Chapter 10: 1718 Letters of Marque
Sir Edwin Cole's mansion and the weaving mill really lay a little distance outside of London, surrounded by meadows and fields and shielded by a lovely wooded area. It lay close enough to the river to use its waters and far enough from it to escape its floodwaters in Spring and Autumn. The mansion itself got built upon a hill, better a heap of earth raised by the hard work of assiduous hands many decades ago. From out of the upper floor, it granted a free and stunning view over the whole idyllic place, at river Thames and at the opposite banks.
It was late in the morning and the sun shone through the open window straight into the pretty sleeping chamber Sir Edwin had left to them, when Jack and Caithleen opened their eyes rather unwillingly after having spent their first night ashore for about three months. They needed some time to realize that they weren't aboard the "Eagle's Wing", any more, sharing a narrow berth within the captain's cabin, but having fallen asleep on a broad bed within a snug chamber somewhere on the country side amongst sheets made of the finest linen and beddings made of precious damask. Even the air was different being a mélange of several pastoral scents: Autumn foliage, some last blossoms and the oddly familiar but also unusual scent of the vanishing morning mist.
Jack had a look around and grinned: "I'd never have expected us to sleep and to wake up in a chamber like this, love..."
He rolled round that he came to lie face down, grasped his cushion to place his head on it and kept taps on Caithleen, who was mildly smiling and silently mumbling something within her doze. She pulled her blanket over her shoulder and curled up, while her black curls spread all over her cushion.
Jack just wanted to reach out for her blanket to slip under it beside her, when a silent knocking held him off of doing so, and when one of the women serving Sir Edwin stepped in carrying a broad tablet opulently filled with lots of delicacies. She placed the tablet on the table near the window, curtseyed and left the room without having said a single word, keen, though, for not to stare all too obvious at the young couple amongst the rumpled sheets. As silently as she went in she closed the door again.
All curious, Jack got up, grabbed his sheet, wrapped it round his hips and sneaked over to the table to have a look at the tablet and the deliciously smelling breakfast they got served: "Believe me or not, love, but after having a look at this, I'm more than ever convinced that we're desperately in need for a new cook before we will set sail next time..."
"That's what I told Rosalind ever since she captured the 'Wing'." Caithleen stretched and sprawled between the sheets before she finally sat up. She beheld Jack for a while how he fawned round the table and the tablet then she asked: "Tell me, captain, what is it we'll have for breakfast?"
Jack needed two steps to reach her and he smiled widely when he started to drag on her blanket until she had no other choice but to surrender and to get up. He stepped in her way and wrapped her too in one of the sheets before he hinted a bow: "Milady, help yourself the way it will please you the most. It will provide me the greatest pleasure to watch you while doing so..."
Caithleen beheld everything with wide eyes:
Carafes filled with fresh water, juice from sweet oranges and lemonade made of fresh lemons. Small cans of hot tea, coffee and even chocolate and a jug of cold milk. A basket filled with fresh baked bread, fluffy cakes and pastries. Cheese, bacon, eggs and golden butter. Honey and syrup, fruits and berries, fresh as well as candied, and a bowl full of sweets, truffles and pralines from all around the world.
Caithleen didn't want to believe what she just saw. She shook her head and said in pure disbelief: "If this is supposed to be impoverished nobility, how will a breakfast look like at a non-impoverished household, I wonder." She took a slice of candied pineapple and relished it visibly.
"I do not care, love, because, you know, none of them will ever have a breakfast like I will have it for the rest of my life" Jack breathed a kiss upon the bare skin of her shoulder and whispered close to her ear: "Namely, they will always miss something I'm the lucky and grateful owner of..."
"Ah! And that'll be, exactly...?"
"A girl scenting like the open ocean. A girl able to be that stubborn that even I am going to get desperate from time to time. A girl that sweet and seductive that it is difficult for me to ignore her even within situations where I better should. And a girl to whose lips a drop of honey sticks...very inviting to kiss it away, I must say..."
