Chapter Four
A Debt Repaid
"Here now, miss, a nice glass of hot tea will warm you up."
I looked at Penny as she set a tray covered in small tea dishes on my night stand table. She smiled as she poured a glass from the teapot and handed it to me; I straddled the open book I had been holding over my lap and welcomed the kind gesture, returning her smile. "Do you, by chance, have a moment?" I asked her. I needed desperately to talk about the events of the past two days and William or Elizabeth just weren't the people that would understand. Penny nodded animatedly and took a seat on the edge of my bed next to me, her hands folded neatly over her apron.
"Have you ever thought about a certain man in your life every second of the day?" - I would've asked her if she had ever been in love but I felt it was being too hasty. I had only known Jack for a few weeks; love couldn't have possibly been what I was feeling for him.
"Oh yes, Miss Jocelyn. That would be my husband."
Convenient. "How did you...you know...know?" I asked in some hope she would be able to tell me what I should do. I had just gotten back from the pub with Simon the Boring only an hour before and did my best to keep from walking out on him. The entire time he talked I couldn't help but think of being in Jack's arms again, those steady eyes staring into mine causing chills to run through me yet making me feel safe and warm inside. He was exciting, a rebel, while Boringweather was the trained stereotype of English society, and a boring production of what wealth wanted him to be. Fine for a girl looking to be silenced the rest of her life, but not for me. After spending the evening with him it slowly began to occur to me: Merryweather might very well propose within the next month and I would be stuck wondering what was best for me: a pirate or a wealthy bore I would most likely never be happy with?
"I don't know exactly, Miss Jocelyn. When he asked me to marry him it just felt right, is all." - her face seemed to fall with a slight disappointment and I could tell she was attempting to mask it. "Do you enjoy Mr. Merryweather's company, miss? He seems like a fine man..."
The mention of his name brought back the awful joke he had made about wherever he went, "merry" weather occurred. I had to make myself laugh; the man thought he was as funny as those comedians Daddy always invited to our home on birthdays and special occasions and I had to cringe. William would set up another dinner for us and I would have to oblige and sit through another "merry" time with him. "...no, not Simon," I murmured, my thoughts soon traveling to Jack as I shut my eyes momentarily. I could almost feel the sensation of his cheek against mine, his whiskers tickling my skin and his arm hung heavily wherever he seemed to want to put it. Penny squeezed my knee, bringing me to look at her, and she smiled, her eyes lighting up.
"It's that Jack Sparrow, isn't it, Miss? He's quite handsome, his is, and rather colorful if I might add but..."
"But what?"
She licked her lips, thinking of the right way to phrase it, I supposed, before answering me. "Well, Miss Jocelyn, he is a pirate after all."
She did have a point. So after sharing a few more words she quietly wished me a goodnight as I did to her, and she left the room. I lightly blew out the lamp on my night stand and settled into bed, still unsure of myself. I wanted to see Jack. Heaven knows I wanted to spend every moment I could with him, but I also didn't want to hurt Merryweather.
I enjoy your company, Jocelyn. Perhaps we can dine together another time?
Needless to say I didn't answer him. With jokes like "merry weather" stored away in his brain who would want to answer in the affirmative? Nothing made sense to me anymore and for the first time since my mother had left me with Father I felt utterly helpless. My heart had never conflicted with my head so much and I wanted more than anything to wake up the next day and have my problems solved for me.
The sheets rustled about me as I rolled over restlessly unable to close my eyes. Too many thoughts were running about in my head, the dominant ones being of Jack Sparrow and I couldn't help but long for another moment with him. My heart tugged at me to go out and find his ship but then again what would I say to him when I got there?
"What do you want me for, anyway?"
Stupid William. He always expected the worst, it seemed, and it didn't seem fair. What did Jack ever do? There was a sudden click at my window pulling me abruptly from my solace and I sat up quickly and looked. Another click and my heart skipped. Could it be?
Throwing the covers over my legs and then my legs over the side of the bed I hurried to the window, opening it and peering out.
"Who's there?" I called hoarsely more from my heart being caught in my throat rather than from worry of waking anyone.
