Sailors In Silk, Chapter 9B free porn video

Sailors in Silk, Chapter 9 ? By{ Beverly Taff List of Characters. Myself: Madeleine, a very effeminate and pretty she-male who is vigorous and entire. Elizabeth: My erstwhile long term sapphic partner. Azure: Our wise Moorish doctor and herbalist. Thomasina: Once called Timothy a deck boy who was injured and castrated by an exploding cannon. Davinia: Once called David but also injured and castrated by the same exploding cannon. Najanga: An African Princess, freed from a slave trading ship. Axetl: A bisexual Amazonian shaman who left her tribe to join our lesbian crew. Trysta: An escaped Cornish Bondswoman rescued by us whilst being hunted Sally: Trysta?s partner, an African slave girl who escaped with Trysta. Eric: Elizabeth?s older brother who was rescued from a pirate attack. We spent the rest of that afternoon rendering assistance to the crews of the rescued ships. After stabilizing Elizabeth?s brother, Azure dealt with the naval officer who had suffered one serious wound to his left arm and a couple of other lesser sword wounds. He had fought well for we had seen him surrounded by several pirates as we had approached the fight. He was shocked to learn that all his rescuers were female but compelled to offer his thanks as he watched us tending expertly to his crew. The man was obviously a caring capable commander despite his apparent youth. His gratitude showed clearly as several of his injured crew showed clear signs of recovery when his own surgeon had expressed little hope for their wounds. ?My surgeon was even going to cut my own arm off! What you?ve done is amazing. How did you stop the bleeding; and the pain is gone!? ?There are many people better skilled and more learned than your stupid butchers,? snapped Azure, ?We are not all savages! Take that girl there, Axetl, she has probably forgotten more about medicines than your surgeon will ever learn.? The lieutenant fell silent for he was forced to agree with Azure. The evidence lay all around him. Men who had been moaning and writhing in pain, were now lying peacefully and still whilst their terrible wounds were being treated. Once his remaining cuts were bandaged were dressed the young lieutenant spoke again to Azure. ?Who is the commander of this strange fleet?? he asked. ?Me,? replied Elizabeth simply and softly as she approached the pair. ?But you- you- and your crew! You are all women!? ?Not all. Several are eunuchs who have been cruelly robbed by accident or slavery or foreign custom. They have joined us voluntarily.? ?Are you all volunteers?? ?Yes and free women. You?ll find no bondswomen here.? ?How strange. How do you survive?? ?I would have thought that was obvious,? sighed Elizabeth, ?We trade with our ships, just like your merchantman. Is it not obvious that we are well armed and able to defend ourselves.? The lieutenant nodded his head and viewed the deck, which was now covered with his, and the merchantman?s wounded. ?I?ll have to do a headcount. Some of my crew were definitely killed.? ?Be my guest,? offered Elizabeth, ?We?ve counted eight dead. You were lucky we arrived when we did.? She spoke ?matter-of-factly? as though counting dead was all in a days work. The lieutenant eyed her curiously as he tried to make sense of it all. ?Indeed, indeed we were! I thank you again,? he replied, once more reinforcing his gratitude. Elizabeth glanced towards Azure?s laboratory that had become the operating theatre. She nodded towards the man on the table without betraying any sign of concern. ?My doctors tell me that he?s the captain of the merchant ship. He is severely wounded. It?s a deep wound in his lower abdomen and genitalia,? observed Elizabeth. ?Sadly yes. We don?t hold much hope for him. Pity to lose him.? ?He?s not dead yet. My two surgeons are a remarkable pair. One is a Chinese eunuch with much to teach us and the other is this remarkable Moorish lady Azure. Both of them are infinitely better than your typical naval butcher. Additionally we have an excellent Amazonian apothecary who knows many herbal cures.? ?Really. I?ve heard that some of these foreign peoples seem to be quite well educated.? Elizabeth sighed with frustration. ?Here was yet another arrogant, blinkered Anglo Saxon chauvinist.? She would be glad to be rid of them but she still wondered about her brother and she was secretly worried. The lieutenant took his leave and went to assess his losses whilst Elizabeth went to her cabin and took stock of her own circumstances. Eventually, Azure appeared in her doorway and entered without knocking. ?Your brother is over the worst. He should live, but I?m afraid he will never be a father. He will have vigour but no seed.? Elizabeth shrugged resignedly. ?It?s no matter to me. He can return home with our father?s ship and explain that to our father. He will father no grandchildren to continue the family name and fortune.? Azure nodded slowly. She knew all about the customs of Sallic law. It was every bit as oppressive to Western Women as Sharia law could be to Muslim women. However, as a Muslim she at least enjoyed her own property rights, even after marriage. She returned to the immediate issue of Elizabeth?s brother. ?He?s going to need some care before I return him to the tender mercies of those crude western butcher surgeons. We won?t be able to release him for several days. The dagger wound in his genitals is serious and he won?t be able to eat for a few days until the penetration in his gut is healed. The Chinese eunuch No Hang has done an excellent repair to the gut but there is much patching now to his stomach walls. That is always a serious cause for concern and your naval doctors know nothing of treating the ague and swellings that often follow such treatment. We should be thankful for Axetl?s herbs and medicines. She has a remarkable gift for recognising foreign herbs and she works well with the Chinese eunuch.? ?How many more are seriously injured?? ?Four, and one of those very seriously. I don?t think he?ll make it. He?s already sinking into a fit of deep sleep.? ?Well it can?t be helped. You?re not miracle workers.? Azure recognised Elizabeth?s weariness. It was obvious that her brother?s injuries were concerning her and she was relieved at the good news that he should survive. The worry had exhausted her and she was tired. Azure left Elizabeth to sleep awhile as more pressing issues still needed addressing. She came to me and we arranged to accept Eric?s merchant ship into our company for the voyage home across the Indian Ocean. The sloop had been providing an escort as far as the western tip of Java and then she was to have made her own way to the Cape of Good Hope. Their own over confidence had led them to think they were safe from pirate attack whilst anchoring in a hidden bay. The bay had proved to be a trap and the pirates had used their intimate local knowledge to take full advantage. Our appearance had been fortunate indeed. The lieutenant was pleased with the arrangement especially when he learned to his shock that Elizabeth was Eric?s presumed dead sister. He had no way of informing Eric however, for Axetl?s drugs kept the wounded merchant captain sleeping After spending a further day on repairs and treating the wounded we claimed all the serviceable pirate boats as prizes. Sadly, when we examined the little boats we found them of no use to us. They were little more than large, narrow, and open canoes with too much canvas for open sea passages. In the rougher waters around the Cape