Usual disclaimers, I own only the warped characters that sprung to life from my over-active imagination.

Chapter 8: Angry Words

Adelaide began to let herself sink into the wonderful feeling that Jack was creating as he rubbed the tight spots of her back as he undid the ties of her corset. He mouth was doing things to her neck that was quickly draining the tension from the base of her skull. This was probably because all of the blood in my body is draining out of my head, she thought absently. Jack's voice whispered her name roughly into her ear as his hands finally released her from the corset. Hearing his voice was like having a bucket of ice water thrown on her to drag her from a dream. Adelaide spun around to face him and began to back away from him quickly. She clutched the corset to her chest because she knew just how thin the fabric of her under shift was and she needed to be able to keep Jack's attention away from pesky details like that.

He looked so different here in her bedchamber then he had across the table in The Bride nearly two weeks before. His beard was gone. Adelaide wondered what his feelings had been when he had shaved off the little braids he tended to form from his beard. In her experience men were unusually attached to their facial hair. He had a defined jaw when it is clean shaven. The braids in his hair were gone were gone along with the beads normally framed his face. His hair was clean and smooth. During the wedding and reception it had been pulled back into a neat ponytail at the base of his neck. Now it was loose and looked as though he had been running his fingers through it in agitation. It fell a couple inches past his shoulders, giving him the look of a rogue. His well tailored jacket was gone and the top buttons of his white linen shirt were open as well as the sleeves. He wore tight black pants. He completed the perfect image of the seductive pirate captain with a bold red sash tied around his waste. He looked entirely too appealing for his own good. Or for my own good, Adelaide thought bitterly.

"What are you doing here Jack?" she hissed that question at him as she continued to back away from him. His eyes gleamed playfully as he began to slowly walk toward her. Adelaide had a brief and sudden flash of a deer being stalked by a wolf. The deer's eyes were wide with fear. Its nostrils flared at the scent of its predator. The wolf's eyes gleamed yellow out of the shadows as it circled in on its prey. It was the same gleam that she saw in Jack's eyes. Well, damned if she was going to be the quarry slotted for tonight's entertainment. Her eyes flashed anger when he tried to make a grab for her. She side stepped him so that her back was now to the wall instead of the balcony. At least she was not backing toward the bed she thought sarcastically. She could fight him off better if she was standing she reasoned.

Jack grinned at her anger. That meant she was more than likely angry with her own reaction to him. That would make it all the more interesting when he finally managed to persuade her into his bed. It would be an interesting chase. He was well aware that it would not end in his favor tonight, but the entertainment of fighting with her might ease some of the pressure he felt. If he could get angry he could blame his jealousy solely at her feet and not have to contemplate the fact that he now had a weakness. Her name was Adelaide Marie Kathleen Withers and she was the bloody Duchess of Lockwood, of all things. Jack spread his hand wide in a peaceful gesture as he inched toward Adelaide. If he moved too suddenly she would bolt and he would have to waste good energy chasing her around the room. He hoped to keep her talking and distract her from noticing how close he was getting. "Why my dear Adelaide, I thought I made my purpose for this visit quite clear. You are the prize, as I previously explained to you in Tortuga."

"I am only the prize if you win the wager," she said trying to edge towards the door. "Which you won't!"

"I will emerge the victor my dear, and you will get a view of the world from a new perspective—my bed." Jack watched the anger in her eyes blaze again and had to swallow back his laughter. It probably bode well for him in the immediate future if he kept her agitated. Absently he wondered if Adelaide was still carrying the blade she had used on Smythes. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to that. Jack preferred to keep all of his appendages. He was quite fond of them as it were.

"Don't bet on it," she snapped.

"Well, I'm quite confused as to what we've been doing so far…" Jack saw Adelaide eye the distance between her and the door. He decided to take advantage of her inattention. He rushed forward grabbing her shoulders in a quick move. She grabbed his wrists and struggled uselessly. She tried to grind the heel of her half boots into the arch of his foot. He solved that problem by moving in even closer. He pinned her hips with his; trapping her legs between his. She finally stopped struggling and met his gaze.

Her voice was tight when she spoke. "Let. Me. Go."

"Darlin', why should I do that? It is much more interesting from were I am now." His eyes settled on her lips, "Much more interesting."

