Nope, still not mine.
Thank you for your reviews (those on ffnet) and to Hilary and Linnie for editing.
Before you read this chapter, just bear in mind the path of true love rarely runs smoothly…
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Chapter fourteen: 'I'm goin' ter bleedin' kill her.'
Jack led Jenny to his cabin, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
'Jack, I'm really busy…' She knew the argument was futile but felt she had to try as some of the crew had begun to mutter darkly about her receiving preferential treatment from the Captain.
'S'all right luv, it won't take long. Well, it might, all depends.' He grinned broadly, winking at her. He opened the door and walked over to the bunk, where spread out across it, were half a dozen dresses of varying styles and colours. 'Let's see what suits ya. Gotta look good when we hit Fortaleza.'
'Why?' Jenny's eyes shone at the sight of all the luxurious fabrics, and suddenly she was eager to get out of her work clothes.
'I'm hoping ter meet a business associate who trades round these parts. He's always partial to a pretty woman.' He frowned at her sharp look, the realized she had misconstrued his words. 'No, no, no, no, no! That's not what I meant luv, I wouldn't give ya to him.'
'I should hope not,' Jenny pouted, her excitement evaporated somewhat until she undressed and put on a corset, glad of Jack's help in fastening the laces and tried on the first dress, turning around so he could fasten the small hooks, then she tried on all of them until she decided on a rich burgundy dress with long tight fitting sleeves, a low cut sweetheart neckline, and not too full a skirt. 'Where did you get these?'
'I was hopin' ya'd choose that one luv, ya look a treat in it. I got some in San Juan, th'rest were got off other ships an' have been in th'hold. Here, I'll help yer out of it.' Jack's nimble fingers worked quickly at the small fastenings and the dress soon fell to the floor. He turned his attention to the laces of the corset, kissing Jenny's neck as he did.
'No Jack, I really do have to finish my chores.' Jenny moved away quickly and pulled on her breeches and shirt, darting from the cabin, leaving Jack standing there looking disappointed. She arrived on deck just in time to see the port of Fortaleza loom large as Paul Rochester, the helmsman, steered them towards a mooring place.
'C'mon Jen, no time ter be slacking,' Joshamee Gibbs chided gently.
'N-no, I'm sorry Mr. Gibbs.' Jenny dashed over and helped furl the foresail, her heart in her mouth as she climbed the rigging, still hating having to climb up, wondering how she was going to find the balance between her duties on deck and her duties as Jack's woman.
…
'Jack, d'you really think it's a good idea ter bring Jenny ashore? Ya know what doing business with Mendez entails…'
Jack's jaw slacked slightly as he winced. 'Bloody 'ell Gibbs, I never thought o'that. Tell ya what, I'll take her ashore fer a couple of hours then send her back with an escort.'
'And leave her on the ship, alone?'
'Damn! Some of th'men will have ter guard her.'
'That won't go down well. This is the last proper leave they'll get until the return journey. A lot of them are already muttering about having to go so far, you know that.'
'Dammit man, why d'ya have ter put so many problems in me way, eh?'
'I'm trying to save you worse problems later on,' the quartermaster smiled apologetically.
'I'll take her ashore then send her back with Lowe and Woods. I'll sweeten 'em by sendin' a couple of girls over, savvy?'
'If you say so, Captain…'
'I'll throw in a barrel of ale as well.'
'As you wish.'
'Right. That's that sorted. Now I'll just go an' help Jenny dress,' Jack winked salaciously as he made his way down the steps to his cabin. 'C'mon luv,' he called, grinning as he looked forward to seeing her naked once again.
… … … …
'Rodrigo!' Jack threw his arms around the swarthy looking man who returned the gesture, beaming broadly.
'Jack. What brings you to this part of the world again?'
'Business mate, always business. C'mon, let me buy yer a drink.' Jack indicated for Jenny to follow them and led the way to the bar. 'This is m'woman, Jenny Samuels, Jen this is Rodrigo Mendez, an old friend o'mine.'
