Port Royal, Jamaica

[Professor Angus Trilby]

As the day progressed, and more knocks on his door interrupted his doings of the day, Professor Trilby, cursing a blue streak, decided to leave his house. Hopefully, by the time he returned, the foolish goings on would be over, and he would be left in peace.

Donning his much abused robe, and a brown, squashed-mushroom of a hat, he exited his front door and headed for the bookstore. Unfortunately, it was closed. Fuming at all and sundry he met on the streets, he finally , against his usual inclination, decided to have a drink at one of the inns. It had been a long while since he'd put his ear to the ground, and he liked knowing all the latest town gossip. In his current disgruntled mood, he dicided on the Royal Grace. An evening spent tormenting Mr. Spindlethorpe was sure to put him in a better mood.

As he entered the commn room, he shouted, "Oi, Spindlethorpe, yea noddy. Where are yea?"

Like a weasel, the proprietor slunk from behind his counter, his pale hands clasped together, a look of abject horror on his face. "Oh, not you. Is it not bad enough I have Spaniards in my common room, but now I must perforce, deal with you? Truly, I must have offended God today."

Trilby's thatch-like eyebrows rose. "Spaniards, by God!" He let his beetle-brown gaze scan the room. It came to rest on a table in the back, where a group of men scowled over their meals and talked in low tones.

"It's nae bad enough the town be swarming with redcoats, but I'm tae share mae evening with a pack of popish bastards, eh?"

Mr. Spindlethorpe's face went white as a sheet, and his hands waved frantically. "Please, Professor, I beg you, make no disturbance. In fact, may hap it would be better of you took yourself off."

Trilby pushed out his chest, jutted his bearded chin, and in a voice heard as far a Cuba, announced, "I'll nae be denied a drink because of a bunch of rosary fiddlers!"

Mr. Spindlethorpe, appalled, scurried back behind his counter, knowing full well that Armageddon was about to arrive at the Royal Grace.

[Capt. Sterling]

Little breaths continued until lungs could with stand larger and more deeper intake of oxygen. With one final cough to set all back to normal, Sterling managed to his feet.

“Are you all right?”

“Aye, I shall manage,” he called back, working out bad shoulder then looking around for a means of escape.

[Nelly Greene]

"Shall I fetch someone to assist?" Nelly called back.

[Capt. Sterling]

“Bloody hell, No!” Sterling answered, his cheeks coloring at the embarrassing thought of being found in such a predicament. “Belay that a moment,” he added looking about as best he could. He could find nothing to aide him so instead he moved closer to where the young woman leaned over watching him.

“Ye said there be wooden boards above? Long boards?” he called up to her.

[Nelly Greene]

"Yes, yes there are and, indeed, they are quite long," she answered.

[Capt. Sterling]

“Would ye be so kind as to hand some down to me?” he asked, then ducked as first was flung down all too close for comfort. "Oi, have a care!"

[Nelly Greene]

"Oh I am sorry," Nelly called down to the captured man. "Shall I send down another?" She waited as the Rabbit moved about in the blackness of its warren.

[Capt. Sterling]

“No this one seems sturdy enough,” Sterling replied. Board was propped into hole he dug out with hands in the dirt wall. Climbing cautiously upon the plank, he carefully raised himself to full height, board rising and falling precariously with his weight.

“Here take my hand,” the woman offered.

“And have us both in here. I think not,” he said, as he took a firm hold of opening’s edge and hoisted himself waist high above the edge of hole. Swinging leg over as if mounting favorite Chestnut, he scrambled from hole and stopped to brush himself off. “Thank you Lady. I am much obliged for your noble rescue,” he chuckled.

[Nelly Greene]

"I am glad that I could be of assistance," Nelly said. She held out her hand. "My name is Nelly Greene. From the looks of you, I would dare to say you could do with a drink."

[Capt. Sterling]

Sterling, eyebrow raising, moved closer and took her hand. He bowed low over it, properly pressing lips to the back of his own thumb.

[Nelly Greene]

"Surely you can do better than that!" Nelly teased. "I was of far more help than that bewildered Irishman," she added with a laugh.

[Capt. Sterling]

"Surely you can do better than that!" Nelly teased. "I was of far more help than that bewildered Irishman," she added with a laugh.

Burke, Sterling grinned at the thought. Then suddenly looked up at the young woman without straightening.

“You are a bold one,” he remarked.

[Nelly Greene]

“So I have been told. Come along then. I know some place where you can get that drink and make sure you haven’t done yourself injury.”

[Capt. Sterling]

Second alarm sounded within, but thirst instantly stilled its noise. He offered her his arm and followed along. A bottle would do him good.

[Nelly Greene]

She had taken him through the back alleys once she noticed his odd desire to remain hidden by shadows. Hugging buildings was not how she normally traversed at night so she changed her direction and soon brought him back to her home.

"You were in need of a drink, were you not?" Nelly said. “I have several at your disposal. Brandy? Port?”

