Chapter Sixteen: The Royal Navy
"Look lively, ye dogs!" Jack shouted. "They're flyin' a flag o' truce. We'll let em get close enough t' see what they want, but I want the cannons readied, just in case we need em. No one fires until I say so. Savvy?"
The men began to scurry about, preparing the ship and themselves for the possibility of battle.
Jack turned to Rachel. "Ye look lovely, darlin'," he told her. "And it'll be so much fun getting you out of that later. But for now, I think it's smartest if Norrington doesn't see you, savvy?"
"You might be right. I'll wait in our cabin. But, Jack," she said softly, "be careful."
"Count on it, luv," he told her, gently shoving her toward the cabin.
Rachel played the good little girl and went into the cabin, but she left the door open a crack and waited just inside. She had no intentions of being left totally unaware of circumstances on deck. If Jack needed her, she would be there.
As the Interceptor II came closer, Jack could indeed see Norrington on deck. The man looked like he had a stick up his back, as usual. When the ship drew close enough, a sailor appeared at the rail. "Commodore Norrington requests parlay with Jack Sparrow," he shouted.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack muttered. "He always forgets that part." He raised his voice. "Invite him over."
Gibbs raised his cupped hands to his mouth. "He's welcome aboard, if all he wants t'do is talk," he shouted.
The two ships drew close to one another and Norrington appeared at the rail. Jack raised his eyebrows as a smile lit his face. What were his favorite blacksmith and his lady doing here? "Lash em together, mates," he called. "Wouldn't want t' make the lady take a rowboat, would we?"
The ships were lashed together and a gangplank was prepared for their guests. Jack stepped up and held his hand out to Elizabeth. "Welcome aboard, lass," he said.
She accepted his hand and walked cautiously along the plank. At the end, he lifted her gently down to the deck. When he turned around, Will Turner was already behind him. "Good t'see ye, whelp," Jack told him. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We're here on a mission of diplomacy," Will replied. "It seems there's a young lady missing and you were one of the last people to see her."
"Where is she, Sparrow?" Norrington said as he stepped onto the deck.
"Captain Sparrow, if ye please . . . Commodore," Jack replied. "As you can see, I have a ship this time."
"Very well, Captain Sparrow, where is Miss Pepperidge?"
"And who might that be, mate?"
"We've spoken to Captain Hemingway," Norrington said. "We know you took the girl. But Lord Pepperidge has decided to be generous. If you turn the girl over to us now, unharmed, he will see to it you are not charged."
"Charged with what, mate," Jack replied. "There's no Miss Pepperidge on board. Ye can look for yerself if you like."
Norrington gestured to his men. "Search the ship from stem to stern. If Miss Pepperidge is aboard, I want her found."
"Jack," Elizabeth interrupted, "are you sure about this?"
"Perfectly, luv," Jack grinned. "I've got nothing t'hide. In fact, there's someone in my cabin I'd like you t'meet."
As Norrington's men scattered to search the ship, Jack led Norrington, Will, and Elizabeth to his cabin. Rachel rushed to the bed and sat upon it, waiting for them.
"Do come in," Jack said as he opened the door. "Rachel, luv, we've got company."
"Oh, Jack," Rachel replied, "ye should have warned me. I'd have made tea."
"Miss Pepperidge?" Norrington inquired.
"Miss Finch, actually," Jack winked at Rachel. "Will, Elizabeth, I'd like ye to meet Miss Rachel Finch, the lady of the ship."
Rachel extended her hand. "Pleased t'meet you," she said, doing her best wench imitation.
"And you as well," Will stammered.
"Captain Sparrow," Elizabeth queried, "does that mean what I think it means?"
"And you didn't even invite us to the wedding," Will exclaimed.
"There hasn't been one yet, mate," Jack replied. "But I'll be sure t'let you know if that changes."
"Miss Finch," Norrington interrupted, "just how long have you known Captain Sparrow?"
"Oh, months now," Rachel replied. "We met in Tortuga, and after a wonderful weekend together, we decided we didn't want it to end. So I came aboard, and here we are."
"And were you aboard when this ship attacked the Tradewinds?"
Rachel looked at Jack. He gave her another wink and said, "Go ahead, luv. They already know we took the ship. They seem t'think we took a lady from it as well."
"Oh, goodness," Rachel replied. "She weren't worth takin' after that nasty old captain did what he did. Shot her right in the chest. Mr. Gibbs tried to save her, he did. But it was just too late."
"According to Captain Hemingway and his crew, Miss Pepperidge was alive when they saw her last," Norrington responded. "And the captain was following orders from her fiance. Being taken by pirates is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman."
"I don't know about that, sir." Rachel smiled. "Being taken by pirates was one of the best things that ever happened t'me. Anyway, we left her behind when we left. Weren't no sense in takin' what was left."
"We shall see, Miss Finch. We shall see."
Norrington opened the door and called to one of his men. "Report," he said
"Nothing, sir," the young naval officer replied. "The only room not searched is this one. The only other woman aboard is a mulatto, Commodore."
"Very good, then. Take our men back to the Interceptor. I'll join you shortly."
"Aye, sir,"
The commodore turned back to Jack. "If I find Miss Pepperidge, and discover you were involved in her disappearance, as I'm sure I will, I will hunt you down and personally see that you hang."
"How kind of you to take an interest, Commodore. I've done nothing but cooperate. And now you practically accuse myself and worse yet, my lady, of lying to you. Now, I'd be the first to admit that I'm a scallywag, but I'll not have ye speaking ill of my woman. If you'd be so kind, I'd like you to leave my ship, now."
"Very well," Norrington replied turning toward Rachel. "If I have wrongfully impugned your honor, Miss Finch, I hope you will accept my apology. I'll take my leave, now."
"Commodore, may I ask a favor?" Elizabeth asked. "Will and I would like to spend a few minutes catching up, if you'd be so kind as to wait for us."
"Of course, Mrs. Turner. I'll be aboard the Interceptor. Please endeavor to keep it a brief visit, if you will."
"Thank you, Commodore," Will said. "We won't be long."
No sooner was Norrington out the door, than Elizabeth threw her arms around Jack's neck. "I'm so happy for you, Jack!" she told him. "You must bring Rachel to Port Royal to visit so we can get to know her."
"Love to, Pet," he replied. "But this Lord Pepperidge fellow seems t'have it out for me. I might have to lay low for awhile. Port Royal may not be the best place for me right now."
"Nonsense," she said. "Lord Pepperidge has moved on. If you're as discreet as you normally are when visiting, you should have no problems at all. And the Commodore certainly won't be expecting you there."
"One question, though?" Will asked. "We just saw you about six weeks ago, and you mentioned nothing of romantic entanglements. If Rachel has been aboard your ship for months, why didn't you mention her?"
"Didn't know I was in love with the girl, then, mate," Jack replied. "Thought she was just some strumpet I'd picked up for a bit of fun. Things have changed since then."
"Jack, you can trust us," Elizabeth said. "If you need our help, just say the word."
"I know I can, luv, but I'd prefer not t'get ye involved in this if I can help it."
"Then there is something you're not telling us!" Will exclaimed.
"Jack," Rachel asked, "do you trust them?"
"Aye, darlin', with my life. I'm just not so sure I'd trust them, or anyone else, with yours."
"There is something to tell you," Rachel turned to Will and Elizabeth. "But now is not the time, not with Norrington around. I promise. We'll tell you everything when we can."
"Are you Claudia Pepperidge?" Elizabeth asked.
"I can honestly tell you that I don't even know who she is," Rachel replied. It's easy to lie when you're telling the truth.
