A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews readers! I appreciate it! You're being so supportive and it's really helping!

Como la flor

Pirates of the Caribbean

Chapter X – Take you in my arms

The bell rang from Antonia's room. It was Sunday morning and birds chirping outside on branches were heard into the mansions' chambers. The sunlight beamed through the windows and lit up the rooms, causing the rest of the Teach family to wake up. Much to Jack's distaste. He had decided to work that particular day. Mostly because he wanted to be around Angelica, but in addition, why say no to get extra paid? The major part of work was in the morning anyhow. Still, his head hurt like crazy from the previous night.

"Coming," he called out while hurrying down the hallway upstairs with Ms Eileen. Jack carried the tray and put it onto the nightstand and Eileen helped with pouring tea.

Without a word escaping her lips except for a satisfied moan, Antonia began sipping on it. She loved getting served breakfast at her bed. Not that she really knew how it felt to not being able to do that. A pleased and content expression were visible on her face, so Jack and Eileen walked out of her room before she gave them a new request.

"She wouldn't want to meet me in the darkness at night downtown," Jack muttered under his breath. Ms Eileen let out a small laugh which she changed into a cough in agreement. Antonia wasn't their favorite person of the mansion at all.

When Angelica awoke and her eyelids slowly went up, her vision was immediately blended by the sunlight. She put her hand to cover the beams and searched with her hand for the bell. She felt the cold metal and rang in it, causing Ms Gertrude and Duck storm into her room within a few moments.

"Good morning Ms Angelica," Ms Gertrude greeted her with an obvious fake smile. With Duck at her side, they both put down a tray with breakfast together with a cup of tea.

"Thank you," Angelica thanked them appreciative. She missed Ms Gertrude and Duck's shocked expression they shared. Angelica was never genuinely nice to anyone from a lower class. A simple 'thank you' was way farther than she ever had gone before.

"Pleasure's all mine," Duck said in respond and hurried out of the room with Ms Gertrude. As soon as they had left and Angelica sipped on her tea, she could just feel in the air how something was odd. Something was strange. A knot in her stomach was tightened yet tingling. She felt unfamiliar and it disturbed her to not have the knowledge of the reason why.

Eventually after finishing breakfast and getting changed into a gown, she headed downstairs. Antonia was probably in the lounge room taking piano lessons. Later on, they would have guests over. The girls were coming over for a nice tea-gossiping in the afternoon. But even if there was so much time left – the party had to be prepared hours before.

"Good morning Ms Angelica," Ms Eileen said as she passed Angelica in the hallway, carrying a mountain of laundry.

"Good morning Ms Eileen," Angelica answered. That time as well, she totally missed Ms Eileen's surprised look.

Music escaped the door of a lounge room that was ajar. Angelica peeked inside and saw Antonia sitting behind the piano, her fingers probably dancing over it and pressing down chords. She had to admit she was slightly jealous at her sister's talent in music.

Angelica entered the room unnoticed and discovered that Antonia's music teacher also was there. She was French and spoke in an accent. Sometimes she even spoke French, but it didn't bother Antonia at all since she spoke it as well. Angelica only knew it partly, much to what seemed like everyone's dismay. As a child, Angelica had been way too interested in hearing stories, fairytales, dancing and other stuff like that. Not like Antonia who had learnt French, German, singing perfectly with wonderful vocals and learning how to play instruments.

Her mother was also there. She sat in a couch with letters in her hand, deep in thought while reading them. Soon, Angelica also sat beside her mother and watched Antonia play, just enjoying the beautiful day. After she would finish playing, it was time for planning the eventful evening.

It didn't last long though. Of all sudden, Jack stepped inside and began walking towards her. She tensed immediately. Why? Why did she feel tense? She felt ill and sick. Her stomach did flips and clearly there was some majorly error with her. Then, her bewildered eyes met his and she felt that sensation of them melting. That's when she recalled the night. Had she really kissed him? No, that couldn't be. She must have dreamt it.

But then Jack gave her a playful grin, and she got it declared. It wasn't a nightmare. She had kissed him! And he was walking towards her! In an open room! There were people there for heaven's sake!

She was petrified and rigid, hoping she'd die on the spot before he had approached her. Would he want to talk about the kiss? Would he tell her mother?!She'd be dead. She'd be dead. She'd be a dead woman! Oh, she was so dead! She could kill herself instead to spare the pain she would suffer until the day he'd scream out loud about her mistake! Wasn't that what he wanted to do?! She, one of the finest young women in Port Royal, had disgraced both herself and family by lip locking with another man. In addition, he was poor!

"Lady Beatrice Teach," Jack spoke, gaining Beatrice's attention. She looked up without noticing how Angelica stared and slightly trembled in fear. "The laundry has been finished and lunch is about to get served in half an hour. Does it sound alright?"

