A/N: I'm getting the hang of these long chapters...yay! Thank you to my reviewers, this story would be a lot more dull without you.

Had a wonderful week so far, long may it continue! I think it's going to rain again...don't you love rain when you're inside? ;)

This update is quicker than I had expected...double yay! Hope you enjoy it....


Chapter 3: Hats and corsets

Sylvia was wearing a dark purple dress now. Jack knew at once that her maids had strapped her into another corset. Sylvia caught Jack's eye and smiled as she looked away.

"Lunch is not quite ready yet," said Lord Ryecroft, "Perhaps you would like a walk up on deck."

"I would love to," said Jack in a plumy voice he had adopted especially for the occasion. He bowed elaborately. Sylvia stifled a laugh. Jack straightened up his dark eyes sparkling.

"Dear Lady Ryecroft," he said in the same false high class voice, "May I be having the pleasure of yer company?"

"Certainly Captain Sparrow," said Sylvia pleased to join in his game, "How could I refuse after such a fine invitation?" She took his arm and they walked out on deck. They did not speak again until they were right out beyond everyone else. Sylvia could feel the eyes of the crew upon her; she clung more tightly to Jack's bicep.

"Tis a grand ship lass," said Jack in his normal voice, "But it's nothing compared t' the Pearl."

"Is that right?" said Sylvia with a smile. Jack looked behind him and saw several crew members watching him keenly. He shot them an infuriating smile.

"I be sensing a bit of resentment toward me from the crew," he said, "They're lucky me pistol's back on the Pearl."

"Thank you for coming Jack," said Sylvia. She suddenly realised she was still holding onto him. She let go at once. Jack looked at her.

"I miss me hat," he said. Sylvia laughed.

"You should have brought it with you then," she said.

"I would a' done lass but I didn't think ye had any time t' waste." Sylvia didn't know what to say, she couldn't seem to find the words to thank him properly. He seemed to know.

"Besides," he continued, "Me hat's not grand enough t' be worn aboard the mighty Conqueror." He put on his high class voice again and grinned. Sylvia smiled too and then asked, "Did my father give you money?"

"Tried to," said Jack as he looked up at the Conqueror's towering main mast.

"You didn't take it?" Sylvia asked in surprise.

"No luv," said Jack, "I be wanting something else."

"What?" Sylvia asked curiously. Jack winked at her before peering over the railing of the ship to see the water below.

"Sir, that man is the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow," said George, "Is it wise to allow your daughter such close proximity to him?" Lord Ryecroft looked out at the deck. The pirate was sitting on the railing. Sylvia was laughing as he talked to her.

"That man saved my daughter's life and until I find some way to thank him I shall be in his debt. I see no reason why he would hurt Sylvia now if he did not harm her when they were alone," he said while still watching his daughter. The thought of Sylvia alone with a pirate caused a chill to run up his spine.

"But allowing him on the ship sir...surely that is questionable. It would be best if he did not learn too much sir."

"That will do George," said Lord Ryecroft more sharply than he had intended. George fell silent at once.

Sylvia was still laughing when lunch was served. Jack sat on one side of the table and Sylvia on the other. Lord Ryecroft was the head of the table. He was pleased to see his daughter so happy, she had not laughed like that for a good long while. As they ate Lord Ryecroft made various attempts at conversation with Jack.

"You must have travelled even more extensively than us Captain Sparrow," he said politely.

"Aye," said Jack, "There be no part of the world that hasn't heard of Captain Jack Sparrow." He gave a wink, that Lord Ryecroft did not see, to Sylvia. Sylvia hid her smile with her napkin.

"I see," said Lord Ryecroft a trifle awkwardly, "And...er, where do you call home Captain Sparrow?"

"Anywhere me Pearl is," was Jack's reply.

"Ah," said Lord Ryecroft, "Splendid." He did not try again for a little while. Sylvia and Jack began talking about the local wildlife.

"I saw a beautiful storm petrel sitting on her nest the other day," said Sylvia, "But I haven't really seen that many birds."

"Most of 'em don't nest around 'ere," said Jack speaking knowledgably without even knowing it, "They have the other side of the inlet all t' themselves. It be too dangerous t' moor most ships there."

"Do you know a way to get round there?" asked Sylvia eagerly. Her eyes were shining with enthusiasm.

"Aye," said Jack simply.

"Will you show me?" Jack did not answer. He was sure he would not be welcome near the Conqueror or Sylvia after this day; he would never be permitted to escort Sylvia around anywhere, especially not to an uninhabited part of the island. Sylvia realised this too and looked at her father who was pretending he hadn't been listening.

"Well?" Sylvia asked. Pretence fell away.

