A/N: Thank you, wonderful folks for the feedback! Grateful and happy that you keep continuing to give me feedback. :-)
Married
Chapter VIII
Everything
Sent from the Rothleys. A fine invitation, neatly written letters that formed a formal question if the Teagues wanted to join for a tea party. And also to bring their lovely daughter with them. Apparently the Rothleys had a one year old themselves, a son. Hans had of course kept this in mind when both coming up with the idea of pushing a child into the Teagues' life but also firm on being the matching age. Everything is just so sought out. Way more than the duo ever could have imagined.
This invitation gave Hans the opportunity into calling for the Teagues into a meeting. Surely in need of it. When the couple had arrived from the New Year's Eve celebration, Jack had once again slammed the carriage door shut in Angelica's face. Now this could not go on. Whatever emotions Mr Teague felt, Hans felt the importance of reminding him so.
"For whatever reason you hate her, you must restrain your strong emotions and not let them tip," he would warn. This only led for some sort of embarrassment, Jack clearly denying anything of such sorts.
"Ye're claiming I... fancy this she-devil in what I can admit, be an attractant form for the eye?"
At first Hans would shrug, not realizing the release of the inner wrath. "Obviously, or what else would cause this arise of loathe than a man in love, getting turned down."
Although an honest remark in a tryout of helping Mr Teague sorting out these ideas, Hans immediately regretted it upon facing a new type of wrath from Mr Teague. If one of the servants accidentally did not enter the room, there is a slight chance Jack actually would have beheaded Hans right at that precise moment.
However he did not, and Hans learnt his lesson. There needed to be another way to adress Jack handling this. In what way, he was not sure. He did miss out on their silent banter though.
Jack's shift from sleeping like a gentleman on the floor, to open the buttons of his shirt to lay out spread across the bed, causing Angelica the first night to come to a halt at the sight. She would gasp and turn around, leaving him smirking at her reaction.
But he would regret it the other night when he would return to the bedroom only to face her in corset, seductively pulling her stockings on. And he probably reflected her previous reaction because he had to turn around at once.
This led him into longing for the following morning. He would show her. If they were supposed to pretend being in love, he would show her, and Hans, he could do this. And it was really not at all a result of him simply longing for her. No, not at all. His hands were absolutely in control when he in the morning greeted her from behind, in front of the staff. Steadily placed on her hips to tower over her from behind, seductively taking her by surprise to kiss her neck. Her hissing inhale did let him know he had gotten the reaction he wanted and then he would leave her cold to enjoy breakfast, unfolding the napkin as if nothing happened.
Although she would do the worst thing of all. Getting dressed in a way too tight corset and fall asleep with it, sideways - turned to Jack, with lit candles. And he would now wish he had slept on the floor. So close yet so far away. And he had not been able to close his eyes, get any sleep at all that night. And he could swear that so-called innocent face slept with a smirk that night.
In the morning he was too worked up to still think straightly. He had met her in the hallway, come face to face with her and as a staff member entered, taken the moment to use their pretending of being in love at once. His traveling finger moving along her cleavage at first caused her to lean backwards over the indoor balcony fence he caged her at before she with darkened eyes would lean into him. He even winked flirtatiously and enjoyed hearing her desperate whimper when he left her cold as the staff member had passed them.
Another thing he would regret that night. Sitting in bed with a lit candle on his nightstand, reading a treasure map with notes attached. And suddenly Angelica pretending to aim for a book she purposely had placed on his nightstand. Straddling him on her way to 'roll over' and definitely pressing herself closely to his body, bosom pushing into his face as her hands balanced her position from a grip on the headboard. This caused him to almost give it all up and pull her down on him completely, but he managed to restrain himself and swallow.
To some sort of revenge, he would let the nursemaid flirt with him. She was charming anyhow. And he loved pushing it to eventually receive a reaction from Angelica.
However the invitation to the Rothleys finally forced the trio to meet.
"So you will bring Frances," Hans announces as he reads the letter for them.
Angelica would shrug as response, taking the situation lightly. "And the nursemaid will join, won't she."
Hans muses on the thought as if he considers.
