"Best get this under way soon then. He won't wait forever. We'll have time to leverage him better after the fact." Catherine assumed it would be better to make her move now than later. Luckily, she had most of the work in place by now to do so and was ready to make her move for swaying the governor.
(Thanks!) Spoiler: Sailing Roll Success! Renee's girls are hardly fresh, after being ravaged and held hostage, but neither do any of them want to be in the clutches of the Royal Navy. The courtesan notes with satisfaction that they rush up the rigging, bringing down the sails, as the Veuve catches a favorable wind coming from behind them. The sloops, despite their speed advantage, grow smaller and smaller on the horizon, until they disappear. "At least something went right." Eloise says, limping a little as she walks along the deck. "Merde. Well, I suppose we should set a course before those British catch up. Where to, ma capitaine?"
Isabela ponders her options for just a split second. Seeing the priests, she looks around for a long bit of fabric she could get a hold of. Anything that she could throw over herself as a cloak and hide amongst the monks.
Marlene glares too at Peter, knowing he got a point here. She couldn't dominate him and he isn't able to control her. "So let's make it simple. Let's toss a coin, loser will be bottom. Eagle. " She said as she take coin and throw it up in the air, in secret hoping to lose. I that way, Marlene could submit to big, black guy, but keep her pride.
"Bon chance, mother." Louis smiles. "And remember - we're relying on this." Before too long, Catherine stands in front of the governor's mansion, the soldiers at the door standing aside for her as they try not to eye her body too obviously. A well dressed black man greets her, bowing. "Bon matin, madame. Le gouverneur is in a meeting, but I'm sure he'll make an exception to see you. Please wait here." He gestures for her to wait in the entry hall as he rushes upstairs. A minute or so later, he returns, politely asking her to follow him to the governor's study - her title still bears weight, it seems. The butler opens a door for Catherine, and she sees the portly old governor, surrounded by advisors and sycophants. "Ah, countess! Please, come in. Gentlemen, give us the room, please. The lady seeks an audience." The men filter out - though Catherine notes many of them are gossiping about her in hushed tones. "Wine, madame?" The governor smiles when they're alone.
Eyes darting around in a hurry, Isabela spots a riding cloak - probably the husband's - a size or two too big for her. In a pinch, she could wrap it around herself, the collar pulled over her head like a hood, to mimic a monk's habit and cowl.
"Call it." Peter nods, as the coin sails through the air. Spoiler: D2 2 The coin lands in Marlene's palm - she wins. "You look disappointed." Peter smirks knowingly, but steps back, abiding by the deal.
Isabela takes the cloak and throws it over herself, hopefully appearing now as another hooded figure in the crowd of holy men, and darts out of the manor to try and blend in. Eyeing the soldiers. If need be, she could always 'ask' them nicely for their help.
Marlene didn't admit it or deny it, so she just try to pretend is nothing is changed. "Don't you forget your place, commoner. Now, it is time to you to serve your lady." She said and open her arms. "Be good servant and undress your lady". Marlene tried to hide, how much arouse she is right now. "Do it quickly and don't damage material." She said unpantiend.
Draping herself in the cloak, Isabela falls into step with the monks and nuns. One of the ill disciplined soldiers grins at her as she looks at him, as one of the nuns pokes her hard in the back, whispering "Who are you?" in Spanish. The husband storms out onto the street, but rather than making a scene, Isabela sees him quietly looking around the area for her, as she turns to look out her peripheral vision.
"Yes, mistress." Peter says in a mockery of a deferential tone, approaching her. He reaches for her shirt, roughly squeezing her breasts, as his fingers slowly work the lacings. "Whoops."
"Ahhh!!" Marlene gasp as he groping her breast through her shirt, as he didn't undress her too fast. "Ahhh! You are pathetic, worst of my servants. Others would do it much faster than you." She said breathing faster, with red face as she push up her chest, not making move to stop his fingers.
"A humble passer by, attempting to learn if life as a nun is the path for me" Isabela said, attempting to bluff her way out of this. "May I follow your... Congregation? Is that what it's called?"
"Forgive me, mistress. This slave will work faster for you." Peter grins, his tone not matching the servile words at all. He grips the sides of her shirt, and pulls roughly, tearing the garment down the middle. Marlene's breasts are exposed to the air of the cabin, as he lays his rough hands directly on her breasts, squeezing them and pinching her nipples.
Spoiler: Manipulation Roll Fail "Procession." The woman responds, clearly not believing Isabela - but not exposing her either. "We're headed for the convent." She whispers. "If you disappear before we get there, I'm screaming for the guards."
"Oh, do not ask the governor to strain himself on my account. I shall wait for when he's ready." As she spoke to the butler, she had no doubt this man likely could tell she didn't mean a word of it. He was likely well used to all the typical nobility greetings and going through the motions, to understand that meant she was livid with the situation, but stopping short of trying to assert authority over him. Regardless, she gave it the well practiced mock politeness, but did give something of a sincere smile to him. "If by some chance we ever meet at my townhouse, I assure you, my servants will take care of everything for you." She always believed in being polite to the service staff. Much better chance of avoid getting poisoned that way. As she patiently waited, she looked to the governor with another rehearsed bow and curtsied. "Mouiser Governor. It's a pleasure to speak to you once more." She was laying it on a little thick, using the kind of greeting specifically reserved for nobility and royals, but she felt that like any self important nobleman, it would eat into his crave for attention. Being offered wine, she waved her hand in a very formal fashion. Anyone whose anyone in court knows that you always have to refuse the first offer to drink. "Oh, no thank you, Mouiser." Yes, pour me a glass. No doubt, the governor knew already that she was not being serious about her refusal and was just doing the typically expected thing with how insincere she gave her tone. But her face shifted into a more serious look. It was important to think of a way to say it without directly challenging or insulting him, letting him feel like he can set the terms, but establish herself as more of an equal than a subordinate to him. "You are simply too generous, Mouiser. I realize how valuable our port is for trade, but I was expecting more of the usual talks than any immediate action." Alright. She framed it like she believed he was actually doing something in a real way. Didn't matter if it was true or not. The important thing was stroking his ego, and making it look like he could be everybody's friend.
"Arg!!! You fool! You ruin my favorite shirt! Ahh!!!" She gasp as Peter bring pain and extasy to her breast. "Don't... Don't you dare to stop it!" Marlene step closer as she letting him grope her breast harder, reminding Peter than he still need to undress her completely.
(Great post!) Spoiler: Manipulation Roll Success "Please, I insist. I wouldn't have it said that a lady of such fine breeding was poorly treated in my house." He holds up a bottle of wine, pouring it into a crystal glass and handing it over to her. As she tastes it, she can tell he's not skimping - it's Bordeaux, the good stuff. "Discussions of the war are important, but it wouldn't be gentlemanly of me to make a lady wait. Please, tell me how I can help you, countess."
"Forgive me, mistress. Let me make it up to you..." He takes a hand off one of her breasts, replacing it with his mouth, sucking and nibbling on her nipple, as the free hand goes south. He undoes the laces of her pants, luckily not destroying this garment. He peels the pants off of her skin, and they fall to her ankles, as his hand presses against her clitoral veil, stimulating her nub through the little bit of flesh hiding it from the world.
Isabela nodded, confident. The guards weren't the ones she was worried about anyways. And she could easily change her plans with the soldiers to those of the guards. She followed them till she could see the convent roof peeking over buildings, and then disappeared down the nearest alley between buildings.