Beatrice smiled. "Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful Jack."

Jack made a nod and then did the same gesture to Angelica. When he had gone through the doors into the hallway, Angelica let out a breath she hadn't realized she had held.

"Oh my lord," she let out in daze. Beatrice reacted on that and turned her gaze from the letters to her daughter.

"Mi'ja?" she asked lost.

Angelica plastered a smile on her face, a really faked one. "What mamá?"

Her mother had a quirked eyebrow, showing how much she could see Angelica through. "Don't 'what' me, sweetie," she warned.

Angelica sighed, an overly and dramatically long sigh as she frantically thought about something to make up.

"I just realized I forgot to order a dress in a blue colour last time Mrs Hawkins was in town. Now I will have to wait several months until this seamstress arrives again," she lied.

Beatrice's raised eyebrow remained for a longer moment, revealing that she still didn't believe her daughter. Yet, she decided to drop it and continue reading the letters from her husband.

Finally, Antonia stood up and said goodbye to her teacher.

"We need to talk to the housekeepers and the servants," she said and Angelica joined her to the kitchen.

Antonia was rambling desserts and tea varieties she'd like to have served, while Angelica threw in a word once in a while when she wanted something else. Like usual, it was Antonia that got her will through. Angelica was only her little sister that never would have the same experience as Antonia. Still, she managed to slink in a few remarks and change a few desserts into her favorite ones.

When the little appointment was over, Antonia stood up.

"I'm going to the library to study French for a while before the guests arrive. Will you join me?" she asked Angelica.

Considering the suggestion, she came to the conclusion to not join her sister. She hated learning French. She could speak it a bit but not as fluently as her sister.

"No, I will just sit here and relax for a moment," she said.

Antonia rolled her eyes. "You must practise your French, Angelica!" she sighed and folded her arms. "But fine, sit here then and relax while I will actually do something out of my life. Why not take the opportunity of actually owning several French books which are imported from France."

As Antonia walked out of the room, Jack entered it with trays from their bedrooms that needed to get washed.

Jack smirked at her and once again she was reminded of the night. Completely avoiding him, she flew up in an instant.

"Hold on Antonia! I think I might take that opportunity after all!" she quickly shouted and practically ran out of the room.

Jack raised his eyebrows. He knew she was avoiding him. He had seen how her hands trembled earlier that morning and how her eyes had locked on him when she obviously had remembered the previous night. It had been like a dream for him, but apparently not for her. It didn't surprise him either. She wasn't supposed to get all affectionate for him, due the fact that she was engaged to a man she kind of hadn't met. But Jack had seen that fire in her eyes just before she had pulled him into that heated embrace. And her lips had been so soft, he just longed for the next time he'd feel them. Only one single night and he'd be fine. She'd be another woman to score out from his check list in his mind. And frankly, he was excited to see her feisty mood in different circumstances than ordering him what do to. Well, obviously he only had one thing in mind. Men…

Angelica put the book away from her, being all bored.

"I must admit I hate this," she confessed.

Antonia looked up from browsing a page filled with French phrases about the French history. "But this is about the French revolution. It's interesting Angelica. And certainly important to have in mind."

Angelica looked unbelievingly to her sister with folded arms.

"Let put it this way. What if the poor people in this town would start a revolution against us? We must see these consequences this French king and queen did to not let it happen to us. Surely, I don't want to become unprivileged or getting killed."

Angelica shrugged. "There must have been a reason the people did it then. I've heard the French king and queen spent a lot of money to themselves and not for the country."

Antonia's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "If I wouldn't have known better, it almost sounded as if you defended the poor."

Angelica didn't have time to respond since Ms Eileen entered the library. "Your guests have arrived."

Totally forgetting about the chat, Antonia excitedly hurried downstairs to greet the guests. Angelica also hurried, but a few steps behind. She felt confused about what Antonia had said. And she was scared of running into Jack. More about if he'd say something about their little moment in front of everybody.

"Angelica, dear!" Tyré burst out in the lounge and shared three cheek-kisses with her.

"Tyré," Angelica greeted back and then said hello to the rest of the girls.

"Come on, let's head outside. It's wonderful in the garden," Antonia said and gestured for them all to walk outside.

Fiona took a deep breath and scanned the area. Naturally, she had been there many times before – like once in a month actually. But it still amazed her to stroll through marvellous gardens. "This has always been one of my favorite gardens in Port Royal," she informed them, causing many of the other young women to silently give Antonia and Angelica looks of envy.

"Thank you, Fiona. That was nice said," Angelica thanked her sincerely.

"Of course," Antonia said. "We remodelled it months ago to build these columns and roof," she indicated to a group of couches further down the garden. An area between lots of bushes.

