Chapter IX – The Pearl
Johnson and Christopher entered Rachelle's quarters quite unexpectedly a day later. She was sitting on her bed, eyes blank, hands folded in her lap, a prim, nearly white pink dress on, with darker pink accents. She also had a light pink handkerchief in her hand, wringing it slightly, absentmindedly.
Christopher cleared his throat, making Rachelle jump in surprise, turning to stare at him.
"Yes?"
"The captain has invited you up on deck to walk with you."
Her eyes lit up. Finally she was going to leave this forsaken room.
"Good. Just give me a moment, please," she said politely, standing and sweeping over to her crate of parasols. Opening the heavy medium brown lid, the lock made of iron, the same type as the edges and corners were covered with, she studied the contents. Reaching in, she searched it for a minute then emerged with a pink parasol, nearly identical to her dress.
Opening it, she rested it on her shoulder, her hand on the grip and strode to the door, nose in the air. The two troops accompanied her to the deck and led her to the helm, where the captain stood stoically, hands clasped behind his back.
"Sir, Miss Clairington is here," Johnson said, bowing along with Christopher.
The captain looked over, some life lighting in his eyes. "Very well." He turned his head and shouted over to a man walking around deck, examining things and giving commands every so often. "Williams! Take over!"
The man stood and bowed slightly. "Yes sir!"
Studying Rachelle's face, he explained, "Williams is my first mate. When I am not in charge, he is."
She nodded and remembered her manners, curtsying prettily. That made the captain smile. He offered his arm like a proper gentleman and she took it, her hand resting gently on his perfect coat.
Like the perfect marching around the ship. Shuddering at how irritating the soldiers were, she tried to block it out and give the captain all her attention.
"How is that rascal of a dog of yours?" the captain asked kindly, but still Rachelle blushed in embarrassment.
"I do apologise, sir. She is but a puppy and does not understand many things. I feel so horrible for what she did."
"I had a dog once," he told her, "and all puppies are like that."
She was relieved. "Thank you so much for understanding."
"Of course." They continued their walk in silence, not really knowing what they could talk about. The captain had heard of the young woman's anger about being cooped up all trip, so he had wanted to allow her out for at least one day. She would be safe with him so there was no need for his men to tail them. Besides that, there were soldiers all over the ship: if there was trouble, she would be fine.
And seeing as they were so near port, he doubted that there would be any trouble. If anything was going to happen, it would have happened by now.
After a while of silence, Rachelle spoke up.
"Is it not a beautiful day today?" she asked, gesturing about.
"Yes it is. A fine day."
"And when will we be reaching Port Royal?"
"It should not be too much longer, Miss."
She smiled up at him. "I am quite eager to meet my fiancé. Do you know him?"
"Yes, I do actually, Miss."
The walked on, looking out to the sea, or around the ship.
"What is he like?"
"He is a fine, upstanding gentleman. A great, powerful man. A good match for any lady of good breeding."
Thinking about her wonderful new husband, a happy smile plastered on her face, she twirled her parasol absentmindedly. It kept her relatively cool, shading her from the beating sun. Then a thought hit her and she was suddenly curious.
"Sir?"
"Yes Miss?"
"Sometimes I hear my two guards in the next room. They seem to be working very hard, but why are they sometimes so noisy?"
The captain seemed to pale slightly. "Well, Miss, soldiers can be, er, boisterous. I am quite sure they did not mean to disturb you."
"Oh." She nodded politely, letting him lead her around. "Sir?"
"Yes, Miss?"
"What are the chances of being caught by pirates?" Her voice was slightly shaky, although she was trying to make it strong. He knew she had to be at least a little scared of being out on a ship because of what happened to her friend.
"The chances now are so low that they are practically zero. Besides, no pirates can best this ship. She's one of the fastest on the seas, and well armed."
"Is that why you have two ships?" she wondered, continuing to twirl her parasol.
"One cannot be too careful," he returned, smiling down at her. "It was a necessary precaution, one we luckily did not have to use."
"Well, I am quite glad that my safety has been of utmost importance."
He tipped his hat to her. "Of course, my lady. Any pirates who would even dare come near us would be destroyed in no time. Nothing can match either of these ships." Standing tall and proud, he added, "And both of them together is too formidable for any lowly pirate to stand."
