LADYPYRATE

Jack O Claus

2011-11-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

Starry Night

2011-11-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Lost

2011-11-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sadly Divine

2011-11-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Pin Up

2011-11-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin

2011-11-05T17:11:00.001-07:00

Brightness Falls

2011-11-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

Other Worldly

2011-11-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

Sail Away

2011-11-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Wolf

2011-11-05T16:57:00.001-07:00

Forbidden Moon

2011-11-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

Have you gazed upon the Moon tonight? It’s full and bright with a haunting shimmer of blue light, caressing it's celestial flight. There's an ancient legend that says if any man allows at this time the moon’s light to fall upon his face he would go mad with savage lust for the one he secretly desires. And nothing but the feel of his lovers warm soft seductive embrace, would quench the fire and satisfy his tortured soul from wanting her. With an insatiable hunger he longs to take her to the heights of the heavens. ~ LadyPirate

Storm

2011-11-05T16:50:00.001-07:00

Beautiful

2011-11-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

Mad dash

2007-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

“Alright I will get up!” Fiona said with a lazy annoyed whine.

“You best hurry my lady, or else your father will bang your door down and get to you one way or another!” she warned.

“Your right of course Martha, I have got to get out of here before father gets impatient and demands that the door be removed.”

Fiona got up and dressed as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

***

Twenty minutes later they grabbed their belongings and headed down the secret stairway. Lighting the lantern they moved quickly through the cold eerie tunnel. As soon as they reached the end of the passageway Fiona creaked open the heavy door. Moving quietly not wanting to raise suspicion to their activities they made a bee line for the stables.

Both ladies with bags in hand came to a screeching halt knocking into each other as they reached the carriage house. Damn! Lord Sacksville in all his glory stood right out in front!

Lord Sacksville knew his hellion daughter well and made sure personally that none of the carriages were available.

“What are we going to do?” whispered Martha in a horrified gasp!

“Be quite Martha he might hear us!” she said in a barley contained whisper.

It was then that Fiona spotted Timmy frantically waving at them holding up the horses’ reigns.

“Quick Martha there is no time to lose follow me” she said with a sly impish grin.

Timmy who knew what the Lord was up to made sure that Fiona’s horse was made ready and brought around to her usual spot.

Martha disgruntled rubbed her backside as she dismounted Fiona’s horse. Traveling from Kenwood estate to London on horseback was not something she ever wished to do again.

“Are you alright?” Fiona asked as she whipped her leg over the side of the horse tangling herself in her skirts and almost landing on her backside in the process.

“Right as rain my lady, and speaking of that were both soaked to the bone from this blasted drizzle! We could catch our death in this dreadful weather!” she cried.

“Stop that Martha! Nobody is catching anything, a little rain won’t hurt and besides I am sure that Nell has something we can change into.” She said hopefully.

Fiona tied the horses’ reigns around the pole in front of the little shop that sat below Nell’s flat. Motioning for Martha to follow they headed around the side of the building and up the wet slick stairs.

Until next time

Covent Garden

2007-05-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Do you know the Muffin Man? The Muffin Man, the Muffin Man.
Do you know the Muffin Man, Who lives on Drury Lane?"

"Yes, I know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man;
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man, who lives on Drury Lane."

"Then two of us know the muffin man, the muffin man,"

Until Next Time

Secret Love

2006-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Pretty, witty Nell

To the King's house to see 'The Maiden Queen', a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and wit; and the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done again, by man or woman.The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girl, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess, admire her.

