Usual disclaimers, but I'm plotting with Hilary…

Thanks to May El-Diablo, darigan-sparrow, insolitus, Rachel Sparrow, Jack-Sparrow-Lover, SummerRain, wamy, Cayenne, Esmarelda Sparrow, Aurora, Chelsey, Killer K and of course Hilary for your reviews.

I hope I've described the dress well enough for you. I can see it in my minds eye but it was hard to put down on paper, so to speak.

…

Chapter twenty seven: 'A giant whirlpool opened up, spat me out, an' I landed on the deck of th'Pearl.'

Jack crept aboard The Pearl, hoping he would not meet Jenny on the way to his cabin. He wanted to keep the dress as a surprise. He pulled open the deep bottom drawer of the tallboy and carefully laid it down, shutting and locking the drawer just as Jenny walked into the cabin.

'Jack! I did not expect you back yet. What are you doing?'

'Nothin' luv, nothin' at all. I came ter tell ya we've been invited ter dinner at Valentine's.'

'Oh. Oh dear, I suppose we're going?' she looked dubiously at him, chewing on her lip, which Jack watched with growing interest.

'Aye luv but there's nothin' ter worry about,' he muttered softly, moving closer until he caught Jenny's bottom lip between his teeth and sucked on it, eliciting a murmur of pleasure from his lover. 'How about...?' he broke away, rubbing the tip of his nose across Jenny's. 'We go an' heat some water up in th'galley an' have a bath, eh? That sound good ter you luv?'

'Sounds like the best idea I've heard all day,' she giggled, pulling away from his embrace and skipping across the cabin. They spent the next hour heating up the water and after four trips to and from the galley, the bath tub was full and Jack and Jenny were both wet through.

'C'mon luv, you first being as yer cleaner than I am.' He peeled off her wet clothes and ran his hands down her body, feeling her stomach muscles contract the further down his fingers went.

'Ah but we don't want you to get any wetter than you already are, do we? So now it's your turn.' Jenny returned the favour and rid Jack of his clothes, teasing him by flitting her tongue across his body and sucking on his nipples, relishing the salty taste of sweat and the feel of his fingers as they explored her body, stroking, probing and pinching gently.

'Get in th'tub woman before I ravish ya.' Jack watched keenly as Jenny got into the tub and quickly washed herself down then climbed in as she stepped out and washed himself quicker still. He grabbed her arms and pulled her back in, on top of him, kissing her hungrily.

Jenny knelt as best she could in the tub, with her knees either side of Jack's hips and lowered herself onto him, gasping as he thrust his hips upwards and drove deeper into her.

'Lean forward Jen,' Jack urged, sucking hard on her throat as she came nearer, then turned his attention to her neck, jaw and ear-lobes, nipping and sucking as he went. 'I luv yer neck, d'ya know that?'

'I think I might have had an idea,' Jenny panted, then buried her face in Jack's neck and bit hard, bruising the skin, only breaking off as she neared her climax. 'Uh… Jack… harder, please harder.' Jenny arched her back and groaned Jack's name over and over like a mantra as her passion built up in waves until it came crashing over and she went limp in his arms.

'Y'all right luv?' Jack chuckled, running his hands across her back and feeling Jenny shudder. 'C'mon, let's get out an' on to th'bunk where it's more comfy, eh?' She eased off Jack and stood stiffly, laughing as water went all over the deck as he stood then she squealed as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bunk, sitting her on it and gently pushing her backwards then lying on top and grinding himself against her. 'Want that do we Jen?' he teased, rubbing his prick along the mound of hair between Jenny's legs.

'Uh… y-yes, please,' she pleaded, pushing her hips up to meet his as he continued his teasing. 'Damn you Jack,' she hissed, slapping his backside hard.'

'Oooh, gettin' forceful now are we Jenny Wren? Maybe I should just go an' let ya cool off, eh?' Jack made to get off the bunk, laughing raucously as she caught his wrists, making him fall on top of her. 'Mmm, there's that neck again….' He pressed his lips to her neck and started nibbling once more, pulling away suddenly when he remembered she would not want to be marked when wearing the dress he had brought.

