Chapter 16

Allora woke up in the middle of the night and lay listening to the wind howl, she could hear the sleet hitting the glass of the windows and snuggled deeper under the covers. She woke up again as the wane morning light came filtering through the heavy drapes, shivering as she got out of bed Allora quickly dressed in the dress Nedra had given her, pulled on her heavy socks and old boots and went downstairs to the kitchen. Before she knew what was happening Allora had been whisked out of the kitchen and into the huge ornate dining room, the kitchen maid telling her that the cook would have her breakfast out in not time, with a sigh Allora asked the maid to bring her out a cup of coffee, the maid bobbed a curtsy saying she would bring a pot right out. Tossing a few more small logs into the fireplace Allora stood waiting for her coffee, she looked at the gold plated candle sticks, the gold plated chafing dishes and sighed even the chandelier was gold and crystal with long tear drops of crystal hanging down by gold chains, the table and chairs were black lacquer, with a gold flowered material on the chairs. When the maid brought out her coffee it was in a black cup with a gold ring around the top, "I need to talk to the first mate" Allora said taking a sip of her coffee "ohh excuse me the butler" the maid with a worried look said the butler had been dismissed several days earlier but she could get the footman Riley for her who had stepped in and taken the butlers place for the time being. Allora nodded saying that would be just fine, a few minutes later Riley walked in giving Allora a slight bow as the maid carried out her breakfast, Allora sat staring down at the plate of food, wrinkling her nose she frowned "what the hell is this? all I wanted was some breakfast, not something floating in sauce." Riley gave a slight nod saying he would take care of it immediately, picking up her plate he carried it to the kitchen, ushering the worried maid in front of him. Riley returned a moment later saying that the Mistress's breakfast would be ready shortly, Allora sighed "look Riley, have you lived in this town long?" Riley replied that he had lived in London all his life, Allora grinned "ok here's what I need, the names of some stores where I can get some decent furniture, I also need lots of white paint, brushes and canvas tarps, this place looks like a damn dungeon, I plan on doing something about it, I also need to know where to go to get some more clothes, if you know where I can sell all this horrid furniture that would help too, I want it hauled away as soon as possible, if I can't sell it and you know someone who would like it, help yourselves." She could see Riley thinking something over "spit it out Riley, what is it" Riley tried not to chuckle at the way the mistress spoke "my Uncle owns a used furniture store, he sells things on consignment, or he buys them outright, he couldn't afford to buy the furniture here but he could sell it for you for a small fee, he could probably take you around to some of the furniture makers to get what you want to replace what's here now." Allora looked down at the plate the kitchen maid set in front of her, there was scrambled eggs, toast and bacon "there that's breakfast, thank you" she said to the maid who bobbed a curtsy and rushed back into the kitchen "sit down Riley I'm getting a stiff neck staring up at you, have you had breakfast?" startled Riley sat down "yes Ma'am I've already eaten" Allora sprinkled salt on her eggs "ok send for your Uncle, he can start hauling this stuff off while I'm out getting some clothes, I want everything gone except for the furniture in the bedroom I'm using right now, what about the servants quarters you guys need new stuff?" even though he shook his head Allora could tell from the look in his eyes that they did need new furniture, probably new clothes and things, that bastard Charles more then likely had paid them half what all the other servants in London got paid. "Have him take the furniture from the servants quarters and if he has better, nicer stuff for them I'll buy it, in a few days we'll figure out new outfits you look like a funeral director all dressed in black with that thick tasteless gold braid all over." Riley couldn't help himself he started laughing "yes Ma'am, I'll send my Uncle a message right now and give the coachman the directions to several ladies dress shops" Allora finished her breakfast took another sip of coffee then went and put on the short cape that went with the dress, the coach was outside waiting for her.

Allora took a deep breath and walked into the dressmakers, not sure what to expect she stood looking around, it took her a moment to realize the tittering and giggling behind hands was directed at her, a sales girl smiled a superior smile at her "are you here to pick something up for your mistress?" Allora didn't even smile "no I'm here to have some clothes made" the sales girl snickered "I seriously doubt you could afford the prices, several blocks down is a ready made garment store" Allora looked the girl up and down "I wouldn't want to buy anything here anyway if the dress you have on is an example, good day" turning she walked out slamming the door. Allora got into the carriage and told the driver to go to the next store, she received the same type of treatment at the second store, the coachman and the groom gave each other a glance, Allora told the driver to take her to a place where the clothes were all ready made then got into the carriage muttering about snobby bitchs, not to anyone would she admit how much it had hurt hearing the snickers of the sales girls. Allora was perfectly happy with the ready made store, when she left she was carrying quite a few large wrapped packages, as instructed by Mr. Qwerty for the time being all bills were to be directed to him to be paid, so that's what Allora had done with a twinge of worry. When she got back home, Riley's Uncle Henry was there and had all ready taken one load of furniture away, she took off her cape and handed it to Riley, climbing over the furniture in the entry way she shook hands with Henry, the groom came in carrying some of the packages, Allora glanced over at him "just toss it over here" she said holding out her hands, she had caught the third package when she noticed Riley trying to get her attention two ladies standing next to him, Allora called out "I see um Riley give me a minute" climbing over the furniture again Allora walked up to the two women who had shocked looks on their faces, turning they said they would call another day and quickly left, Allora stood at the door in surprise then frowned as the women snickering got in the carriage and left. Riley stepped in when Allora started to help his Uncle and two cousin load furniture into the back of the wagon "Mistress, let them do that, it's not your place to be out here working" Allora blinked then shrugged and went inside to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, when the cook told her that she would have the kitchen maid bring it out to her Allora put her hands on her hips "I am perfectly capable of getting my own cup of coffee" the cook with a worried look stepped away from Allora who was all ready pouring herself a cup and walking out of the kitchen, she stormed up the stairs to her bedroom and slammed the door with a resounding thud. Allora wrapped her arms around the old torn teddy bear and sank down onto the floor in a corner of the room, rocking back and forth she wept. Allora heard the timid knock on the door, standing up she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress then stood looking out the window as she called come in. The young upstairs maid said almost in a whisper "your packages Mistress, would you like me to put your purchases away?" Allora nodded slightly not turning around "yes, that would be very nice, thank you" she listened to the maid moving around the room then leave with a quiet click of the door. Hugging the bear to her chest Allora sat in the chair in front of the fireplace for a long time thinking, when she finally got up, she changed into a new pair of breeches, a shirt and a big sweater, pulled the old boots back on, gently set the bear back onto her pillow and left the room.

