Usual disclaimers... curses!
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Chapter 56 - 'Ello Luv!
Jack slipped away from Laura on the outskirts of town, reasoning that the authorities would be watching the Turner household more closely than that of Captain Groves. If Laura had not warned him, indeed, it would have been the first place he would have gone in an attempt to locate Bessie. But now he knew where his wife was, and he was grateful that he did not have to cause his friends any trouble. He skirted to the northern edge of the town, waiting for dark before slipping through the streets silently. He knew where Captain Groves' house was, and after a quick inspection, was relieved to see it offered incredibly easy access. If he quickly climbed on top of the garden wall he could reach the balcony and then the house itself. He climbed onto a nearby rooftop, hugging the shadows, watching, waiting, determined not to be careless in his eagerness to see Bessie.
Gradually, one by one, the lights went out until only one window remained bright - his target. His breath quickened as he saw her open the window slightly before pulling the curtains across. For a moment the light silhouetted her form against the curtains, but then she was gone. He sighed, desperate to let her know he was there, but still he waited. He saw another window open, probably the Captain, but the room remained dark. An hour passed before he crept forward, dropping down into the street before scrambling up onto the top of the wall. Sure-footed, he padded along the top of the wall, climbing over the rail of the balcony. Again he waited, watching and listening in the shadows to ensure that he had not been observed. Ten more minutes passed before he crept forwards, reaching carefully through the window to peer through the curtains.
His breath caught as he saw her, thin gauzy veils surrounding the bed protecting her from the annoying, biting insects that often plagued the islands as she slept. Cautiously he opened the window further, slipping inside the room. He padded across to the bed, pulling aside the gauze., placing his hand over her mouth.
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Bessie was tired. She had helped Annie scrub the lobby floor earlier in the day and had come to the conclusion that perhaps it had not been a good idea to do so whilst so heavily pregnant. She opened the window as usual, allowing a cooling breeze into the room before pulling the curtains shut for the evening. She wondered where Jack was and hoped that he was safe, whispering a prayer that he remain so. He would be due to return soon, for she had been at Port Royal for a month now and she knew it would not take him long to find her.
Awkwardly she undressed, slipping on the modest nightdress that she had purchased before brushing her hair to a sheen - it seemed to have grown more vigorously since she had become pregnant. Climbing slowly into bed she held her hands to her stomach. "Your father will come," she assured her bump. "He will save Henry and then rescue us... trust him."
Bessie looked in the direction of the fort, thinking of Henry. He had still been cheerful when she had been able to visit him the previous week - his belief in his captain had not faded despite his continued confinement. She wished she had his faith, but in the dark hours of the night she despaired. She fidgeted, tossing and turning until she found a position that was comfortable - it seemed to be getting harder every night. For a while she lay there, looking at her wedding ring, trying not to cry but failing as she had failed ever since she had arrived in Port Royal. She worried about Henry, but most of all she worried about Jack, desperate that her child not be deprived of it's father before even being born.
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Theodore climbed the stairs in the dark only a few minutes after Bessie, nursing the wine he had been drinking earlier in the evening as he turned out the lamps. He sighed quietly to himself, hearing her crying when she thought nobody would hear. Every night it had been the same and it made him feel bad that he was part of the reason for her tears. If he could have let her leave he would have, even if it meant paying her passage back to her husband, but he knew it was not possible. Despite not having to, she had helped Annie with her chores, greatly easing the burden on his elderly maid. Apart from that first meal though, she had revealed nothing more about herself becoming more and more withdrawn, looking more and more lost. For a moment he took half a pace towards her door but stopped, realising sadly that she would probably misinterpret his compassion. Her door was shut, and he left it that way, turning to his own room and heading for bed himself. He opened his window, not even bothering to light a candle as he undressed and climbed into his bed, hoping that tomorrow would be better for her.
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Bessie woke with a start, sensing the person above her and feeling the hand on her mouth. She tensed to scream, but gasped on realising who it was. She burst into tears, throwing her arms around his neck. "'Ello luv," Jack whispered, cautious of Captain Groves sleeping only a short distance away. "Did yer miss me?" Disentangling her arms he sat on the bed, helping her sit. "My! Yer've grown fat!"
"Jack!" she hissed, desperately looking towards the door.
"It's alright luv!" he assured her, leaning across to kiss her. She wrapped her arms about him again, kissing him as eagerly as he kissed her.
"Jack!" Reluctantly she broke for breath, sniffing. "You know this is a trap! They've got Henry at the fort! I can't leave or they'll hang him!"
"That's all under control," Jack smiled. "D' yer know if he is still alright?"
Bessie nodded tearfully. "They let me visit him... once a week. He's bored but otherwise fine." She leaned across to kiss him again.
Jack kissed her back, smiling for he knew it took a lot to quell Henry's cheerfulness. "When d' yer next see him?" he asked.
"The day after tomorrow... in the morning," she replied, glancing fearfully towards the door.
"It's alright - he's asleep!" Jack smiled. "We'll break Holt out as soon as we can, but we'll have t' leave yer here fer a while..."
"No..." Bessie began to argue, but he held his fingers to her lips.
"Sssshh!" He placed his hand on her stomach. "Until our child is born yer will be safer here... trust me! Let all the excitement over Holt fade an' I'll come back. I'll not leave yer again - I promise!" A grin split his face as he reached for the ties on her nightdress.
"Jack!" she protested.
"Let m' see yer naked..." he pleaded.
Smiling she allowed him to help her off the bed, standing before him as he slid the fabric from her body. She giggled quietly as he knelt down, kissing her stomach. "I'll be back fer yer," he promised the bump before standing again, holding her to him as he kissed her. "Yer are beautiful, d' yer know that?"
"Thank you," she whispered. She had never felt awkward about him seeing her naked, even when pregnant. She placed her hand over his on her stomach, savouring his touch. "Can you stay a while?" she begged.
"An' hour or so, no longer," Jack cautioned, placing his pistol on the pillow. "I must be clear of th' town before dawn." She nodded in understanding as he helped her back into bed, sliding in next to her before holding her tightly. "When yer see Holt, warn him t' sleep away from th' walls an' remind him th' water is deep... savvy?"
Bessie nodded, reaching across to unbutton his shirt so that she could lay her head comfortably on his chest. She sighed contentedly, listening to his heartbeat. "I understand," she confirmed, kissing his chest before settling in his arms.
"I'll be gone when yer wake," he apologised, wishing he could take her with him tonight but she was too near her time to be able to flee and he would not risk her or the babe if shots were fired.
"I know," she whispered sadly, shutting her eyes as he stroked her hair, treasuring every moment of contact. She tried to stay awake, fighting her tiredness in her determination to stay with him, but her eyes were heavy and soon she slept, lulled by his hands and his heartbeat into a deep and dreamless sleep.
When she awoke in the morning he was gone.