"I was orphaned at the age of fourteen; after which I continued my education. I had no other choice really. My family was not a rich one. Father's insurance would only pay enough for me to finish school. Mother had a small dowry saved up for me, which helped but not by much. Luckily, Father's employers were fond of him, so they saw to it I had what I needed to live while I attended school. So upon graduation, I took the first job offered to me by the major of St. Paul who was in London visiting his cousin at the time. And upon hearing the town was in the Caribbean, and I always dreamt of travel, I was delighted. I was to be the next school teacher in the small port town. The only school teacher in town. I had no problems and neither did the children whom I grew to love dearly, but the townsfolk of St. Paul do not take to strangers easily…"
Almost one year ago…
If one were to look down the farmers market of St. Paul, one would assume that the town was very large and populated. But the truth was the Farmer's Market was on the only street in town; the rest being the houses of the local colonists. On this day a simple farmer nodded in approval to his wife and children. He liked the look of this place; and since the moment he left the neighboring village two days ago, he had hoped he would. He walked up to a tall, thin pale old woman with a mop of dirty water for hair tied into a bun. As she examined the fish, he said to her,
"Excuse me M'lady. But where can one find the major to inquire about moving to your town?" Without turning around she said briskly,
"Ye have children sir?"
"Why yes." She harrumphed and sighed,
"And you wish to send them to school, I wager?"
"Aye, M'lady."
"Well don't if you value their education!" she said. Brows knitted in confusion he said,
"I don't understand."
"We've got this young girl teaching the wee ones. And a crummy job she's doing of it if you ask me. Fills their heads with nonsense she does. Encourages them to daydream and waste precious time 'exploring'. Humph! Encouraging them to be busybodies if you ask me!"
"Well then why isn't she dismissed?" asked the farmer. This time the woman turned and glared down her beak like nose from behind her spectacles at him and then a glance to his children before saying,
"Unfortunately the children love her. And the parents around here spoil the brats so that they tolerate her foolishness. But that will change. The major has promised that upon the next complaint he hears about her, he'll think of a way to get rid of her without having the children cause trouble."
"How could little children cause trouble?"
"Like the last time the town threatened to get rid of her, of course. By running around, vandalizing, refusing to go to school and even running away into the woods! So to make sure the children don't cause any trouble, the major has to think of a way to get rid of her so the kids will think she has to go. I have no children, but If I did, I wouldn't want them to be taught by Miss Victoria Baker!" she said paying the fish merchant and stuffing the parcel in her basket and walking off. Then the school bell rang marking the start of the school day. The woman, a Miss Devon by name searched the crowd and met her eyes with a short round woman with black candlestick like hair tucked into a bonnet. They nodded and began to walk side by side down the street to the schoolhouse.
"Miss Devon!"
"Mrs. Murphy!" replied Devon as they continued.
"And that was pretty much the opinion of the whole town. The children weren't spoiled but they did know a good teacher when they saw one and they weren't going to give me up so quickly. So there I stood on the front step of the schoolhouse welcoming the children. I lived in the rooms adjacent to the house with the servant the town gave me upon my arrival, Margarite. Oh how I miss that kind old black woman! She was the only other mother I ever had! Every morning she and I would prepare the classroom, and talk about what was to be done today. She would ring the bell as I stood greeting the children…"
"Good Morning, Carol!" said Victoria with her hands clasped in front of her gray dress and a smile on her round face. As the little girl rushed by with blonde hair bouncing, she said,
"Good Morning, Miss Baker!"
"Good Morning, Ralph!"
"Good Morning Miss Baker!"
"Morning, Fred!"
"Mornin' Miss!"
"Morning, Lucy!"
"Good Morning, Miss!" As the rest of the children filed in, Victoria heard a voice say,
"AYE! Let me be, Johnson!" Victoria rolled her eyes as she saw the approaching Truant Officer Sam Johnson drag Billy Kelly, a small boy with red hair and brown freckles, by the scruff of his neck.
"Good Morning Truant Officer Johnson." greeted Victoria with a nod. The tall gray man with impressive muttonchops of white stopped and nodded,
"Miss Baker."
"Al' righ'! She 'as me now! So turn me loose!" cried Billy. Victoria smirked and put his fists on her hips.
"What's he done this time, Officer Johnson?"
"Was just dilly-dallying by the beach Miss. I had to make sure he got off to school knowing him!" said the man.
"Very well. I'll take it from here!" said Victoria as Billy was released and ran up to hide behind Victoria's skirts.
"I don't know why he still wants to play pokey seeing as to how the children take on to you so ma'am. Especially after the 'incident' last spring!" said the Officer.
