A/N Wow thanks for all the reviews!! And now I am FINALLY updating!! Yay!!
Chapter Six
After that I didn't struggle. After all I had nothing to fear, this was the Jack Sparrow, the boy washed up on our beach. How could I fear the boy, I had admired so much during childhood, and searched for in my older years?
He noticed the change, it would have been impossible not too, he grinned wickedly.
Roberto stepped forward, he had to protect my honour, though his countenance had dropped. He no longer had the appearance of a well groomed gentleman, in fact an old expression springs to mind, he looked as though he had been dragged through a hedge backwards.
"Leave her alone." He said, coldly.
The pirate grinned even more, fingering the gun in his hand. "I'll like to see you try." He said, as Roberto stepped forward.
Roberto lunged, but Jack was too quick, he threw me aside, and clobbered Roberto on the head, with his gun. I screamed as he fell to the ground. The seconds seemed like hours, as I stared at his figure my eyes roving to detect movement. And then the soldiers arrived. Captain Jack Sparrow looked at me helplessly before running away down the ally. It was only after he had gone I realised he had stolen my gold coin.
I knelt down beside Roberto, two of the soldiers had stopped to help the others had chased after the pirate.
"Is he going to be alright?" I asked.
The soldier nodded. "Are you okay, young miss?"
I nodded. "Yes thank you."
"He didn't. . ." The soldier broke off unable to phrase his question. I understood him perfectly, I had heard many tales of pirates.
"The only thing he stole sir, was my gold coin, nothing of value. He did not take my honour if that is what you were referring to."
The man bowed his head before moving on, after the others. Roberto was carried home, and cared for by a nurse. I was by his side all day and far into the night. I was scared he was dying. My father seemed delighted with my concern, and encouraged me to spend time with Roberto. Eventually the doctor gave the all clear, and Roberto began to sit up and take note of things. He had suffered a severe wound to the head, and my father was desperate to capture 'the man responsible'. I don't know why, but I did not mention Jack Sparrow's name, and though my father badgered me for details I surrendered none. I was so sure, in my childish innocence that Jack had not meant to hurt Roberto as severely as he had done. I also emitted to mention Roberto's gun. I was sure father would not approve of such an implement being carried round.
Roberto was not one to lay long in bed, so as soon as he was well enough, he was up.
"Roberto." I said, happily, as he arrived down for breakfast.
He grinned at me.
"How are you?"
"Couldn't be better!" He laughed.
My father beamed. "That's the spirit."
My mother smiled. "I am glad to hear you're sounding better, Roberto. Your mother has written, inquiring after your health. I am dearly glad I can write back with good news."
"No need." Roberto said. "I shall shortly be returning to England, it would be a waste of paper Aunt, when I can tell her my self.
"You're returning to England?"
He nodded.
"You can't, not so soon after your accident." I said, hurriedly, blushing.
"It was no accident, Theo. That man tried to kill me. . ."
"I am sure he did not."
"Do you know something?" He demanded, picking up on my gentle tones.
I shook my head hurriedly.
"I intend to find him, and sort him out. He could have killed me and kidnapped you fair cousin, I cannot allow such a slur on our family to pass."
"Oh Roberto, it is over now. Leave it where it belongs, in the past. Now why must you return, do you not like Port Royal?"
"I am loathe to leave the gracious town, but it is the company I am leaving that shall be the hardest to bear." He gently raised my hand to his lips, and kissed it.
"Then why must you leave?"
"My family is missing me."
"I am your family."
He rested his hand on my shoulder. "I would love to remain here, I will come back soon I promise. Besides I have a score to settle."
"Your not still going on about that pirate are you?"
"Oh dear, Theo, you are but a child, you would not understand such matters."
In that moment, I hated him. How dare he call me a child? He was the childish one, harbouring such a vendetta against a man, who meant him no ill will. He turned and left, to pack he said, but I saw him leave through the front door. He had gone to inquire about the whereabouts of a certain pirate. I didn't think it would be long. . .and it wasn't.
"That pirate," He said, storming into the drawing room, where I was sitting, reading. "You won't believe this."
"Yes," I said, cautiously folding the book away.
"It's Jack Sparrow the boy we found that summer."
I gasped, as he expected me too. "Jack Sparrow?" I exclaimed. But I was never any good at acting.
"You already knew." He said, coldly.
I shook my head in horror. "Roberto, I swear I did not."
He grabbed my shoulders, and stared into my lying eyes. "You knew, and you didn't tell me. Why? Why were you covering up for him?"
I couldn't stand it any more. "Roberto, I am sure he meant us no harm. He saved us from those men, you must remember."
"They were his crew." Roberto shouted, angrily.
"Roberto, please. He meant us no harm, he did not mean to hurt you so badly. . ."
