Chapter Two - Loneliness
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean belongs to Disney
Little William Turner was indeed a curious lad. Having been told numerous pirate stories from his mother, the longing to finally meet his father was so intense, that his young eyes lit up with excitement upon seeing such a man. He had been waiting for this very moment his whole life.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, was mortified. It was not what she had planned for the morning. Nor had she planned her son to walk in on her adultery. Blaming herself was inevitable, though she was not the only one to blame. Had Jack Sparrow not arrived on her doorstep unannounced the night before, the situation would have been avoided.
Jack found the situation entertaining. For one thing, Jack had no idea Elizabeth had such a pesky child in her care; who just like it's father, Will - happened to have impeccable timing. It was unfortunate that such an interruption had to take place.
Elizabeth draped the sheet around her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
"You should know better than to enter a room without knocking, William Turner. It's bad manners," Elizabeth scolded her young son.
"But there's a pirate in your bed! Can I meet him? Please, Mam? Is he my father? Did he come to meet me?--"
Out of bed, Elizabeth approached the boy and knelt down to his level. "Please give us time to freshen up. Play outside for a little while. We will be out shortly."
Hoping good behaviour will impress, William happily did as he was told. There was a skip in his walk as he closed the door behind him, humming the infamous pirate song 'A Pirate's Life For Me'.
Jack groaned and shoved a pillow over his head. "You failed to mention that, love," he said, his words muffled.
"Jack, why did you come here?" Elizabeth asked, slight resentment in her voice.
"Is it not enough to say I missed ye?"
Elizabeth lifted the pillow from Jack's head and tossed it carelessly to the wooden floor. "You and I both know that's not true. Did it not occur to you that I'm a married woman now?" Yet she too, had forgotten the sanctity of marriage and the fact she was a part of it.
"That, love, is not the matter of the issue. Ye couldn't resist…"
She was done denying his accusations. She knew very well they were true. And he certainly knew it too.
Elizabeth was torn inside. "What of Will? If he finds out-- I-- I don't know what I would do."
"Not to worry, love, said secret is safe with me," Jack replied with a grin.
Whether Elizabeth trusted him or not was another story. Due to their rocky history, she was not certain where she stood with Jack, and hoped trusting him was the right choice. She couldn't bear to imagine the look on her husband's face upon hearing of such bad news. There was no doubt Will would be devastated, as would she. But would it really be that bad? Elizabeth scolded herself. How could she think such things?
Elizabeth hurriedly threw on her robe and headed towards the door. "You have to leave."
It was his presence that unnerved her. The way he could easily entice her with very little effort always won her over. Her stomach tied in knots over the way he lay in her four-post bed; the same bed which she and Will never had the chance to consummate. Once again, Jack Sparrow had Elizabeth Turner forgetting her responsibilities.
"Everything alright, deary?" Jack flashed a golden smile and tapped the bed beside him in an attempt to lure her back into the previous activity - before they were rudely interrupted.
Elizabeth dared to look at him. "No, please. You have to go. You had no reason to be here in the first place."
"Ah, well… I was on the verge of getting to that…" Jack began. "Ye see, due to circumstances of an immoderate nature, all of which have nothing whatsoever to do with me…"
There was a pause, as if for an intentional moment of suspense on Jack's behalf. Elizabeth tapped her foot impatiently.
"The Pearl is - once again - gone," Jack stated, a grim look on his face.
"Again!?"
Jack grimaced at Elizabeth's sudden outburst.
"Aye. Again. 'Tis regretful on all accounts, yet... I've a proposition for you."
She knew exactly what he was about to ask. "Jack, do you really think I'll let you stay here after what happened last night?"
"Why should you not? I've already spent one night here because of what occurred last night. There be no need to change your mind now, eh? I see no inconvenience with this arrangement..."
Elizabeth could think up a thousand reasons to deny his request, yet a thousand more to agree. Long since losing her kind-hearted father, brave James Norrington, and her beloved Will, she yearned desperately for company. Her life as a solo mother was dull, lonely and challenging. No one was there for her anymore...
And then there was Captain Jack Sparrow.
To Be Continued...
