Cheeky Actress

Sunset...

Lilly’s heart was now in her throat. “Oh please, Dr. Reiley…I will not go without you…I need your help as much as you need mine!” Reiley didn’t stand there to argue with her. As he pushed her towards the back door, she quickly looked over her shoulder and saw the Fop walking towards them. “Please…oh for the Love of Jove…this way!” She shouted after Reiley. It was then Reiley turned in the direction of Lilly’s stare. As Reiley held his head in one hand; lightly touching his blackened right eye, it was then he got a good look at this person which Lilly claim to fear. “Damn them to hell!” He shouted. “He’s a French Dog!” Suddenly, Lilly grabbed his hand and rushed through the back hall, past through the kitchen and out the back door into the alley. As they ran down the narrow path they headed towards the harbor. With both of them being out of breath they took to hiding behind crates that were set upon the dock. Lilly fell against one of the crates and tried to catch her breath as Dr. Reiley did the same. “Who was that man?” Ask Reiley as he spit on the ground and breathed deeply. Lilly closed her eyes and started to weep. “He is the Devil himself sent by my Patron to come and collect me.” Dr. Reiley knew this woman was trouble and it seemed that he had gotten his hands full of it now. “Why?” Lilly wiped her tear drenched face with the back of her hand. It was then the young lad from The Shipp appeared to them standing there with pistol drawn. “Fools! You could have gotten us killed back there!”

"Please, sir, if it would help you to persuade the lady to retire to your table, you may borrow this. If that does not convince her, may hap I could buy you both a drink and restore peace to our afternon."

Lilly laughed openly. She shook her head and smiled. "Oh, you see Doctor...this lad is of good nature! Please accept my humble apologize, for I only made light jest." She watched the doctor's expression ease a bit and she laughed. Lilly turned towards the young 'lad' again. This ruse was just what she needed to forget her trouble for a little while. She smiled to herself as the ‘boy’ called the maid over. “Act the fool, Lilly…no sense of spoiling the moment in revealing the youngster’s game.” She was impressed very by this ‘lad’s’ efforts and made sure that she did not lead on to ‘his’ game. “How kind of you.” She whispered in the young lad’s ear. “I wager that this is your first time here; to Port Royal, is it not?” The young lad looked back at her and nodded. As Lilly looked in the direction of the maid, it was then her blood froze still in her veins. She could hardly breathe. It was then she swore and uttered the name…’Killingsworth!” “Please…help me!” She whispered to the ‘lad’ again. “Do as I say…please…play along …I beg of you!” The young lad looked slightly confused with what was going on. “If you please Mistress, I do not see…,” the young lad uttered. In a state of panic Mistress Lilly had to think fast or it would be the end of her. She suddenly pulled the young lad close and kissed him full upon the mouth.

Shopaholic

Perhaps it was Lilly's concern for her dearly beloved Captain that made her think irrationally. She was, of course, prone to emotional out-busts, but that's what made her so convincing on stage...or so her Patron Darnly had told her. She took a deep breath as the 'young man' turned away from her and took another gulp of his ale. At that moment, Lilly felt odd for confronting a complete stranger with her outburst of emotion. All the while, Dr. Reiley was trying to coax her back to the table with an offer of another goblet of wine or tankard of ale. Lilly was about to head back to the table when she looked at the pale narrow skin of the boy's jaw line. Something wasn't right. She thought to herself. The boy had to at least be one and twenty and yet...not a stitch of facial hair. She narrowed her eyes at the boy. "Young man?" She whispered back at the boy who wanted just to be left alone. "Tell me, what is a boy such as yourself doing here in Port Royal while you should still be clinging to your mother’s teat?”

But my present costume of soiled shirt, breeches and bare feet would not do for town. Not for a ship's captain, and especially not for a woman. I went below and washed. On reflection, I decided to make my venture into town dressed as a captain—a male captain. I wanted relaxation and information, not the pawing attention of drunkards.... then turned toward town and a much anticipated drink.

The late afternoon sun was beginning to set when Mistress Lilly and Dr. Reiley made their way back to Port Royal. Upon the persuasion of the good doctor, they decided to go to The Shipp tavern. People from all stations soon drifted from the streets and harbors into the taverns. This ritual was something of a reoccurrence that every man and woman in Port Royal became a custom to.

