CHAPTER 18: Eye-To-Eye
Jack and Katherine rose early the next morning meeting the others downstairs for breakfast. The Governor was informed of the engagement and while he still seemed to disapprove of Katherine's decision to leave Port Royal he was somewhat comforted by this demonstration of the pirate's sincere affection for the young woman. The Governor offered a smile. "It seems all that I can do is offer my congratulations and well wishes for your happiness."
Katherine smiled knowing how hard it was for a man like Swann to push his hatred for pirates aside. "Thank you, sir."
The Governor then turned his gaze on Jack, "Captain Sparrow, has it never occurred to you to attain a Letter of Marque and become a privateer? You could become a very rich man and then Commodore Norrington would not find himself in the unpleasant position of having to arrest you again."
Jack's expression was unreadable. "Aye. I'm already rich but the thought has occurred to me. Until recently I had very little motivation to make that decision." Jack smiled at Katherine, "As of late the prospect as become for appealing. I must talk to my crew. I will do whatever my crew wishes to do. When they return I will put the question to them and we will take a vote."
"A vote?" the Governor was puzzled, "But you are the captain."
Jack smiled, "A pirate ship operates a bit differently than His Majesty's Royal Navy. I can't make a decision like that without their input. I'd be risking a mutiny."
The Governor's eyes widened, "Oh my."
Jack nodded. "Indeed." One mutiny was enough thank you very much.
Elizabeth steered the conversation towards more pleasant matters. "Katherine why don't you and I go into town today and we can start picking out things for the wedding and of course we must find you a wedding gown."
The Governor looked up and smiled at Katherine. "Miss Darcy, though I am told that Captain Sparrow can very easily afford any dress you might desire I insist on paying for the dress."
"I couldn't-"
"Nonsense," the Governor cut her off, "If you must consider it my way of paying my respects to your father."
Faced with the sincerity in the Governor's eyes Katherine reluctantly relented. "Thank you, Governor."
"Don't mention it, my dear. It's my pleasure," Governor Swann dabbed his mouth with his napkin and stood, "I'm afraid I have a busy day ahead. Good luck with your shopping, Miss Darcy. Just tell the dressmaker to send the bill to me."
Jack stood, "Let me walk you to your carriage, Governor."
Swann eyed Jack warily but nodded. The two men walked in silence until the reached the carriage door. Jack looked down at the ground then back up at the Governor resolutely. "Look, I don't do stuff like this and I'm only going to say this once so listen carefully." Jack took a deep breath, "I want to thank you for looking out for Katherine and your hospitality. I know that you and I don't see eye-to-eye on almost everything but I can appreciate your concern for her well being."
Governor Swann regarded the pirate with a new respect. "You're welcome, Captain." Without another word the Governor stepped into his coach and signaling to the driver was driven away.
The next four days were spent pleasantly and nearly all the arrangements for the wedding ceremony had been made. Everything was ready to be delivered as soon as the Black Pearl and her crew reached Port Royal. Katherine had never been so happy in her life. The only black mark on her happiness was that neither of her parents would be there to witness her nuptials nor would her father be able to walk her down the isle. With this in mind Katherine approached the Governor shortly after he returned to the house for the night.
"Governor may I have a word with you?" Katherine asked pausing at the open door of his study.
Swann looked up and smiled kindly, "Of course, my dear. Come in and have a seat."
Katherine entered, the skirts of her sea green dress swishing across the floor as she walked. Katherine took a seat across from the Governor and reached out to take his hand. "I'll never be able to repay the kindness you've shown me since I barged so rudely into your home. I cannot express how truly grateful I am for everything that you've done. Everything is nearly ready for the wedding and only one small matter remains." Tears stung her eyes but Katherine pushed them back fiercely, "Since my father cannot walk me down the isle I would be very happy if you would do me the honor of giving me away."
Governor Swann couldn't help but smile at the irony. The Governor of Port Royal would be giving away the bride at a pirate's wedding. Still, Swann was honored that she had chosen him. "It is I who would be honored, Miss Darcy."
"Katherine," she corrected him, "I do believe that we are past that formality."
"Very well, Katherine. Now, go spend some time with that fiancé of yours," The Governor squeezed her hand and then she stood and glided out of the room.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry that this chapter is so short and kinda boring the final chapter or two will be better I promise. That's right . . . we're almost at the end of this journey. Not much longer to go. Thanks for the reviews and like always I always appreciate more.