It took some time for them all to settle down comfortably, before Johanna began the conversation that would go on forever.

"I've got some news, ladies!" she said cheerily.

Angelica smiled and sipped on her delicious tea. "Well, don't spare us the details."

The other girls agreed eagerly, wondering what juicy gossip now Johanna had found.

"It's about Nellie."

"Oh," almost everyone of them mumbled, now kind of worried of what would come. Nellie had been a close friend to them, until she had moved to England to get married.

"Oh, please ladies! It's nothing bad! What I wanted to tell you was that she has personally gotten rid of her husband's mistress."

Fiona frowned. "Exactly how did she do that? Getting rid of the mistress of course. We all know the mistress was such a burden, believe me I understand her."

Suzette nodded. "My point exactly. We are just curious."

Johanna sighed. "Calm down and I will tell you, sillies!"

They all silenced. "Come on then and tell us."

With a smirk on her face, she began telling them. "From a letter I received yesterday evening, it said that it was from her. Actually I do recognize her handwriting as well. In this letter, it said that she had poisoned the soup before a maid carried it to her husband's bedroom. She knew this Margaret would be in there so there was a chance of poisoning her own husband as well. Perhaps it was her intention too?"

Angelica didn't look shocked at all, like the rest of the group. Neither of them were surprised that had happened. It was common as rain falling down from the sky.

"I also received a letter from her I can remember now," Antonia admitted as if she had just had realized it right then. "It's in my father's office."

Tyré made a demanding face. "Well now we all want to know what it says. Tell us!"

Antonia shook her head. "I can't quite remember," she turned to her little sister. "Angelica, can't you fetch it inside and return with it, por favor?"

Knowing she quite had to do whatever her sister said, Angelica nodded. "Yes, I will be right back."

She excused herself and wandered quickly to the mansion. She headed straight for the office and began shuffling around the paperwork her father had stapled on the desk.

Suddenly, she heard how the door shut behind her. She tensed, knowing exactly of who the person was.

Slowly, she put down the papers she held and equal slowly, whirled around. Just like she had thought, it was Jack who stood there with a smirk.

"We need to talk about what happened yesterday," he said firmly.

Angelica had her lips in a straight line, trying to look as cold as possible. "Nothing happened yesterday. Perhaps you've drunk a bit too much and dreamt about something I should not know."

Jack gave her an unbelieving expression. "Oh please, love. I know ye can't forget about how ye kissed me."

Since he had begun approaching her, Angelica backed away from the desk.

"I never kissed you," she denied.

"No, ye more likely made out with me," Jack corrected.

Angelica's jaw clenched as she found herself trapped in a corner of the room with Jack only coming closer and closer to her.

"Now when I think about, I come to the realization that maybe you kissed me. Forced yourself on me."

Jack grinned. "Don't pretend sweetness ye don't want me."

"Want you?!" Angelica exclaimed. "The only person I want is my betrothed Lord Christian V!"

Jack was too close now. He was barely a meter away from her, making Angelica to have to tilt her head upwards to see up to this taller servant.

"Ye have scarcely met him. That's not love."

Figuring out Jack wouldn't drop it, Angelica knew she had to turn another way. "What happened yesterday," she spoke calmly. "Was a mistake. Something I did in the spur moment. I feel nothing with romantic sensations towards you. Please accept that."

It was quiet for a moment as Jack just looked down at her. If she really didn't feel any attraction to him, then why had she jumped on him like a hungry lioness the previous night? "Ye don't?"

Angelica neither shook her head nor nodded. "I don't."

"Ye don't?"

"No, I do-,"

Jack closed the gap between them. His hands found their way to caress her waist while his mouth pressed against her, his tongue pushing between her lips in a request of her separating them and let him in.

First, she tried to push him away with her hands. She found her strength too weak compared to his though, and soon she gave in. It truly felt wonderful being in his arms like that. How he touched her and kissed her. Every place he touched her felt hot. She felt how she became hotter for every second that passed.

She opened her mouth partly and kissed him back, harder than ever. Her hands found their way to his hair and got buried in there at the back of his head. She felt heated and as if she wanted to do something she knew was forbidden for unmarried women. Yet, she urged for it during the moment. Together with Jack.

Then out of the blue, Jack pulled back, smirking. Angelica inhaled loudly and groaned with her mouth still opened. She leaned against the wall and looked directly into his eyes. What the hell was the doing?! Why did he pull away? She had never felt anything like that before. All worked up and in need of a man.

Jack though smiled in a winning way. "That proved it, love. Ye do want me," he said and backed towards the door. He opened it and left the heated Angelica in the office.

He strolled down the hallway in pride. Now he knew for sure – he had her.

A/N: Any opinion? Like it/Dislike it? Tell me :)