A/N: Hey guys! Chapter five is comin' alive! ...Sorry.
Anywho, in this chapter the Evers family and our favorite pirate crew finally arrive at Gracey Manor and meet our 'Ghost Host', Mr. Edward Gracey.
And quick reader poll: Juliana reviewed my 'Southern Belle and the Pirate' story, and it brough to mind this question. Does Jack have the authority to marry as a sea captain or is the whole sea captain can marry people a myth like I've heard?
Keep the reviews comin'
peace, love and lipgloss,
Mlle.Fox
"It's just a little detour!" said Jim as they drove along the highway.
"How long is it gonna take?" asked Megan.
"No more than twenty minutes tops! You kids should be excited you finally get to see mommy and daddy in real estate action!" said Jim as the kids rolled their eyes. Then Jim's cell phone went off.
"Someone's calling my cell phone, hello Jim Evers Evers and Evers real estate!" he answered on his headset.
"Stan, how you doin? What's the latest? Really? The Selma property? Tomorrow? Whoa I'm kinda out of town right now but hey, maybe I could come back early?" he said looking hopefully at Sara who glared dangerously at him.
"Oh no, I can't come back early! I can't come back early! Maybe we should just take care of this on Monday. Monday? Monday sounds fine. Ok; I'll talk to you on Monday. We're gonna talk on Monday. "said Jim hanging up.
&&&
Meanwhile, Jack woke to find himself on a sandy beach barefoot when he heard someone singing. He looked ahead and saw coming out of the water dressed in nothing but old sails and seaweed, Stacey. And Jack knew by her voice she was a siren. She sat on his lap and kissed him passionately. Jack wove his fingers through her hair and turned her over on her back. He heard her calling his name.
"Jack!" yelled Will snapping him awake. As Jack realized he was in a jeep on the highway with the Turners and Stacey at the wheel and not on a beach making love to Stacey, Will asked him,
"Bad dream?"
"Why do you say that mate?" asked Jack.
"Because you were groaning as if you were in pain." answered Elizabeth as Jack realized what had happened and he crossed his legs and chuckled nervously,
"Yeah, but it's over now so let's move on in our conversation shall we?"
"Jack, are you blushing?" asked Will.
"Don't be ridiculous Mr. Turner!" said Jack trying to look out the window. Stacey looked over at him and said,
"You are too blushin'! You're as red as a tomata!" Elizabeth grinned,
"The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow blushing like a school girl! How intriguing!" Jack turned to her in the back and gritted angrily through his teeth,
"I should have shot you on the beach when I had the chance!"
"Jack there's nothing wrong with someone blushing…" Will started to tell him as Stacey began to signal to turn in a gas station. Jack turned his anger to Will and said,
"And I should have shot you back at the Smithy when I had the chance!" Without missing a beat, Will asked him dryly,
"You only had one shot. How would you have shot Elizabeth?" Jack searched for an answer, but stopped when the jeep slammed on its brakes. The cause was a gold luxury car with a family of four in it. The dad that was driving, a black man in an expensive gray suit yelled out his window,
"Hey, why don't you look where you were going!"
"Jim!" scolded his wife. Jim sighed and yelled to Stacey,
"Sorry!"
"Me too!" said Stacey with a sigh. The gold car moved on, and Stacey pulled the jeep into the gas station. A few minutes later, they were ready to pay for gas and snacks. Elizabeth tried to catch the attention of an old man trying to listen to a waltz on his radio when Stacey told her,
"Forget it Elizabeth. Ol' Harry ain't a use to anyone when he's listening to his music. Best to wait when the song stops." Will smiled at his wife mischievously and took her in his arms and said,
"In that case…" The Turners began to waltz around clumsily to which Jack laughed,
"Can't you do anything right Turner? Here, watch and learn!" Jack took Stacey in his arms and began to waltz her around the gas station like an old pro. Elizabeth laughed,
"Alright, that's it Jack Sparrow! Where did you learn to waltz like a gentleman?" Waltzing Stacey out the door, Jack answered,
"That's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow to ye, Missus!" The Turners shook their heads when the music stopped and Harry stood at the counter and said,
"Gas and food will come to thirty seventeen young fella!" As Will paid the man, Harry asked with a smile,
"Newlyweds?" Elizabeth rubbed Will's arm and smiled,
"Yes, we were married four days ago!"