"He took your gold coin."
I sighed. "Please Roberto. . ."
He shook his head. "He could have taken your honour, he could have taken my life."
"Both things are still intact, so no harm done."
"No, I can't just let this go!" He yelled.
My father barged into the room. "What is the meaning for all this shouting, Roberto?" He demanded.
"Uncle, I have learned the name of my attacker, the man who threatened your daughter."
My father was listening with rapt attention. I had never seen him so interested in what another had to say. It was clear however that the whole business was a matter of honour, as Roberto said they could not let pass such a slur.
"Megan." My father called.
The maid ran into the room, and curtsied. "Kindly fetch the commodore."
Megan nodded. "I'll send young Frankie at once sir." She said, before leaving.
I took one look at my father before following her out.
"Megan." I said. "Kindly do not bother Frankie, I am sure he has far more important things to be attending to, I shall fetch the commodore myself."
She looked surprised, but knew better then to question. "Very well, miss."
I set off down to the town, no idea what I was going to do next, but that I had to buy Jack some time
I made no rush as I strolled through the crowds. My mind was in a whirl, I couldn't understand why Roberto wouldn't let the matter drop. I couldn't understand why I was trying to protect Jack.
I knocked on the commodore's office, and stepped inside.
"My father would like a word, Commodore Harrison."
He stepped up from us charts, quite a young man to be a commodore, but powerful. He had several ships under his command, and the men bowed to his command without question. But he did not exploit this power, and was quite a nice gentleman when you got talking to him.
"Ah, Miss. . ." He began, trying desperately to remember my name. I laughed. You could ask him any question about the ships, the army or the sea, and he would answer at once, but anything to do with conventional life failed him.
"Miss Harping."
"Of course, Governor Harping." He smiled, folding up his map.
"You are planning another venture?" I asked, it had not been long since he had returned to shore. In fact it had been his ship that had been attacked by Jack. It was when I had first heard Jack Sparrow's name, that day by the docks.
He tucked the maps away in the top drawer. "We are only thinking about it, Miss." It might have been my imagination, but he did not seem willing to talk. So I turned and left the office.
He went to my father's house, I saw him leave as I sat watching. There was no point returning, there was nothing I could do for Jack now, or so I thought.
I couldn't figure out why I was helping Jack, or even if I was indeed helping him. But something had passed between us that day. I had seen the boy I knew in the man before me.
Chapter Six
After that I didn't struggle. After all I had nothing to fear, this was the Jack Sparrow, the boy washed up on our beach. How could I fear the boy, I had admired so much during childhood, and searched for in my older years?
He noticed the change, it would have been impossible not too, he grinned wickedly.
Roberto stepped forward, he had to protect my honour, though his countenance had dropped. He no longer had the appearance of a well groomed gentleman, in fact an old expression springs to mind, he looked as though he had been dragged through a hedge backwards.
"Leave her alone." He said, coldly.
The pirate grinned even more, fingering the gun in his hand. "I'll like to see you try." He said, as Roberto stepped forward.
Roberto lunged, but Jack was too quick, he threw me aside, and clobbered Roberto on the head, with his gun. I screamed as he fell to the ground. The seconds seemed like hours, as I stared at his figure my eyes roving to detect movement. And then the soldiers arrived. Captain Jack Sparrow looked at me helplessly before running away down the ally. It was only after he had gone I realised he had stolen my gold coin.
I knelt down beside Roberto, two of the soldiers had stopped to help the others had chased after the pirate.
"Is he going to be alright?" I asked.
The soldier nodded. "Are you okay, young miss?"
I nodded. "Yes thank you."
"He didn't. . ." The soldier broke off unable to phrase his question. I understood him perfectly, I had heard many tales of pirates.
"The only thing he stole sir, was my gold coin, nothing of value. He did not take my honour if that is what you were referring to."
The man bowed his head before moving on, after the others. Roberto was carried home, and cared for by a nurse. I was by his side all day and far into the night. I was scared he was dying. My father seemed delighted with my concern, and encouraged me to spend time with Roberto. Eventually the doctor gave the all clear, and Roberto began to sit up and take note of things. He had suffered a severe wound to the head, and my father was desperate to capture 'the man responsible'. I don't know why, but I did not mention Jack Sparrow's name, and though my father badgered me for details I surrendered none. I was so sure, in my childish innocence that Jack had not meant to hurt Roberto as severely as he had done. I also emitted to mention Roberto's gun. I was sure father would not approve of such an implement being carried round.
Roberto was not one to lay long in bed, so as soon as he was well enough, he was up.
"Roberto." I said, happily, as he arrived down for breakfast.
He grinned at me.
"How are you?"
