A/N: Happy New Year and thanks again for the kind words! Hope you'll like this chapter (or perhaps you'd only get frustrated by it). :-)
Uploaded: 3rd January 2021
To all you Jack and Angelica shippers out there. This is for you.
Chapter VIII
MARRIED AGAIN
Keep it on the low
Days later Jack finds himself at the governor's annual celebration. Decorations and embellishments are winsomely sightly.
The governor's celebration is a grand thing. Pompous decorations and it looks like a wonderland. He has never seen such a thing. Frances would have loved this. Not that she ever gets to experience these kinds of parties even later on, seeing they will return to the seas as soon as Jack is done with this nightmare.
Is this not just pure madness? Ten years ago he was in a nightmare, having to pretend being married to Angelica. It drove him insane. And now he has to pretend being divorced to her, meanwhile she is not even aware of the cause why. Also bringing him into a sense of insanity. This sucks, a great deal.
Upon a balcony of a higher floor he stands, beside the governor himself. Both viewing down to witness guests arriving down there. Jack, of course with rum in his hand.
"There is a room inside that house which is locked, aye."
Only a hint of a glance given to Jack, the governor sips on his own drink. "It must be the room."
"Sure it is," Jack agrees. "However where that infernal key lays..."
"Which is your part of the deal to find," the governor reminds him.
Bitterly, Jack sips on his rum. "Appears so."
After clearing his throat, the governor has an idea. "Such a key I dare to believe the marchioness wouldn't have out of her sight."
"Probably."
"Which makes me think, possibly she even wears it."
"What, like a necklace or something?"
Slowly the governor nods.
"The sooner you get your hands on that key and searches that room. The better, for your part, Mr Sparrow."
In irritation, Jack rolls his eyes.
Easier said than done. If Margareth wears this key, he needs to have a reason to bodily search her. And he does not look forward to that.
"Now, speaking of which. Isn't that your fiancée arriving?" the governor nods towards a particular carriage that appears slightly more extravagant than the rest. It screams of the marchioness by the mere looks of it.
"Suppose it's her," Jack gulps down the rest of his rum and leaves.
In some sort of way, he has to find this key somewhere in Margareth's presence. If she wears it, he would need to bring it away from her without her noticing.
Just as he is about to greet Margareth, following his duty, he notices Angelica stepping out of her carriage further away. Expectantly, he has awaited her arrival. Yet he appears to be just as unprepared to witness her enticing appearance as he ever is.
That hot-tempered woman can knock him off track like no one else can.
His pausing movement and flickering gaze that frequently returns to her, must be the cause Margareth at last looks over her shoulder while approaching him.
"Don't worry my love. She'll get used to the idea of you remarrying."
He forces a reassuring grin to appear and avoids giving away that look of puzzlement he truly wears inside. Because just as Angelica, Vivienne and their lady-friends seem to head in their direction towards the front doors, he can feel how Margareth's hand rests on his stomach. It is a motion of claiming him, but he cannot really do anything about it.
With her words, "Follow me. We must meet the Parkers, Jackie my darling," and her urging towards a well-dressed couple further away, he does notice how Angelica looks in his direction. Clearly, she overheard the nickname Margareth is titling him.
Lovely hotness, he wants to kiss her so badly.
Whilst he walks over to the Parkers, Margareth keen on introducing them, he keeps glancing to Angelica further away. In assistance to walk easier up the stair towards the grand front doors, she lifts her long and heavy dress up and throws a last look over her shoulder.
It does not matter how far apart they are - he will catch it.
For something that just occurs in the briefest second, it still shoots him sufficiently hard to make him want to run up to her. Right at once.
Seeing Margareth excitedly speaks though, he refrains from it and Angelica is gone inside.
