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You shall perhaps not do it tomorrow.
Best, while you have it, use your breath;
There is no drinking after death!”
THIS DITTY WAS HEARD AS a brightly costumed jester pranced about on the open-air stage of no particular design and less beauty. He then found Lady Jessica’s deep violet eyes twinkling at him, and moved in her direction as he sang out the remainder of his song.
“Wine works the heart up, wakes the wit:
There is no cure ‘gainst age but it.
It helps the headache, cough and tisic,
And is for all diseases physic.”
He beamed, and Jessie giggled behind her gloved hand as she stepped nearer to the viscount. “Pauly, isn’t that the drollest verse?”
“Aye, and not fit for your ears, little girl,” Pauly returned, and turned to Rodrigo. “Ain’t that so?” Then not waiting for a reply, he proceeded with his lecture, feeling the weight of his job as a chaperone. “Your aunt won’t like you listening to such things. Come along.” However, it was at that moment he was diverted from his purpose and post, for he caught sight of a group of his cronies. They saw him in the same moment and hailed him. He went towards them in the crowd, saying he would return shortly, leaving Don Rodrigo to watch over Jessie.
“It looks like the viscount has met some friends. Why don’t we signal for him to catch up to us at his leisure?” Rodrigo said softly.
What was she going to do? Here she was, virtually alone, not counting the squeeze of people all around them, with her Spanish rogue. A tingle of anticipation shot up her spine. She noted in that moment that Rodrigo was contemplating her with unabashed amusement. She had no choice but to agree because she just couldn’t call Pauly away from his friends. “Yes, of course, if you can catch his attention.”
Don Rodrigo caught the viscount’s attention very well, and the viscount called out merrily, “Yes, yes, Rod ole boy, do take Jess along. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
Rodrigo took Jessie’s elbow in his firm but gentle grip as he guided her through and away from a crowd of ribald individuals. Softly, he told her, “Let’s leave these happy fellows to their own devices, shall we?”
“Oh yes,” she agreed.
“You know, I understand there will be fireworks at the riverside tavern in about twenty minutes. Why don’t we hire a small boat and get out of this squeeze?” he suggested.
She saw his twinkling eyes and sucked in her bottom lip before answering. “I am not sure it would be seemly to do so, sir.”
“Ah, the proprieties? And this atmosphere...?” He waved his gloved hand eloquently. “In the very heat of dirty people, the stench of cheap liquors, and bad tobacco...this is seemly?”
She laughed and inclined her head, admitting his point. “No, I rather think you are correct.”
“Believe me, spitfire, you and your reputation are safe with me on the river. I wouldn’t take you there if it were otherwise.” The tease in his voice and the sparkle of his dark eyes beguiled her.
Jessie laughed amicably. “Very well, then, if you think you can handle the oars.”
“Ah-ha, the lady challenges me once again. I am but your obedient servant.”
She felt his black eyes caress her as his hand moved down the length of her arm and found her gloved fingers. The pressure of his touch as his hand closed over hers was thrilling. She was all too aware of the affect this man had on her. She silently chastised herself. She was far too susceptible to his charms, his killer smile being high on that list.
Rodrigo sensed her confusion in that moment and was amused. He found everything about her enchanting. One moment, she enacted the sophisticated gentlewoman, and then suddenly retracted into the shy maiden. He loved the playfulness she exuded, and was thoroughly taken with Jessie, which, in turn, annoyed him.
The pride in the way she would put up her chin when she was annoyed made him want to bring her to her knees and bend her to his will, but this notion also irritated him. He didn’t want to break her spirit. In that moment, he discovered he liked her just the way she was.
However, too much about her teased him into lust, and he had never before been guided by lust. He was always in control, and yet...she challenged him. At moments like these, he wanted nothing more than to be in her company and know her even better.
Still, she was a woman, and he had learned early on that women were not to be trusted. They beguiled and spoke words that in the end meant nothing to them.
He pulled her along with him to the rough dockside overlooking the grey Thames River, and he felt her gloved fingers gently attempting to withdraw from his hand. He tightened his grip and smiled to himself. However, there was the matter of the rowboat, and the next few moments were spent haggling with the boatman over time and price. This done, he turned to Jessie, grinned, and feeling like a schoolboy said, “My lady, yonder awaits your yacht.”
Jessie giggled as she surveyed the weathered rowboat and the glinting silver sparkling in the river from the waning sunlight. “So, I see.” Jessie laughed out right. “But will my brave captain know just how to handle her?”
“He should since he captains something larger than this when he is not on land,” Rodrigo said with some pride.