{Pepys' praise}

Until Next Time

Rise and Shine

2006-12-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

Early bird

Lady Fiona woke early, with a blinding stream of light coming from her bedroom window making her wince and roll the opposite way. The massive thick green drapes were never opened this early in the morning but Martha was on a mission to help her young charge. A rather large thick woman in her early fifties with the vitality of three women rolled into one, was indeed a formidable foe to behold.
She packed all of Fiona’s bare necessities she would need for at least a couple of days, toiletries, petticoats, bustier, dresses, and most importantly the clothes she wore when she frequented the numerous taverns and theaters. “Why this young lady feels the need to visit such dangerous seedy places is beyond the norm, such a beautiful woman aught to be settled down with a baby or two by now, but it is not my place to be saying such things” Martha mumbled to herself as she finished up the last bag and sat it down by the armoire. Fiona smiled to herself as she burrowed deeper into the soft warm bed. Martha always said what was on her mind no matter how improper or inappropriate it may be. Practically raised by her personal maid she felt like Martha was more of a mother to her then her own mother was. The proper frigid Lady Eleanor never showed affection; such improper things were shunned and never displayed in public. Fiona ran to Martha whenever she needed to be cuddled or her knee needed to be cleaned when she was a young child; her mother was never there. “My Lady, it is time to get up your father will be here soon, we must be on our way,” Martha said as she pulled the blankets off of Fiona’s head.

Until Next Time

Great Scots!

2006-11-25T21:13:00.000-08:00

Tangled web we Weave

“Martha, Martha!!! There’s a lot of upheaval goin on upstairs come quickly!” gasped Mary the servant girl as she ran into the kitchen. “What child, what is goin on?” Martha asked clanging her fork down onto her plate as she quickly stood. “It’s Lady Fiona, they are sending her away to America! I could hear Lord Sacksville shouting at her!” Mary said frantically. “Oh my! Where is she Mary?” Martha asked as she headed for the dining hall. “She ran upstairs to her room” shouted Mary. As Martha ran past the dining hall she reached the bottom of the staircase in time to hear the Earl pounding ferociously on Lady Fiona’s bedroom door. I better hurry no time to lose, she thought as she headed for the garden.

***
Martha pulled at the tangled cold ivy revealing the old withered door. Not wanting to make to much noise and alert the nosey grounds keeper she opened it as careful as she could. Stepping inside she felt around for the extra lantern that was left in case the other was not brought back. As she lit the wick a warm glow filled the passageway. She held the lantern above her head as she closed the door and made her way towards the stone stairway, careful to avoid the drop off. She hated this cavern fearing a dreaded Scots ghost might come up out of the 50-foot drop to drag her down to its murky depth. Such superstitious nonsense she knew but nevertheless a fear that touched its icy breath on her neck as it wrapped its haunted chill up and down her spine.
Martha hurried up the stone steps to Fiona’s bedroom, careful not to fall. Pushing on the panel it creaked open to a brightly lit room. She could see Lady Fiona out cold on the floor in a crumpled heap.
“My Lady, My Lady, wake up its Martha” she said as she reached Fiona and shook her shoulders. “Oooohhhh my head” Fiona said as she came to. Martha helped her to the bed and gently tucked her in. “Martha I have to get out of here, my father is sending me away. Help me gather some of my things; I am going to Nell’s house” Fiona said in a weak feeble voice, as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Until Next Time