"Oh, I was talkin' bout the other couple!" shrugged Harry as Will and Elizabeth exchanged knowing looks.
A half hour later, Stacey stopped the jeep at the end of a long dirt road at in an old swamp at an iron gate. And beyond the gate, the overgrowth of weeds and grass, and the murky swamp water that seeped up from the ground, laid Gracey Manor. It was gray, and dirty, its shutters falling off its hinges and vines wrapping themselves up her massive columns. Iron balconies wrapped around one side of the house, with a huge glass conservatory on the other side, it's windows the same murky green as the swamp water. It almost seemed to be growling at them.
"That's it?" asked Elizabeth.
"That's it!" said Stacey nervously.
"Well, let's get in there!" said Will with determination.
"You know, are ya'll sure you don't want to stay in the twenty-first century, I mean we have a lot going for us here. Democracy, free trade, civil rights, indoor plumbin'? Will, I know how much you like that indoor plumbin'!" said Stacey trying to talk them out of it.
"Stacey, I know you're scared, and I know you have nothing but bad memories of this place. But maybe the reason you were meant to help us was so you can face your fears. I promise, you will be safe." said Jack reassuringly looking deep in her eyes. Stacey took a deep breath and said,
"Okay!"
"Okay, let's get that mirror!" said Jack enthusiastically.
"Right!" said Elizabeth sitting back. When nothing happened, Jack said dryly to Stacey,
"I believe this is the part where you drive us through the gate, Luv!" Stacey whimpered once more before putting the jeep in drive and slowly going through. The iron gates slammed shut behind them and Elizabeth gasped looking back as Stacey whimpered again. Will leaned forward and asked Jack,
"Should we bring our swords?" Looking ahead, Jack said,
"Normally, I'd say yes, but given our current circumstances, that is highly unwise!" Will looked ahead to see what he was talking about, and saw the gold car from earlier with the family of four standing outside it looking up at the house. When the jeep stopped, Jack and the Turners got out while Stacey stayed in the jeep frozen to the wheel.
"Hi there!" said Jim turning to them. Jack stopped and looked curiously at Jim and said,
"You seem somewhat familiar, have I threatened you before?"
"Yeah, wait a second! You're the guy from the bar the other night! Honey, remember the table that was having a blast? He was one of them! Hey man, Jim Evers, nice to meet you." said Jim reaching forward to shake Jack's hand.
"Jack Sparrow at your service sir! And may I introduce my esteemed colleague, Master William Turner the Second and his lovely wife Elizabeth!" said Jack shaking his hand and then pointing towards his friends.
"Hi, Jim Evers of Evers and Evers Real Estate. Say, you're a good looking couple. Do you own your own home?" asked Jim stepping forward to shake Will's hand.
"Actually, we just got married four days ago!" said Elizabeth.
"Oh Newlyweds! Mazeltov!" said Jim.
"Yes, congratulations!" said Sara warmly.
"Thank you." said Elizabeth.
"Well, after the honeymoon, you're going to need a home to invest in. If you ever need our services, feel free to call, day or night!" said Jim giving Will his business card.
"Thank you, but I think we live a little far out of your way." said Will politely.
"Oh, what are a couple miles between friends?" chuckled Jim.
"We live in Jamaica." Elizabeth told him watching his face drop and then smile to his wife saying,
"Yeah, that's a little out of our district. But anyway, this is my wife and business partner, Sara. And our two kids Megan and Michael."
"Nice to meet all of you." said Sara warmly.
"Hi!" chorused the kids.
"And last but not least, this is…" started Jack before realizing Stacey was still in the jeep. He sighed and held up his pointer fingers to the waiting family, and then he stomped over to the driver's side of the jeep and opened the door without a word. Meekly, Stacey picked Murray up and got out, only to be forced forward by the shoulders with Jack saying,
"And this shy beauty is none other than Miss Stacey St. Claire of Kentucky."
"Hey ya'll." said Stacey quietly waving Murray's paw to say hi. Megan and Michael stepped forward with Megan saying,
"Aww, what a cute puppy!"
"What's his name?" asked Michael. Smiling, Stacey said,
"Murray!" Jim beckoned his children back saying,
"Hey, now, hey! Don't pet the puppy! Don't pet the puppy dog! You know your daddy's al…all…ACHOO! Allergic to pet dander!"
