Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Twenty

I was in hospital for a month before they reluctantly let me leave, and holding onto Wesson's arm, said my goodbyes and left quite a few hundred of dollars behind to help them buy back the stolen medical supplies that they had to re-purchase from the black market.

We were feted to the airport and had the same treatment on the plane to Hawaii. As we were part of returning wounded servicemen, we managed to dodge most of the attention, but I still had to give a press interview at which I was most embarrassed.

`What is a knight of the realm of England doing in combat uniform in the conflict at present being waged in Korea?' was the first question thrown at me.

`I serve my country when called upon to do so as do most of your own countrymen whether they be Republicans or Democrats.' This brought a laugh from the press corps.

`Is it true you were sent in to get captured troops out?' was the next one.

`No. I went purely as an observer and got caught up in things outside of my control.'

`But you did rescue twenty men!'

`No. Sixteen, including myself. No, correction. Fifteen. One marine was killed when I was wounded. We got the chance to escape during an air attack and I took it.'

`One of the men has said that you were very harsh in your treatment towards them during that escape. Is that true?' asked a bitter sour looking man.

Yes,' I said, looking pointedly at him. I was harsh and brought him back alive. Then I got shot for my pains.'

But you were wearing the jacket of a Russian officer, what did you expect,' was fired back at me. How did you get the jacket? Kill him for it?'

`No comment!'

`How many men did you kill to get away?'

`Unlike your gunslingers of the old west, I don't keep score or notch my gun.'

`What was your worse experience in all of this?'

`Getting shot by an American,' I said succinctly. This brought some laughs against the questioner.

`For your efforts, but not trying to belittle you, you have been awarded an honoury Congressional Medal of Honour and the English Military Medal and also promoted to Major whilst in the field. How will this sit back with the powers back in England?'

`Well to put it our way of speaking, I'll probably be given a bollocking for getting into the mess to start with and then demoted to sergeant. And, I will almost certainly be docked some pay because I lost my revolver.' This brought laughs from almost all those present.

My friends,' said Wesson stepping in. Major Lyon is still a very sick man and this short period in your wonderful island of Hawaii is supposed to help him get back into good health before carrying on to England. So I must call a halt to this press interview as of now for him to rest. I am sure I am speaking on his behalf for your kind words of questioning and maybe at a later date he'll speak again. But I think you'll find another hero in the near future to spend your time with. Thank you gentlemen.' He then helped me from the room to leave a buzzing crowd behind us.

That was a great public relations exercise,' he said as we left the room, I hope they write your words exactly as you said them.'

They did and it made me blush to be called the Knight of Shining Armour as I was referred to in the press. They were too flattering in their descriptions of me and crediting me with more than I had actually done, or said. But they eventually left us alone and it was glorious to be able to get into bed with my love for him to love me in my way, difficult though it was in the circumstances. To feel his hardness inside me once again was all that I wanted and I couldn't get enough of him doing that to me over the two weeks that we spent on the island. I was still weak, but Wesson helped me into the sea every day and saw to my dressings afterwards, and this kind of therapy seemed to work. The sun and the sea and the devoted presence of my love did more for me than all the doctors put together.

I was still weak when we arrived back in England. My arm in a sling and having to walk with some assistance from Wesson when we presented ourselves to Frobisher in his office.

`Pity you let the Yanks get the material before us,' were the first words he said as Wesson settled me in the chair before his desk.

`Get me a drink please Wesson,' I asked, without asking permission for one. I was determined not to let him browbeat me on this one. The asking of Wesson to get me a drink being my first warning shot. Wesson did this and gave me the glass before sitting down himself. He knew I was in the mood for a fight and was going to keep out of it as best he could.

Though we've made more headway than they have in spite of the three days they had to try and analyse what you'd found. A veritable mine of information that has got them cock a hoop upstairs. You're to be commended for what you've both achieved but not of the way you did it.' Here it comes I thought. First the honeyed words, though I had expected more, then the slap of retribution. What on earth did you let yourself get captured for? Look at the propaganda value they would have had having a knight of the realm in their hands? God, it's beyond belief.'

Let myself be captured?' I was almost shouting. The cretin of a Major who led us, at the cost of his own life, led us into that ambush. Before the patrol had even started he'd put me in my place by putting me at the rear to observe a patrol in action. Observe only were his words to me, and I did as he was cut down a day later. We hung on for nearly fourteen hours, ten of us, before we ran out of ammunition. Then it was hand to hand fighting. I don't know how many I killed before I was overpowered. Six on a training exercise, maybe, but not ten or more with their blood lust up. Then came the beatings before being thrown into a cage just before the air attack, our Godsend, though not for two of our men who died in that attack.

I seized the opportunity and got what you wanted, killing a Russian in the process. Then that nightmare of a trek, pushing, shouting and kicking the men to keep them moving through the nights, and then even thumping them during the day to keep them quiet when patrols were close. No food and stinking ditch water for five bloody days. Try it sometime and see what it does to your mind and health. Then to fucking cap it all to get shot by a fucking friendly. That was the icing on the bloody cake that was.'

Very commendable,' Frobisher said when I had to pause for breath through my tirade, but I don't think we can have the promotion to Major ratified in spite of the General. You are, or were, only an acting Captain. We cannot have you start pulling rank over Wesson now, can we?' As he looked towards him.

Don't bring me into this argument. This is between you and Francis. She can be a Field Marshall for all I care.' I smiled at Wesson for this support, the first time I had ever seen him stand up to Frobisher. Surely you're not going to try and take the medals away too?' he asked in somewhat disbelieving tone.

`Wesson! How could you think of such a thing?' Frobisher asked somewhat taken aback by the question.

`Well from the way you've just been treating Francis here, I wouldn't put it past you.' I could have kissed him there and then for that wonderful show of love and loyalty.

`Then let me put your mind at rest on that score. No way would I even think of trying to stop those medals. They were richly merited and deserving.'

`How kind of you to say so,' I said, in a not too unconvincing sardonic way.

`Do I take that as some kind of reprimand Francis?' he said.

Oh for fuck's sake Frobisher,' I said exasperatedly, I'm fucking tired and quite frankly at the moment, I don't give a shit about anything anymore. I was given a bloody job to do, loosely worded, but the end result is that it has been done, now if you'll excuse me,' I said as I stood up too quickly and my head swam and I passed out.

I was only out for a few seconds, but words were being spoken as I presumed it was Wesson who began fanning my face with some papers or whatever.

`Is he... she all right?' Frobisher asked, concern in his voice as I heard him come round from the other side of his desk.

She will be,' Wesson said, no thanks to you. This kid has been through a bloody lot for you in the short time she's been here, and all you can do is try to score points off her.'

I don't, or didn't mean to,' was the answer. You and Francis are like the children I never had. I'm fond of you both, especially of Francis. You are doing now what I wished I could have done in my youth. I get a vicarious thrill of what you both achieve and feel like a proud father every time you come through.' I was fully conscious by now, but kept my eyes shut as I didn't want to stop this flow of what could either be of self recrimination or revelation or something else.

I would never forgive myself,' he continued, if either of you came to any harm because of my doing.' I then heard him move away and heard the tiny tinkle of the stopper from the sherry decanter being removed. Obviously pouring himself a bracer and then he was back by my side, taking my limp right hand in his and patting it.

Francis has exceeded all my expectations in what she can do. I had hoped that when I brought the two of you together that you would gel as a pair, a team, and do well. Well you certainly have done that.' I heard him take a gulp of his sherry. Though I didn't think that you of all people would, would go as far as I think you have.'

`Then you don't really know human nature, do you sir? I didn't think I could. But I did. I fell in love with this person that you put in my care. It wasn't what you intended or what I wanted, but I did! I fell in love with another man. Me! A commando of the last war. If I had got out of your clutches, I might have found me a woman, but I stayed here and found Francis. Wrong as you may think it to be, she is now mine. Not yours to play with and manipulate without my being there. We are together now and that is the way we are going to stay!'

God, I got a hard on hearing Wesson take on Frobisher like that and openly declare his love for me and that he would stand by me, come what may. I thought it best to come round before Frobisher said something that he might wish he'd not spoken. That wicked little voice then spoke up inside my head and I just couldn't resist what it said to do. I stirred and gave out a little groan and slowly opened my eyes to see Wesson still kneeling by my head, fanning me.

`Oh Wesson, what happened?' and I pulled his head down and kissed him fully on the lips in front of Frobisher. Frobisher snorted and stomped his way round to his side of the desk.

Wesson helped me up from the floor and sat me back down in the chair and went and fetched me a gin and tonic and smiled at me as he passed me the glass. I winked and smiled back at him, my love, the man I'd die for if needed.

`Are you all right now Francis,' Frobisher asked.

`Yes thank you sir. It's just that I get tired very easily at the moment.'

`Well, as I was saying. You did a damn fine job and now I think you should go home and take as long as you need to get better, My congratulations to you both on a well done job.' He said this gruffly to disguise the emotion in his voice. I finished my drink and let Wesson help me out of the office.

I was glad to get home and tried to put Palmer off from being so solicitous to no avail and finally accepted his help in getting me upstairs to my bedroom. Here he left me to Wesson's ministrations. Wesson also got into bed with me and we laughed over Frobisher's comments and I gratefully went down on him, minding my chest and arm, and gave Wesson a good session of head. Then with care and consideration, he took his turn by slowly and carefully pushing himself into me and gently fucking me to my utmost enjoyment. It was difficult to cuddle, so it was left to me just resting my head on his chest while he stroked my short hair.

Having been wounded as Gervaise, I had to carry on playing the part for visitors, of which there were quite a few. So the room above ours was turned into the living quarters for Gervaise, so every time people came, I had to transfer myself up in the lift to receive them. I had representatives from both the American and French embassies visit, leaving almost open invitations to visit when I was well enough. John Clement came to give a report on the progress along the street with the news that four were finished and ready for furnishing. I made a note to get the letting agency, which I'd finally bought between the

training exercises, to soon put them on the market.

It was still very tiring, and Wesson wasn't too happy about the progress of the healing of my chest wound when he changed the dressings for me. My arm was healing fine and he'd bought me a small rubber ball that I could keep in my hand to keeping flexing my fingers to tone up the muscles.

