Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended. This is just a tribute.


Thank you to my beta willowbae, the most loyal Pirate Jake fan of all :)


Chapter 4.

Moonlight

When a quiet knock came at the cabin door that evening, Lady Renesmee was ready and waiting. She was immaculately dressed in the golden gown, and was also wearing her sable lined cloak, to protect herself from the cold night air. On her feet was a pair of dainty satin shoes, embroidered with tiny seed pearls.

Miss Weber had dressed Renesmee's hair beautifully, twisting her ruddy locks into thick coils, which she then pinned to her crown, whilst allowing a number of silky ringlets to cascade down one side of her neck onto her smooth white shoulder.

Miss Weber regretted the loss of the elegant combs, which had fallen out of Lady Renesmee's hair when she was in the sea, but she was pleased to discover that the rest of her mistress's hair ornaments were still safely in her luggage. Including a delicate golden comb, decorated with pearls. When she spotted the comb, Renesmee insisted that Miss Weber place it in her hair.

"This would look very well with the dress." She lifted the ornament and gave an emphatic nod.

Miss Weber was not convinced. "Miss Renesmee, it might be stolen." She reminded her mistress.

Lady Renesmee rolled her eyes. "If they want to, these men can take everything we have. It won't make any difference what I wear, Angela."

Miss Weber muttered something about not trying to make it easy for them, but Renesmee just ignored her and sat still, while Miss Weber placed the golden comb in her hair. When her maid had finished, Renesmee glanced into her hand mirror and was satisfied with the results. No one could say that she looked as if she was afraid – well not yet, anyway.

When the knock came, Miss Weber answered the door and found Ben waiting patiently in the corridor.

He bowed. "I've come to escort her Ladyship to the captain's quarters."

Miss Weber narrowed her eyes and stepped aside, as her mistress came to the door. Renesmee gazed coolly at Ben. "I would like to know if my maid will be given something to eat, since I will not be dining here."

"Of course," he replied politely. "Her dinner is being prepared at this very moment. It will be brought up as soon as it is ready, my Lady."

Lady Renesmee nodded. "Thank you." She then followed him out of the cabin, giving Miss Weber a wry smile as she passed. "Don't worry, Angela. I will scream loudly, if anything happens."

This remark was almost enough to make Miss Weber grab hold of Renesmee and refuse to let her go, but before she could do any such thing, the girl had swept out of the door.

Ben led Lady Renesmee through the Rabbit's narrow, wooden passages. They encountered no one on their short walk, but they could hear the loud voices of the crew, coming from the galley and the lower gun deck. When they reached their destination, Ben opened the door and stood back, allowing Renesmee to pass through. She took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.

The captain's quarters were very mellow and inviting. The dining room was warm, and lit by a low lamp, which cast a soft light over the scene and made the panelled walls glow. The table had been set for two and gleamed with polished silverware and crystal. Everything was ready for dinner, but the captain was nowhere to be seen.

Lady Renesmee glanced around her in surprise. "Will I be dining alone?"

This prospect made her even more nervous than the idea that she would be eating with the captain. She felt as if she had walked into an elaborate trap and could not quite manage to disguise her anxiety. Ben spoke reassuringly.

"No, my Lady. The captain has been slightly delayed; the quartermaster had some urgent business to discuss." Something in his expression caught her attention; she could have sworn that he was trying not to smile. But then he added with perfect composure. "The captain sends his apologies and promises that he will be joining you shortly. Until then, please make yourself comfortable, my Lady."

With these words, he quietly bowed himself out of the room, closing the door and leaving Renesmee alone. She stood for a moment, feeling slightly awkward, but then pulled herself together and removed her cloak, laying it on one of the chairs, before crossing over to the window. The curtains were drawn, but she pulled them aside and peered out. Pressing her hands against the glass, she gazed into the night.

The weather was milder than it had been during the afternoon, the wind had dropped and the clouds cleared enough to reveal a bright moon. Thousands of sparkles danced across the surface of the black water, reflecting its silver light. Lady Renesmee was still leaning against the glass, watching the sea, when the captain finally arrived.

