Cheeky Actress

Lilly propped herself up on her elbow and stared down at him where he sat. "Really John, the woman... girl," she quickly corrected herself. "She is a member of a ring of thieves that appear to have a strong grip on the business end of matters here in Jamaica. Surely she can wander about the area unmolested. You have a body guard where ever you travel, thanks to her and hers. Do you truly think she would not have one as well? Or if worse came to worse, that if she did indeed feel threatened out at night, you know well enough all she need do is ask one of her people and surely they would be able to track you down in no time. John I have been to the cottage, I know well enough how her type conducts their affairs. If she truly loved you, as you like to make yourself believe, it would have been she who found you downstairs well in your cups or at least one of your babysitters!"

Lilly continued to direct Sterling toward the stairs and then, with great difficulty, up them to the room she had been given. The space was much smaller than the last room she had, had but after demolishing all the furniture within on her previous rant, she was actually not surprised. By now she could easily assume that for Sterling the room was spinning so she lead him over to the bed and sat him down. Thanks to experience, it did not take her long before they were both squared away and asleep. When the captain woke later, the room was dark. He shifted slowly, his mouth dry as dust, he found himself wishing he had yet another drink to relieve his current discomfort. Easing himself on to his side he moved closer to the warm body beside him. Pressing himself close along the actress's back, he leaned in and nuzzled the curve of her neck along her shoulder. With a surety, his hand moved about her and caressed one of her breasts, immediately he knew something was wrong. Lilly confirmed his suspicions when she mumbled ..."Not now John." With a startled yelp, Sterling scurried to the further edge of the mattress, entangling himself in the sheets and abruptly deposited himself on the hard wood floor with a thud. Lilly rolled over. "For God's sake, John, what the hell are you up to now?" "Yer not Aurore!" he stammered, his words still slightly slurring. "No," Lilly said. She sat up, her long auburn hair settling about her shoulders and breasts. "Damnation Woman! Where are yer clothes? Good God, where are mine?" Sterling sputtered. The actress rolled her eyes and with a shake of her head pointed to the chair. "It is all too hot for chemises and shirts this night," she explained as he covered himself as best he could with the sheets that had cocconed around his lower legs. "Oh for goodness sake John, you're being ridiculous! Come back to bed. It's not like I don't know what you look like. Besides, I know you, your head must be about ready to burst after what you've consumed." The shock of waking up to find himself where he was, seemed to have negated any further discomforts. He struggled to stand, then went to fetch his garments. "Where do you think you are going?" Lilly asked, settling herself back against the head board. "Home." "At this hour? Riding alone in these streets? They'll find you face down in a ditch some where, picked clean," Lilly argued as he struggled back into his breeches. "What will Aurore think?" Sterling replied. "Does it really matter?" Lilly asked. "Certainly there are many a husband with a mistress on the side. You would not be the first." Sterling shook his head. "My God, listen to yerself. Aurore loves me. I should not have done this to her." Lilly's expression soured a moment, then she leaned forward resting upon her raised knees. "Oh Johnny, don't be absurd. You were in no condition to do anything. Besides, if she loved you so much why are you here in the Port, alone, in the first place? Do you not think I don't know you and one of your black humors well enough after all this time? Drinking yourself more stupid than you already are!" He shot her an evil look, but she decided to press on. "Bloody fool, if she did love you as you claim she does, she'd be here looking for you, not home sound asleep in her own bed!" Lilly settled herself back down after giving her pillow a thumb. Pulling the sheets back around her, she watched him. He had paused at her last words and now, as she watched, he lowered his hands with his stockings, until his fingers released them and they fell to the floor. Inwardly she smiled to herself. Good, she thought, she had found a nerve and struck it hard. All was not bliss in the Sterling household after all.

