Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 11 – The Gallian

Catherine and James stayed in Nassau Port for three days, trying to find a ship that would give them passage to Port Royal. At last she found a fast sloop, the Gallian, which was willing to take them – for a fee. She was glad of the purse of coins that Jack had given her, smiling to herself when she saw that he had put in a few cut gemstones – rubies, sapphires, emeralds and some beautiful yellow citrines. Realising that she was relatively wealthy, she decided to buy new clothes for herself and James, packing them in a small trunk to change into once she reached Port Royal. Although their old clothes would be adequate for the journey, Catherine at least wanted to look respectable when she met her brother and Commodore Norrington.

The captain of the Gallian was Damian Roseridge, young, English, rich and stuffy. Some might have called him handsome with his blonde hair, blue eyes and aristocratic manners, but he left her cold. He insisted that she and James join him at mealtimes, boasting that he had brought his Italian chef with him all the way from London. Catherine was grateful that the journey should only take three or four days, having the distinct impression that she was going to find him an incredible bore. His favourite subjects seemed to be himself, his ship and his family's plantation. For the sake of politeness, she made the effort to give her attention to him, but could not stop her mind drifting to a ship with black sails and a very different captain.

"And what brought you to the Caribbean, Mistress Reyes?" Damian asked as his steward brought an elaborate dessert to the main cabin.

Catherine started from her thoughts, having missed his question. "I am sorry, what did you say?" she apologised.

"I asked what brought you to the Caribbean," he repeated, frowning at her lack of response to his charm. Women usually threw themselves at him once they found out who he was and he found her attitude puzzling.

She pondered her choice of reply, deciding that she would tell him as little as possible, liking neither his attitude nor his inquisitiveness. "I am merely escorting young James here to his uncle at Port Royal," she smiled politely, turning her attention to her plate. She was determined that he should discover nothing about her time on the Black Pearl. She had already warned James that he was not to mention the pirates for fear that no ship would give them passage and prayed that he would continue to keep his silence.

"And it is your first time here?" Damian pressed, determined to engage her interest in his conversation. "I've sailed a number of times to my father's cane plantation on Jamaica. Perhaps you've heard of it – the Roseridge plantation? To the north of Kingston?"

"No, I am sorry, Captain. It is my first time in the Caribbean..." She looked across at James who yawned loudly. "If you will excuse me, my charge is sleepy and I think it is time we retired. Good evening, Mister Roseridge."

He rose politely as she left, picking up the sleepy James in her arms. "Of course, Mistress Reyes," he demurred, smiling to himself as she left. It was three days to Port Royal with favourable winds and he was confident no woman could resist his charms for that long.

88888

Their cabin assigned to them was surprisingly generous with two adult-sized bunks. The linen was crisp white cotton, freshly laundered and smelling sweetly of lavender. Whatever you might think of him, Damian Roseridge at least knew how to travel in style. Ensuring that the door and the shutters were secured, she quickly undressed James and tucked him into his bunk. She slipped into her own newly purchased nightclothes slowly, sitting on her bunk, running the pearls of her necklace through her fingers. She was still touching the pearls as she fell asleep, her dreams haunted by chocolate-brown eyes.

88888

The Gallian entered the Windward Passage two days after leaving Nassau. Damian Roseridge was anxious to avoid pirates for the area was notorious for attacks. The Gallian was not carrying anything of value, other than himself of course, but he had heard of pirates holding people for ransom and he was not eager to discover the reality of it.

He had been lucky before, but that luck had finally run out. Sails were spotted on the horizon and the chase was on.

Catherine felt the change in the ship's movement. "Not again!" she pleaded to the heavens. "Am I cursed to be forever attacked by pirates?"

James looked at her worriedly. "Mistress Cat?" he asked.

"Stay in the cabin, James, I'll find out what is happening," she smiled reassuringly at him, but as soon as she left the cabin she knew. The scene was all too familiar – the deck was in uproar, men running frantically to get as much speed as they could get from the sails. Her eyes searched the horizon, seeking their pursuer.

"Mistress Reyes! Return to your cabin immediately!" Damian Roseridge ordered from his position next to his helmsman. "Pirates pursue us, but I hope to outrun them. Now, Mistress Reyes!"

Before she could say a word, or see the ship, Catherine found herself forcibly bundled into her cabin by one of the crew, the door locked behind her. She banged on the door angrily. "Let me out!" she shouted, but her cries were ignored.

"Mistress Cat?" James puzzled.

"Yes, James… it is pirates I believe, but Captain Roseridge has seen fit to lock us in. Gather your belongings, we may have to leave the ship in a hurry."

"Is it Captain Sparrow?" he asked hopefully, eager to see his friends and the macaw again.

Catherine's face blanched. She had never considered that the ship pursuing them might be commanded by the man who until a few days ago had been her lover. "I don't know, I didn't get a chance to see the ship, but I'm sure Jack's back in Tortuga drinking rum already." She knelt down in front of him. "We'll be all right James, the Gallian is a fine, fast ship."

88888

The Gallian bravely battled through the sea, every possible yard of sail aloft, but the dark ship was gaining. Damian Roseridge looked in disbelief as the ship came closer, closer, it's pirate flag clearly visible against the sky. "Captain?" His first mate looked at him. "Do we keep running?"

"No," he sneered, "we fight! She's too fast for us but we may surprise her yet!" He strode down the stairs to the main deck. "Ready the cannons, prepare for boarders!" he ordered.

88888