Usual disclaimers... oh well!
Last chapter today... remember if you want more then you'd better review!!!
***
Theodore woke knowing something was wrong. Years of naval life had taught him to recognise when somebody was near and it had often saved him in the barracks from pranks played by rich young cadet officers on somebody of such lowly origins. He kept his eyes shut, carefully listening. Yes, there it was again... a shuffled foot, a quiet breath. Cautiously he opened his eyes, tense and ready to move... and move he did.
A man was leaning over Charlotte's cot in the darkness, reaching down. Theodore did not stop to think, but threw himself at the man. His tackle was unexpected and the man stumbled, falling heavily to the floor.
Theodore swung wildly in the darkness, his punch catching the floorboards. His opponent was luckier, catching Theodore in the chest. For a moment they tussled, their struggles knocking over a chair. "Who... are... you..." Theodore gasped, grunting with effort. The man was stronger than he looked and for a moment Theodore feared he was overmatched. He heard footsteps on the landing.
"Mister Groves?" Mistress Auville called out, cautiously pushing open the door. Seeing two men struggling on the floor she screamed.
Realising he was again foiled, Davit reached for his knife, stabbing Theodore as best he could before fleeing. He shoved the landlady aside, and jumped over the banister before running out into the night.
"Call the watch!" Theodore groaned, holding his side where the blade had caught him. "Go woman! I am alright!"
With a squeak she obeyed, and fled from the room. He groaned, sitting up slowly and staggering across to the dresser. Shaking he managed to light the candle, peering at the cut on his side. He'd had worse he admitted ruefully, and at least it appeared to have missed anything vital. He stumbled across to the cot, relieved to find Charlotte still within and sleeping peacefully.
"Mister Groves?" Mistress Auville had returned and peered through the open door carefully, her candle flickering with her shaking hand. "Mister Groves, are you... goodness you've been hurt!" She bustled into the room, calling for the maid to fetch water and bandages. "No Sir, let me help you. This is shocking - never has such a thing happened here I assure you!"
"It is alright Mistress, I can see to it myself - although the bandages would be most welcome." He took them from the maid as she arrived, wincing as he washed the blood away. "I would be most grateful though if you could arrange an early breakfast - my daughter and I will be leaving..."
"But Sir..." Mistress Auville stuttered.
"This is the second time in less than a day that somebody has tried to snatch Charlotte, and he has already killed Etta in an attempt to get her. First thing in the morning I will be seeking passage to Tortuga..." Theodore sighed heavily, realising the grim truth that he could not defend his daughter alone if it truly was the Governor trying to have her snatched.
"Tortuga Sir! But that's full of pirates!" she gasped in shock. "You don't want to go there Sir, no you don't!"
"I've a feeling I am going to need the protection of my brother-in-law for a while... and the only place I can be assured of finding him is Tortuga." He winced, feeling his wound. It would be dangerous for him there though if Jack was not in port.
"Your brother-in-law..." Mistress Auville asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"Jack, Jack Sparrow."
"The pirate!" she squeaked in shock, knowing the name for the Black Pearl occasionally anchored in the harbour. Although he appeared to be welcomed by the Captain within the town, she was still uncertain of such a pirate.
"You should not believe all you hear of pirates," Theodore cautioned.
"Well Sir, it isn't my place to tell you your business, but I wouldn't go to Tortuga and go mixing with pirates!" She shuddered, her eyes wide. "I'll see to your breakfast though Sir - and I'll arrange enough milk for the day which should see you to Tortuga... that is if you can find a ship to take you there."
***
Theodore was, however, lucky and early the next morning saw him sailing from Port au Prince, his daughter in one arm and his possessions in the other. The Captain of the small trader My Lady was heading to Nassau, and it had taken a hefty purse to persuade him to detour to the pirate town.
"You take care," the Captain cautioned as he put Theodore ashore a short distance from the town. "I'd not be walking into Tortuga for any amount of money..."
"I'll be fine Captain, thank you," Theodore assured him, striding off eastwards along the shore, determined to reach the town before dusk as it was only a few miles away.
Soon he reached the town and he headed towards the Faithful Bride. The Black Pearl was not in the harbour and he reasoned that if anyone knew when she would return that they would be found there. Cautiously he opened the door - the place had definitely not improved from his last visit. He pushed his way through the crowds, heading towards the bar. "Excuse me Miss... Kasia!"
Kasia turned to stare at him in shock. "Theo! What are you doing in Tortuga!" she gasped, looking around to see if anyone had noticed him.