He had managed to extricate himself from his conversation with his disapproving quartermaster, and quietly entered the room. He caught sight of his guest, standing with her back to him, staring out of the window, and he stopped short. She was not aware of his arrival and tilted her head to look at the moon. The captain watched her for a moment, before closing the door. Renesmee instantly turned her wide eyes towards him.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you?" He asked, gazing down at her lovely face.

She moved away from the window and spoke determinedly. "No, not at all."

Lady Renesmee was reluctant to expose any weakness in front of the captain and pointedly ignored his slightly sceptical expression. He understood how much courage was required for her to remain so composed, and had to work hard to conceal his admiration. He tried to make things slightly easier for her by stepping forward and offering her his arm.

"Won't you be seated?"

Having previously experienced rather more rough and ready treatment from him, Lady Renesmee was surprised by this sudden show of politeness, but she did not question it. Instead, she gently placed her hand on his forearm and let him lead her to the table. Even through the thick sleeve of his jacket, she could feel the hardened muscles of his arm, and just as before, she noticed the warmth that seemed to radiate from him.

The captain pulled out her chair, and once she was seated, he draped her cloak over the back of it. She thanked him with a shy smile, and as she glanced at him, she suddenly registered that he was very well dressed. His attire was far more formal than it had been when he was plundering the Cruiser. She was surprised to see a buccaneer wearing such immaculately tailored clothes.

He was wearing a perfectly fitted jacket, made of a heavy black silk, decorated with black braiding at the cuffs and lapels, and rows of silver buttons. He wore the jacket over a black waistcoat, and a crisp white shirt and cravat. His trousers were also black, as were his polished knee-length boots.

The sharp cut of his clothes accentuated his broad shoulders and strong physique. She noticed that he was still wearing his sword. It was lucky that he moved with a great deal of natural coordination, because it would have been easy for a man of his size to be unwittingly clumsy and hulking. His hair was tied into a neat ponytail and Lady Renesmee had to admit – but only to herself – that he was a very handsome fellow.

The captain sat down on the opposite side of the table, and caught sight of Renesmee's thoughtful expression. He raised his eyebrows and threw her a teasing smile. "Was there something you wanted to ask me, my Lady?"

She looked up in confusion and tried to think of a sensible reply. The best she could produce was. "Is that why they call you the Black Pirate?"

"Is what why?" He gave her a quizzical look.

"Because you like to wear black?" She blurted out.

Even as she said the words, she realised how stupid they sounded. Her eyes fell and she blushed with mortification; the captain would think that she was a complete idiot. Fortunately for her, he understood perfectly well that it was nervousness, not stupidity, which had caused her to ask this slightly silly question. So, despite his love of the absurd, he decided to take pity on her.

He poured her a glass of wine and answered lightly. "I suppose so."

Her eyes flew to his face. She was not sure if he was joking, but he did not appear to register her misgivings and continued speaking in a casual manner.

"They also call me Black Jake, probably for the same reason. But most of the time it's just Captain, which is slightly less creative. You're welcome to call me by of any of those titles, my Lady. Or make up your own – if you prefer – I have no doubt that you could think of a very imaginative name for me."

His wry smile made it extremely clear that he did expect her to invent a very complimentary one. She was spared the embarrassment of answering him, because at that precise moment Ben appeared with their dinner. He laid a number of elegant dishes on the table and served them both, before making a discrete exit. Ben's departure suddenly made Lady Renesmee feel acutely aware of the fact that she really was going to be spending the whole evening alone with the captain.

She had spent a lifetime being strictly chaperoned and would never have dreamt of dining alone with any man, let alone a pirate. It did not help that the crew of the Cruiser had regaled her with tales of his more audacious exploits, and a number of these sprung to mind as she watched him.

She started to feel slightly uncomfortable and took a fortifying gulp of wine. The captain noticed her nervous fidgeting and gave a thoughtful frown. A moment later he opened his jacket and reached inside. Lady Renesmee watched him apprehensively and caught sight of the silver dagger, which was strapped to his side. He pulled the dagger from its sheath and leaned across the table, placing it in front of her.

