Jean Pierre paced the dock nervously, a pretty young woman sat near by also worried, and she twisted a handkerchief in her hands. Her blonde hair caught loosely in a bun at the back of her neck, strands of hair, fell about her face giving her a childish look.
Jean Pierre looked at her and smiled, trying to look confident but he was getting more and more worried, where was Rober't? "Mon Dieu I wish he would hurry up!" he muttered under his breath. So far everything was going well, they had passage booked on the Chanteuse, a glorious looking ship, that was about to set sail for England. Their flight to Paris had been fraught with danger but they had made it with their lives, met up with Sophie who was also wanting to flee the revolution and go to England, with the Rober't and his love Marie, the four of them worked out a cover story, two young couples ready for their honeymoon in England, posing as aristocrats, they had stolen some of the better looking and expensive clothes, though not poor by any means they wanted to show that they had no financial worries, securing their passages aboard the ship.
They were all to meet on the dock well before the ship was due to leave but Rober't and Marie had not turned up, it was starting to get late, the first call for passengers to board had already happened. This was not looking good.
Finally Rober't appeared, he was bloodied and bruised, his clothes torn. He looked totally exhausted; he labored for each breath.
"Sacre Bleu! Rober't what has happened to you?" Jean Pierre cried out as he caught his friend and held him up a little, helping him onto the ship and out of sight. Gently he lowered him down on the hard bunk, Sophie found a bowl and some water, together they helped Rober't undress, Sophie screamed and paled almost fainting. A long ugly stab wound threaded its way just under his ribs; it seemed to narrowly miss his heart. He was covered in bruises and scrapes he was in a terrible mess with whatever had happened. Rober't tried to focus on Jean Pierre and Sophie but he was only able to see shadows.
"Jean Pierre?" he whispered as he finally let himself be claimed by the darkness of unconsciousness.
Gently Jean Pierre washed the wound and while he held Rober't upright Sophie wound a clean cloth around tightly, then they laid him down and finished cleaning the rest of his injuries.
Sophie admired his body as she cleaned Rober't but as she slyly snuck a look at Jean Pierre she realised the one she had truly fallen in love with. He was not as big or as powerful as Rober't and he had such a roguish quality about him that twinkle in his eye got her each time.
Rober't groaned and tried to roll over the pain stopping him from doing so, a light sheen of sweat broke out on his face, he looked as if he was starting to be consumed with fever.
Suddenly a bloodthirsty cry howled through the docks, hundreds of voices together screaming in absolute hysteria though it sounded like joy. Jean Pierre rushed up on deck to see what he could find out while Sophie stayed with Rober't. Moments later he came back his face as white as the sheets. Gravely he looked at Sophie then down at Rober't, "they just beheaded more, one of them appears to have been Marie!" he said simply as he sat down, shaking his head unbelievingly. Rober't squeezed his eyes tight, refusing to believe that the beautiful Marie was now dead. Lying headless waiting for an unmarked grave. His hand moved to his side, he had almost given his own life for her, now she was dead.
A light knock on the door, made the three of them jump but Sophie composed herself and answered it, "excuse moi Mademoiselle but we are about to set sail!" a young boy poked his head in the door way, bobbed quickly and disappeared. Moments later they heard the command from the Captain, the ship lurched and they were under way. Both Sophie and Jean Pierre heaved a huge sigh of relief at the same time. At least the three of them were safe, Jean Pierre turned his attention Rober't he lay quietly staring out to nowhere. Fever shone oh his face and grimaced with pain each time he tried to move. Confused Sophie sank down on a stool and buried her face in her hands sobbing, she was trying so hard to be strong, but with Rober't hurt so bad and with their own deceptions in leaving it had all become to much for her and she crumpled. Jean Pierre went over and took her into his arms hugging her tight. "Ssshhh Mon Cherie, hush don't cry, we are going to be safe very soon, we will be in England and starting a new life!" he whispered, gently he took her tear stained face in his hands and tenderly kissed her tears away. Rober't turned his face away, holding back tears of his own, he could still see Marie's angry face, as they argued. She didn't want to leave Paris and her life there, Rober't only wanted to take her to a safe life, he wanted a life for them together in England. Her pretty features contorted with rage as she turned and walked away from him to the waiting arms of another man. Dressed in finery and silks, a powdered white wig balanced perfectly on his head. Rober't turned once more to Marie, determined to make her see that he was right, that she needed to listen to him, to go with him. Then a hand and a flash of steel, a piercing pain and the unholy blackness took over him. He turned his tear stained face away from the others, thinking of the tragic Marie, she was now dead, the man who had tried to kill him was free and here Rober't was alone, hurt and on his way to a new world he knew nothing of.