"Well I'll have a word with him." said Victoria. The officer tipped his hat and walked off as Victoria took Billy inside saying,
"Well?"
"I's was just exploring Miss Baker, 'onest I was!"
"Save the exploring for after school, Understood?" asked Victoria as Billy nodded. Ruffling his hair, she sent Billy to his seat. Margarite stood looking out the window. Victoria asked,
"Is he gone, Margarite?" Pulling back the curtains, the coffee colored woman said,
"He's gone, but here come Miss Devon and Mrs. Murphy!"
"Oh bother! All right children, you know the drill!" And with that all the children stood up behind their desks and quietly and patiently waited for Victoria to make her way towards the front of the room. The oldest boy at thirteen, Tommy stood by her chair. Pulling out her chair for her like a gentlemen, she addressed Tommy by saying,
"Thank you Tommy. You may take your seat. Now class pull out your math books and recite your times tables." The class sat down and did as they were told. The two women approached the school and looked in the window.
"Well, it seems like nothing's going on!" said Murphy.
"Mark my word, there's funny business to be had!" said Devon.
"ONE TIMES ONE IS ONE, TWO TIMES TWO IS FOUR, THREE TIMES THREE IS NINE, FOUR TIMES FOUR IS SIXTEEN…" recited the children from within. Shrugging the women turned and walked away. Margarite bent down to watch them walk off.
"EIGHT BY EIGHT IS SIXTY-FOUR,"
"They're gone!" said Margarite. The children cheered
"YAY!" Victoria laughed and slumped in her chair,
"Thank goodness! If I had to go through that idiotic recitation one more time I would have screamed!" The children laughed.
"I like how you taught us multiplication, Miss Baker! With one of your songs!" said the littlest brunette with a fancy pick gown on.
"Aye! So what are we going to do today, Miss Baker?" asked Fred.
"Something with pirates I's 'ope!" said Billy. The class groaned.
"Oh Billy! You and your pirates!" tutted Victoria getting up.
"So what are we going to do, Miss Baker?" asked Carol.
"Weelll…"said Victoria pulling out her guitar and the children squealed with delight.
"We have needed to spruce up on our multiplication tables…but maybe we'll just read aloud from those edicate books." said Victoria. The children looked over to the heavy, dusty books lying in a corner in disgust.
"NO!" they cried. Then Victoria laughed and started to play. Soon the children bobbed their heads to the melody. Victoria began to sing,
"One day the Couple called One had a baby named…"
"One!" said the children.
"the Two's had a boy named…"
"Four!"
"The Three's had a…" "Nine!" "Sixteen was the baby of the couple of…"
"Four!"
"And that is how math can be fun!" sang Victoria. The children repeated,
"And that is how math can be fun!" repeated the children.
"…And that was how my life was. My students made me happy. But later that day as we laid out heads down for what I like to call "Day dream time", I fell asleep by accident and had this mysterious dream…"
Victoria opened her eyes and above her laid a face. She knew he was handsome, but he could not make him out. She only saw his eyes. Deep, mysterious, warm, brown eyes. He leaned in to kiss her…
Only Victoria awoke with a start. As she began to realize where she was, the class giggled. She smiled,
"All right you terrors, how long I've been out? You know our deal. No secrets!"
"About five minutes!" piped Tommy up. The class laughed again.
"I didn't say anything?" asked Victoria. They all shook their heads no.
"Why Miss Baker? Did you have a dream?" asked Carol.
"Well…"
"Uh-uh ah! No secrets!" said Lucy wagging her finger. Victoria sighed.
"I dreamt…I was kissing someone." said Victoria. The boys scrunched up their faces in disgust, some rolling their eyes while the girls squealed and giggled. Margarite nodded and said with an all knowing twinkle,
"Ah ha."
"How romantic!" sighed Bessie, the girl with the pink dress her chin in her hand.
"Who was it Miss Baker?" asked Lucy.
"It couldn't have been anyone in St. Paul. There are no young men to marry." said Carol. Bessie smiled and looked around the room.
"Not yet!" she said. The girls giggled and the boys protested.
"If you girls want someone to marry, marry Tommy! He's old enough!" said Fred.
"They can't 'ave 'im. E's too busy waiting for Miss Baker to notice 'im!" joked Billy leaving the class to laugh and Tommy to turn red and hiss,
"Shut up!" Victoria stood up and walked around to the front of the desk. Leaning against her desk, she said,
"That's enough Billy!"
"But really Miss Baker, who was it?" asked Lucy.
"I don't know I couldn't see his face." said Victoria in wonder.
"Can we go outside Miss Baker? Down to the beach? You promised we could!" cried Ralph. Grateful for how children change the subject so quickly in a conversation, she nodded yes and the class cheered.