Allora pulled out her whistle and piped all hands on deck, everyone came running to see what the noise was, standing on the stairs Allora looked at them "I have a few things to say! You can call me odd, eccentric, even crazy I really don't care, but we're going to do things MY way, I don't eat fancy food, I am not going to sit eating at a huge table all by myself in a cold dining room just because that's the way things are done in other houses. I can get my own cup of coffee, I don't want to see anyone scrimping again on firewood or coal, I don't like being cold I doubt you do either, yes I get mad and yell, I even stomp around and slam doors, I swear and mutter but I don't hit people, I don't dismiss people for no reason, you treat me fair and I'll do the same. If you can't live with that, if you think I'm not the type of person you want to work for let me or Riley know and I will give you a reference and a weeks extra pay to tide you over till you find another position, as of now Riley is first mate butler in charge, anyone have a problem with that?" One by one everyone shook their heads, with a sigh of relief Allora tucked her whistle back in her pocket "Ok let's get busy making this place look like a home instead of a gilded funeral parlor." Hearing hands clapping loudly Allora looked at the open door to see Connor leaning against the door jam "you need to teach them to say aye aye Captain" he said with a grin, Allora snapped "I just might do that, what are you doing here Breeton?" walking down the stairs she headed towards the back of the house, Connor slid over a desk and followed her "I'm casting off at high tide, I wanted to stop and see how you were getting along." Allora looked over her shoulder at Connor "I'm doing just fine thank you very much" she could feel herself cringing inside the big sweater and frowned "where are you heading this trip?" she asked lighting some candles in the huge dark book room, going to the section of the paneling she had found the night before Allora opened it and pulled up stool to stand on, Connor raised an eyebrow watching her "I'm going to take a slight detour to take Savas home before the rivers all freeze up in his part of the world, then we're heading to the orient, are you a safe cracker too?" Allora not looking at Connor blinked several times, so Savas did want to go home, she couldn't blame him she thought "no damnit I'm not a safe cracker but I want to see what's in here, that bastard was involved in all sorts of smuggling activities, french brandy, lace, all sorts of illegal stuff, I came across that little fact months ago, of course the authorities got a tip about it but unfortunately he wasn't caught with the rest of the smugglers" Connor frowned "it's a good thing he wasn't or the crown would have confiscated everything he owned" reaching out he tapped a finger against the dial of the safe and it sprang open, Allora snapped "I was getting it!" then let out a gasp staring at bags and bags of gold coins, jewels, silver bars, gold bars "hell he must of been at it for years, look at all this money" she breathed out. Connor shook his head "foolish of him to have kept it all in one place, if I were you I'd spread it around a bit" finding a scrap of paper and a pen in a box on the floor Connor wrote down the safe's combination and handed it to Allora "go see Neil at Tetly's he should be able to give you a hand" nodding Allora stared down at the jewel case inside was a four strand choker of pearls in the center an oval amethyst surrounded by small baguette diamonds, "find something interesting?" Allora snapped the case closed at Connor's question "not really" she said putting the case back in the safe. Connor sighed to himself, only the necklace your mother wore most of the time and you remember it very well, he thought "I have to be off to see the family before I leave, remember if you need anything just contact Neil at Tetly's, if he isn't available you can always go see my Uncle Joe, I wrote the address on the paper along with Tetly's." Allora nodded looking at the paper before she stuffed it into the pocket of her breeches as they walked to the front of the house "thank you" she said begrudgingly as she climbed over the long dining room table, Connor nodded with a sigh, he said goodbye and left, Allora quietly closed the door even though she felt like slamming it as hard as she could. Sitting in the warm kitchen eating some soup Allora watched the snow start to fall, the cook shook her head "haven't seen snow this early in a long time, looks to be a long winter" Allora nodded "we'll have to make sure there are plenty of supplies" she glanced over her shoulder as Savas came into the kitchen, smiling she offered him some soup "thank you, no I've all ready eaten, I wanted to talk with you" he said sitting down, Allora set down her spoon "Connor was here, he said your sailing with him, I'm glad, I've always wondered if you wanted to go home" Savas poured himself a cup of hot black coffee, cook coming to the realization it was something she needed to keep ready all the time had made sure the pot was full. "It's time for me to return, your quest is at an end, I have my voice back and we both go on from here, it's time for a new adventure, a new journey to begin" Allora wanted to cry please don't go, don't leave me here all alone with those snickering mean bitchs in a strange new world, but she knew she couldn't do that, so instead she stood up and gave him a hug "I'm not real good at good-byes so I'll just say go with god and may your sea's always be smooth and your sails snap clean" Savas smiled hugging her back "goodbye Allora Montcliff of London and Al of the high sea's, be all that you can be and may the gods guide your way" quickly turning he strode out of the kitchen and headed towards the wharf and home.