"Feel free to use this, if I do anything to offend you, my Lady."

Her eyes flew wide with surprise. The captain was actually giving her permission to stab him if she wished. Her natural honestly forced her to admit.

"I don't know how to."

This remark made him smile and he reached out to her. "Here, like this." He lifted the weapon and took a light hold on her hand, closing it around the carved handle.

His hands were so large that hers were completely enclosed by them. She caught her breath at the warmth that shot though her hand under his touch, and threw him a swift glance, but he seemed to be concentrating on positioning her fingers correctly. When he was satisfied that she was holding the dagger in the proper way, he looked up and met her soft gaze.

He gently pulled his hand away. "Now all you have to do is decide where to strike."

Renesmee gave him a small smile and shook her head. "I hope that there will be no need to do so, Captain."

"I value my life, so I will try not to provoke you."

She smiled a little more widely and turned her attention to the silver weapon in her hand. It was a beautiful dagger, with a sharp steel blade and polished hilt. On closer inspection, she noticed a crest embossed in silver at the top of the handle, carrying the initials 'J.B.' and above them a red shield bearing the head of a wolf.

"A wolf?"

"Wolves appear on the crests of many of our families. They are a noble symbol on La Push."

She glanced up in surprise. "Noble?"

She wondered if this was the captain's family crest. Who was he? He was certainly not an uneducated, or uncouth, person. She was suddenly curious as to his family connections. He seemed to read her mind because he gave a broad grin.

"I stole it."

"Oh!"

"It's what I do," he added, by way of an explanation.

At this point she remembered her jewels and stiffened resentfully. "I know."

The captain smiled appreciatively at her. He had been amazed by her loveliness when he first entered the cabin, but as she glared at him, with an angry flush on her cheeks and sparkle in her eyes, she took his breath away. She was truly the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen. He resisted fixating on the way the soft light made her skin glow, or the fullness of her red lips, and answered mischievously.

"There now, aren't you glad I gave you that dagger, after all?"

His mocking words gave her a sudden desire to actually use it, but instead of stabbing him, she dropped the weapon on the table and glared back defiantly.

"No."

He smiled without concern, and picked up his knife and fork, and began to eat. For a moment, she was almost tempted to refuse her food, but then she realised that it would only look childish if she was to do such a thing, so she followed the captain's example and tried to eat some dinner. It was unfortunate that despite her best efforts, she was too unsettled to do much more than pick at her food.

The captain watched her struggling to eat for a few minutes, before he spoke. "Would you like some more wine?"

She shook her head and met his dark eyes. "No, thank you."

"I have to say, that is a very beautiful dress, my Lady."

She was surprised by this unexpected compliment, but she was not sure if he was still just teasing her, and so she thanked him in an uncertain voice. He narrowed his eyes and added thoughtfully.

"Yes, it is very beautiful. But it seems to be missing something…"

Lady Renesmee bristled defensively, this remark confirmed her suspicions that the captain was just laughing up his sleeve, and she did not like it. Biting her lip, she glanced away and refused to answer. But he was not to be deterred; he just continued speaking in a mildly taunting tone.

"Hmmm… what could it be?" She was shocked to discover that her fingers were itching to reach for the dagger again, but before she could yield to this very unladylike impulse, he suddenly exclaimed. "Of course...!" Her eyes flew to his and he gave her a wide smile, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a familiar leather pouch. "You're missing these."

Renesmee could hardly believe her eyes as he passed her the pouch, it seemed too good to be true. She took it gingerly and glanced inside. On catching sight of its contents, she gave a gasp of pleasure and relief.

"My jewellery!" She stared at him in astonishment. "I didn't think that I would see any of it again."

His expression changed, becoming unexpectedly serious, as he leaned forward and spoke in a low tone. "I have no desire to steal from you, Lady Renesmee."

Renesmee hardly knew how to reply as she met the captain's dark eyes. They held an expression that she had seen once before, when he saved her from drowning. He had looked at her with that same intensity, his gaze holding a depth of feeling which cut through all her defences and went straight to her heart. Yet again, she felt as if she was being flooded with heat and found it almost impossible to look away.