"I am relieved that any scoundrels who would try to attack are no match for you." She mopped her brow delicately, shifting her parasol slightly as she and the captain were now walking in a different direction, the sun beating down on her side, instead of her back.
"Put all your fears to rest, my lady. Soon you will be in the Caribbean with your new husband, in your mansion, safe from any threat."
Sounds wonderful, a bitter voice said in her head. And please tell me, sir, where is the adventure in that?
"I am truly glad for that," she purred, the smile she had been trained to use when she was angry coming to her face, lighting up her eyes.
He gave her a genuine smile back, and their walk went on in silence. She was sure that no matter what scoundrels decided to attack, the ships were more than capable of taking care of that sort of vileness.
Just the thought of pirates attacking made her smirk slightly, her smile turning somewhat humoured. It would prove to be exciting, saying that she had been part of a fight with pirates. There was no doubt the English would win: that's why she would have no problem with it. She would get her adventure, but she would be safe. That would have to pacify Jennifer's memory, for even she would not want her friend's life risked too much.
"Is something funny?" the captain asked in a pleasant tone.
"Oh, sir, I was only considering those fools who chose a life of evil and Hell and what would happen to them if they dared attack us!" She shifted her parasol again, to block the sunlight. The last thing she wanted was a tan.
"Well, there would be fewer wicked men on this Earth if they tried it," he conceded, patting her arm.
"There is an active attempt to rid the seas of pirates, correct?"
"Oh yes. In fact, your future husband is quite involved in it. He is a Commodore who despises pirates and works to rid their pestilence from all places."
"He sounds like an excellent man," she sang happily, a bounce in her step. "I cannot wait to meet him. I too want all pirates swept from this Earth," she explained unnecessarily. "They are nothing but a disease on our fair country and colonies. I am quite pleased with what I have heard about my fiancé. He is truly a fine match."
They made it back to the helm, Williams bowing and stepping aside when the captain stood beside him, waiting for the wheel. Rachelle looked around, then gazed out to sea dreamily. What it would be like to be a sea creature, dancing all day in the waters . . .
Her eyes picked something up on the horizon. Squinting, trying to make it out, she couldn't quite tell.
"There's something over there," she said clearly, pointing to the black dot. One of the men pulled out a telescope and looked in the direction Rachelle was pointing. He paled and silently handed the instrument to the captain. He twisted around and grasped the brass body, putting it to his eye. Looking out to sea, he paled as well then looked rather sick.
Rachelle turned and studied the captain. "Sir, are you alright? You look quite ill."
"The Black Pearl," he gulped, clutching the telescope. "She is coming up fast."
"Should we outrun her, captain?" one of the deck mates asked immediately.
The captain compressed the telescope and handed it back to his soldier, thinking, hand trembling slightly.
"She is the fastest ship in the Caribbean. But we can make an attempt." He nodded and whipped back around, hands on the wheel. "Johnson, Christopher!"
Both men were before the captain in a split second, stock straight.
"Take Miss Clairington down to her quarters, and bring three extra men to guard her."
"Yes sir!" They saluted and forced her along. She was too shocked at the sudden fear, the turn of events, to argue immediately. Three men joined their ranks and they took her down the stairs, opened her door and shoved her in. She stumbled into the middle of her room, grasping her parasol.
The five men outside the door stood ready, waiting.
On deck, the captain had given the orders to man the cannons. Everyone else was to have hands on deck, ready to man the sails. The other ship, trailing not too far behind, noticed the panic and brought out their own telescope, looking in the direction their sister ship had moments earlier.
They too, followed the same procedure when they saw what was trailing them. And that what brought along two very dangerous whos.
Hoping like hell that the distance between them was enough for them to get away, for the Black Pearl to not be able to catch up, both vessels raced to the Caribbean.
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Hey hey! Mika and I were talking a week or so ago, but we haven't written anything. However, we did proofread and such. Ah well. Anyhoo, here's the new chappie, I hope you enjoyed. And yes, I do realise that Rachelle can be annoying. Please remember she's a rich snob and she will be irritating at times. That's kinda the fun of her character. But meh, if you don't like her, to each his own eh? I just thought her little pistol episode was amusing, but meh. And trust me, the story will all make sense in the end. The fun, if you couldn't tell for yourself :P is just about to start :D
Please review! Cookies to those who review! *Bakes a fresh batch of cookies in her attempt to bribe*
Sukkumbus (and the absent Mika – damn university! Lol)