The good doctor held the door as Mistress Lilly entered the room. As she looked about, she saw faces she remembered from the dock, and there were a few from the crew of the Resurrection and the Archangel that she had recalled. She felt a bit more at ease with such surroundings. The doctor quickly took a table near the window and summoned a bar maid to tend to their thirst. “Do you think he’s safe?” Lilly said looking over her tankard of ale. Now the doctor could lie a good tale if he had too. He had done it a dozen times in the past to save his own neck, but this time her felt very strange looking into the eyes of this bewitching creature and telling her tales or falsehoods. “I pray that he is Mistress. We can only hope that he has not been prone to fits of fainting or fallen off his horse somewhere. I can only image that if he did take the dose of med…” “What do you mean, fits?” Lilly said looking very concerned with the Doctor. “What fits? I don’t recall him having any fits when this had occurred in the past.” The doctor suddenly felt the crowd’s eyes upon them.

Mistress Lilly’s loud tone had drawn attention to them, once again. Most of the crowd took notice, including a very young looking boyish-man child standing at the bar trying to drink in piece. The young boy eyed the distressed Lilly and rolled his eyes. Lilly noticed the eye rolling from the boy. It was then she looked back at the doctor. “Why didn’t you tell me of this earlier? He could be dead or floating in the sea somewhere!” Reiley tried to calm the Mistress down with soft hushes and calm words. It was then Mistress McKinney quickly stood from the table and walked to the bar. “And YOU!” She said tapping the young boy upon the shoulder. “You should know that eavesdropping it just plain rude…and keep your opinions to yourself!” It was then the young boy turned and spoke his opinion to Lilly.

After an hour's travel, Mistress Lilly and Dr. Reiley found themselves making inquires at one the island largest plantations. Unfortunately, the overseer had no news to tell them. He had been tending his fields all day and saw no one fitting the description of Captain Sterling. Both the Mistress and the Doctor thanked him for his time and they headed back to Port Royal.

Lilly sat sulking on the other side of the carriage as the doctor pondered what to do next. “Hungry?” He asked as his voice broke the constant sound of the horses hoof beat on the mud soaked road. “Yes, I do feel a bit peckish.” “Good, said Reiley. “I know of a tavern were we can get a hot meal and good ale.”

Star gazing

Moonbeams

Red Rose, Dearie...

Cabbie

“And though I would gladly ‘entertain’ such a tempting offer, something tells me there’s much more to you than meets the eye… ‘Mistress’ McKinney!”

As Lilly pulled back from the good Doctor she fixed her skits and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. With a hard intense look, she met with him directly eye to eye.

"Dr. Reiley, perhaps we should not force our alliances, but in truth, it appears to me that we are 'cut from the same cloth'. In any event, we do need to work together to obtain what we greatly need. I pray you will forgive me for my fit of insanity and I shall for give you for yours." She smiled wickedly at him as only she could do.

base

Original Sin

The carriage ride about the port city was uneventful to say the least. Mistress Lilly and Dr. Reiley had stopped at the logical places where Captain Sterling may have had business to tend to or found a friendly face to assist him in his time of need...but to no avail, there was no sign of him anywhere.

By Dr. Reiley's suggestion, both he and Mistress Lilly decided to make there way out towards the plantation fields and higher regions of the island, just in case the good Captain had decided to venture further than the City of Port Royal. Mistress Lilly sat resting next to the good doctor in the carriage. The day grew older and she found herself looking out the window to the rain soaked fields, all the time twisting her handkerchief in her hand. "Not to fret, Mistress. We will find him soon enough." She passed her glance back over at the doctor and said nothing.

As she glanced over at the good doctor, she realized that she was in need of allies in this strange land and she needed as many as she could. The love of her life needed to be found and placed back in his own bed to recover from his malady. She had to secure her investment and she was not likely to risk loosing the opportunity to secure such a thing.

Lilly pulled the vizard from her face and smiled sweetly at Dr. Reiley. "You are so kind to help me find Captain Sterling. Such as good soul and you have taken such good care of him where I cannot." She moved closer to the doctor's side. "...And when we do find our beloved Captain," She said putting her hand upon his upper thigh. "I would be most grateful to you. Perhaps, I can let you know how grateful?" And with that she kissed him full upon the mouth.

