by A R Pridgen
Out in the yard Eleanor was greeted by Flora. The gardener had one hand wrapped firmly around the reins of Eleanors horse. The other was holding a torch. Flora had been busy while Eleanor pampered herself.
Stacked high all around the house under the windows and up the walls were piles of hay. The windows of the manor were flung wide and the drapes were teased through the openings to rest on the straw. The smell of oil hung heavy in the air.
Eleanor clapped her hands together with glee and held her hands out for her horse. “Pumpkin!!” Eleanor squealed. “You gorgeous horse you!
Better than a carriage any day of the week!” Flora chuckled as Eleanor swung herself into the saddle. “The bells ends at midnight. Do you have enough time?” Eleanor nodded confidently. “Four hours is plenty of time.”
They turned and regarded the manor for a moment. Flora held the torch out for Eleanor. “Would you like to do the honors?” Eleanor took the torch carefully. “With pleasure.”
She edged pumpkin over to the closest haystack. One by one she lit each one on fire. With the hay crackling merrily behind her Eleanor turned towards the gate. She paused next to Flora. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” she asked plaintively.
Flora just shook her head with a smile. “I believe I will go and finally enjoy my retirement.” Eleanor laughed.
She gripped the old woman's hand warmly for a moment then trotted away in the the night; the flames from the merchants manor lighting her way.
Four hours later Eleanor was strolling alone along the dock. In the distance a bell tolled. Eleanor ignored it. Rising out of the shadows was the thing she was searching for. As she stepped up to the gangplank Eleanor heard a whistle sound. Captain on deck. She waited. When a tall figure loomed at the rail of the ship Eleanor strode up.
When she neared the top of the gangplank Spade held out his arms.
Needing no further encouragement Eleanor sprinted the last few steps and launched herself into his embrace. Laughing Spade spun her around in a circle before setting her on her feet. They held each other tightly.
Spade broke away first. Stepping to the side he swept his arm out to display the ship. “I see you got my invitation.” He quipped.
Eleanor snickered and pulled the crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. Stamped on the cream colored paper was a small black suit of spades symbol.
“I almost didn’t believe it at first.” She confessed. “But I always thought the story of the Greatest Treasure sinking without a trace was suspicious.”
Spade nodded glumly. “It’s true that the Greatest Treasure was burned to the water line and sank, but that was because we did ourselves.”
Eleanor raised an eyebrow at this but Spade merely shrugged. “We needed a way to cut ties with Lady Prissa. She was bad for business.” Spade grinned crookedly. “It took us a while to recoup the cost though.” Eleanor raised her other eyebrow.
“I can see that”
Spade brushed off her comment and waved the cabin boy closer. The boy approached with a look of awe on his face. This was the woman who had driven his first mate to such lengths. He always wondered what she was like. He wasn’t disappointed. The cabin boy held a familiar bundle in his
hands. Spade gently lifted the hat and held it out for her. Eleanor caressed the feathers lovingly before placing it on her head. All around her cheers erupted. Eleanor grinned. Spade held the urn out for her. Eleanor swallowed.
Tears welled in her eyes. She clutched the urn to her chest. “We’ll scatter the ashes when we cast off.” She whispered. Spade snapped a salute in response.
Eleanor held out her hand palm up. Spade blinked at her innocently at her. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” She prompted. Spade grinned and reached into his pocket. From it’s depths he produced her ivory pipe. It was cradled in a small glass stand in the shape of a woman's heel. Eleanor clamped the pipe happily between her teeth and examined the stand.
“This is cute. Where did you get it?”
Spade rolled his eyes to the back of his head trying to recall. “The palace; years ago. I think it’s pair might still be floating around in my brothers room somewhere.” Eleanor hmmed in understanding.
“Oh I met your brother, by the way.” She said absently. “He’s a real waste of oxygen.”
Spade made a noise of agreement. “Mondy always was insufferable.”
He shuddered. “You can see why I left.” Eleanor snorted.
She looked around her taking it all in. Noticing her gaze Spade snapped to attention.
“We’re ready to go whenever you are captain.” He saluted. “The Spades Ace is truly yours.” Eleanor glanced up in surprise at the ships name.
She smiled coyly. “The Spades Ace. I like the sound of that.” Spade stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands.
“I hoped you would.” He murmured.
He kissed her slowly and sweetly. Two years of longing and love wrapped up in it. Eleanor drank it all in, snaking an arm around to the back of his head to cradle him possessively against her.
She felt his lips curve up in a smile. “Happy birthday Eleanor”
Eleanor felt her face split from ear to ear in a smile.
“Cast off.” She commanded.
The End…….Almost
Nailed on a blackened post at the remains of the Merchants Manor, fluttering fitfully in the wind; was a piece of paper. It was the heavy parchment of an official document with seals and ribbons dangling at the end. The page was filled with several long and dense paragraphs full of legalese; but one sentence stood out by virtue of the dark streaks of soot underscoring each line.
Upon the arrival of my daughter Eleanor’s eighteenth birthday, all property, finances, businesses, accounts and all other miscellaneous holdings will revert back to her (Countess Eleanor) full and complete ownership to do with as she sees fit.
The bottom of the paper was filled with signatures. Fathers. Spades.
The presiding lawyers; and finally Lady Prissas. Attached to the bottom of the will was a note, held in place with a straight pin. It simply read-Who’s in the hole now?
-Eleanor
About the Author
A.R. Pridgen is a bonafide book nerd. (mostly a sucker for fairy tale retellings) Obsessively scrolling through the kindle unlimited list is her favorite time waster. When she’s not daydreaming and attempting to live a balanced life socially, mentally and physically; A.R. Pridgen can be found in a classroom in South Korea bellowing the ABC’s in her cookie monster voice and emphasizing that V, B and P do not have the same sound. (Venus and Penis are not the same thing kids.) Want to know more about her? (Life in a foreign country, struggles of writing, whatever happens to tickle her fancy?) Check out her blog at www.mermaidinforeignwaters.com