The meeting with Governor Anderson went well. He was a young man, only a few years older than Elizabeth. Like her, he had read about the exploits and adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow in his youth… and just like she'd used to do, he had a serious case of hero-worship for Jack. Elizabeth had to hide her smile at the awed and gleeful expression that kept crossing his face when he studied his flashily-dressed guests.
He was all business dealing with Teague, though. He made it clear that Teague would be expected to work for his pardon by keeping Port Royale safe from all pirate attacks by anyone connected with the pirate lordship at Shipwreck.
"I am, of course, aware that many pirates have no connection with you or your circles, and that you have no influence with the rogue ones. However, if any of them do attack, you would be expected to find and capture them, and bring them back here to stand trial."
"I have no problem with that; however, my influence may be broader than ye think, Governor," Teague replied mildly.
"Aye, it is that," Jack interjected. "His name is still spoken in hushed whispers in every pirate port in the Caribbean! I shouldn't worry overmuch about rogue attacks if I were you, Governor."
"Really? Well, I am glad to hear that. Well, Captain Teague?" Anderson pressed.
"Aye, Governor, I accept your terms."
"Very well, and thank you. I will of course provide you with a small house and staff here in Port Royale if you wish. I know Mrs Ainsley-Swann mentioned that you live elsewhere, but we both thought you might do better to relocate here to Jamaica, the better to fulfill your duties. I trust you have sufficient income to meet your needs if your housing is provided?"
Teague's dark eyes took on a gleam of amusement. "Sufficient, aye. Ye might say so. An' thank ye fer the house, Governor. I'll take it, an' gladly."
"You are quite welcome, sir. I'll have my secretary deliver your documents, and then you can be on your way."
Once Teague had the pardon in hand, he gave the governor a brief bow, winked at Elizabeth and Jack, and headed out.
"Now, then," Anderson said to the two of them. "Just between us, Captain Sparrow, I pardoned your father more as a favor to Mrs Ainsley-Swann than because I find him especially deserving. I am a practical man, however, and if he can keep my city safe for even a decade, it is still a bargain.
"You, however, I am more eager to pardon and see on the right side of the law. What you did for the citizens of New Flimwell was a brave and generous thing, especially for a pirate. But then, you've never been that bloodthirsty a pirate, have you, if the things I've read about you are true. Sacking Nassau without firing a shot, for example. You've been a thief, but not a murderer, as I understand it."
"Aye, it's true. 'Ve never been much for killing willy-nilly," Jack replied. "Just t' defend myself."
"Or someone else," Elizabeth put in, remembering when Jack had killed Barbossa when he had been about to shoot Elizabeth.
"Yes," Anderson said. "Mrs Ainsley-Swann tells me that you not only found out who was responsible for the attack on New Flimwell, but that you set a trap for him, fought him, caught him, and arranged for his deportation and lifelong incarceration. Is that true?"
"More or less," Jack said. "In honest truth, I felt a bit responsible for the attack, so I did what I could to set things right afterward."
"What?" the governor demanded shortly. Suddenly he turned from star-struck teenager to ruthless governor with the power to rescind Jack's amnesty and hang him forthwith. "Pray tell, in what way were you responsible for it, sir?" He frowned at Jack. "What part did you play? I demand to know."
Jack put up his hands in a warding-off gesture. "Wait just a minute here, Governor. I had nothing to do with the attack itself. The person who led the attack was someone I'd had treacherous dealin's with in the past, but I'd allowed to live. Had I known what she would go on to do, I might not have been so merciful."
"'She'?" The governor asked. "The attacker was a woman?"
"Aye. A rabid cur, more like, but a bitch one."
"What was her reason for the attack?"
"I was," Elizabeth spoke up. "She thought that Captain Sparrow and I were conducting an illicit affair, and she was jealous. We were not, however. Jack has been a friend of mine and my husband's for several years; also, I believed my husband to still be alive at the time."
"Ah, so it was personal against the two of you, then?" Anderson pressed.
"It was," Elizabeth replied. "Unfortunately, neither of us was present at the time of the attack. If we had been, she might not have winnowed through the town so violently."
"Ah, but you might not have survived then," Anderson said. "So—you'll pardon me, but I wish to make absolutely certain of this—the only part you played in the attack, Captain Sparrow, was a previous acquaintance with the attacker, during which you allowed her to live?"
"Aye, sir, that was all."
"And your only regret was having shown her mercy?"
"Aye," Jack said through gritted teeth. "Saved her life when she was dyin', even. 'F I hadn't been so softhearted and had let her die, all those folks in Flimwell would've still been alive."
"Or might have died of the outbreak of Influenza that Mayor Quimby informs me claimed the lives of several settlers. It would seem that the burning of the town may have ended the sickness before it became a plague. No, Captain, I see no fault of yours here." He smiled, once again the friendly, gleeful young man with pirates! Real pirates! in his office. "In that case, you shall have the pardon, and gladly."