of Africa, they would be useless and capsize as death traps. We studied their construction and found little to learn. The Arab dhows were of a far more sophisticated construction and rig. We kept a couple of the wider canoes for close inshore work to supplement the pinnaces and the lieutenant took possession of the remaining boats. He delivered his thanks on the second morning before he returned via Sunda Straights to the new base at what the British garrison had now renamed Singapore. Elizabeth?s father?s fat slow merchantman was to accompany us around the African Cape then she would have to make her own course back to England once we separated in the North Atlantic. This enabled Elizabeth?s brother Eric and the other wounded merchantmen to stay onboard the Damsel until they were fit to resume work. His first mate seemed a competent man and had expedited his repairs quickly. Before the naval sloop departed for Singapore, all hands bent to whatever oars could be found amongst the smaller craft and we slowly towed the fat clumsy merchantman out of the bay. Once in clear water, we fretted impatiently as the shorthanded merchant ship slowly set her sails and made course for Africa. Eventually, Elizabeth attached a long towing hawser to the merchantman and this speeded up the whole expedition by a further two knots. It also served to keep at least two of the main elements of the convoy together in the easy waters of the tropical Indian Ocean. Twenty days out at sea, Eric was finally fit to return to his own ship and he expressed a wish to meet the captain who engineered his rescue. He was still in a pretty feeble state but the Chinese eunuch physician agreed to stay on the merchant ship for a few more weeks and care for the rest of the injured merchant seamen as well. Reluctantly, Elizabeth eventually recanted and visited her brother. At first, her brother failed to recognise her. This was not surprising. Gone forever was the submissive, delicate, pale feeble ?little girl? that Eric had once remembered as his disgraced younger sister. In her stead stood a bronzed, defiant, confident ?woman of the world?. As Eric studied the bronzed European stranger his first question betrayed his chauvinism. ?I said I?d like to speak to the captain.? ?I am the captain!? hissed Elizabeth through her pursed lips as two angry spots burned on her cheeks. Eric fell silent for a moment as he finally realised that there appeared to be no men at all aboard the ship. He had refused until then, to countenance such an unbelievable situation. Instead, he had tried to convince himself that some sort of strange new denomination of seagoing nuns was treating him. ?Angels of mercy? he kept telling himself. He had lain bedridden in an airy, well-lit and well-ventilated cabin so he had not yet seen the organization of the Damsel. He had no way of knowing it was an all-woman crew. Now the truth was all too apparent. Now the actual captain herself was standing over his prone figure in her tight hose, flimsy open-necked blouse and short leather waistcoat. Eric?s eyes could not help wandering to those places that were normally so discreetly hidden by a long flared skirt and high-necked blouse. His eyes filled lustfully as the female captain?s supremely practical but tantalising outfit now accentuated her long curvy legs, tight nipped waist and ripe swelling breasts. It was now made obvious to Eric that the whole crew were women. ?What kind of ship is this?? he whispered nervously. ?A trading ship; just such as yours, though better armed and a lot faster.? ?But you women, are you not afraid of being taken by pirates?? ?What, you mean like you were? Caught like simpletons in the most basic of traps. No. We are a bit cagier than that Eric. From birth, women learn to be more cautious. What would your father say if he found out you nearly lost his favourite ship?? ?What do you know of my father?" gasped Eric. A delicate smile played upon Elizabeth?s lips then she let out a snort of contempt. ?I know a lot about him! He?s a narrow minded scoundrel and a bigot!? ?How dare you!? croaked Eric, as he struggled to sit up. ?If I was not wounded and your guest to boot, I?d charge you to retract that!? ?If you were not wounded, you would not be here aboard my ship and lying there like some sick mewling child. Your father has always favoured you!? ?How would you possibly know of such things? Who are you to discuss my family? My father is a wealthy trader and a doyen of the upper classes. They say he?s due for a title. If it?s a reward from him that you want, there?s plenty to pay your blood money.? Elizabeth snorted again disdainfully. ?Don?t speak to me of Blood Eric. It can run pretty thin in these tropical climes. Now that you?re well enough, we?ll ship you across to Dad?s ship and you can choose your own way home. You can continue sailing with us as protection or you can travel alone and vulnerable, it?s all the same to me.? Eric?s eyes narrowed as he fastened on Elizabeth?s slip of the tongue. ?What d?you mean; Dad?s ship?? Elizabeth paused for a moment as she cursed herself for letting her anger betray her. She glanced towards me standing there in my delicate transparent damask tropical frock, but I shrugged my delicate shoulders and spread my hands helplessly. Elizabeth had dug her own trap and there was no way I could get her out of it. She glared down at the prone Eric and spat it out. ?Yes! Dads ship you blind fool. Don?t you recognise me?? Despite her bronzed skin and beautiful womanly figure, Elizabeth still sported her long blond hair. It was bleached paler now by the tropical sun but it was still recognizably Elizabeth?s and although her deep blue eyes had been grayed by the constant sunlight reflecting off the sea, I for one, still readily recognized my companion?s smile. For a long moment Eric peered stupidly into Elizabeth?s face as she bent down to afford him a better view. Slowly a shocked dawning began to light up his face. His eyes strayed momentarily to Elizabeth?s fulsome cleavage then averted themselves as he finally realized she was his sister. ?My God! It is you. But- but!! We thought you had died in a shipwreck!? ?And the happier you probably were to hear of it. No more gossip about our father?s precious good name, nothing to prevent that precious title!? ?But, but there were official reports. The ship was posted missing. No survivors.? ?Yes! Just what our parent?s wanted!? snapped a wounded Elizabeth as long forgotten memories were rekindled. ?No more scandal, no embarrassment, everything gone and dusted. Everything forgotten and buried! Well that last bit?s true for you and them but not for me, I vouch you that!? Eric hesitated as he searched his memory, it was obviously useless to try and apologise for her treatment. In his heart he knew she was right. the family were secretly glad the Sapphic Elizabeth had ?disappeared?. ?Were there any other survivors? That other one, the little sissy, your boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever it was. Did he-? Elizabeth?s lips pursed and the familiar angry spots appeared on her high delicate cheekbones. Even beneath her golden tan, I could tell she was hurt and angry by Eric?s defamous description of me. Her eyes glanced momentarily in my direction but the crass insensitive Eric missed the briefest of glances. Elizabeth hissed again. ?That?s no concern of yours. I?ll thank you to mind your own business. You can tell father I am alive if you wish but it?s of no matter to me. This is my life