Romania's Port

I heard the ladies talking and could hear how angry Christine was that she could not hold me.

I then felt guards lift me up and put me in chains.

"Christine, you must be so unhappy that you cannot keep me here, but greater things await in England. Tell me good lady, who might you be? I say looking at Margaret as the blindfold was removed.

The guards that Margaret was with did not hesitate to take me to a secure cell, but this would work perfectly with my plan with Matthew. He would rescue me, then knowing Christine, she would have the guards hide somewhere in hope to detain me again, but that was not going to happen.

"Very well, Duchess Margaret, if that is what has been ordered, then I must oblige.

This woman really did interest me. I heard the way she talked to the guards and I knew that Matthew would be very clever and disguise himself as a court guard for no one here knew what he looked like.

I allowed her to go ahead with her plan as I already had mine in place and it was going exactly how I wanted it too. I let them escort me to her cell she had chosen.

I looked at Margaret and just knew her plan would collapse.

"Tell me something Margaret, you say you do not trust me, then please do explain what exactly it is that I have done to your personally that would make you not trust me? I say as I was getting closer to getting my hands free.

I looked at her closely.

"You are a wise and intelligent woman, Margaret. I would never have offended Queen Mary, especially when I learnt that she was indeed with child and knowing how she would feel there was no need for harm. Answer me this then, Katherine and the Swedish royals, say they do not trust me and that I have hurt them or intended to hurt them, where is the evidence Katherine has that I hurt her? I have never even touched her, yes I did invite her to see me and that I was last person to see her, but I knew that for some reason she hates me and that she would not listen to what I had to say, so I had no choice but to give her a little drug in order for her to meet Nadia, whom before you say anything, was never going to kill her. It was the only way she could meet Katherine.

With regards to me trying to stop Marius from meeting Rebecca and trying to hurt her, why would I? I have always wanted Marius to be happy and seeing how he looked at Rebecca, I was so pleased for him. Do you think, that if I intended to hurt Rebecca or Marius, that I would have done so already? So tell me, when King Henry learns that no actual harm has come to his sister or daughter, do you really think that he is going to execute me? Besides, a trusted friend of mine, has already travelled to England to speak with the King, you see I had a little someone watch from afar at all times, who can back my story as a witness. So I would ask you now to think carefully what you are doing. I say to her directly.

I left Mary's chamber.  Gustav was with her Christine met me at the bottom of the stairs.  She told me that Elizabeth was at the port with Margaret.

. Well that is the business that Margaret had with Elizabeth.  Interesting let us go to see what she is telling Margaret.

As we walked in Elizabeth was talking to Margaret so we went closer to hear her.

. Elizabeth I know you are not telling Margaret the truth.  We do not
hate you.  Katherine and I did not trust you.  So we watched you closely.  Katherine told me that you wanted to talk to her.  So when she did not return I knew that you had done something to her.  So you are saying that we hated you.  My question to you is why would we hate you?  We do not know you.  Have you done something that would give any of us cause to hate you?  So if you are innocent why are you doing so much to make us believe you are this misunderstood woman and that we are plotting against you.  I myself do not hate you.  I do not really hate anyone.  What is worse is not to care about you at all.  And I truly do care about you.  What I do care about is what you wanted to do to my family since we arrived here

I had seen that Agnetha had left Mary's chambers.  When she came down the stairs I told her that Margaret was talking to Elizabeth.  She suggested that we go there to see what was happening.  We arrived there in time enough to hear what Elizabeth told Margaret.


. Elizabeth you know that Agnetha is telling the truth.  Katherine sent her a letter stating that she was with you and if she did not return it was you that had done something to her.  Myself I know that you did not like the fact that the Swedish Royal family was here trying to take over Romania and get rid of you.  You told me that that princess wanted to be with Marius and you did not like that.  You along with Matthew Brown watch their every step.  You had Matthew follow me when I went to see Marius.  He even asked me if I was followed.  Now why would he say that.  To tell me to watch out for him because he was being watched by one of your men.  I know that you did not like the fact that Charlotte had arrived.  You had Marie come here as well yet they are no where to be found

I listened to what Margaret was saying and I was impressed by the way she handled Elizabeth's lies.  


. Elizabeth,  I remembered when you came to Romania.  Marius and I wondered why you came here.  Tell me why did you come.  You had Marie of Luxembourg and I believe Cassandra Pennyfeather.  Just one day you and companions came.  I know that you were not specifically invited.  I thought that it was strange.   And for some reason you stayed. Even though your friends left but you stayed. You would tell others that you were taking care of him but Marius was perfectly fine.  I saw that you did not like anyone who came to Romania to see Marius. Almost as if you were protecting what was yours. I did not understand why you had an issue with his visitors..

I liked at how determined this woman was, but she did not know that I myself had many contacts too. I would put my plan in motion. We were at the port already and it she had made sure that my hands were chained. I was taken onto the ship by Margaret and her soldiers and it was at this point that I was taken below to the prison cell where Margaret had just spoken to me.