It was while up in that room I decided to have a portrait done of Gervaise and Francis to hang on the wall. This would be to show that we were indeed twins. Palmer found me an artist who showed me some of his work and I liked what he had done, so he was hired. I told him that my sister was abroad at the moment but could sit for him when she returned. It would be of me as Gervaise, standing up dressed in my uniform next to a chair where Francis would sit. I said with a laugh they he would really only have to do one of our faces and then do an exact copy for the other.

I only had to sit really for him to paint my face as I then got Perkins to stand in for the uniform part of the portrait. The whole thing would be about four foot by two and would fit nicely above the fireplace when done.

Meanwhile, I said to Wesson that I needed to get out into the air. It was mid September and suggested that we went off to France for me to convalesce and also look at some vineyards that might be for sale. Gervaise had to have some excuse to be out of England while his twin was there, Francis was again on the cabaret circuit for those that enquired about her absence. Frobisher had no objections and even gave me the name of his counterpart in the French Foreign ministry upon whom we could call.

But first I had to go down to Dorset for little Francis's first birthday. Wesson didn't really want to go, but I needed him as an excuse not to stay overnight. I would like to have done, but I didn't want Diane to really see the state I was in underneath my clothes. We arrived at lunchtime and gave Francis his presents after kissing Diane. He had just learnt to stand up but seemed to prefer to sit down and tear the paper off his gifts. Diane had been alarmed at seeing me. So ill she said, and that I'd lost weight, especially around the face.

She read all about my exploits in Korea and had proudly cut out all references to me from the newspapers for her scrap book. She said that she was really saving them up for little Francis, and I saw her look over at the little tyke as he seemed to prefer shredding the paper instead of opening the boxes. Her look was so full of love that it made my heart ache for her, being here alone with only little Francis for company at nights when she should have a man in her bed. I quickly turned my thoughts away from that side of our lives as I still needed Wesson to give me what she couldn't. She accepted my excuse for not staying the night and kept her emotions to herself.

It was nice to sit there at the table to watch Francis make a complete mess of the cake, making us laugh as he seemed to miss his mouth more often than finding it. Wesson had a great time and even helped to bathe him and help to put him to bed. I was feeling tired, so I went downstairs leaving them to settle Francis down. It was quite some time before they came down and it wasn't long before we said goodbye and I kissed her and said that when I was better, I would call on my own. She said that she would look forward to that, and we left.

Wesson was very quiet on the drive back and it was a long time before he spoke, his voice so low that I had to strain to hear what he said.

`I've said it before and I'm saying it again. I don't know how on earth you can make so many people love you. Diane loves you beyond words. So much so that she knows of our love and will not try to come between us. She asked me if I loved you and I said that I did.

Then she told me that she did too, but such was that love that she told me to take very good care of you. She would come and kill me if I ever let you get hurt again. That... that when we made love together, I was to give you her love as well.' Tears came to my eyes as he spoke and I had to try and sniff quietly as I reached out and stroked his hand.

So it was a couple of days later, with one bag crammed full of dollars, we went off to Paris. There, M. Dubois, Frobisher's opposite number was most helpful and accommodating. When I explained what I was looking for, he found a young man called Andre, who willingly wanted to go with us as a guide, and to get away from the paperwork for awhile he confided to us later.

In a hired car, we went straight south to the Dordogne region and started looking there. In three weeks we found the perfect place. It was a small vineyard with a rather rundown small chateau near the Dordogne River. It was for sale though not being very productive in its wine making but making just enough money to keep the workers paid and for the owners to live on, but not enough for the upkeep of the chateau.

The wine they produced was an excellent Bordeaux variety, and what clinched it for me was that we found out that some of the adjacent land was also for sale, which suited my plans admirably. I was happy with the asking price of the chateau and vineyard, so we stayed in a nearby hotel for a few days because the chateau wasn't up to scratch for guests.

We had no trouble in getting rooms when I was announced as Sir Gervaise Lyon, they pronouncing my surname the same way as the city of France. It sounds much better that way than the English way. It was understood that Wesson nursed me as well as being my bodyguard, so there was never a problem of us sharing the same room.

I made myself known to the local mayor and other dignitaries and they were delighted to learn that in not only buying the estate, I would be enlarging it as well as bringing the chateau back up to its former glory. This meant more work for some of the villagers and extra income to many people that could be derived from what I proposed. The owner of the other land I wanted was soon found and I agreed the price on that too.

Back at the vineyard, I then spoke to the head man of the workforce. His name was Marcel Anjou, and had, like his father and his father before him, tended the vines and saw to the whole operation of the wine making process. So there were many years of experience there for the asking. I told him that he would have complete control over the whole place and a salary to match.

What delighted him more than anything, was the prospect of doubling the size of the existing vineyard. He was most voluble in telling me of the new variety's he had grown, but not been able to expand on that what he had produced as being an even more superior wine that what was being grown at the present.

Then the four of us went through the chateau and saw that the owners had only been living in a small part of it. It had twenty bedrooms, an enormous hall, two floors in height with an arched, beamed ceiling and a stupendous great fireplace that I could stand upright inside. The kitchen was big with an ancient range for the cooking. There were several other downstairs rooms that the occupants were living in, not using any of the other upstairs rooms or hall at all.

I explained to Marcel what I wanted done, especially to the master bedroom. This would be for my sister and Wesson, who was affianced to her, as they would be here more often than I would. Also the hall and all the rest to be cleaned and repaired where necessary. Monies would be available from the bank for him to employ people from the village for the task as well as the clearing of the land for the planting of new vines when the time was ready for it. But this could only start once I had made the purchase.

Wesson and I, with Andre, then went into the village, which is a misnomer, because it really was a small town, to see to the bank. Here I deposited three million dollars, which was more than enough for all the buying of the lands and keep the work force going for some time. It would take a few weeks for all the searches to be done, the deeds drawn up etc. When all this was done and the papers sent to my lawyer in London for signing, the bank manager upon receipt of them back, would release the money in exchange for the deeds to the properties.

Our last morning there, we spent going through the cellars, inspecting the wines stored there, the pressing vats and the bottling rooms. They still had thousands of labels giving the name of the chateau, which was also the name for the wine produced. They were to keep on using those until the new vines were producing and then the label would change to read Chateau Fleur de Lyon. Fleur, or flower in French, being the name of the estate. The new label would also have my coat of arms which was still being prepared by the College of Arms back in England.

`I suppose you'll have the coat of arms up in the hall too,' Wesson joked.

Too bloody right,' I grinned back at him. Big enough to fit above that fireplace to let everyone know who the place belongs to.'

I bought a hundred cases of wine, paying in dollars of course, and hired a small truck to cart them up to Paris first, and then on to England. After saying our goodbyes, we went back to Paris where I gave M. Dubois six cases explaining that I needed the truck to have a diplomatic pass as though intended for the French Embassy in London. That was soon done for me, the six cases smoothing the passage of it. Why pay custom duty when you can get round them, but after given the French Ambassador six cases as well, I might just as well had paid the duty. But it was really for the gesture, as I would probably need the goodwill later.

It had been a tiring journey, but what I had done was more beneficial to my health than sitting at home trying to recuperate. The artist had done one half of the portrait and it was very good, even down to painting in the Military Medal ribbon which I hadn't been presented with yet. It seemed strange looking at myself in uniform, and an officer's one at that.

It's funny you know,' I said to Wesson as we looked at it. It was only four years or so ago, that I decided to go into the Merchant Navy to avoid have to put on a soldier's uniform. If I hadn't, and been conscripted into National Service, I would probably be one of the grunts out there now. Neither would I be a millionaire and have property in London and France and not have met you.' I squeezed his arm and he smiled at me but said nothing. `But then, we might have met at the training camp and you would have kicked the shit out of me as you were once told to do.'

`I wouldn't even try that now my sweet,' he smiled.

Things had been moving on apace while we were in France. Another house was ready and the agency had had some good feed backs on the properties. The rent asked for was high so that only those with money could afford to pay what I wanted. I'd already let it be known to the American and French Embassies that these properties would soon be on the market and they were now making these enquiries.

Jumping ahead a little, this became a mainstay in my finances. The whole street came to be known as Millionaires Row in time, with its own security force to protect the occupants from the depredations of the villainous inhabitants of London. Quite a number of the houses finished up as long term rentals of various embassies for their guests and visitors and so we finished up with a domestic agency whose sole job was to maintain the high standard of the places in terms of the cleaning and catering.

My London lawyer gave up his other functions, solely to see to my affairs and even employ somebody else to assist him with all the financial side of things. The chateau and vineyard were just another headache for him, but he was to get more in the future from me.

Thanks to Wesson's little rubber ball, my arm was very good and soon out of the sling, though my side still pained me. I had a call from the Royal College of Arms to call upon them, and I went eagerly to see what they had come up with. I was shown into the office of a herald by the name of Mr. Wilson and was politely offered coffee as he made me welcome. After the pleasantries and solicitous queries as to the progress of my healing, he got down to business.

I'd already told him what I would have liked, and he'd been rather dubious about it without investigation. He was therefore happy to report that he had traced my family back on my mother's side to a French branch and of being a member of the lower noble class in the reign of the last King Louis. Armed with this knowledge and using the fact of my Legion of Honour status, was given permission for the fleur de lis to be used on my shield. This he had drawn up for me and it was as simple as I had asked for.

The field, or background was white, quartered by the Red Cross of St. George. The top left was of a red lion rampant and the right lower was azure blue with the fleur de lis in gold, the other two quarters being left as plain white.

This then was the centre piece of the arms that showed the shield being supported by two black leopards on a field of green. Above the shield was a helmet, crested by a Tower of London raven. There were other fancy whorls around this, called the mantling and below was the motto I had chosen.

I like the motto very much,' the herald said, Honour in Adversity, though when translated into Latin, adversae, it could also mean failure. Either way it's very good, very good indeed. So what do you think?'

`Perfect! Exactly how I saw it. Has it been approved?'

`Oh yes, or I would have said something from the beginning. Now that we have your approval, we can have it done properly now,' he beamed. The fee for this was quite enormous, but what the hell, it was only money. If I ran short, I could always find a government or army somewhere to steal some more from.