"I mean not for Frances," Angelica goes on and glances at Jack. "But for my husband."
The rum Jack has sipped on during his time ignoring Angelica, gets stuck in his throat and he begins to cough on it. "I beg ye pardon?"
Now Angelica turns to him in her chair. "I've seen how she talks to you, and te conozco demasiado bien."
The rum of bottle is still in Jack's hands and he has it paused for a brief moment in front of his lips. "I don't understand a bloody word of what ye say, love." And she turns back to look forward. "But you sound jealous."
And now she is back, peering at him ready to push back. She is smirking as she grins almost teasingly and Jack will hate this beyond Kraken itself.
"Why don't we talk about how you begged me to-."
"Don't," he cuts her off warningly.
Hans is stunned, now with a mouth slightly agape. He had of course had his suspicions. But to now get it confirmed.
"So, something did happen on New Year's Eve." Hard to tell if he wants a continuation of this or just state it out to an invisible audience.
"No," Jack anyhow replies. "That be the point. Nothing did happen, aye?"
Shaking his head as if to neglect this matter, Hans decides to go for Angelica's suggestion. "I'll return to Angelica's proposal. Having the nursemaid there is a great offer. But since this is a private sort of audience, I believe we should let you go alone."
It is as if Angelica genuinely does not comprehend. She looks like she has not heard correctly. "But… who will take care of Frances?"
She honestly does not understand.
"You will."
Now Jack is shifting from his negative mood to pure sensation of entertainment. Angelica caring for the child? Hah! This will be fun.
At once she begins to nervously fidget in her seat, much uncomfortable with this thought. In between she shoots a warning glare to Jack's gloating grin. "Mr Hans, I can't… I'm not..," she struggles with her words but is desperate to come up with something that can make him reconsider this. "I may need that… mujerzula nursemaid then."
Ah, there it is again. Jack cannot tell what the Spanish word means, but he can almost bet his beloved Pearl that it be nothing but a pure insult. Not that he ever would bet his Pearl to anything. What is to achieve if not the Pearl? There is nothing to lose when he has the Pearl. Because nothing can compete against it.
Ever.
This seems to be something Hans will not agree on. Nonnegotiable conversation. "No, Angelica. It will appear odd if you arrive with a nursemaid and the Rothleys want privacy, to get to know you. They probably have one of their own that will care for Frances a while anyhow. We shall be happy you did an outstanding work to win their attention at the New Year's Eve celebration. And further so to earn this very much private invitation to their own estate. We must use this opportunity greatly into lurking closer to them, eventually aiming for our final goal."
For this small moment, it is as if both Jack and Angelica wake up and realizes that there actually is an end to it all. They will in fact not live like this forever. Soon they will have accomplished this signature and will be able to leave. And they will leave. Both of them.
She nods once as response, understanding his point at last. However it is with the highest nervousness and stiffness that she is handed Frances hours later.
Jack is standing further away at the front door, ready to leave. Angelica seems to barely know how to hold the baby-girl and she almost tries to hand her back to the nursemaid.
"Aren't you even going to join us in the carriage, on our ride?" She hopes her desperation for it does not slip between her words.
Hans in the background shakes his head and as the nursemaid right away offers her assistance, Angelica must unfortunately for her own dismay neglect it.
"Perhaps I was a bit rushed. Of course you can take a day off as we go," Angelica explains and does her best in not letting her disappointment show in her lie.
"Of course I wouldn't mind, Lady Angelica," the nursemaid speaks politely, more than gladly joining them. She glances to Jack. By now Angelica truly does not even care, as far as the nursemaid would care for Frances and Angelica would not have to. She could have Jack all she wants.
But she must be firm on her matter or Hans would not be happy. "It's alright, we will go alone."
The nursemaid looks puzzled, mostly because of Angelica contradicting words - and actions. How she appears frightened in actions, yet firm on her words.
But she leaves and Jack gestures a goodbye to a servant that closes the door behind them. As he walks behind Angelica, his vision meets Franny-girl that looks over Angelica's shoulder. She smiles widely at him. For a quick second he grins wryly back to her before looking away.