'Gone off me now, have you?' Jenny pouted playfully before pulling his right hand to her lips and gently nibbled at the pulse spot on his wrist, listening with satisfied pleasure as he mewled in her ear then she worked her way along his arm, tracing the lines of the tattoos that marked him until she reached his shoulder. She kissed her way along his jaw to his lips which she took greedily, kissing him deeply and entangling her legs with his, rubbing the back of his calf with the sole of her foot.

'I'd never go off you luv, ya know that,' Jack murmured huskily, breaking away from Jenny and looking at her tenderly as he eased into her and slowly started thrusting, keeping at a gentle pace until she reached her climax, then finding release himself.

…

'Close yer eyes an' no peeking, savvy?'

'I never peek unlike some,' Jenny teased, bobbing her tongue out at where she thought Jack was. She could hear a drawer being pulled open and remembered Jack had been by the tallboy when she had entered the cabin. There was a rustle of fabric and she had to fight the urge to open her eyes. When he finally told her she could look, Jenny was speechless and was too afraid to reach out and touch the dress in case it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

'Ya like it?' Jack grinned, knowing full well the answer.

'Jack… it's…. it's beautiful.' Her eyes wandered down the length of the heavy brocade dress of a burnt gold colour and dark brown relief, looking at the low cut of it, but not indecently so and she marvelled at how it tapered in at the waist. She gently fingered the brown satin petticoat showing through the opening at the front of the dress.

'Put it on luv.' Jack could not wait to see her in it, but wondered how he would keep his hands off her again once she had it on.

She needed no second bidding and quickly unlaced the bodice of the dress and stepped into it, allowing Jack to pull the laces and tie them for her. She lifted her arms and gasped at the sleeves, lined with the same brown satin as the underskirt, which almost hung down to her knees. 'Where on earth…?'

'There's an ol' lady in Tortuga, was married to a pirate until he got hanged. She makes a livin' by buyin' an' sellin' good stuff.

'Jack, this is the most wonderful dress I have ever seen, let alone worn.' Jenny went to the mirror in the side cabin and admired herself in it, smiling at him smirking over her shoulder. 'Thank you,' she murmured, turning around and winding her arms around his neck.

'Th'pleasure's all mine luv, believe me,' Jack smiled as she pressed her lips against his.

…

Jenny looked about nervously at the curious glances the group were attracting as they made their way towards the house of Absolon Valentine. She never felt gladder for the bulk of the likes of Pete Symmonds and John Williams, nor for the sure sword of Jack and Billy Wheeler. Jack squeezed her arm reassuringly as they reached the heavy iron gates. 'Don't ferget Jen, what this man thrives on is knowledge. Anything he can find out to use against people, he will. So if necessary play innocent, savvy?'

'All right Jack,' she whispered, wishing the evening was over already.

Pete opened the gate and allowed Jack to lead the way through them and up the drive to the imposing house. The door was opened by a butler who beckoned them into the lavish hallway. Jenny gasped at the opulence, it had been a long time since she was in a house so grand. Even James Norrington's mansion was not so sumptuously decorated. A large ornate metal chandelier covered with candles dominated the hallway, lighting up oil paintings all over the walls. She stepped on to a thick piled Persian rug, her feet sinking into it as they followed the butler to some double doors leading to the dining room. A large oak table stretched virtually from one end of the room to the other and Jenny counted sixteen matching chairs around it.

'Sparrow! Welcome to my humble abode.'

Jack and Jenny both turned to face Absolon Valentine, who was standing in the doorway, his arms outstretched.

'Valentine. Ter what do we owe this… honour?' Jack enquired, laconically.

'I wanted to congratulate you on finding Sanchez's treasure and to see if the rumours on the beauty of your woman were true. I find they indeed were.' Valentine took Jenny's hand and kissed it, slyly flitting the tip of his tongue out and licking her fingers.

She suppressed the urge to pull her hand away and slap Valentine and instead smiled sweetly through gritted teeth at the small, weedy looking man with cold blue eyes.

'And?'

Jenny turned her attention to Jack's question then regardedAbsolon Valentine closely to see how he would react to being questioned. From what she had been told about the man, he was rarely challenged and those that did very often did not live to tell the tale.

'And nothing Jack. I just want to hear all about that adventure o'yourn.' He led the way to the end of the table nearest the fireplace in which a roaring fire was blazing away, despite it being a warm Caribbean evening. 'Would your men like refreshments?'

