Hilary – you were first as usual! Give someone else a chance woman :p
Rochdur – if Maddy has her way, Rebecca will go at the next port of call. Somehow, I don't think she will get her way though……
Lady Skywalker – as Jack said, we all have secrets, some worse than others!
Sakhara – glad you enjoyed that. Thanks for the tip re: posting up italics J
Elven-fae – well done you for catching up J
Linnie – thanks for spotting my little slip :-o ;)
Chapter 45Rebecca studiously avoided Maddy and Jack the following day, which suited Maddy just fine and made Jack chuckle to himself. If there was any sniggering going on behind Jack's back about Rebecca, they were soon dispelled by the bruises and teeth marks on both his and Maddy's necks.
Maddy had ditched her sling, much to Mr. Cotton's chagrin and the fact that her shoulder hurt like hell, but she was determined to do without it. She gingerly picked up a small sail that needed repairing and set about sewing it, her face twisted with pain and concentration.
'Madalene, ya could do yerself more harm than good by forcing it, ya know.' Maddy looked up as her husband stood over her, arms folded.
'Maybe so, but if I let it get too stiff, that might do more harm than good as well.' Maddy put the sail down and carefully moved her shoulder round in a circling motion, trying not to show just how much it hurt. 'See, it's getting easier already.'
Jack shook his head and left Maddy to it, shrugging ruefully at Mr. Cotton who was eyeing Maddy disapprovingly and had hoped that Jack would be able to convince her to stop. He swaggered away and took over from Eb at the helm, checking the bearings on his compass and glancing towards Rebecca Bowne as she appeared on the deck, glancing defiantly at Maddy, then making her way towards him. Jack groaned to himself, but breathed a sigh of relief as Rebecca sauntered past him with an impertinent look on her face, fluttering her lashes at him, before threading her arm though Eb's, making the big man look around in surprise.
Maddy had wanted Jack to drop Rebecca off at a safe port, but Jack was keen to see Geoffrey Bowne again. It had been a long time since he saw the old pirate, and Jack wondered how he was keeping. The fact that there were many ships going to and from the young country that made for good plundering also had a bearing on Jack's decision. He thought back to the time, some two years previous, when they had last been along the coast of the Americas and he had found Maddy in the water, in the cursed place, as Gibbs had always referred to it. Jack remembered the chase a couple of American schooners had given them, pushing them far into the Atlantic, which is how they came to be near Bermuda in the first place. 'Funny how things turn out,' Jack muttered to himself, looking fondly at his wife, still struggling with the sewing.
'Ship Ho!' Jack looked up at the cry from the crows nest and dug his spyglass from the deep recess of his pocket. He looked in the direction the watchman had pointed and brought the glass to his eye, then smiled. It was Will's ship, The Thistle and Jack's grin grew broader as the other ship changed direction and headed for them.
'It's Will,' he called to the crew, knowing they'd be pleased to see him as well. Jack handed the glass to Maddy who had joined him and wound his arm around her waist as she looked through the glass herself, at the ever nearing ship. 'How about we stop off at Freetown fer a few days luv?
'Sounds good to me Jack,' Maddy smiled, snuggling back into Jack's body as he steered a course for Will's ship.
**********
'Ahoy, The Black Pearl!' Came the call from The Thistle.
'Ahoy, The Thistle,' came the reply from Eb Tucker.
Jack and Will steered their respective ships carefully into position, then the crew of The Pearl throw over ropes, to anchor the two ships together. Will grabbed a rope and swung over, hugging his friend when he landed on the deck.
'Jack, it's great to see you again,' he beamed, looking Jack up and down. 'You're certainly looking better than when I last saw you.' Will looked beyond Jack, at Maddy, who'd put a sling back onto her aching arm. 'Unlike you! What on earth have you done Maddy?' Will let go of Jack and went over the Maddy, enveloping her in a gentle hug, ignoring the filthy looks he was getting from Jack.
'I got shot by one of Castigne's men during a battle with them.' Maddy pulled away from the embrace, before Jack exploded.
'What? What happened?' Will looked from Maddy to Jack.
'Come below fer a drink, an' I'll tell ya all about it, and our guest.' Jack nodded towards Rebecca, who was eyeing Will with great interest, then he put an arm around Will's shoulder and led the way to his cabin, with Maddy following close behind.
