The events that follow are based on a true diary found. Honest. With a little bit o'poetic license. Let me know if you want more of our illustrious hero, and I'll read around the diary... ;o)
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The ship slipped steadily, stealthily, into dock. Midnight, perfect. Just how he always arrived, when no-one would see. That was his trademark.
The sun arose the next morning, gently warming the faces of the sailors sleeping on the decks. Each awoke, rubbed his eyes and began to his task. In his cabin, their Captain washed β splashing ice-cold water over his face, the perfect start to every morning β and dressed. Black leather trousers, black shirt, slightly open at the top, black leather jacket, high boots. And a little black ribbon to keep his flowing ginger hair back with style. Well, he did have an image to keep up.
Waving to his men he left the ship and wandered into market. He wandered between the rows of stalls, sampling an apple here, an oyster there. He was engrossed in the relative merits of a peach and a plum, trying to decide which he would devour for breakfast, when an alternative crossed the corner of his field of vision. He whipped round, and stood agog. There, on the other side of the market buying bread, she stood. He could make out the blue ribbon keeping the long auburn plait in place, the gentle curves that indicated her breasts, her tiny waist, her hips. Her torso was confined by a white shirt, her legs by a blue skirt, down to her delicate ankles disguised in small boots. As she turned round, she revealed her shirt to be quite low-cut, and he felt himself draw in breath, quite involuntarily, as she showed the tiniest hint of cleavage. And he looked up, and saw her face.
"You buying that, guv'?"
Snapping back round, he glared at the fruit-seller and left, still clutching the fruits. He turned back to follow her, but she was gone. Growling, he threw the fruit at the seller, with perfect aim.
It was mid-afternoon when he next got chance to leave his ship. Having dined elegantly, as was the custom, he supervised his men gathering in supplies, but his mind wasn't there. As soon as he could, he departed, angrily determined to find the woman who was preying on his mind so much. He was going to have her, hell or high water. And he usually got what he wanted.
It had been some time since he last landed on these shores. He seemed to recall a fight which had resulted in his men being ordered to leave the island. He didn't, of course. Men such as he didn't tale orders from mere councillors. Still, he was annoyed, and left the woman currently receiving the pleasure of his favours mid-groan, although not without throwing a few extra coins on the bedside. It wouldn't do to get that kind of bad name, now, would it?
As he wandered through the town he remembered the different women he had bedded there. Some half-recognised him in the street, scurrying along as they met his gaze and averted their eyes. They knew the anger that lived inside him, they knew how he could be. They knew him, alright.
Usually he would menace them, perhaps a glare, perhaps a sneer. He found it amusing. But today he didn't, he continued along his way, whistling under his breath. He soon found himself at one of his most frequent haunts β the aptly named "Gentleman's Pleasure." Swinging open the door, the receptionist greeted him with a coy smile. He briefly asked her where Janine was, his favourite. She gave him the key, and went upstairs.
Janine was ready for him. She lay seductively on the bed, draped in a silk cloth barely covering her modesty. She smiled, and her eyes fixed on him. He sauntered, trying to restrain the bulge he knew was becoming prevalent in his trousers. She stood to greet him, and the chemise fell off, revealing her tight, pert breasts and her perfectly smooth stomach. He shuddered as she placed her hands on his trouser-band and began to undo the buttons. He slapped her, hard, across the face, and she fell to the floor.
"I need information."
So that was who she was. No wonder she had been so stunning. Daughter of the Duke. Could be tricky. Still, could be fun.