Chapter Two
Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?

The morning came all too quickly and I found myself groaning as one of the maids pulled the curtains and the sunlight poured through the windows.
"Rise and shine, Miss Jocelyn," she said cheerily. I rubbed at my stinging eyes and looked at her through narrowed slits. Last night had lasted too long, and I didn't even remember the walk back. "You have a visitor."
I perked up and looked at her as she reached to pull my covers back. "A visitor? Who, do you know?"
"He wouldn't say, Miss. Only that the two of you made plans last night. He doesn't look quite..."
By the way she trailed off I was almost convinced it was Jack. A pure excitement ran through me and I hurried from my bed to my closet for a dress. "How long has he been waiting?"
"Not long, Miss."
I quickly handed her a corset and asked for her assistance. She was the most gentle-natured maid in the household and I was praying she was just as gentle with tying the strings of death around my middle. She was, to my relief, and was relatively fast as well and I quickly slipped on my dress, letting her tie it in the back. "Please run down and tell him I won't be long," I said, adjusting myself to get as comfortable as possible. "I must powder before meeting him."
"But Miss Jocelyn - "
"Don't fret," I reassured her with a smile and she smiled back, taking a frustrated breath. "He showed me kindness last night and I'm only returning the favor."
A knowing look crossed her face and she rested her hands on her hips. "It isn't just about you keeping your word, is it Miss? You actually want to spend some time with him today." - her smile broadened and I couldn't help but wonder what for. "But you can't go to him looking the way you do. I'd suggest cleaning those dirt smudges from your cheeks first."
"Dirt smudges?"
I hurried to the nearest mirror and gasped. Jack's handkerchief had left deep black streaks across my skin mixed with dried tears and I couldn't help but laugh, the maid laughing with me. "Don't worry, Miss Jocelyn, I'll let him know you'll be down in a few moments."
After a quick thanks I rushed to the bathroom down the hallway to wash what I could from my face then, after a quick powder, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and slowly climbed down the stairs careful not to catch my heels on the rough carpet and topple over myself. I stopped short upon catching sight of Jack; he was tinkering with one of Elizabeth's figurines and I covered a smile as he fumbled with it before turning to face me. He looked even better in the daytime with his tanned skin and long black hair. I noticed he had his beard braided into two strings finished off with two small beads and a wide red bandana covered his forehead, beads dangling from that as well. My heart skipped a beat at the mere sight of him and I wondered just how my heart could take spending the day with him.
"You're early," I said simply, placing my hands upon my hips. That handsome smirk of his played across his lips and I could feel his chocolate brown eyes studying me. Just the thought of it made me tingle all over, and I almost looked away for fear he'd notice my blushing cheeks. "I thought we agreed on tonight."
"What can ye do in one night, eh?" he asked with a wave of his arms and a bit of a sway. "So I figgered the 'ole day instead. Whaddya say, luv?" - he looked around as if afraid of someone coming then smiled, revealing a few scattered gold teeth. I gave a nod and finished my descent down the stairs before hooking arms with him and heading out into the bright morning. It was certainly hot and my trusty fan was all I could use to keep from passing out as Jack whisked me away from the estate and through the small town. He certainly had a lot to say about the "hospitality" of Port Royale and avoided the place whenever possible. He'd only come back to stock up on the good old Caribbean rum and then he'd be off soon, to my heart's dismay. I tried not to think about it as he led me past the boats, mumbling every once and awhile under his breath about one boat or another while the heat just kept getting stronger and stickier and my head lighter by the moment. The fan wasn't providing the cooling effect it was supposed to anymore and I finally pulled the two of us to a halt and pressed my hand to the tight corset around my torso. I couldn't breathe anymore, it felt so tight, and I grasped Jack's arm tightly.
"What's a'matter luv?" Jack asked, smiling. "Am I really that breathtaking?"
I would've joked back but all blood seemed to be rushing from my temples straight to my toes and before I knew it I felt myself lurch forward into Jack's arms, then I remembered no more.
**
"...mild exhaustion but she'll be all right."
"And you're sure?"
"Of course. It's not uncommon for newcomers; they're not accustomed to the higher temperatures."
"Thanks, doctor."
A pause and a few footsteps as I slowly began to come to my senses.
"I can't believe you're back," a familiar voice said sternly as a door shut somewhere. "I thought you's set out for your horizon, never to return."
"My 'orizon was closer than expected, mate, so I decided to pay a little visit."
"To my cousin?! You're a pirate; I don't need you getting her involved in any of your adventures."
Some more footsteps until they stopped next to me. A waft of a distinct smell of the ocean drifted toward my nose and I breathed deep as I soon felt a cool rag dabbed over my burning skin.
"So, in short, yer tellin' me I can't spend me own time with someone I choose to?"
"No, in short, I'm telling you to keep your hands off of my cousin."
"She's a grown woman, mate. Why not let 'er choose for 'erself?"
"What do you want with her, anyway?"
Jack's answer I had to hear but a yawn escaped me before I could suppress it and the two quit bickering. Just my luck.
"Jocelyn, good to see you awake," Will said, pulling up a chair next to me. "You gave us quite the scare for awhile. How are you feeling?"
I glanced at Jack, who had since moved a few steps away and noticed him picking at a cloth. I then looked back at William and smiled faintly. "Better," I said, although the hoarseness of my voice seemed to tell otherwise. "I should've been more prepared for the heat."
"At least you're all right." - he shot a glance at Jack and the pirate preoccupied his chocolatey eyes with something else. William then helped me sit up and handed me a glass of cool water. "The doctor says get lots of rest and drink a lot of fluids. You'll get dehydrated easier now, so be careful."
With a forced smile he brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear then got up to leave. Jack lingered a moment, glancing over his shoulder at me before starting to head out but I stopped him; another thanks was in order, after all.
"You really are my hero," I said rather boldly, and he chuckled, tucking the cloth away.
"Talkin' like that'll ruin my reputation," he teased.
"Reputation?"
Taking Will's previous seat he propped his feet up, boots and all, onto my bed and folded his hands together. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," he said in an airy tone, that smile slowly spreading across his lean face. "Savvy?"
The huskiness in his voice drove me wild and if I hadn't have been so weak I would've smothered him in a hug right then. "Either way," I said, restraining my urge. "You deserve yet another thanks."
"Now this is interesting," he started slowly, rubbing the whiskers along his jaw line as his lips seemed to purse slightly. "It would seem you're in debt f'two, luv."
"Two?" - I wasn't arguing but I wondered where the added debt came from; I'd fulfilled the first...or so I'd thought.
"Tha's right, Jocelyn."- I nearly melted at the sound of him saying my name.- "A night out remember? It was cut short today, as you well know, and the second one..." - he trailed off into thought, and I wanted desperately for him to say a kiss, but to no such luck. "Well, let's jus' see about the second one later, eh? As soon as you're well we'll 'ave our night out, whaddya say t'that?"
Except for the fact that I'd go insane before seeing him again? "Sounds wonderful. I can't wait."
He winked and as he got up gently pinched my ear before leaving. For an instant I was on cloud nine until William's words echoed through my head:
What do you want with her, anyway?