One: Aboard the
Roi de Soleil
Captain Beaumont of the French ship
Roi du Soleil
lifted the crystal goblet of wine and stood as he proposed a toast.
"To a safe journey home, and to our lovely guest," he offered to the ship's officers assembled around the sumptuous dining table. "A lovelier ray of sunshine has never graced our humble ship."
He bowed his head in the direction of the Duchess de Montfort. She was indeed a stunningly beautiful woman. No doubt that fact explained at least in part her popularity in the court at Versailles. Her features were delicate and aristocratic, with striking green eyes and silken light auburn hair. Her lips were full and gave her mouth the appearance of a slight pout. Her alabaster skin was smooth and unblemished, at least in part a result of her unusual habit of bathing frequently, and she eschewed the heavy make-up favored by other women at court who were not similarly blessed with perfect complexions. The tightly corseted mounds of her splendid bosom were barely contained within the bodice of her elegant gown, a sight that surely enhanced the spell under which she charmed the gathering. She acknowledged the captain's compliment with a polite inclination of her pretty head as the officers stood and raised their glasses to her.
"I must say we are all most impressed with your bravery and grace in undertaking this voyage, Madame," Beaumont continued after the men resumed their seats. "Not many women would have the courage you have shown."
"
Merci, Capitaine,
" the Lady replied. "I have always wanted to visit my holdings in the New World, and when you offered your ship to me and my entourage I was pleased to accept. It has been a most enlightening journey. I had the greatest confidence in your assurance that we were in no danger from buccaneers on this voyage, and you have proved true to your word."
As they spoke the first course of the meal, turtle soup, was placed before them.
"Precisely, Madame. Those dogs would not dare to attack a ship of this size and armament. We could sink any of their meager vessels in a trice," the dauntless captain boasted.
"Well, it would be only what the animals deserve," she said. "Hanging is too good for them. I have heard that they commit unspeakable acts on their victims. I understand that you have brought more than your share of the beasts to the gallows."
"Madame is too kind, but I do admit to having made some small contribution to the safety of these seas," he replied. In fact he had brought a couple of minor captured pirates to justice, but the stories of his exploits had become somewhat embellished by the time they traveled back to France and circulated around the court. Beaumont had certainly done nothing to disabuse people of their grandiose impressions, which made him quite popular with the ladies of the French nobility.
Beaumont had had his sights set on the Duchess de Montfort since her husband, the Duke, had died in a riding accident les than two years earlier. Lady Therese du Maurier had been eighteen years old when she married the Duke de Montfort, a wealthy and powerful man of fifty-six. They had only been married for four months and had barely consummated their marriage when he met his untimely end. After a dutiful year in mourning she had emerged as a bright star at Versailles. The ease with which she had made the transition from newly grieving young widow to a center of attention at court caused a considerable amount of gossip among the nobility. Of course, gossip and intrigue were the lifeblood of the court at Versailles, and envy of her wealth as well as her beauty undoubtedly fueled the rumors. But she was, in fact, self-centered and ambitious, planning to increase her fortune while strengthening her influence at court. The highest ranking of the aristocracy had been pursuing her assiduously since her return from mourning, but she was considered to be haughty and unapproachable. The spoiled princess manipulated her suitors shamelessly, and discarded the undeserving like a soiled handkerchief. Attracted by her fortune and her looks, Beaumont believed he could succeed where the less worthy had failed. His reputation as a dashing sea captain and pursuer of buccaneers made him the envy of men and the object of female ardor.
As the plates were removed and the next course was served, the Duchess de Montfort remarked,
"My compliments on your cook. Are all of the King's navy so well provisioned?"
"Sadly, no, Madame. We obtained this man as a matter of the purest luck," he said, indicating the fellow carrying one of the trays of plates. "At our last port of call our cook went ashore for provisions and never returned. Whether that was the result of rum or foul play I cannot say. But further evidence of the fact that the good Lord favors the French came in the form of this man, who presented himself at the dock and inquired as to whether we might have a berth for an honest cook. Since we were to sail within the hour we gladly took him aboard. I'm pleased you find his work satisfactory."
"Indeed, quite so," the Lady said. "Could you have him come over?"
"
Mais oui, Madame
," replied the Captain. "You, Cook, come here. The Duchess wishes to speak with you," Beaumont ordered.
"
A votre service, mon Capitaine
," the man responded as he quickly obeyed.
The Duchess regarded the tall, handsome man and commented, "He doesn't look much like a cook. All my cooks are red-faced and fat."
"It must be the life at sea," the Captain chuckled.
"How long have you been a cook, fellow?" she asked.
"Since I were but a boy, yer Ladyship," he said, bowing as he spoke.
"Well, the food is satisfactory," she offered, "so far."
"Thank you most kindly, your Ladyship," he bowed again.
Having finished with him, she returned to her plate without further comment. The Captain took the hint.
"You're dismissed, Cook," he ordered.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," the cook backed away, bowing again.
"There's something odd about that fellow," the Duchess remarked, "but his cooking is worthy."
Resuming their conversation about the activities of the sea rovers in the Caribbean she prompted,
"Tell me about your perilous battles with the pirates, Captain."
"Oh, no, Madame, modesty forbids. I am only doing my duty," he demurred.
"Well, is it true then, what they say about the horrors to which their captives are subjected?"
"They are indeed cruel brutes, Madame. I'm afraid the account of their vile acts would be much too shocking for your delicate sensibilities," the Captain warned.
"Have you ever heard of the buccaneer Antoine Renoir, Captain?" she asked. "It is said he is particularly diabolical in his treatment of female prisoners. And I've heard he is quite a formidable
maitre des armes
."
"Well, I don't know about his swordsmanship, but most of the tales of pirate exploits are highly exaggerated, Madame. My guess is that if this Renoir exists at all he is probably a filthy brute who has merely benefited from
bonne chance
so far. When his luck runs out he will end up on the gallows like all the rest."
"Well, as I said, hanging is too good for them. I dare say they deserve to be drawn and quartered," she said. The Captain thought he detected a note of eagerness in her tone when she said 'drawn and quartered'.
She added, "Perhaps we shall see Captain Renoir or some of the other beasts on this voyage, and have an opportunity to watch you dispatch them to the bottom of the sea."
