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

Chapter 18 – Interlude and Bad News

Year 2 - March

Every evening Catherine would wedge open the glass French doors that led out onto the balcony. She hated it when they squeaked in the breeze and kept her awake, but she would keep her promise to Jack even though she feared he had forgotten her already. It had been three months since she had returned to Port Royal and she had heard no news of the Black Pearl, let alone seen Jack. She paced despondently along the balcony, staring down into the garden, sighing heavily, as she watched a local tabby cat stalking through the bushes in search of prey before turning once more to the lonely darkness of her bedroom.

"Mmphhhh!" She struggled in surprise at finding a hand clasped over her mouth, a voice whispering at her ear.

"I told yer I'd visit..." Catherine found herself twirled around, catching the faint scent of rum before she saw him.

"Jack!" she smiled in delight, wrapping her arms around him.

"Th' Resolute isn't in th' harbour so I assume we're safe..." he grinned, his gold teeth catching the moonlight as he slipped her nightclothes from her shoulder. "An' I noticed th' maid left earlier..."

"How long have you been watching?" Catherine frowned.

"Long enough t' wet m' appetite," he mumbled between kisses, shrugging out of his clothes as he edged her towards the bed, smiling to himself as she reached to assist him. Clearly he had been missed. She squealed with laughter as they fell backwards, becoming momentarily entangled in the muslin drapes that surrounded her bed. "Kitty," he groaned, leaning down to kiss her as she wrapped herself around him, his braids tickling her cheek. "Bloody hell woman, I've missed yer!"

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Jack looked down regretfully at Catherine as she slept. He had hoped she would go with him, but he knew that her duty to her brother was still too strong for her leave Port Royal. He crept downstairs and looked about the house, rummaging briefly through the papers in Theodore's study and raiding the kitchen for a large slice of cake before returning to her room. For a while he sat, eating and watching her breathe, before rising quietly. He placed a small glass bottle on her bedside table before slipping silently out of the house and disappearing into the early dawn light.

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Catherine woke to find Jack gone. She sighed regretfully although she realised that he would not have been able to stay. She frowned, spotting an unfamiliar perfume bottle on her bedside table. "What?" Reaching for it, she unstoppered the bottle, sniffing in surprise at the expensive scent of roses. She dabbed a few spots of perfume behind her ears, smiling secretively to herself and hoping Jack would visit again soon.

Year 2 - Late June

It was three months later, at breakfast, when Theodore told her that the Resolute would be sailing for the northern Caribbean within a few days. "We will be gone a number of months, Cat. I have sealed orders, but the Commodore has already told me to expect a lengthy trip."

"I'll be fine, don't worry. I'm used to having my men folk away at sea..." she sighed. "Being married taught me how to cope."

"You know that if you need anything – absolutely anything – the Commodore will help you," he assured her.

"Yes Theo, stop fretting. I can cope! Really!" she assured him.

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Year 2 - July to September

Catherine had to work hard to be accepted by some townspeople, but nobody could fault her politeness and poise. She totally transformed the house, redecorating the rooms and buying nice things and making it into a home. The unruly garden was tamed with wide flower borders planted around the edges, most of which managed to survive the hurricane season. Luckily no hurricanes hit Port Royal that year or her hard work would probably have been undone.

Although Catherine did not venture out alone, she seemed to gain a number of male admirers amongst the ranks of the junior officers at the fort. Some were sincere, she had no doubt, but the majority were only interested in her as the sister of Captain Groves and looked to advancing their own careers. The foremost, and most unwelcome of these was Lieutenant Robert Gillette. Theodore had told her of his words on her arrival and she had not forgotten, nor forgiven. He would leave gifts for her when she was out – flowers and such dainties that he thought suitable for a lady. Initially she tried to be polite, refusing all his gifts and returning them to him, but he seemed incapable of understanding her refusal to be courted. Luckily he was at sea with the Commodore for a few weeks but she resolved that when he returned and next visited she would leave him in no doubt whatsoever as to her feelings in the matter.

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Year 2 - Mid September

Catherine liked to sleep alone in the house, sending the maid Jill home to her mother at nights. It was peaceful, reassuring, restorative in a way to be in solitude. The doors were locked and the windows shuttered except for her bedroom window which was wedged open as usual. All was quiet. Suddenly she heard a tapping at the back door.

"Darn Jill," she sighed, putting on her dressing gown and wandering downstairs. "What have you forgott…"

It was not Jill at the back door, but a tall shadow, black as the night - Zeke Jones! Quickly, and hoping nobody had seen him, she ushered him into the house.

"Zeke! What are you doing in Port Royal… where's Jack?" she looked behind him into the darkness, but he shut the door.

"I think you'd best sit down, Kitty." He guided her to one of the wooden chairs in the kitchen. "I've got some bad news…"

"Whaaa… no… not Jack! Please Zeke, no!" Tears welled in her eyes, streaming unchecked down her face.

Silently he nodded, holding her tightly. "We were up near the Keys an' got caught between the Muratania and the Resolute during a storm…".

"The Resolute!" she gasped.

"The Muratania, she hit us an' Jack was…" He struggled with the words. "Jack was knocked overboard. We searched for as long as we dared, but there was a terrible storm... an' then the Dauntless turned up…" Zeke cried too, unable still to believe that his flamboyant, if somewhat strange, captain had gone.

"So there is no hope?" She gazed up at him, praying he would say there was, but knowing otherwise.

Zeke reached into his heavy coat, unable to bear the desperation in her eyes. "All we found was his blasted hat!" He handed it to her. "Gibbs said you oughta keep it like, on accounts you were special to him an' all."

Shaking she took the battered cocked hat, her tears marking the leather. "I suppose this is where I should offer you tea..." she sniffed.

"I can't stay, Kitty. Gibbs has gone across to the Turners to tell them as well. The Dauntless is in the area an' we have t' go, real quiet like."

She nodded, sniffing. "Do you need anything?" she asked. "I haven't much, but the larder is well stocked…"

Zeke smiled his thanks, raiding her stores for some much needed herbs and spices plus a nice haunch of bacon. He bent down, kissing her on the top of her head. "The Pearl will always be there for you, Kitty…" he said, hugging her and then slipping quietly out the door.

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Jill thought Mistress Catherine was acting very strange the next morning. Things were missing from the kitchen, a man's battered leather hat sat on her bedside table, and it looked as if she had been crying all night.

"Are you all right Mistress? You don't look well..." asked worriedly.

"No, I'm fine, everything is just fine..." Catherine replied as she washed the same cup a second time. "Excuse me..."

Jill thought her face did not match the words and watched as Catherine drifted from the kitchen, returning to her room. She shut the door, but sounds of sobbing could still be heard. She suspected that there had been bad news from somewhere, but it was not her place to ask and Catherine gave no further explanation.

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