Chapter Seven

There was no sound but the waves, the quiet creaking of the boat and oars, and the breathing of the rower. Jack leaned forward, pulling the oars with him. They would be to the dock in a few minutes. No one was in sight just yet, but he was sure that he would have barely enough time to help Corinne onto the dock and leave before he was in danger. There was a small window of time.

She was quite lovely, he decided, looking at her under the silvery moonlight. He especially liked her hair...it was red, perhaps a less than desirable color in British circles, but he'd always liked red.

His mind flicked from Corinne to the dock. There was somewhat of a commotion...looked like a couple of men were at it hammer and tongs. He heard shouts of "thief!" from one, and so he guessed the other had stolen something from that one. It was the perfect diversion.

Corinne had said nothing the whole trip; she just looked thoughtful.

Jack was about to say farewell when a noise from behind – a click – made her freeze and him turn around slowly. He faced a pistol barrel, and a glaring naval officer behind it.

"Mister, I'd like to know what you be doin' at this hour of the night, with a lady in a boat,"

"Actually, I was just leaving," he said. "The lady here was stranded and need to get to Port Royale."

"That so? Well, I'm going to have to find out if that's true or not. Out of the boat, both of you."

Jack helped Corinne up onto the dock, and the private stepped between them as Jack reached the dock himself. "What's your business 'ere in Port Royale?" he glowered. Corinne, after Jack made signs to leave right away, hesitantly stepped back. Then she turned and left, but he knew that she would be back. Or at least, someone would.

The private, who was still on the same duty he'd been a couple of months earlier, finally recognized Jack. "Ha! You're that pirate! Well, you're going to the gallows tomorrow. Commodore Norrington's orders."

"Of course, I'm sure the illustrious Commodore Norrington would be very pleased to hear that an old friend of his has returned." Jack grinned at the private's reaction.

But other officers, including one who put iron shackles on him, soon surrounded him. They led him to the jail cell, and one of the men was sent to alert the Commodore of their prized catch.

The jail cell he'd been in before had been repaired – no doubt, by the very same blacksmith who had destroyed it – and they locked him in it. He sat in the corner under the moonlight, waiting. For what, he wasn't sure. But he knew the Corinne would help him, if she could.

The door swung open, and the butler stared at the bedraggled figure that stood on the doorstep. It was a young woman...but he hadn't been notified that any more would be staying here.

"Hello..." Corinne began. "I'm Corinne Young...I'm Elizabeth's cousin. I've just arrived from England."

The butler still did not seem to understand entirely, but his face brightened at the mention of Elizabeth. "Elizabeth is married now, and she lives just down the street, in the little green house...number five."

"Thank you," she replied, and started her way down the street. She stopped at number five, a small but serviceable-looking house, and rapped lightly on the door. Elizabeth answered it. She did not recognize Corinne for a moment, and said, "Can I help you?" but then her eyes widened before her cousin had a chance to answer her.

She was given no chance to speak still, but was immediately pulled inside. "What has happened to you?"

"You mean, you don't know? I mean, at least part of it. I was captured by pirates," she said.

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "The captain of the Jupiter told Father that you'd fallen overboard and been lost at sea."

Corinne's face reddened with anger. "That...that bloody Englishman!"

Elizabeth had guessed it. "They were too embarrassed to tell us the truth."

"Yes. Indeed, I was treated better by the pirates than, I think, by anyone else. Well, there was the ship I was 'rescued' from the pirates by, but the only one who talked to me really was the first mate. And he was a eunuch, anyway. But I..." she yawned. "I am so tired."

But then something struck her. "When do they hang prisoners?" she wondered.

"At dawn...why? Is something...who's going to be hanged?"

"Oh, no...Jack is...he's the pirate who brought me back –"

"Jack? Jack Sparrow?"

"Yes," Corinne said hurriedly. Her brain was beginning to put the pieces together. "He said he knew you...Oh, this is all wrong!"

"What's wrong?" Will had been aroused by the commotion in the front hall.

Elizabeth turned to him. "They have Jack. They're going to hang him."

"Well," he surmised, "The anniversary festival is tomorrow, so they'll wait at least another day. We may be able to get him out."

"Meanwhile," Elizabeth said, "You must be tired. You can tell me the rest in the morning."

Corinne obeyed the gentle hands that guided her towards a bed in the spare bedroom. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.