"Couldn't be better!" He laughed.
My father beamed. "That's the spirit."
My mother smiled. "I am glad to hear you're sounding better, Roberto. Your mother has written, inquiring after your health. I am dearly glad I can write back with good news."
"No need." Roberto said. "I shall shortly be returning to England, it would be a waste of paper Aunt, when I can tell her my self.
"You're returning to England?"
He nodded.
"You can't, not so soon after your accident." I said, hurriedly, blushing.
"It was no accident, Theo. That man tried to kill me. . ."
"I am sure he did not."
"Do you know something?" He demanded, picking up on my gentle tones.
I shook my head hurriedly.
"I intend to find him, and sort him out. He could have killed me and kidnapped you fair cousin, I cannot allow such a slur on our family to pass."
"Oh Roberto, it is over now. Leave it where it belongs, in the past. Now why must you return, do you not like Port Royal?"
"I am loathe to leave the gracious town, but it is the company I am leaving that shall be the hardest to bear." He gently raised my hand to his lips, and kissed it.
"Then why must you leave?"
"My family is missing me."
"I am your family."
He rested his hand on my shoulder. "I would love to remain here, I will come back soon I promise. Besides I have a score to settle."
"Your not still going on about that pirate are you?"
"Oh dear, Theo, you are but a child, you would not understand such matters."
In that moment, I hated him. How dare he call me a child? He was the childish one, harbouring such a vendetta against a man, who meant him no ill will. He turned and left, to pack he said, but I saw him leave through the front door. He had gone to inquire about the whereabouts of a certain pirate. I didn't think it would be long. . .and it wasn't.
"That pirate," He said, storming into the drawing room, where I was sitting, reading. "You won't believe this."
"Yes," I said, cautiously folding the book away.
"It's Jack Sparrow the boy we found that summer."
I gasped, as he expected me too. "Jack Sparrow?" I exclaimed. But I was never any good at acting.
"You already knew." He said, coldly.
I shook my head in horror. "Roberto, I swear I did not."
He grabbed my shoulders, and stared into my lying eyes. "You knew, and you didn't tell me. Why? Why were you covering up for him?"
I couldn't stand it any more. "Roberto, I am sure he meant us no harm. He saved us from those men, you must remember."
"They were his crew." Roberto shouted, angrily.
"Roberto, please. He meant us no harm, he did not mean to hurt you so badly. . ."
"He took your gold coin."
I sighed. "Please Roberto. . ."
He shook his head. "He could have taken your honour, he could have taken my life."
"Both things are still intact, so no harm done."
"No, I can't just let this go!" He yelled.
My father barged into the room. "What is the meaning for all this shouting, Roberto?" He demanded.
"Uncle, I have learned the name of my attacker, the man who threatened your daughter."
My father was listening with rapt attention. I had never seen him so interested in what another had to say. It was clear however that the whole business was a matter of honour, as Roberto said they could not let pass such a slur.
"Megan." My father called.
The maid ran into the room, and curtsied. "Kindly fetch the commodore."
Megan nodded. "I'll send young Frankie at once sir." She said, before leaving.
I took one look at my father before following her out.
"Megan." I said. "Kindly do not bother Frankie, I am sure he has far more important things to be attending to, I shall fetch the commodore myself."
She looked surprised, but knew better then to question. "Very well, miss."
I set off down to the town, no idea what I was going to do next, but that I had to buy Jack some time
I made no rush as I strolled through the crowds. My mind was in a whirl, I couldn't understand why Roberto wouldn't let the matter drop. I couldn't understand why I was trying to protect Jack.
I knocked on the commodore's office, and stepped inside.
"My father would like a word, Commodore Harrison."
He stepped up from us charts, quite a young man to be a commodore, but powerful. He had several ships under his command, and the men bowed to his command without question. But he did not exploit this power, and was quite a nice gentleman when you got talking to him.
"Ah, Miss. . ." He began, trying desperately to remember my name. I laughed. You could ask him any question about the ships, the army or the sea, and he would answer at once, but anything to do with conventional life failed him.
"Miss Harping."
"Of course, Governor Harping." He smiled, folding up his map.
"You are planning another venture?" I asked, it had not been long since he had returned to shore. In fact it had been his ship that had been attacked by Jack. It was when I had first heard Jack Sparrow's name, that day by the docks.
He tucked the maps away in the top drawer. "We are only thinking about it, Miss." It might have been my imagination, but he did not seem willing to talk. So I turned and left the office.
He went to my father's house, I saw him leave as I sat watching. There was no point returning, there was nothing I could do for Jack now, or so I thought.
I couldn't figure out why I was helping Jack, or even if I was indeed helping him. But something had passed between us that day. I had seen the boy I knew in the man before me.