"Sorry Dad!" sighed Megan.
"Can you leave him in the jeep or something please?" asked Jim rubbing his watery eyes.
"I ain't leavin' Murray in the jeep! He'll…" started Stacey about to mention ghosts. Jack stopped her by wrapping his arm around her shoulder and saying,
"…Piddle over everything! Can't do a thing with him really. But he's really good at fetch, so we keep him around."
"Ok, I understand. So Mister Sparrow, why are you and your friends here?" asked Jim.
"We're lost trying to find a friends house." sighed Jack.
"Yes. We need to use the "telephone" in there to get directions!" added Elizabeth with a smile. Jim pulled out his cell phone and said,
"Well, here use mine…oh wait. No signal." Megan looked at her phone in despair and whined,
"Ah, man! Mine too!" Sara checked her phone and said,
"I guess we all need to use the house telephone."
"I just hope it's still working mate, 'cause by the looks of things, this place needs some long overdue attention." said Jack looking up at the house. Jim looked up at the place and said,
"Yeah, I was just saying Bob Villa would have a field day here!"
"I'm sure the phone still works. The butler called us only last night." Sara said.
"Did he mention any…ow!" said Stacey rubbing her pinched bottom and glaring at Jack.
"Come on! Let's see what's in the back!" said Sara leading rest around the back.
"I'm getting hungry!" said Michael.
"Me too!" said Megan.
"Don't worry, we'll be twenty minutes tops!" said Jim. Stacey held Jack back and asked him,
"Jack, why wouldn't you let me tell them about the ghosts?"
"Why tell them about ghosts that may or may not exist, Luv?" sighed Jack.
"What?" asked Stacey.
"Look, Mrs. Evers just said the butler called her. Last time I checked, ghosts didn't tolerate the living much. Besides, who's to say that the ghost you saw as a child wasn't just a figment of that overactive imagination or yours?" said Jack. Stacey stood shocked a moment before walking away and saying,
"Why you two-faced little worm! I thought you believed me! Well, you can just kiss my grits, Jack Sparrow!" (a/n: don't own the phrase 'kiss my grits'. a old show called 'Alice' does.)
"Stacey! Stacey, wait!" said Jack going around the house to catch her. He heard Michael ask his father,
"Hey Dad, when we get to the lake, can I go to that pizza shop where I ate that whole pizza pie and when we got back to the cabin I threw up and you could still see the pepperoni chunks in it? Can we go there?"
"We can go there if we can avoid a repeal performance!" said Jim as Sara, Megan and Elizabeth stopped to look in the conservatory. Then Will stepped towards the railing and said,
"Whoa, now that's something you don't see everyday!" Stacey whimpered and Jack stopped at the sight of a massive graveyard stretching out as far as the eye can see.
"That's interesting!" said Jack. Jim looked back to his wife and said catching her attention,
"Uh, honey, there's dead people in the backyard!" Megan came forward and exclaimed,
"OMG! Dead people?"
"Well, some people have pools, some have private cemeteries, it happens!" reasoned Sara stepping forward.
"You're going to sell a house…with this?" asked Elizabeth skeptically. Jim told her,
"You mean this historic sprawling manor with spacious grounds, yes." Sara smiled at him,
"Hey that's good! We'll put that on the listing!"
"And leave out all the dead people?" asked Will.
"Well just stick to the bright side!" said Jim.
"Always works for me!" said Jack. Then a sudden crash of thunder sounded, followed by a heavy rain sending them all running towards the front door.
"Oh no I got my good suit on!" said Jim pulling his jacket tighter around himself.
"OH!" cried Elizabeth as Will gave her his jacket to cover her head. Jack gave Stacey his jacket as well, to which she replied,
"Just 'cuz I'm hiding under your coat don't mean I still ain't mad at you!"
"You think it's gonna stop?" Megan asked her mother.
"Oh, I hope it's not raining at the lake!" said Sara looking out at the storm.
"OK. Wow. You kids know when you're at work with Mommy and Daddy you're on your best behavior right? Ok, whoo! Look at the size of these knockers! Ever seen anything like that before?" asked Jim.