"Well...well," blustered Lord Ryecroft, "I'm sure Captain Sparrow is far too busy to be..."

"Captain Sparrow ain't busy at all," said Jack with a quirky smile. He wasn't going to help the old fool out. Lord Ryecroft stopped in his tracks and it was all too clear what he was thinking. Jack leaned back on his chair so that it rocked on two legs.

"Yer father thinks it inappropriate fer a pirate like me to be alone with his daughter," he said casually but there was a dangerous light in his eyes, "I might hold ye fer ransom, kidnap ye, slit yer throat but then why did I not do that last night?" There was a tense silence. Lord Ryecroft's face had reddened slightly.

"Jack risked his own life to save mine," said Sylvia hotly, "Is this how you want to reward him?" Lord Ryecroft looked at his daughter.

"You're right," he said, "You're both absolutely right. I have thought of the perfect reward for you Captain Sparrow. You are welcome aboard the Conqueror for as long as we make berth here, and you are to be afforded full trust with my daughter. I can trust you?" There was still a definite uncertainty.

"Oh aye, you can trust me," said Jack. Lord Ryecroft tried to ignore the pirate's smirk. Sylvia looked delighted. She certainly had not expected her father to say that!

After lunch Lord Ryecroft left to inform the crew of his decision leaving Jack and Sylvia alone.

"You will show me the birds, won't you?" Sylvia asked as if she was unsure whether Jack had been being serious.

"Course I will lass," said Jack as he put his feet up on the table. Sylvia shifted her chair so she could see Jack's face rather than just his boots.

"When will the Black Pearl set sail again?" she asked trying to make it sound merely conversational.

"Whenever I tell it to," replied Jack, "How long are ye stayin'?"

"Several months," said Sylvia.

"Then I reckon me crew will be havin' extended shore leave," said Jack. Sylvia looked at him and found herself looking directly into those dark eyes. They held her gaze effortlessly. Sylvia felt her heart thump harder so it seemed like it was hitting her corset and bouncing back.

"Will you stay for dinner Jack?" she asked hopefully.

"If ye want me to luv," he replied in a tone which implied he did not really mind either way.

They spent the afternoon in each other's company. Sylvia gave Jack a full tour of the Conqueror. To her surprise Jack seemed fascinated by the great collection of books. He ran one finger over their spines and looked at them with an almost awed expression on his face.

"Do you like books?" Sylvia asked. Jack looked suddenly uncomfortable.

"I wouldn't know," he said.

"Oh," said Sylvia, "Do you not have books on the Black Pearl?"

"It wouldn't be much good even if we did," said Jack his hand still gently caressing the leather of each row gently making Sylvia wish that she was a book, "None of us be much good at reading."

"Oh," said Sylvia her eyebrows rising. Jack turned around sharply looking very defensive.

"Don't ye be thinking less of us now," he said, "We ain't had the fancy education you've had. Tis' a miracle I know how t' read anythin' at all."

"I don't think less of you," said Sylvia quickly, "I was just thinking, if you want to learn, then maybe I could teach you. You know, as a sort of thank you, for everything." Jack looked at the books once more then turned back to Sylvia. He extended his hand to her like he had when they had first met.

"Do we have an accord?" he asked. Sylvia hoped this meant he was asking whether they had a deal. She slipped her hand into his and shook. She felt his rings against her fingers. He let go too soon in Sylvia's opinion.

"I know I said I would join ye fer dinner," said Jack, "But may I be excused so I can collect me effects?"

"Of course," said Sylvia who was looking forward to the sight of Jack in his hat.

Lord Ryecroft watched the pirate saunter back to his own ship and hoped he had not made a mistake. He found Sylvia who moved away from the window as he entered, she had been watching Jack leave.

"Thank you so much for being kind to Jack," she said as her father came closer.

"I owe him that much," said Lord Ryecroft, "I hear he is coming to dinner."

"Yes," said Sylvia, "After all he is free to come and go as he pleases, right?"

"Right," confirmed Lord Ryecroft heavily. He had rather hoped the pirate would have other things to do.

"I'm not blind," said Sylvia, "I see the looks on the crew's faces, the look on George's face, the look on your face but you gave Jack your word."

"Yes, I did," said Lord Ryecroft. He hesitated.

"You will be careful, won't you?"

"Yes," said Sylvia, "I promise. Jack won't hurt me."

"And," said Lord Ryecroft, "You won't let him take you aboard the Black Pearl will you?"

"No father," said Sylvia but at the same time she wondered whether Jack would even consider letting her aboard his beloved ship.