"Thank you…" she whispered, finally dropping her gaze.

She hurriedly slipped the leather pouch into the large pocket of her cloak, before turning back to the table with lowered eyes.

"Please… won't you eat something now?" The captain spoke quietly.

His guest was surprised to detect a note of concern in his voice; she glanced up quickly and saw his worried expression. She felt that since he had just made a major concession by returning her jewels, eating her dinner was the very least she could do. She lifted her fork and forced herself to take a bite. He watched her closely as she chewed and swallowed the food.

As she ate, the captain tried to distract her from her nerves by asking her questions about Forkland. This was a wise move and her eyes lit up as she described her homeland. She spoke of a large island exposed to a harsh climate. Forkland was known for its wild moorland and barren, rocky coasts, and it was clear from the way in which she spoke that Renesmee loved her home.

Her grandfather's castle was an aged stone fortress, built high on the cliffs, overlooking the capital city and the sea. Renesmee talked of how she had spent her whole life watching the ships coming and going from the port below. The captain asked her if this was her first sea voyage and she shook her head.

"No, I have made several trips before, but this is my first journey to Sol Duc…" her voice trailed off and she looked slightly embarrassed.

She thought that it might seem a little strange that she had never visited her father's family before, and did not know how to explain the estrangement between her parents. It was not a subject that she felt very happy to speak of; she did not like to confess how deeply the failure of their marriage pained her.

It was lucky for her that the captain was already familiar with the story of Lord Edward de Cullen's youthful marriage. He noticed how uncomfortable his guest looked when she tried to explain why she had never visited her father's home, and was surprised to discover how immediate her pain felt to him, almost as if it was his own. He instantly turned the conversation to a milder topic and told her about La Push.

Lady Renesmee was very interested to hear him speak of his country. She knew very little about the island, the Quileutes were not fond of outsiders and did not welcome travellers, which meant that none of her friends had actually been there.

He described a very different landscape from Forkland, for although La Push also had a rainy, maritime climate; much of it was overgrown with thick forests, rather than moorland. The only similarity seemed to be in the relationship that their people had with the sea. Being islands, both Forkland and La Push had very nautical histories. Sailing was the only way in which they could reach the outside world.

The captain did not tell her much about himself, keeping his observations restricted to generalities, rather than specifics. But what he did say was interesting enough to absorb his listener. Renesmee was amazed when she glanced down at her plate and saw that she had finished her dinner. The captain noticed that she had managed to eat and was very relieved.

He smiled and lifted the lid from one of the silver dishes on the table. "Would you like to try one of these?"

She glanced at the dish and he could tell, by the way that her face lit up, that she had a weakness for crystalized fruit. He pushed the sweetmeats towards her and she thanked him, and looked down at the selection, before delicately lifted a cherry from the dish. He had to repress a smile as she critically inspected the fruit before popping it into her mouth.

He assumed that she approved of its flavour, because with his encouragement, she helped herself to another. The captain watched in awe as Renesmee worked her way through the whole dish of crystalized fruit. He had not previously though that such a slender girl could eat so much, and he sincerely hoped that she was not going to make herself sick.

But she seemed to be suffering from no ill effects when she glanced at the empty dish. "Those were very nice."

"I'm glad you enjoyed them." He spoke with a straight face, but his eyes were alight with laughter as he caught sight of her guilty expression. "They came from La Push."

"Oh…"

Renesmee glanced bashfully at the captain. She was shocked by her own greed. Somehow, between his friendly conversation, and the fact that they were by far the most delicious crystalized fruit that she had ever tasted, she had got completely carried away. She could feel her cheeks burning as she blushed.

The captain noticed her flushed countenance. "It's very warm in here. Would you like some air? We could take a turn on deck."

She was pleased by his suggestion and happily agreed to it. She was feeling a little hot and thought that some fresh air would do her good. It was also reassuring to her that the captain was not determined to trap her in his cabin.

They left the table, and the captain placed her cloak around her shoulders and led her up on deck. As she stepped into the open, Renesmee was glad to feel the cooling night breeze fanning her cheeks. The wind had dropped and the sea was much calmer than it had been during the afternoon. The Rabbit's deck was very peaceful, only the night watches were present. The rest of the crew were below, and she could hear snatches of song drifting up from the gun deck.