He gave me a copy to take away and the household all showed their approval of it, even Wesson, who I think didn't really like this attention being brought upon me and subsequently, him, considering our current status. I think he would rather have the anonymity so that we could be together properly without having to constantly look over our shoulders because of our illicit and illegal love affair. I had to tell him to take care of my accoutrements as I proceeded to take care of his in bed that night.

After a few hectic days, it quietened down so that there was only the two of us again and it was lovely. I still needed help to get in and out of the bath, and I think Wesson actually liked it when he washed my hair for me. My wound was healing slowly, an ugly looking red jagged scar and there were still traces of bruising around it. He would carefully clean around it and treat it later before re-dressing it for me.

Bath time was also the time when I saw to my face. Time was moving on and I wondered how long I could go on as being Francis. For the past year now I had begun to start getting some facial hair. Not a lot because I'd never put a razor to my chin or lip. Instead I would pluck out the odd hair as it appeared, and they seemed to becoming a bit more frequent. I'd always shaved my armpits because of the type and style of dress I'd wear when performing. Diane had taught me how to wax my legs and occasionally did my forearms.

Chest hair hadn't appeared at all, so far. By plucking the odd hair from the face meant that I would be all right for nearly two weeks, though the upper lip ones did tend to puff up my mouth a bit. I would wonder just how long I could go before I had to start shaving. It was either that or lose Francis and let Gervaise take over. It didn't bear thinking about that I would have to give up wearing dresses altogether and take to wearing trousers for the rest of my life.

I stayed in trousers till November till I felt fit enough to go to the office, then Gervaise went to France and Francis went to work. That morning I felt good, having my bath and being able to use the perfumed bath salts to smell nice again. Then pulling on my stockings getting my erotic thrill as the sheer nylon whispered up my legs and fixing the tops to my suspender belt. I felt comfortable in my bra and got another thrill of making myself look pretty again as I did my make-up. Then came the dress and wig and I couldn't stop myself from admiring the reflection in the wardrobe mirror when I was ready in my high heeled shoes.

Though I wasn't fit for field or any strenuous work, at least I could look at reports and give my evaluations on them, but those weren't really taken seriously because I was so young as compared with the others who read them.

One I did pick up on and Frobisher thought that I might be right in my analysis on documents that came out of Egypt. From my experience there and what I read, I warned those above me that there would be violence there shortly and that there would be a revolt against the King within about six months. It was agreed that there was unrest there, but not within the time frame that I had predicted. So that was filed and shelved. Next day was my birthday and I, or should say we, took the day off and enjoyed ourselves as best that I could manage.

My highlight of the day was the package that Wesson gave me and Palmer and the Perkins watched me open it to find that he had found photographs of me receiving my award from the President of France.

At the time, I'd not given any thought to there being such pictures taken, but he had found some. That really pleased me and we finally got them framed to go with the others. I think I drank too much and I was left to sleep it off in the sitting room and it wasn't until the early hours of the following morning, that Wesson helped me into bed. Needless to say, I didn't go to work the next day.

When we did turn up, I got a belated birthday present from Frobisher, which rather touched me. A pair of gold cuff links of the House of Chen symbol, plus a box of new visiting cards with the letters M.M. added to the others after my name.

`You can't use those yet until you've officially received the award, which by the way, is to be presented next week at the Regimental Headquarters. Both of you to be present and on parade by eleven. Okay, back to work then.'

Work now for me, in the same little office with Wesson, was to go through little snippets of intelligence from France. From the British Embassy, informers, agents and other minor sources. An overheard conversation, a glimpse at a memo; many little things that to the hearer or reader meant nothing, but were like little pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to us. We had to find the pattern they fitted because there was always more than one puzzle on the table. I might get a reference to Poland for example in one such snippet and this would be copied and sent to the person reading over things about that country. I also had to read the daily French newspapers for anything of interest. Wesson was doing exactly the same as me but with relationship to Germany. He spoke that language as fluently as I did French.

Not all this passed across Frobisher's desk because he didn't have the time to cross reference everything. He sometimes picked up on things for us to concentrate on, or when we did our cross checking, we might find something to pass back to him. If we found something that didn't gel or seem right, he'd want a written report and an analysis. That's why my Egyptian report was shelved because I couldn't back it up, it was only a hunch.

How much easier our job would have been if we'd had had the computers that are now being used. A name, password or key word would have found matches almost instantly, but we had to slog through it all manually. It took almost two hours to file the day's work, what with checking what you were filing with what was already there. Then sometimes you found that one piece fitted another, and so the jigsaw started to become a picture. But it was boring!

I was glad when the week turned round. Both Wesson and I dressed in our uniforms, checking each other to see that we were clean and smart. Then a little drill from him on the correct way to present oneself before the Colonel for the pinning on of the medal and all that. A military staff car picked us up at eight sharp and we were at the barracks by ten thirty. There was just time for the toilet before falling in on the parade ground. The regiment, which was not very big as regiments go, was lined up and Wesson and I marched out with other officers to line up in front of the other ranks before a microphone that had been set, flanked by two soldiers bearing the regiments colours.

The whole parade ground was brought to attention as the Colonel and the Adjutant came out and stood by the microphone. The senior officer on parade saluted the Colonel who returned salute before the order was shouted to stand at ease. The Colonel gave a little cough and checked his notes before standing up close to the microphone.

`Today is a great day for the regiment. Not since the First World War has such an award been made to a regiment of the Observer Corps. The citation speaks for itself that the adjutant is now going to read out.' He then stood to one side and let the adjutant take his place before the microphone. My face was already starting to burn with what was going to follow.

"On the 24th June 1951, a patrol of forty men was ambushed by a much superior force in a field of action in Korea. The survivors of the initial attack regrouped under the command of Captain Sir Gervaise Francis Lyon, who had only been with the patrol to observe, and fought the remainder of that day and through the night. They survived until mid-day till all ammunition was exhausted and it became hand to hand combat until overwhelmed by the superior force. They were taken prisoner and savagely beaten before being caged. That evening of the 25th, a flight of friendly planes spotted the camp and bombed and strafed it. During this, Captain Lyon led his men and ten others who were captured American marines, out of the enemy camp. He then returned to the camp and gained entry to the Command Bunker and secured many valuable documents, which aided the Allies in destroying many camps of the enemy.

Rejoining his comrades, he led them through enemy held territory for five days without food or water, evading the forces hunting them until they met up with an American patrol. Here they came under friendly fire which killed one marine and severely wounded Captain Lyon.

For this dedication to his men and outstanding bravery under fire as well as obtaining vital intelligence, Captain Sir Gervaise Francis Lyon is hereby awarded the Military Medal.".'

At the end of this speech, I came to attention and then marched forward the short distance to halt before the Colonel. I saluted, and had to stand at attention till he pinned the medal onto my uniform. He then shook my hand and after we released hands, I took one step back and saluted before doing an about turn and returning to my place beside Wesson.

Then came a surprise to both of us for the adjutant stepped forward again to read out a citation for Wesson. It was for his outstanding devotion to the army both during the last war and in peacetime as well as in the present conflict. He was to be decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He went through what I had just done and he came stamping back to stand beside me, red in the face.

The parade was then called to attention and dismissed and we were invited in to the mess for pre lunch drinks. I cannot remember all those that I spoke to and the Colonel was most bewildered because he hadn't known that we had been transferred to his command. But he was still pleased as it went down in the regiment's history that he was the commanding officer at the time. Lunch was really difficult for us by not really being able to say much about why we were there one minute and gone the next. All we could come up with was that we had been seconded to intelligence and therefore couldn't really give them much information. It wasn't very satisfactory, but they had to make do with that.

We were really glad to get away, though we had to stop to have our photos taken with the Colonel for their archives, copies of which we subsequently received to add to ours.

`Did you know that I was to get a gong?' Wesson asked me.

`No, it came as quite a surprise.'

To me too! But the whole bloody thing was a farce. Don't get me wrong Francis,' he said, taking hold of my hand which I shook off, slightly tipping my head toward the driver in the front seat and he hastily withdrew it. Er, you deserved yours, but why me? It doesn't make sense?'

In my many years of experience in this field,' and I smirked at him as I said this, of deviance, I see the hand of Frobisher looming large. I wasn't unconscious the whole time in his office. It's his way of saying thank you, to you. So accept it and don't say anything to him about it.'

He turned as though he was going to kiss me, but I think he realised again about the driver up front and just squeezed my hand instead. I still held his hand until we reached London and were dropped off at our house. This was becoming an art now of slipping into the house as Gervaise, but appearing as Francis later on in the evening. We had still managed to keep this all a secret from the Perkins, but Palmer knew from the outset, so he really was a co-conspirator as it were.

When we were safely in our rooms, I was able to shed the uniform and adopt my normal self. That was of a sex starved female, and soon dragged Wesson into bed. I loved to feel his strong arms around me, his hairy chest scratching mine in our close embrace. I loved too, the short stubby bristles of his chin rasp against my cheek as he kissed me, and to feel his hardness of desire pressed tight to my stomach.

`Oh Wesson! My love, my whole reason for living. Kiss me! Kiss me hard and then take me hard,' I whispered as he lay atop of me. He then smiled between the kisses and rolled me over onto my stomach, and I would lift myself up onto my knees as he donned a condom. I would tremble under his touch as he held me by one hand as he placed himself ready behind me.

He would then gently push forward and enter me and I would gurgle with delight as he slid completely inside, filling me with his maleness. Next would come the rhythmic strokes as he slowly fucked me, slowly until he reached his peak, and then went at me with savage thrusts until he came. If I hadn't collapsed onto the bed, his hand would come underneath me and he would jerk upon my erection till I came onto the bed. With him still deeply embedded within me, would I slide down and savour his weight, not only on top, but deep inside me. This was my kind of loving though to many, wrong, but it was the closest I could get to me being the woman that I felt I was.

We spent a few more boring weeks up till Christmas, studying reports and writing ours till the festive season was upon us. Then I had another bright idea. Now you will have already gathered, that a bright idea for me meant disaster for somebody else. But I didn't mention it till after we had had our wonderful Christmas lunch and exchanged presents that I broached the subject to Wesson.