Fifteen minutes later, Margarite and Victoria peeked around from the backdoor of the house looking around. Then very quietly they ushered the children down the trail leading to the beach that was no more than fifty yards away. Victoria looked around the trail constantly. The parents did not like the idea of their children leaving the school. Even when Victoria tried to gain their permission, they said no and that they should be reading their edicate books instead. Victoria hated the idea of sneaking around but the beach was the ideal place to teach the children about nature and science. And besides she preferred her method of teaching edicate anyway. By playing a game where the children pretended to be members of high society having a party was much more effective than a boring old edicate book with no imagination whatsoever. As they reached the beach, the waves crashed upon the sand to greet them.
"All right children! Now stay with in our prearranged parameters and don't go into the ocean. In twenty minutes meet Margarite and myself up here and come back with what you find and tell us what you saw. And remember…"said Victoria as they all took off their socks and shoes and tucked up their skirts appropriately.
"DON'T TOUCH ANY JELLYFISH, SHARKS, OR PIRATES!" recited the children. Soon they all went exploring the beach leaving Victoria to take a seat in the warm white sand next to Margarite. For a few minutes, all was quiet between the two, but then Margarite spoke up,
"So you dreamt of a kiss, ay?" Victoria sighed,
"Aye!"
"That good hmm?" asked Margarite slyly looking at the young woman out of the corner of her eye. Victoria laughed,
"Yes but it was only a dream. I've never kissed anyone before in my life!"
"If it not be of the past, then it be of the future then." said Margarite.
"Margarite, "warned Victoria. "Twas only a dream!"
"Dreams always mean something!" said Margarite.
"So a kiss in a dream means it's going to happen?" questioned Victoria with skepticism in her voice.
"No, not if you couldn't see who you was kissing." said Margarite.
"Well there you go!" said Victoria ready to dismiss it.
"That dream means you want it to happen!" said Margarite. Victoria flushed,
"Oh."
"Don't be embarrassed girl. You are a woman. Every woman feels the urge to be kissed and be romanced now and again. "said Margarite patting Victoria's hand. Victoria shrugged,
"I suppose I do want it to happen. Just once."
"Be careful girl. Not many women can fall in love once and be ready to never fall again if the romance fails." said Margarite.
"Yes Margarite." said Victoria as she smiled, half at Margarite and half at the children chasing a seagull. Once again they were silent for a few moments when Margarite spoke again.
"Now if you could see one feature about the person you was kissing, then that means it will happen in the future." she said not looking at Victoria. Victoria thought back to the dream man's eyes.
"And if he had beautiful brown eyes?" questioned Victoria. Margarite turned her head to her and said,
"Then I wouldn't be surprised if you had children with beautiful brown eyes." Smiling at the old black woman, Victoria stood up and called,
"All right children! Come tell me about that seagull you were chasing!" Soon the children came over and sat down by the two women and began to relate to her their adventures. Then Victoria looked at their faces and said,
"Wait a moment, where's Billy?" Bessie stood up and pointed towards the surf,
"He's over there, Miss Baker, probably being naughty!" Victoria stood and walked over to where the young boy stood looking out onto the ocean.
"Billy? Come over and … what are you looking at?" She turned her head from the boy's face that was shocked with glee and looked over the water. There on the horizon line, was sailing a large, black, square-rigged galleon with black sails billowing. She got an uneasy feeling as she took Billy by the shoulder and led him away saying,
"Children! Let's return to the classroom and finish our discussion! We'll come back another day!" As the children groaned and began to recollects their effects, she took one more look at the intimidating ship pass by.
"The Black Pearl." stated the Commodore plainly. Victoria nodded.
"If I may continue?" she asked.
"By all means, sultana!" said the Commodore amused but not offensive.
"Meanwhile, the townsfolk were plotting my 'dismissal', at that very moment…"
"Mr. Major, You must do something about that Baker girl!" said Miss Devon with her hands on her hips.
"Yes, we saw the classroom empty…again!" said Mrs. Murphy.
"You know what that means!" said Devon smirking.
"Yes ladies, it means she's taken them down to the beach again. And it means I shall keep my word and dismiss her without the children getting upset. But how?" asked the short hairy man stroking his trimmed beard.
"Oh, just fire her! So what if the children cry? You can't baby them, they must get over it!" snapped Devon.
"Excuse me Miss, but I do not wish for a repeat of 'the incident'!" said the Major.
"Too bad you just can't marry her off! Shame about being no young men in this town!" said Mrs. Murphy. Devon rolled her eyes,
"Tell me about it!" she muttered. Suddenly, one of the guards came in and exclaimed,
"Major Jacobs! A band of pirates have been caught by old Farmer Phillips!" Rushing out to follow him, the Major said,
"Excuse me Ladies!"
