Jack and Will watched the commodore up the stairs before advancing to the
drawing room, knowing they had only a few seconds of surprise before the
pirates settled into the fight. Hoping the women would know to stay out of
the way, they crept forward, both tense as they thought on what they were
to do.
The voices were still talking as Will pressed his eye to the crack of the door.
'One by the window,' he murmured. 'Elizabeth and Rosemary are on the sofa with Matthew, there's a man behind them. And the last is just the other side of the door.'
Jack nodded, hoping Marin knew what she was doing. He had every confidence in her ability, he was just worried that she may find herself overpowered in a fight such as this. He shook his fears from his mind, adjusting his hold on the pistol and sabre in his hands as he exchanged a glance with Will.
They burst into the room, the door slamming violently into one of the pirates and knocking him sideways. As Will leapt over the furniture to grapple with the man standing too close to his beloved wife for comfort, Elizabeth grabbed Lady Rosemary and pushed her down onto the floor, kneeling with her, the baby cradled close in her arms.
Jack shot at the pirate by the window, missing completely as the other lunged at him from his right, falling backwards under a flurry of blows that could have killed him if he hadn't expected it. The remaining pirate grinned, drawing his pistol and pointing it at Elizabeth's head. She gazed along the barrel calmly, aware that there was a third party who had not yet made an appearance.
Will's eyes widened as he saw the threat to his wife, but was unable to help her as his opponent smashed against him again, winding the younger man with the sheer force of his blow. Jack was otherwise engaged, fighting from the awkward position of lying on his back, having not had the chance to regain his feet.
A shadow passed over the window, and Marin leapt through, kicking the pistol from the pirate's grip as he pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed harmlessly into the ceiling as she landed with catlike grace, already circling the furious man as he drew his own blade. Marin deflected it easily as he lunged, and the deadly dance began.
Lady Rosemary stared around her in disbelief, quickly growing angry at the sight of three people she had grown very fond of over the past weeks engaged in battles to save her and her niece. She glanced towards the fire, motioning Elizabeth to stay where she was, and drew the poker from the stand by the fire. Rising from her knees, she turned to the nearest pirate, and stabbed.
Jack only just managed to roll out of the way before the injured party collapsed on him, howling in pain from his latest wound. He grinned up at the shocked Lady Rosemary, hauling himself to his feet and divesting her of her weapon.
'My thanks, my lady,' he bowed.
Lady Rosemary nodded absently, meekly accepting her grand-nephew into her embrace as Elizabeth rose to join them. The younger woman scowled at the man giving her husband as sound beating, her hands closing around one of the heavy cut-glass decanters that rested on the table. Jack's eyes widened and he moved quickly to direct her hands to another one.
'Not the brandy, love,' he muttered, turning in time to lash out at Lady Rosemary's victim with the poker, sweeping his legs out from under him with a practised ease. There was a crack as the man's leg broke under the blow and he slumped, whimpering pathetically.
Elizabeth, armed with the sherry decanter, strode firmly up behind Will's opponent, and slammed the very solid base down over his head. To everyone's surprise, it didn't smash, but made a very satisfying thunk against his skull as he crumpled to the ground. Will stared at his wife, eyes wide, though he knew he shouldn't have expected her to keep out of the fight.
Jack was already moving to where Marin remained locked in her own private battle, her movements and actions too swift and varied for her friends to get involved without risking injury to her. The pirate drew a dagger, slashing towards her face. She ducked, and met his knee rising to bang against her forehead. Partially stunned, she staggered back, and the pirate raised his sword to finish her off.
A strong hand caught his wrist, and he glanced sideways to look into Will Turner's furious face.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' he murmured, nodding towards Marin with a pleasant smile.
Confused, the pirate turned back, and Jack punched him, hard, his fist still enclosed in the guard of his sabre. Will let go as the unconscious man slid to the ground, and found himself on the receiving end of a warm embrace as Elizabeth flew into his arms. Jack knelt beside his own wife, tenderly stroking the hair back off her face as she fought to focus.
'Done?' she managed, blinking feverishly in an effort to regain control of her blurred vision.
Jack grinned.