Cheeky!

It wasn't until Dr. Reiley mentioned the Captain's state of mind that Mistress Lilly realized how grave the situation truly was. She suddenly turned to the good doctor and pleaded for his help. "He's Gone...we must find him!"

"Who's Gone?!" Muttered Symms as he closely inspected the coat for any wear or injury done to it during the tussle. Lilly turned and sighed with disbelief. "Fool! I was talking about Captain Sterling!" Symms quickly stopped stroking the coat's fibers with the back of his hand and looked at Mistress Lilly in shock. "When did he leave? How did he leave? He can't manage without me...I'm his dogs body?!"

She quickly took to the doctor's side and grabbed his coat sleeve. "Please help me. He left in a fit of anger this morning. He is not well and consumed the rest of the medicine you gave him in one swallow."

Dr. Reiley's eyes widened. "He's sure to be feeling the affects of such a disastrous dose by now. Did he say where he was going?" Lilly shook her head no. "All I know is that he dressed for riding."

"Very well." Said the good doctor. "Symms, make haste...be sure you hide the Captain's small fortune. Mistress McKinney and I will look for him about the town. If he returns in our absence, make sure that you keep him to his room and we hope to return by four of the clock."

With a nod, Symms agreed and Dr. Reiley took Mistress Lilly's arm. She smiled gratefully and quickly gathered up her gloves and vizard. As she stepped out the back door of the inn it began to rain again. "Dash!" She said as she quickly placed her vizard upon her face. "It looks like it will be a wonderful day!"

In a deep feeling of dread, panic began to set inward. Lilly paced the hardwood floor again wringing her hands in mental turmoil as she thought over what she had done to her beloved Captain in her head. “What have I done? I was only trying to help…” She muttered to herself.

She stopped suddenly to look out the inn’s window hoping to see any sign of her sweet Captain returning. He had only been gone for ¾ of an hour, but it felt like days. She continued to pace the floor of the room. Soon the reality of her deed started to set in. If she had agreed upon a poor arrangement, surely the Captain would not make his fortune. This being said, she would not be able to marry him and bring their son to them.

A churning in her stomach began to make her sick. Lord Darnly’s image flashed into her mind. “Oh God no…I could never go back to that man.” Muttering to herself on the verge of tears. Once again, she felt trapped by her actions. It was the Empress that thought Darnly's and Lilly's pairing was a lucrative match. When Darnly and Lilly began to acquaint themselves in time, she realized that some business transactions should never be made; even with the best of intensions.

Lilly let out a sigh. “Thank God I wrote that letter to the Empress about Lord…” A cold thought stuck Lilly. It was as if her heart has stopped beating. “The letter? Where is my letter to the Empress?!” Soon her head began to pound and her heart began to beat faster. She quickly began to open up every box, every book, every drawer and cupboard to find the letter she had written to the Empress. She had seen Sterling hold it in his very hand that night she was assaulted by Symms and the chamber pot. “Where in God’s name is it?!” She said shouting at herself.

It was no use. There was no sign of the letter anywhere. She was fit to be tied. “I must find the Captain. I must!” She knew that he was the last to have the letter...and yet, her concern with the letter was mixed with her concerns for his well being. Again, her words controlled her actions. She did not concern herself as of the moment with the very threat that the Captain had placed upon her. His voice still rang in her ears..."You are not to leave without my permission!" She knew that if she stayed in the room she would be putting them both in harms way…thus, she needed to disobey her lover and try to make right what she had done.

In a heated fury she dressed herself in her plain blue Mantua and collected upon her head a dark handkerchief. Collecting her gloves and vizard, she silently stole away down the back stairway towards the kitchen.

It was there she heard the voices of Dr. Reiley and Symms. “Good,” She thought to herself, “I will be able to ask for help in finding Captain Sterling.” As Lilly entered the kitchen she noticed a sizable pouch of coin upon the table. “What’s this?” She said looking at the two boys.

“Good Fortune, Mistress!” Said Dr. Reiley with a smile. She turned towards Symms and noticed the Captain’s best coat was still in tact lying next to the money. It hadn’t been delivered to the Silversmith’s as of yet.

“The Captain’s coat?” She asked pointing to it upon the table. “Symms, you must not deliver the Captain’s coat to the Silversmiths. I will not have it stripped of its’ buttons and trim. It means far too much to him. It’s the coat he wore when I first met him….”

