Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 18

Josette led Elizabeth to the dining room and as Elizabeth entered, she curtseyed and left. Elizabeth was greeted with a sight similar to the first time she had been here. A table full of food, only this time the Governor was seated at the table. He rose from his chair as Elizabeth came in, walked forward, took her hand and placed a light kiss on the back, and greeted her with a smile, "Ah Madam Turner, so good to see you. I must apologize for my absence yesterday, unfortunately it was unavoidable."

"I understand Governor, my Father has had the same happen to him a time or two. No harm done I assure you." Elizabeth said graciously.

"I appreciate your understanding Madame, and hope to avoid any such interruptions while our business is being conducted. Now please sit, eat." he said indicating the table loaded with food.

"Thank you Governor, I appreciate your hospitality." Elizabeth said as she sat down.

"Please take your time, no need to rush. When you are finished, if it is agreeable, we can go to my study and begin our business."

"That will be fine Governor." Elizabeth said as she picked up the cup of tea the serving maid had poured for her. She sipped her tea as the serving maid took her plate, and indicating different dishes sitting on the table either put a serving on the plate or passed on to the next one according to whether Elizabeth nodded or shook her head.

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Jack was ordering at least the third round of drinks for the table in the past half hour or so, and although James was sure it was because Jack actually wanted the rum and did in fact drink that fast, he couldn't help but think a part of it was for the pure enjoyment it brought the pirate, and no he would not change that to privateer, at the discomfort and embarrassment it brought to himself and Will because of the way the barmaid insisted on profusely bestowing the next thing to intimate bodily contact all over them in the process of serving the drinks. The glares nor grunts of disapproval, nor the attempts to avoid the contact by fidgeting around in his chair by the Commodore did nothing to dissuade her from this. On the contrary, James was beginning to think it almost made her more insistent in said doings, perhaps even favoring him a bit more with this unwanted attention than Mr. Turner, who was sitting there with his uncomfortableness and red face as stiff as a board, his eyes wide and glassy, not letting out so much as a peep, his only movement to stiffly raise the mug of rum to his lips and take a long drink every thirty seconds or so.

James was fuming so much he hadn't even thought about the fact that he was drinking every mug of rum that was set in front of him, until he went to take a drink and wound up spilling it down his front when he missed his mouth.

He jerked back almost managing to spill himself from his chair as well as he said loudly, "I think that is quite enough Captain." or at least that is what he had intended to say, the words coming out of his mouth not nearly so clear.

"What's that James?" Jack said, taking his eyes off the barmaid and looking at James, "Are ya tryin ta say somethin? If ya are, you're doin a right pitiful job wif it mate. Sides that, it 'pears you've gone and wasted a perfectly good drink all down yer front."

James closed his eyes trying hard to get control. When he spoke again it was a bit more, but only a little clearer. He did however try for one word this time instead of trying to string several together, "Enough."

"Enough?" Jack said puzzled, "Enough what?"

James once again with great effort said, "Rum."

"Ah now that's where ya be wrong James, never ever such a thing as enough rum."

As James slumped forward, putting his elbows on the table and resting his head in his hands giving up for the moment trying to form any more thoughts or words, Jack looked at Will who was sitting there still stiff as a board only now with a silly grin plastered on his face, shrugged and turned his attention back to the barmaid.

A few minutes later Jack heard James mumble something. Turning once again to the man he said, "Are ya attemptin to conversate again James?"

James mumbled again and Jack leaned towards the man who had his mouth muffled in his hands trying to make out what James was saying.

"Can't make out a word mate, try again." Jack said, still leaning over in front of James face. This time he thought he made out a few of the words, such as think, and gonna, and throw up. Jack's head snapped back in alarm, not cause throwing up was unknown in the present surroundings but the fact that if James did throw up it would more than likely be all over their current position, and that was a disgusting thought in the least. As he tried to manhandle James towards the nearest exit he was making unpleasant faces, and his tongue started moving in and out of his mouth as if he had tasted a very unpleasant taste. He just managed to get James outside when he did indeed begin to do just what he said he was going to. Jack stepped back inside until he was sure James was done, and then retrieved the man and walked him back to the table. The next time the barmaid came by he ordered just for himself, having noted James pretty much passed out, his face flat on the table, and William still sitting perfectly straight in his chair but totally glassy eyed, Jack also couldn't recall if he'd even seen him move a muscle in the past ten minutes or so, enough reason in Jack's mind not to be wasting good rum on either one of them.

As Jack sat there drinking his rum he started to smile thinking about the Commodore's speech about being proper while in Tortuga. Wonder what the man would have to say in the morning when it turned out he was the one bein improper and not Jack. "Of course," Jack said to himself, "I probably should wait until his hang over has had a chance to ease up a bit afore I go mentionin that particular thing." Well maybe not, he'd just have to judge whether the Commodore was capable of doing any physical harm with said hang over, or if he was of the type to moan about in bed for hours before he could roust himself into movement. Be interesting to find out no doubt. Jack's thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly had a person sitting in his lap leaned close to his ear whispering, "I be done with me shift now if ya still be interested."

Jack said with a shiny smile and a wave of his arms, "Lead on Darlin, I am majestically, permanently, and unceasingly interested. I am after all Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"I'm Rose." The woman said as she giggled, pulled him out of his chair, and drug him towards the stairs.

Jack cast a glance at the two inert and torpid bodies at the table, and tipping his hat said with a smile, "Be back afore yer even aware I'm gone gents."

To Be Continued

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