Trying to shut his eyes and sleep was so hard for Rober't every time he did he saw her face, felt her touch, her kiss.
Sophie touched Rober't on the arm but he shrugged her hand away and continued to look towards the wall. Not wanting to talk or to even acknowledge their presence in the cabin. He wanted to withdraw from the world and give up.
"Jean Pierre I am worried about Rober't" Sophie whispered as she sat down next to him, "I think he wants to die!"
"Oh Rober't he was always the romantic!" Jean Pierre muttered "he wants to die over every girl he loses!" standing up he went over and grabbed his big friend's shoulder forcing him to roll over and look at him. "Rober't time to stop feeling sorry for yourself, snap out of it man!" Rober't reached over and gripped Jean Pierre's hand tightly almost snapping every bone in it.
"Leave me alone Jean Pierre!" he ground out, anger flashing in his blue eyes.
"Why so you can lie there all the way to England feeling sorry for yourself?" Jean Pierre scoffed sitting down on the bed making Rober't acknowledge him. "Talk to me Rober't tell me what happened with the two of you!" Jean Pierre tried his hardest to break the melancholy that had seemed to take over his friend. Rober't looked at him and shook his head sadly,
"She died Jean Pierre, she died!" he said quietly.
"What happened to you?" Jean Pierre insisted keeping him talking only seemed to be the way to keep Rober't from totally withdrawing into himself.
"He tried to stop her from coming with me, he wanted me dead so he could have Marie to himself! Now she is dead and he is out there somewhere, running free!" Rober't spat out his anger spilling over finally.
Jean Pierre shook his head and persisted with his questions, he needed to find out what had happened. Sophie became even paler as she sat in silence listening to Rober't, oh if he only knew it is too much but how would she tell him.
"Rober't who, who is the man?" Jean Pierre asked thinking of many men who were after both him and Rober't for little things that they had done and gotten away with. Monsieur Picore is one, would he use a young woman like Marie to get at them.
"He said he was her lover Jean Pierre, but I am ……. I was her lover she wanted to spend the rest of her life with me not him!" the words came out thick and fast then Rober't closed his eyes and feigned sleep the truth was too much for him to think about. Jean Pierre watched his friend finally appear to relax with sleep.Suddenly tired himself he decided to get some fresh air, standing he stretched and went over to Sophie, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek he went out to go on deck for a while.
On deck he breathed in the salty air of the ocean a chilly wind cut through him but he didn't mind because it helped him clear his thoughts. Something just didn't seem right with what Rober't had told him, he never did trust Marie and now something just didn't work out.
Sophie came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, the longer she was with this little man, the more she had realised that she loved him.
"What is bothering you Mon amour?" she asked in his ear, "Rober't is resting comfortably!" she added thinking it was concern for his friend that made him so quiet. Jean Pierre turned and took her face in his hands, smiling he kissed her gently, savoring the taste of her lips.
"You knew Marie, does what Rober't say make sense?" he asked between kisses. Suddenly Sophie pulled away and looked out over the sea, England was in the dark distance getting closer with each minute, France was now just a speck on the horizon, she finally felt free.