"Margaret, I would not underestimate you, but I would advise that you yourself do the same. I am well aware that your father is the New Holy Roman Emperor and I course, I have sent him my congratulations on behalf of King Marius too. We are on very good terms. You can have eyes watch me, I know you will. I am looking forward to our little journey to England, I have never been there myself. I say to her smiling.

Margaret soon went up to the deck of the boat, which was very unusual in it's design, for the cells were directly above the cargo hold where all of the longboats were located. It would be the perfect place to make my escape. I knew that Margaret would have told the guards to keep close watch on me and later that evening as we began to set sail, I noticed the cleaning maid looked very unhappy and her clothes were nothing more than just rags. The guards themselves were fast asleep and Margaret had gone into the Captain's cabin to rest as we began to set sail. I looked towards the young maid as she cleaned outside my cell.

"You look troubled my dear. I get the feeling that you have no money and are forced to work like this for very little coin, barely enough to feed your family. I am guessing that you have young children and your husband is nothing but a drunk, am I correct? I said to her to see what she said and the maid looked up and looked around to make sure there were no guards around before approaching the cell and nodding her head to my question.

I looked at her and then, having already thought of what to do next in my head, I looked at her then I put my question to her.

"I have a proposal for you today my dear. I can see that this life is not for you and seeing you unhappy just hurts me a great deal. I can offer you a new life, with riches beyond those that you have ever seen. Your family would never go hungry again, all you have to do is help me get to the longboats below and help me to escape and you and your children can have all of this gold here in this bag. I said to her as I got two full bags of cold coin out from my gown knowing that she would not refuse. The maid looked at me not knowing what to do for a moment but then she approached and whispered to me that she would help. I instructed her to lock the main door and grab the keys that were hanging up. She did this and then she opened the cell and removed my chains. We were so quiet no one even noticed. She led me to the longboats below and together we were able to take one down and place it at the back of the ship facing the open water. I instructed her to get into the boat and doing so we began to row towards the shore, whilst Margaret and her ship were sailing off into the distance.

I knew that Matthew was waiting for me on the shore and as we reached the coast in Romania, I looked up to see Matthew there waiting as planned.

"Matthew, thank god you are here. This young maid has been very helpful to us and she will come with us. The gold is to be hers very soon. Now you know the plan, we wait then when the boat arrives, we get my daughter and head for Hungary. I say as we did notice Abigail's ship slowly approaching. I had always taught Elizabeth Bathory to learn my signals and seeing the ship coming, I had sent my parrot, whom only she would recognise to fly ahead and over the ship. She would know this would be the plan to kidnap Kyla and bring her to me.

I hear a commotion. I went to investigate what was happening. As I turned to see what was happening I see Elizabeth and Matthew. I see that they have taken Margaret with her hands tied. I did not want Elizabeth to see me so I waited to see what Elizabeth is doing.

My plan was going really well exactly how I had wanted it to go and at that point, just as I had predicted, Margaret walked into the cell. I looked at Margaret as my men tied her hands behind her back and it was at this point when I approached her and looked at her directly.

"Do not blame the maid here Margaret, she and I came to an understanding, from which she is soon to become very wealthy indeed. She even agreed to join with me. The guards you have here, they no longer listen to you, they serve me. I say as my guards place Margaret in the cell and then close the door to the cell.

I looked at her closely and then smiled to myself.
"You know you were right about the part about your father, I do not know him personally, but I knew that you would fall for my little plan. Now I would love to stay and talk with you Margaret, but I must be going. I say to her as I rose up and then removed a sheet that was in the corner of the dungeon room revealing barrels of gunpowder with a fuse connected to it. There was a candle above the fuse that was alight and I could see how Margaret looked at it afraid.

I went over to the cell again.
"You see that there Margaret, three nice barrels of gunpowder, large enough to destroy this whole dungeon and the entire ship you have here. Now I would say that you probably have about an hour before the fuse catches light and the ship along with everyone on it goes up on flames. I liked you Margaret, but sadly you left me with no choice. I say as I stood up and we went prepared to leave the ship and just as we were leaving I turned to look at Margaret.

"I heard that your father was having a grand celebration to mark his new position, it would be such a pity should someone unfortunate happen to him there. Farewell Margaret. I say as I nod to Matthew and the maid and we leave and head to shore where horses were waiting for me and I rode off with Matthew free at last.

Margaret had entered the dungeons on the boat but we were lying in wait for her and my men captured her as she entered the dungeon. As Elizabeth spoke to her and revealed the gunpowder to her, I entered the cell where Margaret was sat and upon Elizabeth's orders, I tied Margaret's feet together as well making sure they were nice and tight with no chance of escape.

"No hard feelings, you should have kept out of the affairs, now you will pay the ultimate price. I say as I made sure it was all tight before joining Elizabeth on the shore and we rode off on our horses. I had noticed movement in the bushes and I ordered my men to fire towards the bushes where Christine Daee stood with their arrows.

I had stopped my horse just up the coast as I knew it was almost time for the explosion. I turned to look out at the ship and within moments it exploded and I gave a smile thinking that finally that Margaret was gone and would disturb me no more. I carried on the road towards Hungary.