"I'm looking for Jack and Cat..." he began, only to find himself grabbed and propelled through to the back room.
"Sanchia!" Kasia called. "Take over can you?"
The woman he assumed was Sanchia shrugged and headed towards the bar. "Theo! What the..." she gasped, eventually noticing the child in his arms.
"Do you have any milk?" he asked cautiously, unsure of his welcome following their last meeting.
"Your daughter?" Kasia peered carefully at the child.
Theodore nodded. "Look, I know things didn't exactly, um, you know work out between us... but I really need to find Jack and Cat."
"Do you know what they would do to you out there if they knew who you were?" she gasped.
"Kasia," he sighed heavily. "I have nowhere else to go that the Governor cannot find me..."
"You're hiding from..." She stared at him, wide eyed in shock. "I think you should tell me what has been going on."
Theodore perched carefully on the stool by the table, explaining how he had left the Kings Navy and how he believed the Governor was trying to abduct Charlotte.
"Well the Black Pearl should have been back two days ago or more," she explained. "They were sailing to Port Royal to offer their condolences to the Turners. Weatherby Swann died."
"Port Royal!" he gasped fearfully. "And they're late? The Governor..."
"Theodore, calm down. It takes more than old Spense to get the better of that crew... trust me. They'll be back in a few days. Do you have anywhere to stay?" she asked.
"I've just got here," he admitted. "I didn't know where else to go..."
Kasia sighed, realising that she would have to ask Sanchia to find somewhere for him to sleep. Even in normal clothes and without his naval wig, his whole stance and demeanour practically screamed Kings Navy. "Stay here," she warned him, "and I will speak with Sanchia. It is lucky the Black Pearl is practically family in this tavern..." She paused as Charlotte started to cry, surprised to see Theodore rummage in his baggage for a small bottle.
"Do you have any milk?" he asked hopefully. "I'll willingly pay..."
She laughed, passing him a jug of milk from the larder. "Here," she smiled. "Take what she needs. I'll be back in a minute."
Theodore carefully filled the bottle and quietly fed Charlotte. He wondered how long it would be until the Black Pearl returned - he hoped it would be soon and worried as to what could be delaying them.
***
I meant my threat... reviews!!!!
Last chapter today... remember if you want more then you'd better review!!!
***
Theodore woke knowing something was wrong. Years of naval life had taught him to recognise when somebody was near and it had often saved him in the barracks from pranks played by rich young cadet officers on somebody of such lowly origins. He kept his eyes shut, carefully listening. Yes, there it was again... a shuffled foot, a quiet breath. Cautiously he opened his eyes, tense and ready to move... and move he did.
A man was leaning over Charlotte's cot in the darkness, reaching down. Theodore did not stop to think, but threw himself at the man. His tackle was unexpected and the man stumbled, falling heavily to the floor.
Theodore swung wildly in the darkness, his punch catching the floorboards. His opponent was luckier, catching Theodore in the chest. For a moment they tussled, their struggles knocking over a chair. "Who... are... you..." Theodore gasped, grunting with effort. The man was stronger than he looked and for a moment Theodore feared he was overmatched. He heard footsteps on the landing.
"Mister Groves?" Mistress Auville called out, cautiously pushing open the door. Seeing two men struggling on the floor she screamed.
Realising he was again foiled, Davit reached for his knife, stabbing Theodore as best he could before fleeing. He shoved the landlady aside, and jumped over the banister before running out into the night.
"Call the watch!" Theodore groaned, holding his side where the blade had caught him. "Go woman! I am alright!"
With a squeak she obeyed, and fled from the room. He groaned, sitting up slowly and staggering across to the dresser. Shaking he managed to light the candle, peering at the cut on his side. He'd had worse he admitted ruefully, and at least it appeared to have missed anything vital. He stumbled across to the cot, relieved to find Charlotte still within and sleeping peacefully.
"Mister Groves?" Mistress Auville had returned and peered through the open door carefully, her candle flickering with her shaking hand. "Mister Groves, are you... goodness you've been hurt!" She bustled into the room, calling for the maid to fetch water and bandages. "No Sir, let me help you. This is shocking - never has such a thing happened here I assure you!"
"It is alright Mistress, I can see to it myself - although the bandages would be most welcome." He took them from the maid as she arrived, wincing as he washed the blood away. "I would be most grateful though if you could arrange an early breakfast - my daughter and I will be leaving..."