"Sophie?" Jean Pierre asked; now she was keeping things from him just like Rober't. "tell me Cherie I can't help him if I don't know what is going on!" he insisted.
"I cannot tell you everything Mon Amour but I can tell you that Marie was not innocent, that the man who says was her lover, most likely was! Oh Jean Pierre I wish I could tell you but I cannot, she was not who she seemed to be!" Sophie finished sadly, a lone tear escaped down her cheek, "Rober't was probably just one of her victims, he could not giver her what she wanted so she moved on with someone else, she was my friend, but truthfully Jean Pierre he is better off without her!" Sophie finished, turning she gasped in horror, standing behind them, gripping his side, was a pale Rober't he had heard everything Sophie had told Jean Pierre. Rage contorted his handsome face, terrifying her, with a sob Sophie pushed past them and fled to the comfort of the cabin.
Jean Pierre eased Rober't down onto a large barrel and then sat on the step next to him frantically he tried to think of something to say to ease his friends anger and hurt.
"Rober't……!" he started but was silenced by the look of anger he was faced with.
"Jean Pierre, I knew Marie, she did love me!" Rober't insisted, "Sophie has it wrong!"
"Ah my friend I am not sure what to believe to tell you the truth!" Jean Pierre wanted so desperately to tell Rober't that he agreed with him, that Marie was who he had thought she was, but he couldn't do it "tell me what happened when you got stabbed, please Rober't it is important!"
"Marie and I were arguing, he had her convinced to stay in France, but she wanted to come with me!"" Rober't started slowly the scene was again playing before his eyes. "He was there in the background, she started to cry, I……I took her hand tried to take her with me, she pulled away, she………….she screamed something I am not sure now, I walked away……..Jean Pierre I walked away from her!" the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks as he remembered what had happened. "Then I turned to tell her that I loved her once more and to ask her to leave with me, she was so angry, I remember………..the knife……….pain……..she was laughing…………Mon Dieu Jean Pierre she was laughing then I remember waking up at the bottom of a small cliff, all I could think of what making my way to the ship!" Rober't turned his ghostly white face to Jean Pierre, "They tried to kill me and she was laughing!" he cried out.
Jean Pierre looked at his friend with pity and a deep sadness for his friend. They had been through so much together, now this was something that was totally beyond him.
"Do you have any idea who he was Rober't?" he asked gently, not wanting to upset his friend anymore.
"Non I don't I……….it was that Monsieur Momont the one with the horses!" Rober't rasped as the realisation hit him. He looked up at Jean Pierre with haunted eyes, the man that wanted Marie was the horse man, whose beaten horse I took!" Rober't shuddered and turned his attention to the stormy looking sky, "I wanted to beat him for what he did to that animal!"
"But Rober't Monsieur Momont is one of the wealthiest men in the province, why would he worry about you and Marie?" Jean Pierre asked trying to piece everything together in his mind.
"I was going to let everyone know who and what he was, do something Jean Pierre, he treats everyone like dirt!" anger started to build up in Rober't he paced the deck impatiently, the more he thought about it the more he had decided that Marie was innocent. She was just part of a dangerous game, that ended her life so quickly.
A shadowy figure watched the two men talking , even in their provincial French he could make out most of what they were saying, slyly he slid closer trying to hear everything, his attention caught totally when they mentioned Monsieur Momont and Marie. This was exactly what he was waiting to hear. Without being noticed he went and reported his findings below decks. Rober't turned and started to walk away from Jean Pierre, "I need sometime for myself Jean Pierre, don't worry I will be fine!" he said over his shoulder as he made his way to the other end of the ship, needing to think and to be alone for a while.
Rober't tried to get the image of the knife out of his mind, she was just a pawn in a nasty game he needed to believe that or his love died with her and he would be left without any thing left inside. Jean Pierre watched him a look of concern on his handsome face. There was something so bad, so wrong it made him shudder to try and think of what Rober't had gotten himself into. All because of one woman.
