I know how much you all love cliffhangers, so I've given you another one!
Chapter 47Jack stood dripping wet on the deck of The Pearl, watching Maddy and Will through his spyglass, screaming inside his head. He took the helm from Eb and ordered the sweeps to be hauled out, as they needed to get away now. Eb bellowed for the gunners to open fire on the port, to try and give them more time to get clear of the bay.
'NO!' The crew stopped and looked at Jack's anguished cry. 'Maddy an' Will are on the quayside, you are not to fire towards the port, savvy?'
The gunners re-positioned the cannons to fire on the flotilla of boats filled with marines, heading for the two frigates in the bay, and aimed her guns at the nearest frigate that was turning towards them. They dived for cover as the ship returned fire, then The Pearl crew kept up a barrage of shots to try and keep the ships at bay, and Jack was left standing and staring at the diminishing figure of his wife, fearful for her safety. 'Ya'd better look after her, whelp,' he muttered, before taking up position and firing his pistol at the advancing boats.
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'Oh Will, what am I going to do?' Maddy felt hot tears spill down her face as she watched The Black Pearl being chased from the bay by the two port frigates.
'Well first of all, we get you back to Esme's, before someone recognises you. Then I'll take you back to Freetown in a couple of days, Jack's bound to head for there.' Will took Maddy by the arm and led her back up the lane to Esme Davies' house, glancing around to make sure no one recognised Maddy.
'No he won't. The authorities will guess he'll head there because of you.'
Will shook his head, amazed at how well Maddy understood Jack. 'You're right, but I'll take you back to Freetown anyway, it'll be safer, and then we can work out how to get you back to Jack from there.' Will looked up at Esme, who stood in the doorway of her house overlooking the scene as she beckoned them in.
'What happened? I heard shots. Did The Black Pearl get away?' Esme led the way into the drawing room.
'Yes they got away. We were going to try and get over to her, but were stopped by one of Wood's men.'
Esme sat a dazed Maddy in a chair and rang the handbell. 'Ah Fellowes, get Maddy a cup of tea please.' She stroked Maddy's hair, wishing there was something that could be done. 'Don't worry my dear, we'll get you back to Jack soon enough.'
Maddy smiled tearfully at the older woman, trying to fight the fear that threatened to overwhelm her, but accepted the tea gratefully when Fellowes returned with the tray.
'Would you mind terribly if I had a lie down please Esme, I feel drained.' Maddy desperately needed to be alone and this was the only way she could think of to get out of Esme and Will's company.
'Of course my dear, I'll show you to the guest room.' Esme led Maddy from the room and up the stairs, to a beautifully laid out room. 'I had a horrible feeling you might be staying for a while, so I got Fellowes to make it up for you.'
'Thank you so much Esme, I'm sorry for all the trouble it's causing you.' Maddy dabbed away a tear form the corner of her eye.
'Nonsense girl. Now you get some rest, Will and I will see if we can work something out.' Esme left Maddy and made her way back to the drawing room, where Will was staring out of the French doors. She went over to the drinks cabinet and took out two tumblers and half filled them with whisky, handing one to Will, who drank it in silence.
'You love her don't you?' Esme sat in her easy chair, watching as Will poured himself another whisky.
Will sighed deeply, and sank into the chair opposite Esme, trying to mask his feelings, but with little success. 'Yes I do,' he replied with a heavy voice and heart.
'She'll never leave Jack you know.' Esme took a sip of her whisky, her eyes never leaving his face. 'There will never be anything between you.'
Will gave a short, harsh laugh, and downed his drink in one go. 'There already has been.' He smiled thinly at the look of shock on Esme's face. 'Maddy and Jack were split up and she came to Port Royal. We struck up a friendship and our feelings grew, then one night we….'
'I can't believe that Maddy would betray Jack. I also can't believe that you would betray your wife, Will.'
'Maddy and Jack hadn't admitted their feelings for each other at that point, and neither Maddy nor I knew that the other knew Jack. As for betraying Elizabeth…' Will sighed again. 'I've loved Elizabeth since I was a child of ten, my every thought was of her. But when she was kidnapped by Barbossa and I had to team up with Jack to save her, I realised there was a whole world out there and I hadn't even scratched the surface of it. Jack warned me against rushing into the marriage, tried to get me to go with him on The Pearl and have some adventures before settling down, but I was so relieved at getting her back and so in awe that she actually loved me in return, that I pushed the doubts I had to the back of my mind and declined his offer.'