Symms eyes widened. Surely he would never disobey the Captain’s direct order. Symms may have disagreed with the Captain from time to time, but he would never disobey him.

“But Mistress, I must do what he be askin of me! I cannot be disobeying his word.”

Lilly quickly picked up the coat and held it tightly in her arms. “Now don’t be the fool, Symms…he was knighted in this very coat, how could you let him destroy such a cherished item as this?”

Symms quickly grabbed part of the coat and struggled with the Mistress to retake it back into him possession. “Please Mistress…just give it here. I don’t be wantin him to be cross nor do I be wantin him to get upset. Ye be knowin how poorly of health he be!” A tug-of-war ensued between the two. All the while Dr. Reiley trying to calm them down.

Tentatively, Lilly broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. Laying it upon the small desk in the corner she swiftly scrutinized the letter.

It has come to our knowledge, that there are documents of marine subject, statutes and liabilities that are of interest to you. If this be the case, return answer with the bearer.

Simple and to the point! So like she had imagined Sir Henry to be. Lilly felt herself radiate with elation. Without a doubt, this was just what her lover had been so impatiently awaiting. She reached for the quill and dipped it into the dark ink. For the briefest of seconds, she felt herself curious as to why Andrew March had not brought the much anticipated news himself. Conceivably, with all matters now settled, he had chosen to spend the day with his wife exploring Port Royal.

She quickly brought the pen to bare upon the page before her. In her happiness she hastily scrawled

I am indeed most interested in obtaining the proper letters of Marque and I am most obliged for your consideration to intercede on my behalf. The ague has laid me low for a few days so all that you can do for me is truly and most respectfully esteemed. I am indebted to you.

Your most humble servant,

JC Sterling

Captain, Archangel

Lilly blotted the epistle and resealed it with Sterling's own seal. She went to the door and was in luck to find the chambermaid bustling about in the hall.

"Here girl, bring this down to the tall, dark gentleman in the bar. You just insist that his beverage is adhered to Captain Sterling's receipt and there will be a coin or two for you for your troubles."

The girl took the note, curtseyed and left on her errand, as Lilly closed the bedroom door and crawled back into bed beside her lover. "You will indeed be most pleasantly surprised when you awake," she whispered and kissed his shoulder. "Sir Henry is most happy to take the affair of your letters personally in hand."

Lilly pulled herself upward from the captain’s side when she heard footsteps approaching their room. She looked down briefly at her lover and decided it best to let him sleep, so she left the bed quickly, pulled her chemise back into its proper place and then drew his banyan on about her shoulders. Gathering up the far too long and billowy robe she closed it about herself as best she could… after all they were not expecting Symms back until later that evening. Lilly smiled wickedly to herself… surely all hell would break loose then.

She opened the door before their visitor was able to knock and was presented with a letter for the captain.

“Captain Sterling is resting. He has not been well as of late,” Lilly said. She had half expected to find Skittles and Andrew March, not the man who now graced their doorway. She glanced back over her shoulder at the figure still asleep in the bed. The curtains no longer drawn in the hopes that a breeze would be forth coming through the open windows, it was quiet evident to the stranger that the captain was indeed as the lady claimed. His gaze traveled from the interior of the room and slowly moved over the actress. Lilly felt herself correct her posture and her pose to something more befitting a unexpected visit from one of her more noble suitors and yet, she could not help but feel somewhat uncomfortable in the man’s focus and pulled the banyan close around her throat. “Do you wish to wait for a reply?” She asked. “If so perhaps you would be so kind as to await a response down below and have a drink upon the captain for your patience?”

Lilly looked up at him and she found the pain in his expression far too much for her to bare. She slumped meekly in his grip and, lowering her face from him, she whispered "His name is Christian John McKinney. I have taken your names and switched them around. Now will you leave me be regarding him?"

She tried to pull away from him then but was taken aback as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.

"Thank you," he whispered. She looked up at him and was somewhat relieved to see a small smile on his face. Still she did not expect his second kiss, another just as tender and thoughtful as his first and then yet another. She smoothed her hands along his cheeks, finally cupping his face in her hands. She thought of pushing him away but found she couldn't. She closed her eyes as she pulled him closer and opened her mouth to his.

