Usual disclaimers. blah!

Last chapter for tonight... I really must go to bed!

***

Louis Lact looked with pride at his crew as they finished the final preparations for their journey north. It had been easy to persuade them to go after the Sparrows especially with the bad feeling amongst the men over the levy. He gazed upon the ship smiling. She looked nothing like a pirate ship - most of the cannons had been stored below and her rigging altered to make her appear to be a merchant ship. A false name had been painted on her stern - The Angel and a false flag fluttered from her stern. Luckily they had taken a Swiss flag during their raids, for it was a nationality that would be welcomed without question in Port Royal,,, unlike French or Dutch.

"Are you sure this is wise Captain?" Henri Nevers, new Quartermaster of the Catalyntie queried. Although he wanted revenge on the Black Pearl he was unsure that sailing into Port Royal was the safest way of going about it.

"I want Sparrow and his wife, but we are not big enough to go against the Black Pearl. Therefore we must find another way. Nobody knows much about Sparrow, but his wife has family in Port Royal - and that family is vulnerable." He paused. "Is our cargo complete? Do the crew know what to say?"

"Aye Captain, lots of fancy goods to tempt the good folk of Port Royal," Henri smiled. "And everybody knows their stories." The crew had been briefed with a plausible tale that they were traders working around Barbados but had changed their destination on hearing of the terrible attacks on shipping there.

"Any sign of Narbonne?" The previous Quartermaster had slipped away when they were in the last port and they had not been able to find him. Louis had always doubted his sincerity in joining the mutiny and his absence now proved those doubts.

"Nah, that weasel will be making his way back to Jean Claude I don't doubt." Henri spat over the side rail. "But we'll find him eventually - there's nothing worse than a traitorous mutineer!"

Louis nodded in agreement. "I suggest we head to Port Royal then... carefully in case the Black Pearl is there..."

***

Mid February

When the Catalyntie quietly slipped into the harbour neither the Black Pearl nor the HMS Gauntlet were there. Unbeknown to them, both ships had headed south separately in search of the Catalyntie, passing them unseen in the night. Louis ordered a small boat readied and Henri rowed him ashore where an officious looking clerk waited for them.

"Good morning sirs!" he declared cheerily. "May I enquire as to your names? And your cargo too if you are intending to trade here..."

"My name is Louis Valais and this is my Quartermaster Henri. I've a cargo of fabric and foodstuffs I was hoping to trade..." Louis declared smoothly, his lies well practiced.

"Your accent is unusual Sir - may I enquire as to your nationality?" He frowned for they sounded foreign to him.

"My ship is Swiss, as am I," Louis assured him. "I have just arrived from the Mediterranean - is there a problem?"

"No, as long as you are not French I am sure there will be no problem. But whatever you will have to go to the Customs House Sir and declare your cargo for tax purposes. Do you know where that is?" the man asked courteously.

"No, I am afraid this is my first time in Port Royal." Louis smiled innocently. "Perhaps you could direct me?" He listened carefully whilst the man gave him directions. "Thank you, I will go there immediately," he smiled.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Henri walked closer to his Captain. "Are we going to pay their taxes?" he gasped in disbelief.

"Oh yes, Henri... here we are good honest traders and it will remain like that until I give orders otherwise." He smiled. "We don't want them to have reason to search our ship, do we now?" They turned a sharp left corner to find the Customs House before them. "Remember, keep your ears open. Any information we may come across might be useful."

***

That evening Louis Lact sat quietly nursing a brandy in his cabin, mulling over the information they had gathered during the day. It would seem that the Sparrows did not get on with the Governor, whose eldest daughter was married to a naval officer - Madame Sparrow's brother. The woman was also heavily pregnant and due any day, unlike Madame Sparrow who was rumoured to be barren. He laughed delightedly to himself at the thought of Jack Sparrow never having children... life was so amusing at times. He frowned, thinking deeply for if the rumours were true, the two women hated each other. Perhaps with her husband at sea it would be an ideal opening... he would make more detailed enquiries tomorrow.

***

Rosamund Spense sat quietly in the small drawing room, the windows open to the garden bringing relief from the heat with a gentle breeze. She was concentrating on her embroidery, determined to finish the christening robe that she was working on before the child was born. Heavily pregnant, Mary sat beside her, eyes shut and wilting in the heat. Both women looked up on hearing a discrete tap on the door which opened to reveal the butler.

"Mistress Spense, I have a gentleman at the door asking if you would see him," the butler announced.

"Who is it Forester?" Rosamund asked, for she was expecting no visitors today.

