Usual disclaimers. nevermind!
***
A week after the fire HMS Gauntlet slipped quietly back into the harbour. Theodore gasped in disbelief and cries of shock went up around the ship as they saw the devastation of the town. As soon as they were anchored securely Theodore rowed ashore. Two marines were waiting for him.
"Captain Groves, the Commodore would like to see you in his office immediately," the taller marine informed him.
He nodded, following them through the town. "What happened?"
"Nobody knows Sir," the taller marine responded. "I am sure the Commodore will be able to answer your questions."
They turned into the Fort, only turning aside when he was immediately outside of the Commodore's office.
He knocked.
"Come in..." James Norrington's voice echoed from within.
He entered, anxious to discover why the Commodore had been so insistent that he report immediately.
"Ah, Captain Groves! Please come in and take a seat..." James Norrington indicated the chair opposite, waiting for Theodore to sit before he spoke.
"I understand you are anxious for my report Comm..." Theodore began, but was cut short by the Commodore.
"No. Your report can wait." James Norrington sighed regretfully. "I am afraid I have some bad news for you. Your father was killed in the fire and Mary is missing..."
He looked at the Commodore in shock. "Missing!" he gasped. "What of Charlotte? Not her too?"
The Commodore smiled reassuringly, pleased that at least he had some good news to tell. "No, your daughter is safe. She and the maid were rescued by Will Turner. They are staying at the Governor's Mansion for now..."
"What? Why?" Theodore could only stutter, still in shock.
"The fire was mainly in the lower town, but for some reason your house was set alight too. The choices appeared random... but..." James Norrington looked at Theodore sadly. "I believe your house was targeted deliberately by whoever set the fires... the walls are still standing but the insides completely collapsed. We only found your father yesterday... he was badly burned..."
"And Mary?" he pleaded.
"We have sifted through all the rubble. Mary was not in the building but we can find no trace of her." He put his hand on Theodore's shoulder. "I am sorry, but we have no clue as to what has happened to her..."
"Cat will need to know..." Theodore knew that she would be devastated at the loss of their father.
"Where is your sister now?" the Commodore asked. "I can always send the Gauntlet out as soon as it is resupplied..."
Theodore frowned, thinking deeply. "They should probably be at Tortuga. We passed them in the Windward Passage..."
James Norrington winced. The idea of sending his sole ship into a pirate haven filled him with dread. "I will see what can be done. In the meantime, go to the Governor's Mansion and spend time with your daughter. I will send the Gauntlet as soon as I can - she will sail without you!"
"But..." Theodore had started to rise, ready to return to his ship immediately.
"Your daughter needs you..." James Norrington stressed.
"But Commodore - if I do not go then they will sink the Gauntlet!" he protested. "At least if I am onboard there is a chance we will not be fired on..." He sagged in the chair. "And the news will be better coming from me than a stranger..."
Although he did not like the idea of sending Theodore out so soon, he realised it was probably the safest for the ship. He nodded.
"We can anchor quietly a short distance from the town and row in," Theodore suggested. "If the Black Pearl is there we won't even have to land..."
"Make sure those rowing don't wear their uniforms..." James Norrington advised. "But enough of work! Go and see your daughter! I will send for you when the Gauntlet is ready..."
Theodore turned to leave. "Commodore - if it is possible, could you arrange for my father's body to be placed onboard. He wanted to be buried at sea..."
"Of course." James Norrington sighed. It was a small courtesy to a former sailor and one he was happy to oblige.
***
Theodore was still in a daze as he sat on one of the plush settees at the Governor's Mansion. Rosamund Spense sat before him, holding his daughter. Her eyes were red and she had clearly been crying. Thomas Spense paced behind her. "You say you will be leaving again today!" he fumed. "But you have only just arrived! What is Norrington thinking of?"
"It was my request Sir," Theodore admitted, sighing at the expression on his father-in-laws face. "Cat will need to know about Father..."
"And what about Charlotte?" Rosamund gasped.
"Charlotte is barely eight weeks old. She will not miss me for a week or so... plus Jack and Cat may be able to help search for Mary..."
Thomas Spense cut across him angrily. "I don't want that woman anywhere near my daughter!"
Theodore looked at him in disbelief. "Sir, if Mary is not on the island then they are probably the only hope in finding her. They have contacts that I cannot use..."
"Pirates you mean!" the Governor snorted.
"Pirates, smugglers, rum-runners... they know a lot of people. If somebody has taken Mary then those are the people that will know..." Theodore replied, angry but trying to hide it. He could not understand why the Governor had become so against Jack and Catherine... perhaps it was to do with their defiance of him.
"How can you associate with them?" Thomas Spense demanded. "They are little better than pirates themselves, for all of their privateer status!"
"Cat is my sister!" he argued. "And Jack has never broken his accord!" He stood angrily. "Now if you will excuse me I must see about finding a home for myself and Charlotte..."
"You cannot take Charlotte!" Rosamund protested. "She is happy here!"