Usually during their act, Jack tends to help Angelica inside because of the act of a gentleman. But now he must help her. Her arms wrapped around Frances, scared of losing her to her ground causes Angelica to not dare moving her hand the slightest bit. When she sits down inside the carriage, she takes a deep breath. A countdown until their arrival back home has begun. She cannot wait to hand the child back to the nursemaid.
"What am I going to do?" she wonders as the carriage begins to roll.
Jack eyes her from his seat in front of her. He waves his hand as if the answer is obvious. "Just make sure she doesn't die."
Angelica shoots him a glare before worriedly looking over Frances, who herself moves her gaze between Jack and Angelica. Nervously Angelica bounces the child in her lap.
"I was not born to do this," she lets out and Jack cannot stop smirking at this sight. It is not often he sees her this nervous and highly uncomfortable with anything. Angelica is a daredevil, never scared of anything. But this? A tiny child causes her a fear grander than life itself.
"Well, she seems comfortable," Jack jinxes and naturally the child begins to cry.
Angelica turns Frances to her and tries to comfort her, but to no avail. "I don't know what's wrong with her."
Jack opens a bag Hans sent with them and fumbles up a bottle. He leans across the carriage and hands it to Angelica who quickly grabs it. She tilts Frances and at once the child silences to happily eat.
Another sigh of relief escapes Angelica.
Before their stop, she has returned it to Jack and Frances is sitting up, enjoying her place in Angelica's lap. She even tries to stand and Angelica holds her tiny hands as she curiously looks at Jack, now making him uncomfortable. He is too looking away and tries to avoid her gaze.
"Stop doing that, Jack. She isn't going to bite you."
When he looks back to her and is ready to both shoot Angelica a glare and retort of how she is not the one to talk - they are pulled to a stop and he knows they have arrived.
The servant opens the door and helps Jack down. The two men do their best to help Angelica with baby down and it goes successfully. The steps are fast towards the porch due weather conditions and colder climate. Fortunately a doorman opens the doors at once for them and lets them inside.
Rothley is standing inside, muttering something about a painting to a servant that immediately begins to take it down with the help of others. When the baron sees Jack and company, he suddenly smiles and heads over to them.
"Lord Teague," he greets by shaking Jack's hand excitedly yet steadily. "And Angelica," he wants to kiss her hand but finds them busy with the child. "It must be your daughter."
She swallows before nodding. "She is. Her name is Frances."
"Frances," Rothley repeats and smiles to the child. "Almost as lovely as yours."
Now Jack knows for sure this man is flirting with his wife. Or maybe he just wants to see how far he can go in Jack's presence. How much he accepts of this. Maybe he just needs to set his foot down. But again, is he willing to risk it if it may lead to Rothley not liking him and therefore restraining their sort of friendship. Him never getting the chance of making him resign the papers and so on retrieve the Pearl.
No, it is absolutely not worth it, is a conclusion he comes to.
A young woman appears and heads for Angelica at once.
"Bring that child to Peter Jr. and care for them while we have tea," Rothley speaks. "You will get to meet my son later."
Frankly, Angelica cannot be more relieved. She hands over Frances that slightly whimpers to this, not wanting to leave her mother. But Angelica is fast to remove her eye elsewhere as she sees Anna approaching.
"Lady Angelica!"
"Baroness Anna."
The ladies hug and Jack knows that beyond this act, Angelica probably feels true friendship for this woman. And obviously it is likewise.
A tea party. Precisely how it sounds. A bit extraordinary though for what Jack had expected. Tea is the primarily liquid in beautiful China porcelain, however after a few hours Rothley's servants are popping champagne for them. While Rothley and Anna seem to be enjoying themselves, Jack in between exchanges a glance with Angelica to tune in, making sure they were on the same page with everything.
At least the Rothleys appear to like them. A lot. Having Baron Rothley be a grand decision maker of British territory of the Caribbean islands, he fancies Jack similar interest coming from another side of the table. It does go well. Even with a bit of alcohol in their veins.
Everything goes with ease and Jack finds this a success. All is fine. And he shall retrieve his Pearl before he knows it.
