I want him! Blast that mouse – grrrr!
Many thanks to Hils and Linnie, my fellow poppets and beta readers.
Many thanks also for your all your reviews, they are appreciated XX
Chapter Three: 'Ello luv, remember me?'
Jenny walked along the road to town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of market day in Port Royal. John and Anne Norrington, the Governors six year old twins were running ahead of her, laughing and whooping with Jake, Norah's son who was the same age. Jenny was happy that things had indeed turned out well. The Governor, or James as he had asked Jenny to call him in private, was a lovely man, kind and generous with a gentle self-depreciating sense of humour. She found herself becoming very fond of him, as well as his children. The staff were also nice making Jenny feel welcome from the start. She sighed as her mind drifted back to her old life in England, it seemed so long ago since she had left the cold, damp shores of her homeland behind, but it had only been eight months. 'Eight months,' Jenny thought to herself, shaking her head. She hummed a tune as she went about her shopping, which included stopping off at the blacksmiths, to pick up a ceremonial knife James was going to give as a gift to a privateer captain, Stuart Button, who had destroyed a pirate ship that had been pursuing the same target, a Dutch Sloop laden with tobacco and spices, that his own ship had been after. Captain Button was now throwing a dinner party that evening in celebration, with the Governor being the guest of honour. James had asked Jenny if she would accompany him, and had given her a generous allowance to buy a new dress and accessories.
'Good morning Will, it's a beautiful day outside.' Jenny walked across the smithy, smiling at Will Turner who was working near the forge. She had started to become friends with him and his wife, and while she greatly enjoyed their contrasting personalities, Jenny could not understand why people would whisper and talk about the Turners as if they were the lowest of the low. After all, she too had heard rumours of their being friends with pirates, but Jenny found that extremely hard to believe.
'Morning Jenny, I just wish I could shut up shop and take advantage of this fine day too. I have the knife here, let me just give it a polish and then I'll put it in a presentation box for you.' Will busied himself polishing the blade, smiling at the salacious gossip from the Governor's household as Jenny chattered away, making a note of it to tell his wife that evening.
He waved as Jenny bade him goodbye and left the smithy, then nearly jumped out of his skin as a figure landed on the floor in front of him.
'Jack! God, I wish you wouldn't do that! I've just had a customer in, she could have spotted you,' Will admonished, frowning at the unconcerned smirk on his friend's face.
'Well I can't very well walk through the front door now can I, William? How's Elizabeth?' Jack sat himself down on the anvil and studied his friend closely, before leaping to his feet as the heat from the anvil seeped through his clothes and reached his skin.
'She's fine, we're both fine. What do you want?' Will tried to be cross with the pirate, but almost always found it impossible.
'William, William! Can I not pop in and say hello to an old friend any more?' Jack clasped his hands to his chest and put on a mock hurt expression, but his eyes were dancing with amusement.
'The only time you just popped in was for our wedding, every other time you've 'just popped in' it's when you've been after something. Now what is it?'
'Ah, it's best I don't tell ya mate. Just make sure you an' th'lass are safely ensconced at home tonight, eh? Who was she by the way?' Jack twirled the ends of his moustache, trying to keep his voice neutral.
'Who?'
'Th'woman who was in here just b'fore I dropped in on yer,' Jack said with a grin.
'Oh, that was Jenny Samuels, she's the governess to John and Anne Norrington.'
'Ah, I see. Nice is she?'
'Yes... very…. Jack, what are you up to?' Will asked, worriedly.
'I told ya William, best ya don't know, especially now.'
'Jack…' warned Will, afraid his friend was going to go too far. 'He'll catch you one day you know.'
'Ah Norrie doesn't worry me mate, he's got his hands full wi'breaking in th'new Commodore. Right, I'll be off an' leave ye law abiding citizens to yer lives. Give Lizzie a kiss fer me, eh?' With that Jack hoisted himself back up to the rafters of the smithy and out through a skylight, making his way along the roof-tops away from the town, towards a cove where The Black Pearl was anchored.
'Jenny, are you decent?' came Norah's voice from outside her room.
'Yes Norah, come on in.' Jenny hastily pulled on her slip over her body, which was still damp as she just finished bathing and smiled at Norah as she entered the room. 'Thank you for offering to help me get ready.'
'Ah, that's no problem dearie. Here sit yerself down, an' I'll set your hair for you.'