Sylvia found herself counting the minutes until Jack's return. She forced herself to look out to sea so she wasn't torturing herself by looking over at the Black Pearl and willing Jack to appear. Maybe he wouldn't come back, he was a pirate, and pirates lied all the time, didn't they? As Sylvia was thinking this Jack swaggered up the beach and past the crew of the Conqueror that were posted as guards, he gave them a cocky grin as he passed them. Sylvia did not hear him approach.

"Blimey luv, how many dresses do ye have?" he asked. She was wearing a different dress for dinner, a dark green one with a lacy bodice. Sylvia span round. In fact she turned so fast that she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She put a hand on her chest and tried to breathe. Jack looked concerned but Sylvia soon recovered.

"Do you like it?" Sylvia asked meaning her dress.

"It be a nice colour, and it's probably very expensive," said Jack studying it by looking Sylvia up and down, "But there be somethin' very, very wrong with it." Suddenly he drew out a knife. Sylvia gasped, what was going on? Jack suddenly did something with the blade, she wasn't even sure what he did but the bodice part of her dress was suddenly around her waist.

"Jack!" she gasped. But Jack wasn't finished. He used his knife and cut her corset right up the middle. Sylvia took a deep breath as the corset fell into Jack's hands. Jack threw it overboard and then resheathed his knife.

"No, it's alright," said Sylvia to the crew members who were running towards her. They stopped but only reluctantly. Jack reached around and did up Sylvia's dress. She could feel him pressed against her through the thin material that was the only thing covering her top half. She could feel his fingers gently doing up the buttons at her back and his breath delicately playing across the tops of her breasts. He straightened up.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much better," said Sylvia breathing the sea air freely again. Suddenly someone grabbed Jack and span him around which made his hat fall off. George was facing Jack his pistol pointing between Jack's eyes.

"Put your hands in the air," George said in a dangerously low voice. Slowly Jack did so not taking his eyes off the pistol.

"George!" cried Sylvia in alarm, "What are you doing?" George completely ignored her.

"I were only doing the lady a favour mate," said Jack his hands still in the air. He did not sound scared, he barely even sounded concerned. Geroge's face went a horrible yellow colour.

"Do not fool yourself into thinking you can become familiar with me pirate," he said viscously. Jack shrugged. Sylvia found she was stiff with tension. She looked round as her father's voice cut through the air.

"What's going on?" he demanded as he strode into view.

"This piece of scum was attempting to undress your daughter," said George.

"He was not!" said Sylvia loudly her cheeks becoming flushed, "He merely removed my corset because it was hurting me. I...I asked him to." George looked shocked, so did Lord Ryecroft.

"You asked him to remove your corset?" Lord Ryecroft asked weakly.

"Yes," said Sylvia. She wasn't used to lying; she hoped it did not show on her face. Jack grinned in a knowing way and George snapped. He could not stand the look of self-satisfaction on the pirate's face. He hit Jack round the face with his gun as hard as he could. Jack stumbled and fell. His head swam horribly and he was temporarily stunned by the blow.

"Jack!" cried Sylvia and she fell to her knees beside him, "Are you alright?" Jack moved his jaw with his hand, it clicked and then he said, "Mmm, ouch." He looked up to see the look of concern on Sylvia's face.

"I'm ok," he said, "But yer mate isn't." He straightened up and in one fluid movement his pistol was out and placed right against George's temple.

"Jack!" cried Sylvia her concern shifting to a new person.

"I'll be getting my revenge," said Jack coldly to George who stood looking defiantly at the pirate, "So ye better watch yer back." Jack removed the pistol from George's head and replaced it in its holster.

"George, leave," said Lord Ryecroft, "Leave right now and cool off." George swept off breathing hard. Lord Ryecroft turned his attention to the pirate who was rubbing his jaw and wincing slightly in the process. He did not know what to say so he simply stated, "It's time for dinner." As Lord Ryecroft walked off his mind in turmoil Sylvia got up.

"Are you sure you're alright Jack?" she asked. She had never seen someone get hit like that before.

"Aye," said Jack, "I've had worse luv." He did not embellish even when Sylvia looked interested. Instead he bent down and picked up his hat. He placed it on his head and grinned as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened then he offered his arm to her.

"Shall we go to dinner madame?" he asked elaborately. Sylvia nodded and took his arm. She was still reeling from what had happened. She had not had time to be disgusted at Jack's conduct, and she had never expected such a passionate response from George; having Jack around sure made things interesting.