"I mean it Jack. Let me go. We had an accord."

"The wager says nothing about me kissing you, now does it?"

Her response was muffled beneath his lips. He ignored the fact that she held her lips tightly closed and had her eyes open wide. He continued to nibble his way across her lips. He almost grinned as he watched her eyes started to cloud. Their green deepened from a light sea mist into a dark jade as she gave a low moan, giving into his kiss. Her hands slid down his forearms slowly. God this man could kiss. But she was determined to gain control of the situation. Jack eased back a little, kissing his way down her jaw line. Adelaide waited to fight him off, partially to have him caught off guard when she did make her move and partially because what Jack was doing felt so wonderful. She almost ignored the opening he gave her when he removed his hands from her shoulders. Almost.

Jack had no warning before Adelaide's knee came up swiftly. Jack let up a shaky breath and his eyes bulged when she stopped just short of doing any serious damage. He didn't dare to move a muscle in fear he would bruise something vital. Very carefully he moved his hands to either side of Adelaide's head bracing his weight on to the wall hoping to alleviate some of the pressure from his crotch. When Adelaide merely increased the pressure Jack went still. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He started breathing heavily. He wanted to growl when he heard Adelaide's low laugh. He angled his head to look into her eyes.

She looked like a cat with a belly full of cream. Her smile was slow and filled with mischief. "What's the matter, Jack? I thought the famous Jack Sparrow could wiggle his way out of any…tight spot."

"That's Captain Sparrow to you missy." Jack ended his sentence on a painful hiss as Adelaide raised an eyebrow and jerked her knee a fraction higher.

"I do believe, Captain Sparrow, that I have control of this conversation, so do not forget it. Otherwise you will be walking bowlegged for a week." She waited for his acceptance. Jack locked his jaw and gave her a short nod. "Let's get some details straight here, Sparrow. You will not touch me again until this wager is finished—and only then if you emerge the victor. Now, as to your present situation, I will lower my knee only after I have an accord from you swearing you will take yourself from my rooms as quickly and discreetly as possible shortly there after. Do I have you agreement?"

When Jack looked like he was going to argue with here terms Adelaide merely tensed her leg as if she were going to raise it again. "Fine, alright, I give up. We are in agreement. Now if you would kindly allow the flow of blood back to my, err, family jewels, as it were?"

Adelaide sneered when she lowered her foot back to the floor. "Jewels? Ha! Highly unlikely, in my opinion. As agreed, remove yourself from my chambers."

"Very well, my dear." Jack walked towards the balcony. Adelaide followed to make sure that he actually left. Jack swung one leg over the balcony railing. Without warning Jack turned and kissed her hard on the mouth. "I couldn't leave with out a good-bye kiss, could I?"

Adelaide's only response was to plow her fist into his stomach. His breath came out in a rush and Adelaide had the immense pleasure of watching Jack's eyes go wide as he fell over the side of the balcony.

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The sound of glass breaking against the wall followed by a shout of rage filtered down the hall as Will climbed the main steps of the governor's mansion. He had been headed back to his and Elizabeth's room to retrieve Elizabeth's riding gloves but as he quickly stepped out of the path of one of the maids as she fled down the stairs in tears he detoured to find the reason for this chaos. His eyebrows rose when he heard the sound of something hitting the wall with a heavy thud. The walls shook from the force of the impact. Will tracked the noise to Adelaide's door. Taking a fortifying breath he opened the door. With quick thinking and reflexes he managed to catch the brush that was aimed for his head before it hit its mark. He was not so lucky with the book.

"I said to leave me ALONE!" Adelaide shouted as she grabbed for a vase of flowers that stood on the desk. She raised her arm to throw it as well before she realized that it was Will who had interrupted her fit of temper. She stood in the center of her room that looked as though a hurricane had ravaged it leaving almost no furniture standing. She looked pristine in a gown made of a pale yellow gauzy material that had long sleeves but left her shoulders almost bare.

It was the first time Will had seen her devoid of any jewels. He had to say that she did not need them to distract from her natural beauty. He realized where Elizabeth got her attractiveness. Since their mothers had been sisters, Will could only assume that they were the sources of Adelaide and Elizabeth's good looks. Adelaide's hair was beautifully disheveled. She blew an errant curl out of her face with annoyance and snarled, "This is not the time, Will. I am liable to cause you serious injury if you don't get out."

