Chapter 20: 1725 The Wicked Wench
A fresh breeze waved over from River Thames on this bright Spring afternoon and mingled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and the gentle rustle of the fresh green leaves up in the trees, while the lovely voices of dozens of songbirds got accompanied by the sonorous buzz of some busy honeybees. The sun had warmed the whole place and a deep blue sky like it would rather to be expected in Autumn and not so much in Spring, stretched wide over the gardens of Sir Edwin's estates and the whole City of London with its lovely rural outskirts.
The calmness of the day and the beauty of the scenery got only interrupted by wood clashing against wood and a keen child's voice: "Take this, traitor! You tried to harm this lady? I'll show you what happens to the one who dares to threaten the woman I love! Ha!"
The fight of wood against wood raged on for a little longer, then, after a while, a little lad of six or seven years came running, holding the hand of a young woman in his own with a firm grip: "Come, love, this way. Let's hide behind these bushes where they cannot find us!"
Both vanished behind a wide and broad blackberry bush and...the adventure was over when a voice coming from the nearby gazebo admonished him: "Not that fierce, William! Or do you want your girl to run away, because you don't know how a gentleman is to behave!"
"But, mum, before I can behave like a gentleman, I first have to learn how to defend her", the lad talked back all stern and all serious about himself and the issue.
Elianor tried to keep a straight face, when she told him: "Have you forgotten that this girl knows how to fend for herself and that she has a witty and courageous lover who protects her?"
"I know that, mum, but what if Jack is not around to protect her? Then, I must do it!" He was as sincere about it as only little children are.
Caithleen restrained herself from laughing when young William Turner positioned himself in front of her like a hero of an adventure story, willing to protect her by all means, and when he took her hand after the imaginary fight was over, to lead her over to his hidden cave wherein he collected all his treasures: A little shed behind the bushes with treasure chests full of all those little gifts Jack and Caithleen had brought along for him when they returned from their journeys.
"Pat and Bill were aware of what they did, when they sent you back to London, love. Our life is not meant for a young mother and her little boy."
"I don't know, Jack! I'm still convinced we should have stayed on our little isle and I don't believe anybody would ever have found us there."
"Maybe, maybe not. For now, it's too late to think about it. There is no way to turn back time or to make things undone. But, who knows, maybe we will return to our little hideout, one day."
Elianor smiled a bitter smile as she placed her hand on Jack's: "It's not your decision to make, since you and Caith are sailing for the company now, Jack. Don't forget about that. Lord Reginald might have had a liking for you, but since his passing, things did change. That much that even those not involved in trade and seafaring notice."
"Caithleen was never pleased with sailing for the company, Elianor, she only agreed, because we were allowed to stay aboard the 'Wing', and I confess, I came to ask myself as well if my decision was right, back then."
"You know better, why Caith agreed, Jack Sparrow! For sure, not for the 'Wing'! It was solely because of you and because she loves you. She would never step in your way, if you'd follow the call of the sea. She'd always stand by your side or cover your back, if she'd have to. I just fear, some people might try to use this against you."
"Some already tried..."
He swallowed the rest of his thought when Caith and little William joined him and Elianor. The boy looked at Caithleen with bright eyes and reddened cheeks and said: "When I'm old enough, I'll become a great captain of my own vessel." He beamed and added: "Will you marry me, then, Caith?"
She picked him up and hugged and cuddled him before she told him: "You know, I can't do that, Will. I already have a captain and I love him with all my heart." Her gaze met Jack's over the little boy's shoulder and she went on: "But I will have a look around for you whenever I'll go ashore and I promise, I will find you a pretty little princess."
"But, Caith, I don't want a princess! I want a girl that will stay aboard my ship. A girl like you..."
"What is this, young Mister Turner", Jack looked at Will with a grin: "You're not making advances to my girl, aren't you?"
It was within this moment, when they saw Sir Edwin entering the garden accompanied by another visitor.
Caithleen and Jack exchanged a look. She leaned in on him and whispered when she recognized the powdered wig and the pale face of the newly designated head of the East India Trading Company, Lord Cutler Beckett: "What is he doing here?"
"Maybe, he wants to remind us that we belong to him and that he owns us. When we lightened the 'Wing' after Rosalind engaged us in that sea fight, we sacrificed not only our cannons but a full cargo of the company as well. He lost a fast ship and a substantial amount of goods and money, not once, but twice if you count in the trouble Henry Batiste caused us."
"I don't know why, but I've a bad feeling about this, Jack!"
"What is this, love? You sent your mother's ship to the depths without thinking about the consequences and now this young snob causes you a bad feeling in your guts? Don't you worry, Caithleen Stevens! What else could he do to us but to take away our letters of marque?"