We were in bed, my favourite place with him, sated from our excessive eating and drinking of our Christmas fare, and because of our mutual gorging at the feast, took it easy in our love making by only playing at sixty nine and sucking upon each other. After we had both roused each other up to the point of no stopping, taking what came and then cleaning up the aftermath, did I speak of what I wanted to do as we cuddled together later.

`I have a plan,' I started to speak, but then to have Wesson's fingers touch my lips to stop me from saying more.

Every time you have a plan,' Wesson said, leaning up on his elbow and looking down at me, somebody gets hurt.

`No, no, it's nothing like that! I was just going to say that I still feel like having a decent holiday and that we go away for the New Year Holiday. Somewhere warm. Somewhere that I can take all my clothes off and get the benefit of the sun. Haven't you noticed how pale my skin has become since I left the Navy?'

`Not really. It's the pale glow of your cheeks that gives me a target at night.'

Beast!' I cried as I thumped his chest, but tell me more.'

`When I see you from behind, those small tight cheeks of your bum make me hard. I just cannot wait to put my hands on them, to part them and put myself up in between them.'

`You are a beast! Don't you ever see anything in my face at all?'

`Oh yes. I love it when you smile at me and then as you laugh, your mouth opens wide and I get another hard on, and have a tremendous urge to stick my dick in it.'

`Oh you are the most beastly person I know,' I cried as I hammered at his chest. He laughed and hugged me.

`But an empty room is suddenly full when you enter it. A stilted conversation turns into an excited discourse when you join it. A dispirited crowd becomes a team when you appear. A verbose bore clams up and listens to what you say, like the antagonistic pair who calm down and agree with what you say and go away the best of friends. This is what I really see. A lovely creature without pretensions, that can calm the most aggressive of men and make them fall in love with you. I too fell under that spell, but I still like to stick my dick in your mouth and up your bum.'

I slapped him again, but kissed him to show that I still loved him in spite of his crudities and the kind words that he had spoken.

`As I was saying, being serious, I need some sunshine. In fact my idea, or plan, was to go and buy an island.'

What?' Wesson exclaimed. You've just bought a bloody great vineyard and chateau, but now you want an island. Australia by chance?'

Don't be silly,' I said laughing with him. Not that big. No, just a small one in the Bahamas where we can go to be alone, take all our clothes off and lie in the sun, and then make love on the sand in the moonlight. Wouldn't it be wonderful?'

`With you Francis, anywhere is wonderful,' Wesson said, stroking my face.

`I'm serious Wesson. I've still got a few million dollars left that Frobisher doesn't know about.'

`It's a Crown Colony. You don't really think that they'll sell you an island there, do you?'

`Not to me maybe, but they would to Sir Gervaise, war hero and all that when he tells them why he wants to buy one. Besides, Britain needs the money and who better to sell one little island to?'

`And what would you say to convince them to sell you one?'

`I will tell them that I am still recovering from war wounds, and I couldn't find a place to recuperate properly. So I would like to build a small place for British officers, wounded in the service of their country, a place for them to recover in the sun. When not in use by these poor unfortunates, then it could also be used as a holiday retreat for such British Ambassadors that don't have the luxury of having a residence in such a nice place. This is what I will add when I put it to the Ambassador out there. That will get him on my side, plus a little bonus that I will put his way of course.'

You little devil,' he laughed, giving me a hug. You'll probably get away with it too. When were you thinking of going?'

`Tomorrow.'

`What! What about Frobisher and the office?'

`Frobisher can take the office and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. I'll have a note sent round that I've had a relapse and need another month off. You of course will be coming to look after me.'

`I don't know if I will be able to keep up with all this flying around you do.'

Just keep this up,' I said as I stroked his hard erection, that's all the keeping up I want you to do. Then I can do this all the time,' I said as I slid down the bed and took him into my mouth. He gave out a groan as I covered the head and began sucking on it. He gently eased my body to one side so that he could lie down full length and take me into his mouth to pleasure me at the same time.

Two days later, we landed at Nassau airport in the Bahamas. I travelled in as Sir Gervaise on my diplomatic passport that I had made up by the forgery department, because of all the dollars I had stowed away that I didn't want found. We booked in at the best hotel and I sent my card round to the Governor's residence to politely let it be known that I was on the island. Though he would have already been informed of my arrival I had no doubt. I said, jokingly to Wesson that we should get an answer within a couple of hours as I mixed us a drink from the small bar that I'd asked for. He didn't believe me, but in less than an hour, there was an invitation to dine the following evening at the Residence. I gave Wesson a smirk as I showed it to him and he poked his tongue out at me in reply.

They had kept the dinner party small. There was the Governor and his wife and their son who was with them for the Christmas holiday from his school in England. Next there was the Chief of Police for the islands and his wife, and lastly the Bishop. With Wesson and myself, eight of us sat down to dinner.

The dinner conversation was rather formal and it wasn't until the port started to be passed round that it became informal. The two ladies stayed at my request as they had made to leave the men to the drink. I said that I would value their input to my reason for being on the island. When I explained that it was only a small island that I wanted for my project, as I expected, the women were all for it. They came right out and said that it was a wonderful idea overriding the men's hesitancy that I also had expected. I stressed the fact that it would only be a small one and I would only build what was necessary and in keeping with the rest of the islands in style and character. Local labour would be used and all customs of the islands observed.

I apologised for bringing it up so early, and at dinner, but my time was limited and only had a couple of weeks to see if it was possible. It was then the turn of the Governor to apologise by saying that he didn't have the authority to say yes, but would ask London for its ruling, but would recommend my request. He told us not to expect an answer till after the New Year began. In the meantime, he and the Police Chief would give us every assistance in our search. Also we were invited to the Residency's New Year's party in a few days time.

`I don't see London being very quick in their reply,' said Wesson when we got back to our suite in the hotel after dinner.

`I do. When my name crops up at the Commonwealth Office, Frobisher is going to be contacted immediately. He's going to fume and possibly explode, but he'll tell them to do what I want so that he can get us back as soon as possible.'

`You really think so?'

`I'm prepared to bet all the money I brought out here on it.'

So we had three days before the New Year in which to look at the islands. The next morning we went and visited the Chief of Police and an aide from the embassy came with us. With nautical charts spread out, the chief pointed out all those that we couldn't possibly buy for various reasons. These I didn't want anyway and had a spare chart marked out with those as being possibilities. It had to be uninhabited and be about six square miles in size. I also wanted it to be near an island that had fresh water so that I could have it piped to the island, electricity wasn't essential but it would help, as I would still have a generator on the island for emergencies.

Out of the hundred or so islands, we narrowed it down to twenty that I wanted to look at, and so a plane was chartered for the next day. It was the fifteenth island that we flew over that I knew that that was the one I wanted. Not quite pear shaped, being slightly longer at the neck and not quite so fat at the bottom end. It was virtually a north to south island, two miles away from its neighbour that had plenty of water. About a quarter mile across at the neck and half a mile across at its widest, the whole being about a mile long. There were more palm like trees at the lower end than at the top and reasonably flat overall.

It was un-named, but we fixed its position on the charts and this was presented to the Governor to send in addition to the original request. I was asked that if I could buy it, what would the island be called. There was only one answer to that, Lyon Island. Well, two really, but Wesson wouldn't let me name it after him, and he flatly refused the honour.

On New Year's Eve, we went to the shop I had visited before, Garibaldi's. It was the same happy looking black islander that greeted us. He looked askance at me, dressed as a man instead of a dress as he had remembered.

Yes it's me, Francis,' I laughed at his uncertainty. I'm travelling in disguise as my twin brother.' His smile broadened as this sunk in and was very voluble in his welcome. He also had noticed the change of the leopard brooch from silver to gold which I had pinned to my shirt.

Welcome Miss Francis, welcome, and to you too sir,' to Wesson. Have you come on behalf of the family?' he asked.

`No. This is on behalf of my friend and myself that I have called in to see you. The family sends their regards and hope that you and your family are well. I also came to you because I know that you are a man to be trusted in all things on the island. He showed his not quite perfect white teeth in a huge smile at this small praise and asked of how he could be of assistance to us.

I told him of my plans and wished him to be my agent out here, in the Bahamas, to look after my interests, on a nice retainer of course. To this he was most agreeable and said that he would assist me in whatever way he could. First I wanted to hire a small motor boat so that I could visit the island I wanted to buy to look it over properly. This would be done, he promised, and after shaking hands on our deal, Wesson and I left to go to our hotel to shower and change for the Governor's New Year's party.

They certainly know how to party out there and we had a great time as we saw in the New Year, and were quite tipsy when we went to bed that night. I should say more than tipsy because Wesson, after he had fucked me, wanted to know what it was like and let me do it to him for the first time. Even though he was drunk, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity of really cementing our relationship by doing it to him.

I donned a condom and he assumed my usual position and, with him being relaxed through drink and me being smaller in size down there, entered him easily. It had been a long time since I had got my rocks off this way and it was an enjoyable fuck. He admitted that it wasn't so bad afterwards as we cuddled together and agreed that we were really now united in our love for each other. In the morning, sober, he agreed to us doing it together again, so we mounted each other in turn and laughed and frolicked afterwards in our new found happiness together.

We then showered and had breakfast in our room before getting dressed for our boat ride. At the time, Bermuda shorts were the thing to wear, but I wouldn't be seen dead in them now, what with the shirts that go with them. But, dressed as the tourists we were, we got the boat and declining help, Wesson took the boat out to sea, just the two of us, plus a nice picnic hamper.

It was two hours in that small boat going north toward Abaco, the main island to where my little island was just off the southern tip. Wesson picked a nice sandy beach to run up onto, one where there was a tree close to the water line to tie the boat to. There not being much of a tide here, but it was better to be safe than sorry. We did an exploratory walk around the island before returning to the hamper and having a nice lunch. Then it was clothes off time to lie and bask in that lovely hot sunshine, getting randy and then taking each other on before going for a swim in the warm waters that gently lapped the beach. Too soon it was time to head back because we had to make Nassau before dark.

We went out for the next two days, taking a hamper and enjoying the sun, sea, sand and sex, returning back just before dark each day. The sun and sea water were really helping me get back into health, my chest wound now being healed and not looking so ugly. We were out again on the Friday, the day I expected to hear from London, and again it was a lovely day. We had just started on our way back, when the engine cut out and we started to drift in the slow current.

