Revenge of the Fox
Chapter 36
The next morning, the rest of the Vixen's crew were rowed out to the beach and left there to fend for themselves. Annamaria was given temporary command of the Vixen, with Markson acting as first mate. Enough of the Pearl's crew was brought aboard to enable to Vixen to sail, although it would be a slow trip for both ships without quite enough men to function as well as they might. First they would stop at the beach a few miles down the coast and drop Captain Hale off at his own ship. Then they'd set a course for Port Royal.
Jeannine had volunteered to assist in the galley of the Vixen, since they were so short handed. The assistant cook from the Pearl had come over to cook, but he was glad of Jeannine's help. Back on the Pearl, Elizabeth and Antonia had volunteered to help in that galley. If it didn't suit Norrington's pride to have his bride peeling potatoes, he was at least wise enough to keep his mouth shut.
Annamaria stood at the helm, enjoying the feel of the Vixen under her hands. She was smaller than the Pearl, and not as fast, but she was as formidable as most of the ships in the Caribbean. It was a thrill being in command, even if it was only temporary. She didn't know Jack's plans for the ship, though she imagined he'd sell it. She stroked the smooth wood of the wheel and smiled.
Markson came up on deck and headed for the quarterdeck to take his watch. Annamaria glanced up at the Pearl, a couple hundred yards off their port bow, and turned over the helm. Markson took it with a smile. Anna smiled back and leaned against the rail of the quarterdeck. "So, Lieutenant, have you spoken with Jeannine lately?"
Markson's smile disappeared. "No, she seems to be avoiding me."
Anna's eyes narrowed. "Or is it the other way around?"
Markson's habitual pleasant expression hardened. "What do you mean by that, Anna?" The he corrected himself, "Oh excuse me, ma'am."
Annamaria waved off the courtesy. "I'm asking as a friend, Richard," she emphasized his name, "not as Acting Captain."
"Then as a friend, Anna," he said, emphasizing the name in his turn, "what do you mean?"
"You seemed attracted to her before. Has what happened aboard the Vixen put you off?"
Markson stared at her, the snapped his eyes back forward again. "Well that's blunt."
"Answer the question, Richard."
After a long pause, he said carefully, "Not in the way you mean. I was horrified when I first found out what had happened. She's so delicate and pretty, and he was so coarse and brutish. I've hung men before in my position in the Navy. Flogged them too. I've always considered it a distasteful duty, something that must be done. This time though, I was positively glad to do it. If Captain Sparrow and the Commodore had decided to maroon MacKenzie instead of hang him, I'd have done my utmost to convince them to change their minds. If that didn't work," he said honestly, "I'd probably have crept down to the brig in the middle of the night and shot the bastard."
"But how do you feel about her?"
"I don't know what to say to her, Anna. I don't want to insult her or frighten her. I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to speak to another man again."
"What she needs," Anna said firmly, "is for a man to persuade her that she isn't damaged just because she's no longer a virgin."
Markson winced at the phrase, "Bloody hell, Anna. You have all the delicacy of a cannon."
"I'm a pirate, not a society miss," she replied sarcastically. "Try a little gallantry, you idiot. You're usually more charming than this."
"So you want me to charm her? Woo her with my silver tongue? Could I flatter my way into her bed, do you think?" Markson glared at Annamaria. "What kind of blackguard do you think I am?"
Annamaria gritted her teeth. "I'm not talking about setting her up for heartbreak, you jackass, I'm talking about you treating her as if you thought she was an attractive lady, with the emphasis on LADY."
"I take orders from you in regard to sailing this ship," Markson snarled. "I don't take orders from you for anything else."
"Definitely a jackass," Annamaria muttered. With a flinty glare and a chilly, "Carry on Lieutenant," she marched from the quarterdeck.
"Aye, ma'am," he called after her, in no less chilly tones. "Bitch," he muttered under his breath.
"I heard that," floated her reply back to him.
"I'd be surprised if it insulted you!" Markson snarled after her.
"It doesn't!"
Markson glared out at the unoffending ocean before him. He was almost as astonished at himself as he was angry at Annamaria. If he'd spoken that way to Gillette or Norrington, he'd be facing a flogging, time in the brig or both for insubordination. A pirate captain might just have shot him on the spot. Joseph came up to the quarterdeck a few minutes later. Markson eyed him apprehensively. "Are you here to beat me senseless for insulting Annamaria?"
Joseph smiled slightly, amused. "No, though if any of the crew had heard you, I'd have to."
"I can't believe what she said made me as angry as it did."
Joseph shrugged. "Hit a tender spot most likely."
"Joseph," Markson began, "You live with a lady who has been through some difficult times."
"That's a delicate way of putting it."
