A/N Wow! Quick update, or what? *ahem* anyway, in this chapter, Dora starts to break from her chains, and goes out for the night, she is just starting to learn of Jack's return…
Chapter Twenty.
Bobbie was an impressionable young child, and the moment he heard of Roberto's return, he sped down to the docks with the idea of greeting his father home. I followed with much less enthusiasm. There was quite a large crowd which consisted mainly of mothers, wives and daughters, grieving for their return of their loved ones.
Bobbie was gripping my hand, as the men began to clamber off their ships. The flag ship, the grand and beautiful prowess amongst the seas, was the last to empty. And it wasn't just Roberto I saw walking down the ramp, and onto the pier. Bobbie ran forward, I put out my hand to stop him, but he already disappeared into the crowd.
That night dinner was a huge celebration and a mixture of joy and despair. During their three month absence four of Roberto's fleet had been lost along with hordes of hard working sailors. They had been attacked by pirates and a shipment of gold taken from their midst. I was told several times in the evening by grieving widows and daughters that I was fortunate that God had delivered my Roberto safely home. Again I failed to catch on to the enthusiasm.
"How has Robert been?" Roberto asked, after the guests had vanished back to their homes, and my little prince was curled up in bed asleep.
I nodded. "Fine, he misses you greatly."
"And who can blame him?"
"Well, one must expect loyalty to come from such a place."
He nodded. "I wish it came from you."
"I beg your pardon?" I asked, getting up from the dressing table and moving away.
"Give yourself to me."
"I am your wife, Roberto." I said, flatly.
He grabbed my hand. "By law only."
"We have a son together." I said, misunderstanding him.
"I want you to love me, like I love you."
I smiled, and pulled my arm away. "Like you loved Bonny."
"I forgave you for your mistakes, your dalliance with Sparrow." He spat.
I couldn't believe that he held me responsible for that chapter of my life. He was truly blaming me for what had happened. "I did not choose to be kidnapped."
He stroked my cheek. "No?"
"Not like you chose Bonny, and the countless others. Did you give them a say in the matter, Roberto? Or was it share my bed, or I shall throw you from the house? And how about in your foreign ports, do they consent?"
He just stared at me, unable to speak. I sniffed up my anger and marched from the room. I left the sanctuary of the house, and strolled across the freshly watered lawns and out through the iron wrought gates. My feet took me towards the docks, and there I stood staring up at the massive silhouette of Roberto's fleet. He had certainly made a name for himself in the past ten years.
"Ye okay, Missy?" I turned round to see one of the fisherman, fruitlessly mending a broken lobster cage.
I shook my head. "I don't think so."
"Anything I can do?" He asked, politely.
"I don't think so, unless you can perform a miracle, or grant me a wish."
He was a quite a young man, but his hands were tough and blackened with hard graft through his short life, his hair had been attacked by the salty spray and his face was severely weather beaten. My heart went out as I saw him cheerfully grafting away with his knife at the broken cage. He had not two shillings to rub together, and yet he could sit so contentedly, happy within himself. Roberto, who had all the money in the world, had yet to find such tranquillity.
He shook his head. "I am not the granter o' wishes ma'am, nought but a simple fisherman. But miracles, now tha's a different thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone can make a miracle. Tha' son o' yours, he be a miracle, ma'am."
I laughed. "Bobbie? Yes, I suppose he is. Thank you, sir." I turned to leave.
"It's nothing, Dora Sanchez."
I spun back round, my heart pounding with anticipation. It had been over ten years since I had been called by that name.
"I beg your pardon?"
"There be a man looking for you, Miss."
I shook my head in confusion.
"Be careful tonight, there are pirates walking the seas." He continued humming, softly to himself, and refused to say another word.
I walked slowly back through the town, and down the cobbled lanes, similar to the cobbles on which I had fractured my knee. I closed my eyes and I could see the buildings tumbling down on top of me, I could hear the screaming of women, the bitter lustful cries of babies, and the horrified shouts of the men. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself leaning against the wall of the pub, breathing heavily. In truth the horrors of that night had never left me, and that had been the navy. Roberto's navy.
The fisherman calling me by the name of Dora Sanchez had unnerved me greatly, and I was far too flushed and excited to return to Roberto, and his icy bedroom vault.
When I had gathered my breath, I walked into the pub, and to the bar man.
"Mrs Harping?" He exclaimed in utter surprise. I suppose it was a shock to see a lady of breeding, the wife of the hero of the hour, none other then Roberto himself, in this grotty, grimy pub.
I nodded, and raised my eyebrows slightly. I knew I would have to pay for my evening's escapades, the talk would be all over the town by the morning. So I might as well give them something to talk about.
"I'll have a rum," I said, with a wicked sort of smile.
He looked even more shocked, and nervous. "Are you sure?"
I nodded with a laugh. "Yes, or do you want me to confirm it with my husband?"
In a trance he reached for a bottle, and held out his hand. "Tha's a shilling, Mrs Harping."
I handed him the coin, and stepped away to a vacant table. The cheerful noises of the pub, seemed to settle my nerves, but my flush continued, especially as I drank. I hadn't tasted rum for such a long time, and the liquid burnt my throat. It was much stronger then Roberto's gentle wines.
And as I sat there, I felt free once more. I was rebelling against Roberto and conventions, the system that had held me back for so many years. And I blessed the gossips of the town that soon he would hear of my uprising.
I received a few strange glances, but the majority of the fellows that drank in this pub knew little about Roberto and the family, in fact most of them were drunk constantly.
"Hullo, girlie, lookin' fer a good night?" One man grabbed my arm, causing my rum bottle to shatter on the ground. I jumped up in shock. He refused to let go off my wrist no matter how much I protested. He tried to pull me through the crowd, and they ignored my kicking and screaming. It seemed only the bar man who lifted a finger to help me.
He threw the man off me, and smoothed down my dress. The man groaned as he was kicked, and threw from the pub.
"Thank you." I said, softly.
"Ain't right fer a girl like ye to be out alone? Please go 'ome, Mrs Harping."
"Please call me Dora." I said, with a laugh. Although the incident had shaken me, I was not one to dwell on 'what could have been'. I ordered another rum, but this time stayed close the bar. The room seemed to quiet down, and several of the men had passed out, giving the run of the room to the women.
"Dora?" He exclaimed, as he scrubbed one of the bear mugs.
I nodded. "It is short for Theodora." I explained.
"Nah, it's not that. It's jus' Jack were in earlier, an' he be lookin' fer a Dora."
"Jack? Jack Sparrow?" I said, leaping up from my stool.
He nodded. "You're Dora?" He asked, a grin spreading over his face.
I shook my head. "No sorry, I'm mistaken, as are you." I turned to leave and he grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to him.
"You are! He described yer well, but dint do justice to yer beauty."
"Really," I said, pulling free. "You are mistaken."
I left the bar, with several pairs of eyes following me. Outside I collapsed against the wall, in a flood of tears. Jack had come back, he was looking for me. He'd told the bar man to look out. . .but wait I was married now. And Jack had run away. . .he left me. But he was back.
"Too little, too late." I said, resolutely, standing up and dusting the dirt from my dress. Roberto would smell the rum on me, see the flush of excitement in my eyes, and hear the gossip. But it had all been worth it for my night of rebellion, and my newly acquired knowledge. Jack was back.