Jack was humming softly as he finally straightened that one lock of hair that insisted on causing him grief by refusing to stay in the queue he had cleanly tied back. He stared at his own reflection and in a soft voice, "Governor. I know I'm merely a merchant here in your port. But I love your daughter and wish to ask for her hand in marriage." A soft snort and a shake of his head, turning and going into his bedroom, mumbling softly. He had only asked Chelsea earlier that day and now he figgered it would be a good time to make it formal.
"That's never going to work, m'boy," he said as he began pacing back and forth. "How 'bout this...Governor Tate. I have a deep predilection for your most gorgeous daughter, Chelsea. And I believe that we can fortify the bloodlines that you so desire in our -- " groan."Not bloody likely."
"Why not just ask the man, Jack?" his mother's soft voice carried over the now silence.
Jack looked up and at his mother and a sigh as he walked over to her. She stood in the doorway, leaning against the jam and that motherly smile. He was tall. But way too skinny. Seemed no matter what she did he wouldn't put on any meat on the bones. Same as his father. Jack leaned against the wall and smiled down at him mother. "You can't just go up to the Governor and say 'I want to marry your daughter', ya know, mum. You have to put it in a way he can't refuse." A wicked grin and a wink. "Or if he did it still sounds like he says yes."
She laughed and patted her son on his chest gently. "Well he'd be a bloody fool to say no to have a son-in-law such as yourself. But standing here and going over and over it isn't getting it done, Jackie. Why not go try it out on him. hm?"
Jack gave a kiss to her cheek and nodded, snagging his new leather tricorn hat from the hook on the wall. "I'll do that, mum. Right now. Don't wait up." and he dashed past her and out the door.
All the way up the hill he went over and over the incantation. Still needed work, but he didn't have time as he found himself standing on the stoop and ringing the bell.
He jumped a bit when the large door opened and the Governor's man-servant answered it, looking down his (rather large) nose at the young man. "Yes?"
Jack knew the man. At least from seeing him doing errands for the Governor and offered that winning smile as he tugged the hat off of his head. "Evenin', sir. I wanted to have a conference with the Governor, if you'd please. Something rather urgent I'd say."
"And who is calling?"
"Jack Sparrow."
The servant's eyes opened a bit wider and stepped aside to allow the young man to step in. Jack gave an appreciative nod and stepped into the foyer, marble floors and all. "Wow..." was all he could mutter under his breath as the servant commanded, "Stay here. I'll tell the Governor you're...here." And when Jack nodded, the man left to do precisely what he had to.
Jack stood in the foyer, hand holding the tricorn behind his back and humming softly, he walked over to a small table and fingers would trace over the petals of a rose. So soft. And a small smile would tug at the corners of the boy's lips. Like someone he knew. As Jack was lost in his reverie, he didn't hear the arrival of the Governor behind him.
A small man maybe by physical standards, but definitely not in pride or power. Tate had made it on his tenacity and ability to handle any situation. And the "situation" he saw now standing before him was one he didn't wish to bother with. But since his daughter had obviously proven herself unreliable and unable to care for herself. He'd make sure to take care of the latter soon enough.
"Mr. Sparrow."
The voice had a pitch to it that immediately told Jack of his distaste. The young man slowly straightened and with one hand behind his back he turned to face the Governor with a smile. "Governor...and how are you tonight?"
Tate didn't bother answering and stepped forward towards the young merchant. His eyes only verified what his voice belied. "What is it you want, Sparrow?"
Jack flinched inwardly at the harshness of the tone but this was something even the Governor wasn't going to scare him out of. He coughed gently to clear his throat and stood up straighter, looking the old man right in the eye. "Governor. I've come to truly express my feelings for your daughter and wish to ask for your permission to wed the lass. She has proclaimed on numerous occasions that she has often returned my affectionate feelings for me and I would greatly appreciate if you would be so kind as to gi -- "
Tate literally broke into laughter in the middle of it. "You want...want me to what?"