'A pleasure to meet you,' Jenny replied in Spanish, hoping it was similar enough to Portugese to be understood and judging by the man's reaction, it was.
'Well, not only beautiful, but intelligent as well. You sure pick them Jack,' Mendez winked at Jenny then took her arm and walked to a quiet table, scowling at the present occupants until they moved away.
Jenny picked up the mug of ale that Jack had placed before her, taking a sip and trying not to spit the bitter liquid back out again as she settled back in the uncomfortable chair, fighting boredom while the two men talked shop for what seemed like hours on end, until Jack stood and took her hand.
'Ah listen mate, Jenny's tired, so I'll just arrange ter have her taken back t'the ship, savvy?' he smiled, ignoring her quizzical look.
'Of course,' Mendez smiled graciously, taking her other hand and kissing it for far longer than Jenny would have liked and she eventually snatched her hand away.
'Do I have to?' she hissed as Jack walked her across to where most the crew were sitting.
'Yes luv, we're only goin' ter be talkin' business all night. Jonas and Daniel will be with ya.'
'Why can't I sit with the crew?'
'Cos they're interested in… other things, savvy? Jonas, Dan,' he beckoned his two young crewmen over. 'Now take care o'her an' you be a good girl an' I'll see ya later,' he patted her rump as she walked out of the door of the tavern with the men following behind her. 'Keep th'bunk warm,' he called, laughing raucously.
…
Jenny looked with disapproval at the four whores standing on the deck that Jack had provided for the men as a sweetener for guarding her and stomped down to the cabin, slamming the door shut behind herself. 'Keep the bunk warm… I'll give him, keep the bloody bunk warm,' she muttered darkly, picking up a book she had been reading earlier and settling in Jack's chair.
Five minutes later she stood up again, throwing the book back onto the table. 'Why the hell should I stay here?' she asked herself, creeping out of the cabin and hearing laughter and shrieks coming from the crew's quarters. 'Well, they're not going to miss me,' she said out loud, shaking her head. She made her way to the deck and down the Jacob's ladder to the ship's boat tied to the side and picked up the oars and started rowing carefully back to the town, cursing under her breath as the tightness of the dress made rowing very difficult.
…
She made it back to the tavern having only been accosted twice. The first man she sent packing with a knee to the groin and the second fell blind drunk at her feet as he lunged for her and Jenny simply stepped over him and carried on her way. She took a deep breath and pushed the doors to the tavern open, glancing around quickly and spotting Jack and Mendez still at the quiet table and the crew still where they had been. Jenny felt her face burn with humiliation and anger as she saw Jack with a buxom whore sitting in his lap, her ample bosum pushed into his face which he leered at before laughing raucously at something she said.
Anger burned in her stomach and she was about to march over to him and give him what for. 'No..,' she said to herself. 'Don't get mad, get even.' She looked around and spotted a good looking young man with a group of friends and with a mischievous smile, sauntered across to him, tugging the front of her dress down slightly as she did so. She wound her hand around the back of his head and turned it, so he was facing her.
'Hello, did you know you're the best looking man here?' she murmured quietly in Spanish, looking deep into his dark eyes as she pulled his head closer to hers, knowing he would understand her meaning, if not her words. 'Why don't we go somewhere a little quieter?' Jenny closed her eyes as his lips brushed against hers, not quite believing what she was doing. She felt the man stiffen and opened her eyes, to see fear in his as the knife at his throat dug in a little more.
'Move away from her mate.' Jack's voice sounded menacing, even when speaking in Spanish. The man moved quickly away and sped out of the inn, Jack's eyes boring into his back as he departed. 'Now,' Jack growled, spinning to face Jenny. 'What the hell was that all about luv?'
Jenny glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes as she pushed his hand away and made for the door. In a flash, Jack reached out and grabbed a handful of hair, yanking her back.