now. I'm a freebooting trader and happier for it. Last thing I want are some bigoted, meddlesome parents trying to interfere in my life again.? Eric?s jaw worked furiously but words refused to come. It was obvious he was looking for some sort of reconciliation but it seemed Elizabeth was not about to allow it. He tried another tack. ?But if father gets his title that means you become a lady. I would become an ?honourable?. You could even return to England. You could marry a title.? ?Huh! A pox on your titles and some loveless organised marriage! Whispering and tittering?d follow me wherever I went. I?ll not be hog tied by your mores and conventions. I?m still a sapphic Eric. I was born one and I?ll die one. What sort of life awaits me back in your prim, tight-lipped hypocritical society?? Eric fell silent. He knew, like every other Briton, that the prince regent was without children and a new young virgin queen would soon ascended the throne. This was a siren call to London society to clean up its act. The wild debaucheries of the Georgians were giving way to a new tighter morality. Elizabeth?s libertine sapphic ways would be held scandalous and perhaps even illegal if the new parliament had it?s way. There was no way society would tolerate Elizabeth?s libertine conduct. Eric?s groin was beginning to pain him as he struggled to remain sitting upright. A stab of pain made him wince and he fell silent. Elizabeth studied Eric briefly and I watched her expression. I thought I saw a glint of sympathy in her eye but it passed quickly when she caught me watching her. As Eric lay back and closed his eyes, we joined Azure in our stateroom and discussed our plans. Elizabeth expressed her views. ?In the long term, some country is bound to claim our little Island. It looks as though their Britannic majesties are grabbing every last available bit of land on the planet. We?ll have to make sure of our fortunes before they deny us our new homeland. I vote we make a few more trading trips to Cathay then settle somewhere were we can enjoy our newfound wealth.? We were each forced to agree with her. The avaricious Brits were stealing everybody?s land and birthrights in company with the French and the Russians, the Americans and the Germans. We had heard it called ?The Race for Africa?, but in truth it was a worldwide land grab and lesser indigenous peoples were being disenfranchised, enslaved or exterminated in the rush. Our only plan was to gather as much wealth as we could and find a safe place to spend it. To this end, we knew our first trip was a fantastic success. Our Amazonian herbs had fetched fabulous prices and the Chinese apothecaries had begged Axetl to return with living plants. The African Ivory was also a trading success and we knew that the porcelains, silks, muslins and damasks that filled every corner our cargo holds would fetch excellent prices in the Americas. It now remained to get them safely home to our Island. Eric?s ship was also carrying similar cargoes to England and France now that the Napoleonic wars were over. The dhows were similarly loaded and their arrival in the America?s would raise many an eyebrow. In the meantime, as we sailed slowly through the balmy tropical Indian Ocean, we girls indulged ourselves by experimenting with different clothes fashioned out of the surplus rolls of rare and expensive fabrics. This was my greatest thrill as I savoured the nights pressed up against Elizabeth and our silky nightdresses slithered and slipped against each other. Despite her apparently mannish diurnal lifestyle, Elizabeth made it quite obvious she favoured my soft delicate rounded curves beside her during the nocturnes. At the African Cape the Cornish Maid and several of our fastest dhows swept on ahead under the pretence of checking the state of play in the Portuguese settlement. We learned that some Dutch traders had settled and were moving up country. On the Cape there was now some friction between the Protestant Dutch and the Catholic Portuguese and we had heard whispers of this from a dhow that Trysta had secretly intercepted whilst passing Madagascar. The Cornish Maid stopped briefly at the Cape of Good Hope under the guise of replenishing stores, but we secretly traded some of our cargo with the Portuguese for Gold. It appeared that the tension between the Dutch and the Portuguese was getting worse and the wiser Portuguese were covering their bets by getting their wealth back to Portugal before events deteriorated. To this end we agreed with the Portuguese authorities to change our original destination from the Americas to Portugal. We contracted to ship a considerable quantity of bullion north to the Portuguese King?s coffers. The freight would be an excellent earner and if we kept our bond there would certainly be more of this excellent trade. The Portuguese traders could be trusted to stay silent about our activities for it was only on swift well-defended ships like ours that their precious metals could be sure of arriving in Portugal. We kept this new trade a secret from Eric for it seemed that everywhere the British appeared, they would try and corner the market and freeze everybody else out. Their greed for conquest and land was equally complemented by their greed to monopolize any trade. Furthermore our other cargo would be equally welcome in Lisbon. We fancied that the Iberian ladies would be every bit as excited as American ladies for our beautiful cloths. There would be excellent business to transact. Trysta played her cards well and she rejoined us at the dead of night. Beneath low clouds and heavy rain the fleet-footed Cornish Maid and her companion dhows carefully rejoined our main party unseen just we altered our course northwards after westing the great cape of Southern Africa. Besides the secret shipment of gold, the Cornish Maid also brought with her plenty of fresh provisions. We divided the supplies up amongst each ship once the weather had settled and the stormy southern seas had calmed. It was now a well-provisioned enterprise that sailed up The Skeleton Coast towards the great Bight of Benin. Eventually we parted company with Eric as we crossed the doldrums and entered the North Atlantic. We sailed west nor-westwards briefly to appear to be making for the Americas then doubled back and beat a north- easterly course close hauled into the trade winds as we clawed our way to Iberia. Eric continued tacking his way on a slower but shorter northerly route until he reached the Northern waters of the Atlantic. Then he could make an easy easting running before the great Atlantic drift directly towards to the British Isles. Our first landing in Lisbon produced huge profits and we won the trust of the Portuguese. Amongst our hosts we learned that ?our Island? in the Caribbean, as Elizabeth predicted had been ?commandeered? by the avaricious British so there was little hope of our returning there. For the next couple of years we repeated the voyage to Cathay via Brazil and Africa several more times as we developed even more lucrative opportunities. Eventually, Elizabeth, Azure and I were weary of the traveling so we gave direct command of the whole venture to the ambitious and younger Trysta. We settled in Paris and opened a trading house where Elizabeth and Azure had many connections. It wasn?t long before our large commodious house became a popular venue with ladies of similar sapphic persuasions to our own and we soon spotted an excellent opportunity. Eventually, we bought a second premises and this