She owed him a reply, when Sir Edwin addressed them: "Elianor! Jack! Miss Stevens! I'm sorry to interrupt your merrily get-together, but I fear, Lord Beckett has some urgent business to discuss with Captain Sparrow."
"That, I have, indeed!" Beckett had a look around, hinted a bow to greet Elianor, frowned when he got aware of Caithleen's sceptical expression and finally went on, his gaze fixed to Jack: "It would spare us all a lot of time, if you could accompany me back to town, Mister Sparrow. Instead of having to explain everything I've to discuss with you, twice, I can let you in on everything of importance to you en route..."
Much to Jack's surprise, the coach did not stop in front of the company's headquarters but at the company's pier at London port.
Jack adjusted his tricorn upon his head when he jumped out of the coach behind Becket and sashayed over to him with a good dash of self-confidence: "It's the port, then, aye? I admit, that was not what I was expecting. If anything, then it would have been a pair of shackles or an escort to the gallows or a firing squad or all together at once, eh?"
"Now, now, Mister Sparrow! What are you thinking of me." Beckett replied with a forced smile: "If I'd have wanted your death, I would not have made an effort to seek you out at Sir Edwin's and to ask you to accompany me to town. My time is too precious for to waste it on such negligibilities. No, Jack, all I demand from you, right now, is you to follow me. Nothing more, nothing less. And, just in case you do, don't worry about your little concubine. She is all save as the dear guest of dear Sir Edwin. I'm sure, she enjoys the stay with Madam Turner and her young son. So, come on, Mister Sparrow, let's have a walk! It's easier to discuss our business, then."
"What is all of this about, Beckett? I suppose this is not a random promenade to assure me of your sympathy."
"Definitely not! And I'm aware of the fact that this is based on mutuality. Oh, and it's Lord Beckett, now."
"Sir Edwin mentioned this, I noticed. So, you finally succeeded your father? My compliments! You waited for this day to come for so long. Did you at least grant him a proper funeral or was his seat still warm when you took over his duties?"
"Spare me of your cynicism, Jack. I'm of no use for that!"
"I see, you ran out of humour, then, aye?"
"I'm just going to free the company from layers and layers of dust. My father still nourished all those nostalgic images and memories about seafaring and romanticism. A lot of chances to lead the company to its full bloom and profit got wasted by his affection towards weeds like you. Unfortunately, I've to agree with him about you, because not every privateer who sails for the company is as honest as you. You surely can imagine what that means to the profit. Your little let me call it 'accident' concerning the loss of the 'Wing' is actually of little to no importance, because, at the same time, you freed the company from hunting down notorious Madam Stevens. Oh, by the way: How does her daughter feel about the fact, that you handed her mother over to the authorities back in Port Royal?"
"That was her decision as much as it had been mine."
"Oh! So, you're really interested in her opinion?"
"I am! And if I'd be you, I'd not underestimate her!"
"Thankfully, I am not you and I assure you, I'd never underestimate your kind of creature, Mister Sparrow!"
After a while of walking side by side without saying a word, Beckett stopped.
Right in front of them, a new ship was tied to the pier. A galleon, three masts, sixteen cannons on each port and starboard, three artfully forged lanterns at the stern and a winged beauty chosen as her figurehead. The fresh paint shimmered within the late afternoon sun.
"Is she pleasing you, Mister Sparrow?" Beckett pointed at the ship: "An enchanting toy, isn't she?"
Jack only nodded. He did not know what to say. This was the ship he had dreamt of for years and it looked exactly as if it got built after all those images he used to picture in front of his inner eye.
Beckett noticed his amazement and went on without waiting for Jack's reply: "I ordered her right after my father's passing. So to say my first official act as the new head of the company. Her cargo hold is bigger than it had been on the 'Wing' and it's possible to enlarge or to reduce it – depending on the amount of freight, she'll carry, as well as on the freight itself. So, the weight will always be perfectly disposed. If necessary, six men will be enough to crew her. She is fast, by far the fastest ship the company ever owned, she is manoeuvrable and she's in need of a captain."
"So what, Beckett? What do you expect me to do? Do you want me to ask you on my knees to give me that ship, because I seem to be all fascinated with her beauty?"
"Hardly! I just want to know, if you're interested in becoming captain of this beauty, and, if yes, the only thing I'll expect from you will be, that you're willing to fulfil your duties against the company the way you did before. You will continue sailing for the East India Trading Company in exchange for the company's fastest vessel!"
"And I thought your only wish concerning me would be to meet me at the gallows."
