The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter Fifty-One: A Stowaway

“And Ada volunteered?” I asked. 

“Ada had been volunteering since she first joined us if you’ll remember. She was downright proud to die for this cause.” Lynn said. 

“Do you think they’ll notice that Ada used luckfish poison, instead of giant scorpion venom?” I asked. 

“Probably. But what would that prove? Ada made claims of a massive network of people.” Leon answered.

“Of women.”

“Indeed.” Fiona said, joining us to stare out across the bay at the ocean. 

“How many women helped her?” Amy asked.

“Nearly two dozen. All of them were proud to die for the chance to get back at Hyperborean men.”

“And to make Hyperborea safe for their daughters,” I added. “Were they all caught?”

“Only the ones who served the wine were caught.” 

“So the Husband Poisoning Society lives on,” I said. 

Fiona nodded. “Indeed. And the men of Hyperborea must now reckon with a threat they never conceived before this day.” 

“Now what?” I asked.

Leon shrugged, “Well, the Folkmoot is cancelled. Too few nobles left to attend after Ada’s actions at the trial. Monique has been widowed. In theory they would marry her to the next male heir.”

“But there’s no male heir for me to marry.” Monique gestured as she spoke.

“Exactly. Now in Ys, you would be duchess and in charge of the house and the duchy. But Women can’t hold power in Hyperborea.”

“So, who takes over the house? Who’s going to be the new duke?” I asked.

“Hyperborea is in chaos. Nobody knows.” Leon said. 

“So what am I to do? Am I lost in the ether?”

“Yes. I convinced them that having you around would look bad. It would remind everyone of this whole sordid affair. You are still a widow, but you are no longer duchess. You are to return home to Ys with me. They are happy to pretend none of this ever happened.”

“I suspect husbands will find that difficult.” I said. 

“I suspect the wives will find it difficult to forget as well.” Leon said. “You may have started a revolution.”

“I can only hope.” I said. 

= = =

We set off for Ys the next day. The morning was rainy with impressive winds. We three stayed inside our cabin, along with Monique. Leon and his crew wrestled with the storm. But the storm did not survive past noon. And soon the skies were clear and us ladies emerged into the sun.

I was talking with Leon, later that afternoon, when we heard the a woman’s voice screaming obscenities. 

“What’s that noise?” Leon asked a sailor.

The sailor shook his head, “Commander. It’s a stowaway.”

Leon raised his eyebrows. “I’ve never seen anyone actually stowaway before. Bring them up.”

We waited, and several minutes passed. Then three sailors dragged and scrambling and squirming Laila up the stairs.

“Laila.” Monique squealed as she recognized the woman.

Leon smiled, “Laila. Should I ask why you’re here?”

Laila kept struggling, “I have something to say.”

Leon waved, “Then we’re listening.”

Laila turned her head to face Monique. “Monique, I love you.” 

Monique’s eyes welled with tears. “I love you too.”

“Please let me come with you.”

Monique clapped her hands. “Of course you may come. That is, if his grace allows it.”

“I’m not going to throw her overboard, now am I?” Leon answered. He nodded to the sailors, 

“Let her go. She’s got my leave to remain aboard.”

The sailors released Laila, who made a show of dusting herself off. 

“I’m sorry for your mother,” I said, curtsying to Laila as I spoke. “She saved us all at the cost of her own life.”

“I couldn’t stop her,” Laila said, a tear running down her cheek. “But I’m proud of her. I couldn’t imagine that working, but it did.”

“And she saved us all.” Monique said. 

Laila looked at Monique, blushed, coughed, and looked at the ground.

“So, you love me?’ Laila said.

“And you love me.” Monique answered. 

I rolled my eyes. “Monique has her own cabin. Go. But try not to make so much noise you distract the sailors.”

Both women turned crimson and stared at the floor for a moment. Then Monique stood. “I am no longer a duchess. But I am still taking command here.”

She grabbed Laila by the arm and dragged the other woman back to Monique’s cabin.