Chapter 38 – The Insanity
Jonathan made no attempt enter his father's chambers quietly this time. He shoved the door open so hard it slammed into the wall behind it. "Father, I wish to speak with you," he said angrily. Jonathan threw open the drapes and turned to the king who lay in bed squeezing his eyes shut against the sudden onslaught of light. "I wish to see you while we speak," Jonathan explained.
The king's only reply was a coughing spasm.
"I'm going to marry Colet."
The king's eyes snapped open. "You won't!" the king managed to croak.
"I will. Your tradition has no place in my heart. I may have ceased my 'silly wanderings' in order to settle down for you, but I will not let you deny me my wife. Colet is going to have Jack's baby, and I must take responsibility for that."
The king began to laugh. It started very low until he was laughing so hard that tears slipped out of the corners of his eyes and once again a cough consumed his body. "That is what this is about? The woman is spoiled."
The prince's eyes narrowed with anger. "There is much more to it than that, but I do not expect you to understand," Jonathan said bitterly then dropped to his knee beside his father's bed. "Father, I've loved you my entire life, as I do now, but I will do this no matter what you say. It is out of your power, but I felt that I should be the one to tell you."
The king turned his back on his son. "Do not come back here again. I've seen and heard enough from you to last me the rest of my life. Let me die in peace." The king sounded weary and defeated.
Jonathan's eyes sparkled with emotion and moisture. He blinked rapidly as he stood and whirled to the door without another word. Once Jonathan had been gone for several minutes, the king retrieved the bell from his nightstand and rang for the chambermaid.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" she asked, entering the room with a curtsy.
"I wish to see Mr. Gibbs. We have much to discuss."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the maid curtsied again and retreated from the room.
"Much to discuss indeed," the king said to himself as he swung his trembling legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand.
"He has come to see you again, Colet," Elizabeth said as she found Cole sitting in front of a fire in the library. She was curled up in a chair with a book balanced on her knees.
"He's persistent. I'll give him that," Cole commented without looking up from her book.
"Two times a day for an entire week. I think that's more insanity than persistence," Elizabeth collapsed in a nearby chair. "You will eventually speak to him won't you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Mayhap he asks me to be his mistress again. Then I might have to kill him."
"Why don't you just tell him you're a princess?"
"I nearly did, but that would solve nothing. I don't plan on accepting my royalty and I don't plan on staying here anyway. After my child is born and I return to the Caribbean, Jonathan and Jack will become distant memories." Cole slowly turned to the next page of her book.
"You think you can forget him that easily?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"What other choice do I have?" Cole whispered. She raised her head, and Elizabeth saw that her eyes were filled with tears. "I loved Jack, but he doesn't truly exist any longer. He's been entirely taken over by his Prince Jonathan side, and I suppose that's best for him. It's not best for me however. My pirate is gone, but I fear and I hope I will never forget him."
"You won't forget him. You will see him everyday in your child," Elizabeth assured her. "Well, I think I've kept the prince waiting downstairs long enough."
"He's still here?" Cole asked, somewhat surprised.
"He demanded that I personally come up here and ask if you'd see him."
"He's such a sweet man," Cole said sarcastically. "Thanks for doing my dirty work, Elizabeth."
"No one I'd rather do it for," Elizabeth winked. They exchanged smiles then Elizabeth slipped out of the room.
When she reached the foyer, the prince stood patiently waiting with Gibbs. Once he caught sight of Elizabeth, Jonathan's stony expression became hopeful. Elizabeth just shook her head. Jonathan's face fell.
"If you don't mind me saying so, Your Majesty, I think you've screwed up royally," Elizabeth said. "You must tell her everything."
"I would were I able to see her," he insisted.
"Knowing you as I do My Lord, I would imagine you have other ways of reaching her," Elizabeth said with a raised eyebrow.
"Perhaps you're right Mrs. Turner," Jonathan decided, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Gibbs felt the need to cut in at that moment. "Now, just a moment Sire. You know it's bad luck to-"
"Of course I know, Mr. Gibbs. That's what makes it all the more exciting. We're going to need a plan. Is there some place where we can speak privately, Mrs. Turner?"
There was a gleam in Jonathan's eyes that Gibbs did not like one bit. In fact, it had him reaching inside his coat for his flask. He came up empty handed however. His flask had been left aboard The Black Pearl. "I'm beginning to miss that bloody cursed ship," Gibbs murmured under his breath.