`We've run out of fuel,' Wesson said.

`I bet you say that to all the girls,' I laughed. Our island was only just in sight, but we were drifting further away all the time and it wouldn't be long before we lost sight of it altogether.

We've about four hours of daylight left,' Wesson said. It's going to be dark before they realise were not back. Then by morning, we could have drifted anywhere.'

`Maybe somebody will spot us and come to the rescue,' I said.

`I don't think we'll be that lucky out here,' he said morosely, sitting down in the shade of the cockpit.

`Well maybe that boat will help us,' I said, pointing off to the west.

What boat?' said Wesson, scrambling out from the shade to look. He then took off his shirt and began to wave it vigorously and gave a shout as the small boat turned towards us. Maybe he'll have some spare fuel or give us a tow,' he said as the other boat drew near.

`What are you doing out here?' the man in the other boat shouted as the gap narrowed between us.

`We've run out of fuel,' Wesson started off speaking, but the other man interrupted him.

`I don't believe you. You've been sent to trap me,' he shouted, and reached down and brought up a machine gun. Wesson was quick in his reaction and as soon as he saw the gun, started to dive towards the cockpit of our boat. As he did so, he caught me with his shoulder, knocking me off balance and I fell over the side of our boat as the bullets started to fly.

Before I hit the water, I could hear the bullets smashing into the woodwork of our boat, the breaking of the cockpit glass windows. Then I only heard the rush of water as it closed over my head. I surfaced quickly and could still hear the man firing away as I paddled round to the bow of our boat and looked round it. I was holding onto the prow as the gun ceased firing, and I saw the man start to try and reload the gun.

Then there came a hiss and suddenly there was a spear sticking itself out of the man's chest. His head went up, an expression of surprise on his face that suddenly became contorted as he gave out a short scream and he fell backwards out of sight. I heard the splash as his body hit the water.

`Francis! Francis! Where are you?' came the frantic voice of Wesson calling out to me.

`Here in the water,' I choked, spitting out half of the ocean as Wesson's head appeared over the bow.

`Give me your hand,' he said, his strong brown hand reaching down towards me. I raised up my right arm and he took it in his firm grasp. Such was his strength, he pulled me clear up out of the water, twisting me so that I was plonked on the bow's coaming. Such was the force of his pull upon my arm that my sodden Bermuda shorts were stripped from my body and were left floating in the sea. He gave out a hearty laugh and quickly found a boat hook and retrieved them for me. I looked at the mess of our boat from the wildly fired gun. Shattered glass and jagged splinters everywhere, so I had to move carefully while trying to put my shorts back on.

`What a sight,' Wesson laughed again.

`My bum or the boat?' I laughed back, a slight hysterical tone in my query.

`Both! One's just been fucked and the other needs it I think.'

`Did you kill him?' seeing the shaft in his chest again.

`If I didn't, I think he'll have drowned by now.'

`Why did he start shooting at us?'

`I don't know, but I'm going to try and find out,' he said as he used the boat hook to draw both boats together. He caught hold of a rope and made them both fast and I went over into the other boat with him and went straight to a jerry can that was tied at the stern. I found that it was full, so we could refill our boat and get back to land. Wesson was poking about in the cockpit and I saw a large waterproofed packed parcel that was tied to a long length of a thin, strong coiled cable of steel. There was also tied at the other end, a large deflated balloon and a small gas cylinder was lying nearby.

`Oh shit,' I said as the truth started to dawn on me.

Nothing in there,' said Wesson as he emerged from the cockpit. Have you found any fuel?'

`More than that. I found trouble too.'

`What do you mean?'

`I think we're in the middle of a drugs operation.'

`What makes you think that?'

A boat coming out here in the late afternoon. Why? Where would he be going, alone too? Then there is this package, which, if I'm not mistaken, contains money. A very lot of money, which will be picked up by means of this balloon filled with gas.' I had patted the package and then indicated the deflated balloon and the gas bottle. So let's set things up and get the hell out of here. Can you fill our tank up from the can while I sort this out.'

So while Wesson re-fuelled our boat, I released the package from the cable and then made that end very secure to the rear end of the boat. As Wesson took the package across to our boat, I filled up the balloon with the gas until it was fully inflated before releasing it to fly up into the sky until the line was taut. I then joined Wesson and we chugged off back to the island, leaving the boat to drift with the balloon high up in the sky.

We reached our island and had beached the boat and took the package ashore. We could see the approach of nightfall when we heard the sound of a light aircraft on the still air. Wesson scanned the skies with a pair of binoculars until he spotted it and gave me a running commentary on what he was seeing.

`There! I see it! It's coming in low from the south and it must have seen the boat because it is circling and I can see an open door in the

side of the plane.' It was a light, single engine monoplane, though he didn't say what make it was. `There! There's some packages being pushed out, I can't count them all, but there must be at least twenty of them. Now it's going round again and I think, yes, it is. It's heading towards the balloon wire to collect it.'

The plane obviously had a means attached to the front to be able to hook the wire of the balloon to lift what would have been the package. It looks, yes, I think, yes! He's hooked it!' Wesson was getting very excited and I was almost creaming my shorts as he spoke. I could just see the speck in the distance and saw that the plane suddenly took a nose dive towards the sea. He's hooked the boat and going down! He almost lifted the boat out of the water and he's going in!' He exalted. The plane disappeared from my sight, but Wesson described the plane smashing at full power into the sea.

`Wow, I don't think they survived that,' he exclaimed.

`Well think of how we are going to survive this. If that was drugs being dropped and this is drug money that we've got, then we've got a problem.'

`Is that money then, in the package?'

`Of course it bloody well is! Why would that thug have opened fire on us if it weren't?'

`So what do you suggest that we do then?' Wesson asked as we watched the fast approaching night.

`Well we can't go back tonight in the dark to Nassau, nor can we turn up there tomorrow with an obviously shot up boat. Some people might make a connection don't you think?'

`So that means getting rid of the boat and spending the night, and maybe the next day here?'

`Right! So how do we get rid of the boat, and what story do we tell?'

Okay,' he said after a few moments of thought. I take the boat out and sink it and swim back ashore. We'll tell them that we hit an uncharted submerged reef that sunk the boat and swam back to shore.'

`Make sure that we've got two lifejackets here then.'

`Well I better get it done now while there is still enough light for me to swim back.'

`You sure you can do it?' I asked alarmed, clutching at his arm.

`Don't fret. Of course I can. Just give me a hand to push her back into the water.' So we pushed the boat into deep water, and he started the engine to go back out to sea.

`The lifejackets darling,' I called out, and he tossed them over the side, making me wade out to retrieve them as he went out quite a distance before he stopped the engine. He seemed to take an awful long time in scuttling the boat as I watched anxiously from the shore as he moved about on it. It was really almost dark before I saw him dive over the side into the water and I hopped about in the surf, anxiously waiting for him to appear.

I started to run up and down the surf line as the time dragged on, starting to get frantic that he hadn't appeared as yet. I was about ready to plunge into the surf myself when he called my name.

`Francis? Francis?'

Over here darling,' I cried as I started running towards his voice and then saw him in the gloom, wading up a good fifty yards further down the beach. I flung myself into his arms, crying. I thought I'd lost you!' as I rained kisses on his salty wet face.

`That current is stronger than I thought,' he gasped, his chest heaving but still feeling strong and solid against mine. We walked back along the beach together and picked up the lifejackets and went to find some shelter for the night. I was frantic in my making him fuck me hard that night at the thought that I'd nearly lost him. Finally, safe in his arms after rubbing him dry with his shirt, I dozed off, occasionally waking up with a start, but finding him still with me, drifted back off again.

I didn't realise it was that chilly first thing in the morning in the Caribbean when we woke up at first light. Wesson, bless his heart, had had the forethought to make sure that we had some phosphorus matches in the hamper in case we had wanted a fire.

So he made a fire to warm us up until the sun came up and then I could stretch out to ease the twinge in my left arm and the ache in my chest, and I soon had my clothes off to catch as much sun as possible. I only had one condom left and managed to play with Wesson enough for him to be able to use it. Hands and knees deep in the sand, watching the gentle waves lap the beach as he moved in and out of me faster than the tide. I really loved that brute behind and inside me and gave out my little squeals of delight as he tensed and came into me.

We splashed and played in the surf until we spotted a launch heading our way so we quickly got dressed and went back to the water's edge to wave our shirts, beckoning them in. Sam, the man of Garibaldi's, was on the prow and waved back as he spotted us, and within a few minutes, jumped ashore to ask us what had happened.

Sam had been anxious when we hadn't returned before nightfall, but there was nothing that could be done till daylight. Then he came out to look for us and was very happy to find us safe and sound. Wesson told him our story that was immediately accepted and we were soon on board the launch he'd hired, to take us back to Nassau. I told Sam to tell the owner of the boat that we'd lost, that I would pay for his loss and of earnings till he was able to get another one. The package I'd left buried on the island to collect later when we were on our own again.

He cursed himself for not having brought any food with him, but he did have some beers on the launch, so we were a bit tipsy when we got to port having drunk all the beers on empty stomachs. It had been casually mentioned that a plane had crashed into the sea the night before, but we didn't make any comment on it, so it wasn't mentioned again. Back in Nassau, we thanked Sam for his prompt action in rescuing us, with him saying, with a laugh, that he was only trying to protect and save his future income.

It was nice to have our bath and eat a huge lunch and then spend the afternoon in bed. Sleeping, in case you are thinking of anything else. I had left a message with the front desk that we were not to be disturbed under any circumstances during our afternoon nap. On our arrival downstairs in the evening, there were two messages from the Governor's residence, a policeman and a reporter waiting for us. The first message was for me to call the Governor when convenient. The second was that they were concerned about our ordeal being stranded overnight and still to contact him when I could.

Then it was the policeman's turn to ask us if we had seen anything unusual out to sea while we were on the island, which we assured him we hadn't. To his other question, he was told that we had simply hit something and had the boat sink under us, lucky to make it back to shore against the current. The reporter seemed disappointed that we hadn't seen a plane go down into the sea near us. He then told us that two men had died in the crash and an upturned launch with the stern ripped off had been also found, but no other persons. It was a mystery that he was trying to solve and get a story on, and was most chagrined that we couldn't help him.

