CHAPTER 15: I've Chosen My Path
A few days later, and not a moment too soon in Jack's opinion, Jack was well enough to be allowed to leave his bedroom at last. Much to the Governor's dismay, by lunch Jack pranced merrily around the mansion at will often helping himself to Swann's extensive supply of alcohol.
"Elizabeth," the Governor complained after having seen Jack chugging his best bottle of wine, "Must we really give this ruffian free reign of our home?" The Governor swept his eyes around the parlor mentally making sure that nothing was missing.
"Father!" Elizabeth admonished, "We can't keep him caged like an animal. Besides," she continued, "Jack's given his word that he'll obey the law while in Port Royal."
"All well and good if you trust the word of a pirate," Swann snorted with a roll of his eyes.
"We won't burden you much longer, Governor."
Elizabeth and her father turned to see Katherine standing in the doorway of the Parlor. Katherine was dressed in a gown the color of the Caribbean waters and her skirts swished about her feet, as she seemed to glide into the room. "In a few more days Jack will be well enough to send word to his crew and then we'll be gone as soon as they arrive," Katherine said stopping before them.
Swann had the grace to look embarrassed, "Forgive me, Miss Darcy, it is just difficult for me to trust a pirate."
Katherine smiled, "Jack is not your typical pirate," Her smiled faded, "Perhaps at any other time you'd be right but this is the one house and family that Jack would never harm. Will and Elizabeth mean too much to him for that."
"That may be," the Governor allowed, "But you'll be much better off once he's out of your life."
Elizabeth tensed and Katherine shook her head gently, "Jack is my life now, sir. When he leaves Port Royal I'll go with him."
"Miss Darcy!" Swann was appalled, "You are a lady! What you are suggesting is completely inappropriate. Piracy is not the life that your father raised you for. It is simply not done!"
Katherine flinched at the mention of her father but forced her chin up. "True this is not what my father intended but I will not remain here to be married off to a man I do not love. No matter how rich or handsome the man you would choose for me would be, I would not love him. I love Jack Sparrow. I belong with him," Katherine paused then continued in her soft but firm voice, "I appreciate your concern, Governor, but I've chosen my path."
The Governor sighed. "I pray it does not end at the gallows." With that the Governor left the room in defeat.
Elizabeth found her voice, "I'm sorry, Katherine."
Katherine shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry for. If I were in his position I'd probably say the same thing. I'd better go see what Jack is up to," she murmured before quickly fleeing the room.
As Katherine searched the hall for Jack her thoughts were fixed firmly on her father. Robert Darcy had been a good man and an even better father. Every since Katherine's mother had died her father had been the center of her life. He had been her rock. Katherine stopped and stared out the windows that overlooked the Swann's garden. As hard as she fought them the tears came. When Jack was hurt she had pushed aside her pain but now the Governor's reference to her father brought it all back. Katherine bowed her head and let the tears come.
Jack swayed happily through the Governor's home with a bottle of his cherished rum in hand. His good mood increased when he saw Katherine standing at the door to the garden but said good mood evaporated when he realized that Katherine was crying. Her small shoulders shook with her silent sobs. Setting the bottle of rum down on a nearby table Jack went to her wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Katherine said nothing but leaned into him grateful for his strength. "What is it, luv?" he whispered his lips brushing against her ear.
"I miss him, Jack," she whispered back, "I never even got to say goodbye."
Jack had been wondering when it would all catch up to her. After her initial tears aboard the ship Katherine had put on a brave smile and done her best to push her pain to the side. Jack knew that she had repressed those feelings even more when he had been injured. Katherine had placed him above herself. It seemed that things had finally calmed enough that Katherine was ready to deal with her pain or perhaps she simply couldn't keep it locked away in the back of her mind any longer. Wordlessly Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders and opening the door led her out into the garden.
They walked until they reached one of the numerous stone benches and Jack sat down pulling her down next to him. "Tell me about them," Jack said, "Tell me about your mother and your father."
