Capt. Sterling

Two days of Birthday celebrations?!?! Must be nice! Have fun and we shall postpone the church for now...

Sterling left Aurore safely tucked away at the Booksellers'. He would have made his way back out into the streets sooner, but her sweet kisses drew him constantly back for yet another one. So it was with grim determination that he finally exited the shop. His mind raced with the question of where to go next. It would be easiest to make his way back to the jeweler and fetch the charming broach that would do well with Aurore's new gown on the morrow. Or perhaps to make his way to call upon Lilly McKinney to see if she was aware of Darnly's latest ploy to get her to return to him. He quickly thought better of that. Knowing how she had allowed their child to fall under the control of such a monster... he was likely to kill her. Beside if Aurore found out he had gone to see the actress alone, without someone like Sabastian to accompany him, it would surely upset her. It simply would not do. His thoughts focused on Lilly ....no, he was much too angry with her at the moment. He could of course see to the Archangel's move out into the harbour. Child's play, he scoffed. His crewe was certainly able to handle it without him having to baby sit their every action... no, there was one thing left for him to do... The Shippe was not too far away...for some strange reason he found himself already heading in that direction.

depressed

"Clumsy fool!" Sterling shouted after Burke as he disappeared around a near corner. He brushed off the non-existant mess from his coat, adjusted the soaken garment, then offered his arm once again to Aurore. "The Shippe, is it," he muttered under his breath. "Come along Chere. I wish to see ye back to the shop. It will give ye some time to gather yer things for tonight. Yer brother wishes ye to have someone to see to ye while yer aboard. I have an .... errand to run and will be back shortly to fetch ye. Oh, and send word to Mr. Dogge, if ye please. Once the Angel is anchored in the harbour, have him send in the boat."

base

Sterling next turned to Hazzards. “Matthew be so kind as to hunt down Doctor Reiley. God only knows where the bloody hell he has managed to get himself lost. I thought I gave him strict instructions to stay put over at the Nag’s Head. Make sure he has his medical paraphernalia together and get him on the ‘Angel…preferably before Mr. Straw and Mr. Timmins moves her out to anchor. Then find me Tess St. Clair. I want to know what she is up to and where she is lodging. I still find it hard to believe she is so deeply involved in all this, still .. Despite her conceit, she was a tad cleverer than most. As to Mistress McKinney have her watched. If I post another guard at her door, I fear she will try and slip away into hiding or flee the Port completely.” He paused for a breath before he continued. “I must away back to the Bookseller’s, I have given my word to Monsieur Devareaux that I would collect some one to tend to Mistress Devareaux whilst onboard this evening. Is all clear then?” “Aye, aye, sir,” Hazzards said. Bowing he left the couple.

fiddle

"So says Captain Striker," Sterling answered. He sat back slightly in his chair, still his back did not come in contact with it. "Well enough Chere," Sterling said. "Methinks I am quiet certain of what needs doing now." He stood, Hazzards doing likewise and March moving in closer to aid when and if necessary. Sterling held his hand out to Aurore and guided her to her feet before he addressed those that remained about the table once more. He dipped in a slight bow. "Captain Striker, gentlemen, lady," he said with a nod to Striker's woman. "I think I have more than enough information to aid in any future decisions. I am grateful to ye Captain Striker for all that ye have put yerself through to take the time to speak with me, I wish ye well with yer injury... and to ye Mr. Roberts for such confirmation as ye have provided." He turned to Ioan and offered his hand. "And to ye as well." When farewells were ended, he offered his arm once more to Aurore. "Ah, least I forget, Captain Striker, if ye and your good lady would so choose, I would extend an invitation to ye to attend us at the Church tomorrow at noon. Mistress Devareaux and I shall be getting married." Once more leave was taken. As Archangel entourage cleared the barroom, Sterling let go Aurore and turned quickly to March. "That Roberts fellow... go back inside later and give him this," Sterling said passing the Guinea to his first officer. "But be weary of that Welshman, Ioan is it?... He is far too helpful. Then, if Mr. Roberts be willing, give him this as well..." He pressed another Guinea into the first officer's palm. "He's been on the Rakehell twice... ask him how much he would like to go back and find out what they are hiding."

