Insert disclaimers here (.)

Short chapter this time.

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Chapter twenty six: 'I'm sorry Jenny, but I can't change, ya know that.'

Jenny looked at the crowded deck in astonishment, shaking her head in disbelief that this party was in her honour. The noise from the musicians and drunken revelry was deafening and Jenny's feet were sore from dancing with virtually every member of the crew, except the one she actually wanted to dance with and he was busy getting steadily drunk on rum and the hemp weed. There were quite a few faces Jenny did not recognise and she wondered if they were new crewmen that had been picked up in her absence. She forced a smile on her face as one of them scooped her up in his arms and whirled her around the deck, his hands going astray over her rump.

'Stop that.' Jenny tried to pull away from the man but he was strong and held fast, leering into her face.

'An' why should I, Miss?' he snarled, showing a mouthful of rotting teeth.

'Because if ya don't, I'll have ter run ya through, savvy?'

Jenny looked beyond the man to see Jack with his sword drawn and jabbing into the man's back who, to her relief released her quickly, backing away.

'Ere Snowy, what's goin' on?' The man's friend crowded round him and started to look menacingly towards Jack and Jenny.

'I really would not be thinkin' what I know yer thinkin' lads. This is my ship and these are my crew, savvy?' Jack moved in front of Jenny and waved his sword in front of him, safe in the knowledge that the crew were surrounding the men.

'Ain't got th'balls ter take us on hisself, I notice,' came a voice from the back of the group, drawing forth laughter from his mates.

'No?' Jack nodded his head, indicating for the crew to back off, and stepped forward.

Jenny's eyes widened in horror and she went to pull Jack away but was held back by Gibbs who shook his head at her.

'I notice you ain't got th'balls ter take me on all by yer onesies, ya have to crowd tergether for courage,' Jack goaded, a smirk dancing on his lips.

One of the group leapt forward and Jack dispatched him with ease, swaying his bloodied sword to and fro in front of the rest of them.

'Next?'

The group shuffled nervously then to a man, turned and fled over the side of the ship amid jeers from the crew who tossed the body of their mate overboard.

'Anyone else here who don't belong on board?' The crew turned and looked at their near neighbours closely, some joking about never having seen their berth mates before, but Jack was satisfied there was no-one left on board who shouldn not be there. He scanned the deck, seeking Jenny and finding her on the far side of the ship, looking out at the dark shape of the island.

'Y'all right luv?' He wound his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck, only to pull away again as she tensed up. 'Jen?'

I'm sorry Jack, it's just that… well you just killed a man without compunction. That's a side to you I don't think I'll ever get used to.' Jenny sighed heavily, upset that the evening had been spoiled, for her at least.

'I'm sorry Jenny, but I can't change, ya know that.'

'I know,' she replied, a sad smile on her face which brightened as Jack looked at her beneath his lashes, an exaggerated pout on his lips as he tried and succeeded in making her giggle.

'That's better luv,' he smiled, kissing her forehead. 'C'mon, this is your night, let's go an' enjoy it, eh?'

'All right Jack,' Jenny sighed and forced a bright smile on her face.

…

'Captain Sparrow! Wait up.'

Jack looked round and squinted in the clear morning light to see who had called him and smiled as the tall youth who worked for Absolon Valentine came hurrying towards him. 'What can I do for ya?' Jack enquired, leaning lazily against the wall of The Faithful Bride.

'Mr. Valentine, well he wants you and yer missus to go ter dinner tonight. He expects ya around eight.'

'He does, does he? An' what if me an' me missus don't want ter go? Will he send his minions to forcibly remove us from th'Pearl?'

The boy shifted uneasily on his feet. He was not used to this response when his gaffer sent for someone. 'I... erm…'

'All right lad,' Jack assured him, taking pity on the youngster. 'Tell Valentine me and Jenny'll be there at eight but I'm bringin' some o'me men as well. Just to be on th'safe side, savvy?'

'Yes Captain Sparrow, savvy.' The youth turned on his heels and sped off towards Absolon Valentine's mansion, built on a hill overlooking Tortuga harbour.

'Well, well, well,' Jack mused, stroking his beard braids thoughtfully. 'I wonder what it is he wants?' Jack pushed his way through the doors of the inn and spied Joshamee Gibbs and various other members of crew in an alcove, helping themselves from a large pitcher of ale placed in the centre of the table.

'Guess what?' Jack elbowed a couple of men out of the way and made himself comfortable, revelling in the attention he was now commanding.

'Well?' Gibbs asked impatiently.

'Valentine has ord… invited me an' Jen ter dinner tonight.' Jack laughed at the reaction from everyone seated at the table and sat back with his hands clasped behind his head, a grin splitting his face.

'You're not serious? What does he want with you?' Joshamee tried unsuccessfully to quell the unease in his belly.

'I guess we'll find out tonight, eh? But I told th'lad ter tell him I'm bringin' a couple o'you wi'us. Despite appearances to th'contrary, I'm not that stupid.' Jack winked as one of the whores caught his eye and beckoned him over (to her), pulling the front of her dress down a little more as she did. He fell silent for a moment, trying to decide whether it was a good idea or not then shook his head and shrugged his shoulders ruefully and turned his attention back to the conversation flying across the table.

'Jack, Valentine only invites people round if they owe him or he wants something. Ya don't owe him do ya?'

Jack spluttered the mouthful of ale back out, choking and laughing at the same time. 'Bleedin' 'ell Cookie, d'ya think I'd be stupid enough ter owe Valentine anything? Nah, he wants somethin' an' I want ter know what it is. I'd best go tell Jen, prepare her.' Jack stood and pushed his way from the table once more. 'Don't get drunk,' he warned, wagging a stern finger at his crewmen. 'I need ya to be alert tonight, savvy?'

Jack made his way down an alleyway until he came to an anonymous house, then rapped on the door, looking about to make sure he was unseen.

'Who is it?' came a woman's voice from inside.

'It's me, Jack.'

The door sprung open and Jack found himself in the embrace of a small woman wearing a mop cap on her head and a good quality linen shift. 'Jack! It's wonderful ter see you lad. Come on in.' The woman led the way through her small but neat house to the back room and shooed a couple of cats from a chair. 'What can I do for you?'

'I need a special dress, Dolly. Have ya got anything'

'Ye know I've always got something in but I've never known ye after a dress before.' Dolly raised her eyebrows at Jack, who merely grinned back at her. 'What sort o'dress?'

'A fancy one, the best ya've got Dolly.' Jack watched as the small woman went over to the back wall of the house and opened up a secret room which only select few knew about. Joshamee Gibbs being one of them, having helped build it before he joined Jack's crew.

'Here Jack take yer pick. Scarface Henry came by last week with a load they got off a passenger ship going ter the Americas.'

Jack eyes scanned across the row of gowns until they came up on in particular and he smiled. 'That one, Dolly.'

'Ya've got good taste Jack. So th'rumours about ye havin' a woman are true then?' Dolly Whittaker took the dress from its hanger and carried back into her kitchen, closing the room off once more.

'Aye. It's impossible ter keep anythin' secret in this place an' especially from you,' he laughed.

She found out an old sheet of clean material and wrapped the dress carefully in its folds, smiling at Jack as he placed a pouch of coins on the table. 'Generous as always, Jack Sparrow.'

'It's always a pleasure doin' business wi'ya Dolly, least I know I can trust ya.' Jack gathered the sheet up in his arms and bent down to kiss the old lady on the cheek. 'Til next time luv.'

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