If I ask nicely, d'you think I could borrow him for a few nights? I hate that mouse!
Thanks for your reviews, but there are too few. Some input would be a great help here please, ladies!
With thanks as always, to Hilary and Lin XX
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Chapter Five: 'Is it so impossible to believe that I can behave decently luv?'
Jack cursed as another wave crashed over the bow, soaking him further. Normally he did not mind storms, they only gave him trouble when they swooped in unexpectedly, and this one had appeared from nowhere. The storm was an extra problem he did not need at the moment, what with the two ships still giving chase. He struggled to keep the wheel steady as The Pearl tried to go her own way, a more dangerous way, towards a reef. 'C'mon darlin' trust Jack, I've never let ya down yet 'ave I?' Jack crooned, his words drowned by the howling wind, but he knew The Pearl could hear him. There was a brief lull in the wind and Jack took the opportunity to steer the ship well away from the reef before the next onslaught began.
Jenny shivered violently. Rain and seawater from the storm seeped into the brig, adding yet more water to the couple of inches already slopping around on the floor, while the walls were dripping with moisture. She shivered again, her bones chilled to the marrow. Jenny tried to huddle in the corner of the cell with her feet up on the cot, trying to escape the damp, but it was everywhere.
Jack wiped his face along his sleeve, desperately trying to clear some of the rain and salt water from his eyes, his hat having long since been abandoned. He heard someone shouting in his ear and looked around at his quartermaster, Joshamee Gibbs.
'Jack, I've been here before. There's an island to the south east with a few sheltered coves, can we make for that?' The older man struggled to make himself heard. He took the wheel from his captain, while Jack looked through his spyglass at the inlet.
'Aye Gibbs, we'll make fer that,' he shouted, taking back the wheel and steering a course towards the cove. Jack struggled with the wheel, trying to keep The Pearl on course, all the while praying there were no rocks between his ship and the cove. It took most of the day to cover the relatively short distance to the island and a small cove, but as soon as they reached it the wind died down to a stiff breeze and the sea flattened out. Jack sat on the deck, exhausted, and gratefully accepted a bottle of rum from a crewman. He then ordered his men to check the ship for damage, feeling quite pleased with himself when only minor damage was reported.
'See luv, I told you I'd look after ya,' Jack stroked the wheel tenderly, then hauled himself to his feet and ordered the men to carry out the repairs. He made his way up to the crows nest and scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of the pursuing ships, grinning broadly as he saw only the empty ocean.
'Gibbs!' Jack called as he made his way back down the rigging. 'Gibbs, there's no sign o'them.' He jumped the last few feet onto the deck and clapped his quartermaster on the back. 'I'm headin' below fer some shut-eye. Once repairs are done an' th'storm's blown over, set a course fer San Juan. But keep all eyes peeled, savvy?'
'Aye Cap'n,' Gibbs grinned. If they could not go to Tortuga, San Juan would do just as well.
… … … …
In the recesses of her mind Jenny was dimly aware of someone speaking to her, although the words did not make any sense. She tried to stop shivering but it was impossible, her skin crawled as if it were alive with insects and her teeth chattered, clashing together hard. She felt herself being carried out of the brig and up the stairs, then the world went black.
Jack pulled open his cabin door wondering what the hell all the noise was about, then baulked when he saw Jenny in the arms of Davy Phillips who had carried her from the brig, yelling for someone to fetch Ned Cotton as he climbed up onto the deck. Her face was deathly white and her pinched lips were showing a tinge of blue. He took the stricken woman from Davy's arms then ordered him to find some dry clothes for her. Jack carefully lay Jenny down on his bunk and peeled off her sodden green velvet dress, which was now dirty and torn, along with her undergarments. His eyes wandered downwards as more of her body became exposed. He smiled to himself at the sight of her full breasts and dusky pink nipples and he let out a small moan as the rest of her naked body came into view, chiding himself as he felt the hardness rising in his groin.