Will pressed a hand to his throbbing head. "Of that I am sure. What are you so livid about?"

"That son of a…" Adelaide took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of control. She fixed a glare at Will. He started to back towards the door. Adelaide looked like she could quite happily commit murder without batting an eye. "Sparrow."

"Jack? What has he done now? He left last night on the Pearl."

"Yes, I know he is gone. The slimy thief," Adelaide hissed as she swept her arm over the desk scattering papers across the floor. "He doesn't have the courage to face me after what he has done. After he didn't even have the decency to actually fall from the balcony last night like any normal person, damn his infernal luck. I was looking forward to seeing him hit the ground."

Trying to contain his laugher Will choked out his question, "Jack fell off the balcony last night?"

"Of course he did. I pushed him. Who could guess that his sash would catch on that trellis? Damn him!"

"You pushed him? Why would you push Jack off the balcony?"

"Because he had the audacity to kiss me."

"I think I need to sit down to absorb this information." Will lowered himself into the one chair that was still standing in the room. "You and Jack? That is an unusual pairing."

"We are not a couple! I would not lower myself to sleep with that scoundrel if he were the last man on in the world. A prize! He called me a prize! Like I am some trinket that has caught his attention and he wants to claim! The mangy cur!" Adelaide was muttering now. Pacing across the room kicking things out of her way as she threw more insults at the nonexistent Jack Sparrow. "And he had the gall to steal from me as well."

Will's eyes narrowed at this. He and Jack had come to an understanding that while he was in Port Royal under his alias he would refrain from calling attention to himself by taking anything from any of the guests. Will wished to keep Norrington from having too many suspicions about the fictional Mr. Henry Milford. The fewer questions asked the better. If Jack had broken his accord there would be hell to pay. And not just from Adelaide's fury. Will did not take well to the thought of being duped by Jack once more. "Jack actually stole from you, Adelaide?"

"Yes and then the knave had the nerve to send me a note informing me of his impertinence. The arrogant little bast—"

"I get the idea. May I see the note?" Will cut off the rest of Adelaide's sentence. He did not want to have to dodge any more objects. His head was still ringing from the book. Adelaide held the note out with an angry huff. He glanced at the scrap of paper. The message confused him but he got the general point. It seemed Jack was repaying Adelaide for something she had done to him.

Addy, my dear, while I realize this may come to you as a shock I have decided to relieve you of this lovely bauble, as you have no need for jewels to shine. I think this should be considered fair trade for the possession you lifted from my coat in Tortuga. We can call it a down payment on what you will owe me after the wager has ended. I will remember fondly of the warmth it held from your skin when I removed it from you elegant neck. I hope you will be able to function without it in the near future. I'll see you in June.

It was signed with a scrawling JS and there was a rather detailed sketch of the necklace and pendant Adelaide had been wearing the night before. Will was unsure what most of the message was referencing but he guessed from Adelaide's wrath she understood quite well. And she did not appreciate being outfoxed by Jack. Will decided to try to distract Adelaide with useless information. "You were in Tortuga?"

"Wha—yes, two weeks ago." Adelaide felt herself begin to come down from her rage. She still seethed with anger but she guessed that would not end until she was able to rub Jack's face in his defeat a month from now. "Will, I am sorry to hurry you along but I really must put this room back into rights, find that poor maid I terrorized and apologize, then I must make the Midnight's Dove ready to sail. We will leave with the evening tide."

"Tonight? Elizabeth will be disappointed."

"I am sure you will find ways to distract her from her grief." Adelaide said dryly when she saw Will grinning wildly. "Now be off. I am sorry you had to witness my outburst."

"As am I," Will felt his head again. "I think I may have a permanent dent from that book, milady."

"That is unlikely. I have it on good authority that your head is rather thick, William Turner."

"And whose authority would that be?"

"Why, Elizabeth's of course." With that Adelaide pushed Will the rest of the way through the door and shut it on his astonished expression. Her chambers were an absolute disaster and she did not think that the maid would have the courage to venture back to the floor, let alone her rooms, in the near future. Rolling up the sleeves of her gown Adelaide began to clean up the evidence of her rant.

