CHAPTER THREE.
Confessions.
Jack still had a whole day to bear. How could he possibly tell her? Will would rip Jacks head off when he hears the news. That's it! Jack thought to himself I just won't tell her. Of course, that would be cruel and down right horrible of him. He had told Elizabeth he had something to tell her, and now she was most likely worried sick about what it was. Or, on the other side of things, she couldn't care less and would be boiling it all down to yet another drunken fantasy of Captain Jack Sparrow.
But, it wasn't just a drunken fantasy. Ever since last year, Jack had felt an undying attraction to the good lady Elizabeth. Although, he knew she was way out of his league. And besides, now she was marrying bloody stupid Will. Of course, Will wasn't in fact stupid, nor bloody for that matter. Jack just felt a sudden vindictiveness towards the former blacksmith, ever since he had heard news of their upcoming nuptials. Of course, Jack knew Will was a good man. Just like his father in fact. He was strong-willed, smart and always looking out for others. He was just so jealous of him. Jack was the hero of the whole Barbossa escapade, and then after all that, it was bloody stupid Will who gets the woman of his bloody stupid dreams. Looking back on it, in fact Will was the hero of their infamous battle between Barbossas' crew and Jacks. Will had lifted the curse, Will had saved the day, and once again, Will got the girl.
Jack shook the thoughts from his mind and recollected his things. He threw his shirt back over his bare chest and pulled his shoes over his dirty feet. He buckled his leather belt around his waist and sighed. Making sure he at least looked half respectable. Before he left the room, he splashed some cold water onto his face and sighed. This was possibly his last chance to confess his feelings to Elizabeth.
As he walked down the marble staircase he ran possible scenarios over in his mind. Scenario one: Jack confesses his love to Elizabeth. She lunges at him and they spend an evening out beneath the stars whispering slightly provocative words and phrases to each other. Jack decided scenario one was highly unlikely, so he quickly went on to forming scenario two: Jack confesses to Elizabeth. She slaps him square in the face and curses him for having such thoughts. Jack reasoned that scenario two was the more logical of the two so far. Now, onto another: Jack tells Elizabeth of his undying love for her. She feels sorry for him and promises not to tell Will. But does not, however, return his feelings. Jack thought this the most likely of them all. One of them had to be true. Perhaps with slight variations of course.
Jack walked out. It was now the middle of the day the temperature was quite hot. But not unbearable by Jacks' standards. He searched high and low for Elizabeth. But he couldn't find her. Eventually he gave up and retired to the library. He suffered a serious sense of de -ja-vu. It was only the previous night when he had walked in on Will and Elizabeth. That was what had set off the whole thing. Now, thanks to bloody stupid Will, Jack was in a right state of romantic perplexion. He sighed and pulled a book out of the shelf. It was entitled 'From Bowline to Brig: A brief history of Piracy in the Caribbean.' Jack flicked through the off-white coloured pages. He hoped to find himself mentioned in there somewhere. The pages smelt old and slightly musty. And, true enough; there was an amateurish sketch of himself staring right back at him.
Underneath the picture it said:
Jack Sparrow (pictured above) is one of the most fearsome pirates in the Caribbean. With offences to his name such as kidnapping, looting, arson and briggandage he is to be approached with extreme caution. After three days in the blasting hot sun on a remote Caribbean Island, Sparrow has gone mad with the heat. He now seeks revenge on his mutinous first mate, Captain of the Black Pearl, Captain Barbossa.
Jack laughed this off. Approach with extreme caution? All right, so Jack may have a bad reputation but that was just too far. He closed the book carefully and placed it back onto the shelf. Whilst Jack was reading, two people had since arrived in the room. He could feel their presence. Jack turned around and saw, just as he had expected, Will and Elizabeth doing something highly disagreeable. Jack rolled his eyes and swaggered over to them. He tapped Will on the shoulder with his index finger. Will dropped Elizabeth out of his arms out of sheer shock of finding someone else in the room.
"Sorry to bother you two" Jack began "But, there are other people in the room" Jack jabbed himself in the chest as he said this.
