Avast!
Chapter 4
A wooden mug was thrown in the air. One quickly cocked his pistol, aimed, and fired, smashing the cup into pieces. The cheers of the men in the inn were interrupted by a sharp bark: "calm down, you drunken lot! Keep in mind that we'll need to pay for anything we brake" the men around subsided quickly in obedience. The man with the gun flashed a quick grin, saluted unsteadily with his weapon in hand and called, "aye, aye, Black!"
The man named Black sank back in his seat. Muttering "showoff" under his breath, he raised his half-filled mug to his lips and switched his attention back to the man in front of him. "So what were you saying, mate?"
James raised his own drink and emptied it in two large gulps. "Longbottom sends me to 'look' at Tom Riddle to find out if he's involved in any illegal business. The name sounds familiar for some reason"
"Hm. Tom Riddle… Tom Riddle…" Black tapped his drink absently, a frown drawn between his brows. "Didn't we ship for a certain Mr. Riddle a few months ago?"
"Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort" James nodded in remembrance. "At least one question is answered. If we worked for him, then the man is not what you'd call a transparent little gent with-"
"A poker's stick stuck up his ass! Whoop!" the man who was engaged earlier in target games, laughed as he stumbled towards their table. He wrapped his arm loosely around Black's neck and regarded James with red-filled eyes. "You're not hidin' anythin' da me, righ' cap'n?"
James smiled slightly but said only, "Go back and sit down, Remus. I'll tell you everything when you'll be in a sober condition to listen"
"Non sono ubriaco!" Remus called in indignation.
"Yes, you are" Black jerked the arm around his neck away. "You only speak Italian when you have too much to drink"
"irrisoria!"
"He's right" James said seriously. If someone took a closer look he would've seen one corner of his mouth fighting to twitch upwards. "when Remus is too drunk, he usually starts to sing '99 bottles of rum on the wall' or 'I once knew a wench named Milly. The biblical way, of course, don't be silly…'" James raised his brows in puzzlement at Black. "Why is he drunk in the first place?"
"He encountered a pair with lovely bosoms, long legs and cat-like eyes. One seduced him. The other took all his money."
"tu…" Remus muttered and shook his head slightly. "You on'y jealous 'cause I didn' invite you wi' me" he staggered away, muttering something rude in italian.
"If the chits stole all his money, who's paying for his bill?"
Black smirked and raised his mug in mock-salute. "You are"
James bit back a groan and sank back in his seat.
"How long are you going to play Longbottom's lapdog, in any case? I barely see you nowadays."
"I haven't seen you too, lately"
"I have a busy social life" Black grumbled. "With keeping the boys in line and saving your hide out of trouble"
"Did I thank you for sending someone to help me last night?"
"No."
"Good. For a scary moment, I thought I was getting softhearted with gratitude of almost being run over by a hackney"
Black smiled despite himself. "You're welcome and stop avoiding the question."
James sighed and answered quietly. "As long as it takes"
"Three reasons why, mate"
"I'll give you four." He raised his thumb in the air. "One: the ship needs repairs. Two: we need a job. Three: Longbottom's paying well for my services."
"And four?"
James gave a lopsided grin. "I met someone"
Black snorted in disbelieve "Remus met two, and look where that got him"
In the background someone started to sing off-key, "99 bottles of rum on the wall…"
Avast!
So that's how the nobs celebrate.
He leaned against a pillar in the ballroom and watched as people talked, danced, ate and reacquainted with each other. It was how the other half lived. How the other half entertained itself.
In simpler words, it was the other half of boredom.
He straightened and decided to take a fresh air outside in the balcony. It was foolish of him to accept Longbottom's invitation to this soiree. Riddle might attend this party, the letter said. And we already have a suspicious that Lord Madison, the host of the soiree, has a certain partnership with him. It'd be a good opportunity to look through Madison's possessions just to affirm this suspicious.
It sounded a good idea at first. If only Riddle actually arrived to the soiree. Or if Madison stayed in one place long enough for James to search through his office.
Now the only thing he was expecting was to go to the other room, where some green chits were supposed to walk on stage and squeak a song or drum on a poor instrument.
He might as well go out to find a tree to hang himself off.
