The Fall of Charlotte Richards

A Devils Paw Story

© 2013 Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Nine

Martha Morton left that meeting late in the morning, in fact it was only an hour or so before sunup. Even the parading furs were gone as the most adventuress were mortal, sleep called to all. As to where her niece was Martha had no clue, only the assurance that Yafit was taking care of her. That meeting and the following extensive exploration of Devils Paws secrets found no evidence it had ever been used as a slave ship, though interrupting a couple that Martha knew from Washington in the ships dungeon had surprised her. Carla was in the process of pleasuring her husband while he was bound to a St. Andrew’s cross.

“I don’t need help” the older dachshund had explained after Martha and her guide entered. “Tomorrow night though, you and I?”

Martha had laughed, not knowing of this couples wild side, they had always been so proper in her presence. “I can’t this trip Carla” she admitted. “I have my niece with me.” The two had talked a bit then Martha and her guide departed, allowing the dachshund to return to her task, much to the apparent enjoyment of her beagle husband.

Devils Paw was a pleasure ship, it carried cargo yes but Martha’s attentive inspection had found no evidence of slavery. Devils Paw was exactly what her owner claimed it to be, even if it did carry an admitted slaver aboard though who would believe the hound. After all the vixen had been bound at the time of her admission and could claim that she was humoring the collie. Certainly that binding was tighter than anything Martha had experienced herself, much tighter than she would ever want to experience. Charlotte though. Part of he time had been spent arranging for Calico to expose her niece to such things, certainly the feline had been interested.

Entering he cabin she found her niece asleep in her bed, the still properly uniformed Yafit sitting under the single electric lamp reading a navigation manual. “Thank you Yafit” the hound said softly. “What did the two of you do anyway?”

Closing her book the mink stood, looking down at the sleeping mink. “So is very inexperienced” Yafit reported softly. “I took her to the bridge, with Captain Davis permission I allowed her to steer the ship for a little while, it is all straight line after all. She seemed very interested.”

“It does not surprise me at all” Martha admitted, sitting on her own bed. It was odd she had thought, that there were two beds in each cabin, still both could be secured to the cabins wall allowing a great deal more free space. All latches were much stronger than the hound thought that they needed to be though. “My sister and I were always great supporters of the Merchant’s, we give freely to the Widows and Orphans fund each summer. Charlotte caught the bug from me and we do go sailing when the weather and business allows. At least we did until recent events came up.”

“I had best take my leave then, I still have duty until Forenoon Watch begins. That is eight am and the Captain has been taking my watch, she does need her beauty sleep.”

Martha laughed softly, “Your Captain is a very attractive Labrador” she admitted. “Were I male I would be after her in a moment.”

“You would be wasting your time Mrs. Morton, Captain Davis is married to Mackenzie Aitken, our ships engineer. Mackenzie is a Scottish Foldcat and believes very much her Goddess Danu, she would be very irritated if you tried to enter her cabin. Good morning Mrs Morton, your niece was a lot of fun to be with and she has a pretty chest.”

Martha laughed softly as the mink slipped out, shutting the heavy wooden door behind her. Yafit is seemed had been smitten by Charlotte. As she prepared to sleep the hound paused. Charlotte and Yafit, as she recalled Yafit was currently single and both were minks. Maybe, maybe if she paid Mrs. Navita she could arrange for her niece to become a member of Devils Paw’s crew, at least until she dealt with her brother. Tonight had been very fruitful and a great number of plans had been roughed out. Penny Navita is turned out, was a nastier planner of revenge than Martha herself. Slipping under her sheets the collie was soon asleep. She had at least cancelled the Anne Bonny experience, Penny had assured her that this ships crew was more than capable of breaking down even a missionaries morals, and had done so just months ago.