Usual disclaimers. darn Corporate Mouse Machine!
Sorry for the short chapter. it doesn't fit with either the last or the next!
***
Once they were under way, Catherine called her first ever crew meeting. Those that had to remain on duty listened carefully. "Okay, we now know that New Orleans is the home port of the Swallow. Lact also has family somewhere up the Mississippi." She paused whilst the crew muttered over this revelation. "However, we cannot be seen to press the Swallow, in case they kill Jack." She took a deep breath, biting her lip. "Does anyone speak French. an' I mean more than the odd swear word!" Blank faces faced her. "Anyone? I need someone to go ashore with me - my French isn't good enough to go alone!"
She heard a deep sigh from the wheel. "I do Kitty. My mother was French."
"Nobody else?" She faced the rest of the crew, but there were none. Still biting her lip she nodded. "Okay, Joshamee - take the wheel for a while, Oran, join me in the cabin - we need to plan. Everyone else, back to work!"
Oran followed Catherine into the cabin. "What are you thinking of Kitty?"
"The Black Pearl cannot be seen anywhere New Orleans - I daren't risk Lact being spooked. The problem is that the region is under French control - the whole darned Mississippi is French. I intend going ashore, with you, and staying in New Orleans until we hear something. If Lact has Jack then we need somebody he cares for - a mother, a sister or anybody he might swap Jack for. We don't even know if he will keep Jack aboard the Swallow or maroon him somewhere. there are just so many unknowns!"
Oran nodded. "Makes sense."
"I want the Black Pearl to stay in the Caribbean, harass anything French, everything French!" she continued. "All we have to figure out is a story about what we are doing in New Orleans!"
"Well." He looked at her, frowning. "You don't look at all like me, so you cannot pass as family. it would have t' be as my wife."
Her eyes widened, but he held up his hand, forestalling argument.
"If you take off your ring then you'll be left with white skin. so the ring must stay. An' the ring means married!" He paused. "You won't be able to be armed either, well, not like." His gesture took in her current attire. "This will mean a dress and a concealed dagger - nothing more!" A smile crept on his face. "An' you will have to share a bed with me."
"You're enjoying this - aren't you?" she accused, eyes glaring indignantly.
"Kitty, it would look strange if you didn't share my bed - wouldn't it!"
Reluctantly she nodded. "Okay, if that is what it must be, let us figure out where we came from and our meeting." Indicating the table, she sat quietly, automatically placing her feet on the table, unconsciously mimicking Jack.
Oran pushed her feet off the table. "An' you'll have to behave more ladylike for a start."
Sorry for the short chapter. it doesn't fit with either the last or the next!
***
Once they were under way, Catherine called her first ever crew meeting. Those that had to remain on duty listened carefully. "Okay, we now know that New Orleans is the home port of the Swallow. Lact also has family somewhere up the Mississippi." She paused whilst the crew muttered over this revelation. "However, we cannot be seen to press the Swallow, in case they kill Jack." She took a deep breath, biting her lip. "Does anyone speak French. an' I mean more than the odd swear word!" Blank faces faced her. "Anyone? I need someone to go ashore with me - my French isn't good enough to go alone!"
She heard a deep sigh from the wheel. "I do Kitty. My mother was French."
"Nobody else?" She faced the rest of the crew, but there were none. Still biting her lip she nodded. "Okay, Joshamee - take the wheel for a while, Oran, join me in the cabin - we need to plan. Everyone else, back to work!"
Oran followed Catherine into the cabin. "What are you thinking of Kitty?"
"The Black Pearl cannot be seen anywhere New Orleans - I daren't risk Lact being spooked. The problem is that the region is under French control - the whole darned Mississippi is French. I intend going ashore, with you, and staying in New Orleans until we hear something. If Lact has Jack then we need somebody he cares for - a mother, a sister or anybody he might swap Jack for. We don't even know if he will keep Jack aboard the Swallow or maroon him somewhere. there are just so many unknowns!"
Oran nodded. "Makes sense."
"I want the Black Pearl to stay in the Caribbean, harass anything French, everything French!" she continued. "All we have to figure out is a story about what we are doing in New Orleans!"
"Well." He looked at her, frowning. "You don't look at all like me, so you cannot pass as family. it would have t' be as my wife."
Her eyes widened, but he held up his hand, forestalling argument.
"If you take off your ring then you'll be left with white skin. so the ring must stay. An' the ring means married!" He paused. "You won't be able to be armed either, well, not like." His gesture took in her current attire. "This will mean a dress and a concealed dagger - nothing more!" A smile crept on his face. "An' you will have to share a bed with me."
"You're enjoying this - aren't you?" she accused, eyes glaring indignantly.
"Kitty, it would look strange if you didn't share my bed - wouldn't it!"
Reluctantly she nodded. "Okay, if that is what it must be, let us figure out where we came from and our meeting." Indicating the table, she sat quietly, automatically placing her feet on the table, unconsciously mimicking Jack.
Oran pushed her feet off the table. "An' you'll have to behave more ladylike for a start."