What in the World

Chapter 21

James was ready to explode. Not only was his body still feeling the effects Leah had brought upon him by her touches and kisses, he was also keyed up from the embarrassment brought about by being caught in such a compromising position. And if he were honest, he was also suffering from embarrassment by just who had caught them. Of all the people he could think of, Jack Sparrow was one of the last ones on earth he wanted walking in on him at a moment like that, when he was so vulnerable. The last thing he needed was for Jack to get the idea in his head that the Commodore was anything but a force to be reckoned with.

"You are about as much fun as….as….as…." James couldn't finish he was so agitated.

Although she hadn't known him that long, only a few weeks, it was very plain to see he was ready to go off the deep end. She was however, at a loss as to the best way to handle the Commodore in these situations. She tried laying a hand on his arm and a calmly spoken, "James, it's really not worth getting upset over. It is a little embarrassing but nothing we can't handle."

James ignored her and continued to glare at Jack, his face becoming redder and redder by the moment.

"James you really need to calm yourself. You'll work yourself up into an apoplexy." Leah said in a slightly louder voice.

The only response to this statement Leah could ascertain was that James was starting to stiffen up.

Then he began advancing on Jack. Now to Jack's credit he had almost been expecting something like this from the Commodore, almost but not quite soon enough. James grabbed Jack by the shirt, he had been aiming at his throat, but Jack leaned back just as James' hands shot out.

"Oye Commodore, can't we talk this over eh?" Jack said in a very fine clear soprano, worthy of any he had ever attributed to James or Will, as he tried to free himself from the hands attached to the front of him.

"The time for talk is over Sparrow." James said furiously as he tried to drag Jack close enough to get his hands around his throat.

Leah, with little other thought than to somehow separate the two of them before someone got hurt, tried to get in between them. What she managed to do was get her legs tangled up in their legs and all three of them went crashing into a heap on the floor, knocking over a chair or two in the process and making one heck of a racket, enough of a racket in fact to wake Sir William.

"What in blazes is going on?" Sir William as he stood in his doorway looking down the hall in the direction the noise had come from.

James untangled himself from the other two and opening his door poked his head out and said, "Sorry, I guess I was sleep walking and tripped and fell over the chair."

"Well for gods sake man, tie yourself down if that's what it takes. I just got back to sleep." Sir William said very irritably and shut his door quite loudly.

"Now you did it." Jack said to Leah as they regained their feet and listened to the exchange between James and Leah's Father.

"Did not!" Leah replied.

"Did so!" Jack said.

"Did no………" Leah was interrupted by James taking her by the arm, and then taking Jack by the arm and shoving them both out of his room.

"You may stand out there till sunrise bickering with each other if you wish. I am going to bed." And shut the door in their faces.

Jack looking puzzled at the door he had just been unceremoniously escorted through and said, "Do you suppose he's upset with us?"

Rolling her eyes Leah said, "I think there might be that slight possibility Jack."

"Huh." Jack said in a surprised tone.

"Good night Jack." Leah said shaking her head as she headed off to her room.

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James was awakened the next morning by a knock on his door and the following words; "Sir William wishes to see you in the dining room at your earliest convenience." He heard the maid stop at the doors of Leah and Jack and give the same message.

"Well," James said to himself as he threw his legs over the side of the bed, "Might as well get this over with." And went about getting dressed. As he left his room he could see Leah hesitating at the head of the stairs. Jack came out of his room behind James.

"This probably won't be good." Leah said as she heard the two of them and turned to face them.

"No worries luv, we just stick to our story." Jack said cheerfully.

"And what story would that be exactly Captain?" James said.

"That nothing happened." Jack said smiling and fluttering his hands about, "Simple and easy to remember eh?"

"And you think that will work?" James asked in a mock curious tone.

"Always worked for me in the past. Admit nothing, deny everything." Jack said still smiling.

"I don't think that's going to work on Father. He will ask questions and want details, and if our stories don't match up we are in trouble." Leah said with a grim look on her face as she headed down the stairs.

"Ah there the three of you are. We have something to discuss." Sir William said as they entered the room like they were headed for their execution.

Leah thought to herself as she looked at her Father sitting there with a smile on his face, "This is strange. I wonder what's going on? He is not acting like he is upset about last night." She took James' hand and squeezed it trying to convey her hopeful feelings to him.

He looked at her and saw a small smile on her face. "Maybe this wasn't going to turn out all that bad after all." he thought as he returned her squeeze.

Then Jack opened his mouth and Leah and James both let out groans, "Now Sir William, about last night…."

Sir William held his hand up in a gesture for Jack to stop. "Have a seat, all of you."

James and Leah sat beside each other continuing to hold each other's hands.

Jack took a seat a few chairs away from Sir William, "You see Sir William, this is what happened….." Jack started to continue as he slouched in the chair almost forgetting his manners and putting his feet on the table.

"Captain Sparrow, all I need to know about last night is that you were doing all you could to be a proper chaperone. Were you?"

"You might could say that." Jack said, of course to himself he was saying, "You might could say I wasn't though too."

"I find that satisfactory for the time being. At present I have other things on my mind. I have received a letter from a dear friend who has requested I come to assist in solving some problems he is having and that I have some expertise in. I will be leaving to attend my friend tomorrow morning and will be gone an indeterminate length of time. Therefore I must ask you and the Commodore to leave until such future time as I return.

Leah couldn't believe what she was hearing. This couldn't be. "Father you can't send them….him…James away!"

"Now Leah, the decision has already been made. There is no room for discussion. It will do you good to be apart for a while. My decision is final. Commodore it has been a pleasure meeting you. You are more that welcome to return if you wish. Captain Sparrow, I suggest you prepare your ship to depart tomorrow morning."

To Be Continued

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