"HEY! We are not through here!" huffed Miss Devon chasing after him.
"Miss Devon!" shouted Mrs. Murphy chasing after her.
'How embarrassing!' thought Captain Jack Sparrow beating on the bars of the only cell in St. Paul with a spoon. 'Being caught by Norrington, well that is at least somewhat respectable, but to be caught by an old man who's musket looks older than he? Inconceivable! Incomprehensible! And downright unfortunate.' Then he heard Gibbs, his first mate with furry muttonchops mutter,
"We'll steal the old coots' wagon and creep into town, he says. Pretend to be farmers and wait till everyone's down at the pub, he says. Everyone in a small town gathers at the pub, he says. Then we'll just hold the place up he says. Did he say anything about the old coot having a gun? Nooo!" Jack then looked over to Anamaria, his boson. The black woman huffed across at him in smoldering fury. He tried to grin his famous gold-ridden grin, but only received a vicious glare instead. He quickly wiped the smirk off and gulped. He was definitely getting slapped sometime soon. Suddenly, the Captain of the local guard returned to the jail followed closely by an old elegant gentleman and two old bittys buzzing around the man until they saw the pirates and went ghostly silent. The old man stepped forward saying,
"Well, well, well! What do we have here?" Jack stood up and leaned against the bars and shrugged,
"Oh not much. Just a few tourists passing through who find the welcome and the accommodations wanting. And yourself?" The old man grinned,
"Well I find the accommodations very suitable for a fine pirate like you sir. And if you don't believe me, just wait until the Royal Guard gets here. They'll be all too happy to tell you how St. Paul's jail is so much more comfortable than the one at Fort Charles."
"Oh I've been there. And it was certainly a lot more accommodating than this. I mean you don't even have a room with a view! The one at Fort Charles at least has this little window that overlooks the bay." said Jack in all good humor. At this the Major chuckled.
"Very good! A pirate with a sense of humor!" said the Major before Miss Devon said to him,
"Mr. Major, we must continue discussing our little 'problem'. "
"Not now, Miss." said the Major as Jack frowned at this.
"Now what's your name?" asked the Major.
"Smith. Or Smithy if you like." said Jack.
"No! Your real name!" Suddenly, the Constable came in dragging a little boy with red hair by the scruff of the neck.
"Come on you! You're going to scrub my floors to pay for that glass you broke!"
"I's said I's was sorry!" said Billy.
"Not now, Constable!" said the Major as Billy eyed the pirates in the cell. His jaw dropped as he said,
"Captain Jack Sparrow!" As Anamaria and Gibbs stood up, Jack pounded his head on the bars in exasperation in one metallic whack. The Major looked curiously between the young boy and the pirate captain. Mrs. Murphy asked,
"How do you know this man, Billy?" Miss Devon huffed,
"Probably from that Baker girl!" Jack eyed her curiously as Billy glared at her and said,
"No! Teacher don't approve of reading 'bout pirates in class! Me Dad told me tales of the greatest pirate who ever lived!" At this The Major smirked at Jack who sheepishly grinned.
"Did he now? So tell me Billy, did your father tell you what Captain Sparrow looked like?" asked the Major folding his hands behind his back.
"Yes sir. Down to every last bead in 'is 'air!" said Billy. Another metallic whack came from the bars of the cell.
"Excellent! Thank you Billy! Now you…"the Major stopped at an idea. An idea that would solve all of his problems! He kneeled down before the lad and said,
"Now Billy, listen carefully! You mustn't tell a soul about this! Captain Sparrow has told us that if he isn't given his freedom in twenty-four hours, his men who are waiting in the hills will ransack the town unless we give in to his demands!" At this everyone's jaws dropped, Billy's in fear and the rest in shock and confusion. All except Jack who wondered what the old man was up to.
"Yes sir!" And at that, Billy ran out and towards the pub. As the Major stood back up Jack said,
"Ye think that was wise, Mr. Major? You know the lad will blab to the first person he sees."
"I'm counting on it Mr. Sparrow." said the Major.
"Captain, Captain Sparrow!" said Jack.
"Captain, since I detest calling the Royal Guard how would you and your shipmates like your freedom?" asked the Major.
"Why do you hate to call the Royal Guard?" asked Jack.
"Too much paperwork. Besides, St. Paul is a quite little city that does not need the inconvenience and the honor of the Royal Guard coming through." said the Major.
"Or…perhaps the reason you don't want the Royal Guard coming thru is they might find a little funny business from within the Town Hall and thus ruining your sweet little setup here." offered Jack. The Major's cheery demeanor dropped at this and satisfied Jack asked cautiously,
"What's the catch?" The Major's ever present smile returned.
