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Chapter 5
The Journey Back
"No," Jack refused to move.
"Come on Jack, I need your help!"
Jack considered Will teasingly, enjoying the power he had over him. "With what?"
Will sighed. Jack was not going to let this be easy. "Elizabeth's ill. She wants to ask you something. It's very important."
"Why can't you ask me now?"
"Because she won't tell me what it is. She cries when I ask her what's wrong, Jack, and she sent me here to bring you back to Port Royal."
"Hmmm… well, sorry mate, can't be today. I have to go and see a master swordsmm- swordman tomorrer. Can't help you," Jack said, folding his arms and waiting for Will's offer…
Will looked at Jack. "Fine. I'll make you the finest swords I can, and as many as you want." Jack considered him again, and indicated his coin purse. "And you needn't pay me," Will added.
Jack beamed. "We have an accord!" He offered his hand and Will shook it, thinking 'déja vu'.
Aboard the "Our Lady", Will showed Jack to his sleeping quarters, where Jack promptly lay down on the bed and went to sleep. Will laughed softly and went on deck. The air was chill against his skin, but the night sky was clear and sprinkled with stars, and a big, round, white moon. He thought about his fiancée at home, wondering whether she was sleeping or lying awake, worrying about her problem. Will frowned again. He still couldn't work out what could possibly be wrong. He went over the situation in his head again. She wasn't being forced into marriage, she insisted she still loved him, she had been ill and her depression had started when she returned from the physician. Will was no educated man, and he certainly didn't know about the workings of a woman's mind. He took another glance at the moon, and wondered whether Elizabeth would be looking at it too.
Elizabeth, however, was not staring at the moon. She was in fact lying in bed wondering what Will was doing. Had he found Jack Sparrow yet? Or would his journey be even longer? She nibbled her nails, a habit she had taken to recently, due to anxiety. It annoyed her father, but she didn't care. Feeling restless, she climbed out of bed and crept downstairs. The whole household was asleep, even the servants, so she was able to hurry across the floor. She walked into the kitchen and opened the pantry door. For some strange reason she found herself craving carrots. Finding a bunch of fresh ones, she sat down at the sturdy, wooden table in the middle of the kitchen floor and began to eat.
"Miss Swann?"
Elizabeth cried out and looked round. Estrella was standing there guiltily. "Oh God. You scared me."
"I'm ever so sorry, Miss. I just heard someone walking about and I came down to check it wasn't an intruder," Estrella explained.
"That's alright. Weren't you asleep?"
"No, Miss, I was thinking about… things."
"What?" Elizabeth gestured the seat next to her, desperate for some company.
"Well, Miss," said Estrella, tentatively sitting next to Elizabeth, "it's me sister. She's- she's got 'erself into a bit of trouble." Estrella paused. She wasn't supposed to discuss her personal life at work, especially with the Governor's daughter.
Elizabeth read her thoughts. "It's fine, you're off duty, and I won't tell anyone."
"Right. Well, she's found out something. She's going to have a baby."
"Oh.? Oh. Oh! She's not married, is she?"
"No, Miss. She's courtin' the butcher's apprentice, but they're not married."
"And it's his..?"
Estrella nodded. "Please don't tell anyone, Miss." Elizabeth assented. "We just don't know what's going to happen to her. She can pretend nothin's wrong, but soon she'll grow bigger, and she'll start having strange moods and-" Estrella broke off when she saw tears rolling down Elizabeth's cheeks. "Miss Swann, what's wrong?" she cried.
Elizabeth swiped at a tear. "It's nothing. Please. Ignore me."
Estrella was puzzled. She looked at the carrots, at Elizabeth's tears, and remembered her story. Realization dawned on her face. "Miss Swann!" she gasped, standing up and covering her mouth.
Elizabeth, seeing that Estrella had worked it out, grabbed the maid with both hands and forced her back down onto the seat. "Estrella- Estrella, you musn't tell anyone, do you understand?! Promise me!"
"I- I don't understand…" Estrella didn't know what to say. She didn't want to pry, but she had to ask… "Is it Will's? To her shock, Elizabeth slowly shook her head. Estrella covered her mouth again.
*****
That's it for that chapter, thanks to all those who reviewed, and please do again!