Dinner was a tense affair. It was clear Lord Ryecroft had not liked hearing what had happened up on deck. Sylvia was sure she was going to get a lecture when Jack left. Jack had a bruise forming where the gun had hit him. Chewing was hard so he didn't eat much. He talked a little but mostly he just watched everything with those unique eyes. Sylvia kept realising anew that she wasn't wearing a corset. It made everything so much easier. When she knew Jack's eyes were upon her she felt colour rising in her cheeks. Why when he looked at her like that did she feel utterly stripped bare? It was like he could see right inside her. When dinner was over Lord Ryecroft stood up, as did Jack.

"Well, Captain Sparrow," he said, "I bid you good night." Jack knew he meant 'get out'. He put on his hat which he had removed to eat. Touched it towards the pompous gentleman at the head of the table and then turned to Sylvia.

"I'll be seeing ye tomorrow Miss Ryecroft," he said, "With or without yer corset, it doesn't bother me." Sylvia avoided looking at her father.

"Good night Captain Sparrow," she said. Jack smiled, an enigmatic half smile, and then left. Sylvia wanted to run to the window and watch him until he was out of sight but now her father was looking directly at her. Sylvia could feel the weight of his gaze pinning her to the spot.

"Sylvia," he said seriously, "I give you more freedom than many women in your position receive. I give you that freedom despite your mother's pleas, despite the advice of those closest to me but I still expect certain things of you."

"I haven't done anything wrong," said Sylvia feeling like a child again, "I couldn't breathe, Jack helped me."

"There will be no more help of that kind, is that clear? You are dealing with a pirate Sylvia. If you are sensible you will keep your distance from him." Sylvia looked at the floor; she still had not met her father's eyes. Being with Jack was freedom; she was not caged when she was with him.

"Sylvia, are you even listening to me?" Lord Ryecroft demanded.

"Why didn't you just pay him off if you wanted to get rid of him?" asked Sylvia almost shouting, "Now he has free reign thanks to you and I will not stop seeing him if that's what I want." She pushed her chair back and hurried from the room.

Jack had been waiting for her. He smiled at her as Sylvia walked towards him. The morning was bright but still quite cool; it would not remain cool for long.

"No corset," he said.

"No," said Sylvia, "I removed it myself this time."

"Shame," said Jack mischievously. Sylvia knew she should reprimand him for that but she couldn't.

"You're not wearing your hat," she observed.

"Left me hat in charge of the Pearl," said Jack with a wink. They set off, Jack knowing the way by heart. He showed Sylvia the easy way up steep climbs, he helped her whenever she needed it and whenever he touched her Sylvia felt a bolt of lightening travel straight to her heart which made it beat in an uncomfortably frenzied way. Jack showed her where the gulls nested in shallow depressions on cliff tops. They watched divers plunge into the sea and re-emerge with a wriggling fish clamped tightly in their beak. They sat and listened to tiny chicks calling hungrily for more food from their exhausted parents.

"There be a freshwater stream near here," said Jack as he helped Sylvia down a steep drop. The stream was crystal clear. Sylvia could see every polished pebble on its bed. Jack bent down next to the stream, cupped his hands and plunged them into the water. He raised his hands to his lips and drank from the pool that had formed in them.

"It be perfectly safe," he said and Sylvia joined him. The water was cold and pure; it was like tasting the early morning. Jack lay back and watched Sylvia.

"What did your father say to you last night?" he asked. Sylvia dipped her fingers in the stream and felt the water cool them.

"Did he tell ye not to see me?" Jack asked.

"No," said Sylvia avoiding Jack's eyes.

"No use lying to me lass," said Jack his suspicions confirmed.

"There's nothing he can do now anyway," said Sylvia, "He gave you his word."

"Aye," said Jack softly, "That he did." But he knew better than most that a man's word was only as good as the man who gave it.

They walked back along the beach slowly. Neither of them had spoken in a long time. Sylvia wondered whether Jack was waiting for her to speak, she had never really been alone with a man before and she found she was getting quite anxious especially as just the sight of this man was making her knees feel weak.

"Can I see you tomorrow Jack?" Sylvia asked.

"If you like luv," said Jack.

"Will you come to dinner tonight?"

"No luv," said Jack definitely, "I think it be fer the best if I leave you and yer old man alone." Sylvia tried to hide her disappointment. The things that made her happy seemed to have shifted over the last day or so. She no longer wanted to tell her father all about her day, she wanted to look across the table and see Jack looking back at her with a smile.

Over the next week Jack took Sylvia all over the island. He would spend all day with her and always refuse to come for dinner but still Sylvia asked him, just in case. On Friday night he entered the Lamb's Heart.

"Jack!" cried Gibbs, "Where ye been this past week lad? I been a-worryin' 'bout ye." Jack smiled.