became one of the most popular and successful establishments in all Paris. Naturally Elizabeth presided over our enterprise whilst I only occasionally turned up and helped out if and when I was needed. The patrons of our club all presumed me to be a lady. The effects of Azure and Axetl?s drugs had become more or less permanent and my secret masculinity was never to be discovered by them. Axetl's secret herbs and elixirs continued to work their magic and the clear evidence of my true gender always remained well submerged inside my beautiful gowns and soft silky pantalets. It was well established and widely known amongst the sapphic sisterhood that Elizabeth and Madeline were firm partners. The patrons of our discreet genteel establishment readily accepted that each night, Elizabeth would return to the bed and silky bosom of her beloved Madeline. Most nights it was my delight to pleasure Elizabeth in the normal sapphic manner but very occasionally she would indulge herself then take me into her and milk me of my seed. Eventually, much to her surprise and utter delight Elizabeth conceived twins from this occasional union. Secretly, we traveled to Marseilles and got legally wed after explaining to a doctor that my true name was Marcus and that I suffered from an extremely rare condition that had given me the outward appearance of a woman. To this day I am grateful for the liberality and open-mindedness of the French. On the doctor?s say so, we were granted a license and returned to Paris secretly but legally wedded, the ceremony having been witnesses only by Azure and Axetl. Everybody except Azure and Axetl wondered whom the father of the twins might be but the question was never put to Elizabeth. Nobody knew my true name and when it appeared on the twins? birth certificates, nobody amongst our circle in Paris could recall any individual by the name of Marcus. Most of our acquaintances were content to think that Elizabeth had enjoyed a little foray into the realms of heterosexuality. My greatest joy was when Axetl supplied me with some strange herbs and my breasts started letting down milk. Elizabeth was delighted by this development for her own milk was not enough to feed both twins. She would delight in my taking the greater burden as I suckled our babies several times daily whilst she only suckled them in the mid afternoon when she awoke after finishing late at the club. This arrangement was a perfect solution and consequently I continued suckling until long after the normal conventions. The delightful sensations of my babies gently tugging at my sensitive nipples always left me horny and ready when Elizabeth returned home to our bed. Consequently the twins grew into their tenth years before they finally relinquished my services. They grew up never realising that their wet nurse and indeed their mother?s erstwhile ?lady companion? was in fact their father. Our life should have thus have remained in this pleasant style but for an unexpected meeting. Elizabeth and I were sat at our favourite pavement caf? one Friday afternoon as Daniel, the caf? patron, teased our twins. It was that quiet time after the lunchtime trade and before the evening Friday dinnertime. We had become firm friends with Daniel for the customers at our establishment also provided a steady and constant stream of discreet and genteel sapphic ladies to patronize his restaurant. His restaurant overlooked the River Seine with a small park set to the side. In this discreet leafy refuge many trysts and liaisons were formed during seemingly ?accidental, casual? acquaintances. Then the nervous pair would take a ?coffee at Daniels? before plucking up the courage to visit our establishment. Here in the discreet privacy of rented private chambers, they could indulge their needs and explore any other avenues that might appeal to their sapphic natures. Our task was to ensure cleanliness and discretion for a reasonable but profitable fee. For this Elizabeth employed a dozen extremely pretty, sapphic, mute, deaf girls. Her discreet search for such rare individuals had taken several years but once found they became loyal silent employees. Elizabeth?s establishment was a dream job for these poor individuals who would otherwise have been reduced to begging or prostitution. Having thus been given a secure, well-paid job with ?all found?, their silence and discretion was virtually guaranteed. This was vital for some of our patrons. Exposure could mean disaster for them and the club. Sometimes the girls would occasionally ?assist? with the liaisons and they would be handsomely rewarded for what was truly a pleasure. Abuse of our staff was not allowed for it could breed discontent and possible exposure. Having been the victim of such cruel excesses in our own shared childhood, Elizabeth and I were not about to let our own staff suffer the same torment. Anyway, I digress. I return to the incident. That Friday, Daniel the restaurateur was playing with our twins as Elizabeth and I sipped our sherbets and watched the people strolling by. Suddenly a familiar voice sounded behind us. ?Ah, so the rumour is true?? The soft fine hairs on my neck prickled as Elizabeth span around to stare into her brother Eric?s face. ?What are you doing here?? she demanded. ?I had heard you were living in Paris.? ?And!? ?You always said you liked this city. When I heard the rumour it sounded plausible. This would be just the sort of city that you would end up.? ?So?? ?Well,? Eric hesitated then grew bolder, ?you know. The reputation this city has acquired and your ?ahem? predilections.? He paused with a slight sneer. But Elizabeth was quite up to facing him down. ?SO what? I?ve always like Paris. I never denied it. Were would you expect me to ?end up?, as you put it?? ?Oh nothing. I just thought I would see if the rumours were true.? ?Well you?ve seen for yourself now; and the rumour is true, now what?? ?I had to look you up.? ?What! You traveled all the way to Paris just for that! Well, as you can readily see, the rumours are true, so there?s nothing else to say. You might as well pack your bags again and go straight back. If you think you can affect my life here, you are truly mistaken. There?s nothing for you here.? ?I?m not here for you alone. I?m here in Paris for other reasons.? At this moment, our Twins escaped from Daniels teasing and scampered towards us demanding sherbets. ?Mama. Mama, can we have our sherbets now?? Eric?s eyes widened as he gaped at the pair. ?My God. So you have children!? ?Don?t be so surprised. I am a woman and women have babies.? ?Who?s the father?? ?Who do you think you are? My guardian or the Witch-finder General or the great inquisition or something!? ?Are they bastards then!? ?How dare you. I?m a married woman!? ?I?m sorry. It?s just that-.? Eric hesitated and stopped as the twins clambered onto my knee. ?Two little girls then. I?m an uncle to two little girls.? Lizzy and I exchanged discreet glances. William our son had only recently displayed transvestite tendencies and we had indulged his pleasure. I had to confess that I was secretly delighted at this development for it meant I would have a partner to share my pleasures in old age, a son who would truly understand his father. Of course it would be a complete disaster to reveal this circumstance to the bigoted narrow-minded Uncle Eric, so we let him continue in his illusion. He could continue thinking we had twin daughters. ?So what excites you about having two little nieces?? continued Lizzy Eric fell silent for a