Usual disclaimers. never mind!

Last chapter for today!

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Mid August

Jack had put on his best clothes for the visit of the Spences, determined that Mary would have no chance to snipe at Catherine. He leaned against her, smiling up at her as she braided his clean hair. He wished the Black Pearl was in port, so he could dress her with beautiful jewellery, but all she had was her pearls. Not that she'd wear anything else, he realised ruefully, for she never took them off. She had brought the ruby though, but the occasion was not grand enough to wear it. He watched as she slipped her green silk dress on, thinking he'd much rather be watching her slipping it off. "Turn around luv, an' I'll lace yer up," he offered knowing that the Governor and his wife would be arriving soon. He listened to the wind howling around the house, the trees whipping wildly. The storm he had feared seemed to have arrived - already the sky was darkening although sunset was not for another hour.

"Thanks," she smiled, standing straight so he could lace her tightly. When he had finished she sat at the small dressing table, brushing her hair until it shone. A few pins to hold it and a dab of perfume and she was ready.

"You up to this?" he asked, worried that Mary would find some way to upset her.

"I think she will behave with her parents here..." Catherine smiled hopefully.

"I don't care about her... I was talkin' about you!" He wrapped his arms around her, careful not to mess her hair as he kissed her neck.

"Cut that out!" she hissed. "I'll be okay but we should go down..."

Jack gradually stopped, turning her round and kissing her on the top of the head. "Okay then luv, let's go be sociable..." He offered her his arm, leading her down the stairs to the lounge where Theodore and Mary were sitting waiting for her parents.

"Cat, you look beautiful as always," Theodore smiled, standing as she entered the room. "Can I get the two of you a drink?"

"Rum an' a wine would be nice Theo," Jack smiled, sitting with Catherine on the settee opposite Mary. "What time are yer guests expected?"

"About seven..." He glanced at the clock on the mantel place. "They should be here shortly." He handed Jack and Catherine their drinks.

"I meant t' ask yer earlier if yer had any charts at home..." Jack asked, quietly sipping his rum.

"Why?" Theodore puzzled.

"I need t' teach Kitty 'bout th' winds and distances... if she's ever gonna take th' helm."

Catherine blinked but held her tongue. She knew that Jack wanted her to learn all about the ship, but had never imagined he would trust her with the helm.

"Surely a woman does not have the strength for that!" Mary argued, amazed at Jack's request.

Jack stared at her in amazement at her comment. "Why not? Best helmsman I ever had was a woman - she's got her own ship now..."

"A woman Captain?" Mary laughed. "How ridiculous!"

"Actually it's not! I know of three female Captains - an' one is sittin' before yer!" Jack defended his wife. "Kitty was Captain of th' Black Pearl fer a year an' Anamaria has had her ship for, what, must be seven years now." He paused. "You've met Captain Marra of th' Leochek too... so that's three just within th' Caribbean."

"But I'm not a Captain, Jack!" Catherine protested.

"Not now, true, but yer m' first mate," he smiled, "an' yer need t' know these things." He turned back to Theodore. "So yer got any charts?"

"Maybe Father does, I'll find some out in the mor..." He jumped as a loud knock sounded on the front door. "It appears your parents are here my dear..." Theodore offered her his arm, walking into the lobby to welcome his in-laws..

Governor Thomas Spense and his wife Rosamund stood looking windswept before them. "Mother! Father! Come in out of that weather!" Mary ushered them into the shelter of the house.

A gust of wind blew the door wide open, swinging wildly on its hinge. Jack helped Collins force the door shut - the wind had got much stronger in the last hour. "Theo - make sure th' windows are firmly shuttered," he warned. "She's gonna be a big 'un!" Theodore nodded - he had learned to respect Jack's weather sense. "If yer can, nail 'em shut..."

"That bad?" Theodore worried.

"It's th' season for hurricanes Theo..." Jack warned grimly, wondering at something he knew he should remember, a niggle at the back of his mind that he could not grasp.

Theodore nodded. "Bar every window Collins, and nail them shut." He turned to the Governor. "Perhaps you had better stay here tonight Sir if it is going to be rough..."

"I am sure it will be fine Theodore, don't worry. What I really want is to see my beautiful daughter!" He embraced Mary warmly. "Congratulations my dear!"

"Thank you Father," she smiled. "Perhaps you would like to come through... I believe dinner is nearly ready." She led her parents through to the dining room, Catherine, Jack and Theodore following. The table was laid with the finest china, crystal glasses and silverware - Mary had spent a lot of money on it all. Candles and fresh flowers decorated the table. Catherine thought that she had never seen a prettier table - the staff had surpassed themselves, for she doubted Mary had had much to do with it.

The three men each sat their respective partners before sitting themselves. Governor Spense smiled as the servants quickly brought in the first course. "You set a lovely table Mary, the food looks delightful..."

"Thank you father," she smiled, taking dainty portions on her fork.

"We are so proud of you darling!" Rosamund Spense smiled. "Our first grandchild and you married barely five months!" She turned to Catherine. "You have never had children Catherine?"

Theodore winced. "Cat cannot have..." he started to say, but Catherine cut across him.

"Why don't you just say it Theo? I cannot - I'm barren," she said flatly.

Jack took her hand, squeezing it gently. "No, Kitty..." he warned, holding her gaze.

