The Great Portrait Plot( Based on an Original Concept by Arc)
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:36 am
This alternative history story came about from a discussion with Arc, who have had the pleasure to work with on a number of popular stories on the board. Here, it is 1554 and the young sickly king Edward VI is 16 and coming of age. The head of his Regency Council, John Dudley the 1st Earl of Northumberland as proposed a secret marriage with Sofia Corsini, the 20 year old Duchess of Tuscany daughter to Lorenzo Corsini. Despite the unpopularity of the match, due to the girls Catholic faith, Dudley the most powerful man in England, as convinced the young king and the rest of the Regency Council to accept the match. As part of a secret alliance with the Holy Roman Empire, the marriage will also secure the succession and ensure the legacy of the Tudors continues. However, what the young king is unaware of is that Dudley is plotting his death to place a puppet on the throne and secure his own lasting legacy. To this end he has secured the services of the Cordova assassin family, the most expensive female assassins in Europe to see the plot through. This is the untold story of the Great Portrait Plot of 1554...
The Cordova Estate, the Duchy of Bavaria 15th May 1554
"Madame Cordova and her daughter's will see you now, Herr Bromley. Please follow me." Came the voice of the young German herald, as Sir Phillip Bromley squire to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland fell into step behind him. He was already impatient had being kept waiting for the last hour, since his scheduled appointment was at two hours past noon. For the top assassins in Europe, these women were not punctual. Such rudeness! thought Bromley irritably as she swept his hand through his shoulder length black hair. Bromley had balked at His Grace's decision to use women for a man's job, but the Duke had assured him that the women had came highly recommended. Particularly for their unique talents in the art of disguise, and for discretion, skills that were sorely needed if this plot were to succeed. As he came to a large courtyard, the main audience chamber of the estate, there sat at a table dressed most unusually in a black leather armour set, was the 36 year old Madame the widow Countess Isabelle Cordova. She was flanked by her young daughters, similarly attired like men. " Sir Phillip Bromley, I presume? Please take a seat, we have business to discuss." Bromley sat at the table, to the gestured chair. Isabelle than turned her attention to her steward. "Hans, bring us the 1534 Tuscan Red. I'am sure our English guest will appreciate the vintage." The steward gave a stiff formal nod, as he swept from the room. Isabelle then turned her piercing blue eyes back to her guest. "So how may we be of service, to the English Court."
Bromley hesitated slightly, unsure on how to address these three women, he appraised them before he spoke. They were stunningly beautiful, all sharing the same familial features of high sculptured cheekbones, angular faces and piercing blue eyes. Their long jet black hair done in different styles, with the senior Cordova having her done up into an elegant style favoured by the Imperial court. Noting his interest, the Countess cocked her head. "Forgive my lack of manners at not being the proper host, these are my daughter's. Esther my eldest.." she gestured her head to the young woman on her left, her hair tied into an elegant ponytail. The girl gave the merest of nods, showing no respect. Isabella then gestured to her right, a girl with her black locks loose about her shoulders. "...and Katarina, my youngest." Bromley did a double take, when he realised they were twins. The countess smiled at his discomfort as she continued. "Forgive their lack of manners, my lord. I taught them to fear no man. Their father, my late husband made the mistake believing he needed to be feared. I soon corrected him." Bromley suddenly felt nervous, pulling at his ruff, seeing these women as the killers they undoubtedly were. As the steward returned, with a platter with a bottle of red wine, with three glasses. The man busied himself with pouring, as Bromley found his courage. "As per our previous correspondence, my lady. My master, the Duke of Northumberland is in need of your particular talents." He paused to take a glass of Tuscan, while the Cordova's took theirs. They each took a sniff of the wine, before sipping as the Countess gestured for Bromley to continue. "His grace desires the death of his sovereign, King Edward VI of England." The women paused, as they sipped their wine but for a second he thought he saw a smirk dance across the lips of the junior Cordova, as Isabelle merely smiled a smile that was cold as ice. "Killing a king? This will be first for us. Continue, My Lord Bromley." Bromley took a sip of his wine before he continued. "His grace as already arranged a secret union between the young king and the Duchess Sofia Corsini, of Tuscany. All through her portrait." The next woman who spoke wasn't Isabelle but the eldest daughter, Esther. "The Duchess is quite the match, and Catholic too. They must be desperate to secure the succession." Isabelle held up her hand to quieten her daughter, gesturing for Bromley to continue. "The Duchess and her entourage, her lady in waiting and governess, will be passing through the French countryside guided by one of His Grace's agents on the morrow. There they will be taken to a small roadside tavern, the Three Deers. The tavern itself is ran by three women, a mother and her two daughters." Bromley paused to take a sip of his wine, as Isabelle copied him. "So you wish us to first takeover the tavern, then intercept and replace the Duchesses entourage. What of the fates of the women?" She asked as she finished her wine, replacing it on the platter. Bromley took another sip, savouring the vintage. "The lives of the peasants mean little to the Duke, do with them what you will." Bromley noticed the girls smirking, noticing the Italian stilettos sheathed on their belts. "But the nobles are not to be harmed. His Grace believes that the Duke of Tuscany will make a future ally, the murder of his beloved daughter and her entourage would be considered impolitic." The smirks on the faces of the young girls quickly disappeared, replaced by looks of disappointment. Isabelle stood up as Bromley finished his glass. "And the payment? You agree to our standard fee of 10,000 pound each. Do we have an accord?" The countess said as she held out her hand, Bromley took it and shook it. "Yes. 10,000 pounds each for your service. Paid in full, once the king is dead." Isabella gave the merest of smiles as she released a surprisingly iron grip. "Pleasure doing business with you and His Grace. Please send him my regards, upon your return to England. Hans will see you out. Farewell, my lord." Bromley bade them all farewell, with formal bows of the English Court before he was led from the audience chamber. When he was gone, Isabelle turned to her daughter's. "Come my children. We must prepare and leave for France. We have a king to kill." She said as her daughter's laughed with menace.
The Tavern of the Three Deers, near the village of Bancourt Northern France, one day later. 20:00pm
Eloise Cousteau, wiped a dirty glass as she stood behind the bar of her tavern looking on as her two daughters Marie and Camille wiped the tables of the empty tavern. Eloise sighed at the empty tavern, lamenting another evening of lost business. At 42, Eloise had been widowed after her husband Claude had died from a sudden heart attack 3 years past, at the age of 48 leaving Eloise and the girls with the struggling tavern. Despite her age, Eloise had retained her youthful good looks. Her shallow cheekbones, rounded features and her pale green eyes, framed by curled shoulder length auburn were traits she had passed down to her youngest daughter, 20 year old Marie. Her eldest 21 year old, Camille had inherited her father's hazel eyes and straight jet black hair flowed down past her shoulders. Eloise was dressed this evening in a long flowing simple black dress, with a white bar apron tied at her waist which hugged her slim figure and buckled shoes. Something which thank God, she had retained even after giving birth to her two girls, the only lights in her life. Eloise looked over to them and smiled, they were both dressed in tight white frilled lace blouses that showcased their décolletage, long high waisted black skirts and buckled black cowhide shoes. Eloise knew that it was her daughter's that her patrons came to see, especially the men. And Eloise used every advantage to ensure she made as enough money as possible. It was all for her children after all, and besides perhaps one or both of them might get lucky and snare a man, they were not lacking beauty. The sound of the front door opening, drew Eloise's thoughts back to the present as three women dressed in black entered the Tavern.
" Bonsoir, mon amie, please come in take a seat and get the cold out. What can we get you?" Eloise snapped her fingers to call her girls to action, as her new patrons entered. On closer inspection, Eloise noted that they were attired strangely as men. The lead woman lowered her hood, before taking her seat at the bar. It revealed a young and pretty if lined face, and as the two other women behind her lowered theirs revealing a startling family resemblance, of piercing blue eyes and darkened hair, before they took their seats. The woman cocked her head, looking Eloise up and down as if sizing her up. "Are you all alone out here? I don't see anyone else." She asked her, her tone even. Eloise suddenly felt nervous, as she noticed the two younger women eyeing up her daughter's. "It's just us out here, your our first guests this evening." The woman merely smiled. "And your names? Madame? Yourself and your daughters?" The mysterious woman asked, as Eloise suddenly felt a trickle of fair run down her spine. " I'am Eloise Cousteau and my daughter's Marie and Camille. Why, do you ask, madame?" She replied with a mixture of fear and pride, the younger woman didn't rise from her seat, just fixed her with a cold stare. "Well you see, we are the Cousteau's. We just need to look the part." She turned to her daughters, the other figures in black. "Take them." With surprising agility, the two younger women pounced on Marie and Camille, drawing their stilettos in a flash of steel, stabbing them through the throats lowering them to the tables as they drowned in their own blood. Tears streamed down Eloise's face as she witnessed the brutal murder of her daughters, and the shocking scene as their killers were already stripping out of their black garments. "Don't worry, Madame. You will be joining them now." Said the woman, as she drew her stiletto stabbing Eloise in the side of her slender throat, swiftly sending her to the sides of her murdered daughters and husband. Her last sensation she felt, was being lowered to the bar.
