Lord Beckett was pleasantly surprised with how long it took for Jacqueline to begin hinting that she wished to go out to sea. Beckett had always been intent on allowing her to go—he did not wish to break his promise, and he knew that it would be a significant step closer in making Jacqueline fall in love with him. But when the time came where she demanded that she be allowed to leave, he was hesitant. She could easily run off and never return, and Beckett could not lose her, not after all it took to finally have her.
"Your ship will be prepared to leave within the month," he told her.
But Jacqueline did not accept this. "I've been here for ages—I need to sail on the sea now. I'm dying on this bloody land."
Beckett nodded, attempting to appear understanding. "I can try to have your ship and crew ready to sail in a week."
"Tomorrow," Jacqueline said coldly.
Beckett looked at her in amazement, also noting that she was becoming increasingly angry. He had been working to sustain such a delicate balance with her all these months, and he could not afford to upset it now. He sighed. "That is very short notice…I can attempt to persuade everything to be ready in four days."
"Two."
Beckett opened his mouth to argue but was reasonably sure that Jacqueline would not accept any longer. "Two days," he agreed.
Jacqueline grinned in such a way that made Beckett suspicious. Surely she was not planning on leaving him forever. Better send someone loyal to me along, just in case…
Beckett grew even more skeptical of his wife's intentions during their farewell "activities." She seemed distant, the way she had been for the first few weeks of their marriage. Lord Beckett had thought that she had been thinking of Admiral Norrington—he knew that the two had had some sort of affair aboard the Flying Dutchman and that she had clearly been infatuated with him. But all thought of Norrington seemed to have vanished as time passed.
And, of course, Lord Beckett was never wrong. She was not thinking of Norrington, though Beckett was planning on killing that bastard one day for laying his hands on Beckett's wife.
But then whom was she thinking about?
Beckett cursed himself for being so damn paranoid and then chuckled at his foolishness. As if anyone could think of anyone else while in bed with him. He smirked.
O O O
James sat at the back of the tavern. The journey had been a long one to this port, but he did not care. His crew was becoming rebellious and he knew it, which is why he was grateful that Jacqueline had been wise enough to choose a port town with an abundance of gambling, rum, and eager wenches.
He had been there for nearly two days with no sign of Jacqueline or her vessel. He had not received any sort of communication from her since her wedding—it was silly to presume that she even remembered him, really. James was becoming increasingly worried that she had forgotten, or that Lord Beckett was going back on his promise to her.
Lord Beckett…James would kill that man one day for laying his hands on the woman James loved.
James was beginning to get quite annoyed with all the women in this town. While he was glad that they were successfully distracting his crew, he wished that they would stop tempting him. He had had only one woman in his lifetime, and he planned to keep it that way—particularly since he discovered that he was the first man to have her.
Bloody Lord Beckett… James thought, his hands clenched into fists.
James looked up as the door to the tavern opened, though he did not have to look to know who had just entered. He could feel her presence.
James closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart. He was so happy to see her, but did not wish to draw any attention to himself. His eyes remained closed, but he could feel her approach.
"Admiral Norrington?" James smiled softly at the sound of the voice as he opened his eyes.
Jacqueline was grinning at him, leaning across the table he was sitting at. His eyes swept over her body. She was in less than ladylike clothing, with a button shirt that was partially unbuttoned and revealed a great deal of her cleavage. "I have a proposition for you," she said with a wink.
James did not have to be asked twice to set down his rum and head upstairs to a private room with her. For that night, she was his.
Or perhaps, more accurately, he was hers.
The sun was rising. James watched the light of the room steadily increase as he traced Jacqueline's body tenderly with his finger. She was fast asleep; James had not slept a wink. After the two had managed to wear each other out the night before, Jacqueline had fallen asleep while curled up contently in James' arms. James had lie awake for some time before realizing that it was pointless to even attempt to sleep. He did not want to miss any time with Jacqueline, even if she was unconscious.
But more than that, he was preoccupied. His relationship with Jacqueline had been built upon their talks and the time they spent together. But they had spoken little and had no time together for many months. Had their relationship changed? Did she still feel the same as she had when she had written the letter that had kept James from ending his own life?
And how long would it be before he could see her again? And what about Jacqueline? How was her marriage? Was she in a living hell? Could James rescue her?
"What are you thinking about?" James jumped a little when Jacqueline spoke. She grinned and stretched before resting her head on one hand to prop herself up. "What's on your mind?"
"This isn't what I wanted…" James muttered. Jacqueline's face fell noticeably and James hurriedly altered his statement. "No, no that's not what I meant, I mean—this life isn't how I wanted it. You shouldn't be married to Lord Beckett, you should be…" He had been about to say "married to me" when he abruptly realized that marriage was not what Jacqueline wanted. "You should be free." James sighed and closed his eyes. "You shouldn't have to answer to him or sneak behind his back to do what you want."
Jacqueline sat up and kissed him before laying her head on his chest. "I know. I most certainly don't want to be married to Cutler either. I had little choice." She looked up at him. "Something else is bothering you."
James coughed and shifted a little uncomfortably. "It's nothing."
Jacqueline sighed, her breath tickling his chest. "Come on, James. I'm here to listen. Talk to me." When James said nothing, she added, "And I do so love the sound of your voice." She smirked slightly, so James was not entirely certain of her sincerity of that statement, but decided to answer anyway, as awkward as his response would be.
"I…well…" He coughed again. "You've been with Lord Beckett for a long time, and he is…experienced…" Jacqueline's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm just worried…how do…how do I compare?" Jacqueline bit back a grin as she considered him. James closed his eyes. "Stupid question, I'm likely bloody awful…"
His eyes flew open as Jacqueline suddenly rolled on top of him, straddling him and kissing him passionately. He moaned as he wrapped his arms tightly about her and held her close to him, their kiss deepening.
Jacqueline suddenly pulled away. "You're better."
"I'm just different," James muttered disbelievingly.
Jacqueline rolled her eyes. "You asked, I answered." She kissed him gently. "I enjoy you much more," she said with a grin. "Anyway, how would you 'know' that he was better unless you…" Jacqueline's face suddenly contorted into an evil grin. "Oh, God," she said with a laugh.
James stared at her blankly for a moment before the dreadful image of him and Lord Beckett in a bed suddenly surfaced. "Oh, God!" he exclaimed loudly. "What the hell…no…why—?" Jacqueline was still snickering at him. "Stop thinking about it." Jacqueline tried to appear innocent, but failed as she smirked at him again.
"I'm sorry…" she said with a giggle.
"I really don't want that image in your mind, Jacqueline." Nor mine James thought with disgust.
James gasped as Jacqueline unexpectedly lowered her head to kiss him. Her eyes fluttered as she gazed lustfully at him. "Then distract me," she whispered, a smirk tugging at her lips.
James was happy to oblige as he pressed his lips to her ear and then down her neck. "I love you, Jacqueline."
"I know," she answered quietly, a soft moan escaping her lips as James continued to brush his lips over her body. "I know…"