Quite thankful to some part that Margareth is busy, he must admit. Because it gives him an opportunity into trying to inspect her. What jewels she wears, what ornaments and where she possibly can hide this key. At the same time, he must keep up with his own presentation. Charmingly smile, nod, throw a remarkable joking retort and show off his infatuation of this Margareth. Also, working hard to keep track of who the persons are. Apparently important people to Margareth. Relatives and all, something he has tried to study best he can.
"Ah, there he is," Margareth suddenly sighs and waves over a man.
There is an annoying smugness this person carries that makes Jack instantly dislike him. Such a cocky-looking snobbish Prince Moron that Jack obviously would love to duel against. He has not even said a word and Jack already knows this is an irritating bloke he prefers not to know of.
"Leonard, this is my Jackie-darling," she beams.
Jack has gestured to a by-passing servant to hand him another glass of rum and he appreciatively sinks it.
"How lovely," Leonard says when he approaches them. He stretches out his hand and Jack grabs it. "Marquess Leonard Stanford," he presents himself.
"My cousin," Margareth explains.
Of course they are related. What else?
Firmly, Jack shakes his hand. "Jack Teague."
Leonard smirks. "Who'd have believed my cousin at last would trap a man?"
Alright, maybe not too bad, aye? Perhaps he was too fast in judging this mister.
Jack prevents his agreeing hum by clearing his throat. "That man'd be me."
Intriguingly, Leonard inspects him. "Finally I get to meet you. Must admit I was rather…. curious about you."
Flattered, is that what Jack feels? Oddness too. But hey, he has always been famous, has he not? Always leaving a trace, a clear mark that makes people know of him. Whatever or whomever he is, as for now, an act.
Obviously Margareth must have put in a good word of him, if this nosiness has spread to this cousin of hers.
Making her way apart from them, Margareth excuses herself. "I'm just going to have a word with a friend, would you mind if I'm gone for a few?"
Supposedly no. Jack lets her go and hopes this Leonard-bloke will not interrogate him about his intentions of Margareth and so on. Even if he is somewhat prepared for it. All relatives of hers have asked him too much for his approval, really. Leonard will not be any exception.
And clearly, he is right.
"You really love my cousin, do you?" Leonard-bloke wonders.
As if Jack is obliged to answer anything but something agreeable. "Dearly."
"Splendid," Leonard approves. There is silence between for a long moment, skepticism in both of their eyes while looking at the other one as if to read him out. "You were married before, weren't you?"
Infernal nosy cousin. Jack has so not any intentions of speaking about this, knowing how possibly inappropriate such a reputation can be. Specifically when marrying a marchioness.
"It's been over for a while."
"Ah," Leonard accepts. "So no feelings left for your former missus?"
What is he supposed to say? That he would sacrifice the world for her? And that he does, as for the moment?
He replies the only acceptable answer he can come up with.
"Not a chance."
Now, Leonard is the one waiving over a servant. He offers Jack a glass before grabbing one himself, raising it as if to share a saluting gesture with him. Jack accepts.
"Very good. Let's have this toast, Mr Teague, for you marrying into the Stanford family."
They share this toast and Jack glances to Margareth. She is still as busy as ever with this friend.
"Allow me to wonder..," Jack tries to stay social. Any relative to Margareth is a possible assistance, after all. If any clues are to be left in between any lines. "Married?"
"No," Leonard chuckles. "However, the day someone captures my interest I suppose..," by his uncertainty, Jack's eyebrow quirks.
"You've met someone that does?"
"Perhaps."
Suddenly he notices Angelica by a balcony-terrace with Vivienne. Both standing there and intensely talking about something that makes her unaware of anything going on around her. Also meaning, Jack's stare from the same spot she last must have seen him.
At least she is speaking with Vivienne and Vivienne only. A female. Not a man. Not this bloody hell forsaken suitor Frances claims Angelica has after herself. Now who can that bloody idiot can be? Probably, this monster will go to this party tonight. And Jack, is not the person who is allowed to precisely stop that man from trying his ways with her. It would not look good and he would risk have a rumor about himself if doing so.
Leonard spins around to see what caught Jack's attention.