That is to say as to before the nursemaid of the Rothleys together with a servant arrive with the children. There is this tiny little boy, Peter Jr., that looks like a true little blighter and of course, the nursemaid who carries Frances over to Angelica. At once Angelica wears this false expression again, doing her very best to cover up her nervousness of being responsible for a child. Carefully she accepts Frances into her lap while Anna is blessed by having Rothley holding their son. For a brief moment, Angelica moves to try to hand this child over to Jack, but he moves aside and discreetly shakes his head to her. He knows she is inwardly fuming but the both of them get distracted by Anna's gasp.
"Oh, Angelica! She looks just like you."
Both Angelica and Jack stop their silent banter and instead their attention darts to Anna. It appears as if time has stopped.
"She is so sweet," Anna goes on and then she nudges her husband. "Peter, isn't she the cutest?" she wonders aloud.
Angelica's mouth hangs agape, her trying to utter a word. Maybe even agree, or disagree. Thank Anna for the compliment. But she finds herself speechless.
"One can really tell she is yours," Anna then beams.
If Jack has to swallow his uncomfort, he can only imagine how Angelica feels. Oh, now if this is not a caring act of kindness from his side, what else can be?
Because he lifts Frances from Angelica's lap and brings the child to him. Partly in fact a bit in fear she may drop Frances from her lap in her bewilderment.
Frances is content though, happily smiling at whoever meets her eye. Truly a child scares Jack more than anything. But the thought of losing the Pearl because of Angelica's perhaps revelation in shock scares him more, and thereof him ending up with Franny-girl. Simple as that.
And perhaps, of course, he can be somewhat nice at points. Can he not? At least when he has something to win at it.
"Indeed," Jack agrees and wryly smiles. His eyes drift down to Frances that at once aims to stand up. He grunts as she almost steps into his 'section' and he makes a face. "Now isn't she a princess."
Rothley chuckles. "It's almost as if I get the idea of asking Frances hand in marriage for Peter Jr."
Immediately Angelica's eyes shoot up and it looks like she has been shot. Frankly, it comes as a shock for Jack too. But he takes it better than Angelica. Because it is not like they will be there anyway, a decade and more years later to actually go through with this anyhow.
"She's barely one," Angelica objects.
Rothley frowns. "Peter Jr. is a popular young lad. He will have many fathers urging him to be betrothed to their daughters in the near future."
Realizing Angelica ticking off a baron, Jack is fast to intervene. "Let us just consider at home for a moment before most likely accepting this?"
Rothley shares a smile with Anna. "Wonderful. I take that as an acceptance regardless."
"We are going to be family," Anna is in her bubble of wonderland. "This is too wonderful."
When the Rothleys do not see, Angelica nods her head towards the doorway, indicating to Jack that she is ready to leave. And he agrees. Who else knows what those insane people will suggest if they stay any longer. Sort of not understanding why he gets slightly upset himself too. It is not like any of that is happening for real. Furthermore, he needs to remind himself every now and then that it is only an act. And that it does not matter what they agree or disagree upon.
He is the one opening his mouth about leaving, making up another lie about how they must return home as Angelica together with their nursemaid must begin to plan Frances birthday. Turning one years old. It brings Angelica to yet another surprise. Something she quite had not thought of. That she is supposed to plan that, organize it and probably invite others. But as long as they are not inside the carriage, she wears that same genuine pleasant appearance and says her warmest goodbye. Something she drops when she enters the carriage and it begins to roll.
Jack eyed her as she spoke to the servant in charge of caring for the horses as he sits on the carriage, but he does not grasp what she says. To be frank, he struggles with the wriggling child in his arms. He wants to return her to Angelica but Miss Teach's expression tells him he better not. Instead he sits down and with his free hand searches in the bag Hans had brought to find something he can entertain Franny-girl with. He finds a little hat and bends it like a pirate hat, puts it on her head.
When Angelica sees it, she rolls her eyes, huffs but ends up fighting back her smile.
"What are you doing?"
Jack proudly watches Franny-girl smiling and he reflects it. "Look 'Gelica, a lil' pirate, isn't she?"