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore!" commented Jack to which Jim looked at him questionly before knocking on the door,
"Hello! Evers and Evers Real Estate? Evers and Evers Real Estate! Hello is anybody here? Hello? Were the Evers from Evers and Evers real estate? HI!" Suddenly, the massive front doors creaked open slowly, inviting them to a dark front hall.
"That's very interesting!" said Jack. They all stepped forward into the house, amazed at the dirty but grand double staircase, marble floors and oak paneling.
"Have you ever seen anything like this?" asked Sara in awe.
"Never. Sara this puts us in a whole new league!" said Jim looked at the painted ceiling. He did a double take when he thought he saw something in the painting move, but he quickly dismissed it.
"Smells like grandma's house!" said Megan.
"Worst, smells like grandma!" said Michael.
"Worser still, it smells like my grandma!" laughed Elizabeth.
"Is that bad?" asked Megan. Will took back his coat and said to the young girl,
"You've never met her grandma!"
"Mom! This place has spiders!" said Michael looking up into the rafters and going near his mother in freight.
"This place is just a little dusty. We'll get a cleaning crew to come out here and shine it up. This place will be sparkling from top to bottom!" said Jim.
"Well, they'll have to worry about more than spiders I can tell ya that! OW!" said Stacey rubbed her once again pinched bottom and then throwing Jack's coat back at him. Suddenly, they heard footfall and they looked down a hall under the stairs and lightning flashed illuminating a tall old gentleman with a pale gray complexion and stark white hair contrasting greatly to his dark suit. He stopped before them and said in a dry precise voice,
"Sara Evers?"
'Yes I'm Sara." she said uneasily.
"My name is Ramsley." he said. Jim took it upon himself to step forward and extended his hand,
"Hi Ramsley. I'm Jim Evers from Evers and Evers Real Estate at your service! And these are our kids, Megan and Michael. And over there are the Turners, Stacey St. Claire and Jack Sparrow." He grinned but it fell as Ramsley scanned the group and said,
"We weren't expecting...others."
"Yes we were on our way out of town." explained Sara.
"And we just need use of the phone mate. We're lost and we need to call those who are expecting our presence!" said Jack.
"Yes and then when we realized the enormity and complexity of your unique estate we wanted to commit the full resources of Evers and Evers Real Estate. At Evers and Evers, we want you to be happy forEvers and Evers...Please take this waterproof calendar as a token of our appreciation!" said Jim handing him the calendar. Ramsley took it in his white gloved hand and said evenly,
'Very well, we shall have to place other settings." He turned and began to lead them down the hall with Jack asking,
"Who do you have settings for?"
"Master Gracey wishes to discuss his affairs over dinner." said Ramsley as they all followed him.
"Oh no, we can't stay for dinner!" protested Sara.
"Oh yes, but we mustn't be rude darling." said Jim.
"Uh, Ramsley? We just need to use your phone, so how about just telling us where it is, 'cause we don't want to put ya..." started Stacey.
"I'm afraid Miss, that our telephone...is dead."
"Dead?" said Stacey an octave higher.
"Always goes out during a storm!" explained Ramsley as Will and Jack exchanged looks.
"What aboutour family adventure?" whisperedMichael to Jim.
"Yeah Dad?" said Megan.
"We'll just have some soup and then we'll get going okay? Alright?" said Jim recieving a drylook of agrivation from Sara. Will was escorting Elizabeth by the arm and admiring the suits of armor in the hall and observed,
"These pieces are of excellent craftsmanship!"
"Yes, the Master's father was quite the collector. Master Gracey inherited his good taste." said Ramsley. Elizabeth took a sharp breath when she thought she saw a helmet of a suit of armor swing back to face forward. Ramsley opened the doors to a grand ballroom, which had a long dinner table set for nine prepared before a roaring and welcoming fire. Looking at the food placed on the table, Jim nodded,
"Nice! Very Nice! Good Job. Hey Megan how'd you like to eat like this everyday at home?"
"If I ate like this everyday, I wouldn't be able to move!" said Stacey placing Murray on the floor.
"And we certainly wouldn't want that!" said Jack.
"I'm still mad at you!" said Stacey moving away from him.
"The master will be with you shortly." said Ramsley off to the side.
"Carry on!" said Jim as Ramsley bowed and left. Jim grinned to Sara and said, "I say carry on and he walks off!" Sara shook her head and then moved over to the fireplace and said,
"Have you ever seen a fireplace this amazing?"