"Jocelyn? It's Jack, come down would ya?"
"What are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?"- but I still smiled. Unpredictable, he was. "What's the matter?"
"Jus' come down," he called back, a slur distorting his speech and I could barely make out his swaying silhouette in the dark of the night. He was drunk for sure, so I quietly closed to the window and, after slipping on my robe and relighting the lamp, I hurried outside to meet him.
"So what is this all about?" I demanded softly as the light from the small flame cast an eerie glow over him, flickering and jumping every so often. He thrust his hand toward me as his bottom lip protruded from his face and my heart melted when his eyes, dancing with the flame, saddened into a puppy's eyes.
"I 'urt me hand," he said with a curl of his lip, then added quietly, lurching forward a bit then back with a slight wave of his bent arms, "In a brawl, y'see. Bloody mate slashed me 'and and well..."
Setting the lamp on the ground near us I took his injured hand and ran a finger softly over the untouched flesh as his eyes continued to watch me.
"Thought maybe ye might have better cleanin' alcohol than me rum."
Honestly, I had no idea where they kept the alcohol so I offered some soap and water instead, leading him inside without really giving him the chance to protest otherwise. I had wanted to see him after all, and needed an excuse to keep him around. "So a brawl?" I asked, grabbing a pitcher and bowl and filling it with water once I had sat him down at the kitchen table. He only grunted and scratched at his jaw as he continued to stare at the bleeding wound. Taking a rag I dipped it in the water then dabbed it over his hand. He drew in a sharp breath and cut his eyes at me.
"That 'urts, you know," he grumbled, although he didn't sound that upset. I only smiled and continued to clean the cut, faltering when I felt him reach with his free hand to finger the locket around my neck. "What's it say?" he asked, no longer bothered by my mending of his wound.
"Well here," I said, leaning closer to him so he could get a better look at the inscription on the back, but his face fell and he frowned.
"Ah," he hissed, letting it drop back against my skin. "Th' light ain't good enough."
A pang hit me in the chest as he leaned back, seeming uninterested. Was it too trivial for him to read? Was it wasting his time? I set the cloth away and looked at the locket; the light was bright enough... "Oh...well, it says 'Not the stars in the heavens are enough to match the twinkle in your eyes.' "- I turned it over. "'The ocean is not wide or deep enough to hold the love you hold within your heart.' "- opening it I continued: "'Your skin glows like the naked moonlight on a clear, cool evening and my heart constantly aches to be with you...with all of my love: Jonathan.' "
It was a locket Father had given to my mother on an anniversary shortly before I had been born, and she had gifted it to me upon her departure telling me she hoped I would find someone that would love me just as much. Ever since then I had dreamed of that man sweeping me off my feet. I looked up at Jack and an eye was narrowed as he studied me intently; I couldn't help but smile.
"'oose Jonathan?" he asked as I reclaimed the cloth and began to tie it around his hand.
"Jealous?" I queried back. He snuffed, and I quickly finished his dressing, still upset that he hadn't bothered to take the time to read it himself, but before I pulled away he grabbed my hand, bringing me to look at him. The flame from the lamp flickered, the glow jumping over his firm features and accentuating the deep shadows cast over him. "He uh...he's my father. The locket was a gift to my mother years ago."
He nodded and with a smirk he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Well then, now that I got ye awake what say you to a nice walk on the beach?"
"Jack, it's late," I said quietly looking away as I heard the grandfather clock chime two in the main hall. "I really must get to bed."
"Mmm," he grunted, standing up and pulling me up with him. "Then I'll have to kidnap ye."
"Excuse me? Kidnap?"
"Aye."
And without any sort of warning he stooped and lifted me over his shoulders as a yelp escaped my lips. "Jack Sparrow, put me down this instant," I ordered but I couldn't keep from giggling; the feel of his shoulder was in just the right spot to tickle me silly.
"Captain," he corrected. "Captain Jack Sparrow."- he carried me back outside and refused to set me down until we reached a considerable distance away from the estate.