"We have in our town, a young Miss Victoria Baker who is the local school teacher. We can not dismiss her so she must be…taken away." said the Major.
"And you want the pirate captain to kidnap her I suppose?" said Jack.
"Exactly!" said the Major.
"Absolutely not!" cried Miss Devon.
"Mr. Major, we may not like Miss Baker, but we don't want to see her reputation destroyed by a filthy pirate!" said Mrs. Murphy making a disgusted face at Jack who returned the look.
"But…if the Captain were to marry the girl, at least when people hear her tale they would think she would be very brave for sacrificing herself for the sake of the town!" said Devon. The Major exclaimed,
"Brilliant!"
"Ohh NO! Captain Jack Sparrow is not the marrying kind, Savvy?" cried Jack.
"You will be if you want your freedom." said the Major.
"I'd rather tie the knot with a noose than some mousy little git!" said Jack.
"Very well!" said the Major turning to leave.
"But…can't you get one of the towns' young men to marry her off to?" The Major smiled triumphantly and turned back saying,
"There are none."
"How about an old one then?" asked Jack.
"Nope." Jack smiled, raised his eyebrows and pointed a finger out of the cell.
"What if I told you I'm already married?"
"Then I'd have to remind you you've already said you're not a marrying man." Jack winced and said weakly,
"I don't suppose you'd believe I'm engaged do you?"
"You'd rather tie the knot with a noose than some mousy little git, is what I think you'd said?" said the Major. Defeated Jack knew there was no way to talk himself out of this. Especially not with the lives of his crew involved. Sighing he looked down to the floor and said,
"Fine. Tell the good people of St. Paul that unless you give me the girl by sunset tomorrow, I'll keelhaul every last one of them, Savvy?" Rubbing his hands together, the Major grinned devilishly,
"Marvelous! Get a good night sleep then Captain. After all, tomorrow is your wedding day!" And with that he walked out of the jail with the women and constable in tow. After they left, Gibbs said shaking his head,
"Jack! You? Marry a skirt? Ow! Blast ye woman!" As Gibbs rubbed his arm where Anamaria hit him, she said,
"Well, I thought I'd never live to see the day!"
"Don't have much choice then do I? Aw well might as well make the best out of a bad situation." At this he addressed the guard, who was preparing to step outside for a smoke,
"Aye mate? How about a bottle of rum for my Bachelor party, ey?" The guard just glared at him and stepped out. Undeterred, Jack stepped away from the bars and looked at Anamaria saying,
"Right then. In that case, Ana! Strip down to your skivvies and entertain us!"
SNAP!
Jack was right. He was going to get slapped today.
Captain Sparrow was also right about another thing. The whole town of St. Paul from the young to the old gathered at the Pub for the town gossips, the ale and of course Old Joe's famous stews. Joe's young son Tommy rushed about filling orders. He had to since his mother got sick. But then Young Billy Kelly ran in shouting,
"Pirates! PIRATES!" Everyone groaned.
"Not again!"
"No sir, tis true! Cap'n Jack Sparrow and 'is crew 'ave surrounded the town and they're gonna ransack us all in a day's time! The Major told me true enough!" cried Billy.
"Tis true ladies and gentlemen." said the Major in a somber voice at the doorway. Everyone grew silent as Billy said,
"E'll tell you! Won't you Mr. Major!" The Major came in and patted Billy on the shoulder.
"Captain Sparrow is holding this town hostage. He tricked my men into letting them capture him so that he could give his men (who are hiding in the hills as we speak waiting to attack) an excuse to kill us all! However, God granted us mercy. All we have to do is give the Captain one thing and he will vow never to set foot in our waters again." said the Major.
"What's that?" someone asked.
"Miss Victoria Baker." said the Major. This sent the people into chaotic murmurs. Raising a hand he said,
"He saw her down at the beach and decided he wanted her. I know it's wrong asking her to give herself up like this, but I have reached an agreement with Captain Sparrow that might ease our souls. And it might spare her future reputation and have folks think her a brave soul than a common strumpet (Begging your pardon, ladies). So tomorrow, at sunset, Miss Baker will wed the Captain." This sent the room once more into chaos. His second part of the plan completed, he looked to Old Joe's boy Tommy and said,
"Lad, go to Miss Baker, and tell her I have something to discuss with her now and that I am on my way." As Tommy ran out, a man said,
"And if Miss Baker refuses?"
"Then God help us all!" said the Major before walking out.