'Do you still love Elizabeth?' Esme stood and fetched the whisky bottle, filling Will's glass, then her own.
'Of course I love her, I just wish… oh, I don't know.' Will frowned into his glass, swirling the amber liquid around. 'I just feel so restless, it's as though the ground is shifting beneath my feet.'
'And you hoped that by becoming a seaman, you would cure your itchy feet, and if your itchy feet were cured, everything would be all right with Elizabeth?'
'Everything is all right with Elizabeth. I feel happier now than I have for ages, on the sea and away from Port Royal and the gossip, and Elizabeth and the children have settled down in Freetown so well.' Will finished his drink and reached for the bottle.
'But….' Esme held out her glass for him to fill it, 'There's something else isn't there?'
'Yes, but I'm not sure what it is Esme. I feel I don't belong anywhere, which is why being on the sea makes me feel so much better. Elizabeth, John and Caroline are the only ties I have in this world, without them I'd have nothing, be nothing.' Will put his half full glass down on the side table and stood. 'I think I'll turn in for the night, if you don't mind, we have a busy day tomorrow.'
'Of course not Will. Goodnight.' Esme smiled, but stayed in her seat, wanting to savour a little peace and quiet after a hectic day.
'Goodnight Esme. Thank you for listening.' Will bent down and kissed the old lady on the cheek, then made his way to the guest room in which he slept when he stayed over.
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The Black Pearl nestled behind a group of small islands and Jack sent some men out to the tallest of the islands to keep watch, in case the frigates decided to come this far out, looking for them.
'We'll keep watch fer Will's ship too, he's bound to come as soon as he can, and my guess is, he'll head fer Freetown, so we can intercept him on the way.'
'Aye Cap'n, let's just hope those ships head back for Nassau and not go on to Freetown.' Eb ran a weary hand across his head, bone tired.
'Go below Eb, I'll keep watch.' Jack was as weary as his first mate, but was too wound up to sleep, though heaven knows he'd tried. He tossed and turned and reached out for Maddy, his eyes shooting open when he found her not there. Jack's mind was racing, trying to think of all possibilities to rescue Maddy, but decided that this was the best way, just sit and wait for Will to show up with Maddy, as he knew he would.
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Will looked around as he strode down the street towards the docks, getting a feeling that he was being followed. He cursed under his breath, he'd hoped to get away to Freetown later that day, with Maddy in tow, but if he was being watched, it would make it quite difficult. Will spied his quartermaster and walked over to him. 'David, have you seen Matt Brown?' Will's blood boiled with anger at the mere mention of the man's name.
'No Cap'n, I reckon he's keeping a low profile.' David Masterton shrugged his shoulders ruefully.
'Never mind, I'll catch him later. Thank you for what you did yesterday, I appreciate it.' Will half smiled at his quartermaster, and then set about organising the cargo to be loaded onto both his ships.
'I'm sorry Captain Turner, but you're not going anywhere until my investigations are complete.'
Will spun to face Adam Wood, his face twisted with fury. 'WHAT? What right do you have, I've done no wrong.'
'You are friends, no, close friends with a notorious pirate, Captain Turner, that makes you suspect. I'm having your ships and the cargo you are taking, checked. You will be allowed to leave as soon as the checks are completed to my satisfaction.'
Will's face grew red with anger and he took a couple of gulps of air to calm himself down. 'How long will that take?'
'Most of the day, depending on what we find.' Wood turned and walked towards a group of men standing by moored boats, waiting for his command. 'Search The Thistle first, then The Rose and order all men off both ships.'
'No, I insist on having at least five of my own men on both ships while you search, you're not going to fit me up.' Will stood in front of Adam Wood, blocking his way.
Wood sighed heavily, 'Captain Turner, what do I have to gain by fitting you up?' He looked Will up and down, then when he saw the man was not going to budge he sighed again, 'Very well, five of your own men on each ship as they are searched.'
Will spun away nodding to David Masterton, who joined Will in rounding up some of their crew to escort the port officials. Will jumped in a boat and headed for The Thistle, his jaw set in a determined line.
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Maddy looked out of the window at the two men walking along the lane. It was the fourth time they had been past and Maddy's suspicions were, to her mind, confirmed. 'Now what, Esme? They're obviously watching the house, and they're probably watching Will too, I'll never get away.'