Will ruefully shook his head, after hearing Jack's tale, then downed his mug of ale. 'You can guarantee trouble being in the following wind, wherever you are Jack.' He smiled at his old friend, part of him wishing he could go on an adventure with him again. 'What are you going to do now?'
'Well, we'll come along wi'ya to Freetown fer a few days, then head off for t'Carolinas and take t'Mademoiselle home.' Jack watched Will surreptitiously. He was glad to see him looking happier than he'd seen Will look for a while, since his wedding day in fact. Jack grinned at the memory of that day, how he and the crew had dressed up in all their finery and snuck into the church, right under the noses of the Marines and Commodore Norrington, who were all present. Norrington had found them out, of course, but had granted them clemency and allowed them to stay for a couple of days, on the proviso that they caused no trouble. Jack noticed Will and Maddy looking at him and grinned some more, as he realised they had been talking to him. 'Eh? What was that lad?'
'I said that I'm not heading for Freetown, but to Nassau to deliver some goods and pick up a new order.' Will sighed, wondering if Jack would ever change, although he sincerely hoped not.
'Oh, right, looks like we can go an' say hello to Esme then, Madalene. How is me second favourite woman…., oh make that third after 'Lizbeth.'
'She's fine Jack. She was very upset by what happened to you and did a little digging into Kelly's background. It seemed he'd cheated at a game of cards, but the men he cheated were not one's to be crossed and they'd been chasing him across the Caribbean for months, finally catching up with him that night.'
'Bloody 'ell, trust me ter be in t'wrong place at t'wrong time.' Jack rolled his eyes, a rueful smile on his face.
'Yes, the authorities questioned the men, getting one of them to confess and they were hanged.' Will and Jack looked at each other, both suppressing a shudder, remembering past escapades.
'You mean they killed Kelly, just because he cheated them at cards?' Maddy couldn't quite believe this.
'Aye luv, next ter mutiny and betrayal, cheatin' at cards is the most serious offence ya can commit. Yer more often than not put ashore at t'next port and black marked.'
Maddy shook her head at such overreaction, then turned to Will. 'How are Elizabeth and the children? Have they settled in well?' Maddy smiled at Will.
'They've settled in wonderfully well, Maddy. Elizabeth has really come into her own there. She's set up a small school for the children of the town, whether they're rich or poor, and she throws tea parties, where all are invited. It's like a busy port in our house at times.' Will grinned, shaking his head at the thought. 'She can't wait to see you all again though, can't you go on to Freetown after Nassau?'
Jack shook his head regretfully. He'd loved to have seen Elizabeth and the children again. 'Nah mate, we'll pop in on the way back, savvy?'
Will nodded his head sadly, then stood up. 'We'd better be going, I need to get to Nassau by tomorrow evening at the latest.' He hugged Maddy again, then Jack, then made his way back to The Thistle, issuing orders to make sail once more, his ego having a huge lift by the fact that his ship was leading The Black Pearl.
**********
Maddy looked around the deck of The Pearl, her eyes gleaming with excitement at the scene of men from both crews laughing and drinking, some were even dancing to music provided by Freddie Snow, who was a mean fiddler, and someone from Will's crew who had some pipes. It was a wonderful idea of Jack's to hold a shindig at sundown, for it was just what was needed to lighten the hearts and minds of their crew, especially after the past few months. Maddy hoped that some of Will's crew, who she knew had problems with his and Jack's friendship, would see her husband in a different light from now on. She noted Rebecca casting flirty looks at some of Will's men and made a mental note to keep an eye on her, the last thing that was needed was for Rebecca to be delivered to her father, pregnant by some unknown sailor. Her heart sank as Rebecca made her way to Will, wrapping both arms around his waist, giggling as Will struggled to break free. Maddy stood to go over and rescue Will, but to her relief Eb intervened and led Rebecca away from Will and the other men, and kept her with him, ignoring the dirty looks and pouts he was receiving from the young woman.
Maddy squealed as Jack caught her around the waist and spun her around and around, in time to the music, his braids and beads flying in all directions and his smile shining gold in the torch light, then she murmured softly as he pulled her to him as the music slowed.
'Enjoyin' yerself luv?' Jack whispered, brushing his lips against Maddy's ear.