Victoria lit her candle sending the room into brightness. She and Margarite had just snuggled into bed when a loud pounding began upon her door. As she sat up, she saw Margarite walk into the other room to open the door. Slipping on her dressing gown, Victoria said,
"Margarite, who is it?"
"Tis Master Tommy!" cried Margarite as the boy rushed into the parlor saying,
"I have to tell Miss Baker something!" Victoria stepped into the room clutching the simple robe around her saying,
"Tommy! Slow down and tell me what's wrong!"
"I can't tell you what's wrong Miss. Only the Major can."
"The Major? What the devil could he want at this hour?" asked Victoria looking to Margarite.
"Can't say Miss. He told me to tell you he's coming in a few minutes."
"Well aren't you a basket of riddles tonight!" mused Victoria.
"Here boy! Sit down, you're trembling like a leaf afraid of his own shadow!" ordered Margarite directing the boy to the chair. Victoria sat down next to him saying,
"Brew up some tea, Margarite. The Major might be thirsty and Tommy needs something to steady his nerves."
"Yes, Miss." said Margarite going over to the cabinets. Victoria tried to coax the boy into telling her something but he only keep saying,
"The Major can tell you." Soon the Major did come. And he did tell her what was wrong. And she in reply said,
"But I CAN'T!"
"You must, my dear. For the town! For the children!" he said clutching her hands in his. Victoria looked to Margarite who was crying and mumbling her native tongue into her hand. Then she looked at the Major, his old eyes pleading with her. Finally she settled on Tommy who was shaking with the fury of a man and crying the tears of a child. She hung her head and whispered,
"For the children."
"NO! Don't you do it Miss Baker! I won't let you! You can't!" said Tommy. Victoria stood up and gathered him in her arms shushing him as he said,
"You can't…you can't…you can't leave us!"
After the Major left taking Tommy home, Victoria sat by the simple mirror she had to look at herself with. Margarite pulled out of the little closet the fancy gown given to Victoria's mother as a gift from Victoria's father. Father saved up for five years to get the simple champagne silk traveling gown for her. Now it was Victoria's. Margarite held it up saying,
"We could put blood on it. Maybe Luck will be kind and give the man a heart attack." Smirking, Victoria said,
"I believe it's the bride who gets the bad luck not the groom."
"You know this means we can't see each other again." said Margarite. Victoria looked down saying,
"No I don't suppose he'll want another woman aboard. Well, at least until he's tired of me."
"Don't say things like that girl! Just pray that God will help you find a way out of this!" said Margarite crouching at Victoria's feet.
"So much for my dream coming true!" said Victoria. Margarite squared her in the eye and said,
"Now listen girl. Your mother isn't here to give you this talk so I'm going to . Now if you were spending tomorrow night with a man you love, I'd say try to enjoy it as much as him. But since you're not, all you have to do is lie there and let him do the work. Unless of course he tells you otherwise."
"Margarite, what the blazes are you talking about?" asked Victoria in frustration. Margarite whispered in her ear.
"Oh." Victoria said when she had finished. That night only four people slept peacefully. The Major, Miss Devon, Mrs. Murphy and Captain Jack Sparrow.
The next morning, the town was somber. School was cancelled, for obvious reasons, and Margarite spent the whole morning with her hands shaking. Soon Miss Devon and Mrs. Murphy came by to offer their condolences and help her dress and pack. Miss Devon gave her a straw bonnet with little blue flowers among the white ones. Mrs. Murphy helped her fix her hair all the while trying to ease the mood by talking about her own wedding day. Margarite helped her into her corset and dress and then kissed her cheek. Victoria said nothing as they packed her books, her two dresses, her nightgown, her robe, her toiletries, and her guitar in it's case. Finally with one bag that had everything she ever owned, and a pair of new gloves from Mrs. Murphy, she stepped out of her schoolhouse giving the classroom one last longing look.
Anamaria had been given permission to fetch the crew from where they hid off shore. Soon the whole crew minus two to guard was on land to add to the effect that Captain Sparrow was serious in his threat. When she returned she found Jack decked out in all of his effects and even cleaned up a little. The Major came and escorted them out of the jail grinning like a chest-sire cat. There stood the whole town glaring at him through somber faces. Jack smiled and nodded to everyone. Then he followed the Major to the steps of town hall where the justice of the peace awaited them inside. As the sun began to set, the town soon stopped glaring in Jack's direction and stared in the other direction. Jack looked over their heads seeing that they parted for a single figure followed by three women, two holding suitcases and the one that had gotten him in this mess smugging wickedly. The girl's head was bent down so he couldn't see her face. He could see a nice figure tucked in to a simple silk traveling gown of an off-white variety under a straw bonnet with flowers adoring it. As she began to climb the steps she started raising her head. She saw a pair of tan folded over boots with knickers, a red and white sash around a slender waist, a homespun blue coat faded badly and a tan if not handsome face staring back at her under a mass of dark brown hair, beads and a tricorn hat. But his eyes struck her the most. She was too scared to stare in to those eyes. He on the other hand thought to himself,
"Well, at least she's not bad to look at! ' He smirked and stepped forward saying,
"Miss…" he looked to the Major who mouthed,
"BA-KER!"