Jenny watched Norah set her hair in ringlets, through the reflection in the mirror, enjoying gossiping and laughing with her friend.
'Right now dearie, let's get you dressed.' Norah picked up a corset and helped put it on Jenny, pulling hard at the laces, causing Jenny to grumble good naturedly. Then Jenny picked up the dress of dark green velvet, with a tightly fitting bodice and full skirt and handed it to Norah, a flutter of excitement going through her and she stepped into it and felt Norah fasten the small hooks at the back.
'Well? How do I look?' Jenny gave a twirl in front of an admiring Norah.
'Ya look lovely dearie, just lovely. I swear th'Governor's eyes'll pop out when he sees ya.' Norah hugged Jenny, then left her to finish getting ready on her own.
Jenny rummaged through her small jewellery box, wishing she still had the gold and pearl pendant that had once belonged to her mother. 'Damn that bloody pirate!' Jenny blushed in spite of herself, she very rarely swore, and considered it to be un-ladylike. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
'Jenny, are you ready yet? I have something for you.' Jenny opened the door to James Norrington. 'Why, you look lovely,' he smiled, admiration shining in his eyes. I have a gift for you, I hope you do not think it presumptuous. I thought this might go well with the colour of the dress.' He placed a necklace of creamy pearls around her neck, his long fingers brushing softly against her skin, making her shiver.
'James! Oh James, they're beautiful.' Jenny reached up to kiss him on the cheek, but hesitated, finding her lips in close proximity to his. She murmured as his lips brushed hers gently, and then pressed harder, his hands holding her arms tightly. Jenny staggered slightly as James let her go, and then caught her breath, smiling at him.
'I'm sorry Jenny, that was extremely forward of me,' James Norrington shifted uncomfortably and fidgeted with his cuffs.
'Not at all James, it was a pleasant surprise.' Jenny slipped her arm into his and they walked downstairs and out to the waiting carriage. James helped her aboard, feeling very proud that this beautiful woman was his companion for the evening, and maybe beyond.
Captain Button's butler led them to the drawing room, where quite a gathering of people were chatting away to each other. The talk stopped as the butler announced their arrival.
'Governor Norrington, I am honoured by your presence at my humble gathering.' Stuart Button bowed his head as he was presented with the knife, taking it out of the box and admiring it.
'This is in thanks for your help in ridding these waters of at least one more pirate ship.' James smiled at the man, but Jenny could see the smile did not reach her employer's eyes. She got the feeling people were merely polite to Captain Button, without actually liking him. Jenny made a mental note to press Will Turner further about the man, knowing that if she was to find the information out from anyone, it would be Will, who seemed totally incapable of telling a lie or keeping a secret.
Jenny accepted a glass of champagne from a tray, and followed James around, making small talk to the wives and companions of the men present. They found themselves back at Stuart Button in due course, where he was regaling a group of people with tales from the seas.
'Of course, I've been searching for the other half ever since....' He caught the puzzled looks on James and Jenny's faces, and held out his hand. In it was half a gold medallion with writing on it. The Governor took it out of his hand and after inspecting it, handed it to Jenny to look at.
'The inscription is in Spanish.' Jenny peered closely, reading the writing, but not making any sense of it as the other half was needed, to be joined with this one. She turned it over, but all's there was, was the letter L.
'You can read Spanish?' James Norrington looked at his companion in surprise.
'Yes, my grandparents on my mother's side were Spanish, and my mother was too theoretically, as she was born in Spain, but raised in England. I learned to talk and read in both Spanish and English when I was a child.' Jenny put her empty champagne flute on a tray, and took another one. She took a last look at the medallion half before handing it back to Button. 'Where is the other half to it and what is it for?' she asked.
'Well,' he said, warming to his tale, 'we sacked a Spanish galleon about three years ago and found this medallion that was already broken in two. When the two halves were put together, it gives directions to a treasure hoard, but before I could get it translated properly, my First mate, Jean Sebastien got greedy and wanted it all for himself.' He smiled at her rapt attention. 'He broke into my cabin and stole both halves, but was caught in the act by a crewmember who tried to stop him. There was a scuffle between the two men in which the crewman was killed, but unbeknown to Sebastien, one half of the medallion had fallen out of his pocket, so he escaped the ship with only one half, and has not been seen or heard from since,' he smirked, placing the coin half into an inside pocket of his jacket.