He neared the balcony only to find out, in one glance, that it was already occupied. He cursed and turned the other direction.
"I changed my mind, Alice"
James stopped. That voice…
"But four days ago you promised to help me!"
"I can't do it! I'm not sure how to start it in the first place. What if I'll choose the wrong man? It was dark and I didn't see his features well. He could be anybody. And I can't just go after a random man like some… wanton"
James inched his way closer to the open door of the balcony. The two women were too observed in each other to notice as he slipped quietly inside and hid behind one of the tall exotic plants that stood at either side of the double doors.
He recognized both of them immediately. The dark-haired slender figure, who was dressed in a violet muslin dress, was Alice Longbottom. His gaze, though, was drawn to the other woman. Her copper hair was visible despite the darkness. She was dressed in a dark green dress with such a deep cleavage, that he was certain it was illegal.
Even if she was half surrounded by shadows he would've recognized her by her voice only. It was low and pleasant to the ear. Made you imagine her urging you breathlessly on while you kissed your way down her body…
James shut his eyes in a feeble attempt to erase that sudden picture off his mind. Lord, he was going insane. What he needed was a long cold dip in the ocean. And a willing female body. That's what happens when you go on land after spending three months sailing with twenty-five men. Your body starts to act as if he has a mind of its own.
The two women continued to argue, before Alice threw her hands in the air and walked back towards the ballroom, leaving the redhead alone. He waited a moment and then walked around the plant and shut the doors close gently.
"You must! As if I signed that agreement with my blood" the woman stood with her back to him, still unaware of his presence. He walked forward and stood behind her, watching with amusement as she continued to talk to herself. "As if I'll snap my fingers and he'll just appear!" she snapped her fingers and turned around.
And froze.
She stared at him wide-eyed for a split second before turning to look suspiciously at her fingers. "Well, that was quick" she muttered. She closed her eyes and snapped her fingers again.
He crossed his arms over his chest, one corner of his mouth twitching upwards when she opened her eyes again and looked at him. She raised her hand and flattened her palm against his heart. "So I'm not hallucinating" she said when she felt his heartbeat under her fingers.
He took her hand in his. "I'm not sure about that. You're too beautiful to be anything but an illusion" he turned her hand upside down and planted a warm kiss in the middle of her palm. Her fingers curled in response, before she snatched her hand away as if burned.
He looked at her in an unexplained satisfaction. "I see you still remember me"
"Don't flatter yourself." she glared at him. "To me, you are nothing but an uncomfortable episode which soon enough will be forgotten"
His smile had a sudden sardonic edge to it. "I forgot. I imagine you're careful to make sure he won't hear a single whisper about you"
"He? Who's-" her eyes glanced over his shoulder and widened. She turned around, grabbed the balcony's rail with both hands and leaped over it. A quick look behind him sent him jumping after her. Because of her long skirts she was a bit clumsier in straightening up, and he took advantage of it by grabbing her waist and tumbling her to the ground with him on top.
Between the balcony floor and the ground was a small space. Too small to sit straight, but high enough for two people lying side by side to be unseen by anyone.
"Have you lost your mind?" she whispered angrily. "They'll notice us!"
"No, they won't" he muttered back. "Relax and lie back" he turned on his side and, wrapping one hand around her, he dragged them closer to the wall. "Bend your knees. Make sure the hem covers your ankles"
With another glare in his direction she did as he said and then leaned back her head on the dump ground. She lay still but he didn't remove his arm from her. His other hand went towards his boot and he pulled a long and sharp dagger out of it.
Above their heads, Riddle and Madison stepped on the balcony, pulled the curtains shut and locked the double glass doors after them.
A/N: should I add a "dun, dun, dun, duuun" sound to the end? Lol. Thanks to all the reviewers of last chapter. Thanks to those who threw some ideas in my directions. I might use them in the future (after twisting and shaping them to blend in the story).
Those who wanted more J/L action, how was that for a start? The whole part of jumping over the balcony and the rest was kind of a last-minute change, so I hope you liked it.
Review!
BuDoTr
(Disclaimer: the only thing I own is this fic which was born of spending too much time reading Historical Romances. Other than that, nothing else)