Chapter Thirty-Three: Mary Takes Charge
"That was amazing!" Mary Tudor's head popped up from beneath the waves, and she pulled off her face mask with a radiant smile.
"So very beautiful," Daphne Dumont agreed, in her husky voice. The suntanned older woman reached out, stroking Mary's cheek and pushing a long, thick strand of wet hair back from her face. "There is nothing quite like the natural beauty of the coral reefs. We must work together to preserve them for future generations!"
"Oh, yes! We must work together," Mary eagerly agreed, huffing and puffing as she swam after the famous French scientist. The Tudor princess was not very athletic, and struggled to keep up. Fortunately it wasn't a long swim. Daphne's research ship, really a sleek little private yacht, was anchored just offshore.
"Now let me show you what I have in mind for the two of us." Daphne helped Mary clamber up the ladder and onto her yacht, then led her down into the warm and snug little captain's cabin. The two of them toweled each other dry, and it was great fun. Before long they were dressed in matching shorts and t-shirts, seated at a round table with cups of coffee in the ship's tiny galley.
"You see, I want to travel to every island in the Caribbean." Daphne's slim brown finger traced the route on a chart spread out between them. Her husky voice was hypnotic. While she spoke, Daphne's hand brushed Mary's and their knees touched under the table. "You and I will swim every morning with the dolphins and get a count of their numbers, and photograph the fish that crowd the coral reefs. The diversity of life is amazing. You must experience it, Mary. There are fish of every color of the rainbow!"
"Oh, I want to see it. I want to see it all!" Mary was excited by the idea of protecting the oceans and fighting against climate change. But she couldn't help picturing herself swimming by Daphne's side, drinking in all the beauty and color of the coral reefs. It would be quiet and secluded underwater, just the two of them alone. As the days drifted by there would be plenty of time to chat. They'd get to know each other, and then maybe . . . maybe . . .
A loud buzzing shattered the dreamy silence of the galley. Daphne snatched up her cell phone and began speaking rapidly in French. The language was hard to follow, but the ferocious scowl on her strong, suntanned features needed no translation.
"Is something the matter?" The Tudor princess asked, her blue eyes round with alarm. She squeezed Daphne's hand, her heart pounding like a jackhammer, her anxious nerves almost frantic.
"Merde!" Daphne didn't even see the younger woman's distress. She yanked her hand away and dialed another number. The French scientist listened tensely for a moment, and then spat the filthy curse as though expelling poison. Finally she turned to Mary with fury glowing in her dark brown eyes. "Oh, the beasts. The filthy beasts. They took everything! All I have worked for, gone!"
"Took everything? Who took everything? Daphne, I want to help! Please, please tell me what's the matter!"
The coffee pot was empty by the time Daphne finished telling her story. "And so, the institute has withdrawn all support. Someone has canceled the funding for coral reef preservation!"
"I bet I know who," Mary said, scowling into her empty cup. "It's someone who has loads of money invested in offshore drilling. Someone who doesn't want the drilling to stop!"
"Yes, without a doubt," the older woman agreed. Her dark brown eyes were full of despair. "But Mary, my sweet, what am I to do? It takes money to run this very up to date research ship . . . and my offshore lab . . . and to travel . . . and . . . oh, it is all too much!"
"They won't get away with this." Mary felt a surge of confidence as she put her hand on Daphne's knee. "I'll get your funding back. And if I can't do that, I'll get the money and back you myself!"
"You can do this?" Daphne's tearful eyes were full of new hope. "But oh, Mary, you mustn't! You are so very sweet, so wonderfully warm and brave. But you mustn't do all this for me. It is so much, oh, it is too much. I have no right to ask it of you!"
"I'm a Tudor," Mary growled, taking charge. "A king's daughter. You can count on me, Daphne. Always remember that."
"Oh, yes, I will!" The French scientist embraced Mary and kissed her lightly on each cheek. Her glowing eyes were full of gratitude. "But are you sure this is not too much for you? So much money!"
"Nothing is too much for me!" Mary threw her arms around Daphne's neck and kissed her passionately. Daphne sighed and kissed back, in a moment of complete surrender. That moment changed everything. That kiss made Mary feel as if she could take on the world.