The light of day now dimly faded into twilight. The sky now shown bright orange and pink while warm evening breeze swept in from the harbor. With hood, cape and vizzard, she continued to walk up the muddied street. The Boson was kind enough to succumb to her demands of being placed back on shore after an hour of her ranting which drove the poor man and half his crewe mad. She knew that she had to get back to town one last time to retrieve her possessions and to secure a voyage home to England. As Mistress Lilly made her way towards the Three Crown Inn, a man and a woman rushed by her. The man and his whore made their way to one of the much shoddy stick framed houses near the harbor. For a moment, she thought he may have recognized her, but she was mistaken. She fancied this new trend of fashion, this disguise that made her life bearable. To her, it was almost liberating knowing that she could move about towne without a care of being scene or being scene with whomever she liked. This night, she had made it a custom to dress in her dark blue gown and caplet to hide away from those who may send word back to Lord Darnly. She walked slowly through the muddied streets until she came upon the tavern. It was here she felt at ease, expressing herself and her moods freely. She opened the door slowly as the tavern owner looked up from his bar. He smiled and offered her a seat next to the fire. "Good to see you back, Lady." He whispered as he showed her to her chair. She said nothing, but only nodded at his kindness. It was then she drew from her cuff a gold coin. With a nod the tavern owner left a bottle of wine and key to his best room. As she sat and warmed herself by the fire, then paused and thought to herself about the strange talk about town. She was beginning to wonder to herself that this game of cat and mouse with Captain Sterling made her feel empowered in a strange sort of way. She fancied it...she loved to play such games. It was in her blood to be able to out-think the other's ability to win. Yes, trickery was a wonderful asset to have in life, but as long as you have the right Aponte to make it worth your while. She looked up from the fire and glanced over to the corner of the room. It was there she saw the pale skinned Captain. Her eyes took him in and discovered that he still looked and pale from too much port. He was drawn and confused from being turned our from the company of his new wife. With that thought in mind, she thought, perhaps tonight she would give chase to this gallant Captain. He sat there in the corner, as if he was watching for someone. The tavern owner came over to him and greeted him. "What will it be?" The Captain turned and looked back at the tavern owner. "More port, please...and bring the bottle." She didn't move from her chair next to the fire. Her hood covered her completely, as did her black velvet mask. It wasn't until the tavern owner approached her again, did the Captain realize that he was being watched. In the shadows, he could only make out the figure of a woman near the fire, yet sadly, he was still trying to recover from too much drink that evening. Now he sat in a darkly lit tavern feeling a bit too drunk and looking over at Mistress Lilly by the fire once more. Taking another sip of port, he looked over in her direction. His face was pale and the cold sweat from a delusional apparition still chilled him to the bone. As he filled his glass once more and lifted it to his lips, he suddenly saw the Lady turn towards him. He now noticed she wore the black Italian Moretta, which cloaked her identity. This application of discreetness was popular as it was aboard in France, Venice and Italy. In his many travels abroad he remembered seeing them worn on both woman of power and prestige and ladies of fallen grace. They became the popular fancy of those who wish to indulge in a tryst without the strings of identity and the excitement of being incognito. Being that he didn’t wish to stare, he raised his glass out of a gesture of being polite and nodded his hello. She didn’t dare move an inch when she saw him acknowledge her. Did he know who she was? She thought to herself. “How could it be that he may know who I am?” She asked herself once more as she looked back at him without a single motion. Her mind raced to think back to the ship, as he stood upon deck with his new wife next to him. No, he couldn’t know who she was, that she was sure of. It was then an only then she nodded her reply to the Captain. With hat in hand he moved from the corner table and approached the Lady by the fire. He stood there for a moment, and then bowed ever so low proclaiming his identity to her. His words warmed with port, yet his tongue still strong of sense, he continued his introductions and his tale of his evening exploits. Of course, the Lady said nothing, but listened to him as he explained his journey to Port Royal and how his life had changed so since he had arrived. “So, you see, my sweet Lady. I am completely lost here in Port Royal and