SpitFire

2006-11-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

London, England

January 27, 1686

The streets of London were not the place to be out and about after dark. Ladies of the night, men of ill repute, and poor homeless beggars; more then willing to do another’s bidding for a small coin, roamed menacingly about the city.
The night grew dark, as a light mist dampened the air. Cold and a bit chilly Lady Fiona wrapped her black cape around her shoulders and mounted her horse and left the Theatre Royal, better known as, “The King's Playhouse", on Drury Lane. The sounds of merry laughter faded farther into the distance, as she nudged her horse onward.
Rounding the corner of Hampstead Heath she could see Kenwood House lit up, warm and inviting. As she reached the stables she quickly dismounted and handed her rapier and horses reigns to Timmy the stable boy. "Thank you Timmy, make sure you brush her down proper." Fiona said firmly as she reached out and gently rubbed the horses’ nose. “Yes my Lady, good and proper like I will." Timmy said as he eagerly lead the horse into the stable, whistling a jaunty tune. She always gave him extra coin to make sure he kept her secret. The first time she came riding in she had to clamp both her hands over his mouth so he wouldn't blurt out that she was dressed as a man. After the first coin given he happily did her bidding, no questions asked.
Running from the stables to the secret path near the garden, she lifted the overgrown ivy to reveal a hidden door that lead to a steep stone stairway. Lighting the lantern she proceeded down the dark cold tunnel turning right just before the drop off, a trap her ancestors made in case of invading Scots. She reached the stone steps and carefully made her way up to her room. Pushing on the heavy panel, it creaked open. She could see her maid Martha pacing back and forth wringing her hands frantically. Walking in and closing the panel Martha ran towards her with a look of sheer desperation in her eyes.“Oh, Lady Fiona I thought, surely you weren’t going to make it back in time. Your parents have a lavish meal prepared for you” she shrieked. “What’s going on Martha?” Fiona asked with piqued curiosity. “I don’t know my Lady, but Mary the servant girl said she overheard your father in the study talking to a man about South Carolina. She didn’t catch all of it mind you, Lord Sacksville told her to leave them be. I do know this, she said the man gave her the chills, he was pasty white like the dead he was” Martha said as she made the sign of the cross across her chest. Rolling her eyes at Martha’s overly dramatic theatrics Fiona untied her cloak and placed it on the back of the wooden desk chair by the armoire.
“Help me out of this Martha these boots are killing my feet” Fiona said as she plopped down on the edge of her huge four-poster bed. With the aid of Martha she took her black knee length high heeled boots off, then shrugged out of her skin hugging pants and white billowing top which revealed a curvy bottom small waist and high perfect breast. Taking off her black stylish broad brimmed, up-swept semi-cavalier hat, adorned with black Ostrich feathers she quickly tossed it on the bed. Her hair tumbled and cascaded down her back in a rich shade of chestnut brown, reaching just shy of her shapely trim hips. Slipping into the yellow satin dress with matching slippers that Martha provided, she fixed her hair in a nice neat bun at the nape of her neck. “How do I look?” she asked “Beautiful as always my Lady” Martha said. Wondering what the special occasion was all about Fiona headed downstairs.

***
The smell of roasting pheasant with dressing and cinnamon applesauce enveloped Lady Fiona’s senses as she rounded the corner and entered the dining hall. Her Father Charles Sacksville, 6th Earl of Dorset at the ripe age of 60 still had a full head of auburn hair with a touch of gray at the temples, broad shoulders, and a thick moustache that curled and tilted up at the corners. He sat at the head of the mahogany table with a somber determined look on his face. Her mother, Lady Eleanor, a handsome older version of her daughter sat ramrod straight with a tight-shielded expression, avoiding Fiona’s gaze.
A sense of foreboding came over Fiona sending a chill up and down her spine. She quickly dismissed it, what could possibly go wrong? Fiona took her place on the opposite side of her mother, accepting the cloth napkin the servant handed her, neatly placing it on her lap. The table was adorned with the finest crystal her mother had bought while traveling abroad in Italy; All the silverware monogrammed, tablecloth and napkins lined with a single golden weave the finest the Aristocracy could buy. Such a waste when there were starving children on the streets of London, she thought.
On Saturday nights she would sneak out with the help of Martha and head straight for Nell Gwyns house, a well-known actress who lives on Drury Lane. She would always bring bread, cheese, apples whatever she could find in the kitchen to feed the homeless children she ran into along the way.
So absorbed in her thoughts she didn’t hear her father pounding on the wooden table. “FIONA!! Damnit girl, I have said your name five times I will not be ignored!!! Charles roared slapping the mahogany table with the palm of his hand almost knocking over the crystal glasses. “Charles please calm down remember your heart,” said Lady Eleanor, frightened with concern. Startled Fiona’s head snapped up and she sucked in a deep breath. “Sorry father I didn’t hear you, are you alright?” she asked as she reached out and placed her hand on his left shoulder.“Yes, yes I am fine” he said rather flustered brushing off her hand as he tried desperately to catch his breath. Lady Eleanor summoned the servants with a little golden bell to start serving the first course. Mary the servant girl dressed in a black dress white cap and apron brought in huge bowls of steaming lentil soup with thick slices of fluffy bread smothered in creamy butter. Fiona’s stomach growled, she didn’t realize how hungry she was. Dipping pieces of bread into her soup she quickly ate almost everything in her bowl. Charles looked over at Eleanor and nodded his head; she nodded back.
“Fiona, your mother and I have something important to discuss with you, concerning your future.” He paused to take in her reaction. Fiona sat there and gave him her full attention as she noticed beads of sweat starting to form on his brow. He quickly went on, “As you know you’re our only child and we want what’s best for you. Your mother and I fear that your age of 23 is dangerously close to not obtaining a husband. Not to mention all the scandalous shenanigans you have pulled, it was hard finding a suitor!! He said. “But father, that is not true I haven’t done anything that would warrant a scandal, and I don’t wish to be married!” her voice started to rise a little.“Don’t interrupt your father when he is speaking Fiona.” Her mother said softly, never looking up from the table.
“Mother how could you agree with him!” she cried as she threw her napkin down on the table and quickly stood up. Charles stack blew “You haven’t done anything scandalous? Bah!!! Swimming naked in the pond and getting caught by the grounds keeper!! Going to the tavern dressed as a man with that horrid actress!!! Why girl if it wasn’t for your skills with the rapier you would have been killed countless times ago!!! He roared. “Father it was their own fault, if they hadn’t cheated at cards there would not have been a need to draw my sword! And as far as swimming naked in the pond, it was hot and I thought no one was about! Why if that dirty old man hadn’t been fondling himself and fell face...” she was cut off abruptly by her fathers stinging words.
“FIONA!! I will hear no more of your foul mouth, we have already promised you to a man who lives in South Carolina. His name is Justin DeWolfe, he is 36, and a good upstanding man, you will honor him and us. He will make a fine husband. You are getting married and that is that!” he said in a barley-contained voice. “I would rather die,” she said in a tear stained cry.
Fiona grabed up her skirts and ran from the dining hall, up the stairs and to the safety of her room. Charles and Lady Eleanor in hot pursuit reached her bedroom door only to find it locked. “Fiona open this door, there is nothing you can do. I have spoken”. He said with confidence. “I will not marry him father you can not make me!!” Fiona yelled through her bedroom door. Refusing to come out and face her father she instead locked and propped a heavy wooden chair under the doorknob “You will come out this instant do you hear me daughter!!!” He bellowed while banging his meaty fist on the thick heavy door. Fiona backed up towards her four-poster bed tears streaming down her angelic face, horrified that her father would ship her off to the Carolinas to a man she didn't know who was almost twice her age. The room started to swirl and grow dark, the voices in the other room faded into the distance. The last thing she remembered hearing before she fell into the abyss, was the secret hidden panel next to the armoire, as it creaked open; then all went black.

