Regrets, I May Have Had A Few

Chapter 11

"Madam Anot thank you for your hospitality." James said as they followed the lady and the two children into the dining room and took their seats."

"I must admit, Mr. Norrington, I wasn't expecting company, we rarely have visitors. I do appreciate the intervention on behalf of my two young wards." She paused to give the two children a pointed glare, then added, "I'm sure that such intervention will not be necessary in the future." Both children looked down at their plates, avoiding eye contact with their aunt. "So what business brings you to such a remote place?" Madam Anot asked.

Dropping his fork beside his plate and fluttering his hands in front of him Jack replied, "We were sent here by a certain nameless party who believes there might be a bit of something of interest to that particular and certain nameless person in this particular and certain place."

"I don't think you could be any more vague if you tried Captain Sparrow." Madam Anot replied with a tight smile.

James snorted a bit and said, "Believe me Madam Anot, he could and probably will be. Captain Sparrow takes great pleasure in his rambling vagueness."

Madam Anot gave Jack a fleeting moue as Jack was giving James a similar but more sustained moue, then tipped her head a bit toward James, smiled, and said, "Perhaps I should address my conversation to you then Mr. Norrington."

James straightened almost imperceptibly in his chair, was she flirting with him? He held her gaze for a moment. Yes, it appeared that was exactly what she was doing. He heard Jack whisper, "Go with it mate." He wasn't sure what Jack had in mind or how it would help in their quest, and it had been too many years since he had even attempted to "flirt" with someone that he was rather uncomfortable with the whole notion but he decided he would go along with it for the time.

Jack surreptitiously elbowed him in the side and he realized Madam Anot was waiting for a response. He cleared his throat and attempted to return the lady's smile, although as stiff and uncomfortable as it felt to him he was sure she would interpret it as more of a grimace, "I would consider that the correct course of action Madam Anot."

"You may call me Marina, Mr. Norrington." She said with a more pronounced flirtatious expression as she leaned a bit more in his direction.

James sat there for a moment, surprised she hadn't taken offense at his attempt at flirting and gone storming from the table in disgust. Jack once again reminded him, with his elbow, that he was expected to respond. "You may call me James….Marina." One of the servants was pouring wine into the glasses on the table, and as James' was filled he quickly emptied it hoping it would settle his nerves.

The rest of the meal passed with more flirting from Marina and more of James doing his best to flirt back.

As the meal ended Marina turned her attention to the children, "William, Madeline, it is well past your bedtime. There will be extra chores for you tomorrow for your disobedience today. You may excuse yourselves and go to your rooms."

"Yes Aunty." They replied in turn. They stood up, bowing and curtsying to James and Jack as they bid them good night, then walked to the head of the table where Marina was seated, bowed and curtsied to her, each giving her a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the dining room.

Marina sighed, "It is such a troublesome matter to have the responsibility of children." She looked at James, "Do you have children James?"

"I have not had that pleasure as of yet." James replied, his tone carrying a tinge of true regret for something he would have liked to have accomplished by now but had not.

"It is a responsibility I often wish I had not taken on." Marina replied. Noticing the questioning look James and Jack were both giving her she went on, "The children are no blood relation to me. Their parents arrived here with me when the children were quite young, just babes really." Marina went on almost as if she was reliving a memory and unaware she was speaking in front of company. "Unfortunately soon after there was a terrible accident and both of them were killed. Of course I couldn't just abandon the children, once I'd found I needed them… that they had the knowledge…."

She shook her head to clear it, "You must excuse me for rambling on."

She looked toward one of the windows for a moment as if casting off the last vestiges of her thoughts. "It is late gentlemen. Would you consider allowing me to offer you rooms for the night. I doubt you would be able to find anything in town."

"Sounds good ta me, what say you James?" Jack said with a smile.

"I suppose that would be acceptable." James replied.

"Good, I shall have them prepared." Once again she put on a flirtatious expression, "James, would you accompany me out to the verandah for an after dinner brandy?"

Jack spoke before James had a chance to answer, "Course he would, wouldn't ya Jamie lad?" Ignoring the snort from James at addressing him so inappropriately Jack continued firing off words in his usual rapid manner when he was hoping no one was listening too closely to what he was saying, " Now don't neither of ya go concernin yerselves with old Jack here, just go on about yer business 'n old Captan Jack will have no problem atol in the findin of somfin ta keep hisself occupied whilst the two of you sets about the inbibin 'n enjoyin of them no doubt fine brandys what's about ta be imbibed 'n ya commence with the occupin of each other as it were out there on that there fine verandah 'n not givin so much as a thought 'r worry bout old Jack here. Savvy?" He ended his little speech by nudging James in the direction of the doors opening out onto the verandah, leaning to whisper into James' ear as he did, "Now if you'll be kind enough ta keep the lady occupied for a bit Commodore I think I'm on ta somfin what in fact may find itself ta be a bit more 'n contributorally advantageous to our quest." James looked over his shoulder at Jack and whispered back. "It does not appear either one of you have given me much choice in the matter." Jack smiled a glittering smile as he gave James a nod and one last little push toward the doors and Madam Anat, "Aye, 'n I'm thinkin here that it will turn out much more better for the both of us Commodore."

As Lady Anat hooked her arm through James' and led him out to the verandah Jack stood there for a moment smiling, he rocked back and forth on his heels a time or two, pointed both index fingers straight up in the air, then at the door leading out of the dining room. He quickly headed toward the stairway leading to the upper floors, the smile still on his lips as he lightly mounted the steps two at a time.

To Be Continued

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