'Ow, let go you bastard!' Jenny struggled before realizing it was hurting too much, so became compliant.
'I asked ya a question Jenny, what was that all about?' Jack shoved her roughly against the wall, letting go of her hair.
'Well, Jack, I thought being as you were having so much fun with that whore, I might have a little fun for myself. After all, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.' Jenny's jaw stuck out in defiance.
'Wha…? Ya thought ya'd go off wi'him? I don't think so luv. Ya mine, an' no-one else can have ya, savvy?' Jack pushed his face into Jenny's, his eyes black with displeasure.
'You don't own me Jack Sparrow. You may be my captor, but you do not own me and as such I can do what the hell I want.'
'As long as you are on my ship, I DO own you an' the rest of th'crew, so you will do as I tell ya missy. Gibbs, keep an eye on her.' Jack shoved her towards where Gibbs and some of the others were sitting and stormed back over to the whore, flattening a man who had tried to encroach on her.
The crew shuffled along the bench to make room for Jenny and pushed a mug of rum towards her, casting sympathetic glances in her direction, but not speaking. Jenny sat there with arms folded, ignoring the drink and looking balefully towards Jack who was jabbing his thumb towards her and saying something to Rodrigo, who laughed loudly. She decided to play the dutiful little woman and plied the men with drink, paying for it from the tab they had at the bar, until one by one, they either slumped over the table in a drunken stupor or went off with a whore. Casting a glance at Jack, still talking animatedly with his friend and the whore, Jenny rose and quickly slipped out of the tavern and made her way back to the docks. Keeping to shadows at all times she made it back to the boat with no mishaps this time. She climbed in, still cursing the sleeves and turned to look at the dark shape of The Black Pearl anchored a short distance out at sea, rowing a little harder in her eagerness to get back and wincing as the fabric tore at the back of the dress but at least it made pulling on the oars easier. Jenny called out in case Lowe or Woods were on deck then shinnied up the rope and made her way back to the cabin, undressing quickly before climbing into the bunk, tears of hurt and anger spilling down her cheeks.
… … … …
'Where the hell is she Gibbs? You were supposed to be watching her!' Joshamee Gibbs flinched in the face of his Captain's anger then hurried after him as Jack strode down the street looking in all directions in the bright morning sun. 'If she's run off again, I'll…' Jack tried to hide his fear, pretending to himself that he was just angry with Jenny but the truth was, he was scared. 'What if she's lying in some alleyway?' A little voice inside his head taunted him. 'What if she really has gone off with some man? What if she's jumped ship, preferring to risk life on another ship, to get away from you?' Jack shook his head violently, scowling.
'What do we do Cap'n?' Mad Pete panted with exertion, having run up and down more alleys than he cared to count looking for Jenny, but to no avail. Before Jack had chance to reply another crewman came hurrying towards them, calling.
'Cap'n, Cap'n, there's movement on board th'ship, it looks like it could be her.' Jack hurried down to the docks and took out his spyglass, scanning the length of his ship and muttering under his breath as he spotted Jenny, swabbing the deck.
'I'm goin' ter bleedin' kill her.' Jack's head spun with relief as he stowed his spyglass back in its case and jumped into a waiting boat. 'I'll have her swabbing the bloody decks until kingdom bloody come.' Jack urged the men to row faster and he grabbed a rope once they reached the side of the ship, long years of practice giving speed to his hands as he climbed to the deck. 'Just what the hell do you think you were playing at Jenny?' Jack strode over to her, hands on hips.
Jenny turned to face Jack, giving him a winsome smile. 'Why Captain, all the men were either drunk or otherwise occupied and I was there all on my lonesome, feeling a little scared as other men were starting to look at me, so I thought I would be safer on the ship.' She turned back and carried on with her task, smiling with complete satisfaction as she heard Jack splutter and hiss then storm off to his cabin, slamming the door behind him. Jenny looked around on hearing chuckles from the crew and winked at Mr. Gibbs, who shook his head, smiling.
