The following story is going to be at least a 10-parter, with each chapter in a different category. If you enjoy this story, I'm afraid you'll have to go find each part. Hope it's worth it.
Part 1: Non-Erotic.
Part 2: First Time
Part 3: Loving Wives
Part 4: Exhib & Voy
Part 5: Lesbian
Part 6: Interracial
Part 7: Letters and Transcripts
Part 8: Romance
The Anvil made for the southern coast of France. Around mid September, she found a port and docked. The port was run by a harbormaster who was willing, for a price, to forget that the Anvil was docked there.
William left a few of his crew in the harbor town, and then headed inland. They arrived at Charlotte's home about two days later. As soon as she arrived, a middle-aged man came running down to meet her. Then he just threw his arms around Charlotte. William just stood back puzzled.
When she finally got loose from the man's embrace, she introduced him as Lord Pierre Duvalier. Pierre had been her father's dearest friend. When he got over the astonishment of seeing Charlotte, he told her how sorry he was to hear about her father. It had been such a tragedy, a random robbery taking such a good man.
Pierre was still trying to console his old friend's daughter, when she began to tell him the most astounding story. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Lord Andre wouldn't dare. But apparently he had. And he had murdered his old friend. A fire lit in the man's eyes. A fire that hadn't been there in a long time.
Lord Duvalier had no family. He had been married many years ago, but his beautiful wife had died in childbirth, and the baby hadn't survived. Despairing of life and seeing no purpose in his, he had met Charlotte's father. The man had treated Pierre like a brother, and when Charlotte was born, it was like she was his daughter as well.
Six years later, when Charlotte's mother had died, it had been Pierre who consoled his dear friend. He convinced him to live on. If not for himself, than for Charlotte. Over the years, the two men had become inseparable. Now, finding out that his dear friend had been murdered was too much for the good man to stand. He would avenge Francois, if it was the last thing he did.
In the meantime, however, the estate had to be put back into order. With the Count dead, and no heir around, running the estate had fallen to Bridget Ribot. Bridget was in her mid-forties and had been the head servant on the estate for years. In fact, Charlotte couldn't remember a time when the woman hadn't been around. She was honest and efficient, and Charlotte had honestly never heard anyone say a bad word about her.
Actually, the reason that Charlotte couldn't remember a time before Bridget was simply that Bridget had been with her father since before Charlotte was born. She'd actually been a friend of Charlotte's mom, and when she and Francois had been married, she had convinced her new husband to employ Bridget. It was a favor that the count had never regretted. Bridget had been a loyal friend, and an efficient servant from that day forward. Within two years she had been given control of the entire staff, and had kept it in her capable hands.
Now, with her master dead, she had done what she could to keep the estate together. And she had done a fantastic job. Under her leadership, the servants had been paid, the work had been kept up, and the house and lands had been kept out of disarray. Bridget was delighted to see Charlotte. Now with the heir returned, the estate would remain stable.
Pierre wanted to go immediately to Paris and report what they knew to the king. But Charlotte begged him to stay for a while. She had been gone long enough, that she was unfamiliar with some of the people the estate dealt with now. She needed Pierre to introduce her to people and also to help William get acquainted with the area.
Reluctantly, Pierre agreed to stay in the area through the end of the year. He did get one bonus out of it. Bridget. Bridget was a marvel. Oh she might not be a young maid any longer, and honestly she was a bit plump now. But she was still a fine figure of a woman with beautiful blonde hair, and just a pleasure to be around.