Katherine looked up at him in shock and then gave a sad smile. "My mother's name was Alexandra and she was so beautiful. She had wavy red hair and deep green eyes. Her skin was like porcelain. My mother had the kindest smile I've ever seen. She would sit and let me brush her long hair for as long as I wanted. She would tell me a story every night before bed. It was always she who tucked me in. Never the servants." More tears fell, "When I was ten she fell ill with fever and never got better. My father and I were both at her side when she died. I had never seen my father cry before . . ." Katherine trailed off and Jack leaned down to kiss her forehead tenderly.
"Tell me about your father, Katie." He murmured knowing that she needed to get through this.
Another sad smile and she wiped the tears from her eyes and continued. "I may have my mother's hair but I have my father's eyes. He was a handsome man and completely devoted to my mother. After her death he made me the recipient of all that devotion. I wanted for nothing. When I was twelve I told him that I wanted to learn to use a sword and he got me the best instructor in England. When I got older he never tried to pressure me into marriage. Father had married Mother for love and he understood my desire to do the same. I was very lucky to have such an indulgent father. I went everywhere with him. When he was appointed as the Governor's aide he told me that I would love the Caribbean and that I would find the man of my dreams in Port Royal." Katherine leaned into Jack and when she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper, "When Murdock attacked our ship Father told me to hide in our cabin. He told me that everything would be all right then he went back up to the deck to fight. It was the last time I saw him alive."
Katherine looked up and smiled at Jack through her tears, "My father would have liked you, Jack. I-I think that in time he would have given us his blessing.'
Jack smiled gently, "I don't know about that, luv. I am a pirate after all."
Katherine ran a hand over his cheek, "True. He wouldn't have liked that. But all he would have cared about in the end was that you made me happy. And you do. I just wish you could have met him."
Katherine stood suddenly and walked several feet before stopping her head bowed and her fist clenched. "Because of Murdock I c-can't even give my father a proper burial!" she raged her grief turned suddenly to anger, "I can't even say goodbye to him. Th-there's nothing left of him. It's not fair!" she yelled turning to Jack, "He was all I had! Why him?! Why did they have to kill him?! It's not fair!" Katherine sank wearily to the ground sobbing so hard that she could no longer stand.
Jack went to Katherine kneeling down before her and pulled her into his arms. "That's it, sweetheart," he said rocking her, "Let it go. It's time that you faced this, luv. You've been worrying about everyone else but yourself. It's time that you let yourself heal."
"I never got to say goodbye," she repeated between sobs, "I never even got to say goodbye."
Jack pulled back so that he looked into her bloodshot eyes, "You're father loved you, Katherine and I'm sure he knew that you loved him. He's in a better place now, lass. I know that that doesn't make it hurt any less but people like Murdock can never hurt him again."
Katherine's eyes hardened and it broke Jack's heart to see the haunted look in them. "I won't rest until Murdock pays for what he's done. I swear that I'll see him dead for what he's done."
Jack shook his head pushing her head down to his shoulder, "Hush now, Katie. We can worry about Murdock later. Just worry about yourself for now." After several silent minutes had gone by Jack stood pulling Katherine with him. "Let's get you to bed. You need to rest."
Katherine nodded and allowed him to lead her back into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. Katherine climbed into the bed and Jack lay down next her pulling her into his arms then pulling the sheet over them both. Jack leaned over her to kiss the tears on her cheeks, "Close your eyes, darling," he whispered, "I'm right here. Rest."
Exhausted by her tears, Katherine closed her eyes and after a few minutes her breaths became deep and even and she slept feeling secure in Jack's embrace.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
It's coming close the end here, mates. There are only a few more chapters to go before this tale is complete. I've already started drafting a sequel and there are probably three or four chapters left in this story. As always I want to thank those who reviewed the last chapter and ask again humbly for you to read and review this chapter. Another chapter will be coming soon.