Crap. Now he has to speak and let him know. Try to lay it out nicely without coming off as the jealous former husband that still loves his former wife with all he has.
"That's my former wife, aye," he reveals.
Leonard spins back around to Jack.
"The one in red," he continues and Leonard still says nothing.
"You don't find it awkward to be at the very same gathering as her?" Leonard wonders curiously.
Jack shakes his head. It makes him calm to know where he has her. But it irritates him that a man thinks he can try to sweep her off her feet.
And it would annoy him highly to have to witness this tonight.
"Not at all," Jack sinks another shot.
However he will need to concentrate tonight. Try to find this key on Margareth. No matter how much he likes to deny this, that the idea of a man catching Angelica's attention, truly annoys him to his core - it will nonetheless distract him. Just the mere idea of her involved with a man drives him up the wall.
He refuses to witness this tonight. This is neither the right time nor place to have to walk on eggshells by irritation a man tries to woo her.
With his vision traveling back to Leonard, he suddenly gets this brilliant idea.
Did this bloke not just say that he did indeed have an interest for a lady?
That would be magnificent.
Because Leonard-blokie already fancies someone else.
"Allow me to ask a favor of you, Marquess Stanford?"
Leonard listens carefully. "What would that be, Mr Teague?"
"My former wife..," Jack explains. "Can be rather… hot-tempered. And I fear, have a bit of resentment to me."
"I suppose no divorce ends in fluffy pinkish clouds, am I right?"
"Precisely," Jack agrees. "But now, seeing I'm here with Margareth, I want no drama in her way."
As if that would be the reason. But aye, he just needs to sell in this genius idea.
Leonard straightens his back. "I follow."
"What would you say, if I asked of your help to keep a drama-free evening for your cousin, by acting as an escort for my former wife tonight?"
What a ridiculous idea, yet genius. Absolutely brilliant. If Jack has this Leonard-bloke running after Angelica to make sure she stays away from Margareth and him, naturally it means she will have a chaperone on her heel. As result, her presence will be impossible for a possible suitor. For the suitor, who has an infernal grand enough ego to think he can charm his Angelica.
Who can be more perfect than this Leonard-bloke? He is even infatuated by someone as it is. Which means, no risk this man would get fond of Jack's lovely Spanish lass over there.
There are not many moments where Jack has been this proud of his conniving plans, but this is one.
As if he cannot believe what Jack just said, Leonard throws another look at Angelica that disappears inside before he faces Jack again.
"Let me understand you clearly."
Immediately with hands up in surrender, Jack is aware of his need of explanation. "Only because I want no drama in Margareth's way, savvy."
He needs to pretend this is only for Margareth.
Not because he needs a chaperone for Angelica.
Leonard chuckles as if he cannot believe Jack at all. Yet at the same time, he appears as nothing but amused with that wide grin.
"You want me to act as your former wife's partner tonight? To take care of her and make sure she has a lovely night?"
Carefully, Jack nods. "That'd help my case, aye."
It would be perfect. He almost wants to gloatingly grin to that face of the mysterious suitor Angelica apparently has. He would pay so much to be able to see his devastated face upon the sight of Angelica having this Leonard as chaperone the whole night. Poor idiot who tries to woo his Angelica.
Jack is too brilliant, is he not? Always putting obstacles for her even when she does not even know it. Hah, he is too good, aye?
Leonard still grins at the situation. "So I shall dance with her and spend every second with her. With your blessing in order to make sure the two of you do not cross paths?"
Then he adds.
"And that no other man wouldn't either?" he interprets Jack.
Yes, Leonard is getting this.
How perfect.
"Exactly."
Leonard remains silent for a while. As if he cannot believe this offer.
"It would be my pleasure… to help." Instantly, Leonard reaches out for Jack's hand and shakes it. "It seems as if we have an accord, Mr Teague."
"Appears so, Marquess Stanford."
A/N: Jack, Jack, Jack...