"Apparently the Rothleys believe otherwise," she mumbles. The irritation in her is evident and it causes Jack to pause his actions of playing with Frances.
He looks at Angelica, very serious in his tone. "Let them suggest whatever, love. It isn't happening anyways, aye."
She does not answer and Jack must get it confirmed. "Aye?" he repeats.
When her gaze meets his again, she sighs. "Yes."
For a brief moment he got a little afraid. Fearful that she will start rethink the situation of the three of them. They have a plan and they will stick to it. To agree and do whatever the Rothleys want in order to get closer to this damn signature.
"Even if it be meaning betrothing her to this wealthy son, we do it, aye," Jack pushes.
Shrugging, Angelica appears more nonchalant of the event that she truly is. "Why would I care, Jack?" she retorts, suddenly a stronger and firm tone than before as if trying to either convince him or herself. "I am not her mother, sí?"
To that, Jack agrees. "Aye."
And perhaps it was meant to happen. Right there. That late afternoon.
Which it did.
At the market square.
Needing time alone from the house, although together with Jack and Frances, what Angelica had suggested the servant was to drop them off at this very market. They needed privacy, to talk. This is a harsh and ugly situation. And also so, the words she realized that she uttered. They were true though, but felt uncomfortable on her tongue. Whether that is a bad or good thing, confused her further. And to sort this out, she wanted them away from the house and Hans, just for a moment. No acting.
For a beginning this was a great idea. They strolled side by side and tried not to bring up anything that would irritate the other. After all, they are in this together.
And for this moment, Jack thoughts did wander. The comfort of being in her presence, of having her by his side. Magnetically he would in between drift to her and end up brushing his arm against hers. If anyone would claim how he felt inside when she took a hold of his crooked arm, he would again deny this into his bones. He truly hated that she does have that kind of power of him. It happened days ago, but he can still feel the warmth from her kiss burning on his lips. And whenever he is around her, there is this urge of finishing what they started and have been dancing around for days.
She however has been a master in avoiding never giving in to him.
He can be so mad at her. Insanely driving him over any edge there is, and make him want to burn down a whole town itself. No matter what, he will always end up softening to her whenever she ends up looking at him with those eyes. They were pleading, strong, fierce and somehow at the same time filled with hunger. No matter how much he irritates himself on her, she can make it go away at any instance by just a look.
"I need some air," she speaks truthfully.
And he can feel her. The need of being themselves. As Franny-girl holds her arms out for Angelica, Jack dips a bit and hands the girl over to her so-called mother. Fragilely, she accepts the gesture and carries the girl along Jack's side as they promenade.
"So do I," he agrees. His eyes wander and get stuck on an inn. It looks a bit better than the typical ones he used to find in Tortuga or in general in the Caribbean. This appears more like a mansion, a beautiful light facade with a well dressed doorman standing outside. He suddenly gets an idea and decides to speak up before he changes his mind. "What do ye say about an early dinner, just the three of us?"
Angelica's attention goes where Jack looks. "Why?"
"No servants, no Rothleys, no butlers or maids and no Hans. Why not enjoy half a day being ourselves," he suggests, suddenly himself very keen on the idea. "What do ye say, love?"
The lady scans the area for any eavesdropping but then turns to Jack, ready with a rant of arguments of why that is a bad idea.
"Hans will wonder where we..," But as she faces Jack, his intense stare, she understands that she will give in. Which she does. She somehow ends up nodding. "Alright."
The doorman lets them in and they enter this grand lobby. A the reception desk a person welcomes them warmly and stands up as Jacks pops a question of a reservation at the restaurant. When they are directed to it, Jack gestures for Angelica to join.
She follows with Frances in her arms to a big room. With a bit of bribe, they end up in the corner, away from the others. They are handed the menus and a bottle of champagne ends up on their table. Not that any of them ordered it.
With Frances beginning to whimper and struggle in her embrace, Angelica sets her down on the floor. "Will you watch her while I decide what to eat," she speaks and begins to browse the menu.
Jack opens his mouth to answer when they are both interrupted by a voice.