Elizabeth got up off the floor, where she had fallen and dusted off her dress. She sighed. This was not a good time to do anything like this in front of Jack. She too knew just what he had to tell her. She smiled apologetically at him and grabbed Will by the sleeve and walked out of the room into the hallway.
"Will." She began, "This is not a good time to do anything in front of Jack." She said readjusting her corset.
Will cleared his throat and sighed. "All right. I just wish he'd hurry up and tell you that's all." Will paused to think. "It's so irritating that's all, I'll leave. You go speak to him"
With that Will left and walked through the halls and towards the drawing room for some quiet contemplation.
Jack sat in the study. Sitting on an armchair with his feet up on the mahogany table. As soon as Elizabeth cam inside, he quickly took his feet off and sat as steadily as possible on the highly uncomfortable chair.
Elizabeth approached him slowly. She pulled up a chair and sat besides him. Trying to act as casually as possible, she initiated conversation.
"So, Jack. How are you?" she asked. Her voice was strong, but on the inside she was extremely nervous.
Jack smiled slightly at Elizabeth. He knew what she was up to. He continued to play along with the façade. He pushed a stray braid out of his face and began to speak. "Well enough." He said, he decided to get straight to the point. "Look, Elizabeth, there's somethin' I've been meaning to tell yer" he said.
Elizabeth didn't say anything. She let Jack finish and would say something afterwards. What she would say, she did not know.
Jack began to speak. His voice was rough at first but by the end of his sentence it was easy and sounded just like the old Jack Sparrow. "I would just like to say"
Elizabeth leaned closer to Jack so he wouldn't have to speak to loudly.
"I would just like to say..." Jack continued. "Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials." Jack cursed himself for not saying what he would have originally said, which was: "Elizabeth. Ever since that day, do yer remember? When ya taught me that song? Well, I've begun havin' certain...Feelin's towards yer." There. He would finish there and let her decipher what he had actually said underneath all that waffle.
Elizabeth smiled back at Jack. "Thank you" she said quietly. She knew that wasn't what he had planned to say, but he sounded sincere enough anyway. She was marked by Jacks sincerity. Who would have thought a pirate would be capable of such feelings?
Meanwhile, Will sat among the rosebushes. He watched the bees fly from flower to flower, collecting pollen to make into golden honey. He looked behind him and he saw Elizabeth striding over towards him. She smiled slightly but looked rather putout by what Jack had not told her. She walked over to him and sat down underneath a pink rosebush.
"Well?" Will asked placing a rough blacksmiths hand on her shoulder.
"He said..." Elizabeth began "Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials"
Will swore under his breath. He new Jack wouldn't tell her. But, he knew better than to push him into telling Elizabeth anything. Will picked a rose from above his head and handed it to Elizabeth. Their wedding was in five days time. He only hoped Jack could hold out that long.
Mr. Sparrow sat in the airy library. He had since placed his feet back on the mahogany table. Jack smacked himself in the head, and said what he had told himself only hours previous. "Come on mate! Get a grip" he sighed "You're Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"
Many hours past before he saw any hint of any life in Swann Manor. Jack hadn't seen Governor Swann since yesterday. He was probably drafting another attack on pirates, or preparing to be besieged by outlaws or something of that nature. Jack wouldn't be surprised if the remainder Barbossas' miscreants came and ravaged Port Royale like they had done exactly one year ago.
They had probably heard that Jack was here and come to seek revenge for him killing their captain. When, in fact, Jack had helped them. If it weren't for him they would still be cursed and probably more enraged than ever. But, Jack had to admit; he had made some lifelong enemies there.
Jack sighed and once again, as he had done so many times today, walked up to the east-wing and retired to his sleeping quarters. His rum supply had since dried up. He was sweating from head to toe. He pulled of his shirt and boots and lay on top of the bed without any covers. Jack smiled slightly at the thought of him and Elizabeth. But, with that, came the realisation that it was not be. And it was in fact, yet another drunken fantasy of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Authors notes: Please R & R thanks