"I am her father - it is my duty to care for her..." Theodore insisted, realising where the conversation was heading and determined not to leave them to raise his daughter.
"Leave her with us," Rosamund suggested. "We will care for her and raise her..."
"No!" Theodore argued.
"How can you care for her?" the Governor demanded. "You are always at sea!"
"She is my daughter Sir, and I will see to her care!" He stood in front of the Governor, eyes blaring with fury. "And if that means giving up my command then so be it!" He paused, looking carefully at his father-in-law. "I am going to find my sister for she will need to know about Father even if they are not prepared to help search for Mary... and you should be grateful if they do agree considering how they have been treated lately. When I return I will be taking my daughter to live with me - she will not remain in this house!" He turned, striding angrily from the room.
"No!" Thomas Spense shouted after him. "I won't allow it! You cannot raise her - she must stay here!"
Theodore stopped, turning to face him from the doorway. "Need I remind you of the last time you crossed my family? What do you think the town would make of such a refusal?" He smiled as his threat hit home and that the Governor realised he truly meant it. "Good day Sir!" He left the house and walked quickly back to the Fort. The sooner he left Port Royal the better.
***
Theodore stood on the quarter deck watching as Port Royal slipped from view. If there had been any grumblings at setting sail so soon they were silenced when the body of Edmund Groves was brought aboard. Although placed within a wooden coffin, he had been wrapped in a weighted sail to spare those aboard having to look at his fire ravaged body. If the Black Pearl was at Tortuga then they should be then they should only be away for a week at the most.
He sighed, heavy hearted over the loss of his father and worried about Mary. He had no idea what could have happened to her, but the Commodore had assured him she was not found among those killed by the fire - so where was she? The Commodore had also said that he thought the fires had been deliberately, if randomly set, but his house was the only one fired in the upper town. He worried that there was some reason for this, some reason that escaped him.. Where was Mary?
***
It took them two days to reach Tortuga, anchoring in a quiet bay a short distance from the town. It was night but Theodore ordered all lanterns shuttered - the last thing he wanted was one of the locals spotting them. He climbed down into the small ships boat where four marines sat quietly at the oars. "Remember," he warned, "we are just there to find the Black Pearl. If we have to go ashore you are to call each other by first name, not rank - myself included. Any slips and it could mean our deaths!"
"Aye Sir!" three of the men replied but the fourth smiled. "Aye Theodore!"
"It is nice to see that one of you is alert," he sighed as they rowed into the darkness. "No, no talking!"
***
***
A week after the fire HMS Gauntlet slipped quietly back into the harbour. Theodore gasped in disbelief and cries of shock went up around the ship as they saw the devastation of the town. As soon as they were anchored securely Theodore rowed ashore. Two marines were waiting for him.
"Captain Groves, the Commodore would like to see you in his office immediately," the taller marine informed him.
He nodded, following them through the town. "What happened?"
"Nobody knows Sir," the taller marine responded. "I am sure the Commodore will be able to answer your questions."
They turned into the Fort, only turning aside when he was immediately outside of the Commodore's office.
He knocked.
"Come in..." James Norrington's voice echoed from within.
He entered, anxious to discover why the Commodore had been so insistent that he report immediately.
"Ah, Captain Groves! Please come in and take a seat..." James Norrington indicated the chair opposite, waiting for Theodore to sit before he spoke.
"I understand you are anxious for my report Comm..." Theodore began, but was cut short by the Commodore.
"No. Your report can wait." James Norrington sighed regretfully. "I am afraid I have some bad news for you. Your father was killed in the fire and Mary is missing..."
He looked at the Commodore in shock. "Missing!" he gasped. "What of Charlotte? Not her too?"
The Commodore smiled reassuringly, pleased that at least he had some good news to tell. "No, your daughter is safe. She and the maid were rescued by Will Turner. They are staying at the Governor's Mansion for now..."
"What? Why?" Theodore could only stutter, still in shock.
"The fire was mainly in the lower town, but for some reason your house was set alight too. The choices appeared random... but..." James Norrington looked at Theodore sadly. "I believe your house was targeted deliberately by whoever set the fires... the walls are still standing but the insides completely collapsed. We only found your father yesterday... he was badly burned..."
"And Mary?" he pleaded.
"We have sifted through all the rubble. Mary was not in the building but we can find no trace of her." He put his hand on Theodore's shoulder. "I am sorry, but we have no clue as to what has happened to her..."
"Cat will need to know..." Theodore knew that she would be devastated at the loss of their father.
"Where is your sister now?" the Commodore asked. "I can always send the Gauntlet out as soon as it is resupplied..."
Theodore frowned, thinking deeply. "They should probably be at Tortuga. We passed them in the Windward Passage..."
James Norrington winced. The idea of sending his sole ship into a pirate haven filled him with dread. "I will see what can be done. In the meantime, go to the Governor's Mansion and spend time with your daughter. I will send the Gauntlet as soon as I can - she will sail without you!"
