The Fateful Ride - Chapter 4 (standard:romance, 1544 words) [0/4] show all parts
Author: Tiffany Fontana	Added: Apr 17 2008	Views/Reads: 3108/1914	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
De Lounge and the Duc reach their climax

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


‘I'm glad you think so,' she replied.  ‘Then we have a deal?  I can't
wait to get my hands on your plums.  They're famous all over the 
continent, you know.' 

‘Very well', said De Lounge curtly.  ‘I will sign an agreement and tell
you where I keep my plums.  Then you can pluck them whenever you see 
fit.' 

‘Excellento!' cried the Queen.  ‘Now gentlemen, let us seal the deal. 
De Lounge, take your doubloons and we will drink a toast to our union.' 


De Lounge reached out and took a firm hold of the pirate's sack.  He
fingered it lovingly and slipped it inside his jacket. 

The three sat and drank together, the men relaxing a little.  The Duc's
wandering gaze fell upon the Pirate Queen's harp. 

‘I was a musician too', the Duc told the pair.  ‘But I had to give up
last year when I broke a G string fingering a minor.' 

But the others were not listening to them.  De Lounge and the Pirate
Queen leaned over the table as he signed the agreement.  Their hands 
touched and they exchanged smouldering glances. 

‘You can wait for me on the pier', De Lounge told the Duc.  ‘The lady
and I will finish our business alone.' 

The Pirate Queen stood to see him to the door.  ‘I cannot offer you any
fruit', she said.  ‘But take this as a souvenir of our meeting'.  She 
pressed a small salami into his unresisting hand. 

The Duc left the ship, glad that Merkintown was spared.  His thoughts
flew to his Lady Baker.  He must go to her and reassure her. 

Suddenly, he heard a cry.  Running along the pier towards him was his
beautiful, bewitching Lady.  He sprang towards her with ecstatically.  
They embraced fiercely and passionately, tongues deep in each other's 
mouths. 

‘Where have you been?' demanded Lady Baker.  ‘Pirates are running amok
in Merkintown and nobody has seen you or De Lounge.' 

The Duc quickly filled her in.  She looked bemused. 

‘De Lounge has done well out of this', she said.  ‘But what of you?' 
Have you any pirate gold?' 

The Duc looked downcast.  ‘No', he admitted.  ‘But I brought you this!'
he said, brightening. 

With a moue of distaste, the Lady Baker took the tiny sausage he was
holding out for her.  He was suddenly aware how puny and insignificant 
an offering it seemed.  What woman would settle for this little 
shrivelled thing?  The Lady Baker deserved more, but this was all he 
had to offer. 

The Lady looked at his anxious face and her heart melted.  He may not be
perfect, but he was hers.  She fell into his arms. 

They stood on the quayside, locked in a passionate embrace.  Suddenly,
Du Beethell wrenched his tongue from Lady Baker's mouth and asked 
sharply, ‘What was that?' 

A high, womanly scream, followed by a splash, echoed from the pirate
ship.  The Duc rushed to the water's edge and could faintly see the 
slim figure splashing helplessly in the murky depths. 

‘De Lounge!' he cried.  ‘My God!  What has she done to you?' 

As he spoke, he tore off his cloak and shirt and prepared to dive in and
save his boon companion.  The Lady Baker ran to him and grabbed his 
arm, 

‘Don't', she implored.  ‘Don't leave me at the mercy of these cruel
pirates, for they will surely snatch me if you leave me alone.' 

‘Dammit woman!' bellowed the Duc. ‘I cannot leave him to drown!  He
means more to me than life itself!' 

‘More even than me?' asked his Lady in a quiet voice. 

Not even pausing to answer, the Duc dived into the freezing water and
grabbed De Lounge, swam with powerful strokes and pulled the limp man 
onto the pier. 

‘What happened?' he demanded. 

‘She used me', De Lounge said bitterly.  ‘She pretended she loved me,
but then she tossed me over the side.  All she wanted was to get her 
hands on my plums.  She never cared for me at all, the Milanese minx.' 

He struggled to his feet and began to walk towards where the horses were
tethered. 

On the quayside, the Duc turned at last to face his Lady.  He was
shivering now.  The cold night air ruffling his red curls brought him 
to his senses.  Quickly, he pulled his breeches back on. 

Lady Baker was staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. 

‘You left me', she said.  ‘You made your choice and I hope you can live
with it.' 

She turned on her heel and fled, disappearing into the darkness. 

Heartbroken, the Duc stood immobile until De Lounge reached his side and
handed him his mount.  Silently, the two men rode out of Merkintown. 

As they reached the edge of the moor, the Duc turned back once more, a
single tear dropping down his rugged, unshaven cheek.  This valley, 
this rain-filled, misty vale was her home.  His beautiful, tantalising 
Lady Baker.  Not his Lady any more, he reminded himself.  He sighed, a 
deep, regretful sigh and faced the road east. The end had come and 
never again would he ride in his lovely Lady Baker's moist valley of 
love or gaze upon on her rosy tipped hills.  From now on, he would only 
ride with De Lounge. 

The End 


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