Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 20
"Settle up with the lass and we'll get on with our business."
"What? Me? Me settle up? For what?" Jack squeaked out, hands flopping about as he looking a bit aghast at the man.
"You're the one received the kiss Jackie. Go on settle up….. I'll owe ya."
"I don't think I like the sound of that owin part." Jack said with a pout. "And what business might it be you're talking about?"
"Settle up and we'll talk."
Jack, still pouting, dug a fairly generous amount of coins out of his pocket and handed them to Rose. She smiled as she took the coins, opened the door, gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek and whispered, "Maybe we can take this up later when your friend is gone?"
"Ah luv that be the rub, he's not me friend, and may not be a later." Jack said moodily flopping his hands about dejectedly.
Rose stopped her exit and looked at Jack with a bit of concern, "Are you in danger?" she said trying to keep her voice low so the other man wouldn't hear.
Jack gave her a mournful look, but as he opened his mouth to answer the other man stepped up next to him, cast an arm around his shoulders, smiled at Rose as she stepped out through the door saying, "Darlin, the only thing Jackie be in danger of here is over actin, and no doubt will be seein ya at a later date. Ta now." he said as he closed the door.
He took his arm from around Jack's shoulder, walked over to the table, picked up a bottle sitting there, poured rum into two glasses, offered one to Jack, and took a seat with the other as he said, "Now Jackie come over and tell your old Da what ya been up to."
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Josette walked Elizabeth back to the dining room, curtsied, and left. Elizabeth was greeted by the Governor, who stood upon her entry and once again went through the hand kissing routine. Elizabeth thought to herself she was glad she didn't have to go through that every day. She took her seat as the serving maid took her plate and went through the process of placing the different choices of food Elizabeth indicated on the plate and then set it before her. Lunch consisted of innocuous small talk, and seemed to go on forever to Elizabeth. She was once again feeling the drain of the heat and humidity, and the detested corset seemed to be going out of its way to make her doubly uncomfortable.
"I apologize if my conversation has bored you Madame." The Governor said.
"What?" Elizabeth said, realizing she had indeed lost track of what the Governor had been saying, "No Governor, I apologize. I should not have allowed myself to drift off like that. It must be this heat and humidity."
"Perhaps we could take our negotiations to the veranda for this afternoon, it is shaded and should provide at least a small breeze for your comfort." The Governor replied.
"Yes I think that is an excellent idea Governor." Elizabeth said giving him a smile. "Thank you."
"I shall have the arrangements taken care of while you finish your meal Madame." The Governor said as he excused himself.
By the time Elizabeth had finished eating the Governor was back and informed her the arrangements were complete, and if she was ready they could retire to the veranda to continue their business. Elizabeth stood and followed. She immediately felt the light breeze as she stepped outside and began to feel one hundred percent better. A table had been set up in a shady corner of the veranda and she headed over to take her seat. She took the time as the Governor talked to one of his aides before joining her to look around at her surroundings. The back of the Palace where she was now sitting gave her a view of a large cove. She sat staring out at the water, her thoughts drifting off once again to wonder if all was going well with Will.
"I am afraid I have done nothing here to improve the chances of retaining your attention Mrs. Turner." The Governor said with a smile as he came over to the table.
Elizabeth drug her attention back to the Governor and said, "No Governor, this is definitely an improvement. I am sure I will be able to concentrate a bit better now. Thank you for indulging me sir."
"No need to thank me Madame, it is my pleasure I assure you. Now shall we get on with business?"
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The man sitting at Jack's table noticed the girl coming back, and seeing she was alone called out, "You! Girl!"
She paused a few feet away looking at the man questioningly. He continued, "That gent you left with, what's become of him? Passed out perhaps?"
"No Mister, he finished with me, paid me right and proper too. Now he's up there talkin." She didn't wait to see if the man had more to say, anxious to spend the coins in her hand she walked off.
"Talkin to himself no doubt." The man said to himself with a smile. Well it no where near the craziest thing he'd known Jack Sparrow to do. In fact it was a pretty normal occurrence if you spent much time around the man. He pulled another apple out of his pocket, relaxed back in his chair, and ordered another rum figuring the man would tire of talking to himself before long and miss the attention of others he so easily garnered, and return to the bar room. He glanced around at his two tablemates, the Commodore snoring softly, his head still lying on the table, and the Turner whelp still sitting unnaturally stiff and upright in his chair, however the man noticed his eyes had closed, and were no longer staring glassily at nothing. "Aye Jack, it appears we'll all be here waitin fer your return."
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The negotiations, which were going well, had been finished for the day, supper was over, Josette had walked with her to her room when Elizabeth had decided it was time to retire for the evening, and helped her prepare for bed. She was on the little balcony outside one of the windows enjoying the soft fragrant breeze coming off the cove. It caressed her body and rippled her dressing gown as she stood there looking off towards the horizon, her thoughts on Will.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Elizabeth called, "Enter." thinking Josette had returned for some reason or other.
She turned to see not Josette but Alon Burgeron standing there looking at her.
"I apologize Madame Turner," the man said, "But I must speak with you."
Elizabeth recovered from the slight shock of seeing him instead of Josette and said, "Well then Mr. Bergeron, I suggest you start talking."
To Be Continued
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