"This isn't funny, you know," I said, shoving him away. He laughed as I began to trudge off toward the beach nearby, following in my footsteps.
"Come on, luv, where's your sense of adventure gone off to?"- he captured me by the elbow, catching me off guard as he whirled me around, and I lost my balance, toppling over onto him. We both crashed to the ground, the sand from the beach spraying over the two of us and a laugh escaped me before I could suppress it; my act of being upset at him had failed and I found it hard to resist the bubbling urge to let myself laugh long and hard. "Ah, there i'tis," he winked and silence ensued, the gentle roar of the ocean providing the only noise I really wanted as we remained there, motionless, for what felt like hours just staring into each other's eyes. He traced a rough finger down my jaw line and smiled.
"What?" I asked cautiously.
"You must be a lot like y'mother," he commented, shifting his gaze to the diamond-sprinkled sky before looking back at me. "Those stars don't twinkle near like that twinkle in yer eyes and yer skin..."- he paused, moving his hand down my arm then bringing it back to my neck. "Well, I can't be sayin' it near as romantical as ye old man but..."
It didn't matter. Just hearing him talk was enough to send chills through me all over again. I could feel his eyes studying me a moment before I finally met them and his smile broadened. "I think I'll be cashin' in on that debt ye still be owin' me luv."
And so underneath the naked moon and the spying stars I repaid Captain Jack Sparrow the debt I owed him as he brought his lips to my own, his arm slowly sliding around my neck and closing the distance between us to deepen the kiss. My insides twisted from my wracked nerves as I returned the kiss as best as I could. It was a new experience for me; English wealth frowned on shared romance during courting and every man I had ever dined with by request of my father kept his respectable distance. It felt so good to go against everything I had been taught from the time I was a child and lose myself in the world of this pirate. He was everything I wanted in someone and the passion he kissed me with solved every ill feeling I had started the night out with. There would be no more Merryweather; there would be no more wealthy men and there would be no more of William's ill feelings of Jack causing me to question everything. Nothing else mattered anymore as we lied on the beach together watching the stars fade into the oncoming morning.
A Debt Repaid
"Here now, miss, a nice glass of hot tea will warm you up."
I looked at Penny as she set a tray covered in small tea dishes on my night stand table. She smiled as she poured a glass from the teapot and handed it to me; I straddled the open book I had been holding over my lap and welcomed the kind gesture, returning her smile. "Do you, by chance, have a moment?" I asked her. I needed desperately to talk about the events of the past two days and William or Elizabeth just weren't the people that would understand. Penny nodded animatedly and took a seat on the edge of my bed next to me, her hands folded neatly over her apron.
"Have you ever thought about a certain man in your life every second of the day?" - I would've asked her if she had ever been in love but I felt it was being too hasty. I had only known Jack for a few weeks; love couldn't have possibly been what I was feeling for him.
"Oh yes, Miss Jocelyn. That would be my husband."
Convenient. "How did you...you know...know?" I asked in some hope she would be able to tell me what I should do. I had just gotten back from the pub with Simon the Boring only an hour before and did my best to keep from walking out on him. The entire time he talked I couldn't help but think of being in Jack's arms again, those steady eyes staring into mine causing chills to run through me yet making me feel safe and warm inside. He was exciting, a rebel, while Boringweather was the trained stereotype of English society, and a boring production of what wealth wanted him to be. Fine for a girl looking to be silenced the rest of her life, but not for me. After spending the evening with him it slowly began to occur to me: Merryweather might very well propose within the next month and I would be stuck wondering what was best for me: a pirate or a wealthy bore I would most likely never be happy with?
"I don't know exactly, Miss Jocelyn. When he asked me to marry him it just felt right, is all." - her face seemed to fall with a slight disappointment and I could tell she was attempting to mask it. "Do you enjoy Mr. Merryweather's company, miss? He seems like a fine man..."