"Incredible!" said Will moving to join her.
"Ah, we could have a heck of a weenie roast in this thing huh?" said Jim coming over.
"Or one could roast their weenie off!" joked Jack sending Jim into laughter.
"Seriously, look at this detail! I've never seen anything like this!" said Sara.
'Haven't you?" They all turned to see a youthful, handsome middle aged white man with black hair and sideburns and an old fashioned suit. He continued,
"My grandfather spared no expense when he built this mansion!"
"Well, your grandfather had really good taste in tchotchokes! I'm Jim Evers of Evers and Evers Real Estate! Charmed to make your acquaintance sir!" said Jim stepping forward and extending his hand. The man bowed his head and said,
"Edward. Edward Gracey!" Convinced that no one in this house would shake his hand, Jim beckoned his wife forward,
"Uh, this is my wife Sara! You want to come meet Mr. Gracey?"
"Very nice to meet you Mr. Gracey! And this is our daughter Megan and our son Michael." said Sara warmly waving the kids over.
"You have very beautiful children Mrs. Evers!" said Gracey with an unusual amount of warmth making Will furrow his brow.
"I kicked in some chromosomes too!" chuckled Jim. Jack stepped forward and said,
"Mr. Gracey, it's a pleasure to be introduced to such a gracious and welcoming host who would set a place at his table for total strangers. I am Jack Sparrow and these are my friends, Miss Stacey St. Claire, and Mr. and Mrs. William and Elizabeth Turner..." Murray barked, "...And Murray!" As the children giggled, Gracey said with a hint of sadness,
"Elizabeth...That's a lovely name Mrs. Turner...I knew an Elizabeth once." Curious, but polite, Elizabeth said,
"Thank you, Mr. Gracey." Ramsley came in the room and broke the tension announcing,
"Children! Miss! Madam's!"
"Oh nice! Ok." said Jim as they all gathered to sit down.
"Thank you." said Sara as Ramsley helped her in her seat and then moving on to Megan, Elizabeth and Stacey.
"The master was very pleased when you could come on such short notice. Normally we would not have called you hear so abruptly but lately we had no other choice!" he said pushing Stacey in her chair.
"What do you got termites or something? Big house like this must have lots of termites!" said Jim as he took his seat.
"No, but lately there have been more...disturbances." said Ramsley moving to get the wine.
"What do you think of the house Ms. Evers?" asked Mr. Gracey from the head of the table. Sara laughed from her end and said,
"Oh! I think it's absolutely incredible! The Italian influence. The Renaissance style of the molding, the attention to detail is stunning! You never see houses like this or at least I don't!"
"Great care and love went into the building of this mansion!" said Gracey staring at her with desire that made her uncomfortable. Coming to her rescue, Will said,
"I imagine so, Mr. Gracey. I would be interested to know who the craftsmen that created this house were!"
"Unfortunately Mr. Turner, that information has been lost over the years. I probably should have taken greater care to keep track of that if I now plan to sell the place." said Gracey looking up in the rafters.
"Ah, don't worry about it. We'll find some top professional architects who'll come in and tell us who did all this!" assured Jim. As Ramsley poured the wine into Jack's glass, Jack added holding up a hand to stop Ramsley,
"Providing of course they are familiar with French designers!" Everyone watched as Jack swirled the wine around, sniffed it, sipped it and then rolled it on his tongue. He asked Gracey,
"This isn't a Cabernet Sauvignon, is it?" Gracey smiled,
"You know your wines Mr. Sparrow. Tell me, you wouldn't happen to be related to a Captain Jack Sparrow from the seventeenth century Caribbean, would you?" Will and Elizabeth froze wide eyed and Stacey downed her wine like a shot glass while Jack shook his head and shrugged,
"No, I don't think so."
"Who was he?" asked Michael. Gracey said to the boy,
"Well, he was a pirate! And he was so clever, so cunning, he sacked Nassau Port without firing a single shot, commandeered a ship of the British fleet with but one other man, and he escaped from under the noses of ten agents of the East Indian Trading Company!"
"Wow!" said Jim impressed.
"Cool!" exclaimed Michael.
"Only seven!" said Jack smiling at the memories.