It was still early in the evening, so I rang the Residence and we were immediately invited round, not for dinner, the aide apologised to whom I spoke, because they had already started their meal. But Wesson and I were to go round there as soon as we were free. I tactfully asked when would they have finished their dinner, and he chuckled and said to give it an hour.

So Wesson and I had a bracer at the bar before having a taxi called to take us to the Governor's residence. I must have made some comment when at the bar because Wesson asked me a question when we were in the taxi.

`What did you mean that it was a pre celebratory drink back there in the bar?'

`Exactly what I said. The Governor is going to tell us that we can buy the island.'

`How can you be so sure?'

`Just wait and see,' and wouldn't say anymore till we got to the residency. The Governor's aide, whose name was Martin, met us in the hall.

`The Governor has just gone to his study and asked me to take you straight to him when you arrived.' He led us there, and after knocking at the door, let us in and left us.

`Ah, glad you could come so promptly Sir Gervaise, Mr Wesson. None the worse for wear I hope for the stranded night on the island, drink?' he asked, going to a drinks cabinet.

`Gin and tonic please.'

`Beer for me please,' said Wesson.

`Ah, you've got me there. No beer I'm afraid.'

`Then just a small one as Fr...Gervaise sir, thank you.'

Now sit yourselves down,' he said as he handed us our drinks and sat down himself and picked up a piece of paper. I received this message this morning. Most extraordinary. I've never known the Ministry to act as fast as this. It seems that you can have your island.' I shot a triumphant glance at Wesson, who gave me a weak smile back. `It's been left to us here to deal with it. Price to be according to current land values out here, but I've got to add ten per cent on top for incidental expenses. So there you are. We'll have it valued and then get the deeds drawn up, so I suppose you can take over as from now really.'

The phone on his desk rang and he excused us, and picked up the phone and listened for a moment. Then he held the phone towards me. `London. A Mr Frobisher wanted to speak to you as soon as you arrived here.' Oh Lord, here we go I thought as I took the receiver from his hand.

`Good evening sir,' I said as brightly as I could. I could see Wesson almost cringing in his seat.

It's the early hours of the morning here,' he barked in the phone at his end, and a Sunday to boot. What the devil do you two think you're playing at? First a note saying that you were swanning off for more leave, and then I get a call from the Commonwealth Office saying that you want to buy an island!

Then I get told of a smuggler's plane going down in the drink right near you. Did you have anything to do with that?' He was really blasting out through the ear piece and the other two could quite clearly hear what he was saying.

`I beg your pardon sir? I don't quite understand what you are saying, and if I did, I wouldn't speak on this telephone about it,' I said, putting a grim tone to my voice.

Hrrmph,' came the grunt from his end, and he then spoke in a quieter tone. Do you remember your keywords?' These keywords were to indicate books from where the words for a coded message could be culled from, and for me then to transcribe it.

`Yes sir. If you would just give me a moment,' and I put the phone down and gestured to the Governor's bookcase, who understood exactly what I wanted. I didn't touch the books, but just scanned the titles to pick one that I knew the keyword for. I saw Treacle, which was for Pears Cyclopaedia, but that would make it easy for him, so I chose Homer which was for Debrett's Peerage. That would keep him busy for a couple of hours to encode.

`Homer?' he shouted down the phone.

`Sorry sir, it's the only one I could see,' I said, keeping the grin out of my voice.

`Well stand by for a message later on in the day.'

`Yes sir, and thank you sir.'

`Thank you for what?'

`For putting in a good word with the Commonwealth Office sir.'

`Hrrmph. Can't have you hanging about down there for six months while they make up their minds. Wait for the message,' and the phone went dead in my hand. I then put the phone down with a big smile and finished my drink.

`I apologise for that sir and for the inconvenience that I've caused you.'

`No trouble at all Sir Gervaise.'

`Please, drop the Sir. Gervaise is enough in private. Now may I use your study here tomorrow when the message comes through?'

`By all means, by all means.'

`I thank you, but now we must leave. We have things yet to do before the morning. Thank you again.' We said our goodbyes and left. Wesson wanted to go straight back to the hotel, but I made the car stop off at Garibaldi's to speak with Sam. There I told him that I wanted another boat for the morning, and if there was going to be any problem, that I'd pay up front if need be. He said that he'd have a boat for us in the morning and not to worry about it. Then we went to our hotel and I ordered a supper to be sent up to our suite.

Well you've done it again,' said Wesson as he poured me a gin and tonic and opened up a beer for himself. I caught most of the phone call except the last bit. What did he say?'

`That he didn't want us down here too long. He's lacking our company. But what about the rest?' I said, whirling myself around the room, wishing I were wearing my dress to see it swirl round as I did so. My dance was interrupted by our supper being delivered, and after the waiter had gone, I couldn't wait to get out of my suit. I then sat down to start eating as Wesson pulled out a chair.

`Hey. If I can eat naked, so can you. Get those clothes off you gorgeous man so that I can have both pleasures at once. One of eating and one of looking at you.' He did as he was told and we had our supper in the buff. Toward the end of the meal I accidentally on purpose, knocked over the cream pot so that it flowed into his lap.

Oh darling, I'm so sorry,' I cried as I quickly moved round as he pushed his chair away from the table. His groin and all parts covered in cream. What a mess I've made,' I said as I went down onto my knees. `Let me clean you up,' which I started to do with my mouth and tongue. I got most of it off but not before he was sitting there with a rock hard erection jutting up from his thighs.

`Stay right there darling,' I said, jumping up and rushing off to get a condom. I rolled it down on him and then went astride him and with him holding himself upright, I sank down on him to revel in the thrill of him filling my inside. Then when I was sitting on his thighs, I wriggled my bum on his lap as I fed him strawberries. Some I popped into my mouth and then as we kissed, would pass them across to his mouth. Then we moved and held each other as I technically fucked myself on his erection, working myself up and down till he groaned and bounced me harder till he came.

Then after cleaning him up properly, we went to bed and Wesson let me do it to him, my body appearing puny when I compared my thighs to his. I loved him for letting me make love to him this way.

Next morning, I asked the hotel for the largest hamper they did and to fill it for four people.

Four?' Wesson whispered, who else is coming?'

`No one. We need the big hamper to bring the money back in.'

He nodded his agreement, and helped me carry it out to the taxi that took us to the harbour. Sam was there with another boat for us and we declined the offer of someone to go with us. I'd also added some paper and pencils to take so that I could now do some sketches now that the island was going to be mine.

It was mid morning by the time we got there and we beached the boat up near the top end. I could see in my mind's eye the kind of building I wanted and exactly how it should be placed. I paced off the distances between the two beaches at this narrow neck and found that it suited me admirably. I then pointed out where I wanted a jetty on the eastern side with the main house in the middle. It would be made of wood, raised by about two feet from the ground on pillared foundations. Two stories so that it wouldn't appear above the tops of the palm trees. The east and west sides of the ground floor would be open to let the breeze blow through.

Reception being on the east facing the jetty which would be about three hundred yards away. Through from reception would be the bar and lounge so that you could sit anywhere in there in the evening to watch the sunset. Dining room and kitchen would be to the north.

On the second floor would be my, or I should say, our suite, that would take up half of the floor, from the east to the west on the south side of the building. Four other rooms would take up the other half. All would be en suite and have ceiling fans and double beds. Wesson liked the sketches I'd made and he prepared our lunch while I finished my drawings. Then in the shade of the palms, when I showed him where our bedroom would be, we made love and then had a nap.

I did some more sketches before it was time to think about leaving, and then dumping out what food we hadn't eaten, loaded the money parcel into the hamper. I took all my clothes off to catch some sun on the way back, wiggling my bum occasionally at Wesson at the tiller to annoy him. Until we came into Nassau where I had to get dressed before we tied up.

Sam had seen us arriving and was there to meet us, glad that we'd returned with the boat intact. Wesson and Sam carried the hamper to the shop and into the back. I gave one of his boys some dollars to go and fetch some beers for us. When we had those, we opened the hamper and cut open the parcel. Sam gave out a whistle when bundles of U.S. dollars fell out, and we then sat down and counted it all out.

Eight million dollars was the final count and I clinked bottles with them both when we'd finished. Sam wasn't surprised when I told him that he had charge of it for me as he was now my agent there in the Bahamas. It didn't need saying that he would be well paid for it. I spent the next half hour explaining exactly what I wanted in relation to the island and that he would be holding the purse strings.

`Now, remember I am here in disguise as Sir Gervaise Lyon. The person buying the island, wearing these clothes. When I am here in my usual dress, I am Miss Francis, sister to Sir Gervaise. Also, whatever I am wearing, I am still a member of the Leopardi family.' Sam said that he understood perfectly and kissed my hand as we said our goodbyes for the night, though we would still be there for another few days at least.

`What the hell are you doing?' Wesson started to remonstrate with me in the taxi for our short journey to our hotel. I shushed him up and wouldn't answer him till we were in our suite, going for our shower before getting dressed to go to the residency.

How can you leave all that money with that man?' he demanded as I stripped and went under the shower. You've virtually given him carte blanche to spend, or steal your money!' he carried on as he got into the shower with me.

Wesson. I love you. I also trust you,' I said through the spray of water. I trust you with my life and I also trust Sam with all that money. Why?' I began to splutter as shampoo went into my mouth. `I am a senior member of the Leopardi family. He knows that his life, and that of his family would not be worth a grain of sand on the beach if he tried to swindle one cent of that money. He also knows that he will be well rewarded and protected in the same way by the family.'

It was one of the few times that I hadn't handled Wesson in our showering together as I tried to explain the logic behind it all. `The Governor isn't going to like it either when he hears who my agent will be,' I said as I dried myself on the thick fluffy towel.

`Samuel Boniface? That shop keeper?' the Governor exploded as I knew he would.

Is that his surname? I didn't know that,' I said mildly after telling him who would be my contact there in Nassau. Be that as it may, he is going to look after my affairs. When you and whoever have settled the price, he will pay the money. He's had his instructions and a surveyor will be out there shortly to do his work and work with my architect who I will be sending out from England.

I, or we, would like to start to lay a water pipe line as soon as possible from Abaco to the island. Sam will see to the contractors and everything else that needs to be done, as long as you give the permission for this water pipe line. That is most crucial, and I don't think you can deny us that basic commodity as long as I am paying for it?'