"Baker! That's the one! A pleasure Miss! Allow me to introduce myself. Captain Jack Sparrow, at your service, luv!" he said taking her hand and kissing it giving her the best grin he could muster. She nodded and said, voice barely above a whisper,
"Captain!" He grinned dropped a little as he said,
"Well, let's get started then aye?" And for sake of the illusion, he gave her bottom a nice forceful pat and proceeded to step inside. She followed along with the rest of the wedding party. The next few minutes were a blur to Victoria.
'Well, at least my husband is young and handsome. Not old and ugly.' she thought trying to see the bright side. Shaking her from her thoughts, the Justice said,
"Have you the ring?" At this Jack looked around confused only to be greeted with a shrug from Gibbs and a shaking of the head from the Major. Sighing, he took off one of his rings, took her hand, handed it to her and muttered,
"Let's just get this over with!" At first Victoria was confused by his tone but she assumed it was due to what Margarite had said last night. As she slipped the ring on her left hand, surprised that it fit perfectly, she heard the Justice of the peace say,
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You…uh…may kiss the bride?" Jack shrugged,
"What the hell!" He took her and spun her to face him and then kissed her. Only he had intended it to last a second, but he surprised himself by liking the taste of her lips and begging for more. She didn't give him anything back of course but, still, he liked them. Then the Major cleared his throat. It was the perfect kiss to keep up the illusion, but there was no need to get carried away. Parting, Jack looked at her a moment and then recomposed himself saying,
"Right. Back to the ship." And soon they were outside again with the town following them to the docks were the Pearl had docked earlier. As the crew scrambled aboard, Victoria looked up in shock to see the black ship she had seen yesterday. It was dark and beautiful, just like her captain.
"Come now, step lively!" said Jack walking ahead of her. Victoria had grabbed her suitcase and her guitar before they left the Town hall and just as she stepped onto the wooded planks of the docks, she stopped to hear,
"MISS BAKER! MISS BAKER! DON'T GO!" She spun about quickly and gathered her students in her arms hugging and kissing each one despite their parents' protests. Jack looked over them to eye the Major who had a knowledgeable look in his somber face. Jack tightened his grip on the handle of his cutlass.
"Blimy Cur! So that's how she consented! He told her I'd hurt the children! Stupid Blighter! I'm a man who follows the Code! I've never hurt an innocent in me life!' thought Jack. He looked down at the group when he heard,
"Miss Baker, this is definitely not romantic! Even if he is good looking!" She looked at Bessie. Victoria then looked over at Jack who tried to give her an honest smile, complimented by the little girl's words. Without missing a beat, Victoria said,
"It's Mrs. Sparrow now, my darlings."
"A regrettable wedding day, I'm sure Mrs. Sparrow. Unfortunately the Major was right. If I had heard his version of the tale I would have considered you a brave soul. But since I know there is more to the story than that, well…" said the Commodore.
"The thirty minutes have been spent, Commodore." said Victoria. The Commodore smiled and said as he stood up,
"Then I look forward to tomorrow night, Mrs. Sparrow. I must admit you have me on the edge of my seat. For now, you will be held in the forts' empty barracks as a suspect for questioning. And if you require anything within reason I will see what can be done. Understood?" Victoria nodded and said,
"May I receive a visit from Mrs. Turner? I borrowed some gloves from her I wish to return."
"How do you know…?" questioned the Commodore before Victoria looked at him and said with a cocky tone,
"Not tonight Commodore." He nodded and then led her out to the empty barracks.
The next morning, Norrington related the tale back to Lt. Gillette as they inspected the harbor.
"Quite a tale so far, Commodore!" said Gillette walking alongside the man. Norrington nodded,
"It will certainly go down as one of Captain Sparrow's best!"
"And to think that eventually, the girl falls in love with him! Can't wait to hear how that worked out!" said Gillette.
"Neither can I." said Norrington. Gillette turned to look at him.
"You admire Mrs. Sparrow don't you?"
"Only as much as I admire Sparrow."
