Usual disclaimers... humbug!
***
Jack and Catherine did not make an appearance until well past midday and knowing looks and unsubtle winks abounded amongst the crew. They certainly knew though when they did emerge, as Catherine started shouting commands almost before she stepped into the sunlight.
"Tobias! Abel! Why aren't the fire pits dug yet?" she shouted. "And why is the bar not set up for Sanchia when she gets here?" She looked around the deck for those not busy. "Frank, Evin, Rory - you can help!"
A chorus of 'Aye Kitty' echoed around the deck and the five men rapidly headed towards the shore. She looked around the deck, noticing a number of unfamiliar faces. "You've taken on fresh crew?" she questioned, turning to Jack, wondering what else had gotten slack in her absence.
"Aye," he smiled. "I'll find 'em fer yer an' make th' introductions... managed t' find eleven, so we're almost back t' full strength..."
"Can we trust them?" she asked cautiously.
"Picked most of 'em up in Scotland an' Ireland before we got back," he assured her. "None of them are Hallam's..."
"Are you sure?" Catherine worried.
"As sure as I can be..." he shrugged. "But let m' introduce yer..." He slid his arm around her waist, guiding her towards a group of four of the new men.
***
Rose looked in amazement at the activity on the beach and the two laden carts that had just arrived. "I know Jack said a party..." she gasped.
"I don't think it will be what you would call a party," Elizabeth cautioned. "The crew will be wild tonight... especially when the women arrive."
"Women?" Rose frowned, unsure if she wanted to know from the tone of Elizabeth's voice.
"Err..." Elizabeth wondered the best wording to use. "Painted ladies... women of the night..."
"Oh," Rose exclaimed in surprise.
"Well Theodore's lady and Oran's will be coming too - Kasia and Sanchia - and they aren't... you know..." Elizabeth explained. "But if they are intending to snatch the Commodore and go up against this other ship then some might not be returning..."
"Not returning?" Rose frowned.
Elizabeth sighed. Rose had clearly led a very sheltered life. "They might die - Jack and Kitty included... it is the risk they run every time they sail. There is not only the black ship but there are the two new frigates as well as the HMS Gauntlet that want them dead..." She smiled reassuringly as Rose realised what she said. "So Jack treats them to some time with the women... its part of what makes him a good Captain and why they will follow him."
"But it doesn't worry you - with the children here and everything?" Rose asked in surprise, clearly shocked at Elizabeth's attitude.
"The women are discrete," Elizabeth conceded, "and the children quickly tire themselves out..." She sighed. "It's part of life here in Tortuga , you get used to it. Don't judge them until you meet them Rose - most of them are nice girls..."
"If you say so." Rose was clearly unconvinced. This was not the type of company she associated with back in London.
"You'll see," Elizabeth smiled. "But you will like Kasia - she used to be Nanny to the Governor's children and Sanchia, she runs the Faithful Bride in Tortuga. She'll be bringing her little girl Abby - she's five."
"Sanchia is Oran's woman?" Rose frowned. "Oran's the one that kisses Catherine?" she asked, her voice tinged with disapproval.
"Same one," Elizabeth sighed at Rose's expression. "You mustn't mind those two. They may laugh about a bit but Catherine would never be unfaithful to Jack... teasing him though is another matter!"
"Hmmmn," Rose muttered, still clearly unconvinced.
Elizabeth shook her head. "You'll see," she said. "This is not London, things are more relaxed here..."
"Clearly," Rose replied doubtfully wondering if indeed she would ever get used to life on Tortuga.
***
Rose relaxed slightly when she saw Oran greeting Sanchia later in the day. Clearly her doubts were unfounded, but she would never condone another man being so affectionate with her daughter-in-law... it just was not proper. She smiled, seeing Jack and Catherine walking towards the house, his arm possessively around her waist.
"Are yer comin' t' th' party?" Jack smiled.
"I am not sure," Rose admitted. "I do not think I would enjoy it..."
"You'll be fine fer th' first part of th' evenin..." Jack suggested. "Trust me - at least come an' get some food fer Elizabeth won't be cookin' this evenin..." He sidestepped sharply to avoid being attacked by Eilis, grabbing her arm and dangling her off the ground. "Not nice Missy!" he teased. "An' yer have t' stop gigglin' when yer are about t' attack! Some pirate yer'll make giggling all th' time!"
"Come on Eilis, I'll get you some food!" Catherine offered as Jack handed her over, still giggling.
