Usual disclaimers… thanks for all the reviews. I love you all! Even Pendragginink reviewed and I was about to send out the search party for her!
For Drui, they would not hang Bessie as they did not hang the two female pirates they caught with Calico Jack, Ann Bonny and Mary Read, for they were pregnant when caught. Also, Bessie is not a pirate, merely a widow (or wife) of a pirate and that, yet, isn't a crime in my story.
And before the Americans amongst you have a good laugh, Fanny is indeed an pet form of Frances.
Chapter 6 – Port Royal Tears
Will looked up sharply as two men walked into the smithy, placing a trunk on the floor. "There you go Mistress," they said, ignoring him and turning to leave.
"Thank you," a woman's voice said quietly. For a moment Will thought he recognised the voice but shook his head. No, it could not be… "Bessie!" he gasped in shock as he saw her walk in through the door. He was even more stunned to see her carrying a small child and another six of varying ages following her. "Mind the…" he warned her, but she had already stopped.
"Wi… Will," Bessie smiled weakly as he stepped forwards to greet her, unable to stop herself bursting into tears.
"Bessie? What is it?" he asked worriedly, fearing that he knew the answer.
"Jack's d… d…" She could not say the word, not to Will who she knew had been one of Jack's closest friends – indeed, more like a younger brother to her husband.
"Papa's dead," Jack said quietly, placing Daffodil's crate on the floor.
The sight of the cat brought the enormity of what the child had said home to Will. "Jack's dead?" He looked in shock at Bessie but all she could do was cry.
"And Corbin wants Mother – the bastard!" Jack hissed.
"Jack!" Bessie chided. Pearl clouted her brother. "Pearl!" Bessie reproached.
"Mother! She hit me!" Jack protested.
"Enough! Both of you!" Bessie shouted, close to breaking. "What must Will think when he sees you behaving like animals?" The two of them had the grace to look embarrassed. Bessie took a deep breath. "I need to see the Commodore… do you think he will grant us sanctuary here?"
"Yes, you must see him, but Elizabeth will want to know you are in town first…" He looked down at the children. "I've met this young lady," he smiled at Pearl, "but perhaps you could introduce them all?"
"This is Pearl, Jack, Hetty, John, Tabby, Fanny and Milly…" Bessie said, sniffing. "Children, this is Will who was a good friend of your father's."
Will bent down and picked up the trunk easily. Bessie had forgotten how strong he was. "Let's get you to our house at least," he offered, still shocked by her news. "Elizabeth can go with you then if you need to go to the fort…" He was relieved when Bessie nodded. "I was just off home for some lunch anyway," he smiled. "I'm sure you must all be hungry…"
All eyes looked at him hopefully, including Bessie's. "Thank you Will," she sighed, herding her children back out the door.
Will walked briskly, keeping to the back streets, but still Bessie's passage was remarked on. Although there was always a changing and growing population at Port Royal, some – like he and Elizabeth – had not moved on. Bessie's departure, and Robert Gillette's death, would be remembered by the town for a long time. He was relieved to reach his home without incident.
"Go on, in you go," he urged as he opened the door, waiting to shut it behind them. "Elizabeth," he cried. "Elizabeth, are you home?"
Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes widening at the sight of Bessie and the children. She instantly understood their arrival, Bessie's tear-stained face only confirming her fear. "No!" she cried, her hands going to her face as she burst into tears. She ran down the stairs, embracing Bessie as the younger woman started crying again.
Will put his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Bessie needs to go to the Commodore… will you go with her?"
"Of course!" she assured him, drying her eyes. "But we'd best go now before troops arrive…" She turned to Will. "Can you look after the children?" she asked. "Billy is out, but Mary and Jack are in their rooms…" He nodded. "Come," Elizabeth urged, turning to Bessie. "We should leave…"
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They were half-way to the fort when they met Captain Groves with a troop of men coming in the opposite direction. The marines fanned out, encircling the family. "I see news travels fast," Elizabeth sighed.
"Mistress Sparrow," Theodore said formally. He mentally counted the children and quickly coming to the conclusion that Bessie must have spent most of her time pregnant since leaving his household. He wondered what she was doing in Port Royal. "The Commodore wishes to see you immediately!"
"We were just on our way to see him, Captain," Bessie said quietly, smiling weakly at his surprise. "Jack is dead…"
Theodore took half a step forwards, reaching to embrace her before remembering his men. He knew how much she had loved her husband, what she had risked to flee Port Royal before, and he realised how she must be hurting. "Perhaps I may escort you then?" he smiled, offering her his arm. He was relieved when she took it, shifting the small child she carried to her other arm. He was surprised at how much she was shaking. His men formed up around them and he walked back towards the fort with them. "You may wish to leave the children at the gate," he suggested quietly. "There was a hanging yesterday…"
Bessie shook her head. "Thank you, Captain, but my children stay with me," she insisted. "At least it will not be their father hanging there…" But she took Tabitha's hand as Elizabeth took Frances' hand, and both women kept the bulk of their skirts between the children and the dead man as they hurriedly crossed the yard without incident.
Theodore breathed a sigh of relief. "This way," he said, leading them up the stairs and along a number of passageways until they reached the outer office of Commodore Norrington. Bessie did not recognise the clerk outside of the office, but she paused on seeing James Norrington standing in his doorway.
"Captain," he nodded, indicating that he wished Theodore to enter his office with the women and children. They did so, Bessie visibly trembling as Elizabeth herded the children through the imposing door behind her. Her future depended upon the Commodore's generosity – and she knew it.
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You all know the routine... you review and I write.
However, I will promise you one thing, IF I get enough reviews, you will know for definite whether Jack is dead or alive by Christmas!
Deal?