Esther, eldest of the Cordova sisters had already stripped naked as she prepared to undress the dark haired tavern girl she had murdered. "It was a shame really, they were quite pretty little things. Still needs must." Came the voice of her younger sister, Katarina, who was already unbuckling the shoes of the dead red haired tavern girl. Esther smiled as she regarded her younger by five minutes sister, removing the shoes from her mark. "Good work, my children." The two girls looked from their stripping, to see their mother, Isabelle rise from her stool." Now, lets get them stripped and out of sight. The Duchess and her entourage will be here within the hour." She said as she wiped the blood on her blade from the tavern keeper on her sleeve. "I saw a well, outside the front. We dump the corpses in there, no one's the wiser." Replied Esther, as she turned the dead girl onto her front unfastening her skirt and pulling it down her shapely hips, exposing her petticoat. Isabella flashed a look of pride, as she walked around the bar stripping out of her black leathers. "Good eye, my daughter. I have taught you well. Now silence, we have work to do."
With that, Isabelle started to untie the apron from the dead waist as Esther and Katarina resumed their stripping of the daughters. Esther pulled down the brunettes petticoat, revealing a tight pert peach shaped ass and long divine legs which she stopped to admire. "The red haired girl is none too shabby either, very smooth like a peach Este." Said Katarina as she too admired the dead girls buttocks. "I like stripping French girls." She added with an air of nonchalance. Esther simply grinned, as she turned the dead brunette over taking a look at her small clit crowned with a smattering of black pubic hair. Stopping briefly to glance at her handiwork which left little blood around the dead girl's slender neck, Esther unlaced the white blouse opening it. "This one as a very nice pair of breasts, Kat." Remarked Esther as her eyes beheld the brunettes well developed breasts, with full perky dark pink areolas. Katarina paused in her stripping to take a glance. "Very nice! This one as slightly smaller, but still firm." Katarina gestured with her head, to the breasts of the redhead that were smaller but firm with small red perky areolas and a small red clit topped with a triangle of auburn hair. Getting back to her mark, Esther hoisted the half naked girl up slipping the lace garment from her shoulders letting the naked corpse flop back onto the table with a thud. A similar sound from behind her, informed Esther that Katarina had also finished. Both Cordova sisters got dressed in their stolen clothes, as they observed their mother slipping on the tavern keepers dress and apron, the woman's naked body draped over the bar next to her. When they were finished, Isabelle draped the naked woman over her shoulder and walked over to her daughter's. "Now we look the part, to the well." The two sisters picked up the naked corpses of the tavern wenches, draping them over their shoulders as they followed their mother to the well outside. Once there, they tossed the naked bodies of the tavern keeper and her children into the dark well, hearing three deep splashes at the bottom. Brushing her hands together, Isabelle turned to her daughter's. "Remember, prepare the sleeping draughts, the Duke wants the nobles alive." She ignored the disappointed signs of her children, particularly her youngest Katarina, as they walked back to The Three Deers. "And another thing, speak only French." Isabella Cordova said as they re-entered the tavern.
An hour later
"How much further is it to England, Claudia? We have been on the road for 5 days." Asked Sofia Corsini as she let out a frustrated sigh, sinking into the seat of the carriage. Her Governess, Claudia Rosetti fixed her with a stern stare one she had known for the last eight years. "Now, now Sofia. Remember your manners, the King of England won't appreciate such uncouth behaviour." Sofia turned to her best friend and lady in waiting Bianca de Medici, a pretty girl of 19 with high cheekbones, heart shaped features and pale doe shaped blue eyes, dressed in a fashionable dress of periwinkle that matched her eyes with a matching headdress. Expensive pearls graced her neck and ears . "Well, the news I heard is that the boy king is not long out of his grave. So we could have a wasted journey." Said Bianca as Sofia caught her eye, the remark only drew the ire of the governess. "Bianca! You are a bad influence on Sofia! I have a mind to have you sent back to Florence, with a strongly worded letter!" Claudia retorted, fixing Bianca with cold glance from her narrow emerald green eyes. The governess was a stern woman of 40, with sculptured cheekbones and angular features. Her face lined but still youthful and elegant. She was dressed austerely in a satin black dress, with a matching black headdress covering her light brown hair. Bianca let out a small little laugh. "You can try, sénora . My family is Florence. You think they will the word of some old woman, over mine a scion of the de Medici's, settle down pleb." Sofia let out another sigh, the constant bickering of the two women doing nothing to soothe her dark mood, as she caught her reflection in the carriage window. Widely considered one of the beauties of Europe, 20 year old Sofia had soft slender cheekbones, rounded features and light almond shaped hazel eyes. Her long jet black hair tied into an elegant court bun, under the red headdress she wore that matched her expensive red silk dress. She wore a matching gold ruby pendant, that rested above her breasts and gold earrings. "There's that tavern the coachman, told us about, The Three Deers. We stop here, take some refreshments and rest for night." The voice of Claudia, shook Sofia from her thoughts as the tavern came into view on the right hand side, off the road. The ladies prepared themselves as the carriage drew to a stop, next to a small well. "Remember your French lessons, ladies and represent your houses well. These are commoners, simple folk after all." As the coachman, opened the carriage door Bianca smirked. "A lot like you, my dear governess." Sofia sniggered despite her self, as Claudia shot the lady-in-waiting a stern look, clambering out of the carriage before the man closed it behind them. The little coachman, a servant of the Duke of Northumberland led the women towards the tavern door, opening it and beckoning them inside.
"Bonsoir mon amie, come in, make yourselves at home, ladies. My name is Eloise.." came the friendly voice of the tavern keeper, a pretty middle aged dark haired woman from behind the bar to their right. "...and these are my daughters, Marie and Camille." She gestured to young dark haired girls, who were both near identical, who nodded and smiled. "How can we be of service, to you." Eloise smiled as she busied herself with cleaning a clay cup. "Good evening, bar keep. Three cups of your finest wine and lodgings for the night, if you please." Replied Claudia as she approached the bar. "That would be 10 francs, please my lady." Eloise held out her hand. After paying for the drinks, the governess took her seat. "So what brings three pretty women, to my tavern so late at night." The tavern keeper asked as she busied herself with pouring their wine. Bianca chuckled as she made a glance at one of the tavern girls, her eyes scanning the woman's curves through her clothes. "This happens to be Her Grace, the Duchess Sofia Corsini of Tuscany. She's off to marry the King of England, a protestant if can believe it. I'am sorry bar keeper, but your daughters are very beautiful." Bianca's eye moved to scan the nearest twins cleavage, Camille if she remembered right. The girl flashed her a seductive smile, which caused both Bianca and Sofia to giggle and blush. "Bianca! Where are your manners! And stop staring, both of you!" Claudia admonished the two noble women, before turning to Eloise, red with embarrassment. "I'am sorry, bar keeper these girls have forgotten themselves. We don't mean to impugn on your hospitality." The tavern keeper merely smiled as she called over her girls, placing the cups on their trays. "I heard from travellers, that the king is quite handsome and young." Said Camille as she and her sister served them their drinks. Sofia gave Bianca a curious look, as she took the drink from the tray. "I really don't approve of this arranged match business, not when we should choose who we love." That drew a stern look from her Governess. "Sofia! It is your duty to your family and your lord father! You will marry the King of England. Stop showing us up in front of the common folk." The two young women sighed as the three drank from the cups. After five minutes, the three women began to swoon. "Wha..this is strong stuff..oh." slurred Claudia as she slumped forward onto the table. "Claudia..wha.." was all Sofia could manage before she collapsed sideways onto Bianca, knocking her off the bench. "Woah..easy..Sofia my lov.." Bianca said in a daze before she hit the floor with a thud. Soon all three women were sleeping soundly. With Sofia on top of Bianca. Esther knelt by the unconscious Bianca. "Out like three Venetian sailors who couldn't hold their drinks." Her sister approached the sleeping Sofia. "Looks like someone won't be marrying the King after all." Katarina laughed, as she caressed the girls face. Isabella smiled as she started to strip off her disguise, walking towards the sleeping Claudia. "Come my girls, let's strip them and don their clothing. Undergarments included. The king might die before we get our chance."
