Usual disclaimers... woe is me!

Chapter 53 - Tea and Tattle

Victoria Chalk smiled at the surprised faces of her six friends around the table. She hushed whilst the maid brought tea but then continued, her delight clear on her face. "It was him... that pirate. You know, the one that stood outside the door!"

"So?" Mary Walters puzzled.

"Well, Robert wanted me to identify him. He caught him and that maid... Betty or whatever she was called. They were on Hispaniola and she is pregnant again... and it is that Captains!" she whispered in shock.

"But he does not have any authority on Hispaniola," Matilda Dott frowned. Laura Bristow agreed, but held her tongue. She realised that Victoria was not going to take any comments against her Captain.

"That isn't important..." Victoria glossed over Matilda's words. "What is important is that they are laying a trap for the pirate. He married the maid - can you believe that!" She grinned. "When he comes for his wife they will catch him!"

"Strange," Bethany McCulloch exclaimed. "From the tales my father has told me of Captain Sparrow I have never taken him to be stupid. Eccentric, strange, drunk even - but never stupid."

"The Commodore released her as bait, but is holding the pirate who was with her as surety for her behaviour!" She sipped her tea daintily. "Can you believe it - and my Robert is the one responsible!"

"Well I heard she was brought here in manacles!" Maeve Franks added. "My Da was working down on the docks when the Coria berthed. Said she was in a right state!"

Laura listened to the gossip, sipping her tea but not joining in the conversation. The other girls did not seem to notice her silence, nor did they seem to remember the debt that they owed to Captain Jack Sparrow. But she remembered, and she would not allow that debt to go unpaid. Making her decision, she drained her cup. "You must excuse me Victoria, but we are expecting a delivery in today and my father will be needing my help..."

"Of course!" Victoria rose, seeing her to the door, enjoying her role of gracious hostess to her less well off friends. "You will come again to tea I hope?"

"When I can," Laura assured her, forcing herself to make idle small talk before she eventually managed to get away. But her steps did not lead her home, but in the other direction towards the docks. She had not forgotten the conversation on the Black Pearl, remembering that Elizabeth Turner had helped Bessie in the past - surely she would help her now? Finding herself outside of the smithy she took a deep breath, pushing open the door.

Inside it was dark, light filtered through in beams to the sandy floor and the forge to the rear of the building cast a red glow throughout. "Can I help you?" A man's voice drifted from the darkness. "Mind the drop!"

Laura paused mid-step, surprised to see the floor drop away beneath her foot. She turned, walking down the damaged cart that served as a ramp to her left. "Excuse me..." she blinked, eventually spotting him as he stepped into one of the beams of light. "Are you Will Turner?"

"I am," he smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I think it is more of a case of what I can do for you... or for a friend of yours..." she ventured, nervously realising she could not back out. "Have you heard the news in the town today?"

Will looked at her, puzzling over what she meant. "No... I've been at the forge since before dawn..."

"They caught Bessie... and one pirate..." She sighed when she saw his expression become guarded, although she did not blame him. "Please, I am Laura Bristow... one of the women the Black Pearl rescued."

"I don't know anyone called Bessie," he replied, turning away.

"Please!" Laura put her hand on his arm, forcing him to stop. "They are using Bessie as bait to trap the Captain! Captain Sparrow that is!" She looked at him, her eyes pleading. "I am not trying to trick you! I owe my freedom to him - I would repay that debt!"

"Speak," he said curtly, turning back towards her.

"I don't know everything," she confessed. "But it appears Bessie was ashore because she is pregnant - they are saying that she married Captain Sparrow."

"Jack Sparrow married?" Will snorted.

"Believe what you will!" Laura snapped. "They have released Bessie but are holding the other pirate to ensure she does not try to warn others about the trap!"

"And how do you claim to know this?" Will frowned.

"Victoria Chalk is seeing Captain Gillette - she cannot keep a secret to save her life! Captain Gillette snatched them from Hispaniola and Victoria identified the man with Bessie as a pirate - the pirate that stood outside of our door when we were onboard the Black Pearl..."

Will sighed. "I think it best you speak with my wife," he eventually decided, as he usually did when he felt things were complicated. "Wait while I make the forge safe..." After a few minutes he turned back to her. "Follow me," he ordered.

Laura followed him along the narrow lanes of the poorer district of Port Royal until they reached a slightly more respectable district. He walked up to a stout door, pushing it open. "Elizabeth," he cried. "Are you home?"

"In the kitchen Will," her reply came and he led Laura through the house. "Who..." she puzzled on seeing Laura.

"Have you been out at all today?" Will asked urgently.

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "No, I've been baking... why?" She looked again at Laura.

"I'm Laura Bristow, Mistress Turner. My father runs the Ensign up near the fort." She stepped forward to introduce herself. "I've come to help Captain Sparrow..."

Elizabeth looked at her husband in alarm. "It is alright Elizabeth," he assured her. "Let her speak."

"Thank you." Laura smiled at Will for his support. "I know you don't know me, but I am one of the women that the Black Pearl rescued." She paused, relieved when Elizabeth nodded. "Well, today Victoria arranged a tea party. She's another one of us, but she is seeing Captain Gillette. It appears that he snatched Bessie and one of the crew from Hispaniola and brought them here. They are using Bessie to trap Captain Sparrow... to make him come to Port Royal..."

"And why should he?" Elizabeth puzzled.

"Because she is pregnant again... heavily so - and she is his wife..." she explained. "But they are holding the pirate to ensure she does not leave Port Royal or try to warn anyone..."

"If they fear that she will try to warn him, then it is likely that we will be watched too..." Elizabeth worried, looking cautiously at Will.

"I would help," Laura offered. "I owe my freedom to Captain Sparrow... I will not betray you!"

"And why do you believe that we know the Captain?" Elizabeth asked.

"Because everyone knows how the two of you helped him escape the noose a few years ago... and you attended Bessie when she lost her first baby..." Elizabeth sighed. Babies, she mentally corrected, remembering their tragic loss. "If you don't believe me then ask around town. Many people saw her marched to the fort in manacles!" Laura cried.

Will and Elizabeth looked at each other in shock and horror. "Gillette had her chained?" Elizabeth gasped.

"The bastard!" Will cursed, momentarily forgetting his manners in front of the women.

Elizabeth looked closely at Laura - realising that she believed her. "Do you know where Bessie is now?" she asked.

"I think she has been released - into the care of Captain Groves I believe," Laura replied.

"Right, this is what I want you to do." Elizabeth spoke briskly, realising that they might not have much time, that they might already be being watched. "I want you to go back to your father's tavern. If we need to contact you then my husband will visit for a drink. You must not come here again, else they could start to watch you too. And be careful!" she warned.

"What are you going to do?" Laura worried.

Elizabeth smiled. "I'm going to see Bessie," she declared. "She will need our help."