What in the World

Chapter 7

James immediately climbed in the tub and began lathering himself with the soap and sponge provided, enjoying every minute of it. When he finished washing himself he laid back and enjoyed the feeling of the hot water easing the soreness from his limbs.

Jack eyed the tub suspiciously, stuck his finger in and held it up looking at it suspiciously also. He did, after a few minutes, gingerly climbed into the tub, and eased himself into a sitting position saying to himself as he did, "Go on mate, it's a lot like swimmin, yer just not movin anywhere". He picked up the sponge and soap and sniffed them warily and deciding they weren't poison began washing himself. He was, after finishing the washing of said body, relaxed enough to lie back and enjoy the feeling of the warm water.

They both nodded off to sleep and were awakened by knocking on their respective doors.

Two of the house maids had brought their clothing back, well not their clothing, different clothing Sir William had chosen for them to wear to the party.

"Mr. Commodore sir," the maid spoke through the door, "I'll just leave these outside for you sir. You may retrieve them at your leisure."

"Thank you miss." James replied pulling himself out of the tub and wrapping himself in a towel.

"Cap'n Sparrow, here be your clothes sir." The other maid spoke to Jack through the door. "I'll just lay them down here for you." As she laid them by the door.

"That'll be fine young missy." Jack called back. He exited the tub and wrapped in a towel.

Jack and James opened their doors at almost the same time. James noticed the clothes left there were not the ones he sent off with the maid but didn't think that much of it.

Jack on the other hand was not pleased his clothes had not been returned.

'Oye! Girl there's been some mistake. These ain't me clothes." Jack called out down the hall. "Girl where's me clothes?"

Sir William came out of one of the rooms down the hall where it was apparent by his state of dress he had been readying himself for the party. His shirt was not buttoned nor tucked into his breeches yet and he was stockingless and shoeless.

"I've taken the liberty of providing you both with suitable clothing for the party. Yours were not ready and won't be for several hours. I would consider it a great favor if you," and he said this as he looked directly at Jack, "would wear the clothing I had the maids bring you."

"I have no problem with that what so ever Sir William." James said smiling at Jack who was developing one of his "faces".

"I'm havin a problem with it." Jack said unhappily.

"Now Captain, it's only for a few hours. Surely you can humor your old friend for that long?"

"I knew I didn't want no one messin with me things." Jack said poutily as he went back in his room to dress.

Sir William gave James a smile and a wink and stepped back into his room to finish dressing.

James followed suit.

James had been given a pair of dove gray knee breeches, white linen shirt with gray stitching around the open neck and ruffled cuffs, a dove gray waistcoat intricately embroidered with red and gold thread, white stockings and black shoes with silver buckles.

Jack found a white linen open neck shirt with lace around the cuffs, a blue waistcoat embroidered heavily with gold and silver thread, a pair of white broadcloth knee breeches, light blue stockings and black shoes with gold buckles.

Jack wasn't happy but he did put the clothing on. And then looking in the mirror, he put on his bandanna and hat, and smiled a little.

They left their respective rooms at the same time and headed for the stairs.

"I don't believe you Captain." James said with disgust as they started down the stairs.

"What?" Jack said innocently.

"I don't believe you are going to wear that ….that….hat to the party."

"I feel naked without me hat Commodore." Jack replied, "They've taken all me other apparel, tis all I have left."

"Inde………" James had turned as he started to say this and had the breath taken out of him. He came to a sudden stop, causing Jack to run into him.

"You're surely not trying to keep me from the party just cause of me hat Commodore?" Jack asked, and then seeing where the Commodore was staring started to grin.

"Almost outshines the angels aye Commodore?" Jack whispered in James' ear.

"What? Oh, she is striking." James said more to himself than in reply to Jack.

There standing just outside the double doors leading to the dining room was a vision of loveliness. Tall and slender with dark auburn curls cascading half way down her back was one of the most beautiful women James had ever seen. Unlike most of the women James knew this one had a tanned healthy glow about her. She was dressed in a gold silk dress with elaborate silver embroidery on the bodice; the elbow length sleeve's lacy cuffs were also embroidered with gold and silver thread. The skirt was open down the front reveling a lacy white petticoat intricately woven with gold and silver ribbons.

She was in the process of giving some last minute instructions to the servants who would be serving the dinner. Her voice fell like music on James' ears. He was totally enthralled by the woman.

"Leah is her name in case you were wonderin Commodore, Sir William's daughter." Jack said softly in the Commodore's ear. "She's like no woman you've ever met before I guarantee you that."

James was still so taken with the woman before him he couldn't respond.

After a few minutes of standing there watching James stare at the lady Jack said, "Perhaps you'd care for an introduction eh?" and not getting the Commodore's attention continued, "Or at least move out of me way so I can join the festivities about to be goin on. Bound to be rum somewhere in there." And still getting no response from James he said loudly enough for Leah to hear, "I understand you're embarrassed about your appearance Commodore, but there's nothing we can do about that now is there. I don't think anyone is going to laugh at you……..at least not to your face. Now what say you, we join the party?"

That did get the Commodore's attention, Leah's, and a few others who were in the hall. If looks could kill poor Jack would have been dead by the glare James shot his way.

To Be Continued

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