The captain glanced down at Lady Renesmee and offered her his arm. She smiled and slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead her across the lower deck and up onto the quarterdeck. Only a few lanterns hung on deck, and these were not bright enough to obscure the view of the night sky, especially on the darkened quarterdeck.

They strolled to the ship's rail, overlooking the stern, out of sight of the two night watches. It was a beautiful night, and now that she was on deck, Renesmee had the chance to appreciate the view that she had only glimpsed from the captain's window. The moon was nearly full, and so bright that it threw a path of glistening silver light from the very edge of the horizon, all the way to the ship's hull.

There were still a few clouds in the sky, which occasionally drifted across the moon, but they could not obscure the shining orb, even when they did. Lady Renesmee stood quietly beside the captain, resting her hands on the rail, watching the moon and listening to the sound of the gentle waves, lapping against the stern. She noticed that her companion was very silent and glanced up at him with curiosity.

He was not looking in her direction, his eyes were fixed on the sea and his expression was thoughtful, and surprisingly serious. Realising that her eyes were upon him, he glanced down at her. He caught sight of her wide-eyed expression and smiled. She looked away shyly and wrapped her cloak more tightly around herself.

The captain was still watching her. "Are you cold? Would you like to go back inside?"

Renesmee shook her head and gave him a soft smile. "No, this is lovely." She instantly regretted her unguarded statement and added stiffly. "I mean… that I am enjoying the fresh air… sir."

She threw the captain a sideways glance, to see how he had interpreted her words, but he did not seem to have registered them at all. He was not even looking at her, his gaze had returned to the water. She was not sure if she was pleased or disappointed by his reaction, and this realisation made her feel slightly flustered.

She took a step away from him and leaned against the wooden rail, taking a long breath of cool sea air in an attempt to clear her head. The captain felt Renesmee withdraw and looked down at her. He broke the silence and his tone was serious.

"Tomorrow we will reach Sol Duc. And you will be reunited with your family."

She turned to him, eagerly searching his face. "Do you really mean to take me there?"

He nodded and answered soberly. "I swore that I would."

"I know… I just wasn't sure..." She looked embarrassed and fell silent for a moment, before peeking cautiously at him. "So you really meant what you said to Captain Newton?"

He gave a twisted smile and held her gaze. "Most of it."

Renesmee's heart sank at these words. Was he about to renege on his promise to release her? He saw her troubled expression and tried to reassure her.

"I always intended to take you to Sol Duc. But I was lying when I said that I might throw you overboard." The captain stepped towards Renesmee and surprised her by taking both of her hands in his own. He kept his eyes on her slender fingers as he added. "I truly wish that I had not made that threat. I didn't mean it. I would never offer harm to any woman… least of all you."

His eyes met hers and she saw the tenderness in his expression. Her heart beat wildly, as she whispered. "Oh…"

"I'm sorry that I frightened you. Please forgive me." He sounded very remorseful. "I should never have brought you here."

"Why did you?"

He stared longingly into her beautiful face. Her eyes were clear pools of allurement, sparkling in the silver moonlight. He had not intended to voice the feelings that were in his heart, but as he gazed at the vision before him, he was unable to stop himself.

"Because I could not bear to let you go."

Every proper feeling should have compelled Lady Renesmee to return to her cabin that very instant, but the wave of pure happiness that washed over her, made her forget all sense of propriety. Instead of leaving the captain, she took a step towards him, returning the clasp of his fingers.

They stood for a moment, with their gazes locked, before he released his hold on her and lifted his hand to her face. He gently ran his fingers across the smooth skin of her cheek to the nape of her neck, drawing her forward, as he lowered his head to kiss her.

Renesmee caught her breath as the captain leaned down, but the moment that his soft lips brushed against hers, she gave a small, happy sigh, and willingly reached up to slip her hands around his strong neck. This was all the encouragement he needed. He lifted his hand from her head and wrapped his arms around her, catching her in a tight embrace.

