Usual disclaimers – and it's raining, grrrr!

Thanks for your reviews – no Jack in this chapter I'm afraid, but I'll make it up to you soon.

Many, many thanks to my two slave drivers, Hilary and Linnie XX

Chapter Two: 'The scourge of the Caribbean seas.'

The Galton limped towards the small island and spotted a sheltered cove where they dropped anchor and carried out repairs.  Jenny finally had something to do mending a sail, wearing her good leather gloves to protect her fingers from the thick needle and to give her enough grip to push it through the tough material.  She was grateful of something to occupy her mind as well as her hands, for the incident with the pirates had disturbed her and she found it hard to shake the image and touch of the pirate captain from her thoughts. 

All repairs were finished within four days and once more they set sail for Port Royal, arriving without further incident a week later than anticipated.  They were extremely hungry and thirsty because the pirates had left them with just enough food and water for survival.  Jenny was met at the docks by the Governor himself, who was immensely relieved that she had arrived safely, for he had been worried about the late arrival of The Galton, but became very angry when he learned the name of the ship that had looted them. 

'Sparrow!'  He spat the name out as if he had tasted something nasty.  'I might have known it would be him.'

'Y-you've heard of him then, Sir?'  Jenny was unsure how to react with her employer.  Perhaps she should not have said anything to him, after all her father never permitted his servants to speak before being spoken to first.

'Yes, he's the scourge of the Caribbean seas and one that I intend getting rid of as soon as possible, but you need not worry yourself about him.  You are quite safe here in Port Royal,' he smiled,' leading Jenny to a waiting carriage and helped her into it before climbing aboard himself.  He sat opposite her, which gave Jenny a chance to surreptitiously look at her employer.  James Norrington was a tall man with a haughty look on his face, which was softened by kind eyes.  He gave a small smile as he noticed her glance then concentrated on looking out of the carriage window, not speaking during the short journey to his mansion.  Jenny took the Governor's helping hand out of the carriage and smiled at a servant that took her cases, before following James Norrington into the house where she was introduced to the housekeeper,Norah, who was a large black woman with a beaming smile.  Jenny tried hard not to gape, for she had never seen a black person before.  She stammered a greeting, then followed her as she led the way to the room that was to be Jenny's, listening to Norah's chatting as they went.

'Ah hope you'll be 'appy here.  The Governor's a strict but fair man who believes in treatin' his staff well, as long as they be'ave themselves,' Norah smiled kindly before vacating the room, leaving Jenny alone and feeling slightly afraid.  She shook herself and set about unpacking what was left of her effects – a couple of old dresses and undergarments, some shoes and nondescript personal items.  These were the only possessions she had that the pirates had not seen fit to steal from her.  Jenny looked around the room, noting that it was well furnished, having a wash-stand, a wardrobe so large she would never have a chance of filling it, if even she still had all of her dresses and a chest of drawers.  She bounced up and down on the bed, testing it for firmness, jumping off guiltily as a knock sounded on the door and Norah re-appeared to take Jenny on a tour of the house.  They ending up in the kitchen which Jenny soon learned was the hub of the house, and where nearly everyone, downstairs and up, congregated. There was a boy and a girl sitting at the table drinking home-made lemonade who Norah introduced as the Governor's children, John and Anne, who were well dressed and both had there father's dark hair and green/grey eyes, then Norah shooed them back upstairs so the cook could get on with dinner. 

'What happened to the Governor's wife?'  Jenny asked, not wanting to pry, but needing to know all the same for it would not do to blunder in ignorance.

'A tragic thing is was that 'appened to Mrs. Norrington, quite tragic.'  Norah shook her head, frowning sadly.  'She was riding in a carriage visiting friends, when the horses shied at something, causing th'carriage to overturn.  The poor woman was killed instantly.'  Norah dabbed a tear in the corner of her eye.  'A lovely lady she was, no two ways about it.  Of course she had breeding, being the daughter of one of the wealthiest plantation owners in the Caribbean.'

The cook nodded her agreement.  'Yes lovely lady, no airs or graces about her.  She even brought the Governor out of his shell, so as you can imagine the poor man was grief stricken.  Lady Alexandria was farbetter fer him than that Elizabeth Sw...er Turner, that's fer sure.'

