Usual disclaimers... and I still want him... please?
Leandra52 - Yes, you will see more of Claire... read on! Redmond - The new story is about a totally different person, no Kitty at all, and is already nearly completed... mwhahahaha!
Okay - these two chapters are for all you Mary-bashers. Be nice... physical violence is not half as much torture as mental cruelty!
###
Jack kept Mary locked up for the remainder of the trip, refusing all of Theodore's pleas for her release. He feared that if he did then one of the women would be seriously hurt, and he had more than a sneaking suspicion that it would not be Catherine or Claire. It was not until the Black Pearl sat at anchor a short distance from Port Royal that he freed her.
"About time!" she sniped, angrily storming up towards the deck. "How dare you keep me in there!" She had not enjoyed her time in the brig though, and a glance from Jack was enough to make her bide her tongue. Theodore was already in the small ship's boat, two crew at the oars as they waited for the women. It had been decided that Claire would go with Theodore, proof of Mary's child needed as evidence of her disgrace. Jean Claude spoke quietly with her before she climbed down. "Theodore will see that you reach where I can be found," he smiled. "If the bitch will not raise her son, I will not desert my only kin. We will be waiting."
"I understand," she acknowledged, handing first her son Martin and then Nicolas down to Theodore before scrambling down herself. She sat awkwardly in the bobbing boat, a child in each arm as Jack finally appeared on deck with Mary.
"Off!" he ordered, pointing to the boat below but made no move to help her, smirking as she nearly fell.
"You'll pay for this!" she hissed, glaring at him as Catherine came to stand beside him.
"Goodbye Mary," she smiled sweetly, her tone at odds with her expression. "Good riddance!"
Before Mary could answer, the men picked up their oars and Theodore forced her to sit. She glowered back at Catherine, but did not reply to her taunt, the distance soon making any remark she might have made inaudible. She saw they were heading for a beach that she recognised - the bay where Louis had anchored when he had met her father. The irony was not lost on her as she stepped onto the sand.
"We'll leave your trunks hidden in the bushes," Tobias Pale offered. "You can come back and collect them later."
"Thank you," Theodore said appreciatively. There was no way he would have been able to manage both women's trunks on his own, and there was no way he could envisage Mary helping. He turned to her. "I guess I'd better get you back to Port Royal," he sighed, indicating to Claire that she should follow them as Mary stormed up the beach. He turned, watching as the boat reached the Black Pearl, being hoisted aboard as her sails unfurled and she gracefully headed to sea again, wondering when he would next see his sister and Jack.
###
"Mary!" Thomas Spense cried in disbelief as he saw Theodore and the two women heading towards the fort.
"Father!" Mary replied in delight on seeing him. He dashed from his carriage to embrace her, stopping in confusion as Theodore stepped between them, firmly keeping Mary behind him.
"My wife is required at the fort to answer questions of the Commodore," he said, ensuring his voice could carry to those nearby. "It seems she has been consorting with French pirates, and he is most eager to speak with her."
"Out of my way!" Thomas Spense cursed, trying to push past him. "I wish to see my daughter!"
Theodore held his ground. "You may see her once the Commodore is satisfied she is not a threat to this island," he assured him, smiling at the rage on his father-in-law's face. Already a crowd was gathering and he knew that the Governor would be unwilling to make a scene. "I am sure Governor that you realise the Commodore has to see her first - it is the law after all..."
"But Father!" Mary protested as he turned away, climbing back into his carriage.
"I will not forget this Groves," he threatened.
"I should h0pe not Governor," Theodore smiled, his grip unyielding as he forced Mary towards the fort. Claire followed quietly, taking in all the comments but making none of her own.
"Halt!" The gate guard challenged them as they approached. "State your business!"
"Theodore Groves," he offered. "The Commodore is expecting me."
"Yes Sir," the man acknowledged, recognising the name. "You know the way."
"Thank you." Theodore led them across the courtyard, disappointed to see that Louis was not still hanging from the gallows. He shrugged, realising that he would have been buried by now or the stench would have been unbearable in the heat.
"Captain Groves!" Angus Morven looked up in surprise.
"It's just plain Theodore Groves at the moment," he smiled ruefully. "Is the Commodore in - he is expecting me!"
"He is," Angus confirmed. "Let me announce you." He rose, knocking on the office door. "Commodore, Theodore Groves and two ladies here to see you."
"Send them in," James Norrington urged, smiling broadly. "Welcome back Captain," he smiled, stressing the title. "I see your mission was successful!"
"Indeed Sir," he nodded, closing the door behind him. "May I also introduce Claire d'Avenell who is wet-nurse to my wife's bastard as Mary refuses to have anything to do with the child."