As she felt his hands move down over her body, she detached herself from his touch. It was a trick she had learned in order to tolerate the coupling with others, one which she always found hard to accomplish with Sterling. As she felt him lower the edge of her chemise, baring her breast, she lost her ability to separate herself from his caresses. Oh it would be so easy to stay with this man, she thought. And yet she knew there was more than just creature comforts that she would be forced to sacrifice if she let herself give into his desires to wed her. She allowed him to move her to the bed and sighed pleasantly as he took her. Oh why wasn't life as easy to handle as making love to this man, she wondered.

Pictures of the new ship, folks. I'd like to see it ... even if I cannot be there in person.

I promise Lady B....

After her bath, Lilly decided that a nap was in order. She had been up all night and finally the lack of sleep was catching up with her. But sleep, even though she needed it, did not come easily to her. After only a few hours, Lilly awoke with a start. She quickly looked down at the sleeping Captain then let out a soft sigh. She knew that she had another bad dream, yet the feeling of dread still remained with her.

She slowly crawled out of bed not to wake her sleeping Captain and went to her trunk. Kneeling next to the trunk she took out the key which she kept in a well safe well-hidden place from prying eyes, she opened the trunk. As she tossed aside her linens and such, down at the bottom of the trunk she pushed back a loose board revealing a small wooden box. She cradled it close to her as she opened it. There inside the box wrapped neatly in a piece of white linen was a lock of blonde hair from her little boy. She stroked it ever so lightly with her finger as she began to cry. She cherished it with all her heart for it was the only thing of his she brought with her to Port Royal. “I must do something…anything to bring you to me safely.” She said to herself in a low whisper. “I love you so much.” And with that she began to pray.

Two slaves from the inn dragged a cooper’s half barrel up the back stairs to Captain Sterling’s room. As the two men placed it in the middle of the room another slave-maid took to filling it with hot water. Bucket after bucket, they were quick and dutiful in finishing their jobs, and then left quickly after the tub was filled.

It was then Mistress Mitchem’s voice could be heard in the hallway, perhaps instructing her man-servant from the Three Crowns to deliver Lilly's trunk to the Captain’s room. “There… this room here.” She said pointing to the door on the left. It was then the door swung open as two men lifted it into the room. “Oh good…I see that my trunk is finally here!” Lilly said as she finished her last mouthful of food. The Captain mean while took to reading and finishing his meal. As the men placed the trunk down against the far wall, Lilly ran to it. Both Mistress Mitchem curtsied and the two men bowed as they exited the room. Lilly quickly slipped off her right shoe and shook it. The key to the chest dropped to the floor.

“Oh, good day trunk…did thee miss me?” She said chatting to herself in conversation until she opened it. The Captain just rolled his eyes and continued to read. As she pulled several items from the chest, the Captain stopped to look at what a mess she was making of the room.

“I have great plans for myself here in Port Royal, Captain.” She said looking back at him holding up a clean shift and a pair of silk stockings. “I wish to open up a theater!”

The Captain pulled his book from his good eye. “Port Royal has a theater Mistress and it has been open for at least five years past.”

She looked at him with surprise. “Well then, I shall have to see about performing on its’ stage, won’t I? Or better yet, perhaps they could do with some proper competition!”

With that she tossed off her other shoe then sat at the table to take off her silk stockings. “I have been longing to get back to performing. Ye know I am only truly happy when I am performing!”

“In or out of bed?” The Captain muttered to himself.

“Sorry?”Lilly said as she looked over her shoulder unlacing her stays. “Pray, Captain. I wish to make enough money so I can send for the baby boy and never have to worry about being poor or …” She didn’t realize what she was saying until it was too late.

“Oh Dear One.” She whispered, now standing completely naked in front of her paramour. “I did not mean to say such things to hurt you or even imply that you…” The Captain just sat on the edge of the bed and raised his right hand. The room grew silent. She stepped lightly into the cooper’s barrel and gathered up the soap and muslin rag.

“I never intended that you would feel the need to repay me Lilly.” The Captain said lightly. "I had only wished that... that you could feel for me the way that I feel for ye. Tis why I have pressed my suit on ye as I have. Surely marriage to me would be better than having to find coin out on the streets in the off season?"