A few days later, and not a moment too soon in Jack's opinion, Jack was well enough to be allowed to leave his bedroom at last. Much to the Governor's dismay, by lunch Jack pranced merrily around the mansion at will often helping himself to Swann's extensive supply of alcohol.
"Elizabeth," the Governor complained after having seen Jack chugging his best bottle of wine, "Must we really give this ruffian free reign of our home?" The Governor swept his eyes around the parlor mentally making sure that nothing was missing.
"Father!" Elizabeth admonished, "We can't keep him caged like an animal. Besides," she continued, "Jack's given his word that he'll obey the law while in Port Royal."
"All well and good if you trust the word of a pirate," Swann snorted with a roll of his eyes.
"We won't burden you much longer, Governor."
Elizabeth and her father turned to see Katherine standing in the doorway of the Parlor. Katherine was dressed in a gown the color of the Caribbean waters and her skirts swished about her feet, as she seemed to glide into the room. "In a few more days Jack will be well enough to send word to his crew and then we'll be gone as soon as they arrive," Katherine said stopping before them.
Swann had the grace to look embarrassed, "Forgive me, Miss Darcy, it is just difficult for me to trust a pirate."
Katherine smiled, "Jack is not your typical pirate," Her smiled faded, "Perhaps at any other time you'd be right but this is the one house and family that Jack would never harm. Will and Elizabeth mean too much to him for that."
"That may be," the Governor allowed, "But you'll be much better off once he's out of your life."
Elizabeth tensed and Katherine shook her head gently, "Jack is my life now, sir. When he leaves Port Royal I'll go with him."
"Miss Darcy!" Swann was appalled, "You are a lady! What you are suggesting is completely inappropriate. Piracy is not the life that your father raised you for. It is simply not done!"
Katherine flinched at the mention of her father but forced her chin up. "True this is not what my father intended but I will not remain here to be married off to a man I do not love. No matter how rich or handsome the man you would choose for me would be, I would not love him. I love Jack Sparrow. I belong with him," Katherine paused then continued in her soft but firm voice, "I appreciate your concern, Governor, but I've chosen my path."
The Governor sighed. "I pray it does not end at the gallows." With that the Governor left the room in defeat.
Elizabeth found her voice, "I'm sorry, Katherine."
Katherine shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry for. If I were in his position I'd probably say the same thing. I'd better go see what Jack is up to," she murmured before quickly fleeing the room.
As Katherine searched the hall for Jack her thoughts were fixed firmly on her father. Robert Darcy had been a good man and an even better father. Every since Katherine's mother had died her father had been the center of her life. He had been her rock. Katherine stopped and stared out the windows that overlooked the Swann's garden. As hard as she fought them the tears came. When Jack was hurt she had pushed aside her pain but now the Governor's reference to her father brought it all back. Katherine bowed her head and let the tears come.
Jack swayed happily through the Governor's home with a bottle of his cherished rum in hand. His good mood increased when he saw Katherine standing at the door to the garden but said good mood evaporated when he realized that Katherine was crying. Her small shoulders shook with her silent sobs. Setting the bottle of rum down on a nearby table Jack went to her wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Katherine said nothing but leaned into him grateful for his strength. "What is it, luv?" he whispered his lips brushing against her ear.
"I miss him, Jack," she whispered back, "I never even got to say goodbye."
Jack had been wondering when it would all catch up to her. After her initial tears aboard the ship Katherine had put on a brave smile and done her best to push her pain to the side. Jack knew that she had repressed those feelings even more when he had been injured. Katherine had placed him above herself. It seemed that things had finally calmed enough that Katherine was ready to deal with her pain or perhaps she simply couldn't keep it locked away in the back of her mind any longer. Wordlessly Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders and opening the door led her out into the garden.
They walked until they reached one of the numerous stone benches and Jack sat down pulling her down next to him. "Tell me about them," Jack said, "Tell me about your mother and your father."