After she and Katarina had managed to lift the unconscious Sofia off her lady in waiting, Esther and her sister stripped off the clothes they had taken from the tavern girl. Now naked Esther knelt by Sofia, Katarina by Bianca then they began to undress them. They started by removing the womens headdresses, shoes and jewellery, copying their hairstyles. Turning the women onto their backs, the sisters unlaced their dresses then rolling them onto their fronts peeling off the dresses from their slim petite bodies. "Ugh! Corsets!? I hate wearing these things." Katarina made a vomiting sound, then glanced at her sister than her mother. "I'am sorry my daughter's I know you don't like them, but needs must. We need everything." Isabelle said, without taking her eyes off the unconscious Claudia whose corset she was in the middle of removing the governesses corset. Sharing a sympathetic look with her sister, Esther returned to stripping the duchess. Esther turned the unconscious Duchess onto her side, unlacing the corset then pulling it gently off her body as Katarina complained next to her. With the corset removed, Esther unfastened Sofia's blouse opening it out. "Beauty of Europe, indeed. Take a look at these, sweet sister." Katarina, who's mood was still dark perked up as she regarded the Duchesses fairly large buoyant breasts, with small circular pink perky areolas."Not bad, indeed. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those. I bet she did though." She added gesturing to the unconscious Bianca. "She's not too shabby, either." Esther took a glance at the smaller and firm breasts of the lady in waiting, with small rose petal light pink areolas, making an impressed sound. "Daughters, I know you are having fun but time is of the essence." Their mother said, as she removed the blouse of the governess exposing her smooth well rounded breasts with more fuller light pink areolas. Sighing, Esther removed the Duchesses blouse from her slender shoulders then pulled down her petticoat, from around her hips peeling them down her long divine legs. "Well the King of England, won't be getting any of that." Esther smirked as she regarded the Duchesses small clit, crowned with a thick trimmed strip of black pubic hair and peach shaped pert ass. Katarina chuckled as she glanced over, while pulling down Bianca's petticoat revealing her more fuller clit topped with a triangle of blonde pubic hair. With the three noble women, completely naked the Cordova's dressed in their clothing, including the jewellery. "Ugh! Now I'am going to have to hold my breath, all the way to England." Katarina moaned as she straightened Bianca's periwinkle dress. Ignoring her daughter's protests, Isabella now dressed as the governess, knelt by the naked woman, admiring the small clit crowned by a thin strip of brown pubic hair "Come let's bind them, and get them secured. We need to be away." Tearing the clothing they had taken from the murdered tavern family into strips, they bound the womens wrists, ankles and gagged them. Isabella then turned to the bar, seeing a small pantry behind covered by a sheet of cloth. "Come, we can hide them in there. By the time they are discovered, we will be well away." Taking the naked women under their arms, the Cordova's dragged them around the bar propping them shoulder to shoulder next to each other, against the wall. When they were finished, the assassin family left the tavern behind walking past the well were they had disposed of the Costeaus. Isabelle nodded once to the coachman, who nodded back as the women clambered into the carriage. "Come my children, let's kill a king." Isabelle smiled as she took her seat, drawing laughs from her daughters who she had nothing but love and pride for. With a snap of reins, the carriage trundled away from The Three Deers tavern, towards England.
Two days later. Near the Port of Dover. 09:00am
"Ugh! England! Full of protestants and not much else, how I hate this place." Said Katarina as their carriage trundled down the road from the Port of Dover, into the English Countryside. Their short sea crossing from the Pas-de-Calais, had only darkened the younger Cordova's mood. "Hush, Katarina..." cajoled their mother Isabelle, not ungently but playing her part of the governess. Katarina, disguised in the garb of the lady in writing, sighed as she sank in the seat of the carriage something that caused her great pain, because of the corset she wore. Esther laid a hand on her sisters shoulder. "Don't fear Kat, once we get to St James' Palace, the King will feel the sting of our blades and we will be back home in no time." Katarina turned to face her sister, and smiled but before she could reply, the carriage suddenly stopped. "What in God's name?!" Exclaimed Esther as Isabela held up her hand, to quieten her. "Shush, do you hear that, my daughter's?" The sisters swapped glances, nodding. "Hoofs. A rider approaches, are we discovered?" Esther nervously reached for her stiletto, concealed in her dress. Isabelle shook her head. "No it's a single rider. Stay here, my children. I will see what's going on."
Isabelle rose from her seat and clambered out of her carriage, turning to see a rider dressed in black stopping before the coachman handing him a letter before quickly turning the back the way he came and galloped away. Whatever news was on the letter made the man sigh deeply. "What is it? What tidings did he bear?" Isabelle asked as the man clambered from the driver's seat, jumping down to approach her. "I'am sorry to have to tell you this my lady. But the king is dead, he died in the night of a sudden fever. The Duke as ordered me to tell you the contract is null and void, and I'am to leave you here, I'am sorry. But he has other plans." Isabelle's face gave nothing away, but inside she shimmered with rage. "So you are just going to leave us here, at the mercy of your countrymen like a coward?" The coachman held up his hands. "My lady, I answer to His Grace there is nothing more I can do for you. You are on your own." Behind her back, Isabelle had drawn her stiletto. "There is something you can do for me..." in a flash of steel, Isabela slashed her stiletto across the mans throat. A look of surprise on the mans face looked comical, as he pawed at the ruin of his throat blood streaming from the savage cut, collapsing to the ground. "Bastard. Did you really think, I would let you or your master get away with putting the lives of my daughter's in harms way." Isabelle spat on the man as he gargled his last on the path. The gargling had drew the attention of her daughter's, who quickly exited the carriage "Mother! What happened?! Why did you kill the coachman." Asked Esther as she and her sister looked down at the dead man. Isabelle knelt, wiping the mans blood on her blade on his sleeve. "The Duke as revealed himself treacherous." She started as she filled her daughter's in on the news. "Well shit! We got all dressed up for nothing, and on top of it we are not getting paid. Bugger it all!" Cried Katarina when her mother had finished, in a further fit of frustration, she took off her dress and slashed at the corset, taking a deep breath as the garment fell to the ground. "Now I can breathe again." Chuckling despite herself, Esther turned to her mother. "What now, mother? Do we go and kill the Duke, for his insolence?" Isabela shook her head, as she secreted her stiletto. "No, we are strangers in a strange land. My first thought is your safety, we need to go home. There will be other contracts, my girls." She added as she saw the looks of disappointment on her daughter's faces. Standing only in her stolen underclothes, Katarina placed her hands on her hips. "So a change in clothes is order, I assume?" She glancing down at her state of undress. Isabelle laughed despite herself. "Of course, a mother provides for her children. And I have an idea, come help me with the carriage."
30 minutes later
Beatrice Fuller, along with her two farmhands, Amelia Turner and Abigail Price, trundled down the road between her families farm and the Port of Dover their wagon laden with produce. At 21, Beatrice was the youngest of five children who made this journey to Dover every month to sell her families crops at the Port. Her family was by no means wealthy but had a comfortable existence working the fields praying to God for a bountiful harvest. She was an attractive girl with high cheekbones, slightly squared features and pale green eyes, her cheeks flecked with freckles that enhanced her good looks. Beatrice's long ginger hair, covered by a white whimple. She was dressed in a red buttoned tunic, under which she wore a long white dress and black buckled shoes. Amelia, a pretty brunette of 19 who sat next to her on the coach step directing the horses, was dressed in a simple outfit that consisted of a grey flax tunic over a dirty white smock, and brown leather cowhide shoes. A white whimple covered her knotted dark brown hair. Beatrice then glanced over to Abigail, seated in the back of the wagon, flashing her a smile. Abigail at 22, was an attractive strawberry blonde dressed in a brown sleeveless tunic over a white blouse, yellow skirt with an apron tied around her waist and black shoes on her feet. "Look mistress Beatrice. Ahead of us, there's a woman on the road! And a carriage?" Beatrice turned at the sound of Abigail's voice, to see a middle aged woman dressed in black running towards them. Behind her was an overturned carriage, with no horses and two bodies draped around it. "Please you have to help us! Highwaymen attacked us on the road! They killed the coachman and I fear for my daughter's!" The woman cried, her face full of panic. Beatrice turned to her farmhands."Come we have to help them." With that the three women clambered off the wagon and followed the woman in black. "One of my daughter's is in the carriage, I think she banged her head when the carriage overturned. And my youngest, she's just over there. Please help them!" The woman pointed over to a young woman dressed in red, laying prostrate near the rear of the carriage. Her face full of sympathy, Beatrice turned to her workers. "Amelia go over and help the girl in red, bring her around. Abigail, go over to the carriage see what you can do." As the two women nodded peeling away to help, the woman in black touched Beatrice on the arm. "The coachman! He was wounded in the attack! Come we may be able to help him." She said distraught, as Beatrice nodded in reply. "Lead the way, Madame." With that she fell into step, behind the woman.
