Queen of Swords

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Page Three...Tessa washes up on the beach, kicks some serious bad guy butt, steals a horse, and makes her way home.
Colonel Montoya decides to throw a ball in Dr. Helm's honor to flush out the Queen of Hearts. Knowing she's been wounded, he thinks she will either not show up or at least will betray herself at the party.

"It's the boorish guest who arrives late to his own party."
"and it's the poor host who points that out."
"I stand corrected. Forgive me, it's just this Queen of Swords mess. She's a vigilante who steals my gold in the name of the people and keeps it all herself." "I've heard she's quite a legend around here, Luis."
Dr. Helm doesn't mingle so much as do military reconnaissance, and Montoya seems to notice this.

"She's killed more men than... Napolean." Montoya watches Helm's reaction to the name. He suspects Robert is a soldier...and that accent has "Waterloo" all over it. Dr. Helm does another turn at being charmingly inscrutable. Too bad for the single party goers who might wish he were way more scrutable. Marta rushes forward and wraps a shawl around Tessa, saying it's cold. She whispers to Tessa that the wound is bleeding through her gown.

Grisham relays the news that the Queen has survived her dive from the cliff. Montoya scans the crowd, and sees... the blood on the wall where Tessa was leaning. Aha! The Queen is here somewhere. Montoya orders his guard to seal the building. He calls the party to attention. "Someone here is injured, but luckily we have our new doctor who will graciously and tenderly treat their wound.

What are you up to, Luis?
The Queen of Swords is here and she is injured. Just play along.
Geez, Luis, do I look like a party favor? Come, come, I take it the injured party has not come forward out of modesty. Come, Doctor, a woman is injured and needs your assistance. Surely the husbands cannot object to the hands of another man, if they belong to a physician. // Right, Luis. We're going to play a little droit de signeur are we?

The ladies queue up enthusiastically, all but Tessa, who can't leave with all the guards blocking the exits. She moves closer in the line. Helm's calming and gracious apologies to the other women only add to the suspense. Finally, she's at the head of the line.
Senorita Alvarado, we meet again.

Marta grabs a wine glass and waits. Helm looks straight at the spot where Tessa's wound is bleeding, says nothing, and extends his hand without reaction. Marta breaks the glass in her hand and screeches, running forward.

Forgive me. I know the servants are not aloud to drink, Colonel, but the night was so lovely. Helm begins to usher Marta away. Montoya says there is no need.
"As I said, Luis. I am the doctor." They do a momentary duel of stares and Helm leaves. Montoya is left to give Tessa an invitation to dance.

Next, Dr. Helm makes a house call and reveals a shadowy past.

	*click on pics for 800 X 600*	*Page Three...Tessa washes up on the beach, kicks some serious bad guy butt, steals a horse, and makes her way home.* Colonel Montoya decides to throw a ball in Dr. Helm's honor to flush out the Queen of Hearts. Knowing she's been wounded, he thinks she will either not show up or at least will betray herself at the party.

*"It's the boorish guest who arrives late to his own party."* *"and it's the poor host who points that out."*	*"I stand corrected. Forgive me, it's just this Queen of Swords mess. She's a vigilante who steals my gold in the name of the people and keeps it all herself."*	*"I've heard she's quite a legend around here, Luis."* *Dr. Helm doesn't mingle so much as do military reconnaissance, and Montoya seems to notice this.*

*"She's killed more men than... Napolean." Montoya watches Helm's reaction to the name. He suspects Robert is a soldier...and that accent has "Waterloo" all over it.*	*Dr. Helm does another turn at being charmingly inscrutable. Too bad for the single party goers who might wish he were way more scrutable.*	*Marta rushes forward and wraps a shawl around Tessa, saying it's cold. She whispers to Tessa that the wound is bleeding through her gown.*

*Grisham relays the news that the Queen has survived her dive from the cliff. Montoya scans the crowd, and sees...*	*the blood on the wall where Tessa was leaning. Aha! The Queen is here somewhere. Montoya orders his guard to seal the building.*	*He calls the party to attention. "Someone here is injured, but luckily we have our new doctor who will graciously and tenderly treat their wound.*

*What are you up to, Luis?* *The Queen of Swords is here and she is injured. Just play along.* *Geez, Luis, do I look like a party favor?*	*Come, come, I take it the injured party has not come forward out of modesty. Come, Doctor, a woman is injured and needs your assistance.*	*Surely the husbands cannot object to the hands of another man, if they belong to a physician. // Right, Luis. We're going to play a little droit de signeur are we?*

*The ladies queue up enthusiastically, all but Tessa, who can't leave with all the guards blocking the exits.*	*She moves closer in the line. Helm's calming and gracious apologies to the other women only add to the suspense.*	*Finally, she's at the head of the line.* *Senorita Alvarado, we meet again.*

*Marta grabs a wine glass and waits.*	*Helm looks straight at the spot where Tessa's wound is bleeding, says nothing, and extends his hand without reaction.*	*Marta breaks the glass in her hand and screeches, running forward.*

*Forgive me. I know the servants are not aloud to drink, Colonel, but the night was so lovely.*	*Helm begins to usher Marta away. Montoya says there is no need.* *"As I said, Luis. I am the doctor."*	*They do a momentary duel of stares and Helm leaves. Montoya is left to give Tessa an invitation to dance.*
		*Next, Dr. Helm makes a house call and reveals a shadowy past.*