Usual disclaimers... sigh!

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Chapter 59 – Plots and Plans

Elizabeth was equally scathing of the treatment of Bessie when she came to visit the next day, angry at the marine that shadowed their every move. At least it was a different man than before and he stood far enough away so that their conversation could not be overheard when they sat quietly together in the arbour, watching as Billy played on the grass in the shade of the tree. "This is going to make it more difficult to get you away," Elizabeth sighed. "I will have to talk with Will..."

"There is a way," Bessie assured her, "although it might be risky..."

Elizabeth looked at her in surprise. "You have a plan?" she asked cautiously, smiling when Bessie nodded. "Well... tell me!"

Bessie glanced worriedly at the marine, making sure that he was not watching them too closely as she began to explain her plan. Elizabeth nodded. "It could work," she agreed. "I'll see what I can sort out with Will..." But both Elizabeth and Bessie knew that nothing could be done until she gave birth – however long that was to be.

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Two weeks later Bessie was out shopping with Elizabeth and a marine guard, walking slowly in the heat when a troop of marines suddenly surrounded them, weapons drawn. Bessie squealed with fright. "Sergeant! What is the meaning of this?" Elizabeth demanded.

"The Commodore wants Mistress Sparrow at the fort immediately!" he replied, looking nervously about him.

Elizabeth frowned, but nodded to Bessie, walking slowly up the hill to the fort. As they climbed higher she could see that Bessie was finding the steep hill hard and she stopped.

"Mistress..." the Sergeant urged.

"I can go no faster!" Bessie snapped, catching her breath as she looked out over the harbour. Suddenly she started to laugh. "Elizabeth! Look!"

Elizabeth looked where she pointed, laughing as well as she saw the Black Pearl brazenly circling outside the harbour. Men crawled over the HMS Dauntless in an attempt to ready her to sail, but there was no sign of the HMS Coria who was meant to be pursuing the pirate ship. A single cannon fired high into the air, falling well short of the HMS Dauntless before the sweeps were deployed and she turned effortlessly, leaving as rapidly as she had appeared.

"If you have recovered..." the Sergeant prompted.

"No... but I will continue," she said tiredly, struggling the short distance to the gate. Elizabeth offered her an arm to lean on, which was gratefully accepted, panting with effort. "At least it's not Saba," Bessie smiled ruefully.

Once inside the fort the Sergeant led the two women up to the Commodore's office where they found James Norrington waiting for them. "I trust there is a good reason why we've been dragged here?" Elizabeth demanded.

"The little display outside of the harbour seems a pretty good reason to me," the Commodore explained, "although perhaps Mistress Sparrow would like to sit?" He indicated a nearby chair. "Can I get you refreshments? I am afraid you must stay here a while until the Black Pearl has left..."

Bessie smiled quietly to herself. "He was playing with you! If he were truly here you would not have seen him!"

"Nevertheless, I will take no chances," James Norrington acknowledged. "Now, would you like some tea or something stronger?"

"May I have some water?" Bessie asked, smiling as Elizabeth gratefully accepted his offer of tea. He called his clerk and pretty soon the two women were sipping their drinks in the cool of the office. Suddenly Bessie rose, dashing for the door.

"Mistress Sparrow?" the Commodore frowned, placing himself before her.

Bessie looked towards Elizabeth, her eyes frightened as she placed her hands on her stomach. "Not here..." she pleaded. "Please, not here!"

Elizabeth's eyes flew wide, instantly understanding what Bessie was referring to. It had truly not been a good idea of the marines to rush her to the fort in her condition. "Bessie, sit down!" she said, helping her to the comfortable chaise near the fireplace.

"Mistress Sparrow?" The Commodore looked at the two women in confusion.

"Send for the midwife!" Elizabeth ordered.

"She can't have the child here!" he protested in shock, gasping as Bessie's waters broke, ruining the fabric of the chaise.

"You said Bessie cannot leave!" Elizabeth retorted angrily. "So fetch the midwife and fetch her now Commodore Norrington!"

"But..." he stuttered for a moment before fleeing from the room. He was a brave man and had stood his ground against even undead pirates, but a woman in labour was too much for him. Shouting for a number of marines to guard the door he ran from the fort in search of Mistress Daniels, praying that she was not busy with another birth.

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Elizabeth looked up in relief as Grace Daniels hurried through the door which she promptly shut firmly in the Commodore's face. "I don't think we need any men around, do we," she smiled, crouching down to check on Bessie. "How do you feel?" she asked, fingers gently checking her stomach. "I think we still have a while to go..." She turned to Elizabeth. "Will the Commodore not release her from the fort?" she asked.

"With the Black Pearl nearby..." Elizabeth shrugged regretfully.

"Ah yes!" Grace sighed. "Your man is keeping them all on their toes down at the harbour..."

"I saw," Bessie chuckled, wincing as another contraction wracked her body.

"Hush now," Grace advised. "Let's stay nice and calm and that baby will come in no time..."

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The Commodore paced outside of his office door anxiously. It had been hours – how long did babies take to be born anyway? Apart from the occasional groan and cry no sound had been heard from within. Elizabeth Turner dashed in and out with various demands of hot water, towels, food and cool drinking water, but other than that all three women remained in the room. He glanced out of the window, relieved to see that the HMS Dauntless had left in pursuit of the Black Pearl, both ships out of sight.

Day slipped to night. Finding himself a comfortable chair he sat and waited, gradually dozing.

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A child's wail startled him awake. He blinked, shocked to realise it was morning – had it been that long? He knocked on his office door, relieved to hear another wail.

"One moment..." Elizabeth cried, opening the door a crack. She peered out. "Yes?"

"I take it the child has been born..." he said.

"It has," Elizabeth smiled in delight.

"And..." he prompted.

"Jack and Bessie have a beautiful daughter," she informed him.

"Er, will I be able to have my office back soon?" he asked hopefully.

"Let Bessie rest and you should be able to return later this morning," Elizabeth sighed. "Although she should not walk down that hill. Perhaps you could arrange a carriage?"

"A ca..." he began.

"I am sure my father will let you borrow his," she assured him. "Bessie will also need a complete change of clothes – undergarments and everything – please have some fetched from the Captain's house. Now, excuse me..." She shut the door in his face, turning back to Bessie who held her daughter in her arms, a look of stunned disbelief on her face as Grace showed her how to feed the child.

"Do you have a name for her?" Grace asked, smiling, grateful that this time had a much happier outcome than the time before.

Bessie looked down at her child, smiling. She had pale blonde hair like her mother, but her eyes were blue. She knew that they would gradually change colour as the baby grew, but to what colour she did not know. "Jack did not say," she said quietly. "I cannot name her until he has seen his daughter..."

"Well, I'm sure you won't have to wait long," Grace assured her.

"I hope not," Bessie sighed, smiling as she looked up at Elizabeth who nodded. As soon as Jack returned their plan would be put into effect.