Thank you for the reviews:
Skaraclayne – Glad you like it, I'm updating as fast as I can
tinkthefairy – I love that bed/gentleman scene too and Jack's calmness in tricky situations, I'm glad you like the way I've done him – he can be hard a times but very fun to write.
Incubus2704 – who wouldn't warm up to Jack? Hehe
Nightmaregirl – the reasons all in my master plan grins but you'll just have to wait a little longer to find it out. Hehe
NothinToBelieve – glad you're enjoying it!
Next chappie – enjoy:
Chapter 3: Beth"Ye alright there luv? Ye look a little far away." Jack enquired, slightly concerned, looking across the table at her. Bethany had stopped eat mid way through her dinner. Over the last week or so Jack felt that he had got to know her quite well but he knew she was still holding back: their early talk about her mother had broken down a lot of barriers but that dislike of pirates was still there. She had lost her fear of him but still didn't have the courage to tease him back or argue her point but Jack was willing to give her all the time she needed.
"Why do you do that?" Inquired Bethany, after a moments pause. Jack looked up; Bethany had lost her fear of him this he knew but for her to ask him a direct question was something Jack didn't think she would do for a while.
"Do what?" He asked
"Call me different names. Every time we talk you use a different one." She explained
He shrugged, "I didn't realise I did but if it bothers ye that much I'll try an stop but..."
"No I didn't mean for you to stop, I just wondered why."
"Suppose it jest depends on what I'm saying… why is there one ye prefer?" Jack asked suddenly realising why she was asking.
"No I do not think so." She replied but the quiver in her voice contradicted her words.
"Really. But I think ye do – otherwise why ask about it." He said slyly but Bethany just shook her head.
"Well, if ye're not gonna tell me then I'll jest have to guess won't I? Now lets see: Bethany – naw that's too simple, Miss Paris – far to formal, although I suppose ye could like that." Bethany just pulled a face, "obviously not. How bout me lady, luv?" But he got no response from any of these; he sat there for a minute. Bethany watched him and her hope started to sink – he didn't even remember. Then he grinned.
"How bout Beth?" Bethany couldn't stop a brief smile from sliding over her face. "That's it isn't it: Beth. Now why didn't ye tell me that before, eh?"
Beth smiled, "I do not no. Maybe because it was too familiar."
"Ah, so now ye're saying ye what to be familiar with me." He said moving round the table and sliding his arm around her.
"Perhaps." She replied getting up, "But then again, maybe not."
"So what do ye want then?"
Beth looked up at him; Jack saw the fire in her eyes that had been there the first time he had looked into them.
"Adventure."
"Adventure?" Queried Jack.
Beth smiled, "I told you that my father was sending me to England but not to get me away from anything but to get me into, what he called more desirable company, especially once he found out that the man he had in his planes did not have the wealth he talked about." Beth said the last part with considerable venom but Jack just looked blankly at her, clearly not understanding what she was on about.
"He was trying to marry me off. To the man with the most money."
"What!" Exploded Jack, "Jest sell ye off?"
"That is what most wealthy fathers do." Replied Beth dryly
Jack thought for a moment, "Then why did ye wan to save him?"
Beth did not answer straight away; it had been a question which she had asked herself a thousands times. "I think because he is still my father but maybe because I so much wanted to get out of his reach that I would have done anything." She said shaking her head.
Jack looked at the mixed up girl in front of him, "Well if ye want adventure, ye're in the right place. But first of all ye need to change."
"Ere." Jack said passing one of his shirts over the top of the screen
"That feels so much better." A voice said from the other side of the screen
"What?"
"Not wearing a corset – I cannot stand those things." Jack chuckled.
Beth walked out from behind the screen and Jack who could usually cover his surprise; nearly fell over.
"What?" Asked Beth, looking down at what she was wearing unsure as what to do. She felt so free in these clothes – something that she wasn't used to.
"Nothing luv." He replied walking over to her. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked, she had looked nice before but now; his clothes seemed to mould themselves to her, she looked like she belonged in them.
"Now ye've got the clothes; ye need to learn to sail."
"Would that not be difficult to learn and take a long time?" Asked Beth, now wondering if this was such a good idea.
"Well ye had better get started then, besides I'll help ye." Jack added the last part with a huge grin on his face. With that he walked out of the cabin with Beth in tow.
Jack stood back with a grin on his face, staring down at the figure on the deck – a very sleek figure at that he thought. He had had Beth scrubbing the decks since noon but not once had she complained, he had followed her all over the deck just staring at her rear. At first this had flustered her but she seemed to have got over it. He glanced over his shoulder at the setting sun, suppose I had better let her stop now he thought, looked at her again, or maybe not.
"If ye'll excuse me, me lady." He said walking off. Beth didn't turn around, feeling sure that was what he had wanted, but even with her back to him she could tell he was grinning.