"Lord and Lady Teague!"
Oh, no, for heaven's sake.
Jack draws in his breath in frustration as they see two fancy dressed people approach them. A couple they had met on New Year's Eve.
And now he must put on a false smile.
"Lady Teague, lovely to meet you here," the woman smiles and awaits her husband of authority to join her bashing.
"Indeed," he is fast to agree. "And Lord Teague," he then continues. "It looks like you made an impression with our Baron Rothley himself."
The woman giggles. "Whomever he approves of, I approve of." And with an earned raised eyebrow from her partner, she is fast to correct. "We, approve of."
When the pair seem to glance to each other, making sure they are agreeing, Jack brings this opportunity into exchanging a weirded glance with Angelica, she equally reflects him. If they are supposed to act like these idiots, they might as well -
"Oh, you are too kind!" Angelica suddenly spills with an astonishing wide false smile. When Jack eyes her he almost thinks she blends in among those so-called cup-cake women walking in fluffy weird dresses and make up making them look like being awakened from the dead, an updo in the hair causing him to question whether it is truly hair or if any lady is trotting around glamorously with a tiny pet on top of her head.
In other, shorter, words; Angelica certainly did know how to play her game. And he wants to cred her for that. At points he wonders if she plays this role too well. He never really believes this is a life for her, and that she wants it. But it does force him to confused eye her in between with this mark, slightly in disbelief she can fit in everywhere. And also, what does she want? What does she think? What is her next move? What is her next move on him? Perhaps the latter is what he truly seeks, and why this frustrates him. Why she intrigues him, makes him push behind her back like a glued hand clinging onto the favorable of most excellent rum. And he cannot really let go, can he?
Although somewhere in his deepest thoughts, ideas bring him back to her words. 'Game on.'
Well she better be 'gamed on,' because he never fails a game. He may not come out even as the official winner. Sort of actually, he never really does. But unofficially, he always in every single path he takes, comes out as the one and only winner.
With her, this is again - not precisely the case.
That attitude, hot on him. That magnetic attraction, pulling him towards her. Those seductive lips and deep gaze can catch his eye even if he so were blindfolded.
With three pairs of eyes blinking and eyeing him for too long, he returns to the conversation and figures he musingly has rubbed his chin for too long while keeping a steady examination of his wife.
"Maybe we are disturbing you," the man states in fact more politely than the single words sound.
"Oh no," Jack shakes is head. In the corner of his eyes, he can see the hunger grow in Angelica and he has absolutely no intention of facing this side of her. So instead he almost desperately gestures to the side of their table. "Why not join our company instead?" He even tries to fake a smile, just like Angelica. It must look completely foolish as he notices her rolling eyes.
"Thank you, Lord Teague. We'd love to. But we're already finished dining, ready to leave for the night."
When they nod their goodbyes, Jack really just waits for them to get out of sight and as he suspected, Angelica is biting at him at once.
"What was that?"
He decides to go for the nonchalant one, in hope she will believe him or most hopefully of all - take a hint and just forget all about it.
"What be what."
"That look."
Ah, Angelica. Why does she ask questions she already knows the answer to?
He tries again.
"What look."
Now, Angelica leans over the table, clearly up to corner him.
"Like you wanted to..," she stumbles on her words. "Wanted to..," and leans back in her chair, clearly with difficulty of bringing the sentence to its result. "To..."
"To bed you?" He finishes.
She blushes and looks away.
Again, he wonders. Why she brings it up but cannot face the actual truth. Like, what does she expect? He can see her growing boldness in how she takes a deep breath, suddenly wearing an act of trying to corn him as she shoots him an accusing eye and looks straight into his eyes.
"Exactly, Jack."
Well, if it is this game she wants. As he said - he never loses a game he has entered.
"Because I'd like to."
Now if she blushed before, her expression is priceless.
Aye, he totally got her. Right on the spot.
Her mouth hangs agape in shock and she is truly speechless.
And Jack enjoys every second of this.
Now this is a moment to savor for his precious memory.
She is about to speak but instead looks sideways and suddenly almost throws herself out of her chair.
"Where's Frances?"
