One More Taste of Freedom
02 jack returns
Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
Author's Note: Well, I'm back. Thank you for all my reviews so far! I'm terribly sorry about the shortness of this, and the few upcoming chapters. But, I assure you that once the plot takes off they will be longer. Some might say, too long. Hopefully you will stick with me long enough to find out. :D
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One night in June, Elizabeth's father requested her presence at yet another important party. Putting on her best sick act, she declined, but at the price of being babied and sent to bed. She had not seen Will in almost a week. Since the death or Mr. Brown, Will had taken over the shop, and orders were piling up. His swords were quite popular.
Whenever her father was out it was her practice to relieve all of the servants for a night, she didn't particularly like being waited on. She didn't like feeling as if she were any better than anyone else, even though her upbringing had taught her that she was. So with all the workers of the Swann household in the servant's quarters resting for the night, Elizabeth was left by herself in her house. After the house had emptied she had crept downstairs to the library to read. She found a suitable book, one full of adventure of course, and settled down in a comfortable chair, trying her best to drift away.
But then there was a knock at the door.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she folded the page to keep her place and sat the book down on a table beside her. Pulling her robe closer around her she reached for the handle and opened the door. The figure standing there was shrouded and hunched over, probably an old beggar. It wasn't an unusual occurrence for people to come to wealthy families and beg for money. And it wasn't unusual for her to give them whatever money she had.
"Spare a shilling for an old woman?" The figures voice was strained.
"Of course just hold on here for on mi--"
Her guest put a hand out to collect and then she noticed one hand bound in leather, and a ring with a green stone. Her heart began to beat quicker and she wondered if she were seeing things, but then the 'beggar' removed the hood, and offered her a big gold studded grin.
"Or rum. Spare rum will do as well."
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to think of something to say. Captain Jack Sparrow just stood in the doorway waiting for some sort of reaction, and prayed it didn't involve slapping. He'd done nothing to get slapped for, but then again, when did that ever stop crazy women from attacking a poor innocent man?
"Jack Sparrow --"
"-- Is standing outside in the cold, luv. A proper young lady would invite me in."
It wasn't cold. It was summer and Jamaica; still, Jack's logic did not resemble that of normal people.
"Actually, a proper young lady would shriek and alert Norrington's men that there was a pirate in Port Royal. So I'm going to go with the improper approach."
He stared at her, wondering what such an approach would be. She moved back and motioned for him to enter the foyer.
"Ah. Thank you Miss Swann. Or is it Mrs. Turner by now?"
Closing the door she turned back to face him, but upon hearing his question, looked down at her feet.
"No, no, it's still Miss Swann. Though after all we've been through I'm fairly certain it's all right if you call me Elizabeth."
"All right then, Lizzy," he smirked at the nickname he'd given her, "so the whelp still hasn't proposed then? Knew I was right about `im bein' a eunuch."
"He did propose," she held her hand up so that the pirate could see her ring; "we just haven't gotten around to the actual nuptials yet."
"Bit of advice, dear. Never wave around your diamonds in front a pirate," he took her hand to examine the ring more closely, before letting it go, "he might not be able ta control `imself." Pausing to let his advice sink in, he continued. "Do you have a date yet? You know how I feel about weddings."
Shaking her head she took her hand back, feeling to make sure her engagement ring was still in its place.
"We have set a couple of dates, actually, but Will -- he's just busy I guess."
Jack nodded, seeming to grasp what Elizabeth was not saying.
"He doesn't think he's good enough for the bonny lass, eh?"
"Jack, I didn't say tha--"
He cut her off.
"Didn't have to, luv. S'pretty obvious, I'd say. Why else would he not already be wed to the woman he was prepared to die for?"
She shrugged; he did have a point there.
"Why don't you come into the sitting room and we'll talk more?"
She began to walk off, and he followed. Glancing at the clock as they entered the room she decided that she had a good two hours before she should be expecting her father.