Jack's eyes were sparkling as he gazed at her lips. He covered them with his and tasted the honey on his tongue while he pushed her slowly backwards until she dropped into one of the comfortable chairs standing round the table. Then, he placed himself upon her lap that she wasn't able to escape...
Sir Edwin had already waited for them to join him when Jack and Caithleen finally found a way out of their chamber about an hour later. Unease got mirrored upon his face and he appeared as if he felt uncomfortable.
"Something wrong, Sir?" Jack beheld him with the same kind of curiosity and with the same kind of self-conception he used to behold Jacobsen with if something aboard the "Wing" wasn't in good order.
Sir Edwin raised his head in surprise: "It seems I'm a pretty bad actor if you got to look behind my mask that easily, young man. You astonish me. Shouldn't you care about different things? Things concerning your age?"
"I'm sorry, Sir, if I appear straight forward, but what are things concerning my age? At this moment, this concerns me and when we went in, you seemed to look troubled. I'm right, am I? Otherwise, you would not pace the room again and again at this hour. Hope it's not the devil being after you?" Jack cocked his head and smiled.
There was no denial possible. Sir Edwin knew it. And the boy had been right. He paced the whole room using both its length and its breadth, racking his brain and lost in thoughts until these two young pirates went in. He knew what they were and he smiled when he remembered their faces after he had told them the night before.
Sir Edwin had always been convinced that there was no treasure more valuable but freedom and the right to do whatever he wanted to do. To him, freedom itself was the treasure and he never understood why most of the people he had to deal with just wasted it. So, it had not been a surprise to him when his daughter informed him of having fallen for one of those temerarious fellows causing trouble within the Caribbean. He still smiled when he thought about it, but he was also very well aware of the fact that it could cause him and her a lot of trouble if anybody would find out, one day.
Sir Edwin snorted.
In his opinion, the 'nuisance' or 'the causing trouble' the influential trading companies used to paraphrase piracy, reasoned within just a single fact, and this fact was that a few used to take even the last shilling from everyone else to enrich themselves, while those everyones had nothing left to live an untroubled and unburdened life. This point of view was what did cost him his seat at the parliament. Not to his disadvantage, though, like he always pointed out without getting tired and even though the great days of the Cole family seemed to reach their end, he still earned enough profit while running the weaving mill to keep the mansion and to nourish the people living and working with him and for him. Yes, he knew the young man and the young woman he sheltered to be pirates and this was not what troubled him, but the fact those could find out as well, who weren't meant to. That was why he beheld Jack attentively while he stroke his beard: "You're right, young man, I feel unease about the situation we're caught within."
"Sir, if you want us to leave, we will..." Caithleen made a step towards him.
"No, lass, you got me wrong. This was not what I wanted to say." He went over to one of the skilfully crafted commodes standing at the wall between the windows and got a piece of paper out of one of its drawers: "Somewhen within the next few weeks my daughter will have a child. Its mother will be Lady Elianor Cole and its father will be a pirate as she told me - William Turner. So, if I would feel troubled about the fact that you two youngsters are pirates as well, I would be a bad host. I don't care about what you are. You're allowed to stay within my house whenever you want to. Elianor acts as a guarantor for you. That will do. And to answer your question, young Mister Sparrow, this is what troubles me." He handed the piece of paper over to Jack and added: "It's addressed to me as well as to you."
Jack had a look at the letter and stopped short: "The East India Trading Company? I know they expect me, but what do they want from you, Sir? And when did you receive this?"