moment then stared at the floor. ?That?s why I?m in Paris.? ?What to see two nieces you never knew you had!? ?No. Of course not! No, it?s not that. I mean- I, uhhm- It?s about children.? Elizabeth and I exchanged knowing glances. Eric didn?t know that Azure had long ago told us of his sterility. We remained silent as Eric squirmed. ?There?s a bit of a problem you see.? We remained silent as we pretended complete ignorance. Eric bit his lower lip then rolled his tongue nervously along his teeth. ?Well, it?s not so much children, it?s just that, I- I seem to be unable to father them.? ?Too much dirty living I?ll warrant!? suggested Elizabeth, (somewhat cruelly I thought) but she had good reason to be angry and therefore cruel. ?No it?s not!? protested Eric vehemently. The English doctors tell me it was probably that injury with the pirates. The wound did some irreparable damage. There?s a French doctor- a surgeon, I?ve come to see.? ?Well then go and see him.? ?I am; tomorrow! Do you not care at all?? ?Why should I? You didn?t when I was cast out!? Eric fell silent and I could see his anger smouldering. Fortunately, two of Daniel?s staff appeared for the evening dinner session and their easy recognition of we two convinced Eric that aggression or boorishness was out of the question. In Paris, Elizabeth was well known and well respected. Her trading business had found her some powerful and well- connected friends whilst her alternative business was a well-kept secret in sapphic circles. Some of these ladies were amongst the French elite and some were the very wives of our powerful trading partners. Elizabeth knew she was on safe ground and I smiled inwardly as Eric soon grasped the reality. He glanced towards the two restaurant staff then blinked uncertainly as he whispered softly. ?The surgeon replied to my letter. He says it may take some time. I could well be stuck here for several weeks.? ?Well pick a good hotel then,? replied Elizabeth dismissively. ?Well, I was hoping that your black-a-moor might nurse me. I?d heard she was also living in Paris.? Elizabeth recanted slightly. She had seen the standards of nursing in Paris and they left much to be desired. They were little better, if any better than England?s. Hygiene was still a foreign concept to occidental medicine and Azure?s ideas were rejected as mumbo-jumbo. The French were every bit as racist and prejudiced as the British. ?I?ll speak to her on Saturday next,? sighed Elizabeth impatiently. ?We meet socially about once a month and I?ll broach it to her then.? ?Thank you,? replied the petulant Eric as he tried to ingratiate himself further. ?I must say, she did a remarkable job after the pirate attack.? ?Yes mayhap. Well she?s busy woman. She can?t just drop everything.? Eric settled a little easier into the chair and made it apparent that he intended to stay. To demonstrate her refusal to get involved, Elizabeth motioned to me and we invited Daniel to give us our bill. ?You?re not going are you?? protested Eric. ?I?m afraid so. Friday is a busy day for us. Accounts to be completed. You must know how it is.? ?Where do you live?? ?I?m not telling you and neither will Daniel.? Daniel was a well-trusted and proven friend who had never revealed our establishment to anybody. His very successful enterprise had initially grown off the back of our activities and he knew not to betray a good friend. He had also been discreetly eavesdropping, as was his want whenever some unknown male might approach the unaccompanied Elizabeth as she lunched at his tables every other weekday except Friday, when I joined her. Our sapphic customers were genteel and well-bred and such clientele gave his restaurant an excellent name. That and its prestigious location had made it enormously popular with the great and good of the city. Elizabeth had also generously lent him funds when he was struggling to get started. As we left we saw Eric fail hopelessly to garnish any information from Daniel or his staff. The next Friday we met Eric again. ?I?ve been waiting for you to re-appear. Daniel said he doesn?t know where you live but that you usually come here on Fridays.? ?That?s true. I have met Miss Azure and recommended you for her nursing. When is the surgeon going to see you?? ?As soon as I have arranged a suitable nurse, he operates at his clinic and leaves the nursing arrangements to the patient. He usually recommends a nurse but in this case I managed to persuade him about your black-a- moor.? ?I wouldn?t refer to Miss Azure as a ?Black-a-moor?. You?ll get short thrift if you do. She could probably do a better job of the surgery as well but your prejudices make you seem to prefer a white doctor. That?s your choice and of no consequence to me. Here is Miss Azure?s address. She will see you and don?t try to dig anything out of her. She?s loyal to me and will punish you if you try to interfere in our lives.? Eric took the envelope and offered to pay for the tea. We indulged ourselves and Eric revealed what the surgeon had told him. It seemed that there was very little hope but that he would have a look and see what might be done. Azure had long ago told us that the damage was too extreme and we were pretty sure that Eric would never father a child. Our suspicions were confirmed a few days later when we visited Eric in Azure?s remote infirmary. Eric was very low for he had learned there was no hope and he should indeed be thankful that he had been able to keep his vigour. The surgeon was keen to learn who had repaired the original wound but Eric could only declare that it was some mysterious black-a- moor who worked amongst the poor and downtrodden in the Parisian slums. After the surgery, Eric was voluntarily blindfolded then spirited away from the surgeon?s theatre for his recuperation in Azure?s clinic. This move had been carefully arranged to avoid revealing where Azure worked or the location of her infirmary to the narrow, bigoted western doctors. The very idea that a black-a-moor and a woman at that; should know better than they, was anathema to their prejudiced sensibilities! To keep Azure?s clinic a secret, the blindfolded and handcuffed, Eric would have no idea where he was and never be able to reveal its location. In the rabbit warren of the Parisian slums the clinic?s location was virtually impossible to discern without help and the local immigrant Africans would never betray the secret. Then as now, they were supremely distrustful of the authorities. After a month?s convalescence, Eric was almost ready to return to England. He was blindfolded again then spirited from Azure?s clinic and brought to us at the usual Friday restaurant rendezvous. Gently his blindfold was removed then he was decanted from the coach and placed at our table. He winced as he carefully settled beside us. Elizabeth studied him. ?So. It?s back to England then.? ?Ehm. Not yet. I?m still a bit too sore to travel.? ?A hotel then?? Eric stared at his sister and pursed his lips. ?Could you not let me be a guest for a few more weeks. French roads are cruelly rough. Despite all Napoleon?s work before the wars.? Elizabeth and I exchanged glances. This was what we had half expected. Azure?s clinic was a busy place and her beds were too valuable to waste on what was now an easy convalescence. Reluctantly we agreed to let him stay at the main trading house where I kept home with Elizabeth and did the trading company?s accounts. Elizabeth indulged her talents at the equally lucrative sapphic house. The children of course stayed with