Rober't shook his head and tried to clear his mind a little, she was dead that was it, he had to get over it and move on. Pain hit then, sharp and mind numbing. Time to rest again he had decided. Slowly with the movements of an old man Rober't made his way back to the cabin he shared with Jean Pierre and Sophie.
Sophie looked up at Rober't silently as he came in the room, she noticed immediately the bloodstain on his side, the wound had reopened again. "Please Rober't sit down, let me look at that wound!" she pointed to the bed, with out much thought to it, Rober't sat down and let Sophie minister to his wounds, then he eased himself down gently ready for sleep.
Sophie cleared up a little then went up to the deck, in search of Jean Pierre. Just outside the cabin, she walked into a man, looking up she smiled and started to apologise until she saw his face. "You ………..what are you doing here?" she asked horrified.
"You are not doing your job Sophie!" the man hissed roughly he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her around a corner to a hidden spot, pushing her against the wall he leaned forward until she could smell his acrid breath on her face. He smiled savagely and kissed her hard on the mouth. "Remember what you are here to do woman!" he said menacingly,
"I am not going to do anything anymore for you or for the Master!" Sophie sobbed trying to wrench free, "You can tell him that for me, I am not going to be part of his plans!"
"You will do what your Master bids, you silly little fool, he is already waiting for them and for you in England, he will be there when we arrive!"
"Why? Why Rober't? Why Jean Pierre, what have they done that is so bad that the Master wants to destroy them so badly…….Marie is dead, Rober't is hurt, they are fleeing France what else can he do to them?"
"Those men you are travelling with are nothing but common thieves who thought that they could do want they want and get away with it! The Master will never allow anyone to make a fool of him and get away with it! You should know that better than anyone Sophie, do you want to end up like Marie, executed for being a common little tramp and thief?"
Sophie stared horrified at him, her eyes growing wider, but her love for Jean Pierre was still there, she could not hide from that anymore, "they are not what the Master says, he doesn't know them!"
"Non Sophie it is you who doesn't know the Master, fear him woman and do your job!" the strange little man hissed then he turned on his heels and disappeared into the shadows.
Sophie dropped to her knees sobbing, it was all becoming too much for her, it seemed so simple at first and with the promise of freedom waved in front of her she jumped at the chance, a simple deception and that was it. She never thought she would fall in love, she never dreamt it would end in the execution of Marie, of Rober't suffering such horrific injuries and now they are watched and followed all the way to England.
"Mon Dieu Sophie?" Jean Pierre cried out rushing to her, he had been searching for her for nearly an hour throughout the ship, "are you alright, are you hurt, did someone do something to you?" the questions came tumbling out as he took in her bedraggled appearance and tear stained face.
"Oh Jean Pierre, I……I….I!" Sophie hiccuped and tried to tell him she wanted to tell him everything but she needed Rober't there as well, to tell the two of them together "where is Rober't? I need to explain something to the both of you!"
"He is resting in the cabin, oh my little flower what is it?" Jean Pierre gathered her into his arms and held her tight, Sophie clung to him tightly her resolution becoming firmer she had to warn them.
"Please Jean Pierre, let us go to the cabin I need to talk to both of you!" Sophie pulled away and started to slowly make her way to their shared cabin.
Nervously she waited for Jean Pierre to rouse Rober't and to make him more comfortable, then she paced the cabin searching for the right way to start.
"Please, let me tell you everything first, and then say something !" she started slowly, "I don't think I can get it all out!" the two men looked at each other and then at Sophie expectantly, their curiosity piqued.
"First I never meant any of this to happen, the Master said it would be simple, for me to become friends with you and to find out what you plan and where you go. I never knew about Marie, she was my friend, I didn't know that he talked her into trying to kill you. It would have been him who had her taken to the guillotine after she had done everything for him. Now I am to spy on you and let him know everything, he plans on killing you Rober't! I don't know exactly what you did to him but he hates you enough to want to destroy you!"