'And dusted,' he said, hauling her to her feet as James entered, Laura held close by his side.
No one was very surprised when the young woman refused to leave the safety of his arms to embrace her mother, ascertaining by sight alone that Lady Rosemary was fine. The older woman glanced around at the three pairings about her, inwardly pleased with what she saw.
Then, something registered.
'Mrs Sparrow, what on earth are you wearing?'
*~*~*
Governor Swann walked slowly beside his sister-in-law, both maintaining a respectful distance from the now-officially-courting couple ahead of them. His thoughts were on the danger that had arisen to those he loved best the day before, and how powerless he had been to prevent it. If Jack Sparrow and his companions had not taken action, this walk would not be one he would be making in such company. He had almost lost everything he held most dear, and it had hit him hard.
He had been asked to witness the executions that morning. Normally, the mild-mannered man did not care for the firing squad, but it had been agreed that it was the best way to dispatch the offending pirates. So, at dawn, he had stood beside Commodore Norrington and watched, coldly and dispassionately, as those who would have killed his own left this world for the next, be it heaven or hell.
Lady Rosemary grasped his arm suddenly, and he obediently paused, glancing ahead to where James and Laura stood together, talking quite earnestly about something or other, it seemed. He shook his head with a chuckle. When he had been courting, he recalled many an hour when nothing was said at all, both parties just staring at one another in mutual discomfort. But then, James had shed blood for young Laura, and that sort of thing must encourage companionship rather than coldness. There was certainly no lack of warmth in the smile they shared before continuing their walk.
'When do you suppose he'll propose to her?' Rosemary said longingly. 'Surely he cannot mean to leave her hanging.'
Swann swallowed the inappropriate smile that rose in response to his sister- in-law's tone, and coughed quietly.
'James isn't one to give anyone false hope, Rosemary,' he told her softly. 'This voyage to Cape Horn is one he may not survive. The Horn is notorious for the number of accidents that happen as ships round her.'
'But he's been round the Horn before, hasn't he?' she asked. 'I heard him mention it to Captain Sparrow.'
Swann smiled gently at her, squeezing her hand.
'Once,' he told her. 'With a different ship, and different men. This will be as much of a challenge as the first time. But should he return, I have no doubt that he will ask for Laura's hand.'
Rosemary frowned.
'But how long will that take?' she sighed. 'We cannot stay out here forever, Weatherby.'
'Why not?' the governor asked suddenly.
She stared at him.
'Well, because we'll have to go home, to England,' she said, but she didn't sound too pleased with that prospect.
Swann's smile widened.
'Why?' he pressed.
Rosemary held his gaze for a long moment.
'Because, well, England is our home,' she told him, aware of how flimsy that excuse sounded.
'Why not make your home out here, with me?' he asked her, adding hastily, 'Not married, though. Just family, living under the same roof. It can be terribly lonesome living alone in that big house.'
She rolled her eyes, slapping his wrist lightly.
'Oh, go on, you,' she said, laughing. 'I'll think about it. After all, I'll have plenty of time for that when they leave.'
They glanced ahead to where Laura had slipped her arm into James', his other hand folding warmly over hers as he smiled down at her.
'That does seem to be progressing nicely,' Swann said fondly. 'I hope absence does what it's supposed to do.'
Rosemary smiled softly.
'I should think that it will, Weatherby,' she assured him. 'There's too much there for this to just peter out. Oh, what beautiful roses!'
She tugged on his arm, turning him away from the courting couple and bending down to smell the sweet fragrance. Amused by her behaviour, the governor waited, knowing his sister-in-law's machinations of old. As he expected, she glanced up from the flowers to where the young ones stood, and smirked triumphantly. He turned to look back at them, and found them held in a tender kiss. He sighed, turning back to Rosemary with a defeated smile.
'Am I, or am I not, a genius?' she asked victoriously, holding out a hand for him to shake.
Swann laughed as he shook the proffered hand.
'I bow to the master, as ever, Rosemary,' he told her.
They went back to their examination of the flowers, unashamedly giving time and privacy to the commodore and his new love as they kissed beneath the stars.