'Nah, they're not eatin' nor drinkin.' Jack pulled a chair out for Jenny, noting the solid silver cutlery and cut glass wine goblets laid out on the table then sat next to her. 'Gone to a bit o'trouble just fer a yarn, Valentine.'

'Jack… Jack! I don't know why people think I'm such an ogre who dines on those he's invited for dinner.' Valentine leered at Jenny as he said this, making her shudder involuntarily. 'I like to socialise as much as the next man.'

'Hmm,' thought Jack, 'I know your idea of socialising and if yer leer at Jen once more, ya bastard…' He twirled the ends of his moustache and plastered a sickly smile on his face as he faced Valentine.

'So, Jenny. I can call you Jenny, can't I?' Absolon Valentine leaned forward and fixed his cold eyes on her.

'No ya can't,' Jack interrupted, glowering at his host.

'Well, what can I call you then?' Valentine answered Jack by talking directly to Jenny.

'Ya can call her Mrs. Sparrow.'

'You are married?' Valentine's eyebrows shot up and he looked at Jenny's hand, spying her wedding band still on her finger.

'In all but name.' Jack leaned back on the chair and clasped his hands behind his head. Jenny half expected him to prop his feet on the table.

'But you are married, Jenny?' Valentine pressed, determined to find something out about Sparrow's woman.

She opened her mouth to answer but shut it again at Jack's warning look, smiling ruefully. The tension was relieved slightly by some servants arriving with the food and Jenny's mouth watered at the sight of the suckling pig surrounded by berries and roasted apples. She smiled her thanks at the waiter who piled her plate with food and poured a generous amount of wine in her glass.

Absolon Valentine watched his guests carefully. Sparrow he knew a lot about, having had dealings with him, either directly or in a roundabout way that Jack did not know about. It was the woman who interested him. He had heard of a woman being kidnapped from Port Royal some months before and wondered if she was the one and whether there would be a reward for her safe return. 'She does not look as if she's being held against her will,' he mused to himself. Whether or not, it was still something else he had on Jack Sparrow, something that made the pirate vulnerable and that made Absolon Valentine a very happy man.

Jenny shifted uneasily under her host's intense stare and busied herself tucking into the delicious food but she went easy on the wine. It was a good wine, very potent and she did not want her tongue to be loosened so she took small sips from it, smiling to herself as she noticed the slightly disappointed look on Valentine's face.

'You don't like the wine Jen… Mrs. Sparrow?'

'I do, but I'm not a very good drinker I'm afraid, Mr. Valentine,' she replied, ignoring Jack's snort of derision. 'My compliments to your cook, the food is wonderful.'

'Thank you, I will be sure to pass your kind words along,' he smiled graciously. 'So, Jack. This treasure o'yourn, worth the effort of finding it?'

Jenny finished her meal in silence as Jack told a not altogether true tale of Sanchez's treasure, elaborating it with wild hand gestures and fancy words, none of which Valentine believed if the sceptical look on his face was anything to go by.

'Are you married, Mr. Valentine?' Jenny asked, as the servants took the dirty dishes away.

'I… um, yes I was. My wife died.'

Jack flashed her a grin at seeing the tables turned and Valentine shifting uncomfortably in his seat, but she ignored him. 'That's terrible, how?'

'During childbirth a few years back.' Valentine cursed himself for falling into what he saw as a trap and his demeanour hardened as he pushed the memories away.

'I am so sorry,' she replied offering a sympathetic smile at the man who returned it, in a fashion.

'Ah good, dessert. I hope you like dessert, Mrs. Sparrow. This is one of cook's specialties,' he beamed, relieved of a chance to change the subject.

Even Jack seemed impressed by the orange pudding sprinkled with dark bitter chocolate and the three of them set work demolishing it quickly, settling back in their chairs with satisfied smiles when the last spoonful was finished.

'Must add me compliments mate. Don't suppose yer cook wants a job aboard me ship, eh?'

'I doubt it Sparrow,' Valentine snorted. 'I poached him from the King's kitchen. He wouldn't rough it on a mere pirate ship,' he sneered, looking down his nose at Jack.

'Poached him or made him an offer he did not dare refuse?' Jenny asked, her sweet smile betrayed by a hard look in her eyes.