"What do you mean Marie tried to kill me it was him, the Monsieur she was with, it was not Marie!" Rober't cried out jumping up, flashes of what had happened went through his mind, the knife bearing down on him, Marie's laugh, his yelling. Surely she didn't enjoy what she did, was she that intoxicated by him?
Jean Pierre tugged gently on Rober'ts' arm, "sit down my friend and let Sophie finish what she was telling us!" he said quietly. "Just who is this Monsieur Sophie? Who is this Master of yours?"
"His name is Monsieur Phillipe DuGont he is a Master and Lord of La Gaucon, you tried to take a horse of his Rober't, you accused him of unmentionable things with the horses, you dared to stand up to him! Maybe that is why you have angered him so much, Marie was a free woman, she was his Mistress for many years, that is how I became friendly with her, she visited the Master constantly." Sophie sank down onto the bed suddenly very tired, she turned her sad eyes to Rober't. "He sent her to you. She did whatever the Master wanted, and he kept her as an aristocrat, with silks and finery she had everything she desired, he barely asked anything of her except to be there when he needed her!" Sophie kept her eyes on Rober't trying to get her point across to him. "He used her then he threw her away Rober't, she used you to get what she wanted from him, please don't mourn for her anymore think of yourself and what is in store for you!" she begged him.
"NO I don't believe you!" Rober't cried out as he stormed out of the cabin, disappearing into the darkness of the night up on the deck.
Jean Pierre watched Sophie for a moment trying to work out who she was and what she was doing with them. "So Sophie, tell me was everything else a lie?"
Sophie stared at him for what seemed to be a long time then she jumped up and ran to him, kneeling in front of him she placed her hands on his legs and stared up into his eyes.
"Please believe me Jean Pierre, it started out so simple, but now. I love you Jean Pierre I never thought I would fall in love with you! Please believe me Jean Pierre I don't want to lose you!"
Jean Pierre regarded her gravely for a moment, but then he felt his resolves disappear and he took her by the arms and pulled her towards him. Gently he kissed her and smiled, "Ah Mon Chere don't cry anymore we will work something out so the Monsieur DuGont will not hurt any of us anymore!" Sophie tried to smile but she was so confused and sad. Jean Pierre gathered her into his arms and sat her on his knee. "Now enough of the tears Cherie it is time to be strong, Rober't needs both of us to be here for him, the boat will be docking in England soon. We must prepare for anything that may happen!"
"I don't deserve you!" Sophie whispered as she threw her arms around Jean Pierre's neck and hugged him tight.
Rober't leaned against the railing and let the sea wind blow on his face cooling him down. A large full moon lit the deck and reflected off the water giving everything an eerie glow.
Movement behind him made him spin around ready to attack. He faced a pointy nosed little man, with greasy hair and dark pock marked oily skin. Rober't automatically put his hand up and blocked the blow, knocking the heavy piece of wood out of his attackers hand. His anger now released Rober't picked the little man up and went to toss him overboard like a sack of wheat.
"Please no Monsieur!" the attacker screamed clawing at Rober't.
"Who are you?" Rober't growled as he lowered him enough to meet his eyes, "what do you want?"
"I am no one Monsieur, my name is Claude. My Master sent me to stop you from reaching England!"
"Why little man?" Rober't had more thoughts of making this little weasel fish bait.
"I….I don't know please Monsieur I only to what I am told to do!" Claude begged for his life until he saw Rober't relent a little, he flicked his hand out and a small dagger appeared from seemingly no where. The blade sliced down, cutting into Rober'ts' arm. Cursing Rober't dropped Claude for a moment then he uttered a low growl and toppled the little man over the side of the boat.
Rober't pushed his way through the crew as they gathered to see if they could get a glimpse of the little man trying to swim. Staggering he made his was back to the cabin.
