The Duchess out of Time

XXX

Waking up to a sudden jolt the men all muttered and murmured nervously. Liz noticed that they had kindly given her the full bench to sleep on. The others were all sitting on the floor leaning against each other or the bars before another crack above awoke them.

"What's going on?" She muttered rubbing the sleep from her eyes as they all tilted with the ship as it came to a quick stop.

"Higgs?" She asked as he stood peeking through a crack in the wood to see outside.

"It's the British," He told them, as the men were all quick to rip their masks from their faces. Jennings hadn't asked for them be removed when he captured the men, he thought it was an entertaining pantomime and had let them keep them. Scrunching them into a tight ball, Higgs tried his hardest to push with great force to slip them through any gap he could find.

"Here" Liz offered as she slipped her dagger from her boot.

"You're telling me you had this the whole time" Pierre snapped in her direction. Higgs went to work carving a slot in the wood wide enough to push the rest of the masks through. They could hear the sound of footsteps echoing louder above their heads as he managed to remove all evidence that the men were once the black bandits of the Golden Empress. Hearing the jingle of keys the men were quick to push Liz behind them, fearing that Jennings may try to use her as leverage against the British.

"Look what we have here."

"More pirates?" Two soldiers dressed in blue, red and white uniforms came into view as they gazed at the men locked in the cells before them.

"Sir!" Liz pushed the men aside as she leapt to the front of the cell. False tears of relief streaming down her face as she had a plan form in her brain. All she needed to do was pull off the act.

"Good God Jones! There's a woman!"

"A woman pirate? Now I have seen everything!" The soldier she assumed was Jones answered in reply as they stared at her in shock as though they had never seen a woman before.

"She's not dressed like a pirate." He whispered as they looked at her up and down. It was the only time she was thankful to not being wearing pants. The dress was helping sell her story to the soldiers as her men watched her with interest.

"Sir thank goodness you're here! Why are you not opening the door?" She told letting out a dramatic sigh of relief before pulling her lips into a pout.

"We don't negotiate with pirates." Jones puffed out his chest proudly as she let out a gasp.

"How dare you! I will have you reported for this." She retaliated, as the soldiers looked at each other struggling to comprehend the situation.

"uhhh."

"Do you not know who I am!" Liz commanded as they paled slightly.

"umm urh." They unintelligently replied.

"I am the Duchess of Devonshire you pathetic excuse for a man. Now open this door at once!" Upon hearing her grand title the men stood to attention. The men behind her in the cell struggled to contain their laughter as they watched the two soldiers dance like monkeys at Liz's commands.

"Of course your Grace!"

"Our deepest apologises your Grace!"

"But what if she's lying" Jones whispered as the soldier's paused their movements. The key was already in the lock all they needed to do was turn the key.

"How dare you!" Liz shrieked, drawing inspiration from her old nanny. That woman was all about being proper and trying to teach her brother and herself that everyone was beneath your boot. When her mother had heard her manner of speaking she had been fired on the spot. It was the only time Liz could remember her mother having a backbone to fight for what she wanted.

"What if she's telling the truth?" The soldier whispered to Jones.

"She sounds like a proper lady." Jones answered back unsure. Neither of the two men had ever had the pleasure of being near a Lady of Liz's status, let alone talk to one before.

"I am telling the truth! How dare you talk to me like this! Where is your commanding officer?" Liz ordered as they all stiffened at the threat.

"What is going on down here?" Another voice called out as another pair of boots drew closer.

"Better let him decide."

"Agreed." The two soldiers nodded in agreement as they took the key away from the lock and stood to attention as one of their commanding officers came around the corner.

"Elizabeth?"

"Lord Williams! I have never been so happy to see you in all my life." Liz cried out in desperate relief. She could have almost cried with joy at the sight of Charlotte's fiancée.

"Open this door at once!" His words were firm as he growled at the two soldiers who scrambled over their feet in desperation to get the door open. The men behind Liz all let out a deep breath they had been subconsciously holding as they realised that they would be free. At least they hoped she would have them set free. One word from her and they would remain locked in this cell. Deep down they prayed she wouldn't let them be lead to the gallows as fear slowly crept into their hearts.

"Yes sir!"

"Our deepest apologises your ladyship." Their pleas fell on deaf ears as they swung the cell door open. Holding up the base of the skirt to make it easy to manoeuvre Liz embraced Lord Thomas Williams, taking him by surprise. Pulling away after a respectable time he held her at arms length to make sure she was unharmed.

"Thank heavens you are safe. We have been searching the high seas for you. Now that you are safe and sound we will send another missive to the Duke and let him know you have been found." He breathed out as Liz felt her blood go cold. Another missive? They had already been in contact with the Duke! With realisation that she would soon be facing another kind of trouble, Liz's face paled as the blood drained from her face.

"Are you all right your Grace?" Thomas quickly asked concerned as his arms hovered around her in case she was to swoon.

"I am well. I could use some fresh air." It came out as a mere whisper as he gave her a soft smile and nodded.

"Of course." He placed a gentle hand on her back to guide her away from the cell before she stopped and looked over her shoulder to where the crew stood silently waiting.

"My men?" Liz asked. Giving them an encouraging smile their shoulders all relaxed as she nodded in their direction. She would protect them; she wasn't going to have them sent to the gallows. Whether they liked it or not, they were the only family she had left.

"They will be taken care of. Get those shackles off!" He told her softly before he sent a sharp command to the two soldiers.

"Yes sir, certainly sir." They scrambled as one by one the shackles fell off the men's wrists.