Chapter Twenty: Confirmation



"Belay that," Rachel said. She pulled away from Jack. "It's too soon to go to Port Royal and you know it. Besides, the midwife I have in mind is not there. She's in Tortuga, where we're already going."


"Madame Sophia?" he asked. "Aye, it's a good plan, luv. Onward to Tortuga it is then."


"Besides, if I am pregnant, a normal midwife couldn't be any surer about it than I am already. Madame Sophia may know as soon as she sees me."


Jack turned to Gibbs. "Lay on the sail," he said. "I want to be in Tortuga by morning after next."


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They made port on the second day near to lunchtime. Jack wanted to deploy the sweeps but Rachel talked him out of it. She had the feeling that he was going to be a major pain for a bit. He knew next to nothing of pregnant women, and half of what he did know was wrong. She hoped that Madame Sophia could help her to educate him on the subject.


Jack wanted to steal a cart to take her from the port to the seeress's home, but she insisted that the walk would be good for her. It wasn't really all that far and she wanted a little time to get her land legs back. She felt a little awkward on solid ground, and the difference in balance was already causing her some discomfort. She knew that the bouncing of a cart would just make her nausea worse, and vomiting was not one of her favorite activities.


The walk to Madams Sophia's home was a quiet one. They both had much to think about. Rachel feared that Jack was going to try to leave her on land for the duration of her pregnancy. She didn't think she could stand that. Everyone she cared about was on that ship and she was determined not to leave it so soon. Jack, for his part, was worried about the same thing. He didn't know much about pregnancy. What if Rachel had to stay ashore? He had gotten used to having her beside him aboard the Pearl. He didn't want to give her up. But he knew he couldn't stay ashore that long. Even here in Tortuga, it would wear on him. He needed the sea like most men needed to breathe.


They arrived at Madame Sophia's door and knocked. Mary opened the door and smiled at them.

"Why, hello," she said. "It's good to see you both again. The Madame is with a client in the parlor at the moment, but if you'd like to wait, I just made a pot of fresh tea."


"That would be lovely," Rachel replied.


"Follow me then, we'll have a little chat in the dining room while you drink your tea."


They sat at the dining room table and engaged in small talk for about twenty minutes before Mary heard Sophia summon her to show their guest to the door.


"S'cuse me please," she said. "I'll show you in to see the Madame as soon as I return."


Rachel felt her stomach lurch. This was it. She was sure Madame Sophia would be able to tell her if she was pregnant. She felt as if her whole life hung suspended from this one small piece of information. She reached out for Jack's hand and found it waiting for her. They stood and moved together.


"Don't worry, luv," Jack told her.


"I'm not worried, Jack," she said. / / I'm terrified. / /


"Madame Sophia will see you now," Mary said as she walked back into the room. "If you'll follow me, please."


The seeress smiled as she saw them. "Ah," she said. "You've changed much since I last saw you, girl. You no longer have that distant look. You've made that body your own. It belongs to you now. But there's a duality to your aura. I think I may know what it is, but . . . may I touch you?"


"Of course," Rachel told her. "If what I suspect is true, you may be touching me a lot in the months to come."


"You suspect, then," Sophia replied as she took Rachel's hands in hers. "Such turmoil. A young lady should be happy to find out she's expecting."


"It's true, then," Jack asked.


"Oh, yes," the seeress replied. She looked back to Rachel. "Sit down, dear," she told her. "You look positively ill. Mary! Bring Rachel some water."


Mary returned with a glass of water and Rachel sipped it slowly. The nausea that had threatened to overcome her began to subside. She looked back to Sophia. "I won't be leaving the Pearl. Can you care for me when we make port?"


"Of course, my dear. I should see you every month to six weeks. And you'll have to come ashore at your eighth month or so. You wouldn't want to deliver at sea without a trained midwife with you."


"That's it?" Jack sighed with relief. "She can stay asea that long?"


"Of course she can. She's not ill. A pregnancy is the most normal thing in the world for a woman. But some changes will need to be made."


"What kind of changes?" Jack asked her.


"She'll need to eat better than usual. She's got two to feed now. If you don't have a goat aboard, you'd best get one. She'll need the milk."


"I know what I need to eat," Rachel said. "We'll make sure to take on the proper provisions. Just, please, talk to Jack. He's been treating me like I'm made of glass."


Sophia smiled. "Most men do at first. She won't break, dearie," she said as she turned to Jack. "She shouldn't be climbing the rigging or anything like that, but anything else she's been doing is fine. If she starts to have problems, she may have to stop, but for now, there's no reason not to continue on with her normal activities."


Rachel was taken completely off guard as Jack grabbed her and swung her into his arms. "I thought I was to lose you for a while," she said, clutching her to him.


"Not on your life," she replied. "I'm not going anywhere."


"Would you like to know the sex of the child?" Sophia interrupted.


"Do you know?" Rachel asked her.


"Not yet," Sophia replied, "but I'm sure I could see if you want to know."


Jack and Rachel looked at each other.


"I think we'd rather be surprised," Rachel said. Jack smiled in full agreement.


"Come into the back with me, girl. I want to look you over. Then, if all's well, I'll need to see you again in about six weeks."


Jack waited impatiently as Rachel was examined. Just when he thought he was going to have to go back and demand to be allowed to stay with her, she came back into the room, followed by Madame Sophia.


"Just remember what I told you," Sophia said. "You're a strong girl. Everything should be just fine."


"That's it?" Jack asked. "We can go back to the Pearl, now?"


"Yes, we can," Rachel replied. "Take me home."



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Stepping out the door, they found Jarod waiting for them anxiously. "About time," he said. "We've got to get out of here."


"Slow down, mate," Jack told him. "What's on yer mind?"


"There's a ransom on your head of 20,000 gold crowns. Dead or alive."


"What have I done to deserve that?" Jack wondered.


"Hers is 30,000. But she's to be unharmed."


"Oh, that," Jack said.