*~*~*
Oh, you're all going to hate me. *ahem* I'm afraid to say that these two chapters are the last in 'A Silver Doubloon'. But you know what to do if you want a sequel, don't you? Convince me, go on, you know you want to!
The voices were still talking as Will pressed his eye to the crack of the door.
'One by the window,' he murmured. 'Elizabeth and Rosemary are on the sofa with Matthew, there's a man behind them. And the last is just the other side of the door.'
Jack nodded, hoping Marin knew what she was doing. He had every confidence in her ability, he was just worried that she may find herself overpowered in a fight such as this. He shook his fears from his mind, adjusting his hold on the pistol and sabre in his hands as he exchanged a glance with Will.
They burst into the room, the door slamming violently into one of the pirates and knocking him sideways. As Will leapt over the furniture to grapple with the man standing too close to his beloved wife for comfort, Elizabeth grabbed Lady Rosemary and pushed her down onto the floor, kneeling with her, the baby cradled close in her arms.
Jack shot at the pirate by the window, missing completely as the other lunged at him from his right, falling backwards under a flurry of blows that could have killed him if he hadn't expected it. The remaining pirate grinned, drawing his pistol and pointing it at Elizabeth's head. She gazed along the barrel calmly, aware that there was a third party who had not yet made an appearance.
Will's eyes widened as he saw the threat to his wife, but was unable to help her as his opponent smashed against him again, winding the younger man with the sheer force of his blow. Jack was otherwise engaged, fighting from the awkward position of lying on his back, having not had the chance to regain his feet.
A shadow passed over the window, and Marin leapt through, kicking the pistol from the pirate's grip as he pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed harmlessly into the ceiling as she landed with catlike grace, already circling the furious man as he drew his own blade. Marin deflected it easily as he lunged, and the deadly dance began.
Lady Rosemary stared around her in disbelief, quickly growing angry at the sight of three people she had grown very fond of over the past weeks engaged in battles to save her and her niece. She glanced towards the fire, motioning Elizabeth to stay where she was, and drew the poker from the stand by the fire. Rising from her knees, she turned to the nearest pirate, and stabbed.
Jack only just managed to roll out of the way before the injured party collapsed on him, howling in pain from his latest wound. He grinned up at the shocked Lady Rosemary, hauling himself to his feet and divesting her of her weapon.
'My thanks, my lady,' he bowed.
Lady Rosemary nodded absently, meekly accepting her grand-nephew into her embrace as Elizabeth rose to join them. The younger woman scowled at the man giving her husband as sound beating, her hands closing around one of the heavy cut-glass decanters that rested on the table. Jack's eyes widened and he moved quickly to direct her hands to another one.
'Not the brandy, love,' he muttered, turning in time to lash out at Lady Rosemary's victim with the poker, sweeping his legs out from under him with a practised ease. There was a crack as the man's leg broke under the blow and he slumped, whimpering pathetically.
Elizabeth, armed with the sherry decanter, strode firmly up behind Will's opponent, and slammed the very solid base down over his head. To everyone's surprise, it didn't smash, but made a very satisfying thunk against his skull as he crumpled to the ground. Will stared at his wife, eyes wide, though he knew he shouldn't have expected her to keep out of the fight.
Jack was already moving to where Marin remained locked in her own private battle, her movements and actions too swift and varied for her friends to get involved without risking injury to her. The pirate drew a dagger, slashing towards her face. She ducked, and met his knee rising to bang against her forehead. Partially stunned, she staggered back, and the pirate raised his sword to finish her off.
A strong hand caught his wrist, and he glanced sideways to look into Will Turner's furious face.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' he murmured, nodding towards Marin with a pleasant smile.
Confused, the pirate turned back, and Jack punched him, hard, his fist still enclosed in the guard of his sabre. Will let go as the unconscious man slid to the ground, and found himself on the receiving end of a warm embrace as Elizabeth flew into his arms. Jack knelt beside his own wife, tenderly stroking the hair back off her face as she fought to focus.
'Done?' she managed, blinking feverishly in an effort to regain control of her blurred vision.
Jack grinned.
'And dusted,' he said, hauling her to her feet as James entered, Laura held close by his side.