me at our main home next door to the trading house. There they enjoyed an idyllic lifestyle where a beautiful governess provided their education along with some other pretty girls who were daughters of our more genteel sapphic customers. Each day the group alternatively played in the gardens then took formal lessons, as any proper young French ladies should. Thus we reluctantly allowed Eric into our home and our fears were proved justified. Despite our hospitality, Eric would not amend his behaviour, as any decent well-mannered guest should. This would be especially so if that guest is not paying for his keep and only there on sufferance. Instead he soon allowed his boorish bigoted ways to cause offence throughout our happy home. From the very beginning he demonstrated his disapproval of Elizabeth and I sleeping together. Nevertheless, we endured his boorish manners for we knew his views before we admitted him amongst us. However, when his censorious attitude started to spill over into the care of our children we were becoming impatient. We of course cared for both our children at home with lots of love and affection but he held the opposite and indeed oppressive view that young children should be seen and not heard then despatched to a ?Public School? as soon as they were deemed fit. Furthermore he made no secret of his views and constantly lectured us about it. Madam Bridgette, our lovely governess finally lost her temper and turned on him. Eric of course deemed Brigette to be like any other servant when she was in reality a close sapphic friend of ours who had accepted our request to teach our children and other sapphic mothers amongst our circle of friends. She never abused or assaulted the children but she inculcated a liberal, affectionate and caring manner that filtered through into every aspect of their education. The children?s classes were happy informative times and it was quite obvious that every child was more than willing to attend. Every morning they appeared with happy smiles and giggles, as they met on our doorstep and traipsed gaily into the household to join our twins in their lessons. The final straw was when Eric accidentally noticed that one of the little girls, his own niece no less, actually stood when she visited the toilet to pee. Usually of course, he sat like any other demure young miss but this time he become desperate after being unwilling to separate from a game that he had been enjoying. When the game had finished, he had rushed urgently to the lavatory and indulged his one great advantage, the ability to pee quickly whilst standing. In his haste he had forgotten to lock the door and it had swung open un-noticed as he faced the pan and relieved himself. The other girls knew of this situation of course, as indeed did Bridgette, but for Eric it was a shock of the highest magnitude. He had noticed the situation as he crossed the landing to go to the lavatory himself. Before our son Beverly, (Beverly is both a boy?s and a girl?s name in Europe and we had changed our son?s name after he had revealed his transvestism to us.) had even pulled up the waistband of his pantalets, Eric had let out a howl of disapproval and gone hobbling to seek Bridgette. ?The child?s a freak I say!? he bellowed as Bridgette had the sheer temerity to stand up to him and defend the child. I heard the row and rushed to investigate. In the classroom I found all the children cowering in front of Eric?s overbearing display as he ranted and swore at Brigette. Then, he saw me he and launched into an even more ferocious tirade of abuse. ?I- I?ll go to the authorities! What sort of filthy obscene place are you running here? How many of the others are sissies? Molly-boys! Silk- fiddlers!!! My own nephew for God?s sake!!? he roared. ?What the boy needs is a firm hand and a good school to beat this filth out of him!? It was obviously impossible to stop his ranting and the children were beginning to cry. I motioned to Brigette to slip away and get help so she rushed to our large warehouse behind the trading house. Quickly she returned with several burly porters and we forcibly subdued Elizabeth?s brother as a messenger was despatched to fetch her home. Elizabeth arrived to find her brother restrained with ropes and sporting a bruise growing over his right eye. There had been quite a struggle. We described events and Elizabeth frowned angrily. ?He?ll try and use this. I know he will! It was always the same when we were small and he won?t have changed.? ?So what?s to do madam?? pressed a worried Bridgette. ?There?s little we can do,? cursed Elizabeth. I stood silently as I contemplated all the options. If Eric did go ?to the authorities?, then we would all be in trouble. Whilst the French were fairly liberal about most things they would be hard put to defend our lifestyle to the English authorities. With all the power that Britain had in that century, Eric could easily stir up trouble about an English nobleman?s grandson being abused in a French Establishment. He had no idea that Beverly?s transvestism was absolutely voluntary and her preferred mode of behaviour. Even if the boy adamantly declared his preferences, the man would still not accept it. As with most bigoted individuals he was always right and the other party was always wrong or dead! We knew that there was no way that Beverly would ever survive being dragged to England then forced to suffer the vicious beatings and other abusive privations of an English Public School. Eventually I concluded that the only option was to go and see Azure about turning Eric with the same drugs she used to debilitate the pirates. We wasted no time visiting the clinic and discussing the options. There was nothing for it but to feminise Eric with Axetl?s herbs and potions whilst deluding him with the psychotropic extractions. We returned not a moment too soon. By some means, Eric had managed to free himself and snatched both our children from the house. Mademoiselle had tried to resist but her bruises proved her failure. This time we knew we had Eric. The French courts might have supported his efforts to gain custody of the children but he had gone outside the law by kidnapping them. We knew we now had the upper hand but it remained to find him. Fortunately we had the advantage. Eric?s French was virtually none- existent. An English man traveling with two little French girls had no hope of remaining anonymous. He was caught at a coaching inn only two days riding out of Paris. There he was immediately arrested before he had even time to explain about Beverly?s condition in his hopeless French. Our children were returned to us and the local gendarmerie was quite happy to return Eric to our custody. Fortunately, we had a court order and a friendly high-ranking police officer who was a regular customer of Elizabeth?s establishment. The gentleman had certain sexual predilections that lent themselves to our activities. Despite his considerable stature and obvious bearing, he was secretly a submissive and enjoyed dominance by ladies. For our services to his needs, he served to protect our business and smooth over the very occasional small problems that but rarely surfaced. With the senior police officer?s connivance, Eric was returned to our trading house and there drugged with Azure?s potions. Within a few weeks he was totally programmed to always obey his younger sister. Furthermore, he could only function with a lady as and when Elizabeth ordained and the right drugs were slipped into his tea. With