James Norrington made a show of looking at the baby. Mary did not know that he already knew about her and Louis and he intended to see if he could get any fresh information out of her. "The poor child," he sighed. "Already without a father..." He looked closely at Mary. "And abandoned by it's mother." He tutted. "Such a sad start in life, much like your first child." He indicated that they should sit before turning his gaze back to Mary who blushed at his words but remained haughty. "I want information from you Mistress Groves. Your answers will decide what I do with you, do you understand? If I am not happy then it will be the cells!"
"I want to see my Father!" she argued. "You have no right to hold me here!"
"You are mistaken," he countered. "Louis spoke of many interesting things before he was hanged. I would have you confirm them."
Suddenly she did not look so assured. "Such as?" she ventured.
"Perhaps we should start with the night of the fire and see how you go?" he suggested, sitting back and bridging his hands beneath his chin.
"I did not know about the fire," she protested, "not until afterwards."
"And where were you when it broke out?" he prompted.
"On Louis' ship," she admitted, realising that there was no point lying if Louis had already spoken.
"So you left your baby and your father-in-law in the house?" he asked.
"I did," she evaded.
"And they were both alive and well when you last saw them?" He watched her intently. "I warn you to answer carefully!"
"If you are saying that then you already know that he was dead!" she argued.
"And who killed him?" he said quietly.
"Louis," she confessed. "Edmund saw him with me so Louis killed him and forced me to go with him." A spark of hope blossomed that she could still bring herself out of this as being innocent, but the hope quickly died with his next question.
"But that was not the first time you had been with Louis, was it? You were having an affair, were you not?" he asked. For a moment she did not answer, but then slowly nodded. Louis must have told them everything. "What happened after you were marooned?"
She blinked at the sudden change of question. "Louis took me to New Orleans...." she stuttered.
"And?" James Norrington pressed.
"And he got a new ship and returned to piracy!" she retorted angrily. "What do you want me to say when you already seem to know all the answers?"
"But that was not his only new ship was it Mary?" he insisted. "There was another - tell me about that ship!"
"What do you mean?" she evaded, realising instantly which ship he was interested in.
"His second new ship - the ship he was caught on..." James Norrington reminded her.
"There was another ship," she admitted, "but I never saw it..."
"I find that strange," the Commodore puzzled, "considering it was rather distinctive. Are you sure he never spoke to you about it? I have heard it anchored at least twice at New Orleans..."
"I did not see it," Mary evaded. She realised that the Commodore knew more than he was telling, but knew she could not say more of the ship, worrying that it might be traced back to her father. "I know nothing more!"
"Are you sure?" he demanded, knowing she was lying.
"I am sure," Mary replied angrily.
"I will give you one last chance to reconsider your last answer," he sighed. It had been a faint hope that she would give them her father, but it was disappointing none the less. Theodore knew what the Commodore was about to do, they had spoken about it back on Tortuga, but it was still a shock to him as the situation unfolded before his eyes.
"I know nothing!" she retorted. "Now, if you are finished I would see my Father!"
"You will shortly," he assured her. "I will send for him."
"What do you mean?" Mary worriedly asked, realising that he had not said that she was released.
"Morven!" the Commodore called, smiling as his clerk promptly opened the door. "Please escort Mistress Groves to the cells..."
"What?" she interrupted. "I haven't done anything!" She turned beseechingly to her husband. "Theodore?" He shook his head, unspeaking.
"Mistress Groves," James Norrington said sternly. "I know that you were involved the French pirate Louis Lact, that you bore him a child - this child." He pointed to Nicolas. "I also know that you were closely involved with the building of the very ship you claim to know nothing about." He paused, sighing regretfully. "Because you have failed to tell me the truth, I must fear that you have something to hide - and the can only reason that I can perceive is that it would be dangerous to Port Royal. Therefore I am detaining you and you will be returned to your family in England on the first available ship."
"You cannot do this!" she shouted angrily, rising to her feet.
"Yes I can Mistress Groves," he spoke quietly, but with an assurance that was unsettling. "It might pay you to remember that if you were a man you would hang," he warned. "Be grateful that I have decided not to take this further!"
Angus Morven laid a firm hand on her arm. "This way Mistress," he said courteously, but the two armed marines behind him gave weight to his words. Silently she looked one last time at Theodore before allowing herself to be led away. How had it all gone so wrong?
###
Theodore quietly walked Claire a short distance from the town along the westward path. "Keep going for about two hours and you will find them," he assured her. "Don't worry about your belongings," he smiled. "The trunk back at the bay is empty."
She smiled, realising the subterfuge, and the reason for making Mary believe that she would be staying. "Merci Monsieur Groves - or should that be Captain now?"
"It will be Captain once the Commodore has sorted the paperwork," he admitted. "But you had best get started, the trail can be tricky if it gets dark."
She nodded, kissing him briefly on the cheek. "Merci again," she said quietly before turning and walking down the trail. He watched until she disappeared before heading back to his home... despite everything, it was good to be back.
