Disclaimer: I do not own PotC. I do not own its characters or plots. But
Jesmina and this story (the original parts) are mine. Please do not steal.
Also, please review, but please do not flame. Critique me all you want, but
please do it politely.
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They'd been traveling for almost a week, and Elizabeth had finally found her sea legs. Now Jes sat beside Elizabeth's bed reading as her young ward slept. A soft knock sounded on the door. Jes put down the book and went to the door. "Oh, Governor." She curtseyed.
"Jesmina, may I speak with you?" Governor Swann said.
"Of course, sir." Jes extinguished the lamp's flame and left the room, closing the door behind her. The governor led her up to the deck.
"Jesmina, you have been a good nurse to my daughter."
"Thank ye, sir."
"But I must ask you, where did you work before we hired you?"
Jes's throat tightened. "I told ye, sir, I worked for Madam Johnson, and befo'e her for Madam Clayton, Master and Madam Smith, and Madam Carnahan."
"And before that?"
"I was married, sir. I became a nurse after my husband died."
"And before that?"
"I was in school, sir."
Governor Swann nodded, looking off towards the horizon. Jes looked at the melding of blue sea and blue sky.
"Jesmina, I must ask you plainly. Have you ever been on the sea before?"
"Yes, sir, with my husband."
"His trade required sea travel?"
"No, sir."
"Then why?"
"His sister's husband's trade required sea travel, sir, and we were very close to his sister and her husband."
Governor Swann stood silent for a long moment. Then he asked quietly, "What was your sister-in-law's husband's occupation?"
Jes drew herself up to her full height. "Sir, may I ask the reason behind these questions?"
"May I ask why you refuse to answer?"
Jes's eyes dropped to the deck. "My husband's sister married a good, sea-faring man."
"His occupation?"
Jes swallowed. "He was a merchant."
"Oh. Now, then, Jesmina, that's nothing to be ashamed of," Governor Swann said.
Jes nodded. "Of course, sir."
"Are you ashamed of it?"
"No, sir."
"Then why all the fuss?"
Jes shrugged. "My apologies, sir."
"Well, just don't do it again." Governor Swann patted Jesmina's shoulder. "Good day."
Jesmina watched the governor walk away. She returned to her and Elizabeth's quarters. She sat down, picked up her book, and tried to read; but she couldn't.
They'd been traveling for almost a week, and Elizabeth had finally found her sea legs. Now Jes sat beside Elizabeth's bed reading as her young ward slept. A soft knock sounded on the door. Jes put down the book and went to the door. "Oh, Governor." She curtseyed.
"Jesmina, may I speak with you?" Governor Swann said.
"Of course, sir." Jes extinguished the lamp's flame and left the room, closing the door behind her. The governor led her up to the deck.
"Jesmina, you have been a good nurse to my daughter."
"Thank ye, sir."
"But I must ask you, where did you work before we hired you?"
Jes's throat tightened. "I told ye, sir, I worked for Madam Johnson, and befo'e her for Madam Clayton, Master and Madam Smith, and Madam Carnahan."
"And before that?"
"I was married, sir. I became a nurse after my husband died."
"And before that?"
"I was in school, sir."
Governor Swann nodded, looking off towards the horizon. Jes looked at the melding of blue sea and blue sky.
"Jesmina, I must ask you plainly. Have you ever been on the sea before?"
"Yes, sir, with my husband."
"His trade required sea travel?"
"No, sir."
"Then why?"
"His sister's husband's trade required sea travel, sir, and we were very close to his sister and her husband."
Governor Swann stood silent for a long moment. Then he asked quietly, "What was your sister-in-law's husband's occupation?"
Jes drew herself up to her full height. "Sir, may I ask the reason behind these questions?"
"May I ask why you refuse to answer?"
Jes's eyes dropped to the deck. "My husband's sister married a good, sea-faring man."
"His occupation?"
Jes swallowed. "He was a merchant."
"Oh. Now, then, Jesmina, that's nothing to be ashamed of," Governor Swann said.
Jes nodded. "Of course, sir."
"Are you ashamed of it?"
"No, sir."
"Then why all the fuss?"
Jes shrugged. "My apologies, sir."
"Well, just don't do it again." Governor Swann patted Jesmina's shoulder. "Good day."
Jesmina watched the governor walk away. She returned to her and Elizabeth's quarters. She sat down, picked up her book, and tried to read; but she couldn't.