The butler called them into the dining room and led them to their seats. Jenny was slightly dismayed to find herself at the far end of the table, away from James who was seated to the right of Button at the other end. The evening passed pleasantly enough though, the people she was sitting by included her in their conversations and took interest in her tales from England. They all sat waiting for some minutes for the staff to arrive to take away the dirty plates after the main course, with Stuart Button getting more and more agitated and embarrassed at his staff's absence. Eventually the door burst open, and the people around the table froze as the butler walked in, followed by a man holding a pistol to his head.
'Everybody stay calm, and no-one will get hurt, savvy?' the assailant drawled, voice heavy with menace. He pushed the butler away from him revealing his face, and pointed the pistol at Captain Button's head.
Jenny gasped, 'Jack Sparrow!' she thought, panic stricken. She tried to sink lower in her seat, hoping the man would not notice her. She watched as his eyes wandered around the people sitting at the table, not faltering as he looked at her. 'Thank goodness he doesn't seem to recognize me!' Jenny felt relief flood through her, then tensed as she realized again, the precarious situation they were in.
'What have you done with my staff Sparrow?' Stuart Button watched as the rest of the pirate crew swarmed into the dining room, almost filling it with people.
'Not like you to be concerned about their welfare Button.' Jack pushed his face into Button's, making him recoil away from his captor. 'You've got something I want mate.' Jack held out his hand, snapping his fingers impatiently.
'What? I have nothing in particular that would interest you, Sparrow,' he spat, blanching as Jack pulled a coin half from his pocket. 'W-where did you get that…?' Jack seized the moment that Button spent attempting to work out how Jack came by that medallion and began rummaging through his jacket. Button snapped out of his reverie quickly and tried to stop the pirate from rifling in his pockets, unsuccessfully.
Jack held the medallion half up to the light, joining it with its partner. 'Ah, now that's what I was talkin' about mate. Y'see, I was after that Spanish galleon meself, but yer pipped me to it. Not best pleased was I,' Jack began his tale and started to walk around the table, safe in the knowledge that his crew had got everyone around the table covered. 'So we docked at the nearest port, to drown our sorrows as it were, and lo and behold who should we find there but Jean Sebastien already drowning his sorrows and spilling his guts about the one that got away. It was like taking milk from a babe.' Jack chuckled, shaking his head at the memory, beads and braids jangling from side to side. Jack stopped behind Jenny, who froze, not daring to breathe.
'Ello luv, remember me?' His breath was warm on Jenny's bare shoulders, and she shuddered as his hand stroked the top of her arm. 'I think it's time to go gentlemen. M'lady, if you would be so kind as to accompany us.' Jack pulled Jenny's seat back, crooking his arm for her to take.
'No Sparrow, you're not taking her anywhere!' James Norrington sprang to his feet, ready to leap to her defence.
'Ah Comm....oh, sorry Governor Norrington, it's always a pleasure renewing your acquaintance. Don't worry mate, I'll look after her.' Jack squeezed Jenny's shoulder, grinning lasciviously.
Jenny shrugged his hand off, and shifted in her seat trying to get away from the pirate, who by now was leaning over her and peering down her cleavage. She picked up a knife and whacked the handle onto the back of his hand as he rested it on the table, smiling triumphantly as he yelped with pain. But her triumph was short lived and Jenny felt herself being hauled to her feet by an unseen assailant from behind, strong rough hands holding her fast as she tried to struggle.
'I'm not going anywhere with you, you scum!' she spat, glaring angrily at Jack.
'Ah but luv, we need a safe passage back to the quay and you seem as good a hostage as anyone else. Tie 'em up,' Jack ordered his men, taking Jenny's arm and pulling her out of the room, pressing a pistol against her side. Jenny faltered as she heard James call out her name, before his voice was muffled by a gag.
Jack led her down the stairs and through the kitchen, where the servants were already tied up. Jenny struggled and managed to break free of the pirate's grasp and started to run and shout for help, but immediately stopped dead when she heard the unmistakable click of his pistol being cocked. She turned, expecting to see it aimed at her, but found it was aimed at a serving wench, who looked positively terrified.
'You're despicable. Call yourself a man when you have to threaten women and young girls to get what you want?' Jack walked over to her, winding his arm around her waist, his face close to hers.