'Aye, he never 'as any luck, poor man,' lamented the cook.

'That's terrible, poor Governor Norrington.'  Jenny felt a keen pain in her heart, remembering her grief after Edward had been killed on the farm where he worked.  'Was she a Lady then?  And who was Elizabeth Turner?' 

'No, she wasn't a titled Lady, but she had the grace of one.  Elizabeth Turner?  Oh she is the former Governor Swann's daughter.  Flighty little bit she is, turned Governor Norrington's proposal down an' married the local blacksmith!  Can you believe that?'  Norah laughed loudly, the cook joining in with her.

The laughter stopped as the women noticed the figure of their employer standing in the doorway, a thin smile on his lips.  Then the two women suddenly busied themselves preparing the vegetables for dinner, leaving Jenny sitting there feeling slightly ill at ease.

'Ah, there you are Mrs. Samuels.  Would you care to join me for dinner tonight?  It  will give us chance to get to know one another and for you to find out what I expect of you.'  James Norrington smiled, which softened his demeanour slightly.

'Y-yes, of course Sir, I shall look forward to it.'  Jenny's heart pounded with nerves.

'Right, well, I shall see you around seven, in the dining room.'  James gave a curt nod, then turned and disappeared back up the stairs leading away from the kitchen.

'Ah Mrs. Samuels, do come in,' James Norrington beckoned her into the dining room, where two places had been set on a small table.  'Come sit,' he motioned to a place on the settee across from his chair.  'Would you care for a drink?'

'N-no, thank you Governor Norrington,' Jenny whispered nervously, although she was impressed that the service laid out was bone china and not ordinary crockery.  Her new employer obviously had good taste.

'Please, take a seat.  I trust you have everything you need?'  James smiled encouragingly at Jenny, which helped to relax her a little.

'Yes, thank you sir.  I'll just need to buy some new clothes when I get paid.'

'Clothes?  Why do you need new clothes?' he puzzled.

'The pirates stole all of my good dresses, except the one I was wearing.  I only have a couple left, which even the pirates did not think were worth stealing,' the contempt was heavy in her voice.

'Ah, I see.  Well, I'm sure I can see about an advance for you, can't have you wearing rags now, can we?'  James smiled graciously at Jenny and she felt relieved at his kindness and couldn't help but attempt a meek smile in return.  'You will, of course have your uniform.  I will ask Norah to take you to the seamstress to be fitted tomorrow.'    The Governor looked up at a rap at the door.  'Ah good, dinner.'  He stood and led the way to the table, pulling a chair out for Jenny as the butler set the food out.

Jenny tried not to drool and prayed her stomach would not growl and give away just how famished she was.  'It looks delicious, Sir, thank you.'

'I do hope you will be happy here.  I understand you lost your husband in a tragic accident, just as I lost my wife to one.'  James looked beyond Jenny with a wistful gaze, then remembered himself and focused back on his new governess.

'Y-yes.  I'm sorry to hear about your wife, it must have been a terrible time for you and your children.'

'Yes, indeed it was.  But life goes on as they say,' James smiled but Jenny could see it did not reach his sorrowful eyes.

All the talk of lost partners brought back painful memories and Jenny thought back to that fateful day when Eddie was crushed to death by a stack of hay bales that had toppled on to him.  She swallowed hard, nearly choking on some food, which brought her under the intense gaze of her employer.

'Are you all right Mrs. Samuels?' he asked in concern.

'I… erm…. Yes I'm fine, thank you.  Just a little tired after my adventures.' She evaded, unwilling to share her memories.

'Yes, well hopefully there will come a day in the not too distant future, when people can travel the seas safely without fear of pirates.  Come,' James Norrington stood and guided Jenny to some easy chairs by the fireplace, in which there was a magnificent display of exotic flowers.  'Would you care for a sherry?'

'That would be lovely, thank you.' 

To Jenny's relief, James Norrington proved to be charming company and more talkative than she would have given him credit for and the evening passed quickly.  She bade him goodnight and went back to her room feeling that maybe things would turn out all right.