No one was very surprised when the young woman refused to leave the safety of his arms to embrace her mother, ascertaining by sight alone that Lady Rosemary was fine. The older woman glanced around at the three pairings about her, inwardly pleased with what she saw.
Then, something registered.
'Mrs Sparrow, what on earth are you wearing?'
*~*~*
Governor Swann walked slowly beside his sister-in-law, both maintaining a respectful distance from the now-officially-courting couple ahead of them. His thoughts were on the danger that had arisen to those he loved best the day before, and how powerless he had been to prevent it. If Jack Sparrow and his companions had not taken action, this walk would not be one he would be making in such company. He had almost lost everything he held most dear, and it had hit him hard.
He had been asked to witness the executions that morning. Normally, the mild-mannered man did not care for the firing squad, but it had been agreed that it was the best way to dispatch the offending pirates. So, at dawn, he had stood beside Commodore Norrington and watched, coldly and dispassionately, as those who would have killed his own left this world for the next, be it heaven or hell.
Lady Rosemary grasped his arm suddenly, and he obediently paused, glancing ahead to where James and Laura stood together, talking quite earnestly about something or other, it seemed. He shook his head with a chuckle. When he had been courting, he recalled many an hour when nothing was said at all, both parties just staring at one another in mutual discomfort. But then, James had shed blood for young Laura, and that sort of thing must encourage companionship rather than coldness. There was certainly no lack of warmth in the smile they shared before continuing their walk.
'When do you suppose he'll propose to her?' Rosemary said longingly. 'Surely he cannot mean to leave her hanging.'
Swann swallowed the inappropriate smile that rose in response to his sister- in-law's tone, and coughed quietly.
'James isn't one to give anyone false hope, Rosemary,' he told her softly. 'This voyage to Cape Horn is one he may not survive. The Horn is notorious for the number of accidents that happen as ships round her.'
'But he's been round the Horn before, hasn't he?' she asked. 'I heard him mention it to Captain Sparrow.'
Swann smiled gently at her, squeezing her hand.
'Once,' he told her. 'With a different ship, and different men. This will be as much of a challenge as the first time. But should he return, I have no doubt that he will ask for Laura's hand.'
Rosemary frowned.
'But how long will that take?' she sighed. 'We cannot stay out here forever, Weatherby.'
'Why not?' the governor asked suddenly.
She stared at him.
'Well, because we'll have to go home, to England,' she said, but she didn't sound too pleased with that prospect.
Swann's smile widened.
'Why?' he pressed.
Rosemary held his gaze for a long moment.
'Because, well, England is our home,' she told him, aware of how flimsy that excuse sounded.
'Why not make your home out here, with me?' he asked her, adding hastily, 'Not married, though. Just family, living under the same roof. It can be terribly lonesome living alone in that big house.'
She rolled her eyes, slapping his wrist lightly.
'Oh, go on, you,' she said, laughing. 'I'll think about it. After all, I'll have plenty of time for that when they leave.'
They glanced ahead to where Laura had slipped her arm into James', his other hand folding warmly over hers as he smiled down at her.
'That does seem to be progressing nicely,' Swann said fondly. 'I hope absence does what it's supposed to do.'
Rosemary smiled softly.
'I should think that it will, Weatherby,' she assured him. 'There's too much there for this to just peter out. Oh, what beautiful roses!'
She tugged on his arm, turning him away from the courting couple and bending down to smell the sweet fragrance. Amused by her behaviour, the governor waited, knowing his sister-in-law's machinations of old. As he expected, she glanced up from the flowers to where the young ones stood, and smirked triumphantly. He turned to look back at them, and found them held in a tender kiss. He sighed, turning back to Rosemary with a defeated smile.
'Am I, or am I not, a genius?' she asked victoriously, holding out a hand for him to shake.
Swann laughed as he shook the proffered hand.
'I bow to the master, as ever, Rosemary,' he told her.
They went back to their examination of the flowers, unashamedly giving time and privacy to the commodore and his new love as they kissed beneath the stars.
*~*~*
Oh, you're all going to hate me. *ahem* I'm afraid to say that these two chapters are the last in 'A Silver Doubloon'. But you know what to do if you want a sequel, don't you? Convince me, go on, you know you want to!