"Ruin and Redemption"

At the Tavern: Lizzie, Esme, Derrick in Charleston

This is a disturbing and highly sexually explicit chapter, as are the two following it. Read at your own risk...or just skip ahead to get out of this segment of the story. The book will still make sense without these chapters if you don't want to read them.

As a last thought, he grabbed a long mauve velvet coat. He wondered if any ordinary pirate would wear it, but he couldn’t resist. It fit perfectly.

“You’re too high class now, Altheorn,” Lizzie said, slightly disappointed. “No, don’t take it off! You look so, so happy and it fits so perfectly well. Besides, I’m sure I’ll get it off you once we’re alone, won’t I?”

“I suppose so. I guess we’ll leave our things here?” He said worriedly.

“Don’t worry, Derrick. I mean, Altheorn; They’ll be safe.”

“That’s right. I’m Pirate Altheorn! No one would dare touch my things.” He said confidently, relieved that it appeared to be true.

When they hailed a carriage, Lizzie leaped up into it without his assistance. She still had not put the corset back on. He pushed her up into the carriage, and gave her a playful slap on the rear. She glared at his lack of respect, then made herself smile a playful smile. She was his whore after all. He’d paid her fair and square, hadn’t he? She had the evidence tied to her and hidden beneath her camisole. And she owed it tonight. So no need to decide one way or the other. Who cared whether he deserved it? Or if he were disease free? Or had been with another woman far too recently for her liking? He had paid her and she owed him; The powerlessness of her situation to resist such a wonderful lover was immensely exciting. But first, he had promised her an alehouse: “The Fisherman’s Daughter”.

She looked about the city, more interested in it now. She didn’t have to be a lady tonight. She could look out the window and not worry if her curls blew out of the topknot. Her hair was pulled into a loose pony tail beneath the pirate hat. Derrick had decided to wear one after all, and she loved that that part of them matched. My partner in adventure, she thought. For once, we’re on the same level. She kept smiling, and noticing fresh things about the city-- fascinating things. She was a part of it now; She was alive!

The carriage stopped too far from the curb to be proper, trusting that she could easily scale the distance, and she could. Without the cumbersome skirts, high heels and waist-cinching corset, her stride was long and purposeful. Getting down from the carriage was a rush. Derrick was practically pulling her along before she even set both feet on the ground. And they were running, actually running the short distance, while the wind whipped at their hair, and the rain pelted them. And what’s more, they were laughing! Both of them.

The tavern was crowded with sailors and their whores, just like herself and her husband! How exciting!

A bar maid looked her over, smirking, and pulled out a chair for them at the table in the back. It was loud and noisy. Someone told crude jokes and Lizzie let go of her feelings of disgust and enjoyed them. Furthermore, she sat in her chair in a most unladylike manner, legs spread open and pressed her full breasts over the table so that Pirate Altheorn could leer at them. She even had the nerve to take her hands and place her breasts on the table and rested them there, smirking. She noticed other men noticing her.