`Of course will not deny you the water, Gervaise. It's just that I thought you would appoint one of our own people to oversee your affairs.'

Trust and loyalty are my creed Governor. Sam has those two qualities that I know from past experience.' I saw his eyebrows raise at this. There's only one person that has more than that, and that is Wesson here. He knows that I would give my life for him and he would do the same for me. So it was really a simple choice for me as I can't leave Wesson behind. To change the subject which I now consider closed, have you received a message for me from London?'

`Er, yes, Sir...er Gervaise,' the confused man said, knowing that he'd just been put down, but not really knowing how. He passed a large sheet of paper with lots and lots of numbers on it with the heading of Homer.

`If you don't mind me using your study for a little while sir?'

`Oh, of course, of course,' and he hurriedly got up and left Wesson and myself alone. I then took Debrett's off the bookshelf and sat myself down at his desk. Using fresh sheets of paper, I spent nearly an hour decoding the message and as I filled each page and read it, I then passed it across to Wesson. When he had read it, he burnt it. After three pages were decoded, read and destroyed, I cursed Frobisher.

I then thanked the Governor and Wesson and I went back to the hotel for our dinner before going to bed to talk over what Frobisher had asked us to do.

I won't do it!' I shouted as I flung myself onto the bed. I can see what he means and what he's trying to achieve, but I'm not going to doing it! I now have too high a profile to waste myself like this. I'll be a target if I go through with what he wants. I'm not going to do it!'

Wesson got onto bed and tried to take me into his arms, but I shook him off I was so angry.

`Look! I'll be going into that country on a diplomatic passport as Sir Gervaise, war hero and a winner of the Congressional Medal of Honour, honouree as it may be. If I'm seen consorting with their drugs people, or narcotics as they call it. Any thug can put two and two together as we'll have arrived from Nassau, near to where a shipment was lost.'

`I see your point, but we've still got to go. You don't have to meet them. I will. I can go in with a low profile as I haven't got your type of passport and meet with them. Look, you go in First Class, and you'll even be clear of the airport before I can get through. You go to the hotel and book us in and I can call them to arrange a meet outside of their offices, with an undercover man maybe. How's that?' I grudging agreed to that and let him take me into his arms to pacify me with kisses and some extra gentle loving.

We spent three more days in the Bahamas, each day on the island getting sun tanned all over. I think Wesson liked it when I spread the sun cream all over his bum as I liked it when he did mine.

There was only one beach at the lower end of the island, and that was on the eastern side. It was about half mile long with trees that completely screened it off and I decided that this would be a nudist only beach. The two beaches at the north end, one either side of the island, could be used for those who didn't have the desire to strip naked in the sun. The big house up at the north end would have a large swimming pool and patio on the southern side before the gardens that ran down to the nine scattered houses that I'd planned. These would be two storied having four bedrooms each, one being for the staff. So the maximum number of guests at any one time would be seventy. I planned that this would be a luxury resort where guests could have the privacy that they might want, but they would really have to pay for it.

On our return to Nassau each evening, I would spend some time with Sam going over details of construction materials, future staffing and all that. To fit the image of being tourists, we also went to the casino a couple of times, enough for me to lose roughly the same amount that I had won there the last time.

The sea and sun did wonders for my wound and I felt really fit and healthier for it when it came time for us to leave. The deal had been done for the island, and paid for, with the promise that they would start on the water pipe line as soon as possible. We threw a small party in the hotel for as many notables as could be found that would help my concern there. Sam politely declined, saying that it wouldn't be fit for a coloured islander to be seen dining with the Governor and the like.

We left the next morning on a flight to Miami, the departure as Wesson had suggested. He boarded the plane among the economy passengers, while I was seen off with quite some pomp and pageantry into the First Class section of the aircraft. It was only a short flight but I was still served with champagne and canapés. Wesson was given an orange juice back in his section.

It was different in arriving in Miami on a diplomatic passport as to when I was just a lowly seaman who would have to be fingerprinted and photographed before being allowed entry into the country. This time I was just swept through passport control and customs at the same time as my luggage, and with having earlier booked the hotel, a limousine was waiting to whisk me off. I think I was well clear of the airport before Wesson had even cleared passport control.

He, being what he was, had a permanent visa stamp in his passport. This had been noted and with an unseen signal was allowed straight through customs too without being checked.

I'd already had a bath and cleaned up before he finally arrived at our suite of rooms. I had an ice cold beer waiting for him from the drinks tray that I had ordered on my arrival. He drank that straight down, complaining of the mugginess before he went for a shower to freshen up. Then we sat out on the balcony with its fine view of the beach and sea and the huge swimming pool below us for the hotel's guests. With another beer while I drank gin and tonic, he told me what he had done.

In the airport arrivals hall, he had used what they call a pay phone to the number we had, and spoke to a Lieutenant O'Hanlon of the Narcotics Bureau. He spoke of my fears and it was agreed that an undercover man would meet with him in the hotel bar that evening. So after a nap, we went down to dinner and then sat apart in the bar. I was in a booth while Wesson stayed at the bar. The signal to him was that if I didn't like the look of the man, I wouldn't move from the booth. He would then have to do it on his own. If I felt it was safe, I would leave and go up to our rooms and then they would follow me.

I had finished my martini and was debating about ordering another when a young man with a briefcase sat down beside Wesson. He was fairly dark in complexion from what I could see at the distance. In his late twenties or so and looked as if he was of Puerto Rican origin, and looked the part of a small business man, travelling salesman or something. After a few minutes, the two started talking while drinking their beers straight from the bottle. I waited a little while till I saw that they had nearly finished their drinks before getting up from the booth and going past them to go upstairs.

I'd been in the room a few minutes before there was a double knock on the door and I opened it for them both to come into the room.

`Gervaise, this is Ramon Alvarez,' Wesson said as I passed them both an opened bottle of beer each. We shook hands and then Ramon went and sat down on the settee and opened up his briefcase and brought out a thick album.

`Without beating about the bush, we believe you know more about the plane crash of the drug runners than London will have us believe. We identified the two bodies from the plane as being from Colombia. That end of the drug route we know about. What we don't know is this end of it. We found the boat wallowing upside down with the transom at the back torn off. No sign of the person or persons that were on the boat, nor could we find an identification of to whom the boat belonged.

We recovered twenty parcels of drugs floating in the sea but assume the money that the boat was carrying, sunk.' He looked directly at me as he said this last word, and I think I saw a twinkle in his young eye and immediately warmed to the man.

His English, though American, had a trace of Spanish in it and believed I was right in my assumption as to his origin. I kept a straight face as he continued. `Now, we've recovered the drugs and are not worried about the money, whether it did sink or was found later. What we are after is an identification of the man or men on that boat. With that, we can backtrack on his associates that will eventually lead us to who is behind this organisation here in the States.' He paused and drank from his bottle waiting for one of us to comment. I liked the look of the man and he looked very competent and spoke with an economy which pleased me.

`We were simply tourists in the area,' I said.

`Tourists maybe, but not simple Sir Gervaise,' Ramon replied and I could see that he would and could be a hard man when he wanted to be.

`One man. One very dead man,' I said, making up my mind.

Dead men do tell tales,' he said softly, and I hope you can identify him from the pictures I have here.'

`I only had a brief glimpse of him, but Wesson saw him more clearly than I did.'

`Good,' he said, opening his book of photos for Wesson, who, sitting next to him, could have a look at. There were six pictures per page, all mug shots showing three men full faced and in profile with a number beneath each face. It was a thick book and Wesson was half way through before he pointed at one set of pictures.

`That's the man,' said Wesson.

Well, well, well,' Ramon breathed out. Alfredo Visconte. A small time thug and hit man, but he has connections, and it isn't who we thought. This is tremendous news and a great breakthrough.'

`I'm glad that it helps, but our names will be kept out of this I hope? I'm sure you understand the reasons why,' I said.

Wesson made that quite clear Sir Gervaise,' he said, closing his book and putting it back in his briefcase and then finishing his beer. I must thank you both for this. It's going to take time, but we'll tie up the ends of this operation and maybe net the lot of them. Thank you both again, very much,' he finished as he stood up and shook our hands. Wesson saw him out before opening another bottle of beer.

`Well we've done what Frobisher wants, so I think it's time we returned home, don't you?' He asked, swigging at the bottle.

Yes,' I replied, taking off that damned neck tie that was nearly throttling me, undoing the shirt as well. I'll be glad to get back to being Francis again,' I said as I went up to him and started to undo the buttons of his shirt. I want to be in a dress, smell sweet with perfume and become a woman again for the man I love,' I said as I scratched at his chest and leaned my head on his shoulder. Now I'm feeling tired and want to be taken to bed and loved.' I lifted up my head and he kissed me sweetly on the lips and finished off undressing me before lifting me up and putting me on the bed. I watched him undress and with his erection well up, climb onto the bed and lay on top of me.

I'd rather have it digging into me somewhere else,' I said between kisses, and not be trying to make another hole in my body.'

He grinned at me as he reached for a condom as I pulled the big pillows down for me to raise myself up to him. Then with my legs high he moved in between them so that they could rest on his shoulders as he slowly entered me, filling me again as he always did, with pleasure. Then when fully inside me, gently rocked as he fucked me, smiling down at me as he did so.

God I loved his smile as he moved in and out and gurgled my delight at the enjoyment he got from doing it to me. I was in heaven again with his powerful body exciting me within as he ebbed and flowed in his movements. All too soon it ends and he has to withdraw to clean up before we could hold each other in our arms to kiss and slowly fall asleep.

Next day we boarded a plane for London, both of us First Class this time, and enjoyed the benefits that the class provided. It was dark when we landed and it took the taxi ages to get us home. Fog! I'd never seen such fog in my life. The taxi simply crawled along, using the kerb as the only guide and it was only the driver's knowledge of London that got us home. I was lost as soon as we entered the pea souper. Wesson had telephoned ahead to the house that we had landed, and Palmer had shown great concern and was much relieved when we finally arrived at the house.