Jack and Katherine rose early the next morning meeting the others downstairs for breakfast. The Governor was informed of the engagement and while he still seemed to disapprove of Katherine's decision to leave Port Royal he was somewhat comforted by this demonstration of the pirate's sincere affection for the young woman. The Governor offered a smile. "It seems all that I can do is offer my congratulations and well wishes for your happiness."
Katherine smiled knowing how hard it was for a man like Swann to push his hatred for pirates aside. "Thank you, sir."
The Governor then turned his gaze on Jack, "Captain Sparrow, has it never occurred to you to attain a Letter of Marque and become a privateer? You could become a very rich man and then Commodore Norrington would not find himself in the unpleasant position of having to arrest you again."
Jack's expression was unreadable. "Aye. I'm already rich but the thought has occurred to me. Until recently I had very little motivation to make that decision." Jack smiled at Katherine, "As of late the prospect as become for appealing. I must talk to my crew. I will do whatever my crew wishes to do. When they return I will put the question to them and we will take a vote."
"A vote?" the Governor was puzzled, "But you are the captain."
Jack smiled, "A pirate ship operates a bit differently than His Majesty's Royal Navy. I can't make a decision like that without their input. I'd be risking a mutiny."
The Governor's eyes widened, "Oh my."
Jack nodded. "Indeed." One mutiny was enough thank you very much.
Elizabeth steered the conversation towards more pleasant matters. "Katherine why don't you and I go into town today and we can start picking out things for the wedding and of course we must find you a wedding gown."
The Governor looked up and smiled at Katherine. "Miss Darcy, though I am told that Captain Sparrow can very easily afford any dress you might desire I insist on paying for the dress."
"I couldn't-"
"Nonsense," the Governor cut her off, "If you must consider it my way of paying my respects to your father."
Faced with the sincerity in the Governor's eyes Katherine reluctantly relented. "Thank you, Governor."
"Don't mention it, my dear. It's my pleasure," Governor Swann dabbed his mouth with his napkin and stood, "I'm afraid I have a busy day ahead. Good luck with your shopping, Miss Darcy. Just tell the dressmaker to send the bill to me."
Jack stood, "Let me walk you to your carriage, Governor."
Swann eyed Jack warily but nodded. The two men walked in silence until the reached the carriage door. Jack looked down at the ground then back up at the Governor resolutely. "Look, I don't do stuff like this and I'm only going to say this once so listen carefully." Jack took a deep breath, "I want to thank you for looking out for Katherine and your hospitality. I know that you and I don't see eye-to-eye on almost everything but I can appreciate your concern for her well being."
Governor Swann regarded the pirate with a new respect. "You're welcome, Captain." Without another word the Governor stepped into his coach and signaling to the driver was driven away.
The next four days were spent pleasantly and nearly all the arrangements for the wedding ceremony had been made. Everything was ready to be delivered as soon as the Black Pearl and her crew reached Port Royal. Katherine had never been so happy in her life. The only black mark on her happiness was that neither of her parents would be there to witness her nuptials nor would her father be able to walk her down the isle. With this in mind Katherine approached the Governor shortly after he returned to the house for the night.
"Governor may I have a word with you?" Katherine asked pausing at the open door of his study.
Swann looked up and smiled kindly, "Of course, my dear. Come in and have a seat."
Katherine entered, the skirts of her sea green dress swishing across the floor as she walked. Katherine took a seat across from the Governor and reached out to take his hand. "I'll never be able to repay the kindness you've shown me since I barged so rudely into your home. I cannot express how truly grateful I am for everything that you've done. Everything is nearly ready for the wedding and only one small matter remains." Tears stung her eyes but Katherine pushed them back fiercely, "Since my father cannot walk me down the isle I would be very happy if you would do me the honor of giving me away."
Governor Swann couldn't help but smile at the irony. The Governor of Port Royal would be giving away the bride at a pirate's wedding. Still, Swann was honored that she had chosen him. "It is I who would be honored, Miss Darcy."
"Katherine," she corrected him, "I do believe that we are past that formality."
"Very well, Katherine. Now, go spend some time with that fiancé of yours," The Governor squeezed her hand and then she stood and glided out of the room.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry that this chapter is so short and kinda boring the final chapter or two will be better I promise. That's right . . . we're almost at the end of this journey. Not much longer to go. Thanks for the reviews and like always I always appreciate more.