Jenny went about for the rest of the day as they sailed from Fortaleza, smiling and singing while doing her chores, although she was feeling lost and alone inside, not wanting to argue with Jack but still angry over his treatment of her. 'After all his promises, everything he said to me, he goes and sleeps with a harlot,' she thought angrily, surreptitiously wiping away a tear. After supper, she found out the blankets that were still where she had stowed them the last time she had slept on deck and laid them out, sighing as she lay down and tried to get comfortable. Jenny heard footsteps approach and shut her eyes quickly, feigning sleep.
'What're ya doin' there?' Jenny opened one eye and looked up at Jack standing over her, arms folded.
'Trying to get some sleep, now if you don't mind….' Jenny turned to her side, away from Jack.
'Ah, but I do mind, now get up luv.' Jack bent down and yanked the blanket from under Jenny then did the same with her pillow.
Jenny winced as her head connected with the deck but stayed where she was. 'Fine, I'll sleep like this then.' She put her arm under her head and curled up into a ball, ignoring the tapping from Jack's foot.
'Ya sleep out here tonight, ya sleep out here fer the rest of the voyage, savvy?' Jack glared down at Jenny, his anger rising.
'No skin off my nose Captain.' Jenny felt the tears well up in her eyes and bit her lip in an attempt to hold them back.
'Fine, have it yer way.' Jenny cringed with each heavy footstep as Jack strode across the deck and down the hatch.
…
'Ya sleepin' out here again? Davy Phillips looked at Jenny then at the rain clouds gathering on the horizon.
'Aye Davy, I'm sleeping out here again.' Jenny felt bone tired after having little sleep the previous night on the deck, but was damned if she was going back to the cabin. Jack had relented and given her the blanket and pillow back, but it seemed to Jenny that he had meant his threat and she cursed him under her breath, calling him names that she had never even heard of before setting foot aboard The Black Pearl.
'Why don't ya come down to the crew's quarters, I'm sure we can find a nice quiet corner for ya.' Davy smiled, taking Jenny's arm to lead her below.
'Thanks Davy, but I'll be all right here, honestly.' Jenny hated sleeping on deck at night, but she did not feel entirely comfortable being in intimate surroundings with the crew, bringing to mind the incident with Stan Wilson. At least on deck she was out in the open and within shouting distance of Mr. Gibbs and Jack. 'If he'd care enough to come to my aid, that is,' she thought darkly.
The rain started almost as soon as Jenny managed to drift off to sleep. Large, heavy drops pounded the deck and Jenny as they fell and she was soon soaked to the skin, shivering with cold.
'Fer gawds sake woman, stop being so bleedin' stubborn an' get below. That's an order.' Jack pulled Jenny to her feet and shoved her in the direction of the steps leading to his cabin.
'I'm not allowed to sleep anywhere else Captain, remember?' Jenny shrugged his hand off her arm.
'What the hell is wrong wi'ya Jen?' Jack bent and scooped Jenny up, slinging her over his shoulder, wincing as her kicking feet made the occassional connection with his ribs and carried her to his cabin, kicking the door shut behind him. He dumped Jenny down and wiped the rain from his eyes, sighing as Jenny tried to push past him. 'Ah, ah, ah. No ya don't, you'll catch yer death out there luv, now get them clothes off.' Jack started to strip himself, not daring to move away from the door but not wanting to lock it either. Jenny stomped over to the chest on the far side of the cabin and pulled out a shift that she occasionally wore and stripped out of her wet work clothes, wringing her hair out, before pulling the gown over her head, turning away as Jack approached her.
'Come on luv.' Jack's voice was like deep velvet, 'This has gone on long enough, eh?' He ran his hand down Jenny's arm, smiling as she shivered beneath his touch. 'I'm sorry, eh? I'm sorry I upset ya.'
