A Lady's Plight (Lords of Sussex) (11 page)

Isa regretted not taking to her bed earlier. They danced until dawn, and the ship left promptly at eight. There was no time for love, as they both fell onto the soft down mattress; Alex spooning her in his lap as they both fell asleep. The voice of the
maid de chambre calling them to breakfast, had them both groaning. Stumbling from the bed, Alex rubbed his eyes, 'Dear Lord, methinks I will not wash until we get on board. We've just about enough time to eat breakfast.'

Isa's head ached, her stomach revolting at the thought of food. 'Nay, I shall wait until we board. However, I must wash; I have perspired heavily from so much dancing.' Despite his weariness, Alex followed her to the dressing area beyond the bedroom, watching as she discarded her thin nightrail. He hoped she would be lax, and allow him to stay for her ablutions. However, to his disappointment she turned to him, her eyes narrowed - tone icy.

'My Lord, have I not told you to avert your eyes when I am at my toilette. So pray, return to the bedroom now.'

'But why madam, have your courses started?'

'How dare you. Don't be so rude. Respect a lady's dignity.'

Without replying, he left the door open, as he strode back only to hear her command. 'Pray close the door.''

Grimacing, he turned and slammed it shut before stomping away. He'd deliberately left off his breeches under his robe, just in case there was the slight chance; she would be amenable. Pulling on his clothes, he swore; bloody women, they could be so petty. What was wrong in watching her wash? For some reason or other, a lady's toilette was forbidden to men's eyes. His doxies behaved in the same manner. He sighed; he missed them, but had declared his loyalty solely to Isa. Maybe he should think again.

Sighing, he rang for the manservant to fetch his valet, he needed help with his cravat, and waistcoat, he had no desire either to fiddle with the ties on his hessian boots.

Knocking sharply on the dressing room door, he said, 'Be warned madam, my valet and your maid will be here in a few minutes.'

Knowing
she'd annoyed him, Isa twitched her nose defiantly at the door. He could remain angry; he was not going to overpower her. He did not possess her, he and the law may think he did, but she had other ideas. The voice of women was garnering strength. The lady author of Pride and Prejudice along with other female writers urged women to rise, to voice their opinions. Why Elizabeth Bennett the heroine of the book, told that pompous Mr Darcy where to go, when he'd been so damn patronizing - saying she should be grateful he deigned to consider her for marriage. Why even the Prince of Wales loved the author's books.

By the time their coach reached the ship, Alex's mood mellowed. He was just like a spoilt boy at times. He must have had a very soft nanny and most probably bossed all the nursery staff around. His mama even now doted on his every word, and his sisters jumped to meet every wish or demand. She frowned, as she climbed aboard; there was a smell of livestock, vegetables and human bodies. Alex took her arm. 'The men and their wives are already boarded, so you will not see them on deck until the ship sails.

Isa nodded. 'Where are they then?'

'Below decks, quarters are very cramped, but tis only for a day.'

How unfortunate, why are they so badly treated Alex; these men give their lives for their country.'

Alex frowned, 'I am inclined to agree with you my love, but then I cannot speak for the ship owners. This is a naval rig, but still the captain is in charge. However, come let us go to our stateroom; I am famished, so I hope there are refreshments.'

'We have only just breakfasted.'

''What?
Bread, butter and cold ham? That is hardly enough.'

The stateroom proved to be smaller than the one they journeyed in yesterday, but to Alex's joy, the table held a number of mouth-watering dishes.

Isa turned to the berth, just big enough for two. 'I shall repair to bed; I need sleep. We barely had three hours, and I can hardly keep my eyes open.'

Picking up a small pigeon pie, Alex murmured. 'Go ahead my pet; I shall join you after I've finished my repast.'

'To sleep Alex - sleep.'

As she discarded her pelisse and disrobed, his eyes roamed over the shapely body. He felt his senses stirring. God, he only had to look at her, and he was aroused. Not one of his former mistresses held a candle to her. Desire flooded his groin. Putting down his pie, he strode over, 'Let me, my pet.' Tenderly, he began unbuttoning the blue silk dress, his tongue giving small licks to the nape of her neck. He knew that was her sensitive spot. He felt her shudder, as he trailed kisses down her spine. Reaching the small of her back, he tugged at the dress until it fell around her ankles. Stepping out of it, wearing only the chemise and skimpy pantaloons, she turned to him, her eyes smouldering with desire. As he bent to untie the ribbons to her chemise, she stood on tiptoe, catching his face in her small hands, her tongue parting his lips. Stepping forward, her green eyes aflame, she pulled at his cravat, flinging it to the floor. With her head on his, she unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers stroking the bristly matt of dark hair.