Rosamund Spense gaped, unsure what to say to the tone of Catherine's reply. "I'm so sorry..."

"That's alright," Jack replied for Catherine, tightening his grip until he gradually he saw her relax. "It is not something we discuss... even with family."

"My apologies," Rosamund offered. "I had no idea..."

The table lapsed into uncomfortable silence, nobody willing to make conversation after such a revelation. Rosamund Spense was truly mortified, especially since she had been so blessed with children. The wind rattled the shutters and Jack was pleased that they had been nailed shut.

"Storm's getting worse Jack!" Theodore worried. "I'm concerned about the HMS Gauntlet in the harbour..."

Jack listened carefully. "Hurricane," he declared. "No good worrying about th' ship now. How comfortable are yer cellars?"

Theodore looked aghast at Jack. "Tell me you are joking!"

"I'm sure about it... an' I'm not sleepin' above ground! Jack assured him.

The conversation stilled briefly as the servants entered, anxiously listening to the weather themselves as they cleared away the first course and brought the main course.

"How do you know?" Thomas Spense asked when they had left, puzzled by Jack's calm assurance.

"I've always known - a sense I was born with it I guess. An' it's somethin' I've learned to listen to over th' years." He turned to Theodore. "Whether yer believe me or not, I'd get Mary t' sleep in the cellars tonight!" he warned.

Theodore nodded. "I'll get the mattress taken down after dinner..."

"I'm not sleeping in the cellars!" Mary protested, horrified at the thought.

"Missy," Jack sighed, "If th' window blows in there'll be glass everywhere and bits of debris flying. It won't be safe for anyone, let alone someone in yer condition... savvy?" She paled as the implications of his words sunk in. "Exactly Missy!"

Everyone at the table jumped as they heard a loud crash nearby - something had fallen to the storm already. Theodore made his decision and rang for Collins. "Collins, move all the mattresses down to the cellar and help my father down there too. Take blankets down for all the staff too - nobody is to leave the house tonight... it is too dangerous." He turned to Thomas and Rosamund Spense. "I must insist Sir that you both stay tonight. Your staff will understand and will be doing the same themselves..."

Jack suddenly went white, realising suddenly what had been niggling him earlier. "Will!" he gasped. "They haven't got a cellar!" He turned to Theodore, his chair falling backwards as he stood up suddenly. "Theo help me - th' Docks will need warnin' too!"

Theodore realised the insanity of what he proposed to do. "Jack - no! It's too dangerous!" He looked in horror as his sister rose too.

"Don't you dare leave without me Jack!" she pleaded.

"No Kitty, it's too rough already fer yer! Stay here an' get what yer can to th' cellar - things from yer trunk an' all." Her eyes widened as she realised how bad the storm was going to get. Jack stood next to the door. "Okay Kitty - get everyone into the cellar as soon as possible... we'll be back as soon as we can! Theo - go to th' fort an' get them to evacuate th' lower docks!"

"But I can help..." Catherine protested

"That is an order Kitty - no arguing! Stay here!" Jack quickly kissed her, turning and opening the front door. "Go Theo - now!" The wind nearly blew him over as he struggled outside and down the hill towards the poorer district where the Turners lived.

Jack ran, pushed this way and that by the wind, the distance taking twice as long as normal - but he made it. He banged frantically on the door, relieved when it eventually flew open to reveal a startled Will.

"Jack!" he gasped. "What the..."

"Get Elizabeth, Billy an' Swann - now!" Jack shouted, trying to be heard above the wind. "The storms gonna get worse an' the sea will rise!"

"How..."

"Just bloody do it Will - argue later!"

The danger they were in eventually registered on Will's face and he ran back inside, shaking the others awake. Together they staggered back up the hill towards the Groves house, Elizabeth clutching Billy tightly against her as Jack and Will struggled to support Wetherby Swann. The door opened as they arrived and they fell into the lobby exhausted. Jack realised that it was Catherine who had waited for them. He leaned against the door, helping her shut it.

"Thanks luv," he smiled. "Now, down to th' cellar everyone... it's gonna get rough!" Jack was relieved to find the house quiet and in darkness. All candles and lamps had been extinguished and everyone except Catherine was sheltering in the cellar.

They hurried down into the cellar, flickering candlelight revealed the worried occupants. Theodore had already returned, although he had a gash across his cheek where some flying debris had nearly knocked him unconscious.

"Are they evacuating th' docks?" Jack asked.

"The Commodore is getting everyone he can to the fort - some will refuse to go you know..." Theodore worried.

"Well they'll probably die then!" Jack sighed, unable to believe their stupidity. A lot of the lower docks homes were constructed of timber and whilst stone homes would probably survive, he feared the wooden ones would shatter. When the waters rose those trapped would stand no chance.

"You've done what you could Captain Sparrow." Governor Spense listened to the howling winds above. "Now we must wait..."

And wait they did - huddled together in the cellar for warmth as the winds raged above. Catherine snuggled under a blanket against Jack, his arms wrapped about her. She had never been in a hurricane and was scared, hearing a window blow in upstairs. She jumped. "It's alright Kitty," Jack assured her. "We'll be safe here..." He kissed the top of her head. "Go t' sleep... I am," he assured her as he leaned back and shut his eyes. Faced with such calm assurance she smiled and was soon asleep herself.

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