"Thank you, Governor. Er, what of my crew, sir? They're decent blokes, all of 'em—in fact, I've just got rid of the last two I wouldn't trust. Am I to be pardoned and have to get a whole new crew, or shall my crew be pardoned with me?"
"I shall need their names and backgrounds, Captain, but assuming no egregious violence in their pasts, I see no reason why you should not keep your own crew. They shall be pardoned as long as they remain with you."
Jack met Elizabeth's gaze with amusement at the governor's use of egregious, but when he looked back at the governor he was the soul of decorum. "I thank ye very kindly, Governor, and so shall my men, I'm sure. Er, what about when they stop remainin' with me? Many of 'em are no longer young men, sir."
"If they seek honest employment elsewhere, or if they retire while working for you, they shall remain pardoned. If any of them leave your employ to return to piracy, then I shall expect you to do your duty and turn them in. Will you do that?"
Jack nodded. "Aye, that's fair enough, sir, and I thank ye."
"Glad to do it, Captain. It does you credit, that you should be loyal to your men." Anderson turned to Elizabeth. "Mrs Sparrow, in examining your history and hearing your aunt's account of your so-called crimes, I find no wrongdoing in your case either. Your helping Captain Sparrow escape four years ago was excused by Governor Swann, and completely understandable in any case, considering his heroic efforts on behalf of the king's Navy against the accursed pirates."
Jack smirked.
Anderson went on, still addressing Elizabeth. "Your leading the attack against the East India Trading Company was a matter of self-defense, as I understand it. The Company had no legitimate authority to make demands as it did, and Cutler Beckett no power from the king to attack anyone. Therefore your arrest at his hands was wrongful in the first place, and for that I must convey sincere apologies from the crown."
Elizabeth said nothing, but sank into a deep curtsey of profound gratitude.
"In addition, Mrs Sparrow—for such I am told you've become, and in the nick of time, too!" Anderson grinned. "You both have my congratulations on your marriage, and my best wishes for your happiness. You shall also be provided a house and staff here in Port Royale, and since your time shall be divided fairly equally between the two towns, I shall arrange for a house in New Flimwell also if you wish it."
"I'd prefer to visit there first, Governor," Jack told him, "See how things stand there, get the lay of the land and figure out what they need, before we decide about that. But we'll accept housing here, and gladly. It'll be good for the little one," he murmured as an aside to Elizabeth.
"Oh, there's a child?" the governor asked, eyes darting between the two of them, since he knew they had only been married the day before.
"Aye, there is. Jacob Turner, Mrs Sparrow's little son from her first husband," Jack explained pointedly.
"Oh! Oh, I see. Well, good!" He turned to Elizabeth. "Mrs Sparrow, I know my wife Louisa would like to meet you, and your son ought to meet our little girl, Martha. They may become playmates. I'll have my wife send you a card."
"That would be lovely, sir," Elizabeth replied.
"Now, then. Your first assignment is to deliver some lumber and tools to Flimwell, but the lumber is still being cut down as we speak. If I ask you to leave in, say, a week and a half, can you be ready to sail by then?"
"I could sail this evening with the tide if you wished it, Governor," Jack bragged, "Only excepting I've a mind to take my lovely bride on a bit of a honeymoon before we buckle down to work."
Anderson smiled. "By all means, and I wish you both joy. I'll see you again in a week or so, then, Captain, Mrs Sparrow."
Thus dismissed, Jack and Elizabeth left the governor's office, stopping only long enough to see the secretary and pick up their official pardons. Then they headed back toward Aunt Agatha's house, where the older lady had assured them would be a fine, celebratory luncheon laid out for them and Captain Teague.
"Jack?" Elizabeth asked as they walked. "Where do you plan to go for our honeymoon? This was the first I've heard of it."
"One of the spots I'm plannin' to leave some of your treasure. Little spot what gave us both some fond memories," he said with a wink. "A little singing, dancing, drinking, a bonfire, and no rum-burning. Is that clear, my girl?" He gave her a severe look.
"You're never going to forget that, are you? I promise, no rum-burning this time," Elizabeth agreed, smiling. "So, the rum-runners' island again, then?"
"Aye, but with a boat to leave on, and some supplies to make our stay a bit more comfortable—and no one around but us, for most of a week."
"That sounds heavenly," Elizabeth said, her eyes darkening at the thought. "What sort of supplies?"
"Food and water, some wine along with the rum, perhaps a blanket or two… that is, unless you prefer your seductions on the bare sand?" Jack asked politely. "I'll gladly accommodate your desires either way."
Elizabeth laughed, blushing. "We can try it both ways and see which one we prefer," she suggested.
Jack's grin broadened. "I'm so glad I married you!" he said with deep satisfaction.
"So am I. Oh, here's my aunt's house," Elizabeth announced, taking Jack's arm as they went up the path.