"My dear lad, if you're not in the know about it, by now, let me tell you that it is the East India Trading Company being the most powerful force in England, these days. They keep all strings within their hands – the trade as well as the politics and the biggest part of the Royal Fleet. The leader of the company does not only command the merchant fleet, but also a big part of the Royal warships. Lord Beckett wants to see you the latest this evening and I want you to take my advice: Do not let him wait. I received his letter this morning. It's an invitation to you, but to me it is a warning to stay where I am. I've not the slightest ambition to return into politics, but there are still some members of the company, who are afraid of the idea I could use my whilom influence. Let me warn you, young fellow, you and your lass. You will sail in dangerous waters as soon as you'll come across Beckett. Beware of sailing into its shallows. You'd be lost."
"I think the worst which could happen to us are the gallows. Aye?" Jack replied with a shrug.
"You've no idea, Mister Sparrow, what this really means. I would feel much more at ease if this experience would be spared from you and your bonny lass."
"Sir Edwin, I made it to London together with barely half a crew and a captured ship. I promise, I won't take the risk of ending up within one of those cages I was able to spot alongside the riverbanks. Believe me or, not but I can assure you I know that I will not die ashore..."
Jack had another look at the letter.
Ordered by the East India Trading Company, a carriage would take him and Caithleen to town this afternoon.
A few hours later, Jack and Caithleen found themselves at the noble headquarters of the East India Trading Company - in the company of its most important representative and its leader. The room was huge and did not resemble any of those small offices being the standard for the majority of trading houses all around the seven seas. Its ceiling and its walls were wainscotted with precious wood and its marmoreal floor was covered with valuable carpets. Within one corner of the room some chairs surrounded a small table whereon various glasses got placed as well as several bottles of wine, brandy and liqueur and a map of the known world almost covered the whole wall behind the impressive writing desk their host sat at.
A bookcase and several commodes made of the most expensive tropical woods stood at the walls all around the room and framed by about a dozen candle holders and lanterns hung several portraits showing the former leaders of the company. A fireplace caused a cosily warmth and through the half closed curtains floated some diffuse light as only Autumn was able to create. On the writing desk lay lots of letters, contracts, documents alongside a good amount of quills and an inkwell.
The most impressive things within this room, though, were the two model ships standing amongst some other nautical instruments on the mantelshelf and they caught Jack's interest immediately, because these two model ships were exact replicas of both, the "Silver Stream" and the "Eagle's Wing".
Last but not least, their attention got caught by the man who invited them over to keep him company, today.
Lord Reginald Beckett was a respectable man of advanced age. His face with its sharp and aristocratic features resembled an eagle. The same applied to his gaze out of powder blue eyes. Pride and rigidity got shown upon his face and, to the surprise of many of his visitors, also the hint of some well hidden humour. He was the principal shareholder and the leader of the East India Trading Company and he owned the sole power to act as well as the sole freedom of decision.
Not only the merchant fleet sailed under his command, but also a notable amount of Royal Navy warships which meant also that he had several hundred men in arms under his command.
Lord Reginald Becket was a legendary and feared pirate hunter, but even after he caught many of them and caused them an unworthy dead, he had a fine sense when he came across a man who could be of use to him. So, it happened that not only dozens of pirates lost their lives at the gallows because of his successful hunts, but that likewise a not even small amount of them sailed for him as privateers vested with fast ships and letters of marque signed by the Crown of England - and Beckett knew the young man and the young woman standing in front of him, could prove themselves as extraordinarily useful, if, yes, if their story was true.
It was a fact that the ship he desired most beside the "Silver Stream" got moored to one of the piers at London port just a couple of hours ago.
In a very good condition.
And those two young adventurers claimed having captured it out of the bay of Tortuga, out of the heart of piracy within the Caribbean.
The truth?
A lie?
However the facts, he had not in mind to show himself narrow-minded.
Without addressing the two youngsters personally, he turned towards Jack and Caithleen and asked:" You know why I wanted you here?"
"Aye, Sir", Jack replied: "It's all about the 'Eagle's Wing', I suppose. The only thing I wonder about is why you're in need of her, twice. You already own her." He pointed at the model ship resembling the "Wing" from her masts down to her smallest hatch.