His bold move did not worry her, it had quite the opposite effect; she only wanted to be near to this intoxicating man. She pulled him closer, savouring his taste and the feel of his mouth on hers. He tightened his hold, and her lips parted as he deepened their kiss. She did not even occur to her to feel shy, or reluctant, as he kissed her. It felt too right – he felt too right – for her to have any doubts.

She could not see, or feel, anything beyond the captain. His strong arms and broad shoulders, his appealing, musky scent, the taste of his lips, the warmth that seemed to radiate from him, sending waves of heat to the very centre of her being. Nothing in her existence had ever made her feel this way. She would have compared it to having spent a lifetime in the dark, and then suddenly stepping into the daylight and seeing blinding sunshine and dazzling colours for the very first time.

The captain turned his head and began to trail tender kisses along her jaw and down her ivory throat. She closed her eyes as he worked his way down, losing herself in the moment. But he surprised her by suddenly pulling back. Renesmee's eyes flew open and he gave a wide grin. The next thing she knew, he had lifted her clean off her feet and placed her on the ship's rail. She gave a small gasp of fear and clung to him, but he held her securely and smiled as he murmured in her ear.

"Don't be afraid."

She glanced round to read his expression, and even in the darkness, she could see the confidence in his eyes. There was no way that he was going to let her fall. Once she had fully accepted this fact, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the improved vantage point; she was closer to his eye level, and no longer had to strain to reach him.

He also made the most of her new position, by bending down and pressing soft kisses onto her creamy shoulder as he whispered her name. The feel of his mouth on her skin was electrifying; she pulled back his collar and moved her lips to his throat, very gently nipping his velvet skin with her teeth. He gave a sharp intake of breath and instantly turned his head, crushing his lips to hers with renewed passion.

Until that night, Lady Renesmee had only been kissed once before, and it had not gone very well; the young man had taken her by surprise and she had not enjoyed the experience. She had just felt relieved to have disentangled herself from the optimistic fellow, after only the smallest of struggles.

But with the captain everything was different. The way he held her, the way he kissed her, gave her the feeling that he had been made just for her. She could not imagine being kissed by anyone else, and she seemed to know exactly what to do, as if she had been designed for him too.

Renesmee was unaware of the time passing, until she heard the bell ring for the change of watch. The captain pulled his head back, while keeping his arms locked firmly around her.

"It must be midnight."

"Midnight!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I had no idea that it was so late."

He smiled at this slightly naïve statement and carefully lifted her from the ship's rail. "We should go back inside. I don't want you to freeze."

He set her on her feet and kept his hands on her waist, as she fluffed out her skirts and smiled up at him. "Don't worry, Captain. I'm not cold."

"What did you just call me?" He gave a sudden frown.

She replied tentatively. "Um… Captain…?"

The captain slid one hand behind Renesmee's back and put the other under her chin, tilting her head, so that he could look her in the eye. "Wouldn't you rather call me by my name?"

"Your name…?" She felt slightly bewildered and tried to remember the various titles that she had heard that evening. "Which one?"

This made him smile and his hold on her tightened. "Jacob."

"Jacob." A look of comprehension dawned on her face. "Oh, of course!"

This made sense; he had told her that one of his names was Black Jake. The captain shook his head indulgently and kissed her again. When she was free to speak, she gave him a playful smile.

"I would ask you to use my name, but it's too late for that, you already do."

This was true; he had been whispering her name adoringly for the past hour. He gazed down at her and brushed a loose curl away from her cheek. "Do you mind?"

"No." She blushed. "I like it."

He looked thoughtful. "It's a very interesting name."

Renesmee gave a resigned sigh. "I know."

He laughed and let her go, pulling her arm through his and leading her towards the lower deck. She stepped lightly as she followed him down the stairs from the quarterdeck.

When they reached the lower deck they encountered of one of the night watches, walking the boards. They also discovered Mr Call, leaning against the ship's rail. The quartermaster appeared to be lost in thought as he stared out across the water. On hearing their approach, he glanced around. He caught sight of the couple and gave a slight frown.