[Capt. Sterling]

Sterling stared down at her. “Port will do,” he responded.

[Nelly Greene]

“As you wish,” Nelly said and went to fetch him a glass.

[Capt. Sterling]

“As you wish,” the girl said.

Sterling watched her as she moved elegantly across the small but well appointed drawing room. Her delicate hands reached for closest crystal container and two glasses were poured, taken in hand and carried back. She handed one to him and gently touched fragile lip of her own goblet to his.

[Nelly Greene]

A fine ring greeted hearing as she stepped back waiting for him to sample the first of her wares. Sterling did as he was expected, then lowering glass he watched as she placed hers within easy range but did not drink herself. Instead she moved closer to him and his good eye searched her features, perfectly wrought, candle light the ideal companion to her flawless looks.

[Cheeky Actress]

Lilly found herself faint and it was difficult to breathe after Reiley told her the news of her beloved Captain. “I must see him. I must go to him!” Lilly pulled herself up from the bed only to have the good doctor force her back into bed. “I won’t have it!” said Reiley grabbing Lilly’s shoulders and placing her back into bed.

The little black dog’s excessive barking put the room on edge. “He is the father of my child! I still love him. I need to see him. “For God sake, Doctor, I need to see him, please!” “Not until you gain your strength back. I will not have your death on my hands!”

Lilly laid back down and looked angrily at the good doctor. “Do not anger me, Sir. All I wish is to set sail back to England and if the Archangel plans to set its’ sails soon, by God I shall be on it!”

[Ransom]

The Rakehell had returned to Port Royal without incident. Around noon the ship was searched, and questions asked, but as there was nothing to find, and "gifts" were exchanged, the guardsmen left without a fuss.

Tunny and Jimmy went ashore to look for possible crewmen. Since Ioan had jumped ship, we were a man short, and could actually use two extra for replacement. But one good seaman would do nicely.

Late in the afternoon Jimmy came back on deck with a stocky, dark-haired young man I guessed to be around twenty-five or so. His grinning smile showed teeth healthy and white as a child's, while his dark-eyed gaze swept over the deck, appraising everything.

Who's this?" I asked.

"From what I could get outta him, beings as how I don't speak 'Taliano, his name is Ludo somethin' er other. Wants to join the crew."

The man straighened to his full height of maybe five foot seven inches. "Ludovico Baglione! Buon giorno, Madame. Sono il vostra uomo. Potete contare su me."

I smiled. "Vedremo se siete il nostro uomo - oppure no." then turned to Jimmy. "Where did you find him?"

"Came off some ship that sank in the harbor during the hurricane. Said the captain is a drunkard."

"How do you know all of that if you don't speak 'Taliano?"

"One of his crew mates translated for me."

I regarded the Italian. "Cucinate?"

He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "Posso cucinare!" He thumped his barrel chest. "Sono Italiano, o corso che posse cucinare." He then cast his eyes heavenward and kissed his pinched fingers. "Alimento por i san!"

With a wide grin, I answered, "Siete assunti!" then looked at Jimmy. "Show him to the galley. And keep Goose out of his way."

[Capt. Sterling]

she stepped back waiting for him to sample the first of her wares. Sterling did as he was expected, then lowering glass he watched as she placed hers within easy range but did not drink herself. Instead she moved closer to him and his good eye searched her features, perfectly wrought, candle light the ideal companion to her flawless looks.

“I know what you are,” Sterling said. “And I’ve not the money nor desire for such that ye provide.”

[Nelly Greene]

She did not reply immediately, but moved closer and looked up at him, her head tilting coyly to one side. “At this precise moment in time, is that it? Perhaps I do not require as much as you would think,” she began, one finger tracing his jaw line. “And then again, as pretty as you are, perhaps I would be content with just your company.” She turned and walked hastily away, out of reach.

[Cheeky Actress]

Lilly laid in her bed quietly as the doctor instructed her about her care. “AND…I shall note that you are not to move from this bed until I give the say so. Is that understood?” His eyes narrowed as he grabbed her hand. “You’d like that.” She muttered then cast her eyes back at Hamish. “This doctor is far too cruel, Captain. How do you expect me to get any better with the likes of him?” Her words were meant to sting the good doctor’s heart, but they only made him smile. ‘My word,” muttered Reiley. “And you call yourself an Actress?” It was then he quickly dodged a pillow being thrown from her side. “Take care! You’ll rip out my handy work if you keep having fits!”

She quickly laid back into her spare pillow. The room soon grew very quite. “I am a fool Doctor. I should have made my peace with Captain Sterling. I love him…dearly.

[Capt. Sterling]

Perhaps I do not require as much as you would think,” she began, one finger tracing his jaw line. “And then again, as pretty as you are, perhaps I would be content with just your company.” She turned and walked hastily away, out of reach.

All too well aware of his hideous appearance, Sterling asked, “Do ye mock me Lady?”