As Abigail ran up to the carriage, tipped onto its side she couldn't help but feel sympathy for the woman and her family. Highwaymen were a constant threat on the roads, who wouldn't hesitate to attack three defenseless women and perhaps worse. Abigail clambered onto the carriage, peering over the side into the interior. "Hello, my lady? Where are you? We are here to help, the rogues are gone." Seeing no body, she got the feeling something was off, but before she could call back to Amelia, a young dark haired woman appeared from below. Dressed in nothing but her blouse and petticoat, the girl flashed her a smile before clamping an hand over her mouth. The last sensation Abigail felt was a sharp penetrating pain under her chin, with a sickening sound as Katarina Cordova pulled her body into the carriage. After wiping her bloody stiletto on her sleeve, Katarina slipped off the stolen undergarments then naked knelt by the dead girl and started to strip her. The assassin quickly stripped off the girls wimple, apron and shoes then after pulling down the blondes skirt, unfastened her sleeveless tunic, pulling the garment from her body. Katarina then removed the girls cheap blouse and petticoat, exposing the her slim attractive naked body, with full buoyant breasts with light pink circular areolas, a small clit crowned with a small triangle of blonde pubic hair and peach shaped pert ass. Standing over the dead naked girl admiring her body, Katarina quickly dressed in the peasants clothes, even copying her hairstyle and after she tied the apron around her waist, took a deep breath. "At least you weren't wearing a corset, thank you very much for your help, my dear. Your clothes are a decent fit." Katarina kissed her naked victim on the forehead, closed her still open blue eyes then quickly climbed out of the carriage leaving Abigail's corpses propped up in the carriage.
Amelia rushed to the side of the young woman in red, who lay prostrate on her belly not far from the rear of the carriage. "Hello, my lady? Are you alright?" She as she laid a hand on the girl's shoulder, feeling warmth. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, as she glanced over her body seeing no wounds nor was her dress torn. At least her honour is intact she thought as she turned the girl over. Amelia's eyes then shot to the 13 inch dagger clutched in her right hand, as the girls eyes shot open. "Well thank you for your help, my dear. I just need one more thing from you.." Before Amelia could react, the woman quickly rose up clamping a hand around her mouth, stifling her cry of surprise and betrayal then in a flash of steel Amelia felt the blade penetrate the side of her throat. The last she saw was the face of her killer, Esther Cordova lower her onto the ground closing her eyes forever. "Sorry, girl but needs must." The assassin said as she wiped Amelia's blood on her cuff, before using the blade to cut Sofia's dress, corset and undergarments from her body. Kneeling naked, and suppressing disgust of having to steal the clothing from a lowborn peasant, Esther began to to strip the girls corpse being careful not to sully the clothing with her blood. After removing Amelia's white whimple, grey tunic, white smock dress, petticoat and shoes, Esther got dressed in her stolen outfit standing over the young petite naked body of the farmhand. She admired the small but well developed breasts of the girl, with circular dark pink areolas her small vulva topped with a untrimmed smattering of dark brown pubic hair, and finally the plum pert young buttocks. "Ugh, peasants. Filthy and unwashed, we are truly desperate." Came the whispered voice of Katarina, as Esther copied the hairstyle of the girl, before tying on the whimple. "Well, at least you aren't wearing a corset." She gently teased her sister, as Katarina glanced at the naked corpse of Amelia laying on her side in the grass. " Almost a shame, they were pretty little things. I wouldn't have refused them." Esther nodded as she rolled the body onto its front. "Come on let's get her to the carriage, we will scatter the remains of the dresses around the carriage make them look the victims." Katarina smiled at the ingenuity of their mothers plan, as Esther placed her hands under the girls shoulders, resting on her breasts while Katarina took her legs. " I wonder how mother is getting on." She said as they lifted the still cooling corpse of Amelia.
As Beatrice ran with the woman in black, towards the front of the over turned carriage where the body of the carriage driver, she noticed that the horses were missing. "How long ago were you attacked, my lady." Beatrice asked as they rushed to the side of the stricken coachman. "About an half hour ago. They fell on us so suddenly and without warning. I did not expect this from English hospitality." The woman in black replied on the verge of hysterics. Beatrice stopped as they reached the body of the still coachman, laying a hand on the woman's arm. "Apologies, my lady. We have petitioned the king numerous times on clearing the rogues, but we received no reply. But rest assured that you and your daughters are in safe hands." The middle aged woman nodded a look of relief washing over her face, as Beatrice knelt by the coachman's body. "Wait this man's throat as been slashed, Highwaymen couldn't have done this?" She with surprise as she turned the man's body over, noting the thin gash across his throat. Suddenly she felt a hand clamp over her mouth, from behind. "Your right, my dear. It's the work of an assassin." hissed Isabelle Cordova as she stabbed Beatrice through the back of the neck with her stiletto. Her brief cry of betrayal muffled, as Isabella lowered her body to the ground beside the coachman. The senior Cordova wiped the little blood off her stiletto, onto her stolen dress before cutting herself free from the constricting dress and undergarments. Taking a deep breathe, the naked Isabelle stripped Beatrice's corpse. She removed the girls headdress, red tunic, white dress, shoes and finally her petticoat, leaving Beatrice completely naked. Isabella quickly got dressed in the dead girls clothes, admiring her slim attractive athletic body. Taking in her young, firm breasts with full light pink full areolas, small light pink clit crowned with a small strip of ginger hair and pert ass. Unlike her daughters, Isabella was not attracted to other women but still appreciated a beautiful woman. After she finished fixing the girls headdress, Isabelle picked up Beatrice's naked corpse flinging it over her shoulder and walked back towards her daughter's.
" Mother, her dress suits you." Esther smiled as she and Katarina carried the naked body of Amelia over to the carriage, watching their mother approach them with the naked redhead on her shoulder. "We all look the part of a peasant family, now. Let's conceal their bodies in the carriage, and spread the clothes around. Highwaymen will take the credit for our work, while we remain hidden in the shadows." Within five minutes, they had tossed the naked corpses of Amelia and Beatrice where they lay next to Abigail's and set the scene of a vicious robbery. Their work finished, the Cordova's clambered onto the peasants wagon. "Come my children, let's leave this nest of protestants behind and return home." Isabelle said as she lashed the reins of the horses, moving the cart around the overturned carriage, towards the Port of Dover and home.
One week later, the Tower of London 08:00am
John Dudley, once the Duke of Northumberland the Lord Regent of King Edward VI, languished in chains in his cell lamenting the collapse of his carefully laid plans and ambitions. He chuckled grimly, that God himself had plotted against him stealing the life of the young king before his assassins could complete their bloody work. Then his secondary plan, to put his puppet 17 year old Lady Jane Grey had also backfired. Queen for only nine days until Mary, eldest daughter of Henry VIII a staunch catholic despised her and put her to death, finally seizing her birthright. He took a deep breathe, knowing he would be soon for the chopping block. The sound of his cell unlocking, shook his thoughts back to the present as the door opened with a creak. There standing in the door, dressed in black clutching a Bible was the austere figure of Queen Mary Tudor, flanked by two yeoman warders of the tower. "My dear lord Dudley, here you sit ready to face God's justice." She paused to make the sign of the cross, before continuing. "And yet, your servant Bromley. Told me a great deal while he was on the rack. He spoke of a plot to oust my dearly departed brother, using portraits and catholic assassins. Is this true?" Too weak from days of torture, Dudley merely nodded. "Yes, my queen." Was all he could manage. Mary chuckled shaking her head. "And you protestants dear call us catholics treacherous. Well I shall seek out these Cordova's. I need good catholics to do the Lord's work." Another sign of the cross. "I will leave you, Dudley. To think on your sind before I send you to god's judgement. Farewell." With that Mary, departed from the cell as the Yeoman warders locked the door leaving Dudley alone. His chains rattled, body wracking in pain Dudley prayed for forgiveness or perhaps deliverance. Knowing neither will probably come.