Jack walked a few steps and turned slightly not wanting to miss the look on her face and was most disappointed to see her still hard at work. Beth carried on her work, don't give in to him she kept telling herself – it was the only thing which kept her going, she was not about to let Jack win. As time went on she became more and more aware of the leering looks she was receiving from the crew; she felt that fear coming over her again.
"Come on you can do this." She said quietly to herself, taking deep breaths.
"Ere." A gruff voice said from behind her making her jump slightly and then her whole body tensed. Seeing the effect he had had on her, he walked round and stood in front of her.
"Ere." He said again holding out some food and what Beth took to be rum. She looked up at his face and recognised him from before when he had come into Jack's cabin and relaxed a little.
"Thank you." She said quietly taking the proffered food.
"I thought ye might need something, when Jack decides to play silly buggers… well ye could be ere a while." He said, Beth merely nodded in agreement and started eating the food but did not take her eyes off of him.
"I'm Bill by the way, Bill Turner." He said leaning on the railing
"Beth Paris."
"Ah." Said Bill with a smile
"What?" The word escaped before Beth could stop it, her whole body tensed again and she dropped her gaze to the deck. She felt his hand slide under her chin, lifting up her face and gently pulling her to her feet, she looked into his eyes.
"Ye've nothing to worry about from me." He said gently, he couldn't get over how she would stand up to Jack but instantly acted like a scared rabbit as soon as anyone else came near her. Beth merely nodded her head.
Bill looked at her then took a swig of the rum he had brought for Beth; on realising what he was doing he promptly offered it to her.
"Thank you." Beth said gratefully expecting it – over the past few days she had gotten to quite like the taste of rum, much to Jack's delight.
"So, Jack's already got ye working then Beth." Bill put special emphasis on 'Beth' and when Beth looked up she saw a huge grin spread across his face.
"Why are you grinning?" She asked unable to contain her curiosity
At this Bill's grin grew even wider, "Nothing, just that within a couple of days Jack's got ye working like one of the crew and is very… familiar with ye and ye do not seem to mind a bit. Considering ye were petrified of him when ye came I board, I find it quite amusing."
Beth smiled to herself and decided to play Jack's game with Bill and plastered a look of fear on her face and swallowed hard before saying, "Do you mean I should be afraid of him, I mean maybe I should go into his cabin like he wanted… I, I do not want to anger him." She spluttered out and sent worried looks towards his cabin. She almost burst out laughing at Bill's reaction to this but decided to kept the act going as long as possible – if Jack can do it so can I, she thought resolutely to herself.
"I didn't mean it like that." Bill said once he had got over the shock, and went to put his hand reassuringly on her arm but Beth went tense and half jerked her arm back. Bill couldn't get over the change in her.
"Look miss, Jack won't hurt ye and I sure as hell won't – I thought we had got over that." Bill said gently although slightly confused.
"I'm sorry." Stuttered Beth, dropping her gaze to the deck. Bill again for the second time that night put his hand under her chin and lifted her gaze up to him.
"I mean it." He said quietly
"And jest what did ye mean and jest what do ye think ye're are doing." Jack's voice boomed from behind Bill. Beth tensed and moved back a couple of paces as Bill spun round. Jack just looked straight passed Bill at Beth and saw the scared look on her face and then looked accusingly at Bill.
"You've got five seconds to explain mate." He said, his tone dead serious, his stare was enough to scare even the bravest of men, whilst cocking his pistol.
"Jack its not like it seems…" Bill started trying to reason with his captain but got no further as at this point Beth decided to stop the act and stepped in front on Bill and the pistol.
"Jack, put the gun away. Bill hasn't done anything to me expect bring me some food and drink as you decided to leave me out here without either." It was hard to tell who was more surprised Bill or Jack. Jack lowered his pistol but didn't uncock it,
"Then why luv, did you look half scared to death?" He asked his eyes still staring straight at Bill.
Beth breathed deeply, "Because, I decided to have some fun." This brought Jack's eyes back to her and if that wasn't enough she could feel Bill's eyes boring into her back.
"Fun?" Jack queried raising an eyebrow
"Yes, you seem to do it all the time." Replied Beth, deliberately not telling him what she meant.
Jack sighed, "Come on luv, jest what did ye mean by fun?"
"I meant… that you always lead people on to see their reactions so that's what I was doing and it was a little pay back for him laughing at me."
Jack broke into a huge grin and finally put his pistol away, "Well it seems like ye've learnt more than I thought."
At this point Bill cut in, "Ye mean to tell me ye were faking it." Beth turned round and smiled.
"Only from your marvellous account of how things turned out." Bill just smiled; "ye've definitely spent too much time with Jack."
"Oy!" Cried Jack
"Yes Jack."
"Get back to work."
"Come on luv." Jack said taking Beth's arm; leading her into his cabin.
Please be nice – that little button down there on the left is just waiting to be pressed – and I update faster with reviews
