The Fall of Charlotte Richards
A Devils Paw Story
© 2013 Mr. David R. Dorrycott
Chapter Seven
Later that night Penny Rose Navita, owner aboard Devils Paw was watching the stars as her ship headed South to Cuba. They had departed their Florida Port of Cedar Key half a day ago and would arrive, problems not withstanding, at Habana, Cuba in the afternoon. A day of shopping there for the partying passengers aboard, then off to the rather boring run through those lower islands before returning to Habana, then Florida where then Furry Flyer would be waiting to take everyone home. As the black pennant had been up since an hour after leaving port the deck was filled with parading furs, even a few humans. Those Penny still found distasteful though she had finally learned to accept them aboard her ship, even the males. It was amusing how some still wore clothing meant for the near frozen northern states while others wore not even shoes, though the ships book strongly suggested that such be worn for safety. The deck was wood after all and could have unknown splinters.
One couple though kept gaining the mouse’s attention, an older collie who was obviously very comfortable in nothing but her fur and a much younger mink who was holding tight to the collie, fearful of being seen even though she wore a very short skirt. “Those are who” Penny asked the Springer Spaniel standing beside her.
Ruth checked who the mouse was asking about then referred to her passenger list, a small book always with her as Penny had a very bad habit of asking such questions at odd times. “Miss Martha Jeanette Morton is the collie Mistress” she soon answered. “Heir and one third owner of the Morton empire, very rich and her older brother holds another third. Her mink companion is Miss Charlotte Francine Richards. It took some time before I discovered that she is the collies niece and also one third owner of the Morton empire. When she reaches her majority, twenty one, she will inherit. That will be in a few months as yet. Charlotte has requested the Anne Bonny play, with the only restrictions being no blindfold, to be gagged at all times and that no males are to touch her. She is apparently still a maiden Mistress and wishes to remain such until marriage.”
Something about those last statements ran a red warning flag up in the mouses mind. Anne Bonny was an expensive play where the subject was captured while visiting a small island, trussed up and packaged so she could not see then returned to the ship where she would experience two days of complete degradation, all normally while blindfolded during transport. Always subject to pre-determined restrictions. She would then be returned to the next island where she would find herself fully dressed and within sight of Devils Paw. It was not a common play do to the time involved and excessive cost, a cost almost equal to the price of passage.
Penny thought it over while the two subjects of her current interest vanished around a corner. A long sea voyage, visiting several islands one which had a very active slave trade An obviously immature young woman... “Please ask Miss Morton to join me in my cabin in one hour.”
“And Miss Richards?” the Spaniel asked.
“She is old enough to parade herself, and with sufficient assets to keep attention upon her. Where is Yafit?”
“The Bridge Mistress, she has Night duty.”
“Wake her relief first Ruth, I’ll make it up to both of them later. Yafit is going to babysit that mink until I release her Aunt, if I release her Aunt” Penny decided. “I want Linda in this meeting as well, something here stinks. Get Calico to bring her as she is now, though with her legs free. You might suggest that Linda remain gagged if she already is, though I will have her gag removed sometime after the meeting starts.”
“Yes Mistress” Ruth answered, turning to hurry off and complete her new duties.
Penny though remained as she was. This would not be the first, or last time she interfered in what might be a discard plan. Why she did the mouse wasn’t sure, yet somehow the Collie had appeared just a bit nervous or worried about something herself.