Damned to the depths whatever muttonhead thoughts of disclaimers!

Wow! What a lot of people I have to thank.. Mrs Sparrow, SummerRain, SectorLutter, A DeppGirl, Lady Malfoy, Arwen, Arwen-ElfQueen, Mina Sparrow, RandomGal, beatlechicksteph, Roxula's Bride, truspirit, Ally Eileen, Caribbean Mama, Miss Sohpia, Darigan Sparrow, and last but not least, Rose Pearl – phew! Of course thanks must go to Hils, who is probably right now, after Rose's blood! ;)

A very short chapter, the next one will probably be up tomorrow.

…

Chapter nine: 'Are you the pirate who kidnapped my sister?'

'Dead?' Jack's head spun with shock and he felt sick to the stomach.

'Y-yes.'

'When? Where?' he demanded.

'S-she worked in the Caribbean and was taken by pirates. H-her f-father went out there to try and rescue her, b-but he was too late. P-please don't hurt me.'

He closed his eyes with relief and softened his grip as he realised that Marston had obviously told a lie to his staff and frowned as he then realised that meant Jenny was not in the house. He wracked his brain trying to think where she would be and how he might find out her whereabouts, before coming upon a possible solution. 'Where does James Marston live?' he asked her.

'M-master James?' The maid was trembling violently and tears were rolling down her cheeks.

'Aye luv, Master James.'

'H-he lives about a mile down the l-l-lane.' She pointed away from the village. 'I-in a m-manor house…'

'Thank you young missy. Not a word ter anyone, savvy?'

'N-no…' She scrambled from the bushes and turned tail and ran back towards the house at the same time as the men turned tail and ran towards the lane, taking the wall in one leap and going as fast as they could, breathing a sigh of relief when they came to some woods.

'We won't be able ter go ter th'house tonight, ye realise,' panted Shay, leaning against a tree for support. 'She'll be screamin' th'house down.'

'We have ter get there before they do…'

…

'Where is Jenny?'

Gaining entrance to the house had been easy as Shay had spotted a drawing room window that didn't latch properly and the lady of the house had been alone when they entered.

'Who the hell are you?' James Marston demanded as he entered the room, looking in alarm at the pistol aimed at his wife's head. He thought about shouting for help until the assailant jabbed the muzzle against her head and he saw the man's accomplice hovering by the open window.

'I'm someone who wants ter know where yer sister is.'

'If you are that familiar with her, then you would know she is dead.'

Jack sighed, shaking his head. 'Nah she's not mate, that's a lie told by yer father. I though at first he'd just told th'servants, but obviously not.'

'W-why would my father tell such a lie?' James frowned, shaking his head as if to clear the thought from it and moved towards Jack, stopping as the pistol jabbed against Daisy's temple.

'Ah, ah, ah. This is no time fer rash behaviour. Has yer father been anywhere since he returned from th'Caribbean?'

James debated saying anything but fear for his wife's safety loosened his tongue. 'No, he stayed a few nights in London on business then came home. How do you…?'

'Never mind that,' interrupted Jack. 'What business?'

'What is it to you?' he enquired bewilderedly.

'Probably none, but there's no harm in tellin', eh?'

James Marston hesitated for long moments before taking a deep breath. There had been something strange about his father's behaviour since he returned from his hastily arranged trip overseas and neither he, nor his brothers, could put their finger on what.

'My father owns a salt mine which he has been keen to expand for some time. He purchased some land off a neighbouring landowner who resides mostly in London. He stopped by on the way back home to finalise the deal.'

'Doin' all right then, the mine, if he can afford ter expand?'

'Well…' James Marston shot a look at his wife then back at the man holding her hostage.

'Well?'

'Business is good, but I have wondered where father found the revenue to buy from Roger Crompton.'

'And Crompton is…?'

'The local landed gentry.' James hesitated as a thought slowly dawned on him and he wondered whether to say anything or not. 'Who exactly are you? Are you the pirate who kidnapped my sister?'

'Aye lad, I am. Jack Sparrow's me name. Now what thought suddenly occurred ter ya then?'

Daisy nodded slightly at her husband, willing him to tell the pirate, smiling thinly up at him as Jack looked down and arched an eyebrow.

'He asked for my sister's hand a couple of times, both of which were refused. The first time by our aunt, who raised us after Mama died. The second by Jenny when he proposed only a few weeks after Eddie, my brother-in-law, died.'

'Is he th'type ter hold grudges, ter kidnap?'

'Oh yes,' Daisy replied, finding her voice at last. He's a brute who has had three wives already and he has yet to reach his fortieth year.'

'What happened ter his wives?' came Shay's brogue from the window.

'The first two died, the first in childbirth, the second… his second wife fell down stairs and the third he divorced on account of her adultery.'

'My father would never use his daughter as a business proposition. It is preposterous,' James argued, realising that the argument sounded hollow, even to his ears. He knew his father to be a ruthless man when it came to his business and he had never loved Jenny anyway.

'Do ya have Crompton's London address?' Jack enquired.

'Yes,' Daisy Marston took the liberty of standing and facing him as he lowered his pistol. 'He lives in Whitechapel. He has a mansion there.'

'Daisy,' chided her husband, doubt written across his face. 'This man is a pirate!'

'Who obviously loves your sister enough to come all the way over here to find her,' she reminded her husband. 'Does she love you in return?' she asked.

'Aye luv, she does,' he smiled.

''Then why did you kidnap her?' James Marston demanded. 'Do you know how worried we have been?'

'Jack! I hear voices…' Shay warned from the window.

'Thank you, M'lady and I apologise fer holdin' a pistol to yer head.' Jack took her hand and kissed it, winking at her husband as he did then he nodded to Shay who darted out of the window. 'Pleasure doin' business wi'yer.' With a doff of his hat, Jack followed the Irishman's lead and disappeared into the dark night.

…

'D'ye reckon they'll say anything to his father?' Shay jogged along besides Jack, hoping he wouldn't fall down any potholes.

'Nah, I don't think they will.' He sent up a silent prayer, just in case. 'Jen always said that she and James were close.'

'Can ye ride?'

'Eh?'

'Can ye ride a horse?'

'I can ride a white horse if that helps.'

'Huh? Ah, white horses – waves.' The Irishman laughed loudly which earned him a smack across the head. 'Aw, what was that for?'

'D'ya want th'whole of Worcestershire to hear ya? An' yes, I have ridden a horse… once.'

'Ah, no. Sorry Jack. Look, I noticed some stables at Marston's mansion. We could wait until all goes quiet and rustle a couple.'

'It's dark in case ya hadn't noticed.'

'I'm a footpad, in case ye forgot. I know these roads like th'back o'me hand. C'mon, it'd be far quicker ter ride ter London.'

Jack reluctantly followed his companion around the back of Henry Marston's mansion and climbed the wall, hugging the shadows as they crept across the yard to the stables, praying those who had been posted on watch would not see nor hear them until it was too late. Shay walked up and down the barn, looking at the horses with a care that comes from one who is used to them, before deciding on two black ones. He quickly saddled one up and gave the rein to Jack to hold whilst he saddled the second one. After giving the pirate a helping hand up, they were on their way, with the sounds of shouting coming from the Marston household following in their wake.

They galloped far faster than Jack would have liked until they were well clear of Droitwich then slowed to a trot to give the horses chance to recover and to ensure neither of them fell as they made their way along the rutted track which Shay assured would lead straight to their destination.

…