"My personal interests are not the matter in this case, Jack. You're an excellent sailor and a clever strategist. Your ship needed less reparations and less mending over the winter months, than others, which showed me that your interests are not founded on senseless sea fights or on sending a ship to the depths, by all means. It will surprise you, but I've have to confess, reluctantly, that I need you to become the captain of my ship."
"Aha! And how is this supposed to work? I sailed for the company that long, not because I fell in love with its rules or its leaders, I sailed for the company that long, because I felt bound to the contract your father offered to me, back then. He trusted me and I trusted him, an equation based on mutual respect, aye?"
"You're a pirate, Jack, and you know my point of view if it comes to how your kind is to be treated. As for me, I'm only interested in my profit. It's all just for good business. How it looks like and who brings it in, is of no interest to me. Do what I expect from you and I will not bother you, Mister Sparrow."
"Ah, I see! Should you ever get weary of me, one day, or should I ever fail to serve and to fulfil your expectations, you will find a way to get rid of me, right?"
"You sailed for almost seven years under the colours of the East India Trading Company. Don't tell me, you'd leave right now when the company wants to make you captain of its fastest ship. Not even you are such a fool."
"Well, then, Beckett. We have an accord! You have your captain and I can't wait to sail this ship. I guess, she has a name, mate, hasn't she?"
"I registered her as 'Wicked Wench'. Next week, you will sail her over to our colonies in New England. Your crew will partly consist of your men and partly of my men. I will wait for you, tomorrow, to hand the new contract and the new letters of marque over to you. Good day, Mister Sparrow!"
It was early in the morning and still misty when Jack and Caithleen went to the harbour, a couple of days later.
"You made a deal with the devil himself!" Caithleen's eyes had a feisty shimmer when Jack told her about Beckett and his offer: "What was it he used to convince you to stay with the company?"
"You'll see!"
Beckett kept true to his word. Instead of waiting for Jack to pick them up, though, he sent the new contract and the new letters of marque over to Sir Edwin's mansion without any delay and from the moment on when Jack had signed both documents as well, the "Wicked Wench" would sail under his command. Therefore, he was allowed to go aboard at any time and, therefore, he decided to lead Caithleen straight towards the pier that she would be able to behold with her own eyes what the bargain was about, he had been willing to strike with Cutler Beckett. It took him some effort, not to look at her with a broad and possibly a little overly contented grin when she stood rooted to the ground while staring at their new vessel out of wide eyes.
"That she is?" she asked.
"That she is, love! Our new ship."
"Our new ship?"
"Our new ship, aye! I don't care about Beckett and the company. He made me her captain and being her captain makes this lovely lady my ship."
"Jack, she is – what can I say? She is all you ever dreamt of, all you ever longed for. She is wonderful and I wished, I could share your enthusiasm about this gem, but have you thought about the things you will sacrifice for this new contract and these new letters of marque? Things you love? This new contract and these new letters of marque will come with a different price, this time. Beckett knew what he'd have to do, to keep you in the company's firm grip. He knew what to offer to you that you'd be willing to give up what means the most to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"By giving you this ship, Beckett bought you. He knew, money would not buy you, he knew, gold would not buy you, he knew, riches would not by you. But he also knew, that what would buy you would be, one, a ship and, two, the chance to sail the seven seas. You sold your freedom in exchange for a ship, but how long will you be able to stand it? Knowing that you're nothing but a slave of the East India Trading Company. Sailing freight and, perhaps, fighting against some old friends, one day?"
"I would never..."
"You will! It's the price that decides what a man becomes and you sold yourself!"
"Caithleen, love, do you really think I would do anything stupid like that? Trust me, sweet, whatever may happen to me, neither Beckett nor the company and not even the King will ever be able to buy me. Patrick taught me, how to avoid it and I will never forget his advice. No, Caith, I will never let you down and I'll never disappoint the trust you have in me. How could I, love?"
He reached out for her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace, then he cupped her cheeks with his hands and looked deep into her eyes. They mirrored all the love she felt for him and to imagine that she could be right about everything she just tried to explain to him, was almost too painful to admit. That was why he whispered into to her ear: "You know, love, you're the only one, who could demand everything from me and if you'd do, I would give everything to you, willingly, everything I own, my freedom and my life included. Only one word from you and I'll give back the contract, the letters of marque and the ship..."
"Oh no, Jack Sparrow, don't you dare even thinking about it! I want this ship as much as you do. Do you really think I'd take the risk of you holding me responsible for it, for the rest of your or my life, if I'd get you to tell Beckett to keep this vessel? No way, Captain Sparrow!"
"You're incredible, Miss Stevens!" He pulled her into a passionate kiss before he grasped her hand and added: "Well, then, come with me. I'll show you what treasure we own, now."
Shortly after, he saw her standing at the helm and he knew it was true, what he just told her: He would give everything for her...