Lady Ritzdale sits on the observation deck, she takes a sip of her tea. Its assam today, it is fashionable to drink earl grey like the king but like everything in life, she prefers something a little bolder, more intense. The voyage has taken four weeks so far, not long now. She is a long way from her little Welsh mining village near Milford Haven now. Geoffrey, her sweet heart is probably in the study reading a little Jane Sharpe or persuading the washer woman to give him fellatio.
She is bored of playing chess with Mr Charlsworth, she stares at him almost with contempt while he obtusely ponders and re-ponders his next move, all the while twisting his long thin white moustache as though he is winding up a clockwork mouse. She puts the tea cup back on the saucer and takes a look into the tea leaves, they have formed into a row of thin black strips all in the same direction. She squints at them, they almost look like black rose petals.
He finally makes his move, the king and the rook swap places and the trap is sprung. "Checkmate I believe Mr Charlswroth." Just then Mr Wilson approaches with a small piece of blotting paper in his hand. He whispers into Mr Charsworth's ear and then looks up at her while Charsworth slips him a five pound note. "Terribly sorry."
"Miss Ritzdale." She rolls her eyes. "Lady Ritzdale, Mr Wilson." Mr Wilson rests his hand on the brass butt of his plasma pistol. "Yes of course... would you like to explain to me why one of the crew has found a loaded elephant gun in your room madam."
"Is it illegal to own a gun now Mr Wilson?"
"No but I am in charge of security and it is against regulation to have weapons on board the ship unless they are securely stored in the hold." She grins as she strokes the pocket pistol strapped to her thigh while she caresses her chest with her other. Mr Wilson's eyes are immediately drawn to her ample chest.
Charsworth knows better than that and keeps an eye on her other hand. "Oh Mr Wilson.... I'm terribly sorry, I was just cleaning it, I'll have James put it in my hold trunk at once." Mr Charlesworth gives her a dirty look knowing full well that she is just playing innocent. "I have had it sent to the vault for safe keeping. here is your combination madam." He hands her the piece of blotting paper with a six digit number printed on it. "Thank you." She says begrudgingly.