'You know what they say about patience Maddy. Jack knows you're here, he knows you're safe, just be patient.'
'I'm not the most patient of people at the best of times, what if The Pearl didn't escape. Those frigates seemed too close for comfort.'
'If The Pearl didn't escape, we'd have heard about it by now, you know that dear. Now, let's go along to the doctor and get him to check you over.' Maddy opened her mouth to protest, but the steely glint in Esme's eyes silenced her. With the old woman's help, she put a cloak around her shoulders and the wide-brimmed hat on, and stepping outside, she glanced at the two men walking past, yet again. Esme slipped her hand in the crook of Maddy's good arm and held a parasol with the other hand, and they strolled down the lane into town, noticing eyes following them all the time.
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'No, Mr. Wood, nothing on The Rose either.' Adam Wood ignored Will's triumphant look and stroked his chin, wincing with pain as he touched a tender spot. He cursed the woman who had attacked him a few weeks previously, then stopped dead.
'Doyle, Scott, with me, now!' Adam Wood turned and strode from the dock area, towards the lane that led to Esme's house.
'What is it sir?' Doyle ran hard to catch his boss up, a puzzled frown on his face.
'That woman at Esme Davies' is Jack Sparrow's wife.' Wood's eyes gleamed with anticipation, if he couldn't get Sparrow, he'd get Sparrow to come to him.
'Are you sure sir?'
'Of course I'm bloody well sure, she's the one who attacked me the night Kelly got killed.' Wood caught a glimpse of someone of the corner of his eye, and changed direction, heading into the town itself.
Esme looked up in alarm at the sight of Adam Wood running towards them. 'Careful Maddy,' she whispered, just as he reached them.
'Ladies,' Wood panted, his face flushed with exertion and excitement. 'Mrs. Davies, Mrs….Sparrow.'
Maddy tried to hide the shock that surged through her and kept her voice and smile even as she looked at the man. 'It's Mrs. Smith, Mr. Wood, you seem that have that pirate captain on the brain.' Maddy congratulated herself on managing a small laugh.
'You can't fool me Mrs. Sparrow, I remember you from that night, when you attacked me.' Wood looked at his men then nodded. 'Take her to the gaol.'
'NO! Please Mr. Wood, it's not like I'm going anywhere is it?' Maddy pleaded, grabbing the harbourmaster by the arm.
'You must think I'm dafter than I look Mrs. Sparrow, I'd be willing to bet all the money I own, that you were going to go on Mr. Turner's ship and rendezvous with Sparrow. Good job I ordered one of my ships to make for Freetown, where I'm sure they will give your husband a right royal welcome.'
Maddy cried out as one of the men grabbed her bad arm roughly, making Esme hit him with her parasol. 'Let go of her, you thug, can't you see she's injured? I'll report you for this Wood, I still have contacts.' Esme strode down the street, following Adam Wood and his men, as they led Maddy to the town gaol, calling out to all and sundry about what the men were doing, omitting to mention the fact that Maddy was married to a notorious pirate.
Maddy's face was beaded with sweat by the time they'd reached the gaol, partly from pain and partly from fear, but she was determined to put a brave face on and not let Jack down. She stood resolutely as the harbourmaster told the gaoler of her charges, being a pirate, and assaulting a port official, namely himself.
'How do you plead to these charges?' The gaoler looked Maddy up and down, contemptuously.
Maddy jutted her jaw out, a devilish grin spread across her face, 'Guilty,' she replied proudly.
'Take her to the cells. Good job there's a free one, pirate, or you'd be sharing with the men,' the gaoler sneered, then grimaced as Maddy spat in his face. 'You do that again bitch and I'll see to it personally that you share a cell with the men, naked.'
Maddy shot a panic stricken glance at Esme, before she was shoved brusquely through a door leading to the cells. The smell hit her first and she gagged, her eyes watering as the acrid stench stung them. Maddy ignored the jeers from the men in the cells lining the short corridor, and held her head high as she reached the open door of the far cell, taking a deep breath as she stepped into the cell, then letting it out as the door clanged shut behind her. She looked in disgust at the dirt strewn floor, for she'd seen worse pirate ships with brigs that were cleaner than this. Maddy cleared a space on the floor with her foot as far away from the men as she could get and sank down, biting her lower lip to keep from crying.