"Call it the obstinacy of old age, young man, but to free you from wondering, you should know that both ships already belonged to the company long before you and your charming companion had been given birth to." Beckett smiled a nebulous smile and went on: "I regard it as my personal duty to get both ships back under my command. For sure, you can understand my point of view."
"Of course I can, Sir, but I fear there is a kind of miscalculation within your personal duty. Unless you want to search through the deepest depths of the sea in order to find the 'Silver Stream'. A hopeless undertaking, if I think it over..."
Beckett raised his head in surprise and Jack asked himself if the leader of the East India Trading Company had really not been in the know about the fact that one of those two ships having obviously such a deep meaning to him got scuttled by the Spanish.
"So according to this she's a total loss?" His voice sounded the same afflicted and disappointed.
"Yes, Sir, that she is. The Spanish captured her close to a nameless isle within the Caribbean Sea. There's nothing left of her but debris and memories."
"These are sad news, young man, but also one more reason to talk to you then, today. But before we will go on answer me one additional question. How did the 'Eagle's Wing' get under your command?"
"We captured her within the bay of Tortuga. Exactly the way I already tried to explain it to the harbour-master when we made berth, yesterday. We, means my crew and I, had order to take Miss Cole back to London by any means. The 'Wing' lay for anchor within the bay for weeks, and Captain Stevens did not seem to care about her having been way more interested in decimating the isle's supplies of rum. Therefore, we took over the ship. Successfully, as you for sure convinced yourself already. Now, she's under your command again, Lord Beckett. A prize for the company."
Reginald Beckett beheld the young man, who told him his story without hesitation and who gazed at him, expectantly, out of soft brown eyes. He and the girl were still rather children but sailors, but they already seemed to understand how to handle a ship and how to mind the sea. He had no doubt that this Jack Sparrow really told him the truth and that everything happened exactly the way he explained it. That was why he nodded: "Mister Sparrow, I'm willing to believe your story. You sailed the 'Wing' to London and she's back in my possession. So, you honestly earned the prize the company offered on the 'Eagle's Wing'. Therefore, I will initiate that you will receive the money as soon as possible. Is there anything else the East India Trading Company is able to do for you or your companion?"
Jack had not to think about it for long. He exchanged a look with Caithleen but she only nodded and so he replied: "Lord Beckett, I assume you will heel and mend the 'Wing' throughout Autumn and Winter to make her ready for the sea again, am I right?"
"That's exactly what I have in mind, young man."
"So, she will be back at sea in either case?"
"As soon as the mending is done..."
"She will be in need of a captain then. Aye?"
"And you would love to be said captain?"
Jack grinned: "Yes, Sir, I would love to be her captain..."
"You stroll in here, dare to claim having captured the ship without firing off a single shot, dare to brush the prize and dare to point out that you want to return aboard said ship as her captain? Please!"
The undertone of the voice answering him, now, was sneering in this special kind of way mostly being accompanied by some subliminal threats.
From out of the shadows of the rear part of the room a young man joined them. He had witnessed the conversation silently and did merely turn round from time to time. Now, he got up from out of his chair, sashayed over to them and stopped close to Beckett behind the writing desk.
Jack wasn't able to say what it was, but he felt the barely restrained hostility physically radiating from the young man opposite to him. So, he looked into his face – curious and attentively: The young man's face was pale like being powdered and it owned this typical smug and arrogant expression obviously meant to demonstrate superiority. The powdered wig upon his head appeared as flawless as the clothes he was dressed in.
Jack supposed him to be not much older than he himself, if at all - with one important difference: This young snooty-nosed little upstart had never suffered from any lack of comfort, he had never suffered from hunger or coldness and he had never lifted a finger to earn all his privileges. Therefore, he replied with a shrug and without being impressed: "I captured the ship. Aye! And I do not care if you believe me or not. I know I did. That's the truth and I dare to claim that it would not be a bad bargain, neither for you nor for the company, if you would name me captain of the 'Eagle's Wing'. I can sail her through waters no other captain would have the guts to."