Until Next Time

Set in Stone

2006-11-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

Charleston South Carolina

October 26, 1685

William Harrington made his way down towards the docks under the cover of night. Not wanting to draw attention and raise suspicion to his person he tipped his hat lower and pulled his coat tighter around his neck. As he reached the South Battery district in the heart of Charleston he could hear the sounds of bawdy drunken laughter coming from The Black Tavern Inn. William waited outside the tavern by the ancient oaks that dripped thick with Spanish moss; the heady scent made him curl his nose in disgust. He hated the smell of moss; it reminded him of the tobacco plantation he lived on as a child. The slaves would make a potion out of it mixed with herbs they claimed cured all illnesses, such nonsense!

Twenty minutes passed and still no George. Damn the man what could be taking him so long!! Just as he was about to give up the tavern door flew open and out burst a drunken George wiping his coat sleeve across his mouth as he let out a loud ungentlemanly belch.

"Disgusting filthy little bastard" William mumbled under his breath as George stumbled towards him.

“I want what we agreed on Harrington,” he said with slurred words as he pulled out a small black box from his pants pocket.

“Yes, of course here is the money, now give me the box.” William said with a hint of steel in his voice as he handed him a wad of notes.

“Nice doing business with ya, if ya be needed anything else you know where to find me.” he said pushing back his long greasy hair with pasty white fingers.

"As a matter of fact there is something else. I'll contact you in a couple of days so be ready." he told him as George silently slinked off into the night.

With the box in his possession William headed straight for his Jeweler shop on

Broad Street to deposit it in the safe he made especially for this occasion. It wasn’t easy but with the help of Lady Nottingham and her despicable husband the ring was now his. The coveted sardonyx stone set in a gold ring carved with the portrait of England’s beloved Queen Elizabeth I, given as a token of friendship, from the Queen to the Earl of Essex. As he turned the dial to the last click he smiled to himself thinking, Justin DeWolfe will rue the day he called William Harrington a low life nobody!!!

Until Next Time