"Franny-Girl?" He wonders, also pulled out of the bubble. "You had her."
"No, I gave her to you," she retorts and frustration, fright?, anger, grows in her. "I put her on the floor and you'd take her."
Jack gestures around them. "Well obviously she isn't 'ere."
"I can see that! Hans will kill us."
Jack eyes widen as he also understands that she really, really, is not under the table or anywhere around.
"He will kill you, aye."
She bites her tongue at his remark and shoots him a quick warning before flying up from her chair. They are both down on all four on the floor, looking and calling for Frances.
Eventually he stands up and grabs Angelica up with him. "She ain't in here."
"What if someone has taken her?"
Jack frowns. "Why?" However he notices her true worry.
"Look at her. She is perfect. And maybe that imbecile abductor thinks she is rich, because of us! And now, she is gone - because of us!"
"That I agree to."
He nods to a passage and Angelica heads for the other one. In his mind, a child that tiny cannot make it that far. Had their encounter really gone on for that long? His staring... probably, but not too long for Frances to get recruited on a ship and head overseas. Aye?
He stops tracks.
Or could she?
A dim light reveals the patio outside. He gets there just in time to see Frances balancing with a hold on a stony fountain, looking at the moving water with excitement, amazement and truly caught in trance. At once he feels relieved. She is there. Everything is alright.
But then he also witnesses Angelica coming out from her passage, and runs to Frances to lift her up.
He must actually tilt his head here. Or, the event at least causes him to. There is something, a feeling in the air that is new to him. And he cannot tell if he likes it or if it freaks him out.
But it is different. It certainly is.
Her arms hug so tightly and Angelica buries Frances head against the crook of her neck as if she is the most precious thing Angelica has ever encountered.
"Ay cariña mía," he hears her soothing voice as she embraces Frances further tighter. But it is probably her following words that causes him to wake up. "I'll never, ever let go of you again. Never, cariña mía."
And he knows. He knows everything changed that moment.
He wants to move, but the sight causes him to stop. Every loving word Angelica utters to Frances, and with such care and love she holds the tiny one. It even beats...
Jack frowns.
What he sees, even beats his love for his Pearl.
It does.
But he just swallows and decides to join them. He softly pats Frances' head and later gestures to the entrance.
"Let's go home."
Angelica says nothing to him, but only keeps her focus on Frances. He lets her, but eyes her watchfully during the whole ride. He tries to neglect his vision of the two the best he can, but it thugs in him. Nothing will ever be the same again. He knows that.
Because when they arrive home they are met again by the staff. And Jack is grateful to just get help with skipping out of his coat, get a fine crystal glass of rum served and any other habitual routine he has.
But Angelica...
When the nursemaid arrives, ready to take Frances - she hugs back, avoids, the nursemaid.
"I'll take her tonight, thank you."
Probably every staff member reacts, but way more discreet than Jack himself. He freezes. Even more for the following uttered word.
"I'll take my daughter tonight."
He bites his tongue before gulping the whole glass down. This was not supposed to happen.
With a thud, he replaces the heavy glass on the servant's tray. Then he goes up to his bedroom, brings off his vest. He hates that vest. For a moment he eyes his reflection. He will never get used to that vision, will he?
Will he ever get used to that vision of what now is frozen in the back of his mind?
Carefully he pushes the bedroom door back open and pauses upon hearing Angelica's soft voice.
And it comes from Frances' room.
When he leans in the doorway, he faces exactly what he expects. Angelica leaning over the crib, her hand protectively to Frances, who has fallen asleep with a possessive grip around Angelica's finger.
She even barely notices Jack's presence at first. When she does, she almost looks guilty.
There is this silence, of knowledge. Just looking into each others' eyes. He knows her too well.
He knows, that she knows, that he knows.
It may just be his obligation to say it, so he does.
He is the only one who can say it, and so on his duty to.
"Don't, Angelica," and he will afterwards leave to retreat to his bedroom. "Don't fall in love with her."
Because it will get ugly. And that is just the start of it.
A/N: Like it/Hate it? ;-) Have a lovely week folks! Until next chapter.