Valentine swivelled his gaze to her and his expression changed. 'I'll have you know, Mrs. Sparrow, my cook works under better conditions than he did with the King,' he bristled, pressing his fingers together until they were white.

'All right, all right, calm down Valentine. She was only teasin.' Jack's hand automatically went to the hilt of his short sword and he pushed his chair back, ready to spring up.

'Jack…' Jenny placed a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently. 'I'm sorry, Mr. Valentine, I forgot my manners.'

'Apology accepted.' Valentine smiled grudgingly then stood. 'Perhaps some coffee by the fire?'

Jack narrowed his eyes suspiciously but nodded. He knew Valentine was up to something, but what? He made sure that he was still between Valentine and Jenny as they sat on a large settee and took a delicate coffee cup each from the tray and sipped the strong bitter liquid, his eyes never ceasing their wandering around the room, sizing its worth and looking out for trouble. There had to be trouble, this was Absolon Valentine. Jack was broken from his revere by the realisation that Valentine was paying far too much attention to Jenny for his liking and he leaned forward, partially blocking the man's view of her.

'What was that, Valentine?'

'I was just asking Je… Mrs. Sparrow how long she'd been in the Caribbean. She still has that English rose glow about her, don't you think?' Valentine turned his attention back to Jenny. 'What part of England are you from, my dear? I'm from Cornwall originally, but haven't been back for many years.'

'From Worcestershire.' She did not see that the answer would do any harm and glared at Jack's dark look. 'Are you a sailor, Mr. Valentine?'

Valentine chuckled, shaking his head. 'I used to be but don't sully my hands with toil now that I can afford not to,' he cast a sly glance at Jack, a smirk playing on his lips.

'I can afford not to if I wanted,' Jack retorted, his anger flaring up. 'I just prefer to do some honest hard work instead of mincing around.'

'Not so sure about honest, Jack…' Valentine chuckled glad to see he had finally got under the pirate's skin. 'How about you, Jack Sparrow? Where are you from?'

'A giant whirlpool opened up, spat me out, an' I landed on the deck of th'Pearl,' he grinned, sardonically. 'C'mon luv, time ter go.' He stood and took Jenny's hand, helping her from the settee. 'Thank you fer your hospitality, Valentine. I'll return the favour some time.'

'I shall look forward to it,' Valentine lied, smiling broadly. 'No doubt we shall bump into each other from time to time,' he smiled at Jenny, taking her free hand and kissing it in the same fashion as before.

Jack led the way from the room, signalling to his men to follow and the group of them strode towards the door where the butler was holding it open.

'Goodbye,' Absolon Valentine called as they walked down the drive, a satisfied smile on his face at the end of what he considered a reasonably successful evening.

…

'Jack! Will you please stop pacing up and down and come to bed.' Jenny sank back on the pillows with an exasperated sigh, cursing him under her breath.

'What did he want? Valentine doesn't invite people around t'his house unless there's a very good reason or he wants ter kill 'em.'

'Maybe he was curious as to where the treasure was found?' she suggested, before deciding to distract Jack by throwing back the bedclothes and lounging back in a seductive manner with her legs slightly apart and her arms above her head. It worked and she yelped with delight as he came hurtling across the cabin, landing on the bunk with a thud and rolled on top of her.

'Damn ya woman, I'm tryin' ter think!'

'Think afterwards then,' she laughed, pressing her lips against his and muffling any more protests that he might think of.

'I always sleep afterwards, ya know that,' he grumbled half heartedly as he broke away from the clinch.

'So sleep on it and think about it with a fresh mind in the morning, eh?' Jenny ran her fingers down his chest and started playing with the laces holding Jack's breeches together.

'Yer a wicked woman, ya know that, Jenny Samuels?' he grinned, grinding his hips against her and tugging at her earlobe with his teeth.

'I've had a good teacher Jack,' she teased, sliding his breeches down as far as she could reach.

'Oh aye, an' who might he be?' Jack laughed, rolling off Jenny and kicking his breeches off.

'Oh, let me see. There's John, Pete, Davy, oh and young Billy knows a trick or two as well...' Jenny shrieked as Jack rolled back on top of her and they giggled as they made love, their moans of desire punctuated with cries of laughter throughout the night.

…