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

Chapter 22 – Time to Panic!

"Great! Just bloody great!" Theodore cursed in vexation as he walked back to the house. Jack Sparrow had been good at fooling the Commodore during the last two months, but in front of the Governor and numerous others who had seen him before? And Robert Gillette? He would have to be blind not to see how Catherine and Jack's eyes followed each other. What about dancing? Etiquette? Could Jack Sparrow even dance! Glancing skywards he stomped home.

"Cat?" He walked through to the kitchen to find their maid preparing dinner alone. "Jill, have you seen Catherine?" he frowned, looking through the windows to see if she was in the garden arbour.

"Mistress Catherine and Mister Wells left together about an hour ago, Sir. I believe he mentioned about needing to replace the sword he lost..." Jill apologised, bobbing a curtsey.

Theodore knew instantly where they would have gone, cursing Jack for dragging his sister deeper into his intrigues, but when he reached the smithy the door was shut and barred. "Damn you, Jack!" he cursed. Turning on his heels, the irate captain headed towards the house belonging to Will Turner.

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The four of them all jumped on hearing the loud banging on the door. Will rose and glanced cautiously out of the window, looking in alarm at Catherine. "It's the Captain – I think he's alone." And clearly in a mood, Will thought, apprehensive as he opened the door and let him in.

"I assume that my sister and Sparrow are here..." But before Will could answer, or ask what he meant by 'Sparrow', Theodore walked into the parlour, visibly fuming. "This is getting out of hand Jack - somebody will notice!" He stood there, toying with his cuff button, a habit of his when he was unsure of himself. "If they haven't already!" he added worriedly.

"Captain Groves, can we help you?" Elizabeth asked smiling innocently.

He sighed, turning to face her, realising Jack would have told them everything. "You are going to have to – all of you! The Governor, your father, is throwing a party next week – and you," he looked at Jack and Catherine, "both of you," he emphasised, "are invited." Jack suddenly did not look so assured. "Jesus, Jack – can you even dance?"

"Ah, a lot can be learned in a week?" Jack slurred hopefully.

"Robert Gillette will be there too!" Now Catherine did not look assured. Theodore glanced at Will and Elizabeth. "So we have a week in which all we have to do is teach propriety, social amenity, protocol and dancing to a pirate.... oh, and get a tailor that is blind!" And to teach these two to keep their hands off each other he thought to himself.

"I can adjust clothes to fit, Theo. You know if anyone sees Jack's tattoos then the whole charade is blown." Catherine frowned, considering. "Mistress Turner – we will need to have music if we are to teach Jack to dance..."

Jack looked flummoxed. Elizabeth laughed. "Call me Elizabeth," she smiled. "And yes, I am sure it will be my pleasure to sort out Captain Sparrow!" Both women turned to stare at him, pointedly.

Jack suddenly looked worried.

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A week passed filled with hours of frantic sewing for Catherine, plus etiquette and dancing lessons for Jack. Elizabeth and Catherine got on well and Jack to his dismay, often found himself ganged up on. He began to have nightmares of a swordfight with Norrington, set to music. Although he had to admit, he did seem to have a natural flair for the movements. He was surprised, though pleased to see that his feet really did remember most of what his dancing master had laboured so diligently to drill into him all those years ago.

"One, two, step, one, two, three, step, one, two, now back, two, three..." In the small parlour, Elizabeth counted the beat whilst Catherine led Jack through the complex figures of the dance, wondering if he was even 'trying' to avoid bumping into the furniture. "Hands, Jack!" she cautioned.

"Whoops," he grinned, trying to look innocent as he tripped Catherine so that she landed in a heap on the small sofa. He grinned as he trapped her beneath him. "Mmmmnnn, much better," he teased.

"Jack!" both women protested in unison.

"What?" Jack looked wide-eyed at Elizabeth before turning back to kiss Catherine, pleased to sense her respond beneath him, her hands reaching to encircle him.

"You two!" Elizabeth sighed in despair. She was beginning to think that Catherine was as hopeless as Jack at times. "I can see that we will get nothing else done today. It is late - go home both of you!"

Jack grinned, and helped Catherine to her feet, ushering her out of the parlour before Elizabeth could change her mind.

"Goodnight Elizabeth," Catherine managed to laugh before she disappeared, propelled towards the doorway by Jack. He kissed her again, more urgently before they opened the front door, both knowing that they would have to maintain the façade of proper decorum until they reached the privacy of her home.

Jack smiled as she took his arm, walking demurely beside him. The tremor in her hand betrayed her thoughts and he grinned in delight, knowing that they were far from demure, or respectable. "Why Mistress Reyes," he teased "are you cold?" He took off his jacket, making a show of placing it around her shoulders, "Or is it my presence that makes you tremble?"

For a moment Catherine did not answer, biting her lip. "Why was my life so simple before I met you?" she puzzled, her voice quiet in the night air as she walked beside him. "Damn pirate!" she hissed, but there was no venom in her voice. Jack wisely bit his tongue, matching his stride to hers as they walked in silence back to the house. Catherine quietly unlocked the door, slipped into the privacy of the lobby, creeping silently up the stairs to avoid waking Theodore.

Jack shut her bedroom door behind him, clicking the lock. "Why am I a damned pirate?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

"I called you a damn pirate," she smiled affectionately. "I am the one that is damned." He looked at her frowning, not understanding her comment. "Damned to shame my brother and family if I go with you," she explained, "and damned to a life of nothingness if I don't..."

"So come with me like I've asked," he tempted as he unlaced her. "I would look after you, Kitty..."

She shook her head sadly. "I cannot," she apologised.

"Well p'raps I can offer some more persuasion?" Jack slipped out of his clothes, guiding her to the bed and kissing her until she wrapped herself around him.

"Hold me," she whispered.

Jack did, surprised to discover her crying quietly. He held her silently, admitting ruefully that she was not the only one damned by their relationship.

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Two days before the party, Jack and Will disappeared. Elizabeth and Catherine were both frantic with worry but could not spare the time go searching, having to finish sewing Jack's clothes. It was nearly dark when the two men walked up to the small house, smiling and joking with each other.

"Where..." Catherine began, but she did not get a chance to say more.

Jack put his fingers to her lips. "SSssshhhhhh Kitty!" he smiled. "Pearl's offshore!" A huge grin split his face. "I've seen Gibbs an' all th' crew and they're ready to meet me as soon as this is done."

She sighed in relief. With the Black Pearl close by Jack would be safer. "But why didn't you just go with them?" she asked, confused.

"I couldn't leave now," Jack explained. "Too many questions would be asked of Theo, an' I do owe him m' life in a way, so it wouldn't be proper like." He smiled again. "I got yer a present..." He reached into his waistcoat pocket and handed her two beautiful pearl drop earrings. "For the party luv!" he winked.

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