###
Leandra52 - Yes, you will see more of Claire... read on! Redmond - The new story is about a totally different person, no Kitty at all, and is already nearly completed... mwhahahaha!
Okay - these two chapters are for all you Mary-bashers. Be nice... physical violence is not half as much torture as mental cruelty!
###
Jack kept Mary locked up for the remainder of the trip, refusing all of Theodore's pleas for her release. He feared that if he did then one of the women would be seriously hurt, and he had more than a sneaking suspicion that it would not be Catherine or Claire. It was not until the Black Pearl sat at anchor a short distance from Port Royal that he freed her.
"About time!" she sniped, angrily storming up towards the deck. "How dare you keep me in there!" She had not enjoyed her time in the brig though, and a glance from Jack was enough to make her bide her tongue. Theodore was already in the small ship's boat, two crew at the oars as they waited for the women. It had been decided that Claire would go with Theodore, proof of Mary's child needed as evidence of her disgrace. Jean Claude spoke quietly with her before she climbed down. "Theodore will see that you reach where I can be found," he smiled. "If the bitch will not raise her son, I will not desert my only kin. We will be waiting."
"I understand," she acknowledged, handing first her son Martin and then Nicolas down to Theodore before scrambling down herself. She sat awkwardly in the bobbing boat, a child in each arm as Jack finally appeared on deck with Mary.
"Off!" he ordered, pointing to the boat below but made no move to help her, smirking as she nearly fell.
"You'll pay for this!" she hissed, glaring at him as Catherine came to stand beside him.
"Goodbye Mary," she smiled sweetly, her tone at odds with her expression. "Good riddance!"
Before Mary could answer, the men picked up their oars and Theodore forced her to sit. She glowered back at Catherine, but did not reply to her taunt, the distance soon making any remark she might have made inaudible. She saw they were heading for a beach that she recognised - the bay where Louis had anchored when he had met her father. The irony was not lost on her as she stepped onto the sand.
"We'll leave your trunks hidden in the bushes," Tobias Pale offered. "You can come back and collect them later."
"Thank you," Theodore said appreciatively. There was no way he would have been able to manage both women's trunks on his own, and there was no way he could envisage Mary helping. He turned to her. "I guess I'd better get you back to Port Royal," he sighed, indicating to Claire that she should follow them as Mary stormed up the beach. He turned, watching as the boat reached the Black Pearl, being hoisted aboard as her sails unfurled and she gracefully headed to sea again, wondering when he would next see his sister and Jack.
###
"Mary!" Thomas Spense cried in disbelief as he saw Theodore and the two women heading towards the fort.
"Father!" Mary replied in delight on seeing him. He dashed from his carriage to embrace her, stopping in confusion as Theodore stepped between them, firmly keeping Mary behind him.
"My wife is required at the fort to answer questions of the Commodore," he said, ensuring his voice could carry to those nearby. "It seems she has been consorting with French pirates, and he is most eager to speak with her."
"Out of my way!" Thomas Spense cursed, trying to push past him. "I wish to see my daughter!"
Theodore held his ground. "You may see her once the Commodore is satisfied she is not a threat to this island," he assured him, smiling at the rage on his father-in-law's face. Already a crowd was gathering and he knew that the Governor would be unwilling to make a scene. "I am sure Governor that you realise the Commodore has to see her first - it is the law after all..."
"But Father!" Mary protested as he turned away, climbing back into his carriage.
"I will not forget this Groves," he threatened.
"I should h0pe not Governor," Theodore smiled, his grip unyielding as he forced Mary towards the fort. Claire followed quietly, taking in all the comments but making none of her own.
"Halt!" The gate guard challenged them as they approached. "State your business!"
"Theodore Groves," he offered. "The Commodore is expecting me."
"Yes Sir," the man acknowledged, recognising the name. "You know the way."
"Thank you." Theodore led them across the courtyard, disappointed to see that Louis was not still hanging from the gallows. He shrugged, realising that he would have been buried by now or the stench would have been unbearable in the heat.
"Captain Groves!" Angus Morven looked up in surprise.
"It's just plain Theodore Groves at the moment," he smiled ruefully. "Is the Commodore in - he is expecting me!"
"He is," Angus confirmed. "Let me announce you." He rose, knocking on the office door. "Commodore, Theodore Groves and two ladies here to see you."
"Send them in," James Norrington urged, smiling broadly. "Welcome back Captain," he smiled, stressing the title. "I see your mission was successful!"
"Indeed Sir," he nodded, closing the door behind him. "May I also introduce Claire d'Avenell who is wet-nurse to my wife's bastard as Mary refuses to have anything to do with the child."
