"The really unexpected affair" chapter 2 for the Short Affair

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

CHAPTER !

Challenge: The Short Affair

-Prompt Word #1 - Vouchsafe

-Prompt Colour – Yellow

Author: mrua7

Title: The Really Unexpected Affair

Word count: 1000 (sorry just a wee tad over)

Sailing Sailing over the bounding main:

Napoleon and Illya walked up the ramp to the deck of “The Vouchsafe,” a rather odd name Solo thought, but dismissed it as soon as he saw Maude. She looked wonderful as she dashed across deck, greeting he and Illya each with a hug and a kiss.

Once the pleasantries were exchanged the agent’s luggage was stowed in their cabin where they took a few mintues to freshen up.

They returned topside having changed to more appropriate clothing for their boat trip.  Solo, dashing as ever, wore white pants and shirt, with a bright yellow cravat. Completing his ensemble was a navy blazer. Illya had simply switched to his usual black turtleneck with a dark green wind breaker, a pair of blue jeans. Unlike his partner who wore white deck shoes, Kuryakin settled for a pair of black canvas sneakers.

The steward brought drinks as they settled in for a chat before weighing anchor. Solo presumed his sailing skills would come in handy, thinking that was why he was asked to do this by Waverly, with Illya merely coming along for the ride, so to speak.

Given he and Illya had been in the vicinity, they were chosen for the honor...that is if you could call Norway that that close?

“I can’t help but wonder why Uncle Alexander insisted you join me,” she huffed after taking a sip of her vodka gimlet. “I’ve done this trip before, though it was with my husband Charles. Still it’s so good to see you both again.”

“Ours is not to reason why dear Maude,” Napoleon raised his glass. “Here’s to smooth sailing.” In reality he knew the Irish Sea could be quite unpredictable at times.

“Oh I nearly forgot Illya...here.” Maude held out a small bottle. “It’s seasick pills. I also have ginger and cola as I recalled you telling me once they helped.”

“Thank you for thinking of me.” Illya graciously accepted the pills, trying to put being seasick out of his head. The wind gusts and choppiness hitting the harbor waters were making the boat already rock uncomforably. Queasiness had set in from the moment he stepped on board, forcing him resigned himself to the fact this journey was not going be a pleasant one.

Once motoring out of port and at Maude’s insistence Napoleon took over the helm from the Captain.  That made Solo feel he'd enjoy himself a bit on this thrip, though in truth he was tired from the mission in Norway and would have much preferred heading home to New York.

She stood beside him, watching the twinkle of delight in his eyes as the Vouchsafe cut through the rolling waves, sending spray across the bow of the boat.

“You really love sailing don’t you?”.

“There’s little else that compares to it for the feeling of freedom. I have my own boat, just a thirty footer called the Pursang; she’s sleek and can hold her own.”

Poor Illya, despite the remedies, had sequestered himself aft with a bucket held between his knees.  The crew was completely sympathetic to his condition as even the best of seamen could get hit by seasickness. Periodically Maude sent her steward Niles to check on him, not wanting to possibly embarrass the Russian by looking in on him herself.

The sea started out particularly rough and that made it even worse for  Illya as he couldn’t even go below to lay down. That would have made him feel all the worse as the rocking and rolling would churn up his stomach even more.

They weren’t at sea long though when the waters, surprisingly, began to calm, turning  it into a bright but cool sunny day.  The winds dyiing down brought the captain to take over the helm and engage the powerful motors until they could make way under sail again.

Kuryakin hadn’t taken the pills Maude had given him until they were well under way, and finally they'd kicked in; with the ginger and warm cola in his stomach, he began to feel better at last.

“Luncheon will be served shortly Madam,” Niles, announced. ”Prawn risotto with a tossed salad. Might I suggest a simple bowl of rice for the gentleman until his stomach has settled?”

“Thank you Niles but I will be fine. Prawns are a favorite of mine,” Illya wasn’t about to miss out on a good meal because of an little upset stomach; that’s what he called it, but Napoleon knew better.

The mind was willing but the flesh was not and Kuryakin was able to eat very little. The medication he’d taken was making him feel drowsy and he excused himself, finally heading below to the cabin.

“Poor Illya, he does seem to get the worst of it at times doesn’t he?” Maude asked.

“I guarantee he’ll be fine once he gets some sleep. He has a surpising ablity to recover very quickly from just about anything,” Napoleon changed the subject.” So tell me a little bit about this husband of yours?” He’d never met the man, nor heard Mr. Waverly speak of him so he was a bit curious. He always thought Maude was a bit of a catch, and wondered how the Brit had managed to snare her.

“Oh Charles is quite the dashing figure, not unlike yourself,” she smiled. He’s fairly wealthy as you can tell by the yacht. We live in this wonderful old mansion that blongs to the Kensington family.  He’s a sportsman, playing polo, tennis and golf...and a yachtsman as well.  Our home is in Lytham St. Annes by the Sea. It’s renowned for the game of golf by the way.  His family helped start the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, one of the host courses for the British Open Championship. Once every ten years, so I’m told,  the coming of this major event brings an influx of visitors into what is usually a peaceful fishing community. “

Napoleon refrained from commenting that the man obviously didn’t work for a living, and envisioned a snooty playboy.  He was surprised that the lure of money might have attracted Maude as she always seemed like such a level headed girl.

“So there’s nothing going on at home that seems odd or out of place?” He suddenly asked.

“No, everything is fine with Charles. Why did you ask?”

“Maude you know your Uncle better than anyone; don’t you think it’s a bit odd he’d send his two best agents to accompany you home for no apparent reason?”

She cocked her head, tapping her index finger atop her lips as she thought.

“Well, there have been some odd goings on around the town. People acting...not like themselves.”

“In what way?”Napoleon leaned forward.

“They’ve stopped being as friendly as they had been when I first came to live at the mansion. The seem to scurry away when I’m around, like they’re afraid of me.”

“Anything else you’ve noticed?”

“Well come to think of it...I’ve stopped seeing children. There used to be scads of them running about in the village, playing as children do.  I had just assumed they all went back to boarding school, or something like that. Wait, what am I thinking? That can't be right, it's still summer."

“What about younger children...babies, toddlers?”

“No. Isn’t that strange? I never thought anything of it until now. Do you think something is going on that Uncle Alexander hasn’t told us about?”

“Maude, let’s say your Uncle never does anything without good reason.”


Chapter 3