"What was that?" asked Gracey. Stacey dug her spiked heel in Jack's foot to which he winced in pain and she laughed,
"Yes, Jack Sugar! Just seven days till the weddin'! I can't wait either!"
"You're getting married?" asked Megan.
"Yeah, Jack and I don't like to make a big fuss about it!" said Stacey as Jack played along and kissed the back of her hand.
"Well...congratulations!" laughed Sara.
"This calls for a toast!" said Gracey raising his glass as the others followed suit. He continued,
"To love, may those who have yet to find it, do..." Jack and Stacey locked looks, and Megan smiled with Jim telling her,
"Don't even think about it!"
"...Those who have it, hold on to it," Will and Elizabeth smiled at each other as did Jim and Sara,
"...And those who lost it..."he captured Sara's gaze, "Find it again."
"Cheers!" said Elizabeth as they all took a drink.
&&&
"This house is my inheritance...my birthright! But lately its become too much to bear. Tell me Mr. Evers, do you believe in ...ghosts?" asked Gracey as the kids finished their ice cream. Stacey whimpered and Will looked to Jack again.
"Ghosts? Yeah, I believe in ghosts. I don't think it's a good idea to put that on the listing. You should talk about how many bathrooms its got! People love bathrooms! I think you should play up the whole toilet angle and leave out the ghost for now. I think that'd be great!" said Jim chuckling.
"The storm has swollen the river!" said Ramsley by the window.
"How's that?" asked Jim.
"The storm has flooded the road! I'm afraid that there'll be no leaving the mansion tonight!" said Ramsley going by his master's side.
"What?" exclaimed Megan as Stacey whimpered again.
"Of course you are all more than welcome to spend the night...here." said Gracey as Jack noted a plan in his eyes.
"Oh no, I don't think we should we've got plans." said Sara looking to Jim who shook his head.
"And our friends must be worried about us by now." said Will beginning to think leaving may be wise.
"I'm afraid there's no other way! Ramsley will show you to your rooms." said Gracey with finality in his voice, standing and leaving the room. A few minutes later, Ramsley was leading the group upstairs with a candelabrum in his hand when Stacey whispered to Elizabeth,
"I don't like this one little ol' bit! Somethin' screwy going on here!"
"Stacey, relax. We haven't seen one ghost so far. Maybe the one you saw only haunts the grounds outside!" suggested Elizabeth.
"At least you still believe I saw what I saw!" mumbled Stacey.
"Who doesn't?" asked Elizabeth.
"The good Captain, of course! He pretty much said the ghost was a figment of my imagination! Lord, that man is infuriatin'!" sighed Stacey.
"I know. But Jack is a good man. Just remember that and you'll find yourself unable to stay angry with him." said Elizabeth. Stacey was interrupted with her next comment with Jack coming behind them and whispering,
"After everyone's settled for the night, search the second floor. Will and I shall search the first. And please ladies, do us a favor and stay together!"
"Aye aye, Cap'n!" mock saluted Stacey. Ramsley opened the door and said,
"Mr. Turner, Mr. Sparrow, I hope this is to your liking." Jack entered and said,
"It's fine mate. Just a shame the matters of propriety won't allow me and my bonnie lass to bunk together!" Stacey stepped past Ramsley and purred,
"Aww, don't worry darlin'. Just seven more days till I can have ya all to myself!" And to Jack's surprise, she pulled him forward by his collar and pecked his lips before skipping out saying,
"Nighty-night! Don't let the bed bugs bite...hard!" Of course only Elizabeth caught this last part and she snickered to herself as Ramsleyled them down the hall. Will closed the door behind him and stood next to Jack who was still stunned for his lips were puckered. Will said,
"Whatever you did wrong to Stacey, I think she just got back at you!" Stacey was feeling very confident about herself when she felt someone tug on her denim jacket. She looked down and saw Michael looking up at her. He asked,
"Can Murray sleep in our room?"
"Yeah! Can he?" added his sister.
"Well, that all depends on your parents..." said Stacey looking up at Jim and Sara.
"Hey as long as you keep the mutt away from me, I don't care!" said Jim.
"He ain't a mutt!...He's a cross breed!" smiled Stacey handing Murray to a very excited Micheal. Murray was just happy he had someone else to rub his tummy.