Sterling righted himself, his hand slipping out from under his coat and moving to the table top as he braced himself upon his elbow. “Quickly then Mr. Roberts…It be most evident that ye not be in the body snatching business as there be no college of physicians in Jamaica, and ye claim, says ye, that ye found Killingsworth very much alive, though worse for wear. Tell me, sir, how come Killingsworth to die after ye laid hands on him and where might I be finding this Lady St. Claire?”

desolate

Sterling’s gaze quickly shifted from the new man at the table to Ioan. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly before he looked aside to his betrothed. Ioan’s sudden interest to be of assistance made Sterling cautious to rely on what he had to say, especially after the Guinea had been produced and offered not to him but to Roberts. Coin always had a way of facilitating the loosening of some people’s tongues. The question was how much of it was truth? Sterling gave another nod of his head to his first lieutenant. Roberts was being helpful enough and obviously did not need any sort of assistance. But when March lingered in place behind Roberts a few moments longer, Sterling straightened a bit, his hand once more delving, this time under his coat to the small of his back. He paused as March moved around the table and leaned down close to his captain’s ear. Sterling cocked his head slightly, the curls of the long brown wig concealing March’s lips as he whispered. “Sir, there is a man behind ye to yer left. He has taken too keen an interest in our conversation. Tis the Guinea, Sir, that has caught his eye. He is not Le Cour folk.”

yawn

nap

milk

A moment of thought and Sterling gently freed his good hand from Aurore's. Searching through his pocket he finally settled fingers on smooth form. "The Rakehell's captain was holding Killingsworth? He was still alive then at that point? So was Killingsworth the item being hidden or.." Sterling said, his fingers closing about the object in his pocket. He pulled a gold Guinea outward and placed it on the table surface. With one finger, planted dead center of the coin, he pushed it across toward Roberts. "Or was there more than just that old sod?"

"Thou be acquainted with a Master Reginald Killingsworth....deceased. What do ye know about that?" Sterling repeated himself... Sterling gave a slight nod of his head. Mr. March's grip suddenly tightened a pace.

Sterling eyed the new arrival who was shown to Mr. March's chair. He waited as the fellow lowered himself down to the seat and Andrew March, with a shove of his leg against the back of the chair, pushed him in, all too snuggly to the edge of the table. "Mr. March?" Sterling said. "Oh I none be minding the stand, Sir," March replied, clamping his one hand firmly on the newcomer's shoulder. Sterling leaned forward slightly, still clutching Aurore's hand beneath the table. "This man here, says ye stole a certain body off of the Rakehell," Sterling began with a nod of his head toward Ioan. "Now, what might ye be wantin to tell us about that?"

pass

rope

join

Andrew March quickly rose to his feet, one hand moving about the butt of pistol tucked within his belt. "Have a care, Mr. March," Sterling said. "We do not wish to run him off." "Aye sir," March said making his way to the man Ioan had pointed out. He stood over him and looked down. "Beggin yer pardon, sir," March began. "But me good Captain Sterling be wishing ye to join him fer a drink....now."

gee my mind is a blank....yeah right... cuddle

He did not know how long he had sat regarding Striker’s next remark. It was not until he noticed his breathing had increased in pace. For a moment the proud shoulders hunched a bit before they straightened. “I know,” Sterling sighed his response. “Mistress McKinney has told me so about the child. And I could take yer warning to heart if it were not for Tess St. Claire. The only thing that woman concerns herself about is whether tis enough rice powder with which to cover her nose. How came ye by such information, Sir? For, indeed, I was once betrothed to marry Lady St. Claire, and I think she has not the mind nor the stomach for such a matter.” He looked to Ioan, his hand still held firmly in Aurore's keeping. "Is that all ye can tell me?" he whispered. "St. Clair and Killingsworth are cousins. Surely she only wants the body to bring home for burial for the family."

Vikings

Sterling's gut reaction was to laugh. Tess St. Clair, here? Of all people he thought silently to himself. Outwardly his eyes never left Striker. But as the other captain's information played about in his thoughts, Sterling's nervousness suddenly stilled and a pain, not physical but just as real took hold of him and quickly began to advance upon him. "Darnly, did ye say? He has ...my... s..." the word strangled and died in his throat. Andrew March looked across the table as his captain faltered but quickly recovered. The pipe was laid down and now hand went beneath the table's covering and clenched the support of Aurore's own. "Darnly has Mistress McKinney's child?" he repeated.