Chapter 6
"We Drank a Lot of Rum"
Elizabeth could tell that Estrella was dying to know the father of her baby, but too scared to ask her. But she felt that she needed to tell someone.
"You don't know him. He's called Jack Sparrow, the pirate who threatened me the day Commodore Norrington proposed. Do you remember hearing about it?"
Estrella looked at Elizabeth, confused. "But… but how… when…" remembering her place, she quickly added, "I'm sorry Miss, it's not my place to ask-"
"No," interrupted Elizabeth, "I have to tell somebody. But you must promise me again that you won't tell a soul." The maid promised, and she took a deep breath and carried on. "When pirates invaded Port Royal and I was kidnapped, Will freed Jack from the dungeon so that he could help rescue me. It's complicated, but Jack and I were eventually marooned on an island together. We- we drank a lot of rum…" Estrella nodded encouragingly "… but I can't remember what happened next," Elizabeth finished. She put her head in her hands while Estrella tried to articulate an answer.
"W- well, it's not so bad… Miss," Estrella said quickly, turning Elizabeth's head to look at her, "how long have you been- in this condition?"
Elizabeth counted mentally. "About five and a half weeks, I think…"
"And you're marryin' Mr Turner in three weeks?"
Elizabeth nodded warily. "If you're going to suggest that I kill my baby… I don't think I could do that."
"It's not that, Miss. If you'll be married when you've been with the child for eight and a half weeks, you will probably have the baby when you've carried it for nine months, meaning you'll have the baby after about seven months marriage, and you can tell your husband it's his!" said Estrella very quickly, and beaming.
Elizabeth was too tired to comprehend and looked at Estrella, bemused.
"You can have the baby while you're married, and say that it came early," explained Estrella, slowly.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I can't lie to Will and Jack."
Estrella sighed. These upper class girls!
*****
Will was standing on deck, watching the growing outline of Port Royal as they drew closer. Hearing a cough behind him, he turned around to see Jack, more steady on his feet, rubbing his eyes. Walking up to Will, he squinted in the afternoon sun and stared at the horizon.
"'Ow long was I asleep?" he asked.
"Only about half a day," replied Will, amused.
"Oh, good," Jack seemed to have been expecting a much longer time, and Will rolled his eyes good naturedly. A seagull screeched near them, and Jack groaned, clutching his head. Will laughed.
"If this always happens, Jack, why do you drink so much?"
"Don't preach to me, eunuch," Jack said, annoyed, and turned around to look at the boat. "Not bad. Why's it so clean?!" he asked, wrinkling his nose in mock distaste.
Will laughed again. "It's a ship of the Royal Navy."
Jack stumbled, and ducked down. "They didn't see me, did they?" he hissed.
"No, Jack, they don't know you're here."
*****
As the ship arrived in the harbour, Elizabeth was taking a walk through the town. Going past the docks, she saw the ship Will had sailed off on. Smiling with delight at seeing her fiancé again, she picked up her skirts and ran down and along the pier to meet him. Stepping over a pile of cargo, probably sugar, from a merchant ship, she hurried closer to the "Our Lady", seeing Will step out of the boat. Smiling, she walked towards him. He saw her, and, grinning, ran towards her, picking her up in a big hug. They were both overjoyed to see each other, and Elizabeth seemed for a moment like her old self, but as soon as she saw the eccentric pirate step out of the vessel, her face dropped again. As Will put her down, he saw her change of expression and was confused.
"I found him," Will offered, hoping for some approval.
"Yes," agreed Elizabeth. "There he is." She was worried- seeing him again, she realized Jack was an attractive man, would Will think she had wanted to be with him?
"Come on," said Will, beckoning to Jack and taking Elizabeth's arm to lead her to her father's house. "You still don't look well. You need to rest."
"I've been resting constantly for the past week," protested Elizabeth as they walked, "I just need to talk to Jack. Would- would you mind going back to work? I just want to get this done as soon as I can," she added, seeing the hurt on Will's face, "so he can go back."
"Fine." Will was upset, but he tried not to show it. Kissing Elizabeth on the cheek, he added, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yes. Come and see me," she replied. She waited for Will to go and for Jack to catch up before greeting him. "Hello Jack."
"Afternoon, love. What's this trip of mine in aid of, then? Or is this just an excuse to see me again?" he joked, grinning at her. He was worried when she didn't protest, and frowned. "Uh oh. Must be serious, eh?"
The pair walked almost silently, other than Jack's attempts at conversation (I see the Commodore's still touching what he can't afford… that'd make a good wedding present, aye?), which fell on deaf ears. Elizabeth was lost in thought, wondering how to tell Jack. Arriving at the big house which the Governor's father had built about fifty years ago, as a gift for his wife who left him shortly after it was finished, Elizabeth knocked on the front door, which was opened by the butler.
"Miss Swann."
"Thank you, Walters. Can you ask Estrella to bring some tea into the drawing room? Mr. Sparrow and I will be residing there."
"Very good, Miss Swann," replied the butler, as he bowed and left.
"Residing in the drawing room, eh?" chuckled Jack. "I see yer still the Elizabeth I know and love! No matter what Will seems to think," he said, looking at her sideways.
"Please don't joke about it, Jack. I have something I need to talk to you about."
"I'm listenin'."
"I-" just then, Estrella came into the room with a tray of tea and a platter of cake.
"Miss, your tea…" Estrella broke off as she noticed Elizabeth's company, who beamed at her, unaware of her knowledge. Estrella swallowed, and set the service down. "Your tea, Miss Swann."
"Thank you, Estrella. Mr. Sparrow or I will call for you when we need it taking away."
"Very good, Miss Swann," said Estrella, backing out of the room.
"See yer maid finds me irresistible as well!" said Jack, looking at Elizabeth for a reaction, but she was somewhere else. "Not unlike yourself."
Jack laughed as Elizabeth's head snapped round at him as she finally registered what he was saying, like he knew she would. "What?"
"Well, you were all over me, good thing I'm such a gentleman."
"Are you?"
"Aye. But you were too hard to fight off."
"Jack," Elizabeth was breathless. "What exactly happened on the island?"
"Don't you remember?" he sounded disappointed. "Said at the time I was the best you'd 'ad."
"I didn't really say that, did I?" asked Elizabeth, distracted.
"No." He sounded disappointed again.
"So, what did happen?" she persisted.
"Well, we got drunk and then… well, I don't know what you rich girls call it, but I think you get my meaning, savvy?"
Elizabeth sighed and buried her face in her hands. Although, she had known what had happened, hearing Jack telling her was a shock. She thought again about how Will would react, and looked at Jack. He was admiring the vase that had stood next to him, looking at the pattern of birds and flowers intertwined with ivy and trees. The whole thing seemed ridiculously unrealistic, far from the beauty she had thought it had when it had been sent as a wedding gift from her aunt in England. He sensed her looking at him, and, setting the vase down, he returned her gaze. She was caught off guard for a moment by his stunning good looks and dark eyes, but shook her head slightly and looked back. She took a deep breath. This was it.
"Jack," she began, "I brought you here to tell you something-" he nodded encouragingly, "- about a week ago, I saw my physician and he says… he says I'm going to have a baby."
Leaving it there for now, try and update soon! In the meantime, review!