The mention of his name brought back the awful joke he had made about wherever he went, "merry" weather occurred. I had to make myself laugh; the man thought he was as funny as those comedians Daddy always invited to our home on birthdays and special occasions and I had to cringe. William would set up another dinner for us and I would have to oblige and sit through another "merry" time with him. "...no, not Simon," I murmured, my thoughts soon traveling to Jack as I shut my eyes momentarily. I could almost feel the sensation of his cheek against mine, his whiskers tickling my skin and his arm hung heavily wherever he seemed to want to put it. Penny squeezed my knee, bringing me to look at her, and she smiled, her eyes lighting up.
"It's that Jack Sparrow, isn't it, Miss? He's quite handsome, his is, and rather colorful if I might add but..."
"But what?"
She licked her lips, thinking of the right way to phrase it, I supposed, before answering me. "Well, Miss Jocelyn, he is a pirate after all."
She did have a point. So after sharing a few more words she quietly wished me a goodnight as I did to her, and she left the room. I lightly blew out the lamp on my night stand and settled into bed, still unsure of myself. I wanted to see Jack. Heaven knows I wanted to spend every moment I could with him, but I also didn't want to hurt Merryweather.
I enjoy your company, Jocelyn. Perhaps we can dine together another time?
Needless to say I didn't answer him. With jokes like "merry weather" stored away in his brain who would want to answer in the affirmative? Nothing made sense to me anymore and for the first time since my mother had left me with Father I felt utterly helpless. My heart had never conflicted with my head so much and I wanted more than anything to wake up the next day and have my problems solved for me.
The sheets rustled about me as I rolled over restlessly unable to close my eyes. Too many thoughts were running about in my head, the dominant ones being of Jack Sparrow and I couldn't help but long for another moment with him. My heart tugged at me to go out and find his ship but then again what would I say to him when I got there?
"What do you want me for, anyway?"
Stupid William. He always expected the worst, it seemed, and it didn't seem fair. What did Jack ever do? There was a sudden click at my window pulling me abruptly from my solace and I sat up quickly and looked. Another click and my heart skipped. Could it be?
Throwing the covers over my legs and then my legs over the side of the bed I hurried to the window, opening it and peering out.
"Who's there?" I called hoarsely more from my heart being caught in my throat rather than from worry of waking anyone.
"Jocelyn? It's Jack, come down would ya?"
"What are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?"- but I still smiled. Unpredictable, he was. "What's the matter?"
"Jus' come down," he called back, a slur distorting his speech and I could barely make out his swaying silhouette in the dark of the night. He was drunk for sure, so I quietly closed to the window and, after slipping on my robe and relighting the lamp, I hurried outside to meet him.
"So what is this all about?" I demanded softly as the light from the small flame cast an eerie glow over him, flickering and jumping every so often. He thrust his hand toward me as his bottom lip protruded from his face and my heart melted when his eyes, dancing with the flame, saddened into a puppy's eyes.
"I 'urt me hand," he said with a curl of his lip, then added quietly, lurching forward a bit then back with a slight wave of his bent arms, "In a brawl, y'see. Bloody mate slashed me 'and and well..."
Setting the lamp on the ground near us I took his injured hand and ran a finger softly over the untouched flesh as his eyes continued to watch me.
"Thought maybe ye might have better cleanin' alcohol than me rum."
Honestly, I had no idea where they kept the alcohol so I offered some soap and water instead, leading him inside without really giving him the chance to protest otherwise. I had wanted to see him after all, and needed an excuse to keep him around. "So a brawl?" I asked, grabbing a pitcher and bowl and filling it with water once I had sat him down at the kitchen table. He only grunted and scratched at his jaw as he continued to stare at the bleeding wound. Taking a rag I dipped it in the water then dabbed it over his hand. He drew in a sharp breath and cut his eyes at me.
"That 'urts, you know," he grumbled, although he didn't sound that upset. I only smiled and continued to clean the cut, faltering when I felt him reach with his free hand to finger the locket around my neck. "What's it say?" he asked, no longer bothered by my mending of his wound.
"Well here," I said, leaning closer to him so he could get a better look at the inscription on the back, but his face fell and he frowned.
"Ah," he hissed, letting it drop back against my skin. "Th' light ain't good enough."