Meanwhile, Young Mrs. William Turner addressed the guard at the gate of Fort Charles,
"I'm here to see Mrs. Sparrow?" Nodding he lead the tall lean woman with honey colored hair inside the fort. Elizabeth never cared for this place. It never ceased to intimidate her. Even though years of being the governor's daughter had trained her to maintain a diplomatic face, she still felt queasy around here. Maybe it was the stuffiness of the men, or the lack of beauty in the sterile environment. Either way, the girl who had matched wits with a cursed pirate crew still disliked having to come to this place. Finally, Elizabeth was led to the forts' barracks and where two guards stood at attention outside the door. They stepped aside and opened the door for Elizabeth. Stepping inside, Elizabeth realized that the guards would not give them privacy so she merely shrugged it off and said,
"Mrs. Sparrow! Nice to see you again. I hope you are being treated well?" Victoria looked up from her spot on one of the beds and said,
"Why yes Mrs. Turner. Forgive me for not rising but I've have been unable to sleep for fear for my husband. Please come and sit with me. I only regret that we met only yesterday and here I am asking to inconvenience you." As Elizabeth sat down, she said,
"Oh no! No bother at all." Victoria laughed nervously pulling out her gloves and placing them in Elizabeth's hands saying,
"I'm being silly. I asked you here to just return the gloves you lent me. Turns out I shan't need them after all. But I could have just had one of the guards send them to you!" Elizabeth furrowed her brows.
"Gloves?" Then she noticed Victoria's eyes look towards the gloves. Elizabeth looked inside the gloves and there was a note inside! A note that could not be read by the Royal Navy! Elizabeth looked up upon realizing this and met a woman with a weak voice, trembling smile and strong cunning eyes. Elizabeth smiled warmly,
"Oh, my gloves. Well thank you Mrs. Sparrow. I regret you couldn't find use for them."
"Please call me Victoria." Elizabeth squeezed her hand.
"Only if you call me Elizabeth." Victoria smiled,
"I suppose the real reason I wanted you here was I needed a woman to talk to. And Anamaria is unavailable at the moment."
"Anamaria?"
"Yes, she's probably down hiding at the docks or a pub somewhere with Gibbs and the rest." said Victoria looking Elizabeth straight in the eye with that same cunning look. Elizabeth understood. She smiled and said,
"I must be going."
"Yes your husband will want to be with you." said Victoria. Elizabeth understood the warning and nodded.
"Take care of yourself Victoria!" said Elizabeth standing.
"You too, Elizabeth." smiled Victoria as Elizabeth leaned over to hug her. Elizabeth whispered in her ear,
"I'll get it to Gibbs and Ana, don't worry."
"Thank you…for both of us." whispered Victoria back. And with that Elizabeth left the fort and rushed towards home, leaving Victoria to look out the window where she could see the entrance to the cells.
"Just a little bit longer, my love. Just a bit longer." she murmured.
Later, the crew of the Black Pearl kept to themselves in a dark corner at the only pub at the docks, The Water Bug. They looked sorrowfully in their pints as all around them the start of a noisy party could be heard.
"Can't anyone think of something to get the Sparrows out?" asked Gibbs in despair not looking up.
"ACCKKK! I'M DISINCLINED TO THAT REQUEST!" squawked the mute pirate Mr. Cotton's parrot. Anamaria mumbled,
"Means no." They all sighed.
"Gibbs!" cried a young voice from the door. The crew looked up in surprise.
"Will Lad! Miss Elizabeth!" cried Gibbs shocked to see the handsome young couple make their way towards the table, she in a embroidered blue gown, him in a handsome brown gentleman's suit with one of his famous swords by his side.
"What are you two doing down here then?" asked Anamaria as the couple sat down. Elizabeth and Will shared a look before Elizabeth took out the note and said handing it to Gibbs,
"It's from Victoria." Gibbs looked it over. Sure enough, it was written on the back of the Sparrows' marriage license. He struggled to read it before smiling and saying,
"Aye…that'll about do it!"
"Aw Mrs. Sparrow. How good to see you again. Gillette and I just finished writing the first of the reports reciting your adventures." said Norrington as he and Gillette stood as Victoria entered the room later that night. As the guard was dismissed Gillette said,
"Lt. Andrew Gillette at your service Ma'am."
"I hope you don't mind if Gillette sits in on our little chat, Madam. But he is as entranced with your story as I am." said Norrington warmly. She shook her head and smiled,
"If you're sure there aren't any pirates roaming about that you should be catching, then I wouldn't mind if you had every officer in the Fort come and hear!"
"Please. have a seat, Mrs. Sparrow." said Norrington. And with that, all three of them sat.
"Any time you are ready Madam." said Norrington. Victoria shrugged,
"Well then, where was I?"
"You had just told the children you were Mrs. Sparrow now." offered Gillette.
"Ah yes. So I did…"