Smiling he whispered, 'Did you say sleep?''

Her body still trembled
as she pushed him away, only for him to growl and gather her close.

Again, she felt the sensations rising, as he took
her through kisses and stars, caresses and floating spheres to the edge of oblivion. An hour later, her legs trembled like jelly as he cradled her, whispering, 'Now we shall sleep.'

The sun pierced her eyes, as they mounted the steps leading up from the bows to the foredeck. Her spirit and body felt refreshed after the session of torrid lovemaking followed by a deep sleep of some hours. Alex waved to some officers strolling with their
ladies; the scarlet uniforms and the rainbow colours of the ladies attire, a swirl of colour. She looked up to the snap and whip of the unfurled sails resplendent against an eggshell blue sky. Way above her, barefooted sailors scurried and climbed the magnificent masts.

Looking over, she clutched Alex's arm. 'Oh dear, look what the sailors are handing out as rations over there.' Shocked, she watched a row of soldiers, with their women and children, queued up for rations. 'I can't believe it. It is not nearly enough.'

Some of the passengers were cleanly dressed whilst others wore dirty rags. Children scampered around bare footed, laughing and shouting, whilst their mothers castigated them, their voices coarse, their language foul.

Alex took her arm. 'Come let us stroll the foredeck; they are not allowed there.'

'But Alex, the sailors are only handing out a lump of bread, and it looks like a pound of meat for each family. Surely, that can't be all.'

Alex grimaced. 'Those are the rations; some of them will bring
a bacon or ham joint, eels and herrings.'

'They can't eat raw meat, for goodness sake Alex.'

'There are provisions for them to cook. See those wooden boxes? They will use them for fires, and they have mounds of bricks to line them; those iron bars will contain the fire.'

'I can't believe it; surely, they could give them sufficient cooked food to eat?'

'How Isa, we have over a hundred soldiers, notwithstanding their wives and children. The ship's galley cannot cope with that number. The women will cook griddle cakes, so they fare well enough.'

Isa glared at him, 'No it is not enough - why we have left almost a whole table of good food go to waste in our stateroom -pigeon and chicken pies, roast pork chops, beef slices, lamb, mussels and shrimp. Oh dear God, I
can't believe it.'

'Oh come on Isa,
you've seen poverty before, what about the tenants on your estate - the villagers?'

They fare well; papa sees to that; they all have gardens to grow their own vegetables. Most of them have a cow and a pig, with chickens. Not many go hungry Alex. And they are cleanly dressed, the women with sparkling clean pinafores the men with their tunics and breeches.'

'Isa I cannot change this world for you. Come let us walk to the Captain's deck. It is more pleasant.'

'Hardly, why I shall go to our stateroom and gather all that good food up for these poor people.'

'Isa you cannot do that, tis unheard of, not protocol m'dear - not protocol.'

'Damn protocol, those children look half starved. How do you expect soldiers to fight on those rations?'

'Enough Isabella, tis not our concern.'

She flinched. When angry, he always called her by her full name. 'Tis mine. I shall speak to the Captain's wife; those people should be offered the remains of our table.' Shrugging off his restraining hand, she went to walk away, only for him to pull her to
him. 'Let go of me - let go.' She clenched her teeth, as she saw a couple stroll by. Alex gave the officer a tight smile and bow. When they were out of hearing distance, Isa seethed. 'Now just let go of me, those people are hungry; let me go or I'll kick you.'

Grimly, Alex hung on, determined now to take her back to the cabin. He
didn't see her foot coming, as she stamped down on his boot. He grimaced. 'You little—'

Isa flung him an angry stare, as she walked briskly to the steps leading below deck. Rapping on the Captain's door, she confronted Mistress Thompson. 'Ma'am I require your assistance.'

The woman bobbed a curtsey. 'Yes milady?'

'Can you get your men to gather up the residue of food in my state room, and share it out with those poor people on deck?'