Even in the dull glow of the lamplight, Renesmee could read the disapproval on his face. She was sure that he had guessed what she had just been doing, and instantly felt very ashamed. She flushed and dropped her eyes. What must he think of her?

In reality, the quartermaster's disapproval was not remotely aimed at her, but was wholly reserved for her companion. He had not been pleased by the captain's decision to abduct Lady de Cullen. But, despite his initial misgivings, he had believed Jacob's assertions that he was not trying to take advantage of the girl. He still believed him. They had grown up together, and such base conduct would be completely out of character for his old friend, but the situation was starting to make Mr Call feel very uneasy.

He had spent the afternoon mulling over the captain's inexplicable behaviour and gained no satisfaction. It was only when he learned that his friend had invited Lady Renesmee to dinner that a disturbing new suspicion crossed his mind. Had Jacob developed feelings for the girl?

As soon as he thought of it, he dismissed the idea. It was ridiculous. They had only just met, and although Lady de Cullen was a very beautiful young lady, she was not the first attractive female to have crossed the captain's path. Mr Call had spent a lifetime watching his friend being pursued by hopeful young women, and although countless lures had been thrown in his direction, he had never formed a serious attachment to any of them.

Besides which, even if Lady Renesmee could learn to forget that she had been abducted by force, and fall in love with him, there was absolutely no future for the relationship. The captain must know that the match was impossible.

In spite of this rationalisation, Mr Call could not help brooding his way through dinner. He could not ignore the nagging doubt in the back of his mind. After he had finished, he continued to ponder the problem, and eventually made his way on deck to think in peace. He was leaning against the ship's rail, doing just that, when they appeared.

He had not been expecting to see them, and was slightly taken aback. It took only one look at Lady Renesmee's guilty face to tell him exactly what had happened. He glanced at his friend and saw the protective way that he stepped in front of the lady. The captain met his eyes challengingly and all of Mr Call's worst fears were confirmed. Jacob had fallen in love with the most unattainable girl in the world.

He knew that this was not the moment to interfere, especially since he had no desire to embarrass the young lady any further, so he gave a small bow and wished them both goodnight. They passed by quickly and went below deck, leaving the quartermaster feeling extremely worried.

He could foresee trouble. Jacob was extremely wilful, and would be very unlikely to relinquish his claim on the girl, if he believed that she reciprocated his feelings – which, by all appearances, she did. Mr Call knew from experience that once his friend had set his heart on something, he would not change his mind, and he was certain that if Jake had fallen in love, his attachment would be permanent and unshakable.

When the time came, would he be prepared to let the girl go? Or would he be willing to throw everything onto the sacrificial pyre to keep her?

The quartermaster did not really want to consider the answers to these questions.

After leaving the deck, the captain escorted Renesmee back to her cabin. He could tell that seeing Mr Call had left her feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable, and so he kept a firm hold on her hand as he led her through the Rabbit's dark corridors. She was reassured by the way that he gripped her fingers, and smiled when he glanced in her direction.

When they reached her cabin, they halted outside the door and Renesmee turned to face the captain. She spoke quietly, not wishing to be overheard.

"Thank you for a lovely evening," she said, giving him a timid smile.

He was less reticent, and answered by slipping his hands around her waist and kissing her softly. "Goodnight, my Renesmee," he whispered, making her heart skip a beat, before releasing her. "Sleep well."

"Goodnight… Jacob." She gave him one last look, before turning the door handle and going inside.

She discovered that Miss Weber was still awake and awaiting her return. It was customary for her maid to stay up until after Renesmee had changed for bed – to put away her gown and help un-pin her hair – but that evening Miss Weber had also wanted to be sure that her mistress had returned safely to their cabin, before she could even think about sleeping.

On this occasion, Renesmee would have preferred to have found her maid asleep. She was feeling a little ruffled when she entered the cabin, and hardly had time to compose her features, before she was confronted by Miss Weber's penetrating gaze.

Miss Weber was incredibly glad to see Renesmee. She had spent most of the evening wondering if she should try to rescue her mistress from the captain. The only thing that had stopped her from setting forth on this mission was Ben's solemn promise that Lady de Cullen would be perfectly safe.