The Cordova Estate, the Duchy of Bavaria 15th May 1554
"Madame Cordova and her daughter's will see you now, Herr Bromley. Please follow me." Came the voice of the young German herald, as Sir Phillip Bromley squire to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland fell into step behind him. He was already impatient had being kept waiting for the last hour, since his scheduled appointment was at two hours past noon. For the top assassins in Europe, these women were not punctual. Such rudeness! thought Bromley irritably as she swept his hand through his shoulder length black hair. Bromley had balked at His Grace's decision to use women for a man's job, but the Duke had assured him that the women had came highly recommended. Particularly for their unique talents in the art of disguise, and for discretion, skills that were sorely needed if this plot were to succeed. As he came to a large courtyard, the main audience chamber of the estate, there sat at a table dressed most unusually in a black leather armour set, was the 36 year old Madame the widow Countess Isabelle Cordova. She was flanked by her young daughters, similarly attired like men. " Sir Phillip Bromley, I presume? Please take a seat, we have business to discuss." Bromley sat at the table, to the gestured chair. Isabelle than turned her attention to her steward. "Hans, bring us the 1534 Tuscan Red. I'am sure our English guest will appreciate the vintage." The steward gave a stiff formal nod, as he swept from the room. Isabelle then turned her piercing blue eyes back to her guest. "So how may we be of service, to the English Court."
Bromley hesitated slightly, unsure on how to address these three women, he appraised them before he spoke. They were stunningly beautiful, all sharing the same familial features of high sculptured cheekbones, angular faces and piercing blue eyes. Their long jet black hair done in different styles, with the senior Cordova having her done up into an elegant style favoured by the Imperial court. Noting his interest, the Countess cocked her head. "Forgive my lack of manners at not being the proper host, these are my daughter's. Esther my eldest.." she gestured her head to the young woman on her left, her hair tied into an elegant ponytail. The girl gave the merest of nods, showing no respect. Isabella then gestured to her right, a girl with her black locks loose about her shoulders. "...and Katarina, my youngest." Bromley did a double take, when he realised they were twins. The countess smiled at his discomfort as she continued. "Forgive their lack of manners, my lord. I taught them to fear no man. Their father, my late husband made the mistake believing he needed to be feared. I soon corrected him." Bromley suddenly felt nervous, pulling at his ruff, seeing these women as the killers they undoubtedly were. As the steward returned, with a platter with a bottle of red wine, with three glasses. The man busied himself with pouring, as Bromley found his courage. "As per our previous correspondence, my lady. My master, the Duke of Northumberland is in need of your particular talents." He paused to take a glass of Tuscan, while the Cordova's took theirs. They each took a sniff of the wine, before sipping as the Countess gestured for Bromley to continue. "His grace desires the death of his sovereign, King Edward VI of England." The women paused, as they sipped their wine but for a second he thought he saw a smirk dance across the lips of the junior Cordova, as Isabelle merely smiled a smile that was cold as ice. "Killing a king? This will be first for us. Continue, My Lord Bromley." Bromley took a sip of his wine before he continued. "His grace as already arranged a secret union between the young king and the Duchess Sofia Corsini, of Tuscany. All through her portrait." The next woman who spoke wasn't Isabelle but the eldest daughter, Esther. "The Duchess is quite the match, and Catholic too. They must be desperate to secure the succession." Isabelle held up her hand to quieten her daughter, gesturing for Bromley to continue. "The Duchess and her entourage, her lady in waiting and governess, will be passing through the French countryside guided by one of His Grace's agents on the morrow. There they will be taken to a small roadside tavern, the Three Deers. The tavern itself is ran by three women, a mother and her two daughters." Bromley paused to take a sip of his wine, as Isabelle copied him. "So you wish us to first takeover the tavern, then intercept and replace the Duchesses entourage. What of the fates of the women?" She asked as she finished her wine, replacing it on the platter. Bromley took another sip, savouring the vintage. "The lives of the peasants mean little to the Duke, do with them what you will." Bromley noticed the girls smirking, noticing the Italian stilettos sheathed on their belts. "But the nobles are not to be harmed. His Grace believes that the Duke of Tuscany will make a future ally, the murder of his beloved daughter and her entourage would be considered impolitic." The smirks on the faces of the young girls quickly disappeared, replaced by looks of disappointment. Isabelle stood up as Bromley finished his glass. "And the payment? You agree to our standard fee of 10,000 pound each. Do we have an accord?" The countess said as she held out her hand, Bromley took it and shook it. "Yes. 10,000 pounds each for your service. Paid in full, once the king is dead." Isabella gave the merest of smiles as she released a surprisingly iron grip. "Pleasure doing business with you and His Grace. Please send him my regards, upon your return to England. Hans will see you out. Farewell, my lord." Bromley bade them all farewell, with formal bows of the English Court before he was led from the audience chamber. When he was gone, Isabelle turned to her daughter's. "Come my children. We must prepare and leave for France. We have a king to kill." She said as her daughter's laughed with menace.
The Tavern of the Three Deers, near the village of Bancourt Northern France, one day later. 20:00pm
Eloise Cousteau, wiped a dirty glass as she stood behind the bar of her tavern looking on as her two daughters Marie and Camille wiped the tables of the empty tavern. Eloise sighed at the empty tavern, lamenting another evening of lost business. At 42, Eloise had been widowed after her husband Claude had died from a sudden heart attack 3 years past, at the age of 48 leaving Eloise and the girls with the struggling tavern. Despite her age, Eloise had retained her youthful good looks. Her shallow cheekbones, rounded features and her pale green eyes, framed by curled shoulder length auburn were traits she had passed down to her youngest daughter, 20 year old Marie. Her eldest 21 year old, Camille had inherited her father's hazel eyes and straight jet black hair flowed down past her shoulders. Eloise was dressed this evening in a long flowing simple black dress, with a white bar apron tied at her waist which hugged her slim figure and buckled shoes. Something which thank God, she had retained even after giving birth to her two girls, the only lights in her life. Eloise looked over to them and smiled, they were both dressed in tight white frilled lace blouses that showcased their décolletage, long high waisted black skirts and buckled black cowhide shoes. Eloise knew that it was her daughter's that her patrons came to see, especially the men. And Eloise used every advantage to ensure she made as enough money as possible. It was all for her children after all, and besides perhaps one or both of them might get lucky and snare a man, they were not lacking beauty. The sound of the front door opening, drew Eloise's thoughts back to the present as three women dressed in black entered the Tavern.
" Bonsoir, mon amie, please come in take a seat and get the cold out. What can we get you?" Eloise snapped her fingers to call her girls to action, as her new patrons entered. On closer inspection, Eloise noted that they were attired strangely as men. The lead woman lowered her hood, before taking her seat at the bar. It revealed a young and pretty if lined face, and as the two other women behind her lowered theirs revealing a startling family resemblance, of piercing blue eyes and darkened hair, before they took their seats. The woman cocked her head, looking Eloise up and down as if sizing her up. "Are you all alone out here? I don't see anyone else." She asked her, her tone even. Eloise suddenly felt nervous, as she noticed the two younger women eyeing up her daughter's. "It's just us out here, your our first guests this evening." The woman merely smiled. "And your names? Madame? Yourself and your daughters?" The mysterious woman asked, as Eloise suddenly felt a trickle of fair run down her spine. " I'am Eloise Cousteau and my daughter's Marie and Camille. Why, do you ask, madame?" She replied with a mixture of fear and pride, the younger woman didn't rise from her seat, just fixed her with a cold stare. "Well you see, we are the Cousteau's. We just need to look the part." She turned to her daughters, the other figures in black. "Take them." With surprising agility, the two younger women pounced on Marie and Camille, drawing their stilettos in a flash of steel, stabbing them through the throats lowering them to the tables as they drowned in their own blood. Tears streamed down Eloise's face as she witnessed the brutal murder of her daughters, and the shocking scene as their killers were already stripping out of their black garments. "Don't worry, Madame. You will be joining them now." Said the woman, as she drew her stiletto stabbing Eloise in the side of her slender throat, swiftly sending her to the sides of her murdered daughters and husband. Her last sensation she felt, was being lowered to the bar.
