The Ship

Chapter 18
“So Penny tell me what I have been asking for two weeks. Who have you been spending all your time with?” Thomas asked at the dinner table in Port Loll. The arrived in Port Loll in the evening and were starving for a real meal.
“Doesn't matter,” Penny responded short and continued her meal. After dinner Penny went up to her room and had a bath prepared. She spent an entire week in the privacy of her room having meals prepared and brought to her and ignoring her brother. Penny was lonely. Penny didn't find it to be a good idea to even tell Thomas anything about James no matter how many times he tried to get her to say something.
“Penny there will be a formal dinner tonight and I expect you to be there,” Thomas came into her room and told her. “You've got to get over yourself its been an entire week, you need to grow up Penelope.” Penny pretending not to listen. Thomas walked out.
“Thomas?” Penny called as he walked out.
“Yes Penny?”
“When you go out on that ship of yours what is it you really do?”
“I fish, I trade, the usual why?”
“You trade? Trade what?”
“Materials of sorts,” Thomas responded somewhat hesitantly.
“Materials? You mean like pirating materials?”
“No...No Penny why would you think that?”
“Just wondering is all. Do you have someone you really hate Thomas?”
“No one worth mentioning. Why are you asking me these silly questions Penelope?”
“No reason. Goodbye.”
Thomas left knowing Penny was getting at something and wondering what it was. The last thing he said before he left was that he expected Penny at dinner in her best clothes. Penny only agreed to go out of annoyance and nothing more.

Back in McMillan Port James was trying everything in his power to get Penny out of his mind. He couldn't do it. Eventually after a week of her not around and driving himself crazy he decided to go looking for Penny. He knew she would be at Port Loll soon enough. James didn't want to deal with Thomas Chous but he convinced himself to just deal with it. It was the night of the formal dinner that James arrived once again at Port Loll. Given that she was a Duchess it wasn't hard to find where Penny lived. The problem was how was he to get to her.
Dinner was to begin at about half past seven. At the dinner there were to be some rather distinguished guests celebrating the return of the Duchess. Penny was not looking forward to the questions that may be asked. Before Penny entered the dining room the guests were requested not to ask any questions concerning Penny for it were a touchy subject. The dinner was over quickly which was in Penny's favor. Penny found herself in the parlor after looking for something to do. A knock came at the door.
The butler came to the door. “May I help you?” he asked.
“Yes I am looking to see P-the Duchess, sir.” James said as politely as he could.
“And why is it you must inquire with the Duchess as such an hour of the evening?”
“Well- Well its important and personal sir.”
“I am afraid that the Duchess is in dispose and will not be seeing any visitors or dealing with any business this evening. Come back another day. Goodnight sir,” The butler said quite rudely shutting the door in James's face.
“Excuse me sir! I must see her immediately!” James said blocking the door with his body from being shut in his face.
“You must come back another day!” The butler said angrily.
“Lionel what seems to be the trouble?” James heard a voice from behind the door.
“Oh Mr. Chous it seems we have an unruly unwelcome guest. He won't leave. I'm sorry sir he insists on seeing the Duchess.”
“Thank you Lionel, please allow me.” The voice said right before coming to the door.
“Excuse me what can-” Thomas just stared. James just stared. “What are you doing here Mitchel? How has it become that I have been honored with your visit to my home?” Thomas asked annoyed.
“Good evening Chous I suspect you have of no interest in seeing me here but it is very important I must speak with the Duchess.”
“Why! What have you to do with my sister? How is you have dared to step foot near my home. I ought to have you killed just for showing your filthy face in my presence!” Thomas snapped.
“Oh please Thomas put the past behind you this has nothing to do with you and I!”
“Then what! What do you have to do with my sister I ask you again!”
“Its personal I must speak with her now!' James demanded.
“I have no interest in speaking with him Thomas!” Penny said angrily from behind the door. Penny had been listening for several minutes then. Penny did want to see him but she was still to angry with him to do so. She hadn't stopped thinking about him since the day she left his home.
Thomas thought for a moment before accusing James of something unknown. “What have you done to my sister!” Thomas demanded pulling James in by the neck. “I'll ask you again, what have you done to my sister!” Thomas was slightly taller and stronger than James. “I-” James started to say before Thomas punched him in the face. “Is this who you have been spending all your time with Penelope? Is it!” Thomas shouted throwing another punch in James's direction which James blocked this time. Penny had been watching. Before long the two were fighting on the ground despite Penny's demands to stop such silliness. “Oh! What the hell is with you two stop it!” Penny yelled. “Have you taken her purity James! Have you done something to her! You lying cheating bastard!” James kept saying every time he threw another punch or kick at James.
“You're yer own lying cheating bastard Thomas! Yer a bloody pirate yerself!” James fought back.
“What! Pirate!” Penny said surprised. “Yer a pirate Thomas!” she shouted. “Retired! Thomas said between punches. “Yer a liar, you lie to yer own sister! Yer as bad as he is!” Penny shouted as she joined in in trying to punch Thomas herself. “Ow!Penny stop it,” as she kept hitting at him, “Ouch Penelope! Enough!” Thomas yelled as he was trying to avoid punches from both sides of him. James started to laugh at this ridiculous fight. “And you! Yer a bastard!” She yelled at James as she turned on him. “Hey hey Penny!” James shouted. Penny kept hitting at both of them as they both kept hitting at each other while trying to stop Penny. It was like a child's fight.
“Alright Penny thats enough!” James demanded. Penny kept hitting both of them until James pulled her away from Thomas. “This ain't yer fight Penny, leave it be,” ordered James. Penny struggled trying to hit James and kick Thomas. Eventually after much struggle James had her arms and Thomas had her feet holding them down while she struggled. “Penny stop yer fighten!” James ordered. “Knock it off Penny!” ordered Thomas. Penny of course did not listen and started shooting out insults and swears and kept fighting her way out of the men's grasp, until they both almost simultaneously smacked her on the rear causing her to get more pissed off. “Assholes!” she shouted one last time before throwing their hands off of her and stomping off. The two men looked at each other. Thomas looked as if he were going to kill James. “You-” Thomas started to say before both men looked at where Penny had gone and back at each other several times, appalled and speechless. The men had no idea what just happened.
“Thomas will you listen now?” James asked annoyed. Thomas still appalled turned his back but listened. “Thomas she jumped my ship months ago. Disguised herself as a man, was caught, and dealt with-” “Dealt with?” Thomas said accusingly. “Yes. It was a rough start for a relationship, in fact I was ready to bring her back where she came from, or leave her one some island. I was a bastard! I ain't know she was a Duchess Thomas. I ain't know she was even yer sister. I was ready to get her off my ship, but something happened...” Thomas looked at him waiting for the rest, “Something happened?” James said again accusingly. “Something happened...I..I fell in love with her.” Thomas continued to just stare. “Fell in love-Oh- Damnit!” Thomas said to himself. “Thomas I came to talk to her, we had a fight about how she never said where she came from or any of that....” James continued on talking to Thomas and hoping that he could have Penny back again. Thomas was speechless. Eventually after a long one way conversation James went on his way. Thomas had no idea what to say to Penny.