yet…I am cast away from the one who claims to love me and from another who has captured my heart. Perhaps we’ll never see eye to eye…yet, I feel I have also hurt another whom I love dearly …oh, to only to hear her say she forgave me...it would somehow make me feel whole once more.” She trembled as he spoke to her. The excitement was too great. Oh, to hold back her tongue and not be able to tell him that it was she, the very one he was looking for, made her whole body tingle with delight! She could only sit still and have her eyes followed his as he spoke of his memories longing of finding happiness with this ‘lovely vision’ he spoke of. It was then the game began for her. It was then she took his hand. The Captain looked up into the soft black velvet face and saw two soft deep blue eyes staring back at him. They were like no others that he could recall and yet…they were very hauntingly familiar. Her hand was warm and he could feel it through the doeskin glove that covered it. Such a tender touch from a stranger he thought. She could feel him melt as she held his hand. It was then she decided to make her move. As she lent forward, as if she was about to speak, she quickly got up from her chair and walked towards the stairs to the upstairs rooms. She hovered at the bottom of the stairs for a moment. He watched her standing there…no words were spoken nor needed. She then turned slowly and walked up the stairs, only to have him follow her. In her room, the vizard-masked woman found a candle next to the bed and lit it. The fire had been lit about an hour before by one of the maid servants of the tavern. The Captain stood in the doorway at first, not knowing if he should proceed with his gallant yet rakish behavior. The port was filling his mind with seduction and passion. These were memories that he longed to experience once more. Oh, how he missed his wife. He missed everything about her; her voice in the morning, her warmth at night, even her argumentative nature, which he always seem to contribute to her elusive past. Yet, the when she was alone with him that he truly knew her heart, her mind, her deepest feelings that she had held in for so long, but it wasn’t until she married him that the truth of his wife’s past now interfered with their life together. It was then he heard the vizard masked woman let out a soft sigh as she sat down upon the bed. The glow of the candle light made her eyes shine brightly. It was then he moved from the doorway into the room and closed the door. She looked at him at first and said nothing, as was her habit, but she did not wish to move too quickly either. She found that he was curious enough for the both of them. “What is your name?” She quickly looked up at him with wide eyes. The black velvet mask heighten them as to make sure that the Captain saw her expression. “Oh, yes…of course.” He whispered under his breath. She looked away for a moment. Silly to think that he thought she would give her name. She smiled to herself then turned back and looked at him. She nodded her head in agreement then held out her hand to him. He took it with a gentle manner. Again, the doe-skin gloved hand felt warm and tender to the touch. Her mind raced with the thought of taking him in various erotic ways, experiencing such passions only strangers could truly know. She suddenly felt him lean in to her and press his cheek against the nap of her neck. She could feel herself tremble with delight as his breathing became heavy and arduous. “I am at a loss.” He whispered to her. “Shall I be the poorest Captain in all of England and be lost tonight here in Port Royal or will you be the light which will guide me home, my fair lady?” It was then she lifted his head with her doe -kin hand. As he looked up at her, he could tell by her eyes that she had agreed to ‘guide him home’ for the night. She nodded lightly and it was then he was just about to raise his hand to her face and remove the black velvet mask when she suddenly drew back and shook her head no. “Shall I not know the lovely face behind this mask? Shall I be denied the pleasure of your company?” She took both her hands and placed them upon his chest, then ever so slowly removed her cloak hood, drew off her doe skin gloves and took down her long red hair and with all this, still wearing the black velvet mask. As she let the rest of her cape drop to the floor, the Captain approached her and wrapped his arms about her and kissed her neck and bosom. “What shame is there that you must hide from me?” He whispered as he continued to kiss her neck and bosom. She said nothing as she enjoyed the passionate assault upon her. As he drew up and looked down at her masked face. “Is this the way it shall be, then?” He questioned her. She nodded her head, slowly at first. Fearing that he may change his mind and leave her be for the evening. “Very well, then. We shall play your game tonight. But by morning, I promise you that you will reveal yourself to me.” And with that she slowly raised her skirts to him.