Esther, eldest of the Cordova sisters had already stripped naked as she prepared to undress the dark haired tavern girl she had murdered. "It was a shame really, they were quite pretty little things. Still needs must." Came the voice of her younger sister, Katarina, who was already unbuckling the shoes of the dead red haired tavern girl. Esther smiled as she regarded her younger by five minutes sister, removing the shoes from her mark. "Good work, my children." The two girls looked from their stripping, to see their mother, Isabelle rise from her stool." Now, lets get them stripped and out of sight. The Duchess and her entourage will be here within the hour." She said as she wiped the blood on her blade from the tavern keeper on her sleeve. "I saw a well, outside the front. We dump the corpses in there, no one's the wiser." Replied Esther, as she turned the dead girl onto her front unfastening her skirt and pulling it down her shapely hips, exposing her petticoat. Isabella flashed a look of pride, as she walked around the bar stripping out of her black leathers. "Good eye, my daughter. I have taught you well. Now silence, we have work to do."
With that, Isabelle started to untie the apron from the dead waist as Esther and Katarina resumed their stripping of the daughters. Esther pulled down the brunettes petticoat, revealing a tight pert peach shaped ass and long divine legs which she stopped to admire. "The red haired girl is none too shabby either, very smooth like a peach Este." Said Katarina as she too admired the dead girls buttocks. "I like stripping French girls." She added with an air of nonchalance. Esther simply grinned, as she turned the dead brunette over taking a look at her small clit crowned with a smattering of black pubic hair. Stopping briefly to glance at her handiwork which left little blood around the dead girl's slender neck, Esther unlaced the white blouse opening it. "This one as a very nice pair of breasts, Kat." Remarked Esther as her eyes beheld the brunettes well developed breasts, with full perky dark pink areolas. Katarina paused in her stripping to take a glance. "Very nice! This one as slightly smaller, but still firm." Katarina gestured with her head, to the breasts of the redhead that were smaller but firm with small red perky areolas and a small red clit topped with a triangle of auburn hair. Getting back to her mark, Esther hoisted the half naked girl up slipping the lace garment from her shoulders letting the naked corpse flop back onto the table with a thud. A similar sound from behind her, informed Esther that Katarina had also finished. Both Cordova sisters got dressed in their stolen clothes, as they observed their mother slipping on the tavern keepers dress and apron, the woman's naked body draped over the bar next to her. When they were finished, Isabelle draped the naked woman over her shoulder and walked over to her daughter's. "Now we look the part, to the well." The two sisters picked up the naked corpses of the tavern wenches, draping them over their shoulders as they followed their mother to the well outside. Once there, they tossed the naked bodies of the tavern keeper and her children into the dark well, hearing three deep splashes at the bottom. Brushing her hands together, Isabelle turned to her daughter's. "Remember, prepare the sleeping draughts, the Duke wants the nobles alive." She ignored the disappointed signs of her children, particularly her youngest Katarina, as they walked back to The Three Deers. "And another thing, speak only French." Isabella Cordova said as they re-entered the tavern.
An hour later
"How much further is it to England, Claudia? We have been on the road for 5 days." Asked Sofia Corsini as she let out a frustrated sigh, sinking into the seat of the carriage. Her Governess, Claudia Rosetti fixed her with a stern stare one she had known for the last eight years. "Now, now Sofia. Remember your manners, the King of England won't appreciate such uncouth behaviour." Sofia turned to her best friend and lady in waiting Bianca de Medici, a pretty girl of 19 with high cheekbones, heart shaped features and pale doe shaped blue eyes, dressed in a fashionable dress of periwinkle that matched her eyes with a matching headdress. Expensive pearls graced her neck and ears . "Well, the news I heard is that the boy king is not long out of his grave. So we could have a wasted journey." Said Bianca as Sofia caught her eye, the remark only drew the ire of the governess. "Bianca! You are a bad influence on Sofia! I have a mind to have you sent back to Florence, with a strongly worded letter!" Claudia retorted, fixing Bianca with cold glance from her narrow emerald green eyes. The governess was a stern woman of 40, with sculptured cheekbones and angular features. Her face lined but still youthful and elegant. She was dressed austerely in a satin black dress, with a matching black headdress covering her light brown hair. Bianca let out a small little laugh. "You can try, sénora . My family is Florence. You think they will the word of some old woman, over mine a scion of the de Medici's, settle down pleb." Sofia let out another sigh, the constant bickering of the two women doing nothing to soothe her dark mood, as she caught her reflection in the carriage window. Widely considered one of the beauties of Europe, 20 year old Sofia had soft slender cheekbones, rounded features and light almond shaped hazel eyes. Her long jet black hair tied into an elegant court bun, under the red headdress she wore that matched her expensive red silk dress. She wore a matching gold ruby pendant, that rested above her breasts and gold earrings. "There's that tavern the coachman, told us about, The Three Deers. We stop here, take some refreshments and rest for night." The voice of Claudia, shook Sofia from her thoughts as the tavern came into view on the right hand side, off the road. The ladies prepared themselves as the carriage drew to a stop, next to a small well. "Remember your French lessons, ladies and represent your houses well. These are commoners, simple folk after all." As the coachman, opened the carriage door Bianca smirked. "A lot like you, my dear governess." Sofia sniggered despite her self, as Claudia shot the lady-in-waiting a stern look, clambering out of the carriage before the man closed it behind them. The little coachman, a servant of the Duke of Northumberland led the women towards the tavern door, opening it and beckoning them inside.
"Bonsoir mon amie, come in, make yourselves at home, ladies. My name is Eloise.." came the friendly voice of the tavern keeper, a pretty middle aged dark haired woman from behind the bar to their right. "...and these are my daughters, Marie and Camille." She gestured to young dark haired girls, who were both near identical, who nodded and smiled. "How can we be of service, to you." Eloise smiled as she busied herself with cleaning a clay cup. "Good evening, bar keep. Three cups of your finest wine and lodgings for the night, if you please." Replied Claudia as she approached the bar. "That would be 10 francs, please my lady." Eloise held out her hand. After paying for the drinks, the governess took her seat. "So what brings three pretty women, to my tavern so late at night." The tavern keeper asked as she busied herself with pouring their wine. Bianca chuckled as she made a glance at one of the tavern girls, her eyes scanning the woman's curves through her clothes. "This happens to be Her Grace, the Duchess Sofia Corsini of Tuscany. She's off to marry the King of England, a protestant if can believe it. I'am sorry bar keeper, but your daughters are very beautiful." Bianca's eye moved to scan the nearest twins cleavage, Camille if she remembered right. The girl flashed her a seductive smile, which caused both Bianca and Sofia to giggle and blush. "Bianca! Where are your manners! And stop staring, both of you!" Claudia admonished the two noble women, before turning to Eloise, red with embarrassment. "I'am sorry, bar keeper these girls have forgotten themselves. We don't mean to impugn on your hospitality." The tavern keeper merely smiled as she called over her girls, placing the cups on their trays. "I heard from travellers, that the king is quite handsome and young." Said Camille as she and her sister served them their drinks. Sofia gave Bianca a curious look, as she took the drink from the tray. "I really don't approve of this arranged match business, not when we should choose who we love." That drew a stern look from her Governess. "Sofia! It is your duty to your family and your lord father! You will marry the King of England. Stop showing us up in front of the common folk." The two young women sighed as the three drank from the cups. After five minutes, the three women began to swoon. "Wha..this is strong stuff..oh." slurred Claudia as she slumped forward onto the table. "Claudia..wha.." was all Sofia could manage before she collapsed sideways onto Bianca, knocking her off the bench. "Woah..easy..Sofia my lov.." Bianca said in a daze before she hit the floor with a thud. Soon all three women were sleeping soundly. With Sofia on top of Bianca. Esther knelt by the unconscious Bianca. "Out like three Venetian sailors who couldn't hold their drinks." Her sister approached the sleeping Sofia. "Looks like someone won't be marrying the King after all." Katarina laughed, as she caressed the girls face. Isabella smiled as she started to strip off her disguise, walking towards the sleeping Claudia. "Come my girls, let's strip them and don their clothing. Undergarments included. The king might die before we get our chance."