A pang hit me in the chest as he leaned back, seeming uninterested. Was it too trivial for him to read? Was it wasting his time? I set the cloth away and looked at the locket; the light was bright enough... "Oh...well, it says 'Not the stars in the heavens are enough to match the twinkle in your eyes.' "- I turned it over. "'The ocean is not wide or deep enough to hold the love you hold within your heart.' "- opening it I continued: "'Your skin glows like the naked moonlight on a clear, cool evening and my heart constantly aches to be with you...with all of my love: Jonathan.' "
It was a locket Father had given to my mother on an anniversary shortly before I had been born, and she had gifted it to me upon her departure telling me she hoped I would find someone that would love me just as much. Ever since then I had dreamed of that man sweeping me off my feet. I looked up at Jack and an eye was narrowed as he studied me intently; I couldn't help but smile.
"'oose Jonathan?" he asked as I reclaimed the cloth and began to tie it around his hand.
"Jealous?" I queried back. He snuffed, and I quickly finished his dressing, still upset that he hadn't bothered to take the time to read it himself, but before I pulled away he grabbed my hand, bringing me to look at him. The flame from the lamp flickered, the glow jumping over his firm features and accentuating the deep shadows cast over him. "He uh...he's my father. The locket was a gift to my mother years ago."
He nodded and with a smirk he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Well then, now that I got ye awake what say you to a nice walk on the beach?"
"Jack, it's late," I said quietly looking away as I heard the grandfather clock chime two in the main hall. "I really must get to bed."
"Mmm," he grunted, standing up and pulling me up with him. "Then I'll have to kidnap ye."
"Excuse me? Kidnap?"
"Aye."
And without any sort of warning he stooped and lifted me over his shoulders as a yelp escaped my lips. "Jack Sparrow, put me down this instant," I ordered but I couldn't keep from giggling; the feel of his shoulder was in just the right spot to tickle me silly.
"Captain," he corrected. "Captain Jack Sparrow."- he carried me back outside and refused to set me down until we reached a considerable distance away from the estate.
"This isn't funny, you know," I said, shoving him away. He laughed as I began to trudge off toward the beach nearby, following in my footsteps.
"Come on, luv, where's your sense of adventure gone off to?"- he captured me by the elbow, catching me off guard as he whirled me around, and I lost my balance, toppling over onto him. We both crashed to the ground, the sand from the beach spraying over the two of us and a laugh escaped me before I could suppress it; my act of being upset at him had failed and I found it hard to resist the bubbling urge to let myself laugh long and hard. "Ah, there i'tis," he winked and silence ensued, the gentle roar of the ocean providing the only noise I really wanted as we remained there, motionless, for what felt like hours just staring into each other's eyes. He traced a rough finger down my jaw line and smiled.
"What?" I asked cautiously.
"You must be a lot like y'mother," he commented, shifting his gaze to the diamond-sprinkled sky before looking back at me. "Those stars don't twinkle near like that twinkle in yer eyes and yer skin..."- he paused, moving his hand down my arm then bringing it back to my neck. "Well, I can't be sayin' it near as romantical as ye old man but..."
It didn't matter. Just hearing him talk was enough to send chills through me all over again. I could feel his eyes studying me a moment before I finally met them and his smile broadened. "I think I'll be cashin' in on that debt ye still be owin' me luv."
And so underneath the naked moon and the spying stars I repaid Captain Jack Sparrow the debt I owed him as he brought his lips to my own, his arm slowly sliding around my neck and closing the distance between us to deepen the kiss. My insides twisted from my wracked nerves as I returned the kiss as best as I could. It was a new experience for me; English wealth frowned on shared romance during courting and every man I had ever dined with by request of my father kept his respectable distance. It felt so good to go against everything I had been taught from the time I was a child and lose myself in the world of this pirate. He was everything I wanted in someone and the passion he kissed me with solved every ill feeling I had started the night out with. There would be no more Merryweather; there would be no more wealthy men and there would be no more of William's ill feelings of Jack causing me to question everything. Nothing else mattered anymore as we lied on the beach together watching the stars fade into the oncoming morning.