Jack blinked and tried to keep his demeanor calm. He knew this would be close to impossible...but he at least had the gall to do it the right way. "As I was saying, sir, I wish to ask for your daugh--"
But the laughter again overtook the hope of any decent conversation in the room. Tate literally was leaning on the table that held the small vase with the roses on it, shaking it roughly and threatening to knock it over. "Ooooh Sparrow, you are a character, indeed. And what makes you even think that I'd give such a 'blessing' as you call it?" And then as he straightened up and tugged at his jacket to straighten that as well, his empty footsteps echoed in the foyer as he stepped over to stand directly in front of the young man.
"I wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were on fire...Master Sparrow." he said quietly and with a steady angry glare, "Now get out of my mansion...before I have you arrested."
"Governor," Jack had to make one last try. "I know you don't care for me at all...and I can respect that. But if you'd only think of your daughter and her happiness. I can make good for her and you'd never have to worry. My family's not...rich. But we're not wanting for anything. Chelsea --"
"Chelsea doesn't know how to take an order let alone take care of herself, Sparrow! I gave her a direct command to tell you to disappear...for your own good. Obviously she believes she knows what's 'best' for her. Even at the risk of destroying her life with a...merchant." The last word spat out with enough venom to literally kill everyone in the port.
Jack blinked at the words as he listened. To tell you to disappear...That's what she had had to tell him this morning. But she didn't. She went against even her own father and...
Jack jerked himself back to the here and now and stared down at the Governor. And a most wicked smirk came to his lips. "Well then fine, Governor. Then I'd guess the game is on, eh? You want money and power for your daughter...I can get that as well. I'll bring that back to the table. I'll have everything you can possibly want for Chelsea." And his voice softened to an even more fearsome tone than the Governor's as he leaned closer. "And then I'll take her...and you won't be able to do a thing."
Tate blinked and a snarl escaped him. "Get. Out. NOW."
Jack backed away and slipped the tricorn back onto his head and a playful salute at Tate. Then with a flourish, he turned and headed across the foyer and out the front door leaving the Governor fuming and in a rage as the man stormed back into his office.
Jack breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he closed the front door of the mansion behind him and then a wave at the guard standing at the bottom of the stoop. "Evenin', mate. Fine job! Keep it up, there!" And a chuckle and he bounced around to the back of the mansion and finding Chelsea's window wide open, he grinned and picked up some pebbles and one by one tossed them into the room gently.
"Chel! Chelsea!" He whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
Chelsea heard the voice and the first pebble and dashed to the window, her grin brightening the night as she checked to make sure no guards were around. "Jack! What are you doing there?"
As an answer, he threw another glance around, dropping the pebbles and then getting a good grip on the lower branch of the large tree nearby and hoisted himself up, climbing the tree like a sure-footed cat until finally he was at her window.
"Sweetheart...you know I love you with all my heart. But according to your father I'm not worthy enough. So I'm going to prove to him I am. Then he can't say no to our nuptials. But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye or letting you know that I will be back."
Chelsea immediately felt the tears brimming in her eyes. "I couldn't tell you, Jack. He has no right to decide who I marry and he cannot tell my heart who to love. Please don't leave without me. I don't want to stay here." She was literally begging and one hand reached out, fingers closing in a fist on his shirt. "Please..."
Jack's heart broke hearing her pleas and he fought harder to keep the smile. "Tell you what, missy. I'll stay tonight and we can talk about what kind of wedding you want and everything you want. How's that?" And taking her hand in his, he hefted himself through the window and Chelsea fell into his arms, Jack hugging her tight.
"Don't worry, Chel. I'll be back. I promise." And a kiss to the top of her head but then he eased back and a finger under her chin to look into her eyes. Thumb would brush the few tears that had escaped away and he smiled. "But I think I promised we'd think happy and talk light for this night, hm?" Chelsea smiled just a small smile.
Not much more was said the rest of the night. But silent promises were made and love was proven.
And the next morning just after dawn, Jack awoke, eased from under his sleeping angel and quickly dressed. He went over to her desk, scribbling a note and then moving around and laying something in the center of another piece of parchment and wrapping that up, tying it with the ribbon from his hair he still had. He took the two to the bed once more, laid them gently on the small table, propping the folded note up against the other and leaned over, kissing her forehead once more. He straightened and headed for the window, a pause as he looked at her again and a smile once more.
"I'll be back, Chel. And you can always trust the word of a Captain..."