"But..." Theodore had started to rise, ready to return to his ship immediately.
"Your daughter needs you..." James Norrington stressed.
"But Commodore - if I do not go then they will sink the Gauntlet!" he protested. "At least if I am onboard there is a chance we will not be fired on..." He sagged in the chair. "And the news will be better coming from me than a stranger..."
Although he did not like the idea of sending Theodore out so soon, he realised it was probably the safest for the ship. He nodded.
"We can anchor quietly a short distance from the town and row in," Theodore suggested. "If the Black Pearl is there we won't even have to land..."
"Make sure those rowing don't wear their uniforms..." James Norrington advised. "But enough of work! Go and see your daughter! I will send for you when the Gauntlet is ready..."
Theodore turned to leave. "Commodore - if it is possible, could you arrange for my father's body to be placed onboard. He wanted to be buried at sea..."
"Of course." James Norrington sighed. It was a small courtesy to a former sailor and one he was happy to oblige.
***
Theodore was still in a daze as he sat on one of the plush settees at the Governor's Mansion. Rosamund Spense sat before him, holding his daughter. Her eyes were red and she had clearly been crying. Thomas Spense paced behind her. "You say you will be leaving again today!" he fumed. "But you have only just arrived! What is Norrington thinking of?"
"It was my request Sir," Theodore admitted, sighing at the expression on his father-in-laws face. "Cat will need to know about Father..."
"And what about Charlotte?" Rosamund gasped.
"Charlotte is barely eight weeks old. She will not miss me for a week or so... plus Jack and Cat may be able to help search for Mary..."
Thomas Spense cut across him angrily. "I don't want that woman anywhere near my daughter!"
Theodore looked at him in disbelief. "Sir, if Mary is not on the island then they are probably the only hope in finding her. They have contacts that I cannot use..."
"Pirates you mean!" the Governor snorted.
"Pirates, smugglers, rum-runners... they know a lot of people. If somebody has taken Mary then those are the people that will know..." Theodore replied, angry but trying to hide it. He could not understand why the Governor had become so against Jack and Catherine... perhaps it was to do with their defiance of him.
"How can you associate with them?" Thomas Spense demanded. "They are little better than pirates themselves, for all of their privateer status!"
"Cat is my sister!" he argued. "And Jack has never broken his accord!" He stood angrily. "Now if you will excuse me I must see about finding a home for myself and Charlotte..."
"You cannot take Charlotte!" Rosamund protested. "She is happy here!"
"I am her father - it is my duty to care for her..." Theodore insisted, realising where the conversation was heading and determined not to leave them to raise his daughter.
"Leave her with us," Rosamund suggested. "We will care for her and raise her..."
"No!" Theodore argued.
"How can you care for her?" the Governor demanded. "You are always at sea!"
"She is my daughter Sir, and I will see to her care!" He stood in front of the Governor, eyes blaring with fury. "And if that means giving up my command then so be it!" He paused, looking carefully at his father-in-law. "I am going to find my sister for she will need to know about Father even if they are not prepared to help search for Mary... and you should be grateful if they do agree considering how they have been treated lately. When I return I will be taking my daughter to live with me - she will not remain in this house!" He turned, striding angrily from the room.
"No!" Thomas Spense shouted after him. "I won't allow it! You cannot raise her - she must stay here!"
Theodore stopped, turning to face him from the doorway. "Need I remind you of the last time you crossed my family? What do you think the town would make of such a refusal?" He smiled as his threat hit home and that the Governor realised he truly meant it. "Good day Sir!" He left the house and walked quickly back to the Fort. The sooner he left Port Royal the better.
***
Theodore stood on the quarter deck watching as Port Royal slipped from view. If there had been any grumblings at setting sail so soon they were silenced when the body of Edmund Groves was brought aboard. Although placed within a wooden coffin, he had been wrapped in a weighted sail to spare those aboard having to look at his fire ravaged body. If the Black Pearl was at Tortuga then they should be then they should only be away for a week at the most.
He sighed, heavy hearted over the loss of his father and worried about Mary. He had no idea what could have happened to her, but the Commodore had assured him she was not found among those killed by the fire - so where was she? The Commodore had also said that he thought the fires had been deliberately, if randomly set, but his house was the only one fired in the upper town. He worried that there was some reason for this, some reason that escaped him.. Where was Mary?
***
It took them two days to reach Tortuga, anchoring in a quiet bay a short distance from the town. It was night but Theodore ordered all lanterns shuttered - the last thing he wanted was one of the locals spotting them. He climbed down into the small ships boat where four marines sat quietly at the oars. "Remember," he warned, "we are just there to find the Black Pearl. If we have to go ashore you are to call each other by first name, not rank - myself included. Any slips and it could mean our deaths!"
"Aye Sir!" three of the men replied but the fourth smiled. "Aye Theodore!"
"It is nice to see that one of you is alert," he sighed as they rowed into the darkness. "No, no talking!"
***