'Not now Jack, not yet…' he murmured, brushing his lips across the debilitated woman's lips. 'Ya want her to appreciate ya, eh?' he chuckled to himself then rubbed Jenny's skin with a rough cloth, trying to get the circulation going again before dressing her in a shift that Davy had found. He sent the crewman out again to fetch some stone bottles filled with hot water, covering her with a blanket to preserve her modesty then arranging the water bottles around her once Davy returned from his errand, and afterwards Jack sent him on his way, thanking him for his help. Jack wrapped her long, thick hair in a bandana, then lay down beside her, curling his body around hers, pressing into her, despite his best intentions.
… … … …
Jenny reluctantly opened her eyes, not wanting the blissful, floating feeling to end. Slowly her eyes focused, then widened as she found herself staring into deep brown pools, suddenly aware of the warmth of a body against hers. 'Where am I? What am I doing here?' She tried to get up, but her muscles refused to comply.
'Steady luv, don't try an' get up yet, yer still weak.' Jack gently stroked a stray strand of hair off Jenny's face. 'You were taken ill down the brig, so I've been looking after yer.'
Jenny groaned, her whole body felt stiff and sore, 'Could I have a drink please?' she croaked, her throat feeling as dry as a desert. Jack climbed off the bunk and fetched some water, then gently lifted her head and pressed a cup to her lips, making sure he did not tip it up too much. She lay back, exhausted by just that small an effort and slept soundly again. Jack stood and watched her sleeping serenely for a moment then, feeling happier that the worst was over, he left her to sleep and went up to the deck.
… … … …
Jenny slept soundly for the rest of the day, only waking when she was aware of voices in the cabin, noticing the starry sky through the stern windows.
'I dunno, Jack, you've done some crazy things in yer time, but this…..'
'Gibbs, Gibbs, I ain't t'only pirate to have a woman aboard.'
'But th'women are usually pirates 'emselves, besides, th'crew ain't goin' ter like it.'
Jack glanced at Jenny, noticing she was awake and listening in. 'Ello luv. Ya feelin' better?' He smiled at her from across the cabin. 'I've got some good news, seems that I've worked out where the thousand virgins are. There's the Cape of a Thousand Virgins and a Strait of Magallanes near th'bottom of Argentina, so that's where we're heading.' Jack grinned smugly and raised a mug of rum in a toast to Mr. Gibbs sitting at the table.
'So far away? Will you please let me go now you know where you're going?' Jenny's weak voice sounded desperate.
'Nah luv, there's still the rest o'the inscription. Besides, I'd prefer to have someone with me who can read as well as speak the lingo.' Jack ignored the frown on the face of his quartermaster.
'But Captain......' Mr. Gibbs' argument was cut short by Jack insisting that he have some more rum. He could not understand why Jack felt the need of a woman on board, particularly this one. They were bad luck and besides there were enough Spanish speaking islands in the Caribbean for almost everyone on board to pick up a smattering of the language, so they did not need someone to translate. Joshamee Gibbs shrugged to himself and downed his drink then made his excuses and left.
Jenny summoned up the strength to lift herself from the bunk and walked unsteadily over to Jack, who was sitting at the table swigging from a bottle of rum. 'What is the true purpose of my being on board? Are you going to ransom me? I'm just a humble governess you know, I doubt I'd fetch much money.'
'Ah, you're a humble governess who happened to be escorting a very important person to a very high toned and fancy ter do. Nothin' very humble 'bout that luv. But you're wrong, I ain't holdin' ya ter ransom.' Jack smiled at Jenny over the rim of the bottle, his eyes dancing with merriment.
'Then why am I here for God's sake? Why do you insist upon dragging me all the way down to the tip of Argentina?' Jenny felt her knees start to give way and sat down heavily on the chair opposite Jack, scowling at the benign look on his face.
'Cos I want yer on board,' Jack replied simply.
'You want me on board? That is the only reason you dragged me away from my friends, my life, simply because you want me on board?!' Jenny's voice rose in pitch with each word until they reached screaming level.
'Yup.'
'To what purpose? As a plaything for your crew?' Her voice was now a low and dangerous hiss, but her heart almost stopped in fear of the answer she would receive next.