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Adelaide stood with her feet braced against the roll of the sea as she took the helm of the Midnight's Dove from one of her crew men. The moonlight bounced off the water making the Dove's sails shimmer like dark blue ice. With the benefits of the sails they were basically undetectable. They had left Port Royal four days before quickly making their way through the Windward Passage. In the last two days they had over taken three ships heavily laden with goods. They were well on their way towards their goal of winning the wager. If things continued on this path Sparrow would have no chance. Adelaide smiled when she thought of Jack. She couldn't wait to see his expression when he realized that his precious ship was no longer under his command. The need to reclaim the dignity he had managed to take from her in Port Royal made Adelaide determined to have the Midnight's Dove come out on top.

Adelaide's concentration was broken by the call of one of the crew from the crow's-nest. "Sails, off the port bow. Twelve degrees north, north-west."

Adelaide immediately relinquished control of the helm to retrieve her spyglass. Fixing it to her eye she swept it along the line of the horizon. She focused it on the sails that were barely visible as the ship rose over the horizon. Anticipation began to build in her chest. The chase was her favorite part of the process of taking a ship. With her heart high in her throat, Adelaide grabbed a piece of rigging and began to climb. She could get a better view of the ship if she was aloft. She looped an arm around the rope to secure her position. She found the ship with her spyglass again. The ball of anticipation turned quickly to a frozen ball of fear. The ship was not the scheduled merchant ship that they had planned to intercept. It was twice the size.

She swept her gaze along from sailor to sailor. There was something wrong with these men. They moved stiffly, as if they were unsure of their actions. She caught the flash yellow as a distinctive blond head came into her line of vision. Adelaide froze. Edgeworth. This was impossible. How could he been in the Caribbean?

She couldn't breath. Her mind went blank. The only thing she could think was he'd come after her. Timothy's shout for the hands to take their positions for an attack broke her from her stupor. They had to get away from here. She grabbed hold of a rope and swung back to the deck. She hit the deck at a run, shouting orders to ready the ship for a fast run. Timothy gave her a questioning look when her orders directed the Midnight's Dove away from their prey. She gave him one wild look as she took the helm and began to turn the ship on a south east heading.

"Captain?" he lowered his voice, "Adelaide, what is the matter?"

She only said one word. Her voice was quiet and filled with fear. "Edgeworth."

Timothy's face filled with fury and he began issuing orders as quickly as Adelaide. The crew confused at the change of orders from attack to flee gave no questions and leapt to their duties in getting the Midnight's Dove out of those waters. Their captain had never led them wrong. If she deemed a fight not in their favor they were not going to question her assessment of the circumstances.

Adelaide ordered Timothy to take the helm and made her way aft. She took up her glass again. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw Edgeworth shouting orders to his own crew. They had been spotted and Edgeworth was taking up pursuit of the Midnight's Dove. Adelaide let out a shaky laugh. At least she could be confident that her ship would win this race. There was no way Edgeworth's ship would catch hers. Adelaide took a moment to note the name of scrawled across the stern of Edgeworth's ship, the Hunter. How apt, Adelaide thought absently. For she suddenly felt very hunted. She didn't care for the feeling at all.

Steadier on her feet Adelaide returned to stand beside Timothy. Smiling coldly she ordered for the sweeps to be taken out. They would have to be one the look out for the next month. Edgeworth's presence made it complicated for them to ply their trade but they could not afford to give up their side of the wager. Adelaide had too much at stake personally and financially. She ordered double crew on all watches. She could not afford for Edgeworth to stumble upon them when they were unprepared.

Hours later, Adelaide stumbled to her bunk in the captain's cabin. She crawled exhausted under the blankets. As she fell asleep she found herself wondering not on whether they had succeeded in giving Edgeworth the slip but on what Jack Sparrow was doing at that exact moment. The man was probably sleeping happily. Jerk. Her sleep would be any thing but restful.

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Okay girls lets have the reviews…or I will be longer in giving an update on how Jack's nights are progressing, just who Edgeworth is and why Adelaide fears him.

Thanks again to all my faithful reviewers. Freak in Corner, Immortal Captain Young, Elonna. And welcome to new reviewers TriGemini, lissa james. I hope you like this next installment.