Revenge of the Fox

Chapter 24

"I can't thank you enough, Captain, for helping Lt. Markson find us," Antonia said warmly.

"My father will wish to thank you in person, I'm sure," Elizabeth added.

Hale shrugged uncomfortably. "We still need to find Mrs. Sparrow."

"Aye," said Annamaria. She looked at Markson. "Should we go to Nassau to find the Pearl, or should we try and find the island?"

Markson spoke slowly, "I think we should speak to Captain Sparrow before trying to find the island. We may need the strength of the Black Pearl. The Sandpiper would be no match for the Vixen."

"Very well then," Hale said, getting to his feet. "I'll instruct the helmsman to make all speed to Nassau."

--

"There's the Golden Mermaid," Jack said, pointing at the building they were approaching. "It's a fairly high class place – the girls are all young, pretty and clean. Pricey too. The Madame tends to purchase captives from pirates from time to time. It's an easy way to get new stock, so to speak."

Norrington glared at him. "I can't believe you're speaking of this so matter-of-factly, Sparrow. We're talking about innocent women here!"

Jack paused and turned to Norrington. "What would you have me do, James? Rant and rave and froth at the mouth? Sorry I can't oblige you. I haven't time for a display of madness just at the moment." Norrington snarled an oath under his breath and continued walking. Jack fell into step with him again. "Is Antonia a virgin?" He asked it in a conversational way.

Norrington stopped abruptly and stared at Jack in astonishment. "What possible reason could you have for asking me something like that!" Norrington sputtered.

Jack put his hand placating on Norrington's arm. "Easy, man. I'm not trying to poke into your personal business, though if you want to talk about it, I'm all ears." He grinned wickedly. "No, I'm asking because making, uh, an appointment with a virgin costs a great deal. Madame Carlotta tends to save them for special clients. If Antonia is, uh, untouched, it's likely she hadn't been molested before the girls escaped."

Norrington shook off Jack's hand. "She is," he said curtly.

"Good," said Jack cheekily. "Here's to hoping she remains so until next you see her. Quite a tidy little armful, she is."

"May I remind you, you're speaking of my fiancée," Norrington snapped.

"Not to worry, mate, I'm a happily married man." Jack shot Norrington an amused look out of the corner of his eye, then opened the door and let himself into the brothel. Fuming, Norrington followed. The lobby of the Golden Mermaid opened up into a large parlor, lavishly furnished in red and gold. A very pretty young woman in a revealing gown lounged on a velvet sofa, pouting coquettishly at a well-dressed man.

"May I help you, gentlemen?" A voice purred behind them. Turning, Jack and Norrington saw a lovely blond girl in a clinging silk gown crossing the floor toward them.

"I'd like to speak to Madame Carlotta, please," Jack said, smiling charmingly at her.

The girl leaned against his arm and stroked her hand down his chest. "Madame Carlotta? Oh, she's in her office, I think. Do you have an appointment?"

Jack's arm stole around the girl and gave her waist a squeeze. "Not yet, luv. What's your name?"

"Isobel," she answered, smiling seductively up at him.

Jack freed himself from her and started toward the office, which now had a stout woman with unnaturally red hair standing in the doorway. "I'll remember that, luv," he promised. "James," he said sharply, jerking his head toward the office door. Norrington tore his gaze away from Isobel's rather obviously displayed attributes and followed Jack, flushing slightly.

"Ah, Madame Carlotta," Jack said, bowing elaborately. "A pleasure to see you again."

Madame Carlotta regarded him with narrowed eyes. "I haven't seen you in quite some time, Captain Sparrow." Was there a hint of uneasiness in her face?"

Jack strolled into the office just ahead of Norrington and waited while Madame Carlotta shut the door. "Ah, well. A married man hasn't the same opportunities to visit establishments such as yours, Madame."

She looked amused. "I can't think why. Many of my clients are married men."

"Aye, I'm sure they are." The amused, slightly tipsy look seemed to drain out of him then. "Am I correct in understanding that you purchased three women from Reynard the Fox?"

Her eyes narrowed even further, and she sat down behind her desk with great deliberation. "Yes. A business transaction."

"Am I to understand that one of them was me second mate, Annamaria Simone?"

"How was I to know that you hadn't thrown her off your ship yourself, Captain?" Madame Carlotta asked silkily. "Perhaps your wife tired of having your doxy aboard?"

A muscle twitched in Jack's jaw, but he ignored the last part of Madame's question. "I would never countenance any woman of my acquaintance being forced into prostitution, Madame. Keep that in mind, aye? If I find out you did any more than kept them here while awaiting an opportunity to send me a message, I will be most severely displeased."

Madame Carlotta said, "My business does not rise and fall with your displeasure, Captain." Still, she looked decidedly uneasy.

Jack settled into a chair and leaned back comfortably. "Of course not, Madame. But don't cross me, luv. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Now, tell me what happened to Miss Simone, Miss Swann and Mrs. Turner, will you?" He opened up his purse and laid a gold coin on the desk.

"What do you want to know?" She eyes the coin speculatively.

Jack examined his fingernails. "I understand that one of these three ladies overpowered a client and escaped. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Which one?"

"Annamaria Simone. I honestly don't know how she did it. Captain Arnault was found later shackled with the same irons that Annamaria had on earlier."

"Arnault, eh?" The muscle in Jack's jaw twitched again.

"Yes, Arnault. He said something about someone hitting him on the head from behind. But the other two were locked up, so I don't know how that could be."

"So all three girls are gone, eh?"

"Yes, along with another who had been entertaining a client a few doors down."

"Really?" Jack looked politely surprised. "How did that happen?"

"That client told me that the three came through the door, held a gun on him, then tied him up, gagged him and stole his purse."

"Describe that chit to me."

Madame Carlotta shrugged. "Brown hair and blue eyes. About 17 or 18. Very pretty in an unobtrusive way. French, name of Jeannine."

"Very enterprising young women," Jack said thoughtfully. He opened his purse again and took out several more coins. "I'm sure that you'll be willing to keep your ears open for anything else you may hear about these ladies, eh? I would be happy to reimburse you for your trouble." He rose and leaned over the desk, his face very close to hers as he set the coins in a neat stack on the desk. "And I'm quite certain I won't hear of any of these girls suffering any abuse at your hands ever again, will I now?"

Madame Carlotta looked up at the dark, uncompromising face looming over her, and swallowed hard. "No, Captain Sparrow. You will not."

Jack straightened up, his affable grin back in place. "A pleasure to do business with you, Madame. Shall we go, James? Or did you want to take time for an appointment with Isobel?" Norrington shot Jack a look that would have incinerated stone and strode out of the office. Unperturbed, Jack bowed again to Madame Carlotta, and swaggered out.

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