I don't know if any of my original reviewers are still out there. It's been longer than I care to think about since my last post. I just haven't had any inspiration. I've decided to give this a go and see if I can continue this story. I promise to try to be more diligent this time with my posts. And I'll try to have less typing errors. The ""Ave you saved in a month lad,"in chapter 2 is truly " 'ave you sHaved in a month lad?" It's about time I cleared that up.

Once more I own nothing except my imagination and my soul.

Katlin awoke the next morning wondering how she had came to be in her room. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept in her bed. It was then a bush began to creep up her neck as she remembered the way she had gotten there.

"That scoundrel enjoyed it too mush," she said to herself before she rose to change into a set of clean clothes. She removed her grey bodice and skirt and slipped her white chemise off her shoulders and let it pool on the floor. She walked over to her water pitcher and filled her basin. She dipped her cloth into it and began to bathe off. All the while she was remembering the look of shock on Master Will's face.

" 'e must think me loose as a tavern wench," she thought to herself. Oh! How would she look him in the eye today? After she freshened herself she walked to her dresser and removed a light blue chemise. Over this she downed a deep brown bodice and skirt. The apron and cap she wore were the same pale blue as the chemise. She closed her eyes as she thought what her last employer would have thought of her outfit. He had thought "serving wench" should on wear grey, black and white. They were unworthy of the nicety of color in his mind. To him the girls that cleaned and cooked in his home were no bettered than the dark-skinned slave who were bought and sold at the docks. Katlin was Irish and the Irish were a bur in the saddle to most people of English descent. She was on one the lowest pegs on the social ladder and knew it and accepted it. It was her lot in life and who was she to fight it? But then she had come to work for the Turners and they thought all people worthy of nice things and kindness. Here she even had a day and a half off each week! This had been unheard of to her before. Not only was she given a home and food but she was paid as well! The Turners seemed too good to be true at times yet, true they were and generous with their love.

Katlin drew in a shuddering breath as she thought of the great pain her young employers were going through. If God was out there she hoped he had heard her last night. She wasn't sure now she could stay if Miss. Elizabeth past on. Mr. Will would surely remarry if only to give the babes a mother and Katlin wasn't sure she could stand to see him married to anyone but her young mistress. With a shake of her head to clear it she made her way to Elizabeth's room.

In the hall she ran into Cook with a tray for Mr. Will.

"Goodmornin' Katlin! I 'ope you's felin' a might better 'ta day. Sally wasn't much likin' sittin' up by the misses all night."

"Well, she can leave if'in it boter her so! She don' know 'ow good she got it here! One night won' kill 'er. After all what don' kill us makes us stronger, it does. She'll live. She hates the world too much 'ta give it the pleasure of 'er departure from it."

"Oh! Ya is in one 'a yer moods I dare say! 'ope that girl's got tha brains 'ta steer clear 'a ya taday! Would ya be mindin' takin'this in at tha master Katlin? I gots lots 'ta do this morning'."

"I'll do it, sure enough," Katlin replied as she took the tray from Cook's thick arms. Taking a deep breath Katlin turned and knocked on Mr. Will's door. The only answer she received was silence. Slowly she opened his door and stepped into his room. She was glad to see he was in his bed fast asleep. She placed the tray on the edge of his desk and walked silently over to his sleeping form.

"Master Will, sir," she said as she gently shook his shoulder. "Wake up sir."

Slowly Will opened his eyes and blinked rapidly at the light shining in through his window.

"Katlin?"

"'tis time to wake and break the fast sir. I've brought yer tray," she replied, answering his unasked question. "Now I'll be 'eaded 'ta Mistress Elizabeth sir."

"Katlin….wait. There is no need for you to go today. It's Wednesday, your day off. Go down to the shore or read a book. You need rest just as badly, if not more, than I do. Lizzy will still be well looked after. You've done so much. Take some time to recuperate yourself." Will rose from his bed and ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't even realized he hadn't changed out of his clothes before falling into bed the night before. "And I'll hear no argument about his. You need this Katlin. And I don't know if I told you thank you yet for all you've done but I do thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I's jus' doin' me job sir," she replied as she looked down at the floor.

"You've gone far above and beyond the call of duty and we all know it. Even Jack said so after he put you to bed. He wanted to make sure I had no misconceptions about last night. Which I hadn't. I know you better than that." By the end of his little speech Katlin was as red as a beat. She was so embarrasses about how she had been "put to bed." It just wasn't proper! Her mother would skin her alive if was still alive!

"I guess sir I'll be in the library if ya need me fer anything."

"Good choice. But if you like you can go check on Lizzy first if it will ease your mind."

"Thank ya sir. She… the Misses means the world at me. Both a' ya do sir. I don' know where I'd be without that two a' ya." Quickly Katlin turned on her heel and left the room before Will could have a chance to comment. With a heavy heart she walked to her mistress' room and opened the door. There asleep in the chair by the bed was Captain Jack Sparrow. He looked so peaceful and at ease. She hated the thought of waking him but knew he needed to eat. Katlin looked at his belt was glad to see he was unarmed. Gently she rocked his shoulder back and forth until his eyes rolled open.

""tis morning' now sir and Cook have a nice plate warm fer ya down stairs." It took Jack a moment to remember where he was and another one to get over being awakened by such a beautiful strumpet.

"Thank you Miss. Has Will risen from the land of dreams as well?"

"Aye, that he 'as sir. He be in 'is room breakin' tha fast as we speak. I'll show ya to tha kitchen if ya like sir."

"Dear God! Can't ya call me Jack? All that sir nonsense is bound at go at me head!"

"Only if'in ya call me Katlin and not Miss sir ummm… I mean Jack."

"Then we have an accord," he asked extending his hand.

"Aye that we do," she replied taking his. She noticed he held her's a mite longer than necessary. "Cook 'all be waitin' Jack. Ya best get goin. Go down tha stairs and turn to ya left. The kitchen be out past the small garden. Stay to tha path under the awning so ya don' go troddin' on no peas nor tomatoes."

"Yes Mam," he replied with a sarcastic salute before making his exit.

"What a trial he be," Katlin thought as she sat in the chair and looked at her Mistress. Elizabeth was deadly pale and her lips help a purplish hue. Her hair lay limp against her pillow and her hands lifeless by her sides. With startling clarity she realized that Miss Elizabeth wouldn't pull through and silent sobs began to wrack her small frame. Is seemed so unfair. It looked as if fate was laughing at them all and taking delight in their heart break. Katlin dried her eyes on her apron and rose from the chair with slumped shoulders. Some how she knew today would be the end of one pain but the beginning of another.