He had noticed Miss Weber's agitation when he brought her a tray of food, and was swift to reassure her that the captain was not a drunkard, or a libertine, and that the young lady had absolutely nothing to fear. Although she was loth to admit it, Miss Weber believed Ben to be sincere and was left feeling slightly calmer.

When Renesmee entered the cabin, Miss Weber gave a huge sigh of relief and watched her closely, checking for signs of hurt. She was pleased to observe that the girl looked completely unharmed, and this knowledge allowed her to speak in her usual wry manner.

"Did your dinner go well, Miss Renesmee?"

Lady Renesmee tried to sound unconcerned as she closed the door. "Yes, it was very pleasant, thank you, Angela."

Miss Weber looked unimpressed. "I hope that the captain remembered to treat you with civility, Miss," she said in a strict tone.

"He was very polite," the girl replied, and felt her colour heightening when she remembered exactly how he had treated her.

"You were gone for a very long time…" Miss Weber narrowed her eyes.

Renesmee glanced away and pulled off her cloak, casually throwing it onto the bed. "Um… yes. We talked for a long time, the captain told me a great deal about La Push… and afterwards we took a short walk on deck."

Miss Weber was still inclined to think of her mistress as a small child, and spoke in shocked accents. "Good heavens, Miss Renesmee! What were you thinking? You could have caught your death of cold."

"I was perfectly warm, Angela." Renesmee answered in a dignified voice, trying to quell her servant's inquisition.

This attempt was not entirely successful. Miss Weber had known her for too long to be put off, besides which, it was difficult to muster the correct amount of authority when one was also attempting not to blush.

"Well," said Miss Weber, with a disapproving sniff. "I can't imagine what the captain was thinking, to take a delicate girl like you into all that damp, night air. If you're unwell in the morning, I shall have to have words with him!"

Lady Renesmee was absolutely horrified; she could not imagine anything more mortifying than Miss Weber scolding the captain on her behalf.

"Pray Angela. You must not!" She exclaimed in distress. "I have come to no harm. I forbid you to say any such thing to him."

"Very well, Miss," replied her recalcitrant servant, very grudgingly. "I will try to obey your wishes… As you know, I always do."

She looked so reluctant that Lady Renesmee felt positively weak. She quickly tried to find a distraction, before her maid rebelled against her order. It was fortunate that one quickly sprung to mind. She lifted her cloak from the bed and reached into its pocket, pulling out the leather pouch with a triumphant smile.

"Look at what the captain gave me."

Miss Weber was entirely diverted and Renesmee escaped any further interrogations. She just changed and hurried to bed as quickly as possible, while her maid checked through the newly restored jewellery, to see if anything was still missing.

When Miss Weber had satisfied herself that it was all there, she completed the last of her duties, by neatly packing Lady Renesmee's golden gown and copious petticoats into her trunks, along with the jewellery and hair ornaments. She then changed, extinguished the lamp and retired to her own bunk, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Lady Renesmee did not fall asleep so quickly, she had far too many things to think about. As she lay in the darkened cabin, she felt relieved that her maid was already asleep; she wanted to reflect on the day's unexpected events in peace. There was so much to absorb that her head was spinning. Within the space of twelve hours, her whole life seemed to have been turned upside-down.

If someone on the Cruiser had told her that she would be ending the day on a pirate ship, she would have been extremely shocked.

And she would never have believed them, if they had added that she would actually feel pleased to be there.


Author's notes:

First off, I have to say a MASSIVE thank you for all the lovely comments and list additions that this story has received. They really have meant a huge amount to me (and definitely kept me working hard).

Also, thank you to the lovely reviewers who I couldn't PM: jazzmatazz, Joujou21, Daydreaming Viking Girl and cinni (I really hope that's everyone) I really appreciated your very nice comments.

And as a little thank you (and possibly an added incentive) I will send a teaser for chapter 5 to anyone who reviews this chapter. So if you want that teaser, or just want to make me happy, then press that review button at the bottom of the page, and don't forget to enable your Private Messaging ;)

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend,

Mad :)