"What's your advice to me?"
"About Miss St. Cyr?" Joseph leaned back against the rail and folded his arms over his chest. "Depends on what you want. Are you looking for a lighthearted flirtation with no strings, or were you thinking of courting her seriously?"
"Hell, Joseph! I've only known her a few days!"
"Doesn't have to take much longer than that. I knew I wanted Annamaria the first day I saw her."
Markson blew out his breath in annoyance. "Why does she care if I court Jeannine or not?"
Joseph looked even more amused. "Because she cares about both of you. Do I really need to tell you that?"
"So she's trying to set the two of us up?"
Joseph grinned. "If you think Annamaria is annoying, wait until the next time Mrs. Turner sees you."
Markson groaned. "Lord, the woman will be relentless." He looked over a Joseph. "I'm a lieutenant in the Navy, man. I've got no expectations worthy of the name, so I have to live on my pay. I can't afford to court anyone seriously. I'm not in a position to support a wife."
"So you are thinking seriously."
Markson glared at Joseph. "You're as annoying as Annamaria."
Joseph's grin stretched even wider. "That fails to insult me. You're not as skilled at that as your Commodore is."
"Obviously I need further lessons."
--
"Will," Jack called, walking across the deck. "Have a moment?"
Will mopped his brow and sheathed his sword. "Of course." He turned back to the half dozen men he'd been instructing. "Same time tomorrow morning, gents. Spend a few minutes between now and then practicing point control." As the men dispersed, Will turned and accompanied Jack to the rail. "What's on your mind, Jack?"
"Reynard the Fox."
"Oh." Will rubbed the back of his neck. "That was hard to watch, Jack."
"I know," Jack said. "I'd like to say it was hard to do, but I'd be lying."
"That was a big part of it," Will said. "I've never seen or heard of you acting so mercilessly. You can be ruthless, but I've never known you to be cruel."
Jack looked directly into Will's eyes. "I've never done anything like that before. And God as my witness, I hope I never need to do so again. Although, I'm not sorry I did it."
"No, I wouldn't expect you to be. Jack, don't try to apologize to me for it. It isn't necessary. If ever a man deserved such an end, it was Reynard."
"I don't want you to think I've turned into a monster."
"I don't. Just don't expect me to watch that sort of thing again."
"I don't intend to ever have to do that sort of thing again."
"Fair enough."
--
Chapter 36
The next morning, the rest of the Vixen's crew were rowed out to the beach and left there to fend for themselves. Annamaria was given temporary command of the Vixen, with Markson acting as first mate. Enough of the Pearl's crew was brought aboard to enable to Vixen to sail, although it would be a slow trip for both ships without quite enough men to function as well as they might. First they would stop at the beach a few miles down the coast and drop Captain Hale off at his own ship. Then they'd set a course for Port Royal.
Jeannine had volunteered to assist in the galley of the Vixen, since they were so short handed. The assistant cook from the Pearl had come over to cook, but he was glad of Jeannine's help. Back on the Pearl, Elizabeth and Antonia had volunteered to help in that galley. If it didn't suit Norrington's pride to have his bride peeling potatoes, he was at least wise enough to keep his mouth shut.
Annamaria stood at the helm, enjoying the feel of the Vixen under her hands. She was smaller than the Pearl, and not as fast, but she was as formidable as most of the ships in the Caribbean. It was a thrill being in command, even if it was only temporary. She didn't know Jack's plans for the ship, though she imagined he'd sell it. She stroked the smooth wood of the wheel and smiled.
Markson came up on deck and headed for the quarterdeck to take his watch. Annamaria glanced up at the Pearl, a couple hundred yards off their port bow, and turned over the helm. Markson took it with a smile. Anna smiled back and leaned against the rail of the quarterdeck. "So, Lieutenant, have you spoken with Jeannine lately?"
Markson's smile disappeared. "No, she seems to be avoiding me."
Anna's eyes narrowed. "Or is it the other way around?"
Markson's habitual pleasant expression hardened. "What do you mean by that, Anna?" The he corrected himself, "Oh excuse me, ma'am."
Annamaria waved off the courtesy. "I'm asking as a friend, Richard," she emphasized his name, "not as Acting Captain."
"Then as a friend, Anna," he said, emphasizing the name in his turn, "what do you mean?"
"You seemed attracted to her before. Has what happened aboard the Vixen put you off?"
Markson stared at her, the snapped his eyes back forward again. "Well that's blunt."
"Answer the question, Richard."