"But Sir..." Mistress Auville stuttered.
"This is the second time in less than a day that somebody has tried to snatch Charlotte, and he has already killed Etta in an attempt to get her. First thing in the morning I will be seeking passage to Tortuga..." Theodore sighed heavily, realising the grim truth that he could not defend his daughter alone if it truly was the Governor trying to have her snatched.
"Tortuga Sir! But that's full of pirates!" she gasped in shock. "You don't want to go there Sir, no you don't!"
"I've a feeling I am going to need the protection of my brother-in-law for a while... and the only place I can be assured of finding him is Tortuga." He winced, feeling his wound. It would be dangerous for him there though if Jack was not in port.
"Your brother-in-law..." Mistress Auville asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"Jack, Jack Sparrow."
"The pirate!" she squeaked in shock, knowing the name for the Black Pearl occasionally anchored in the harbour. Although he appeared to be welcomed by the Captain within the town, she was still uncertain of such a pirate.
"You should not believe all you hear of pirates," Theodore cautioned.
"Well Sir, it isn't my place to tell you your business, but I wouldn't go to Tortuga and go mixing with pirates!" She shuddered, her eyes wide. "I'll see to your breakfast though Sir - and I'll arrange enough milk for the day which should see you to Tortuga... that is if you can find a ship to take you there."
***
Theodore was, however, lucky and early the next morning saw him sailing from Port au Prince, his daughter in one arm and his possessions in the other. The Captain of the small trader My Lady was heading to Nassau, and it had taken a hefty purse to persuade him to detour to the pirate town.
"You take care," the Captain cautioned as he put Theodore ashore a short distance from the town. "I'd not be walking into Tortuga for any amount of money..."
"I'll be fine Captain, thank you," Theodore assured him, striding off eastwards along the shore, determined to reach the town before dusk as it was only a few miles away.
Soon he reached the town and he headed towards the Faithful Bride. The Black Pearl was not in the harbour and he reasoned that if anyone knew when she would return that they would be found there. Cautiously he opened the door - the place had definitely not improved from his last visit. He pushed his way through the crowds, heading towards the bar. "Excuse me Miss... Kasia!"
Kasia turned to stare at him in shock. "Theo! What are you doing in Tortuga!" she gasped, looking around to see if anyone had noticed him.
"I'm looking for Jack and Cat..." he began, only to find himself grabbed and propelled through to the back room.
"Sanchia!" Kasia called. "Take over can you?"
The woman he assumed was Sanchia shrugged and headed towards the bar. "Theo! What the..." she gasped, eventually noticing the child in his arms.
"Do you have any milk?" he asked cautiously, unsure of his welcome following their last meeting.
"Your daughter?" Kasia peered carefully at the child.
Theodore nodded. "Look, I know things didn't exactly, um, you know work out between us... but I really need to find Jack and Cat."
"Do you know what they would do to you out there if they knew who you were?" she gasped.
"Kasia," he sighed heavily. "I have nowhere else to go that the Governor cannot find me..."
"You're hiding from..." She stared at him, wide eyed in shock. "I think you should tell me what has been going on."
Theodore perched carefully on the stool by the table, explaining how he had left the Kings Navy and how he believed the Governor was trying to abduct Charlotte.
"Well the Black Pearl should have been back two days ago or more," she explained. "They were sailing to Port Royal to offer their condolences to the Turners. Weatherby Swann died."
"Port Royal!" he gasped fearfully. "And they're late? The Governor..."
"Theodore, calm down. It takes more than old Spense to get the better of that crew... trust me. They'll be back in a few days. Do you have anywhere to stay?" she asked.
"I've just got here," he admitted. "I didn't know where else to go..."
Kasia sighed, realising that she would have to ask Sanchia to find somewhere for him to sleep. Even in normal clothes and without his naval wig, his whole stance and demeanour practically screamed Kings Navy. "Stay here," she warned him, "and I will speak with Sanchia. It is lucky the Black Pearl is practically family in this tavern..." She paused as Charlotte started to cry, surprised to see Theodore rummage in his baggage for a small bottle.
"Do you have any milk?" he asked hopefully. "I'll willingly pay..."
She laughed, passing him a jug of milk from the larder. "Here," she smiled. "Take what she needs. I'll be back in a minute."
Theodore carefully filled the bottle and quietly fed Charlotte. He wondered how long it would be until the Black Pearl returned - he hoped it would be soon and worried as to what could be delaying them.
***
I meant my threat... reviews!!!!