Finally the boat docked limping and pale Rober't made his way ashore first, followed closely by Sophie and Jean Pierre, they moved quickly through the crowds looking for an empty coach to take them away as soon as possible.
With stunted English Jean Pierre gave directions to the cabby and then the three weary travelers settled themselves into the back of the cab. Totally withdrawn Rober't barely noticed the English landscape or the varied people on the docks. Soon they seemed to be on the open road and what seemed to be freedom at long last.
Jean Pierre tried to look confident, the money they had conned and stolen should set them up with a good piece of land and cottage, but that was all, he was still worried about how they would support themselves without turning back to petty thievery and con tricks.
Suddenly the coach jerked to a halt. Annoyed Jean Pierre went to stick his head outside the door when he was greeted with the barrel of a pistol.
A masked and armed horseman held them at bay while another tried to take their money and valuables. Rage filled Rober't, he was so tired of it all, with a roar he leapt towards the highwayman and knocked him off is horse. Savagely he ripped the mask off and exposed the thief. "Mon Dieu you are a woman!" he exclaimed in shock.
"Get off me you French oaf!" she snapped pushing him off. "Hand over all of your money!"she finished with a false bravado.
Rober't stood up and laughed leaning down he offered her a hand and helped her up, it felt good to do something physical but he felt the familiar pain and tear as he opened the wound in his side once again. Cursing he gripped his side and sat down on the step of the coach. "Go ahead Mademoiselle we have no money or valuables so you are welcome to whatever we have!" he grunted tired and sore.
The stranger looked at Rober't and then at the others, they all looked tired and fed up, damn why did she care so much for the down and out of luck people she tried to rob. It was starting to seem like they were the only ones who were traveling the highways. "I don't believe I am saying this but where are you heading Frenchie? Do you have anywhere to go?"
"Ah Mademoiselle we have a small parcel of land that we purchased before we left France, it took all we had to pay for it, somewhere called the Mistone Moors?" Jean Pierre spoke up, climbing down from the carriage to stand next to Rober't. "Do you know where that is?"
"You bought land on the Moors? oh my...." she started to laugh so hard that she had to sit down, "oh my French friends you have a lot to learn the land doesn't exist it is all marsh and moorlands there, no solid land to settle on!" rubbing her hand down her pants, she held it out to greet them formally, "well my name is Jayne, this is my domain if you will!" she made a sweeping gesture with her hands, "all of God's good lands here are my home, so you want to settle down in England huh?"
"Bonjour Mademoiselle, I am Jean Pierre, this big oaf is mon ami Rober't and mon Cherie Sophie is in the carriage, what do you suggest we do now then?" Jean Pierre tried to sound cheerful, but he looked lost and dejected as he sat down next to Rober't on a rock. Jayne looked from one to the other and then to the poor lost looking young woman in the carriage, the haunted look on her face tore at Jayne's heart. She was just to good hearted for this kind of life. Throwing some silver coins to the carriage driver she helped them lift down their cases and told them to follow her.
They soon arrived at a small manor house slightly in disrepair but still quite liveable. Rober't moved slowly and carefully, regarding this strange woman in silence. She had raven black hair and dark coloured skin, almost like a gypsy but she had the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Tall and lithe, her head came to just above his shoulders. She moved with a gracefullness that belied her masculine appearance. Tossing her guns and sword on a sofa she gestured for them to put their things down and make themselves comfortable, shaking her hair loose from the plait and bun she had it up in, Jayne made her way up the rickety stairs to her rooms. Jean Pierre moved over to Rober't who continued to stare up the stairs after Jayne. "Ah Rober't she might have a few things we could.....well it is ripe for the picking!" he chuckled his eyes lit up with a familar glint.
"Non not this time Jean Pierre!" Rober't replied quietly. He did not quite trust this English woman yet, but she was the only one who they could use at the moment. It was starting to look as if England was going to be no better than France.