"Certainly! Because you can assure yourself of a ternary benefit, then, am I right? You'll get the prize the company offered on the ship, you'll get the ship and, I assume, you'll get also the prize the former owner of said ship might have offered to the one taking it back to him. You don't want to make us fools, don't you?"
Jack beheld the young man from his well-kept wig down to his polished boots then he answered: "Thereupon, you don't want an honest reply, don't you?"
"Tempering yourself, pirate!" The other nearly spat the word out.
"Pirate! Oh, that's edifying to hear something dirty coming from your tongue. What do you know about piracy and pirates? Except the part of how to hang them, of course. I am no more the fool you would love to take me for than you are. The prize you mentioned just before would consist of a broadside, mate. What else do you think would happen, if I would be that stupid to really search for Madam Stevens? She would ere scuttle her ship than to know it to be sailing under the command of the East India Trading Company. In this case, the ship would be lost to both of us. Savvy? Thought about that before?"
"Then you're either no pirate or much more down-and-dirty than any of your cullies."
Jack shook his head: "I'm nothing of it at all, mate. I just had to learn that it is much more profitable to sail on my own account. You should really act a bit less distrustful. I know nothing about you and you know nothing about me. So, it's a bargain built upon mutuality. What do you have to lose? After all, it's me taking the risk of possibly getting scuttled..."
"Or hanged, Mister Sparrow! You should always think about this possibility as one of the possibilities waiting for you, too. For sure, you noticed the cages alongside the riverbanks. How would it please you, if I told you that one of them will always wait for you..."
"Stop that idle talk!" Lord Reginald mingled in now: "Forgive my son, Mister Sparrow, but his one and only interest is based on the profit and the expansion of the East India Trading Company. He would love to eliminate everything able to cause a disadvantage for us and I think one day he will do it. After all, he's supposed to become my follower. Cutler Beckett."
The young men still measured each other with looks then it was Jack who turned towards Lord Reginald again: "Well, until it is as far as and until he will start eliminating every disadvantage, it seems you're still the one I should negotiate with, at the moment. So, what say you, Sir? Will you dare to entrust the 'Wing' to a pirate like your son paraphrased it that excellently, before?"
"Captain Sparrow, to me you seem to be a really extraordinarily temerarious and foolhardy young man. If I should trust you is a thing you should know better. I for my part will dare to entrust the 'Wing' to you and this is what I can offer to you: During the winter months you will receive an employment with the company. Your nautical knowledge will be of great use for our chart drawers and you will advise them. With Spring – according to your wish – you will set sail as captain of the 'Eagle's Wing'. You will be a privateer in the name and service of the King of England and a buccaneer in the name of the East India Trading Company. You and your crew will earn ten percent of every successful prey and, if necessary, you will carry freight over to the colonies of New England. We will reconstruct the 'Wing' with regard to her new purpose. Make your decision and I will take care that you will receive the letters of marque signed by me and the King within a week's time."
Jack looked at Caithleen.
He thought about something, then he nodded: "The decision is made, Sir, under one condition: My crew, my first mate and my girl remain aboard. Particularly my girl. She's my helmsman..."
"A woman aboard?"
Young Beckett wrinkled his nose while the old Lord smiled a knowing smile: "You don't care about such superstitions? That's exhilarating. If she knows how to handle the helm, she's allowed to stay aboard. The same applies for your crew and your first mate. If this is all, we're in agreement. I will send the letters of marque and your contract over to Sir Edwin's house. And now, I want you to wait outside for a moment. My son will take care that a coach will take you home."
Outside the East India Trading Company's headquarters Jack dragged Caithleen into his arms: "We made it, love! We finally made it. With Spring we will be back at sea and the 'Wing' will be ours again..."