After a long pause, he said carefully, "Not in the way you mean. I was horrified when I first found out what had happened. She's so delicate and pretty, and he was so coarse and brutish. I've hung men before in my position in the Navy. Flogged them too. I've always considered it a distasteful duty, something that must be done. This time though, I was positively glad to do it. If Captain Sparrow and the Commodore had decided to maroon MacKenzie instead of hang him, I'd have done my utmost to convince them to change their minds. If that didn't work," he said honestly, "I'd probably have crept down to the brig in the middle of the night and shot the bastard."
"But how do you feel about her?"
"I don't know what to say to her, Anna. I don't want to insult her or frighten her. I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to speak to another man again."
"What she needs," Anna said firmly, "is for a man to persuade her that she isn't damaged just because she's no longer a virgin."
Markson winced at the phrase, "Bloody hell, Anna. You have all the delicacy of a cannon."
"I'm a pirate, not a society miss," she replied sarcastically. "Try a little gallantry, you idiot. You're usually more charming than this."
"So you want me to charm her? Woo her with my silver tongue? Could I flatter my way into her bed, do you think?" Markson glared at Annamaria. "What kind of blackguard do you think I am?"
Annamaria gritted her teeth. "I'm not talking about setting her up for heartbreak, you jackass, I'm talking about you treating her as if you thought she was an attractive lady, with the emphasis on LADY."
"I take orders from you in regard to sailing this ship," Markson snarled. "I don't take orders from you for anything else."
"Definitely a jackass," Annamaria muttered. With a flinty glare and a chilly, "Carry on Lieutenant," she marched from the quarterdeck.
"Aye, ma'am," he called after her, in no less chilly tones. "Bitch," he muttered under his breath.
"I heard that," floated her reply back to him.
"I'd be surprised if it insulted you!" Markson snarled after her.
"It doesn't!"
Markson glared out at the unoffending ocean before him. He was almost as astonished at himself as he was angry at Annamaria. If he'd spoken that way to Gillette or Norrington, he'd be facing a flogging, time in the brig or both for insubordination. A pirate captain might just have shot him on the spot. Joseph came up to the quarterdeck a few minutes later. Markson eyed him apprehensively. "Are you here to beat me senseless for insulting Annamaria?"
Joseph smiled slightly, amused. "No, though if any of the crew had heard you, I'd have to."
"I can't believe what she said made me as angry as it did."
Joseph shrugged. "Hit a tender spot most likely."
"Joseph," Markson began, "You live with a lady who has been through some difficult times."
"That's a delicate way of putting it."
"What's your advice to me?"
"About Miss St. Cyr?" Joseph leaned back against the rail and folded his arms over his chest. "Depends on what you want. Are you looking for a lighthearted flirtation with no strings, or were you thinking of courting her seriously?"
"Hell, Joseph! I've only known her a few days!"
"Doesn't have to take much longer than that. I knew I wanted Annamaria the first day I saw her."
Markson blew out his breath in annoyance. "Why does she care if I court Jeannine or not?"
Joseph looked even more amused. "Because she cares about both of you. Do I really need to tell you that?"
"So she's trying to set the two of us up?"
Joseph grinned. "If you think Annamaria is annoying, wait until the next time Mrs. Turner sees you."
Markson groaned. "Lord, the woman will be relentless." He looked over a Joseph. "I'm a lieutenant in the Navy, man. I've got no expectations worthy of the name, so I have to live on my pay. I can't afford to court anyone seriously. I'm not in a position to support a wife."
"So you are thinking seriously."
Markson glared at Joseph. "You're as annoying as Annamaria."
Joseph's grin stretched even wider. "That fails to insult me. You're not as skilled at that as your Commodore is."
"Obviously I need further lessons."
--
"Will," Jack called, walking across the deck. "Have a moment?"
Will mopped his brow and sheathed his sword. "Of course." He turned back to the half dozen men he'd been instructing. "Same time tomorrow morning, gents. Spend a few minutes between now and then practicing point control." As the men dispersed, Will turned and accompanied Jack to the rail. "What's on your mind, Jack?"
"Reynard the Fox."
"Oh." Will rubbed the back of his neck. "That was hard to watch, Jack."
"I know," Jack said. "I'd like to say it was hard to do, but I'd be lying."
"That was a big part of it," Will said. "I've never seen or heard of you acting so mercilessly. You can be ruthless, but I've never known you to be cruel."
Jack looked directly into Will's eyes. "I've never done anything like that before. And God as my witness, I hope I never need to do so again. Although, I'm not sorry I did it."
"No, I wouldn't expect you to be. Jack, don't try to apologize to me for it. It isn't necessary. If ever a man deserved such an end, it was Reynard."
"I don't want you to think I've turned into a monster."
"I don't. Just don't expect me to watch that sort of thing again."
"I don't intend to ever have to do that sort of thing again."
"Fair enough."
--