'You didn't upset me Jack, you humiliated me. If you knew you were going to go off with some tart, why did not you just leave me on board? Instead, I had to watch you playing around with her. What did that say to everyone, hmm? Oh Jenny doesn't matter to me, she's just the whore I have on board.'
'Jen…..' Jack tried to stop the tirade, but Jenny was in full flow by this time.
'I'm just a chattel, just something to keep you amused, while away the nights between ports.' Jenny tried to keep her voice even but could not hide the hurt in it. 'Well I suppose I'd better learn new tricks quickly in case you get bored with me.' Jenny gasped as Jack's slap stung her face.
'Right, that's it. Ya've gone far enough.' Jack growled, his face dark with anger. 'I've tried ter treat ya right, I've given ya nice things, I don't force me attentions on ya…'
'You don't force your attentions on me?' she interrupted. 'What about the first time, eh? What about all the times after that, when you did? You kidnapped me with the sole purpose of having your way with me. Go on, deny it.' Jenny shouted, not caring if any of the crew could hear her.
'I did what? Fer Christ's sake Jen, don'tcha know me by now?' Jack approached Jenny cautiously, hand outstretched.
'Deny it, Jack.' Jenny shrank back and folded her arms, a steely look on her face.
Jack turned quickly, so Jenny could not see the pain that flitted across his face, 'Fine, if that's what ya want ter believe, nothing I do or say's gonna make ya change yer mind, is it?' He stormed over to the bunk and yanked the curtains across, cursing under his breath.
Jenny sat sobbing quietly in the chair for a time, hugging herself, flinching as Jack reappeared and squatted beside her.
'Jen? C'mon darlin' I'm sorry. I didn't sleep with her, I told Mendez that I no longer wanted that part of our business meetings, savvy? Please fergive me? Please?'
'You didn't…? She was all over you for God's sake and you're telling me that you didn't sleep with her?'
'Of course I didn't. I'm not that much of a bastard.'
Something in Jack's tone made Jenny look up at him and she was astonished to see him looking genuinely sorry and contrite and she slowly reached out and took Jack's hands, allowing him to pull her to her feet. 'Why didn't you say so before? Why did you let me believe that you cared so little about me?'
'I was angry wi'ya luv. I thought after the past few days an' nights, you were learnin' ter trust me an' when I realized ya don't, it hurt, savvy? It still hurts.'
'Oh… oh Jack, I'm sorry,' she sobbed, throwing her arms around his neck and holding him tightly. 'I'm the one who should be asking for forgiveness.'
Jack pulled away from her embrace and looked at Jenny tenderly, 'I forgive ya,' he whispered, kissing her forehead. 'C'mon, let's get ter bed, eh?'
'All right,' she sniffed, gulping back the tears. 'I-I can't… you know… It's my bleeds.'
'That's all right luv, we'll just hold each other, eh? Have yer had a bleed since yer came aboard?' Jack did not recall her having to turn him away for this reason since he had first taken her, a month or so before.
'N-no,' she squirmed, uncomfortable with such an intimate subject. 'I-I've never been very regular.'
'Ah. That why yer never had children wi'Eddie then?' He led her to the bunk and lay down, pulling her on top on him so her head was resting on his chest.
'I suppose it must have been. My father used to go on at me about it. Said I wasn't even good enough to provide Eddie with a son,' she remarked bitterly, the tears falling once more and running down Jack's chest.
'I hope I never get ter meet yer father then,' Jack threatened, wondering how anyone could be intentionally cruel. 'C'mon luv, it doesn't matter ter me if you don't give me any children, savvy?'
'Savvy,' she whispered, taking some comfort from the feel of his chest rising and falling and the sound of his steady heartbeat. 'I'm sorry I doubted you.'
'I told ya luv, yer forgiven. C'mon, let's go to sleep, eh? Night luv,' he said, kissing her hair.
'Goodnight Jack, thank you.'
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