(Mistress Lilly peers into the Pub and see a new face sitting there with tankard in hand). Greetings NVBarbossa! 'Tis always a happy moment to see a new face about the pub. I pray that you are indulging in many things that interest you here upon the pub? (A sly smile ensues as she raises her glass). Here’s to you NVBarossa. Welcome aboard!

Problematical

We're running a tight ship here, BlackJohn! Though I cannot say that it will not happen (matters beyond our control), we have more committee members on board this year and we will be able to keep this in check. I have been assigned the position of the seminar corrdinator for this year's event - I've been made the go-to gal!

Okay people...Here's what you'll be missing if you don't show up! Live event and seminar schedules for RF2

Good Lord! You two have met and you don't even remember! Yes, Crowsnet has been to Traders, Captain...She was wearing the gold demask bustle gown. I have a picture of us together. She Henry's friend, 'member? Wear what ever you like 'Kate'. We are all wearing verious time periods that weekend. Heck, some of us are packing at least two or three outfits. Gosh, I wish I had a bigger van! Anyway, I'll be there along with Victorian wears in tow. The Captain and his crewe will have a table full of interesting items and promoting the Archangel crewe. Dress what ever suits you best...and come for the Fun!

Very well then...seeing how everyone is posting their place of info-worship, I thought I would show you my 'think tank' along with my 'reenactment" room. Ya, got two of them...twice as much fun to clean them up, too! Here is my computer room... And my so called Reenactment room

Kass, Upon reading the "News" link - Mike makes no mention of two Reenactor Fests. " NEWS 12/27/2006 We are being besieged with requests to host a Reenactor Fest out East. After looking at multiple sites, the two that seem most suitable are the Gettysburg area and the Colonial Williamsburg area. Please copy and paste the link below and tell us where YOU would rather see it hosted!" No rumors Kass, just an over sight to incomplete information. I have emailed him as asked if was going to revise the text.

Yes, it must be nice. Yet, I did that my hubby would pitch a fit. I cannot complain. If I really need space there is the dinning room floor to spread out on.

LOL! Now..now...it shall cost you a cider then! I'd be happy to talk with you about this in detail when we get together next. Always

^CHAMPAGNE!!!! <All jacked up from the holidays...but no motivation to go back to work. \/New Year Resolutions - did you make any?

Silkie...do you have to make a 'path' just to walk about the room too, or is everything piled so high that you just look at your 'project' and say..."Maybe tomorrow"?

You mean the one of him 'napping' at the Lockhouse? Oh..don't you just love those Kodak Moments?

Please let me know if you are having any trouble with the link. Thank you.

West!? Isn't Chicago West enough for you, Ransom ? The more people who vote the easier it will be to determine where to look for locations in these areas. As for West....who knows...perhaps RF IV!

After Bess assisted Lilly in getting dressed, Lilly made it topside, the deck was now filled with weary crew. After these long two days, Lilly was now finally feeling her old self again and with it, she was bound and determined to make inquires of the whereabouts of Captain Sterling. Lilly’s eyes adjusted to the brightness of the late morning sun. “Here…you there.” She shouted at the Boson. “Where is the Captain?” The Boson looked puzzled at first as the lady addressed him is such a manner. “Captain? Oh yes…the Captain!” He exclaimed as he took off his hat and bowed low. “He went to shore more than an hour ago, Mistress. Is there a message?” Lilly pursed her lips and gave the Boson a sour look. “Yes.” She said then turned towards the shore. “I wish to go home.”

Hmm...I'm confused. Looking at the photo attached I don't think he's in a good state at all. Sleeping? I'm not sure being hit in arm (bleeding too) makes one take a nap. Did you change your picture recently?

Ahoy Everyone, Please be so kind to log on and put your two cents in for Reenactor Fest III. We are being besieged with requests to host a Reenactor Fest out East. After looking at multiple sites, the two that seem most suitable are the Gettysburg area and the Colonial Williamsburg area. Please copy and paste the link below and tell us where YOU would rather see it hosted! http://members.aol.com/soldaten/rf3poll.html Please take the time to click in and vote! Thanks

Wow! Quite impressive. I have two rooms acturally; one for computing and one for 'creating '. But sadly...both are in a state of disarray as of the moment!

That's right Rats...Brian also plays fife and penny whistle…he’s was a sailor in real life for about 7 years, perhaps that's why he loves to play a lot of late period sea shanties.

Rats! You've never mention that you had a Bodhran nor made any reference to learning to play?! My sweet Rats...I do know how to play! I've been doing so since my years at the Oswego Ren Faire! Don't worry about your tipper...one can purchase one or widdle as Pat suggested. What kind, how big and when do you want to start your lessons?

The electric hum of the telephone system main frame unit. Doing an upgrade of the system do to a power outage. Fun....

Have a very Happy Birthday Chole! Hope you have a lovely day of it.