"I don't believe that fer a second," he said. He disappeared to buy drinks and reappeared holding two tankards. Jack sat down and grinned for apparently no reason at all. Gibbs span around to try and glimpse what had made Jack smile like that thinking maybe some local girl had wandered in by mistake but there was nothing he could see that warranted such an expression.

"What's put ye in such a fine mood?" Gibbs asked curiously.

"Does a Captain need an excuse t' be cheerful?" Jack asked.

"Aye," said Gibbs, "There must be a reason. Maybe ye have gone and got yerself a bonnie lass." Gibbs teased still further. "Oh aye Jack, only a certain activity puts that kind a' smile on a man's face." Inexplicably Jack's face suddenly darkened.

"My business is me own," he said harshly, "Don't be giving me any reason t' get angry."

"Settle down Jack," said Gibbs, "I were only fooling." Jack's expression lightened again, but Gibbs knew he had touched upon something important to Jack, maybe a few more drinks would get it out of him. But Jack only had one drink. Gibbs only stopped trying to persuade him to have more when he passed out himself and slid onto the floor.

Sylvia stood on deck. She had learnt so much this week. She didn't remember much about the birds, or about the geography of the area but she remembered the way Jack walked along the beach, the way he wore his hat and the way he cocked his head to one side and looked at her in that quizzical way sometimes. She knew her father disliked her spending so much time with him but he couldn't say anything now. Sylvia felt certain that she was the one being rewarded rather than Jack.

"It's going to rain," said Jack the next day. Sylvia looked up at the sky but not a cloud was visible.

"Are you sure?" Sylvia asked.

"Sure as I'm a pirate luv," replied Jack.

"Well, in that case," said Sylvia, "You're coming with me." She grabbed Jack's hand and led him onto the Conqueror.

"Feisty," said Jack in an amused voice. Sylvia did not say anything in reply to this. She led Jack into her father's study.

"It's time for me to keep my promise," she said, "Sit down." Jack sat in a large brown armchair. For a moment he felt out of place but only for a moment. He removed his hat and flung it expertly onto Lord Ryecroft's desk. Sylvia grinned then removed a small step ladder from a hidden cupboard. She unfolded it and climbed up so she could read the names of the books that rested on the higher shelves. Jack watched her, his arms resting on the arm chair lazily, his legs crossed at the base. Sylvia reached up and pulled a book down from the shelf.

"Oooh," she said, "It's a bit dusty." She blew on the cover and a cloud of dust rose up.

"I need to know how much you can read," she said as she placed the book on Jack's lap. Jack looked at it apprehensively not touching it as if by doing so he would commit to something he would really rather not do. Finally he ran one finger over it. Sylvia perched lightly on the arm of the chair so she could look over at the book too.

"Ok," she said gently indicating that he should start reading. Jack looked at the cover of the book with a strained sort of expression. Sylvia waited.

"Er...," said Jack hesitantly. He looked very uncomfortable. He wanted to be anywhere but here. Sylvia was so close to him, watching him. He thought about just standing up and leaving but then she would guess anyway.

"Am I supposed to be able to read the title luv?" he asked. Sylvia leaned over him.

"It's ok," she said managing not to sound patronising, "Just take one word at a time, slowly."

George walked past Lord Ryecroft's rooms. He heard Sylvia's voice and stopped in spite of himself.

"You're really doing well," she was saying, "You just need practise."

"Really luv?" asked the unmistakeable voice of the pirate, "Or are ye just sayin' that t' keep me happy?"

"No," insisted Sylvia, "I mean it, honestly." What on earth was Sylvia teaching that scoundrel? It couldn't be manners, he would never have agreed to that. George edged closer to the door and then decided he just had to find out what was going on. Both Jack and Sylvia looked up as he entered the room. The pirate had a book open on his lap and Sylvia was sitting on the arm of the chair almost on top of him with one finger resting halfway down one of the pages.

"Hello George," she said pleasantly, "Do you have a message?"

"No," said George in an oddly tight voice. Why was Sylvia so close to the pirate?

"I was looking for your father."

"He be elsewhere," said Jack, he had not forgiven George and nor would he. George noticed the way his eyes glittered. He thought this was all a big joke, George felt his blood begin to boil.

"Run along," said Jack in a tone one would usually adopt for talking to disobedient little children. Sylvia thought George was going to explode but he simply gritted his teeth, turned on his heel and shut the door with rather more force than was necessary.

"You shouldn't provoke him so," said Sylvia. Jack shrugged.

"It's in me nature," he said with an impossibly winning smile. Sylvia found their place in the book again just as raindrops began to fall heavily outside the window.


A/N: Hope everyone's having a great day! :)

Reviews always appreciated....