"I believe the children will be comfortable in this room!" said Ramsley leading the Evers children into their room.
"Yeah, real homey!" said Megan.
"You'll be fine!" assured Sara. Jim looked in their room and said,
"Wow, hey listen, when you flush the toilet see how quickly it refills!"
"Goodnight Dad!" sighed Megan dryly shutting the door before her father let out one big sneeze.
&&&
"I don't care for this situation Jack. The way Gracey looked at Mrs. Evers at dinner, how Gracey knew of you and your adventures, and what did Ramsley mean by disturbances?" asked Will as he looked out the window at the graveyard below. Searching through the desk, Jack said,
"It means we should be on our guard." said Jack.
"I'm only happy you tucked your pistol inside your coat. At least we have that to defend ourselves with. Althought I wish we could give something to Elizabeth and Stacey. Maybe I should go with Elizabeth and you should go with Stacey." suggested Will turning back to the room.
"I don't believe the fair Miss Stacey wants anything to do with me right now!" said Jack crossing the room.
"Why's that?" asked Will. Jack sighed,
"I told her the ghost she saw might have been in her mind. Now, she's mad at me and I don't have a clue as to get back in her favor."
"Face it Jack. You have feelings for Stacey." said Will as he searched through the closet for the mirror.
"I do ruddy not!" said Jack dumping out the drawers of the vanity.
"You're blushing again Jack." said Will.
"And what leads you to the conclusion Mr. Turner, that I have feelings for Miss St.Claire, hmm?"
"The way you talk to her! You two talk as if you known each other for ages." said Will.
"Impossible. We've only known each other four days!" said Jack. Ignoring him, Will said coming back into the room,
"The way you linger when you touch her, then."
"Habit!" said Jack going to look under the bed. Will went to the other side to look at Jack under there,
"The way you look at her! Jack I know that look. That is the look of a man in love!" Jack stood up straight and sighed,
"Will..."
"And what's especially telling is the dumbfounded look on your face when she kissed you. She meant it to torture you. If she didn't detect your attraction to her, she wouldn't have used that to get back at you." continued Will.
"Will...I can't...talk about this now. We must find the mirror!" said Jack.
"I always wondered what could scare Captain Jack Sparrow. And now I know." said Will as Jack gave him a look.
"Come on. Let's go downstairs and find that blasted mirror." Jack said going to the door. But he nearly jumped out of his skin he saw Ramsley standing there.
"Whoa!" said Jack grabbing his heart.
"Begging the Sir's gentle pardon, but Master Gracey wishes to invite you and Mr. Turner to cigars and drinks in the library as he and Mr. Evers discuss business." said Ramsley.
"Thank you Ramsley." said Will as Jack tried to compose himself. Ramsley nodded and Jack whispered to Will as they stepped out in the hall,
"And while they discuss business, we'll get back to the business of finding the mirror!"
"And your feelings for Stacey." said Will.
"I don't have ruddy feelings for Stacey!" hissed Jack.
"You're blushing again, Jack!" said Will as they follow Ramsley and Jim down the hall. As they came down the grand staircase, Will looked to the clock in the paneling of the staircase and did a double take when he saw the clock read thirteen hours and the hands spinning madly.
"Jack!" he said catching his attention.
"Yes William?" said Jack seeing nothing.
"Nevermind." said Will continuing on. Ahead of them, Jim said to Ramsley,
"Hey Ramsley, I was just wondering have you ever been to a tanning salon cause I've got a friend in the city who's got a really great place, you get a really smooth tan, do something about that ashy white look. Some bronzing, I'm sure the ladies will love it. Look at Mr. Sparrow! He's practically a neon sign he's glowing, and wouldn't you like to have a nice looking lady like Stacey on your arm?"
"Yes, sounds wonderful. Would you care for a drink, gentlemen, while you are waiting?" said Ramsley pulling back the curtain to the library and leading them inside.
"Yeah, don't mind if I do. Thanks Ramsley." said Jim looking around the two level libraries with exotic ornamentations and the glass conservatory adjacent to it. Jim looked up and saw Gracey's portrait and said, "Oh wow! Now that's class! That's what I need to do over at my place. Get a big picture of myself to put it on the living room wall. Adds a touch of elegance to the room!"
"Yes sir. Very elegant." said Ramsley giving Jack his drink.