I was glad it was only him to see us into the house. He knew of my two personas as the Perkins did not. So I arrived as Gervaise, but could, and would by morning, be Francis again. Supper had been laid out for us in our rooms and it was with some relief that I could have a bath, a sweet smelling bath and then sit down to eat in a lovely pink fluffy dressing gown.

Wesson said about going to the office the next day, even though it was a Saturday, but I wanted to catch up on all that had happened in the street in respect of the houses. There was also an awful lot of mail to be read and things to be taken care of.

I let Wesson go to the office and take the brunt of Frobisher's tongue while I saw to my present affairs in London. John Clement was as pleased as I was in the progress of the work and another two houses had been finished and ready for tenants, four of them having already been taken which meant revenue was now coming in from them.

I had already made an appointment with the firm's architect for lunch, and there I told him of my plans for the island. He was really pleased at my choosing him and jumped at the chance of going out there to work on the project. He caught my enthusiasm and we met several times over the following week to talk over the finer points. So off he went with letters of introduction to all he needed to know and also one for Sam to give him whatever monies and help he would need.

But back to my second day of my return, it being a Sunday, Wesson and I relaxed at our home and even had a couple of bouts in our gym. Gentle ones of course, because it would still be a few more months before I would be able to take a blow to that wounded side.

Then it was Monday and I had to face Frobisher myself. As interviews go, it went very well. Wesson had taken the sting out of him and had told him most of the story and I just filled in some of the gaps.

`Well now that you are back, I trust we can get some work done, or had you intended another trip somewhere?'

`There's nothing planned for the moment.'

`Good.'

`But I would like some time off later to visit France, sir. Maybe bring back a case or two of wine,' I said slyly.

We'll see about that, later. In the meantime, I've had that report of yours on Egypt dragged up from the vaults.' He waved it in front of me. Would you be so kind as to expand on it.' I took it from him and quickly reread it.

`I...I don't think I can, why?'

`You wrote that in early December saying that you felt there would be civil unrest there in January. Well a report has just come in and it is saying exactly that. In the Canal Zone! There have just been some riots and attacks on British installations and looting of British establishments, houses, shops and the like. What else did you go on to say? That there would be further events in about six month's time involving the army. Any comments on that?'

`Not really sir. It's just what I felt by reading between the lines. What with the attempted purchase of arms from Russia, you know, by not going through the proper government channels I mean.'

`Will this thing in six month's time be against the Canal?'

`I doubt it. Not at this time, but maybe later. The King is too reliant on the British, so I think that he is the target. I discounted assassination as that would have happened already if it were going to be that. I think this is just the start to alienate the King from the British influence, maybe to force him to abdicate. I don't know without more intelligence sir.'

`That's good enough for me. I think you have just put it in a nutshell. Well done Francis. I let you know later what happens.'

I was being dismissed as he picked up the phone and I heard him ask for Downing Street just as I left the office. I went down to where I knew Wesson would be and found that we had desks piled high with papers and notes.

`Aw shit,' I said as I sat down and looked at the mound in front of me and could only just see over the top to see Wesson grinning at me.

`That's just what I said when I saw it. Only two weeks away and we come back to this? I wished we'd stayed there now.'

`So do I, so do I,' I groaned, but picked up the top sheet anyway and began reading. It was by chance that I read a snippet of news about a wedding that reminded me of my own wedding anniversary. I'd completely forgotten all about it, so hastily phoned Palmer to arrange for a huge bunch of flowers to be sent down to Dorset with an appropriate card included. I wrote a note to myself to say that I should get something to take down with me the next time I visited.

We stayed on in the office till eight that night, and every night for two weeks till we finally cleared our desks. The written reports were sketchy, as I hadn't taken everything in because of the sheer volume. We got home, ate and slept, too tired to even make love.

Only when the desks were cleared did we have the time to commence building up my strength and start to make love again. Also I was able to continue on my marksmanship down in the shooting gallery, though I longed to be outside in the fresh

air than stuck with the stink of burnt cordite. It not only stayed in my clothes but in my hair too, so a hair shampoo was essential in the evening. That meant my wigs too. I was now rated as proficient with a number of hand guns and asked Wesson to find out if I could progress onto longer range weapons. It's all very well to be able to shoot at close targets, now I wanted distance as well. Before even thinking of approaching Frobisher to let us go, Wesson had to find out if and when we could get out onto a proper firing range. There was a slot that we could fill in the last week of February down on Salisbury plain. Armed with this information, Wesson asked Frobisher if we could go and got blackmailed in the process. That being that desks were to be kept clear and do a two day stint as a rearguard protection unit to Belfast.

This was cancelled at the announcement that King George the V1 had died.

I had cried when I heard the news. That small man that had smiled and spoke to me as he shook my hand after he had knighted me. I was heartbroken as were many people of the nation at that time. But, as the saying goes, life still goes on.

My architect, William, arrived back on the Friday night and phoned me from the airport to report his arrival, and I told him to go home to bed and have a rest. I knew that he knew that I was anxious to see his plans, but I wanted his full attention and not be half asleep when we talked. I invited him to come over on Sunday morning to talk and stay for lunch, and clear things up during the afternoon.

So I was up early that morning in an excited state to see his plans for my hotel. Bathed and breakfasted, no dallying with Wesson this Sunday morning much to his chagrin. Promptly at nine thirty, William rang the bell and Palmer showed him up to our sitting room. I had coffee waiting as he came into the room.

`How was the trip,' I asked as we shook hands and waved him to the settee.

Fabulous! Everything was like a dream come true, and I must thank you for the chance to prove myself. Everybody was so helpful that I couldn't really believe it. The island itself was heaven and I could see from your sketches what you could see for it. I couldn't really sleep last night I was so excited in waiting to show you what I've done.' He pulled up his large portfolio case and began to open it as he carried on speaking. I spent my first day just walking round the island, looking at your sketches.

Then the next couple of days I studied other houses on the main island, their structure and design and could then see what you wanted. After talking and seeing the surveyor's report, and the expected place where the water pipe comes ashore, I started my drawings. I've done several different ones,' he shuffled through about eight large drawings and pulled one out, `but I think this encompasses all that you want.'

I took it from him and it was like seeing a photograph of what I had envisaged on that site on the island. It was perfect but kept my enthusiasm in check to look at his other drawings. Then I looked at the floor plans for the main house and of the others, and was pleased with my choice of man for the job. He'd also taken many photographs, doubling up on them so that on one, he'd drawn a picture of what would be on that particular site so that I could do comparisons. I thought it had been a good idea, and complimented him on it.

There is one major problem though,' he said. I spoke with the surveyor and an engineer and that is about the swimming pool. There's only about four foot of topsoil before you hit solid rock coral. The only quick way would be explosives to blast it out, but even then it would takes months of clearing it out unless we had a heavy digger in there. There is one in Nassau, but getting it to the island is impossible.'

`Your thoughts on that Wesson?' I asked, and he pondered for a moment.

Seabees,' he said. They had to move heavy stuff like that and they used tank landing craft, you know, the amphibious ones.'

Good man!' I cried. Where can we get one?'

`Well, I'll ask around tomorrow but I think it would be best to find one from the American military. They might have some in Florida, I don't really know.'

`Tackle that tomorrow then. It could also be used to transport all the materials too. Load on the shore at Nassau and then into the sea and up onto the island. Take quite a few trips I should think, so we'd probably need one for about three months. When you out there next William, oh, how soon can you go back?'

`Well, whenever you say Miss Francis.'

Excellent! As soon as we find a craft, you can go and get it sorted out. Also, look about in Florida while you're there for some boats. Fast ones to carry about twenty people and baggage. Get me some ideas. Then I think we should get all the bathroom fittings from there too,' I said, thinking of how modern their stuff was like in the hotel we'd stayed at in Miami. Far better that what was in England or Nassau. For our bedroom suite I want only the best. Gold taps and all that and the biggest bath that they make. Big enough for two to swim in.'

`For two?' William asked.

`Yes. Wesson and I like having a bath together. Don't you with your wife?'

`I...I'm not married Miss Francis,' he stammered.

What? Such a handsome young man like you not married?' and he blushed. Never mind,' I said patting his knee, `Wesson will keep you safe from me.' Wesson grinned at William's discomfiture. We talked some more till Palmer announced that lunch was about to be served, but that didn't stop us talking as we ate in the big dining room.

There were lots of little details to discuss. Sam had suggested that we use a local engineering firm to see to the installation of the emergency generator and electricity, and then keep the firm on a small retainer, so that if anything cropped up, they would be obliged to see to it immediately. Noted. The water tank had to be erected soon because an American firm had already started work on the pumping house on Abaco Island and the laying of the pipes. Where I had placed the one house for staff at the north end, William wanted to put the huge tank and generator behind the house, but build round them to make it look like a larger house that it really was. Agreed.

No trees were to be destroyed. They would have to be replanted to fit the overall design of the place. I only had one criticism of his design for the main house, and that was of the roof overhang in front of the bar and lounge.

`Now the floor of the building is going to be about two foot off the ground. So imagine a six foot man sitting on a stool at the bar and looking out at the sunset. I want him to be able to see it from there.' He saw what I meant and said that he could alter that without any problem. I also asked him to get hold of a marine biologist to find out the best place to dump what was excavated from the pool and other places.

Why not use it for the jetty,' William asked, instead of a wooden one?'

`No. That would break up the flow of water and could cause problems by having a breakwater like that. No, I have plans because of the jetty being made of wood. Lobsters like to have a shady place to lie and breed. Under the jetty will make it a perfect place for them.'

There were many other technical details that we went over, William making copious notes because they all kept coming out at random and he would have to sort them out into their sequence later. It took so long, that he even stayed for dinner before we thought we'd covered it all before he went off to his home.

It had been a long, but exciting day, and I lay in a nice hot bath and mulled over all that we'd got through, but knowing that I would have to go back out there in the very near future to see for myself. That still left the chateau and the new vineyard to be seen to. The vineyard had to be left to Marcel's expertise, though that would take time to establish itself. So I hoped that he was devoting some of his time to getting the chateau up to scratch. Must get that coat of arms done for the hall, I mused, then had the thought of putting one behind the reception on the island I giggled to myself. That certainly would put the people in their place when they visited.

But these thoughts were put to one side when Wesson climbed into the bath with me, except that I hoped William could find a really nice bigger one for us.

To be continued.