After she and Katarina had managed to lift the unconscious Sofia off her lady in waiting, Esther and her sister stripped off the clothes they had taken from the tavern girl. Now naked Esther knelt by Sofia, Katarina by Bianca then they began to undress them. They started by removing the womens headdresses, shoes and jewellery, copying their hairstyles. Turning the women onto their backs, the sisters unlaced their dresses then rolling them onto their fronts peeling off the dresses from their slim petite bodies. "Ugh! Corsets!? I hate wearing these things." Katarina made a vomiting sound, then glanced at her sister than her mother. "I'am sorry my daughter's I know you don't like them, but needs must. We need everything." Isabelle said, without taking her eyes off the unconscious Claudia whose corset she was in the middle of removing the governesses corset. Sharing a sympathetic look with her sister, Esther returned to stripping the duchess. Esther turned the unconscious Duchess onto her side, unlacing the corset then pulling it gently off her body as Katarina complained next to her. With the corset removed, Esther unfastened Sofia's blouse opening it out. "Beauty of Europe, indeed. Take a look at these, sweet sister." Katarina, who's mood was still dark perked up as she regarded the Duchesses fairly large buoyant breasts, with small circular pink perky areolas."Not bad, indeed. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those. I bet she did though." She added gesturing to the unconscious Bianca. "She's not too shabby, either." Esther took a glance at the smaller and firm breasts of the lady in waiting, with small rose petal light pink areolas, making an impressed sound. "Daughters, I know you are having fun but time is of the essence." Their mother said, as she removed the blouse of the governess exposing her smooth well rounded breasts with more fuller light pink areolas. Sighing, Esther removed the Duchesses blouse from her slender shoulders then pulled down her petticoat, from around her hips peeling them down her long divine legs. "Well the King of England, won't be getting any of that." Esther smirked as she regarded the Duchesses small clit, crowned with a thick trimmed strip of black pubic hair and peach shaped pert ass. Katarina chuckled as she glanced over, while pulling down Bianca's petticoat revealing her more fuller clit topped with a triangle of blonde pubic hair. With the three noble women, completely naked the Cordova's dressed in their clothing, including the jewellery. "Ugh! Now I'am going to have to hold my breath, all the way to England." Katarina moaned as she straightened Bianca's periwinkle dress. Ignoring her daughter's protests, Isabella now dressed as the governess, knelt by the naked woman, admiring the small clit crowned by a thin strip of brown pubic hair "Come let's bind them, and get them secured. We need to be away." Tearing the clothing they had taken from the murdered tavern family into strips, they bound the womens wrists, ankles and gagged them. Isabella then turned to the bar, seeing a small pantry behind covered by a sheet of cloth. "Come, we can hide them in there. By the time they are discovered, we will be well away." Taking the naked women under their arms, the Cordova's dragged them around the bar propping them shoulder to shoulder next to each other, against the wall. When they were finished, the assassin family left the tavern behind walking past the well were they had disposed of the Costeaus. Isabelle nodded once to the coachman, who nodded back as the women clambered into the carriage. "Come my children, let's kill a king." Isabelle smiled as she took her seat, drawing laughs from her daughters who she had nothing but love and pride for. With a snap of reins, the carriage trundled away from The Three Deers tavern, towards England.
Two days later. Near the Port of Dover. 09:00am
"Ugh! England! Full of protestants and not much else, how I hate this place." Said Katarina as their carriage trundled down the road from the Port of Dover, into the English Countryside. Their short sea crossing from the Pas-de-Calais, had only darkened the younger Cordova's mood. "Hush, Katarina..." cajoled their mother Isabelle, not ungently but playing her part of the governess. Katarina, disguised in the garb of the lady in writing, sighed as she sank in the seat of the carriage something that caused her great pain, because of the corset she wore. Esther laid a hand on her sisters shoulder. "Don't fear Kat, once we get to St James' Palace, the King will feel the sting of our blades and we will be back home in no time." Katarina turned to face her sister, and smiled but before she could reply, the carriage suddenly stopped. "What in God's name?!" Exclaimed Esther as Isabela held up her hand, to quieten her. "Shush, do you hear that, my daughter's?" The sisters swapped glances, nodding. "Hoofs. A rider approaches, are we discovered?" Esther nervously reached for her stiletto, concealed in her dress. Isabelle shook her head. "No it's a single rider. Stay here, my children. I will see what's going on."
Isabelle rose from her seat and clambered out of her carriage, turning to see a rider dressed in black stopping before the coachman handing him a letter before quickly turning the back the way he came and galloped away. Whatever news was on the letter made the man sigh deeply. "What is it? What tidings did he bear?" Isabelle asked as the man clambered from the driver's seat, jumping down to approach her. "I'am sorry to have to tell you this my lady. But the king is dead, he died in the night of a sudden fever. The Duke as ordered me to tell you the contract is null and void, and I'am to leave you here, I'am sorry. But he has other plans." Isabelle's face gave nothing away, but inside she shimmered with rage. "So you are just going to leave us here, at the mercy of your countrymen like a coward?" The coachman held up his hands. "My lady, I answer to His Grace there is nothing more I can do for you. You are on your own." Behind her back, Isabelle had drawn her stiletto. "There is something you can do for me..." in a flash of steel, Isabela slashed her stiletto across the mans throat. A look of surprise on the mans face looked comical, as he pawed at the ruin of his throat blood streaming from the savage cut, collapsing to the ground. "Bastard. Did you really think, I would let you or your master get away with putting the lives of my daughter's in harms way." Isabelle spat on the man as he gargled his last on the path. The gargling had drew the attention of her daughter's, who quickly exited the carriage "Mother! What happened?! Why did you kill the coachman." Asked Esther as she and her sister looked down at the dead man. Isabelle knelt, wiping the mans blood on her blade on his sleeve. "The Duke as revealed himself treacherous." She started as she filled her daughter's in on the news. "Well shit! We got all dressed up for nothing, and on top of it we are not getting paid. Bugger it all!" Cried Katarina when her mother had finished, in a further fit of frustration, she took off her dress and slashed at the corset, taking a deep breath as the garment fell to the ground. "Now I can breathe again." Chuckling despite herself, Esther turned to her mother. "What now, mother? Do we go and kill the Duke, for his insolence?" Isabela shook her head, as she secreted her stiletto. "No, we are strangers in a strange land. My first thought is your safety, we need to go home. There will be other contracts, my girls." She added as she saw the looks of disappointment on her daughter's faces. Standing only in her stolen underclothes, Katarina placed her hands on her hips. "So a change in clothes is order, I assume?" She glancing down at her state of undress. Isabelle laughed despite herself. "Of course, a mother provides for her children. And I have an idea, come help me with the carriage."
30 minutes later
Beatrice Fuller, along with her two farmhands, Amelia Turner and Abigail Price, trundled down the road between her families farm and the Port of Dover their wagon laden with produce. At 21, Beatrice was the youngest of five children who made this journey to Dover every month to sell her families crops at the Port. Her family was by no means wealthy but had a comfortable existence working the fields praying to God for a bountiful harvest. She was an attractive girl with high cheekbones, slightly squared features and pale green eyes, her cheeks flecked with freckles that enhanced her good looks. Beatrice's long ginger hair, covered by a white whimple. She was dressed in a red buttoned tunic, under which she wore a long white dress and black buckled shoes. Amelia, a pretty brunette of 19 who sat next to her on the coach step directing the horses, was dressed in a simple outfit that consisted of a grey flax tunic over a dirty white smock, and brown leather cowhide shoes. A white whimple covered her knotted dark brown hair. Beatrice then glanced over to Abigail, seated in the back of the wagon, flashing her a smile. Abigail at 22, was an attractive strawberry blonde dressed in a brown sleeveless tunic over a white blouse, yellow skirt with an apron tied around her waist and black shoes on her feet. "Look mistress Beatrice. Ahead of us, there's a woman on the road! And a carriage?" Beatrice turned at the sound of Abigail's voice, to see a middle aged woman dressed in black running towards them. Behind her was an overturned carriage, with no horses and two bodies draped around it. "Please you have to help us! Highwaymen attacked us on the road! They killed the coachman and I fear for my daughter's!" The woman cried, her face full of panic. Beatrice turned to her farmhands."Come we have to help them." With that the three women clambered off the wagon and followed the woman in black. "One of my daughter's is in the carriage, I think she banged her head when the carriage overturned. And my youngest, she's just over there. Please help them!" The woman pointed over to a young woman dressed in red, laying prostrate near the rear of the carriage. Her face full of sympathy, Beatrice turned to her workers. "Amelia go over and help the girl in red, bring her around. Abigail, go over to the carriage see what you can do." As the two women nodded peeling away to help, the woman in black touched Beatrice on the arm. "The coachman! He was wounded in the attack! Come we may be able to help him." She said distraught, as Beatrice nodded in reply. "Lead the way, Madame." With that she fell into step, behind the woman.