"Are yer comin' then?" he asked, offering his mother his arm as Catherine found herself surrounded by Billy, Richael' Moses and Abby clamouring for food too.
"Catherine is good with children..." Rose began, taking his arm as he followed Catherine and the children towards the fire pits where the steer and hogs were roasting.
"Yer know that will never be," Jack interrupted, unwilling to talk about it. "I have her an' that is enough... she's already been through enough over this fer it t' be raked up again."
Rose was taken aback. "I did not mean... I merely meant that she was good with children. I intended no comment on her inability to have children," Rose defended, surprised at the strength of reaction her innocent comment had received.
Jack turned to his mother. "I know you did not, but I will not have Kitty hurt by this again. It has taken her a long time to even begin to accept it..." He sighed heavily. "I'd rather yer didn't mention children near Kitty..."
Rose looked at her son, realising just how little she actually knew about him and surprised at how quick he was to defend his wife. "I am sorry," she apologised. "Catherine and I spoke briefly about it but I did not realise it was such a sensitive issue. I will not mention it again."
"It's already forgotten," he smiled. "But we'd best hurry else the crew will eat all th' food!"
Jack led her down the beach and Rose was surprised to find the crew courteous, if a little ribald at times. Catherine and the children were near the fire pits, eating meat and drinking water - although she had snared a bottle of wine for later. Jack grabbed two plates and, helping Rose to sit, sat down next to Catherine. He wrapped his arm companionably about her, "Happy luv?"
"Blissfully," she grinned up at him, Eilis sitting on her lap.
Jack sighed, listening as some of the crew began to play music on an assortment of instruments, dancing with the whores. "Dance with me?" he offered.
"I'd love to," Catherine smiled, evicting Eilis from her lap.
***
Rose watched them dance for a while before retiring when Elizabeth came to find the children. Jack had been right, she had enjoyed the party even though she had not been expecting to. She knew that in the morning the Black Pearl would be gone, sailing for Port Royal in their attempt to kidnap the Commodore. She remembered Elizabeth's words and worried that Jack or Kitty would not return, fearful of losing her son when she had only just found him again. Quietly she blew out her candle, listening to the party continuing as she slowly settled down to sleep, offering her prayers for their safe return.
***
Okay... if you want to see the Commodore kidnapped, form an orderly queue and review. ANI! I said an ORDERLY queue! {wink}
***
Jack and Catherine did not make an appearance until well past midday and knowing looks and unsubtle winks abounded amongst the crew. They certainly knew though when they did emerge, as Catherine started shouting commands almost before she stepped into the sunlight.
"Tobias! Abel! Why aren't the fire pits dug yet?" she shouted. "And why is the bar not set up for Sanchia when she gets here?" She looked around the deck for those not busy. "Frank, Evin, Rory - you can help!"
A chorus of 'Aye Kitty' echoed around the deck and the five men rapidly headed towards the shore. She looked around the deck, noticing a number of unfamiliar faces. "You've taken on fresh crew?" she questioned, turning to Jack, wondering what else had gotten slack in her absence.
"Aye," he smiled. "I'll find 'em fer yer an' make th' introductions... managed t' find eleven, so we're almost back t' full strength..."
"Can we trust them?" she asked cautiously.
"Picked most of 'em up in Scotland an' Ireland before we got back," he assured her. "None of them are Hallam's..."
"Are you sure?" Catherine worried.
"As sure as I can be..." he shrugged. "But let m' introduce yer..." He slid his arm around her waist, guiding her towards a group of four of the new men.
***
Rose looked in amazement at the activity on the beach and the two laden carts that had just arrived. "I know Jack said a party..." she gasped.
"I don't think it will be what you would call a party," Elizabeth cautioned. "The crew will be wild tonight... especially when the women arrive."
"Women?" Rose frowned, unsure if she wanted to know from the tone of Elizabeth's voice.
"Err..." Elizabeth wondered the best wording to use. "Painted ladies... women of the night..."
"Oh," Rose exclaimed in surprise.
"Well Theodore's lady and Oran's will be coming too - Kasia and Sanchia - and they aren't... you know..." Elizabeth explained. "But if they are intending to snatch the Commodore and go up against this other ship then some might not be returning..."
"Not returning?" Rose frowned.
Elizabeth sighed. Rose had clearly led a very sheltered life. "They might die - Jack and Kitty included... it is the risk they run every time they sail. There is not only the black ship but there are the two new frigates as well as the HMS Gauntlet that want them dead..." She smiled reassuringly as Rose realised what she said. "So Jack treats them to some time with the women... its part of what makes him a good Captain and why they will follow him."