"I understand the gentleman is Swiss, a Captain Louis Valais of the trading ship The Angel, Mistress. It is currently at anchor in the harbour. He says that he has a cargo of fine food and fabric onboard and wished to enquire if you wanted to see them before he traded them in town..." he informed them politely.

Rosamund Spense frowned. It was unusual for any trader to be so bold as to knock on the Governor's door hawking his wares - but if the goods were truly fine then perhaps she would look. "And are his goods fine?" she asked.

"I would not presume to judge Mistress, but they did appear to be of high quality..." Forester had been impressed with the fabrics and the cargo list, well aware that they were way beyond his own purse.

"Perhaps we could look Mother?" Mary asked for Theodore had recently increased her allowance and she was eager to spend it. "Especially as I find it too much to walk around the town now..."

"Show the gentleman in," Rosamund decided. "But request that he leaves any weapons in the lobby..." He turned to leave. "Attend us whilst he is here!" she added, for it would be improper to be alone with an unknown merchant. He bowed and shortly returned with the man who was carrying a stout lidded box.

Louis Lact stared at the two women before him, eyes widening at the sight of Madame Groves. She was very obviously pregnant and clearly due any day. He bowed low. "Mistress Spense," he purred. "And Mistress..." He eyed the younger woman appreciatively as he bowed, his expression hidden by his fringe. Despite her pregnancy she was beautiful and obviously well-bred.

"This is my daughter Mistress Groves, Captain Valais." Rosamund smiled graciously. "I understand you have some wares you wish to show us..."

For a moment he was aware of Mistress Grove's gaze as she studied him. He caught her eye, smiling, surprised when she smiled back. He turned his gaze back to the Governor's wife. "Of course Mistress Spense," he removed the lid from the box and starting to pull out samples of the various fabrics he had stored onboard. Louis handed several large squares of fabric to the women. "Feel the quality Mistresses," he smiled. "So rich and yet soft, the blue is such a good match for your eyes."

He flattered them outrageously, watching in delight as they handled the fabric, obviously impressed with the quality. "I also have some foodstuffs onboard Mistress. I took the liberty of preparing a list..." He handed them a sheet of paper listing the foodstuffs he had onboard - fine brandy, quality wines, all top of the range goods that would command a high price from those with the purse to appreciate them.

Rosamund's eyes rose in surprise at the list instantly seeing a number of items she would buy without questioning the price. "Your cargo is most interesting Captain. Perhaps you could leave this with me until the morning when I have had a chance to speak to my husband... I am sure I will have an order for you tomorrow."

"Of course Mistress Spense, Mistress Groves." He bowed low to them, for a moment considering kissing the younger woman's hand, but decided it would not be proper. He headed towards the door. "Until tomorrow then..." He returned to the Catalyntie whistling quietly to himself - perhaps his revenge could be more attractive than he had thought for Mistress Groves was a good looking woman and clearly no prude. He would have to tread carefully.

***

The next day when he called the house was in uproar. It appeared that Mistress Groves had gone into labour and that her mother and most of the Governors maids had dashed to be with her, especially since her husband was at sea with his ship. The butler handed him the list of foodstuffs, quantities required marked in a neat female hand. "If you could return tomorrow there should be a decision on the fabrics Captain, but I am sure you can understand that Mistress Spense will not be available to see you today..."

"I understand. Oh of course." He smiled. "I will send some of my men with your order shortly..." Louis returned to his ship, cursing the delay in his plans. He ordered Henri to see to the order, retiring to his cabin. Maybe this was not such an unfortunate occurrence after all. More openings would arise from this he mused, and decided to send a complimentary bottle of his finest wine to the Governor's daughter. He wrote a brief note addressed to Mistress Groves, congratulating her on the birth of her child and attached it to the bottle. Perhaps his plans would yet bear fruit

***

Louis Lact remained in Port Royal for a week, enjoying all the festivities following the birth of the Governor's first granddaughter. Although she would not be officially named until her father returned from his duty, the name of Charlotte had been picked in honour of the Queen. When all of his cargo had been sold, Louis sent fresh fruit to Mistress Groves, and to Mistress Spense so that his attention would not appear unseemly. He ordered the Catalyntie to leave Port Royal, pleased that the crew had behaved well and they had not been discovered. But they would need a good cargo for when their return, quality goods. He smiled as Henri Nevers took the wheel, turning northwards towards the Bahamas - the last thing he wanted to do was raid the same area too often for fear of the British Navy laying a trap for him.