxious noblewoman the winds and seas to the South would have destroyed her vessel and guaranteed her Captain did the right thing.

Jane knew this was correct in her head, but her heart shouted its protests over the lost time. The concerned Texan knew if that letter arrived ahead of her, the pain to her lover would be devastating and not easily mended. Besides the worried warrior knew she would have to catch the young English noblewoman before she could mend anything.

By the time the swift vessel was underway, the dark brunette was beyond nervous; she was barking orders and making her anxiety known to every man who took a second more than he needed to perform any task. Hugh finally had to take his Lady by the arm and escort her below decks.

Jane nearly decapitated her good friend for his interference, but let his cooler head have the victory. The big man said calmly, "Milady, the lads will get the job done faster and more efficiently without our interference. Don't you think?"

The tall American sighed her agreement and went to her stateroom to write everything she could remember about her conversations with the Governor in one of her diaries. After all the sharp businesswoman didn't want to forget a single comment, because in her heart she knew there was a fortune to be made from the man's ramblings.

***SE***

Bastille Day was greeted by a fireworks display over the small village at precisely nine a. m. The villagers and workers making the Baroness's Ball a success were boostered by the display and smiled at the excitement it generated. The Countess didn't notice a single explosion as she poured over every missive and message looking for clues about the welfare of her Jane.

An anxious Georgina arrived at that moment to inform Her Grace, "Your Grace, two of your ships were spotted about four hours to sea. One were the Lady Jane."

With those words all was forgotten and the anxious Countess was out of her seat and leaving the house before a single servant could react to her actions.

***SE***

The Captain of the Lady Jane shouted, "Milady, we have her two points off the bow about an hour ahead of us. They are not answering our hails."

The concerned brunette looked coldly at her subordinate and said evenly, "If she doesn't respond to our hails then we need to get her attention. I will see that ship at the bottom of the Ocean before I will let it deliver its message. Ready the forward guns. The bow chasers should get their attention."

The Captain saluted and off to give the proper orders and to insure the guns missed the other ship properly. After all, it was a fellow Isles ship.

***SE***

The excited honey blonde Countess ordered her carriage to be brought immediately. Luckly the coach had been readied for the day's festivities and was hitched and prepared. The suddenly very frightened noblewoman jumped into her carriage and ordered it to the docks at its fastest speed.

***SE***

The second ship wasn't really paying any attention to its surroundings as it was concentrating on entering the busy harbor, when two projectiles landed in the Atlantic on either side of its bow. At that moment its officers looked back to see who was shooting at them, when they spotted the hails. Once translated the ship's Captain ordered, "Curl the sails and heave to. Prepare for important visitors."

***SE***

Countess Isles was restless as she shifted in her seat in the coach looking for a comfortable position while she road to meet the personal ship of her girlfriend. If the Lady Jane was coming into port it wasn't good, because their plan called for Jane to settle things in Texas, so they could be together on the American Frontier beyond societal prejudices. In nervous anticipation of getting some sort of news from her lover, the honey blonde noblewoman banged on the coach roof demanding, "Faster driver I want to get there today not next week."

The normally sensitive young woman knew she was wrong, but her apprehension was taking its toll and she was terrified about the news on that ship. Scenario after scenario ran through her head as the uneasy Countess rode on toward the dock. Each thought was more gruesome than the previous one. Every scenario was frightening and grisly and made the young woman more and more apprehensive about the news on that ship.

For all the good Countess knew her Jane could be buried in some lonely grave in West Texas and the thought of it was tearing her apart. Suddenly the carriage came to an abrupt halt and the concerned noblewoman shouted, "What is wrong, driver? Are we at the dock or has something happened?"

The worried coachman responded, "Your Grace, a cart has broken down on the main road and its cargo blocks the entire roadway. There's no way around the problem. The man is trying to recover his cargo, but his cart's axle is broken and he can't move it when he gets all his cargo."

The suddenly angry and powerful noblewoman jumped out of the carriage and looked around and saw many of the villagers just going about their own business and offering no help to the struggling trader. The irate young woman ordered the milling villagers, "Everyone stop what you are doing and get this road clear. I do not care if you have to lift the cart up and carry it off the road. You have ten minutes before I get soldiers down here to do for you and I swear I will make each of you pay a fine to cover the expense."

The villagers had never seen the young noblewoman like this. They had never experienced the Countess at her command mode. Years of experience at commanding others had made it easy for the young teenager. The Countess had been commanding people for years and her charismatic bearing showed it.

Men and women stopped what they were doing and started doing as they were commanded. No one was upset at the Countess, it was her right. However when the eager noblewoman got back in her carriage, she felt a moment of guilt at being so harsh. It wasn't in her nature, but the noble Countess needed that mess cleared and they were the ones that were available to do it.