Rules of Attraction
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Disney owns the pirates not me. I promise I'll put them back when I'm done.
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Port Royal bustled happily on the bight spring morning. The shop keepers were out selling their wares and everyone seemed in a cheerful mood. No one took any notice of the young woman ridding through the streets in a carriage driven by the grizzled old man.
"Don't look so unhappy, Gibbs." she nudged his side a bit.
"Two women on a ship is bad enough now he's gonna have three. Bad omen. That's what I say."
Catherine rolled her eyes and looked back to the road. "Yes, you keep saying that and yet were all still alive and have a hold full of very nice swag."
He grumbled but remained mostly silent.
They rode up the lane to the stately, wealthy houses that sat outside the city proper.
"He wants to give up all this for the life of a pirate. He must be mad?"
"Didn't you give up even more?"
"I've never said I am not mad, have I? She is going to be very sore with him when she finds out this was his scheme."
"Aye, that she will be." Gibbs slowed the horses before a large manor and quickly leapt from the carriage to help Catherine down.
She smoothed the front of her dress and knocked on the door. A servant answered and showed them to the sitting room. Elizabeth entered a moment later. "Can I help you?" she asked primly.
"Mrs. Turner? It is a matter of utmost importance that I speak with you and your husband."
"Concerning what, may I ask?"
"Jack Sparrow sent me to speak with you."
Elizabeth faltered a moment. "Jack? Jack sent you? Why didn't he come himself?"
"He is not a state to leave his cabin." It wasn't really a lie. Jack was in a sad state. When they had left the pearl he was enjoying a rum induced stupor though he would be well enough when they returned.
She thought a moment. "If you would wait a moment. I will fetch my husband and we will join you." she swept out of the room.
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Will had been waiting for this day for sometime and when he saw Gibbs driving the carriage up his drive with a woman that could only be Jack's beloved Catherine he knew it had finally come. He had been planning for this day for weeks. He was so tired of the sedentary life of a gentleman. He longed to feel the sun and the sea breeze. He wanted to be out on the open ocean. He tried to focus himself on the piece of metal in his hands. He almost dropped it when Elizabeth entered his forge.
"Will?" she called entering slowly.
He turned and smiled at her. "Yes, darling?"
"There is a woman who claims Jack sent her. She said he couldn't come, he was in too bad a state to leave the ship."
"I wonder… It must be Catherine. He's written me about her." he dropped the piece into the bucket of water and followed his wife back toward the house. "There must be something wrong."
Inside Catherine looked up as they entered. She was just as Jack had described her.
'She's beautiful,' he had written, 'the most beautiful lass on the sea. And she actually looks like a woman, which is uncommon with pirates. Looks like she would be more comfortable havin' tea with yer father in law though. And she can be terribly annoying. And she's the best pirate I've ever seen. You'd like her. She reminds me of you're Elizabeth. Only not that annoying.'
"Miss Wellington?" he extended his hand to her. She accepted and followed him to a small sofa. Elizabeth hovered nearby. "How can we help you?"
"It's Jack. He said he needed to see you immediately. He wasn't sure if he would ever get to speak with you again. He asked me to bring you to the Pearl."
"What happened?" Elizabeth sat behind Will.
"There was a Portuguese trading vessel. He was hurt." It was another half truth. They had pillaged a Portuguese trading vessel not two days ago. And Jack had taken a nasty whack on the head. Not that anyone could really tell. "He said he couldn't tell me about what but he needed to see the both of you as soon as you could come."
"We'll come immediately." Elizabeth stood and went quickly up the stairs. It was the response she had counted on.
"Thank you." Will said emphatically taking her hands.
"Don't thank me." she whispered. "you're going to have to deal with her when Jack tells her the truth." she whispered.
Elizabeth entered again, a hat covering her head and Will's coat in her hands. They stood and Will accepted his coat from her.
"Are you tied in the harbor?" he asked.
"No, a cove just north of it."
They exited and Elizabeth was shocked to Gibbs waiting outside.
"Mr. Gibbs, why didn't you come inside?" Elizabeth asked shocked.
"I thought it was best if Catherine talked to ya alone. She's better with…" he trailed off in what Elizabeth took to be grief.
She comforted him a moment before Will rushed her into their carriage. They rode through the bumpy streets at a quick pace. Moored in the harbor was the small boat Catherine and Gibbs had come ashore in. They climbed in and Will and the old pirate began rowing. Once they rounded the point beyond the sheltered harbor Catherine turned back to Elizabeth's back.
"Finally." she whispered. With one fluid movement Catherine produced a dagger, came around and pressed in to Elizabeth's throat. "Keep rowing, Mr. Turner. We're almost home."
They passed a rocky shore and were shrouded in mist as the Black Pearl came into view.
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