'Oh milady, my dear Captain would not allow it. Tis not something we do milady.'

Lifting her chin imperiously, Isa said in tart tones. 'I insist, surely you can loan me two of your men to help me carry the food out there?'

'Milady, I have to ask the Captain's permission. I daren't go against him.'

'Then do so, ma'am.
At once.'

The woman tried once more to argue. 'Milady, they fare well enough, soon they will be cooking their meat over the fires;
then there will be griddle cakes for the children. Tis more than enough.'

'Griddle cakes? Is that all those children will eat today? I
can't believe it. We are to have a banquet again this evening besides the food we've already had, and these people almost starve. It can't be right.'

She heard the heavy tread of boots behind her, as Alex appeared. Seeing her redness of her cheeks, the tilt of the chin, he knew she would not stand down on this. Thinking quickly, he said, 'Maybe we could make this a special occasion. We could share the food out as a feast, in honour of our wedding. I'm sure you could go along with that Mistress Thompson?'

He saw the relief in the woman's face; that was something they could accommodate. 'La, that is a splendid idea my Lord. I shall go apprise the Captain of our intent.'

Isa spoke up, '
Whilst you do, would you also ask the other officers to share what remains of food they have in their staterooms?'

The woman dipped another curtsey. 'Yes certainly ma'am.'

As she bustled away to the Captain's stateroom, Alex looked down at Isa. 'Madam you provoke my ire. I hope we will not have a repetition if this. If I had known how feisty you could be over such a small matter I would not have brought you with me.'

'What?
Brought me with you? Don't patronize me, If you had not brought me on this voyage, there would have been no wedding. I can assure you of that.'

'So you would defy your parents?'

'Yes and they know it. Papa would not suffer any man to use me as a doll or some nitwit of a woman with cauliflower for a brain.'

'Then I will not take you to the camps, madam; you will reside at the hotels. Things are far worse in the camps than anything you see here.'

She spun round to him. Going on tiptoe, her nose just tipped his chin. 'Please desist now Alex, I have a right to be by your side, and I will not countenance anyone starving around us, whilst we feast on delicacies. Oh no.'

'Madam, I think you are in for a good spanking.'

'Hardly, I warn you now, if you lay a hand on me, I will leave you Alex, and I mean it.'

Raising his eyebrows, he lifted up his hands. '
Alright Isa, but please - please it is not me you will have to deal with if you continue to behave like this. The Commander will not tolerate any ruckus in the camps. You will be shipped off home under the care of an officer. Be warned.'

Huffing, she espied Mistress Thompson hurrying towards them. Curtseying, the woman said, 'seeing as it will be a wedding gift to the foot soldiers and their families, he accedes to your wishes.'

'Good, so now I will leave it in your good hands Mistress Thompson.'

When the woman was out of sight, Alex swiftly lifted his
willful bride in his arms, and despite her struggles, carried her to their room, kicking the door open, ignoring her fists on his shoulders and chin, he threw her on the bed. 'You will remain there madam until you promise me you will not repeat this.'

Isa's jade eyes glittered, 'Never.'

Sighing, he sat down by the table. 'In view of your disobedience, I promise you Isabella; this is the last time you ever accompany me on my commissions abroad. We have to make a good appearance to my fellow officers at the stateroom tonight, but besides that, I have nothing more to say to you'. He rose to his feet as he heard a tap on the door. Mistress Thompson hurried in followed by two burly sailors carrying baskets. Smiling now, the woman appeared excited. 'Oh milady, twill be a fine do. Why I can just see their faces when we bring out such luxuries. You have a kind heart milady - a kind heart. God Bless you.''

As the woman fluffed around, Alex sat in stony silence, his foot tapping the floor. He had a little vixen on his hands; he knew Isa had a feisty nature, but
she'd excelled herself today. He sighed, why the hell hadn't he brought a doxy with him?

Near to tears, Isa sat stiffly in the chair,
what on earth had she done? She'd tied herself to a tyrant. He'd shown no sign of this side of him during their long engagement. But then, he spent most of that time in the American and Peninsula wars. Fuming, she realized he had every right to use her as he would. She'd heard many women endured harsh words and beatings if they did not obey the husband's every whim. Lifting her chin, she determined to best him. He may be an earl but so was papa, and a powerful one.