Chapter 3 #2
Her tricorne hat was keeping the bright sun from her eyes while her doublet coat kept her warm and hid most of her womanly curves.
A bright smile plastered her face as she took in the buffoonery and chaotic shenanigans that never stopped in this town.
The day walkers were just as wild as the night crawlers.
It didn’t matter the day, the hour, the season, this place was alive with activity.
Those who lived in the town would party until they passed out somewhere, too drunk or tired to care about the constant noise.
She thought she even saw someone passed out on top of a pile of hay, soaked in questionable liquid, with a bottle in his hand.
Rosetta knew she would eventually join them for the next few days, but currently, she was making her way somewhere important. She needed all her focus to concentrate.
The more she walked, getting further and further away from the heart of town, the quieter it became.
She was heading up such a sharp incline, she doubted any drunk person could walk it without struggling.
In the past, she’d seen her fair share of men who had given up halfway, shaking their heads in disappointment as they sat in the dirt facing the decline.
They always looked so sad that they couldn’t make it to the top in their state.
The prize would have been worth it if they could.
At the top of this large and very steep hill was a grand mansion. It was one of the few buildings on this island that was maintained regularly, and it was one of the biggest highlights. Men would sail here just for this place, as if it was a fabled tale of riches and wonder.
To some, it was.
The road was clean and crisp. Shops got tidier the further she went, and she knew only the most valuable wares were sold near the top before that great mansion.
Anyone was welcome, and it was her current destination.
Two men were stationed at the front. They had swords on their belts, alongside daggers and pistols, while their shoulders had rifles slung across them. They were armed to the teeth like soldiers, yet they wore simple clothing: brown pants, plain vests, and white tunics.
They eyed her from head to toe as she approached the three-story building of white limestone. It shone in the sunlight like a beacon in the day. It could be seen from almost anywhere if one wasn’t next to a tall building obstructing the view.
Inside the iron fencing were shrubs, trees, and a beautiful garden of flowers.
Lush green hedges looked like clouds as they blocked the outside world from looking inside the gardens.
A pond with lily pads sat in the centre, and in the middle of that was a marble statue of two ladies pouring water out of vases.
The red-painted double doors were closed, but she didn’t need to use either of the black iron door-knocker rings.
Rosetta merely pulled on the matching iron handles to open the doors and walked inside.
The massive front room was furnished with multiple lounges of varying colours, sizes, and styles.
A large chandelier sparkled with dangling teardrop crystals in a dome pattern, reflecting colours in an array of prisms. Colourful carpets of red, green, and blue covered the white-and-black marble flooring, all of them in floral designs.
At the back of the room was a large staircase that split off into two sections to lead higher into the mansion, with doors to hallways on either side of it on the bottom floor.
There was no music, but faint chatter and giggling could be heard.
Multiple pairs of eyes were focussed on her.
At least six beautiful women sat on those lounges, talking to each other. Three more were either seated next to a man or on his lap, happily conversing quietly.
One of the women recognised her.
Her face lit up, and she immediately got to her feet. “Rosetta!”
Ah shit, what’s her name again? A black-haired woman with pale skin came to put her arms around her for a tight hug.
“Charlotte.” Rosetta smiled, hugging the woman back.
“It’s been months since I’ve seen you!” Eventually, Charlotte drew back to grasp Rosetta’s shoulders tightly with a happy but thoughtful expression. “Are you here to see Madame Lillian?”
“I am,” she answered with a nod. “Is she busy? I must be quick.”
Alister no doubt had lost his temper that she’d gone off on her own. She could just imagine his dumbfounded face when he discovered she’d left.
“No, she’s free. She’s in her room having tea.” She waved her hand in the direction Rosetta would need to go, despite the fact that she already knew the way. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
“Excellent.”
Rosetta swiftly turned to the right and walked through a set of large doors that would take her down a long hallway.
There were many single doors leading to bedrooms on one side, while gridded windows brightened her path on the other. The walls were painted cream, with pale-green leaves forking across them in intricate patterns. An occasional pink flower dotted the walls as well.
Mounted iron sconces holding unlit candles would eventually be lit when night fell. They were clean, any residue from old wax candles removed and replaced daily.