'Nah luv, ya have m'word, none o'the crew'll touch ya. I need someone t'keep m'bunk warm an' m'cabin clean,' Jack grinned, winking at her.
Jenny gasped in shock. 'I hate you! I will never sleep with you, never.' Jenny fought for control over her emotions as she glared at the pirate, still nonchalantly drinking from his bottle but watching her closely. She felt hot tears spring to her eyes and she shot off the chair, staggering over to the bunk, determined that Jack was not going to see her cry. She lay on her side facing the window, watching the stars out the window through blurry eyes. Jenny froze as she felt Jack climb into the bunk beside her. 'What do you think you're doing?!' She turned to Jack, fury written all over her face.
'Well ya don't think I'm sleeping in the chair do ya luv? Tis my cabin, my bunk, besides, I've kept ya warm these last few nights,' he grinned wickedly, planting a kiss on her lips. 'Night luv,' Jack turned the oil lamp down, plunging the cabin into near darkness. He groaned with frustration as he felt Jenny climbing over him and off the bunk. 'Wotcha doin'?'
'The only man I shared a bed with was my husband and that's something I don't intend to change.' Jenny hissed as she groped around in the dark, trying to find the chair.
'I'm afraid it already has luv, now come back here. We don't want ya getting cold now, do we?'
'I did not even know that we shared a bed, so that doesn't count.' Jenny found the chair and settled in it, hugging herself to keep warm.
Jack sighed in the dark. 'C'mon Jenny, I promise I'll behave meself. It will not do ya any good getting cold again. Now come here.'
'No, I'm staying right where I am,' Jenny cursed herself for sounding like a petulant child.
'All right, how about I sleep in th'chair, an' you have th'bunk?'
'What?'
'Is it so impossible to believe that I can behave decently luv?' Jack sat up and turned the lamp back up. 'When have I ever given you cause for complaint against me behaviour?'
'When you kidnapped me!'
Jack winced at the riposte, then clambered off the bunk and walked over to Jenny, 'C'mon luv, there's no point in being stubborn about it.' She huddled further into the chair and turned her head away. 'Fine, if that's the way ya want it…' Jack picked her out of the chair and slung her over his shoulder, laughing as she pummelled his back with her fists.
'Put me down, you oaf!' Jenny felt her face burn with indignation.
'I dunno,' Jack chuckled, 'I try an' act th'gentleman, an' look what thanks I get.' Jack dumped Jenny unceremoniously onto the bunk, then turned and went over to the chair and settled himself in it.
'Damn you! I don't want to sleep in your bunk! I don't even want to be on your bloody ship!' Jenny sat up and glared at Jack.
'Ya can always come an' sleep on me lap luv.' Jack winked salaciously, his grin glowing gold in the lamplight. 'As fer being on me ship, well, I can't exactly take yer back ter Port Royal now, can I?'
'You, you….' Jenny sputtered indignantly and lay back down while yanking the covers up around her chin.
'Ah, Jenny luv, can ya turn the lamp down, there's a lass.' Jack chuckled quietly as she sat back up and turned the lamp down, muttering under her breath. 'Night luv,' Jack said cheerily.
He waited until he heard the deep, even breaths that showed Jenny was fast asleep before he climbed back into the bunk, taking care not to disturb her too much and curled his body around hers, falling asleep almost instantly.
… … … …
Jack woke with a smile as he felt Jenny's warm body snuggled into him. He peered at her in the dim dawn light and realized she was not covered. Jack went to pull the covers back over, but hesitated as his eyed roved the lines of her body where the shift clung to her. His hand hovered, then ghosted down her body, fingers skimming Jenny's hip, causing her to moan softly in her sleep and turn over onto her back. Jack gulped, then ran his thumb over a nipple, watching as it grew through the thin material of the shift. He wrestled with the urge to take it in his mouth and trembled with longing for the woman sleeping beside him. He reluctantly moved his hand away and got off the bunk, desire and frustration burned a pit in his belly as he dressed, then found some clothes out for Jenny to wear. With a lingering look at her still fast asleep in his bunk, Jack made his way out of the cabin.
… … … …