these conditions implanted in Eric?s mind, it was now safe to let him return to England. Once there, he would always ?take his medicines? and regularly return to Paris to visit his beloved younger sister. Indeed our little family even agreed to return to England and visit Eric and Elizabeth?s recently entitled elderly father. Under the influences of the drugs, we had determined that Eric had kept silent about Elizabeth?s survival so it would come as a shock to the old bigoted earl to learn that his wayward daughter was still alive and thriving. Despite this the potential for shock, we decided it would do no harm for the old curmudgeon to learn that he had two beautiful grandchildren. Now that Eric was proven definitely to be irreparably sterile, our two little children would be the only heirs the family would ever have. That could do the children?s causes no harm at all. As the spring approached, we made preparations to visit England and we packed a goodly supply of Eric?s medicines to keep him going for several years. It took three weeks to reach Elizabeth?s father?s rural pile. An un- seasonal storm in the Channel held us at Calais for several days then the following mud from the rains of that storm had reduced the Dover to London road to mud. It was a grateful troupe that arrived in London but we still had several days traveling to reach the newly bought country estate. Our mud spattered coach finally arrived early on the afternoon of the twenty second day and it?s travel stained paintwork turned many heads in the local village. At the gate lodge to the drive we were stopped and interrogated for several minutes whilst a messenger was despatched to the main house. It was a flustered but eager Eric who arrived on horseback as he hastily tidied his clothes. ?Sister! Why didn?t you write?? The lodge keeper?s eyes widened with surprise for he had never met Elizabeth. He, like many of the staff at the new estate, had only been retained after Elizabeth?s father had newly established his great fortune. He had heard of the long lost daughter, but, like many others at the house, he had assumed her lost at sea. ?I?m in fine health brother, and your good-self?? ?As well as can be expected. And the children I?m pleased to see that you have brought them.? ?It?s about time the old devil learned. And what of Mama? A countess now and full of her rank I suppose!? ?She fusses about the new house, just as she always fussed about the old house but, yes, she carries her rank on her sleeve. Only now she?s got bigger acquaintances to impress. She?ll never stop trying to climb higher up the social ladder. An earldom still isn?t enough for her. She?ll never change. But they?ll both be shocked to learn of these two little darlings.? Elizabeth and I exchanged glances. Our psychotropic drugs were working well; just as Azure had planned. Under our mind control, Eric still hadn?t told their parents of Elizabeth?s children. Additionally he had obviously reconciled himself to his sterility and now had no pretensions of fathering a dynasty. With this reconciliation had come a measure of humility that had turned the new Eric into a reasonably decent fellow. With a generous weave he ushered the coachman forward and we clattered noisily up the gravel drive. The country pile was huge and our eyes widened with surprise as we studied its vast fa?ade. Even across the rolling grounds its size was impressive and we still had a goodly mile of ?drive way? before reaching the house. Eric caught us gaping and grinned. ?A duke fell upon hard times and had to sell it. Gambling debts and what have you. Father bought it and out of good will, we allow the duke to live in the dower house behind those trees. It was all arranged for me to marry the old duke?s only daughter, however this wound business and the sterility has put paid to that.? We nodded knowingly as Eric chatted about the family history since Elizabeth?s ignominious departure, then eventually we arrived at the house. A reception committee had hastily been arranged and the frail figure of Elizabeth?s father appeared in the massive doorway. Beside him, Elizabeth recognised the overdressed wedding cake that she knew to be her mother. Despite it?s travel stained condition, our coach was an impressive affair. A six-horse team drew it with a couple of spare canters loosely tethered behind so that the team could be periodically spelled on the road. Following the main coach with Elizabeth, Azure, the two children and myself came a second coach of equal status and occupied by several of our erstwhile companions. Following that came several light carts with our luggage and a veritable herd of spare horses. Elizabeth was determined to arrive in style and her arrival resembled the progress of a minor royal. Her passage had been the subject of much comment through each town where she had overnighted. She gracefully stepped down from her coach and her father?s eyes widened with shock as he finally realised who it was that had honoured them with visit. ?Elizabe-!? ?Before he had finished his first word, his wife let out hysterical shriek and slumped into one of the footmen?s arms.? Elizabeth glanced at the prostrate woman and shrugged nonchalantly. ?You?d better attend to her. She?s had another fit of the vapours.? Several footmen and the housekeeper rushed forward as Elizabeth immediately took control. ?Let my friend and physician Azure, attend to her. She?ll soon be put right.? For want of any other doctor, and because of Elizabeth?s commanding manner, Eric nodded agreeably and Azure accompanied the old countess into the house as introductions were made. ?Yes Father. It?s your daughter Elizabeth. Back from the dead as you?ll readily see.? The old man?s lip trembled with shock as he reached out his gnarled talons to embrace her. His voice croaked as he stuttered. ?But we thought you were- were dead!? ?Well as you can see. I?m not.? ?And who are these- these sweet young ladies?? ?These are my children. Beverly and Antoinette. They?re twins and indeed your grandchildren.? ?Oh my gracious! Grandchildren you say!? ?Yes. My children.? ?And their father. Why is he not with you?? ?It?s no matter. He can be a very busy man. However, these are my companions. We are sorry to arrive unannounced but I?m quite sure you have rooms enough. Shall we go in?? The old man dithered momentarily so Elizabeth and Eric motioned to the butler. He was one of the few old retainers that recognised her. He smiled agreeably and started organising the servants to handle the baggage organise the rooming arrangements. Our party settled in the drawing room and tea was hastily served as Elizabeth completed the introductions. Eventually Elizabeth?s mother reappeared with Azure beside her. ?Your doctor seems a remarkable woman. I?ve never felt so well since my seizure.? ?Yes indeed mother. Madam Azure is one of my closest companions and as you rightfully say, a remarkable physician. She saved my life on several occasions and we have been through much together. She must be accorded the same standard of rooming as Madeline and myself. She is a minor Arabian Princess in her own right. The two giant fellows who manage our horses are her immediate retainers and ?ahem?, safe with ladies.? The old woman?s eyes widened with astonishment and pride to have royalty under her roof and the idea of having two exotic Nubian eunuchs only added spice to the notion. Azure and I exchanged wry secret smiles at Elizabeth?s mild exaggeration. Azure?s taste in strong lusty virile men was