As Abigail ran up to the carriage, tipped onto its side she couldn't help but feel sympathy for the woman and her family. Highwaymen were a constant threat on the roads, who wouldn't hesitate to attack three defenseless women and perhaps worse. Abigail clambered onto the carriage, peering over the side into the interior. "Hello, my lady? Where are you? We are here to help, the rogues are gone." Seeing no body, she got the feeling something was off, but before she could call back to Amelia, a young dark haired woman appeared from below. Dressed in nothing but her blouse and petticoat, the girl flashed her a smile before clamping an hand over her mouth. The last sensation Abigail felt was a sharp penetrating pain under her chin, with a sickening sound as Katarina Cordova pulled her body into the carriage. After wiping her bloody stiletto on her sleeve, Katarina slipped off the stolen undergarments then naked knelt by the dead girl and started to strip her. The assassin quickly stripped off the girls wimple, apron and shoes then after pulling down the blondes skirt, unfastened her sleeveless tunic, pulling the garment from her body. Katarina then removed the girls cheap blouse and petticoat, exposing the her slim attractive naked body, with full buoyant breasts with light pink circular areolas, a small clit crowned with a small triangle of blonde pubic hair and peach shaped pert ass. Standing over the dead naked girl admiring her body, Katarina quickly dressed in the peasants clothes, even copying her hairstyle and after she tied the apron around her waist, took a deep breath. "At least you weren't wearing a corset, thank you very much for your help, my dear. Your clothes are a decent fit." Katarina kissed her naked victim on the forehead, closed her still open blue eyes then quickly climbed out of the carriage leaving Abigail's corpses propped up in the carriage.
Amelia rushed to the side of the young woman in red, who lay prostrate on her belly not far from the rear of the carriage. "Hello, my lady? Are you alright?" She as she laid a hand on the girl's shoulder, feeling warmth. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, as she glanced over her body seeing no wounds nor was her dress torn. At least her honour is intact she thought as she turned the girl over. Amelia's eyes then shot to the 13 inch dagger clutched in her right hand, as the girls eyes shot open. "Well thank you for your help, my dear. I just need one more thing from you.." Before Amelia could react, the woman quickly rose up clamping a hand around her mouth, stifling her cry of surprise and betrayal then in a flash of steel Amelia felt the blade penetrate the side of her throat. The last she saw was the face of her killer, Esther Cordova lower her onto the ground closing her eyes forever. "Sorry, girl but needs must." The assassin said as she wiped Amelia's blood on her cuff, before using the blade to cut Sofia's dress, corset and undergarments from her body. Kneeling naked, and suppressing disgust of having to steal the clothing from a lowborn peasant, Esther began to to strip the girls corpse being careful not to sully the clothing with her blood. After removing Amelia's white whimple, grey tunic, white smock dress, petticoat and shoes, Esther got dressed in her stolen outfit standing over the young petite naked body of the farmhand. She admired the small but well developed breasts of the girl, with circular dark pink areolas her small vulva topped with a untrimmed smattering of dark brown pubic hair, and finally the plum pert young buttocks. "Ugh, peasants. Filthy and unwashed, we are truly desperate." Came the whispered voice of Katarina, as Esther copied the hairstyle of the girl, before tying on the whimple. "Well, at least you aren't wearing a corset." She gently teased her sister, as Katarina glanced at the naked corpse of Amelia laying on her side in the grass. " Almost a shame, they were pretty little things. I wouldn't have refused them." Esther nodded as she rolled the body onto its front. "Come on let's get her to the carriage, we will scatter the remains of the dresses around the carriage make them look the victims." Katarina smiled at the ingenuity of their mothers plan, as Esther placed her hands under the girls shoulders, resting on her breasts while Katarina took her legs. " I wonder how mother is getting on." She said as they lifted the still cooling corpse of Amelia.
As Beatrice ran with the woman in black, towards the front of the over turned carriage where the body of the carriage driver, she noticed that the horses were missing. "How long ago were you attacked, my lady." Beatrice asked as they rushed to the side of the stricken coachman. "About an half hour ago. They fell on us so suddenly and without warning. I did not expect this from English hospitality." The woman in black replied on the verge of hysterics. Beatrice stopped as they reached the body of the still coachman, laying a hand on the woman's arm. "Apologies, my lady. We have petitioned the king numerous times on clearing the rogues, but we received no reply. But rest assured that you and your daughters are in safe hands." The middle aged woman nodded a look of relief washing over her face, as Beatrice knelt by the coachman's body. "Wait this man's throat as been slashed, Highwaymen couldn't have done this?" She with surprise as she turned the man's body over, noting the thin gash across his throat. Suddenly she felt a hand clamp over her mouth, from behind. "Your right, my dear. It's the work of an assassin." hissed Isabelle Cordova as she stabbed Beatrice through the back of the neck with her stiletto. Her brief cry of betrayal muffled, as Isabella lowered her body to the ground beside the coachman. The senior Cordova wiped the little blood off her stiletto, onto her stolen dress before cutting herself free from the constricting dress and undergarments. Taking a deep breathe, the naked Isabelle stripped Beatrice's corpse. She removed the girls headdress, red tunic, white dress, shoes and finally her petticoat, leaving Beatrice completely naked. Isabella quickly got dressed in the dead girls clothes, admiring her slim attractive athletic body. Taking in her young, firm breasts with full light pink full areolas, small light pink clit crowned with a small strip of ginger hair and pert ass. Unlike her daughters, Isabella was not attracted to other women but still appreciated a beautiful woman. After she finished fixing the girls headdress, Isabelle picked up Beatrice's naked corpse flinging it over her shoulder and walked back towards her daughter's.
" Mother, her dress suits you." Esther smiled as she and Katarina carried the naked body of Amelia over to the carriage, watching their mother approach them with the naked redhead on her shoulder. "We all look the part of a peasant family, now. Let's conceal their bodies in the carriage, and spread the clothes around. Highwaymen will take the credit for our work, while we remain hidden in the shadows." Within five minutes, they had tossed the naked corpses of Amelia and Beatrice where they lay next to Abigail's and set the scene of a vicious robbery. Their work finished, the Cordova's clambered onto the peasants wagon. "Come my children, let's leave this nest of protestants behind and return home." Isabelle said as she lashed the reins of the horses, moving the cart around the overturned carriage, towards the Port of Dover and home.
One week later, the Tower of London 08:00am
John Dudley, once the Duke of Northumberland the Lord Regent of King Edward VI, languished in chains in his cell lamenting the collapse of his carefully laid plans and ambitions. He chuckled grimly, that God himself had plotted against him stealing the life of the young king before his assassins could complete their bloody work. Then his secondary plan, to put his puppet 17 year old Lady Jane Grey had also backfired. Queen for only nine days until Mary, eldest daughter of Henry VIII a staunch catholic despised her and put her to death, finally seizing her birthright. He took a deep breathe, knowing he would be soon for the chopping block. The sound of his cell unlocking, shook his thoughts back to the present as the door opened with a creak. There standing in the door, dressed in black clutching a Bible was the austere figure of Queen Mary Tudor, flanked by two yeoman warders of the tower. "My dear lord Dudley, here you sit ready to face God's justice." She paused to make the sign of the cross, before continuing. "And yet, your servant Bromley. Told me a great deal while he was on the rack. He spoke of a plot to oust my dearly departed brother, using portraits and catholic assassins. Is this true?" Too weak from days of torture, Dudley merely nodded. "Yes, my queen." Was all he could manage. Mary chuckled shaking her head. "And you protestants dear call us catholics treacherous. Well I shall seek out these Cordova's. I need good catholics to do the Lord's work." Another sign of the cross. "I will leave you, Dudley. To think on your sind before I send you to god's judgement. Farewell." With that Mary, departed from the cell as the Yeoman warders locked the door leaving Dudley alone. His chains rattled, body wracking in pain Dudley prayed for forgiveness or perhaps deliverance. Knowing neither will probably come.
