Together on Ecarte Island

The Lux

Although Violet had been living with the Major for over six months, the last time she slept so near to him was the night before entering Intense, curled up against his back, both in full uniform. Of course, if one could have called it sleep.
In battle Violet, on the average, slumbered in increments of maybe 20 minutes at a time. At the tiniest of sounds, her eyes would pop open and look around where she lay before raising her head. Reacting too quickly could prove deadly.
Tonight, however, with the length of his body nestled behind hers, his arm placed around her protectively, Violet felt that she could finally rest peacefully, and yet, she could not. Her mind was far too busy whirling over the day's events.
It had began simple enough, leaving the pleasant life she and Gilbert had found together on the island of Ecarte for a brief holiday with friends she longed to see. Then things had become complicated.
Intervening in the possible murder of a Leidenschaftlich officer may have caused more trouble than it might have been worth. Not to say preventing a murder was not worth the effort, but the implications could be far reaching. It was further proof that wars did not truly end at the mere stroke of a pen onto parchment paper.  Dead men had sons. . .
And then there was the prospect of becoming Gilbert Baugainvillea's wife. Making a home together felt second nature to her now, but fulfilling other wifely duties. . .fulfilling his desire with her body. . .and naturally becoming pregnant and giving birth to his children. . . The thrill and the fear of it all made her curl tighter into a fetal ball  and involuntarily let out a tiny whimper. She felt Gilbert's arm draw her even closer, although he never woke.
Thus far, this holiday voyage was proving to be more than a little overwhelming.
      She woke to early morning light shining through a small porthole in her cabin wall and to Gilbert lightly kissing her mouth.  It was a lovely way to welcome the new day, even in light of yesterday's events. 
     Violet found herself much more relaxed and so very much in love.  She faced Gilbert where they lay, only minimally disrobed and embraced him in her arms, holding his head against her breasts.  She heard him moan and sigh, and felt his mouth seek out her naked throat just above  and to the side of the emerald colored brooch. 
Violet could have easily melted until him, if there had not been a soft knock at the cabin door. 
     They looked at each other, then at the door.  Gilbert put a finger to his lips to signal silence. Violet understood and nodded. He then slipped out of her bed and stealthily reached for the pistol he had placed in a nearby drawer.  Then he crept to the door and flattened himself against the wall beside it.   He then gave a nod to Violet. 
     "Yes? Who's there?" she asked.
     A low, familiar voice drifted through the shut door and for a moment, Violet didn't breathe.  It was Dietfried Baugainvillea's voice.  It was lower and more severe than Gilbert's more light-hearted tone which had made him popular among his young students. 
     Gilbert lowered his pistol and slipped it quickly into his trouser pocket.  Violet opened the door to the imposing figure of Gilbert's older brother.
     Dietfried entered, ducking his head to clear the threshold, then Violet closed and locked the door behind him. 
     "You are taking precautions." Dietfried commented, "That is wise."
     "How and why did you come to be here?"
Gilbert wanted to know.
     "Former naval captains have their connections." Dietfried replied, "But we can talk once we're off of this ship."
     "Off the ship?!  You brought your own vessel?!"
     "It will count for nothing if you don't shut up, get your things together and come along NOW!"  Dietfried growled. 
     As the two brothers had their row, Violet quickly threw on the rest of her clothing and was completely ready to go, travel bag in hand.
The two brothers stopped and stared at her as she stood patiently for them to acknowledge her. 
     "Right," said Gilbert and quickly moved around Dietfried to get into his own room.  Within minutes, the trio was on the deck, taking the passageways only the porters of the ship frequented until they were able to slip onto a small rowboat tied well away from any other passenger's sight. It was already manned by two young porters from the ship.  Anchored a short distance away was the Baugainvillea family sailing schooner.
     Violet knew this boat, it was the one Dietfried had taken her to retrieve mementoes of Gilbert.  Dietfried had claimed he was to sell it.  Apparently he did not.
     "It's The Lux!" shouted Gilbert over the sound of the ocean.  "The 'Great Beauty of the Sea'!"
"The Great Money Pit of the Sea is more the like!" Dietfried shouted back, ruefully.
There were others, three to be precise, on the The Lux awaiting them.  Dietfried vouched for them as young cadets from the Leiden nautical academy earning their apprenticeship for schooner navigation. The three fresh faced youth saluted them and Dietfried  waved it off with agitation. 
     "No need for all the military muck.  Just pull anchor." Dietfried grumbled, as he led Gilbert and Violet down into the hull of the vessel. 
     Gilbert looked around the space lovingly, touching the varnished oak plank wall.  "Still the exact same. . .Still so beautiful . . ."
     Dietfried slid open a panel to reveal a number of liquor bottles and poured drinks.
     "If you will forgive me, my dear, you look like you need this most of all."  Dietfried insisted, giving Violet a dainty glass of cognac. "Think of it as an elixir."
     "Thank you, Captain." Violet took the glass and sipped the strong amber liquid.  She winced as it seared down her throat. 
     Dietfried sat heavily behind the desk his father had often occupied, conducting military business even during leisure family outings. 
     "Well, so much for remaining low profile." he remarked, annoyed, "Colonel Foxx keeps nothing discreet.  You met him, so I'm sure you can imagine what a number of papers are going to say by tomorrow."
     Gilbert paced, with drink in hand.  "Yes.  Using alias names hopefully will help."
     "That will mean nothing if anyone saw Violet's prothesis" Dietfried replied.
Violet turned from a framed group photo of boys in military school uniforms. She had immediately spied a young early teenaged Gilbert on the front row.
"I am very particular of who has seen my arms and hands of late, Captain." she informed her lover's brother from where she stood, "I have learned to type with great proficiency in my gloves." She raised her hands, gloved as always.  If one did not know any better, these drew little to no suspicion.
     Dietfried looked to Gilbert for confirmation, and the younger brother nodded.  "Violet is unbelievably modest of her arms. Even with me."
     "Even with YOU. . . I see."  A smirk touched Dietfried's mouth, and his green eyes narrowed in such a way Violet could not read. 
    She could, however, read Gilbert's reaction of an unamused frown.