"But it doesn't worry you - with the children here and everything?" Rose asked in surprise, clearly shocked at Elizabeth's attitude.
"The women are discrete," Elizabeth conceded, "and the children quickly tire themselves out..." She sighed. "It's part of life here in Tortuga , you get used to it. Don't judge them until you meet them Rose - most of them are nice girls..."
"If you say so." Rose was clearly unconvinced. This was not the type of company she associated with back in London.
"You'll see," Elizabeth smiled. "But you will like Kasia - she used to be Nanny to the Governor's children and Sanchia, she runs the Faithful Bride in Tortuga. She'll be bringing her little girl Abby - she's five."
"Sanchia is Oran's woman?" Rose frowned. "Oran's the one that kisses Catherine?" she asked, her voice tinged with disapproval.
"Same one," Elizabeth sighed at Rose's expression. "You mustn't mind those two. They may laugh about a bit but Catherine would never be unfaithful to Jack... teasing him though is another matter!"
"Hmmmn," Rose muttered, still clearly unconvinced.
Elizabeth shook her head. "You'll see," she said. "This is not London, things are more relaxed here..."
"Clearly," Rose replied doubtfully wondering if indeed she would ever get used to life on Tortuga.
***
Rose relaxed slightly when she saw Oran greeting Sanchia later in the day. Clearly her doubts were unfounded, but she would never condone another man being so affectionate with her daughter-in-law... it just was not proper. She smiled, seeing Jack and Catherine walking towards the house, his arm possessively around her waist.
"Are yer comin' t' th' party?" Jack smiled.
"I am not sure," Rose admitted. "I do not think I would enjoy it..."
"You'll be fine fer th' first part of th' evenin..." Jack suggested. "Trust me - at least come an' get some food fer Elizabeth won't be cookin' this evenin..." He sidestepped sharply to avoid being attacked by Eilis, grabbing her arm and dangling her off the ground. "Not nice Missy!" he teased. "An' yer have t' stop gigglin' when yer are about t' attack! Some pirate yer'll make giggling all th' time!"
"Come on Eilis, I'll get you some food!" Catherine offered as Jack handed her over, still giggling.
"Are yer comin' then?" he asked, offering his mother his arm as Catherine found herself surrounded by Billy, Richael' Moses and Abby clamouring for food too.
"Catherine is good with children..." Rose began, taking his arm as he followed Catherine and the children towards the fire pits where the steer and hogs were roasting.
"Yer know that will never be," Jack interrupted, unwilling to talk about it. "I have her an' that is enough... she's already been through enough over this fer it t' be raked up again."
Rose was taken aback. "I did not mean... I merely meant that she was good with children. I intended no comment on her inability to have children," Rose defended, surprised at the strength of reaction her innocent comment had received.
Jack turned to his mother. "I know you did not, but I will not have Kitty hurt by this again. It has taken her a long time to even begin to accept it..." He sighed heavily. "I'd rather yer didn't mention children near Kitty..."
Rose looked at her son, realising just how little she actually knew about him and surprised at how quick he was to defend his wife. "I am sorry," she apologised. "Catherine and I spoke briefly about it but I did not realise it was such a sensitive issue. I will not mention it again."
"It's already forgotten," he smiled. "But we'd best hurry else the crew will eat all th' food!"
Jack led her down the beach and Rose was surprised to find the crew courteous, if a little ribald at times. Catherine and the children were near the fire pits, eating meat and drinking water - although she had snared a bottle of wine for later. Jack grabbed two plates and, helping Rose to sit, sat down next to Catherine. He wrapped his arm companionably about her, "Happy luv?"
"Blissfully," she grinned up at him, Eilis sitting on her lap.
Jack sighed, listening as some of the crew began to play music on an assortment of instruments, dancing with the whores. "Dance with me?" he offered.
"I'd love to," Catherine smiled, evicting Eilis from her lap.
***
Rose watched them dance for a while before retiring when Elizabeth came to find the children. Jack had been right, she had enjoyed the party even though she had not been expecting to. She knew that in the morning the Black Pearl would be gone, sailing for Port Royal in their attempt to kidnap the Commodore. She remembered Elizabeth's words and worried that Jack or Kitty would not return, fearful of losing her son when she had only just found him again. Quietly she blew out her candle, listening to the party continuing as she slowly settled down to sleep, offering her prayers for their safe return.
***
Okay... if you want to see the Commodore kidnapped, form an orderly queue and review. ANI! I said an ORDERLY queue! {wink}