James Norrington made a show of looking at the baby. Mary did not know that he already knew about her and Louis and he intended to see if he could get any fresh information out of her. "The poor child," he sighed. "Already without a father..." He looked closely at Mary. "And abandoned by it's mother." He tutted. "Such a sad start in life, much like your first child." He indicated that they should sit before turning his gaze back to Mary who blushed at his words but remained haughty. "I want information from you Mistress Groves. Your answers will decide what I do with you, do you understand? If I am not happy then it will be the cells!"
"I want to see my Father!" she argued. "You have no right to hold me here!"
"You are mistaken," he countered. "Louis spoke of many interesting things before he was hanged. I would have you confirm them."
Suddenly she did not look so assured. "Such as?" she ventured.
"Perhaps we should start with the night of the fire and see how you go?" he suggested, sitting back and bridging his hands beneath his chin.
"I did not know about the fire," she protested, "not until afterwards."
"And where were you when it broke out?" he prompted.
"On Louis' ship," she admitted, realising that there was no point lying if Louis had already spoken.
"So you left your baby and your father-in-law in the house?" he asked.
"I did," she evaded.
"And they were both alive and well when you last saw them?" He watched her intently. "I warn you to answer carefully!"
"If you are saying that then you already know that he was dead!" she argued.
"And who killed him?" he said quietly.
"Louis," she confessed. "Edmund saw him with me so Louis killed him and forced me to go with him." A spark of hope blossomed that she could still bring herself out of this as being innocent, but the hope quickly died with his next question.
"But that was not the first time you had been with Louis, was it? You were having an affair, were you not?" he asked. For a moment she did not answer, but then slowly nodded. Louis must have told them everything. "What happened after you were marooned?"
She blinked at the sudden change of question. "Louis took me to New Orleans...." she stuttered.
"And?" James Norrington pressed.
"And he got a new ship and returned to piracy!" she retorted angrily. "What do you want me to say when you already seem to know all the answers?"
"But that was not his only new ship was it Mary?" he insisted. "There was another - tell me about that ship!"
"What do you mean?" she evaded, realising instantly which ship he was interested in.
"His second new ship - the ship he was caught on..." James Norrington reminded her.
"There was another ship," she admitted, "but I never saw it..."
"I find that strange," the Commodore puzzled, "considering it was rather distinctive. Are you sure he never spoke to you about it? I have heard it anchored at least twice at New Orleans..."
"I did not see it," Mary evaded. She realised that the Commodore knew more than he was telling, but knew she could not say more of the ship, worrying that it might be traced back to her father. "I know nothing more!"
"Are you sure?" he demanded, knowing she was lying.
"I am sure," Mary replied angrily.
"I will give you one last chance to reconsider your last answer," he sighed. It had been a faint hope that she would give them her father, but it was disappointing none the less. Theodore knew what the Commodore was about to do, they had spoken about it back on Tortuga, but it was still a shock to him as the situation unfolded before his eyes.
"I know nothing!" she retorted. "Now, if you are finished I would see my Father!"
"You will shortly," he assured her. "I will send for him."
"What do you mean?" Mary worriedly asked, realising that he had not said that she was released.
"Morven!" the Commodore called, smiling as his clerk promptly opened the door. "Please escort Mistress Groves to the cells..."
"What?" she interrupted. "I haven't done anything!" She turned beseechingly to her husband. "Theodore?" He shook his head, unspeaking.
"Mistress Groves," James Norrington said sternly. "I know that you were involved the French pirate Louis Lact, that you bore him a child - this child." He pointed to Nicolas. "I also know that you were closely involved with the building of the very ship you claim to know nothing about." He paused, sighing regretfully. "Because you have failed to tell me the truth, I must fear that you have something to hide - and the can only reason that I can perceive is that it would be dangerous to Port Royal. Therefore I am detaining you and you will be returned to your family in England on the first available ship."
"You cannot do this!" she shouted angrily, rising to her feet.
"Yes I can Mistress Groves," he spoke quietly, but with an assurance that was unsettling. "It might pay you to remember that if you were a man you would hang," he warned. "Be grateful that I have decided not to take this further!"
Angus Morven laid a firm hand on her arm. "This way Mistress," he said courteously, but the two armed marines behind him gave weight to his words. Silently she looked one last time at Theodore before allowing herself to be led away. How had it all gone so wrong?
###
Theodore quietly walked Claire a short distance from the town along the westward path. "Keep going for about two hours and you will find them," he assured her. "Don't worry about your belongings," he smiled. "The trunk back at the bay is empty."
She smiled, realising the subterfuge, and the reason for making Mary believe that she would be staying. "Merci Monsieur Groves - or should that be Captain now?"
"It will be Captain once the Commodore has sorted the paperwork," he admitted. "But you had best get started, the trail can be tricky if it gets dark."
She nodded, kissing him briefly on the cheek. "Merci again," she said quietly before turning and walking down the trail. He watched until she disappeared before heading back to his home... despite everything, it was good to be back.
###