At the very end of the red-carpeted hallway was another set of double doors that would lead to a large bedroom – one that was different from the rest of the rooms, and far grander.
She knocked on the door.
“Come in,” answered an aged, yet feminine voice.
Rosetta opened the door and entered, a strong sweet-smelling incense billowing out to greet her.
Purple silks lay over a neatly made bed pressing up against the back corner of the room.
An oak side table sat next to it. A brown lounge was up against the left wall, facing the large windows that spanned nearly the entire opposite wall.
Thick, heavy blue drapes blocked out the worst of the sunlight.
Madame Lillian Gunter was seated at a round dining table, sipping a cup of tea. There was a purple embroidered table runner across its centre with a fancy three-pronged candle holder in the middle. A pile of papers sat in front of her, as though she had been busy reading letters and ledgers.
She fixed her warm green eyes on Rosetta, and they immediately crinkled in welcome as the corners of her lips turned upwards.
Her blond hair had streaks of grey through it, but it was still elegantly tied back into a stylish bun. Her lightly tanned face was only gently weathered by age, and even though she was soon to reach fifty, the woman was still one of the most beautiful people Rosetta had ever seen.
“Well, if it isn’t Rosetta Silver, as I live and breathe,” she said, elegantly rising from her seat to stand.
Her body was thin, but with her large breasts cupped high on her chest, she knew this woman had been sought after in her youth.
“Hello, Lillian,” she answered respectfully with a bow of her head.
The woman scoffed, waving her hand to the side, as if to say she disliked her greeting. “Come here, you silly girl. I demand a hug.”
She stood next to the table and waited for Rosetta to approach, her arms opened wide. Like a daughter running to her mother for comfort, Rosetta strode forward and allowed herself to be collected into those arms.
Her warmth radiated into Rosetta, softening her muscles as if she was melting away all her worries, fears, and concerns. The way Lillian smelt made Rosetta feel even more at ease, and she couldn’t stop herself from deepening their embrace.
After a tight squeeze, Lillian pulled back just enough to place her soft hands on either side of Rosetta’s face.
“You grow more beautiful every time I see you.” She lovingly brushed Rosetta’s long, messy, untamed fringe from her face to see her features better. “You have so many freckles now, my dear. You need to take better care of your skin.”
“That happens when you’re in the sun as much as I am.”
Her smile deepened, causing Rosetta’s lips to answer her look with her own.
“Sweet child, how have you been?” She drew away and gestured for Rosetta to take a seat at the table. “Where are your men?”
Lillian headed towards her rolling tea table and collected a fresh teacup with a rose floral pattern, placing it down in front of her before grabbing the matching white porcelain teapot. She poured her a cup of tea and Rosetta took in the smell of honey, mint, and ginger.
I’ve been so long at sea that I’ve forgotten the smell of something so sweet. She eagerly wrapped both hands around the cup to soak in its warmth and took a sip.
She almost wanted to moan with satisfaction. Lillian possibly made the best tea in the world. She could have gone into the tea selling business.
“I’ve been very good these past months,” she answered around another sip, before placing it down to rest on the saucer. “My crew is at the dock. We’ve only just gotten to Tortaya.”
“You walked here by yourself?” The motherly look of concern made fear cut through her faster than any look Alister could possibly give. Lillian refilled her own near-empty cup as she regarded Rosetta with narrowed eyes. “That’s rather stupid of you.”
Rosetta couldn’t help her giggle. “I had to be quick.”
Madame Lillian was slow and elegant now due to her age, but Rosetta knew she was a loud-mouthed, hot-tempered, irresponsible woman when she had the energy.
Staring at the blond-haired, green-eyed, honey-skinned woman with awe and respect, Rosetta also couldn’t help noticing she looked similar to Pierre.
Lillian made a noise of disappointment before sighing as she sat.
“Considering you’re here, you’ve either gotten the Laughing Siren, or you never got the chance to.
” At the face Rosetta gave, she answered with a pointed expression down her elegant nose while reaching for the sugar tongs.
She purposefully plopped a sugar cube into her tea.
“Don’t give me that look. If you failed, you’d either be dead or arrested. ”
“The big girl’s all mine.”