well known to us and her two ?eunuchs? were in fact a pair of entire, vigorous and indeed, bisexual identical twins. During our battle to rescue Sally, Azure had saved them from an impending castration and a life of slavery under the Sultan of Zanzibar. They were eternally grateful and loyal as well as being fine swordsmen. ?Still, the exotic Nubian eunuchs and the princess story worked well for Elizabeth?s mother, who was always desperate to impress her neighbours in the county.? That first evening, Eric and Elizabeth regaled their parents with tales of their adventure and the old man mildly censured Eric for not having revealed the full story. Eric could only apologise and Elizabeth explained that it was her wish not to declare her resurrection until she was ready to reveal her existence then arrive properly and in style. She did not want her parents thinking she was some sort of scrounging pauper. ?Well you?ve certainly done that, and produced two grand-daughters as well. You realise these children are ennobled.? ?It?s of little consequence papa. My children live in France and are French citizens.? ?But their prospects here are splendid. They have the choice of England?s finest,? protested Elizabeth?s mother. ?Then it will be for them to choose. They?ll be free to choose their own partners and not be subjected to the torment I had to face. That?s my final word.? The earl?s face darkened slightly but the unexpected advent of two lovely ?grand-daughters? had modified his condemnation of his wayward sapphic daughter. Fortunately the mood was interrupted by the announcement for dinner. There had been little time for unpacking so the party dined informally. It helped to break the ice and unusually, the ladies did not retire to the drawing room. This was a tacit, silent acceptance that Elizabeth?s ?unusual? ways and tastes were to be ?tolerated during their stay. It was as her mother bravely declared. ?Well! What with exotic Arabian princesses, castrated vassals, piracy and such wild tales of daring do, I think it?s safe to assume you are more than capable of looking after yourself amongst gentlemen?s company.? ?I am mother. As are my companions.? replied Elizabeth softly. Thus the socialising continued long into the night until eventually, The Earl and his wife declared their weariness. The sleeping arrangements had been discreetly attended to so that I shared a chamber with Elizabeth whilst the two ?Eunuchs? kept watch over Azure?s chamber. The two children slept in a chamber adjoining ours and Azure?s whilst the rest of our party were placed with whom and where they wished. In such a huge house there were literally dozen?s of bedrooms and ample scope to accommodate everybody?s tastes. Eric was hugely delighted to have been given a dose of special herbs and then have an unexpected golden skinned visitor come to his bed during the night. All of this without even the knowledge of the old earl and his countess. He awoke the next morning and descended to breakfast with a gratified smirk as he and Elizabeth exchanged knowing glances. During the day, the news spread amongst our immediate neighbours that the Earl?s daughter had returned from the dead and every local bigwig found some excuse to come calling. Of course the tales of her adventures lost nothing in the spreading cackle of gossip and it became apparent to Elizabeth?s father that a formal party would have to be arranged to accommodate the neighbouring gentry. With the earl?s extensive resources, this was quickly arranged and the following Saturday, everybody who could attend, did. The most notable visitors were of course the Duke and his family from the dower house. The Duke?s daughter Amelia proved to be excellent company and proved to be the light of the party. Every hopeful beau with prospects danced attendance upon her until Elizabeth noticed her growing weariness. By midnight the dancing exhausted the beautiful young lady and her feet were killing her. As she spied Elizabeth and I chatting on a large settee, she hobbled over and slumped down between us. She layback on my lap as her legs reached across to Elizabeth?s lap. Elizabeth smiled and asked her if she was enjoying herself. ?Why yes of course my dear Lizzy! It?s a splendid party, my darling neighbour. It?s been the first decent ball hereabouts for ages.? ?But now your feet are hurting.? ?I should say,? sighed Amelia, ?these bumpkins are so heavy and clod- hopping, they should break a girl?s feet; especially in these slippers. D?you mind if I shed them?? So saying she hoisted up the hem of her ball-gown and slipped off the offending dancing slippers to present to beautifully delicate pair of little feet. Without invitation she slid them sensually across Elizabeth?s knee then into the deep folded cleft in Elizabeth?s rich blue ball gown. Such an intimate and casual action would have been social death at a ball in London, but here Amelia was a duke?s daughter and therefore an arbiter of social mores. As her pristine white silken stockings slithered amongst the silky royal blue satin of Elizabeth?s gown several eyes turned then smiled at the apparently innocent but bold act. Elizabeth exchanged a brief knowing glance across to me as Amelia?s toes disappeared completely when she dug intimately into the folds of Elizabeth?s gown. Fortunately the full folds and creases of Elizabeth?s voluminous gown enveloped Amelia?s inquisitive toes and her unexpected intimacy was not noticed by anybody else but Elizabeth and me. Elizabeth discreetly thrust her pelvis forward and let out a little gasp as Amelia?s toes wiggled deeper. Both girl?s eyes widened with delight as Amelia located ?the spot? and Elizabeth gave a twitch of delight. ?Sister?? whispered Amelia hopefully. Elizabeth nodded her head ever so slightly but it was more than enough to confirm their sapphic mutuality. Amelia?s eyes slide sideways towards me. Elizabeth nodded again as the tip of her tongue emerged provocatively. Amelia?s toes probed deeper and Elizabeth made it abundantly obvious that she was ?interested?. Amelia?s eyes glistened with delight as her smile widened and she eagerly forgot her feet and swiveled to sit between upright us. ?So are the rumours right?? whispered Amelia. Elizabeth nodded again and Amelia turned to me. ?You?re Elizabeth?s, ahem lo-?? ?Her partner. Yes.? ?Ooh how exciting! And you traveled the seas with her as well.? ?Yes. Now shall we rejoin the dancing?? I suggested. ?If we three stay here we?ll soon be missed, or worse still, noticed.? Amelia glanced around to see her mother studying us and she quickly realised that she could give the game away. We had no idea if Amelia?s parents knew anything about Amelia?s preferences so I let out a silly girlish giggle and stood up to join the dancers. I hoped it would appear that we had been simply enjoying some silly joke. Elizabeth and Amelia immediately recognised my ploy and they also rejoined the dancing. Later that evening, somehow, Amelia managed to sprain her ankle. She let out a loud squeak of pain and immediately hobbled to her mother?s side. Azure was asked to look at it and declared it badly bruised but not broken. For the rest of the evening, Amelia made a great show of pain and when it came to midnight, she declared herself unable to travel. As she only lived across the park, it was decided she should stay at the main house then she could be collected on Sunday morning. Thus it was, that Amelia managed to engineer our first troilistic tryste. End of Chapter 9B - To Be Continued