25
"Pippa"
April the second, 1806
Stephen's house in Spain
Diary,
I am almost too excited to write! Jack and I are on our honeymoon at Stephen's mansion while he ties up business in England with Sir J. Blaine. The port-admiral at Whitehall has granted Jack leave from his duties until May twenty-ninth, when he's scheduled for a small turn at a French island barricade. For now, however, Stephen has granted us leave of his presence and at the same time has allowed us to take over his house to spend our precious few months together…
"Fe-ern!"
Jack's voice boomed and echoed through the stone corridors of Stephen's house and into the courtyard garden where I knelt amidst the flowers. I looked up in time to see him stride out onto the path in nothing but breeches and a shirt and scan the area for me. I lifted my hand in reply.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's Pip," Jack replied, coming over to me. "Something seems to be the matter with him."
"Is he sick?" I asked dubiously, getting swept off my feet as I stood and held against his chest.
"He's fat, and he's squeaking something dreadful. Maybe indigestion?"
"Ha ha."
"I'm being serious. Just because you've been queasy… Maybe he got it from you," as he ducked into the house, "or maybe you're both landsick."
"You know I love the sea, darling, but I doubt I'm missing it that much. You have been very, er, exuberant these past few days."
He raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"Nothing!" I protested as he deposited me gently on our bed where Pip was curled pitifully. "You know children come early in an energetic marriage state." He spluttered in protest, but I ignored him, bending over Pip. I sat back almost immediately and gave him a glare.
"What is it now?" he demanded.
"Pip is not a he, darling," I informed him. "It's likely she found some nice monkey over in Brazil while we were all laid up."
"She?" Suddenly he swore very definitely and smacked the window sill. "That man told me she was a fixed male."
"Beloved…"
"Yes?"
"You know you will miss the birth of our child."
He knelt before me and took my hand in his two. "You're saying you know for sure."
"Almost sure," I contradicted him. I smiled. "It's a mother's instinct. Speaking of mothers, I suggest we move Pippa somewhere warm and comfortable, unless you want baby Tamarins all over your bedspread."
"I'd rather not," he said in alarm, leaping up to carry our pet away. When he returned, we curled up on the bed like two spoons, with Jack's arms around me and his breath warm on my ear.
"Promise you'll come back as soon as you can," I told him, squeezing his arm.
"Never doubt it." His lips, somehow retaining a salty aftertaste, explored my neck and jaw. "If it's a boy we'll have to call it William, you know."
"Why?"
"After Mr Calamy, and also a seaman, Warley; Calamy was a young acting le'tenant I had on our last expedition. He died in our last battle with the French. Warley…"
"Yes I know. Of course we will," I agreed softly. I knew how much he was attached to his men, and how hard it had been for him to cut away the mast that was an able seaman's lifeline to the ship.
"And if it's a girl?" he asked, changing the mood abruptly as he breathed in the scent of my hair.
"Oh, I don't know. Sophia, I suppose."
He laughed.
"I was being serious, my dear."
"Oh…"
Finis
Heh. Poor Jack! Well, thanks for reading and for all your kind reviews! This wasn't one of my best stories, but 25 chapters isn't too bad, and my writing style didn't vary too much with all the reading I do. Check me out in the Phantom of the Opera and the Lord of the Rings sections - my stories there are better. -Rachel