'I'm having a wonderful time Jack. You're a genius for thinking of this.'
'Well, I've been tellin' yer that fer t'last couple o'years Madalene, but ya' never believed me.'
'Oh, I've believed you all right Jack, it's just that your ego doesn't need any more boosting…' Maddy laughed as Jack playfully hit her rump, then murmured as he kissed her, oblivious to all around them.
**********
'It's a bloody disgrace, if I had my way, I'd throw the lot of them into the brig. Cavorting with bloody pirates, I ask you,' Matthew Brown cursed aloud, glaring over at the black ship, secured to the port side of The Thistle. He'd spent most of the afternoon trying to get the men to refuse to go over, even attempting to resort to blackmailing some of them, but to no avail. In the short time Will had been their Captain, most of the crew had grown fond of him, liking his easy-going style of leadership, while respecting the fact that he could be tough when necessary and as a result, whatever misgivings some may have had with Will and Jack's friendship, they now trusted Will enough not to question his judgement.
Brown glowered at the raucous laughter that came from The Pearl, feeling bitter that none of the men had stayed back out of principle, only those ordered on watch, and they were going to be relieved by others, so they could go over to the other ship and have some fun. 'We'll see if you're still laughing soon enough Sparrow,' Matt Brown muttered under his breath, before turning his back and staring out to sea.
**********
Maddy giggled at Jack's attempts to walk in a straight line and watching, fascinated as his hands danced their own little jig in front of him as he weaved and swayed across the deck.
'Ah, Madal-l-l-lene luv, there y'are,' Jack slurred, a silly grin on his face. He finally made his way to her and stood unsteadily, grabbing Maddy around the waist, to stop himself falling over. 'Why don't we go…, um go. Where did I want ter go?' Jack frowned, pulling a face. 'Ah yes, why don't we go below, eh luv?' Jack gave Maddy a broad wink, which only made her giggle more. 'Wasso funny luv?'
'You can't even walk in a straight line Jack Sparrow, let alone seduce me.'
'Me ability ter walk in a straight line has never hindered me anywhere else darlin' ya know that.' He pitched forward and clumsily nuzzled her neck, making Maddy yelp as he bit a little too hard.
'I don't think so Captain Sparrow, why don't you go and have some more rum, eh?' Maddy turned Jack around, and pushed him gently towards the hub of the party, laughing as he made his way to the rum barrel quicker and straighter than he'd made his way to her. Maddy rubbed her shoulder, and decided to turn in for the night, so she made her way down the stairs to her cabin, stopping when she heard footsteps behind her.
'Are you all right Maddy?' Will made his way to the bottom and smiled at Maddy in the gloom.
'Yes, I'm fine Will, it's just that my shoulder is hurting and the noise is making my head pound a little. Do you want to come in and have a night cap?' Maddy opened the cabin door, and led the way inside.
'That Rebecca Bowne is a bit of a handful, isn't she?' Will made his way to Jack's cache of booze and fetched two bottles of ale, placing one on the table in front of Maddy, before sitting opposite and opening his own bottle.
'I wish Jack would drop her off at Nassau. The sooner she's off this ship, the happier I'll feel.'
'It must have been hard for her though, being kidnapped and stranded on that island, having to pretend she liked Castigne.'
'Hmpf! If she was that good at pretending, why didn't Castigne have her on his ship?'
'You've got me there Maddy, I don't know. Have you asked her?' Will downed the rest of his ale, and placed the bottle on the table.
'I've asked her, Jack has asked her, and she just plays all sweet and innocent, little minx. Would you like another drink?'
'Yes, but I'll get it Maddy.' Will moved at the same time that Maddy stood, and they found themselves standing close together, each feeling the heat rising from the others body, their lips mere inches apart. 'Um,' Will ran his hand through his hair, swallowing hard. 'I'd better get back to my ship… I'll catch up with you another time, all right?'
'Yes, yes of course,' Maddy breathed, forcing a smile on her lips. She watched as Will bolted for the door, then sank back into the chair as he closed the door firmly behind him, and let out a huge sigh of relief.
Will leaned against the closed door, his heart beating wildly, cursing himself for letting his guard down and showing Maddy that he still had feelings for her. He climbed slowly up the stairs to the deck, then after making sure Jack with otherwise occupied, stole back on board The Thistle, needing to be alone.