Katherine looked up at him in shock and then gave a sad smile. "My mother's name was Alexandra and she was so beautiful. She had wavy red hair and deep green eyes. Her skin was like porcelain. My mother had the kindest smile I've ever seen. She would sit and let me brush her long hair for as long as I wanted. She would tell me a story every night before bed. It was always she who tucked me in. Never the servants." More tears fell, "When I was ten she fell ill with fever and never got better. My father and I were both at her side when she died. I had never seen my father cry before . . ." Katherine trailed off and Jack leaned down to kiss her forehead tenderly.
"Tell me about your father, Katie." He murmured knowing that she needed to get through this.
Another sad smile and she wiped the tears from her eyes and continued. "I may have my mother's hair but I have my father's eyes. He was a handsome man and completely devoted to my mother. After her death he made me the recipient of all that devotion. I wanted for nothing. When I was twelve I told him that I wanted to learn to use a sword and he got me the best instructor in England. When I got older he never tried to pressure me into marriage. Father had married Mother for love and he understood my desire to do the same. I was very lucky to have such an indulgent father. I went everywhere with him. When he was appointed as the Governor's aide he told me that I would love the Caribbean and that I would find the man of my dreams in Port Royal." Katherine leaned into Jack and when she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper, "When Murdock attacked our ship Father told me to hide in our cabin. He told me that everything would be all right then he went back up to the deck to fight. It was the last time I saw him alive."
Katherine looked up and smiled at Jack through her tears, "My father would have liked you, Jack. I-I think that in time he would have given us his blessing.'
Jack smiled gently, "I don't know about that, luv. I am a pirate after all."
Katherine ran a hand over his cheek, "True. He wouldn't have liked that. But all he would have cared about in the end was that you made me happy. And you do. I just wish you could have met him."
Katherine stood suddenly and walked several feet before stopping her head bowed and her fist clenched. "Because of Murdock I c-can't even give my father a proper burial!" she raged her grief turned suddenly to anger, "I can't even say goodbye to him. Th-there's nothing left of him. It's not fair!" she yelled turning to Jack, "He was all I had! Why him?! Why did they have to kill him?! It's not fair!" Katherine sank wearily to the ground sobbing so hard that she could no longer stand.
Jack went to Katherine kneeling down before her and pulled her into his arms. "That's it, sweetheart," he said rocking her, "Let it go. It's time that you faced this, luv. You've been worrying about everyone else but yourself. It's time that you let yourself heal."
"I never got to say goodbye," she repeated between sobs, "I never even got to say goodbye."
Jack pulled back so that he looked into her bloodshot eyes, "You're father loved you, Katherine and I'm sure he knew that you loved him. He's in a better place now, lass. I know that that doesn't make it hurt any less but people like Murdock can never hurt him again."
Katherine's eyes hardened and it broke Jack's heart to see the haunted look in them. "I won't rest until Murdock pays for what he's done. I swear that I'll see him dead for what he's done."
Jack shook his head pushing her head down to his shoulder, "Hush now, Katie. We can worry about Murdock later. Just worry about yourself for now." After several silent minutes had gone by Jack stood pulling Katherine with him. "Let's get you to bed. You need to rest."
Katherine nodded and allowed him to lead her back into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. Katherine climbed into the bed and Jack lay down next her pulling her into his arms then pulling the sheet over them both. Jack leaned over her to kiss the tears on her cheeks, "Close your eyes, darling," he whispered, "I'm right here. Rest."
Exhausted by her tears, Katherine closed her eyes and after a few minutes her breaths became deep and even and she slept feeling secure in Jack's embrace.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
It's coming close the end here, mates. There are only a few more chapters to go before this tale is complete. I've already started drafting a sequel and there are probably three or four chapters left in this story. As always I want to thank those who reviewed the last chapter and ask again humbly for you to read and review this chapter. Another chapter will be coming soon.