"Trust me mate. It gets a little old!" said Jack nodding his thanks to Ramsley. Will looked curiously at Jack before taking his drink from Ramsley and saying,
"Thank you." Taking his drink, Jim said,
"Thank you so much Ramsley! Mmm. So Ramsley how long have you been a butler?"
"A long time." said Ramsley.
"And what are the most important qualifications in case I might be doing some interviewing?" asked Jim. Ramsley crossed the room giving Jack and Will the opportunity to look around them casually for the mirror as the butler said,
"Attending to every detail. Understanding priorities and above all, knowing ones place."
"And what does your boss like to do? What's he into? You know, what floats his boat?" asked Jim wanting to find a way to relate with Gracey.
"The Master likes a great many things. Art. Literature. Beauty."
"And all that stuff about ghosts, what'd he get like a bad clam in his jambalaya one night?" chuckled Jim taking a sip as Will and Jack exchanged a look that said,
'He'll be sorry.'
"You don't believe in ghosts' sir?" asked Ramsley showing interest.
"Absolutely not. Let me tell you something Ramsley. You only go around the track once. So do it full out all the way around!" said Jim sitting down on a settee.
"Now for the first time this evening I've found something to disagree with you Mr. Evers. For although I believe a man should live life to the fullest, he must pay respect to the supernatural world or else he may live to regret it." said Jack going around the desk.
"Well, you're entitled to your opinion!" said Jim.
"And it's an opinion that comes with experience, Mr. Evers. " said Jack giving Jim a warning in his voice. He may not have seen a ghost at Gracey Manor, but that did not mean Jack Sparrow didn't believe ghosts existed.
"Gentlemen, may I confide in you?" asked Ramsley as if he was sharing a secret.
"Please do." said Jim standing and looking uneasily at Jack.
"The Master is not well. He must leave this house, Mr. Evers. He must move on! It is of the greatest importance I assure you. Or I fear the very worst!" said Ramsley.
"What would be the very worst?" asked Will.
"I hate to think of it further gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me, I must attend to other matters of the house. The Master shall be with you shortly." said Ramsley leaving. Jim turned to them and said,
"I'm sure he was just exaggerating! Owners always do that when it comes to their house." They nodded and then began to wander around the room. Jim began to look through Gracey's desk when he found a box of cigars.
"Stogies! Not bad. Not bad at all. Hold on to that! Wonderful. Must be nice. Must be really nice. I tell ya." Jack went up the spiral staircase to search the upper level when he heard Jim ask Will,
"So Will, what do you do for a living?" While searching through the shelves, Will said,
"I'm a blacksmith."
"Really? Cool man. Like at one of those ye olden villages that charge ya an arm and a leg for a stupid felt hat?" said Jim. Will smiled at him,
"Something like that!"
"And what about you Jack? What's your handle?" asked Jim shaking a box of matches and putting them in his pocket. Jack paused for a moment and then said,
"I'm Captain of my own ship!"
"Oh, so it's Captain Jack Sparrow. Huh, when you say it like that it sounds so natural!" commented Jim smiling up at him.
"I always thought so!" said Jack. Jim went around to sit at the desk and he said to Will in a British accent,
"Hello there, good man. Ramsley fix the gentleman a drink!" Will laughed and sat before the desk while Jack came down and said,
"That is the worst British accent I've ever heard!" Jim looked at him out of the corner of his eye and then turned his attention back to Will and continued,
"Nigel, I just recently returned from the continent where I found the most interesting book."
"Really old man?" said Will playing along.
"Yes it's called "Raising the Dead"... Oh! Oh cripes!" said Jim reaching for a book but spilling his drink instead. Will and Jack came to help Jim as he said,
"Oh I hope that doesn't stain!" Jim stood, reaching for a stone bust on the desk for support, but the head came off on a hinge and a bookcase opened to reveal a hidden passage. Jim tried the head a few times and exclaimed,
"Wow!"
"That's interesting!" said Jack standing. Will came toward the door and looked inside saying,
"I wonder where this leads to?" They all stepped inside, only to have the bookcase slide back closed. Jim began to pound on the door and shout as Will and Jack tried their shoulders against it,
"Hey! Hey open this back up! Hey! Open up! Ramsley! Ramsley! Push the head back! Hey, will somebody push the head back?"