'I don't always have ter threaten luv, some women find me irresistible.' Jack smiled a crooked smile, showing a hint of gold tooth.
'Well I'm not one of them,' Jenny shoved him from her and backed away, straight into the arms of one of Jack's crew, who held her in an iron grip. She sighed, resigned to giving herself up as hostage in order to ensure that no-one got hurt. Jack snaked his arm back around her waist, and guided her out of the house through the servant's entrance and down the back streets of Port Royal to the docks.
'Jack, Jack!' A portly man ran up to them, red faced and panting and leaned over, whispering something in Jack's ear. Jenny strained to hear what was being said, but only caught the word Spanish.
Jack looked at the woman he was holding, his raising eyebrows slowly. 'Really? Well now, that's interesting Mr. Gibbs… that's very interesting.' Jack noticed some soldiers hurrying towards them, and moved Jenny so she was in front of him and held his pistol at her head, thus stopping the soldiers in their tracks. Jack started walking backwards, dragging Jenny with him until they reached the boats which were rapidly filling with the crew of The Black Pearl. Mr. Gibbs held his pistol against Jenny's head until Jack was in the boat, then half threw her into Jack's arms, jumping in himself and pushing off and away from the dock, while urging the men to row as fast as they could.
'Let me go! You don't need me any more.' Jenny struggled in Jack's arms, trying to break free of his grasp.
'Dunno 'bout not needin' ya luv….' Jack winked, his eyes glinting dangerously. 'They can still shoot us from there, but will not risk it while you're on board.' He aimed his pistol towards the quay, firing it and missing a soldier by a mere whisker. 'See, I can shoot them from here, they can shoot us, savvy?'
'You would have killed a man, just to prove your point?' Jenny's voice was incredulous. She tried to fight the sick pit of fear inside her.
'No luv, if I'd wanted to kill him, he'd be dead right now.' Jack turned away from Jenny, watching the shape of his ship getting closer.
'So, you'll let me go when you've reached your ship? Jenny looked fearfully at the huge black bulk looming up against the night sky.
Jack muttered something under his breath, and took a swig out of a bottle that was stashed under the bench that Jenny was sitting on.
The first of the boats arrived at the ship and the men started to climb the ropes to the deck, but the boat they were in was last to arrive, and it rocked violently as the men jumped out and onto the ropes, leaving only Jack and her in the boat. 'C'mon luv, up we go.' Jack grabbed Jenny with one hand and the rope with the other, tugging it to tell the men to hoist him up.
'NO! You promised you'd let me go.' Jenny screamed as she found herself rising through the air, only to be bundled over the side of the ship and have many hands grab her and pull her to her feet, while the rest went astray over her body. She struggled to break free of the men, feeling close to tears.
'That's enough, let her go.' Jack took another swig from the bottle, grinning at Jenny when he'd finished. 'Welcome to The Black Pearl, luv.'
Jenny flew at him, striking him hard across the face. 'You promised me!' Jenny hissed, fighting off Mr. Gibbs restraining hand and flying at Jack again, who promptly dropped the bottle and grabbed both her wrists, pinning them to her side.
Jack's eyes flashed with anger, the grin long since disappeared. 'Nah luv, I never promised ye a thing, it was ye who made assumptions. B'sides, I need ya to translate th'medallion, me Spanish is good but not that good.'
'I don't speak Spanish,' Jenny fervently hoped the bluff would work.
Jack roared with laughter, wrapping her arms and his around her back, pulling her close to him. 'I know different luv, a little bird told me all about ya.'
Jenny tried back away, which only made Jack pull her in even more. 'So I'll translate now and you can let me go.' Her heart sank when Jack slowly shook his head.
'An' have yer lead us on a wild goose chase, probably straight into Norrington's arms? Nah luv, ya translate and yer come with us, just to be sure.' Jenny brought her knee up to Jack's groin, smiling thinly as he released his grip on her and doubled up in pain. She brought her knee up again, connecting with his chin and tried to aim a kick at the prostrate man sprawled on the deck, but she had been grabbed by some of the crew and pulled away.
'Take 'er to the brig,' Jack gasped, trying to get his breath back, wincing as Jenny's kick connected with its target as the men led her past him towards the hatch and the steps leading to the brig. 'An' watch them bleedin' feet…'