Delightful Contempt

Chapter 11:

A/N: Okay it’s been way too long since I last updated this story! So onto it then….time for Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding. They’re going to get married on the deck of the Pearl out in the middle of the Caribbean at sunset. A surprise guest shows up at their wedding as well! Please read and review…I love the feedback!

The whole ship was teeming with excitement over Jack and Elizabeth’s upcoming nuptials as they prepared the Pearl for the ceremony. Elizabeth stretched and then rolled over onto her stomach pressing her face into the pillow. She had spent the night alone in their cabin since she had insisted that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Finally pushing herself up onto her knees she moved to get out of the bed. A smile stretched across her face as she realized the next time she and Jack would enter this room they would be husband and wife. Finally she was going to be married! And who would have ever thought that the man she was marrying was none other than the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow? She certainly hadn’t imagined this…not even in her wildest dreams. Elizabeth had grown up reading anything and everything she could about the notorious pirate Captain. She had been obsessed with everything about him. And then when she had met him…under extreme circumstances of course…..she had been utterly fascinated with him. Jack had come to her rescue….like a knight in shining armor almost…..leaping into the depths of the ocean to pluck her from a watery grave. Oh how she had admired him….that is until he turned around and took her hostage to save his own sorry hide. Pirate. Another grin crept onto her face as that word seemed to echo in her head.

Padding across the floor of their cabin she noticed a large box that was on the table. Arching an eyebrow in confusion she reached out to open the box. Pulling the lid off the box she pushed aside the thin tissue like paper that lined the inside of it. There inside the box was the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. It was a creamy pearl white and was laid out neatly in the box. She picked it up and held it out to get a better look at it. The dress was strapless and resembled a corset. It tapered down into a smooth skirt that fell to her feet.

“Oh…..Jack!”

Walking back over to the bed she carefully laid the dress down onto it. Suddenly the door to the cabin opened making her jump nervously. Fearing it was Jack trying to sneak a glance at her before their wedding she ran over to the dressing screen that Jack had gotten for her and hid behind it.

“Jack Sparrow….get out now!”

The sound of Pintel and Ragetti’s voices made her peek out from behind the screen made of tightly woven bamboo.

“Not ‘t worry Miss Elizabeth…it’s jus’ me an’ Pintel.”

“We come t’ bring in the tub for yer bath poppet.”

“Bath?”

“Aye…Captain Jack said ye’d want t’ take a bath Miss Elizabeth.”

“Oh yes…thank you.”

She stepped out from behind the screen and watched as they set the wooden tub down near the foot of the bed. A moment later they came in carrying large buckets of steaming water to fill the tub. Once the tub was filled Ragetti brought in another wooden bucket and set it next to the tub.

“Jus’ some bath salts an’ soap that Captain Jack said ye’d want t’ have.”

“Enjoy yer bath poppet.”

“Thank you…both of you.”

The two men nodded and left her alone. She latched the door shut just to make sure that she would have no further interruptions. Stripping off the linen shirt that she had been wearing she eased herself down into the steaming water. A soft sigh escaped her throat as she settled herself into the tub. Reaching over the side of the tub she began rummaging through the bucket. There was a small vile with bath salts. Opening the vile she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply. The scent of jasmine tickled her nose. Shrugging she dumped the bath salts into the hot water and then reached back into the bucket. Pulling out a washcloth and a bar of jasmine scented soap she set them both down on the edge of the tub. She grabbed another vile that looked to be filled with shampoo. Opening it carefully she poured some into the palm of her hand before smelling it. Smiling she leaned her head back and wet her hair before working the jasmine scented shampoo into her long tawny locks. After a few moments she tipped her head back and started rinsing the shampoo from her hair. Grabbing the washcloth and soap she lathered up and started to scrub the dirt and sweat from her skin. Once she deemed herself clean enough she stepped out of the tub and grabbed the linen that was draped over the back of the chair and started to dry herself.

Opening the trunk at the foot of their bed Elizabeth pulled out her light blue linen robe and wrapped it around herself tying the belt securely closed around her slender waist. Walking over to the door she unlatched it and peeked out. Seeing Pintel and Ragetti playing cards nearby she whistled to get their attention. They dropped their cards and came back into the cabin to retrieve the tub and bucket of bath supplies. Quickly they were gone and she was alone in the cabin once again. Elizabeth sat down at the desk and began brushing out her long tawny and still damp locks carefully. After a short while her hair was dry and she began fashioning it into an intricate braided bun with a few loose strands hanging down to frame her face and trail down the back of her elegant neck. A knock on the door startled her.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Gibbs Miss Elizabeth…jus’ brought yer lunch.”

“Oh thank you.”

Gibbs came into the cabin seeing Elizabeth at the desk putting the finishing touches on her hair. She was placing little combs that were encrusted with little black pearls in random places atop her head. He smiled placing the tray with her lunch on the table.

“What is it?”

“Fresh trout that was caught early this morning with a bit of rice and gravy. Along with some bread and wine.”

“Thank you Mr. Gibbs.”

“If ye don’t mind me saying so….ye look lovely Miss Elizabeth.”

Her cheeks tinted a light pink as she smiled up at him.

“Not at all Mr. Gibbs…thank you.”

He nodded and headed towards the door.

“Mr. Gibbs?”

“Aye?”

“May I ask you something?”

“Anything Miss Elizabeth.”

“Would you…..would you give me away…at the wedding?”

A smile stretched across the older man’s face.

“It would be an honor Miss Elizabeth.”

She smiled and nodded as she watched him walk back out onto the deck. It just seemed right to have Gibbs give her away to Jack. She had known him since she was a small girl and he was the closest thing she had to a father now. Sighing she got up from the desk and went over to the table to eat her lunch. As the day drew to a close Elizabeth found herself pacing nervously inside the cabin that she had been confined to all day. The sky was painted a deep pink with accents of purple and gold as the sun began sinking towards the horizon. She stripped off her robe and began stepping into her wedding dress. Lacing up the back of the dress she made sure that it was just tight enough to stay on and not too tight that she wouldn’t be able to breathe. Seeing that the dress covered her feet she decided that she would stay barefoot. Finally she fastened on the necklace with the single black pearl hanging from it that Jack had given to her. Digging through the trunk at the foot of their bed she found her small brown leather satchel. Opening it she fished for the small bottle of jasmine scented perfume that her mother had given to her as a small girl before she had passed away. She sprayed herself with a generous mist of the golden colored liquid and then replaced it in the satchel. Closing the trunk Elizabeth turned to look at her reflection in the mirror. She smiled at herself as she opened the top drawer to the desk. Pulling out a small container of powder she dusted her face and neck with it before also retrieving the vile of lipstick. Opening the vile she pressed her finger down into it to get some of the deep rose colored lipstick to spread across her lips. When she had finished she wiped her finger on the napkin from her lunch and put away the powder and lipstick before shutting the drawer.

A knock on the door made her tense before she heard Gibbs’ voice. She sighed and smiled when he walked into the cabin. He was carrying a small bouquet of flowers that were bound together with a white silk ribbon. They were the most beautiful bunch of white and pinkish colored stargazer lilies she had ever seen and their fragrance was heavenly as it seemed to permeate the room. Handing the bouquet to Elizabeth Gibbs offered her his arm.

“It’s time Miss Elizabeth.”

“Already?”

“Aye. Are ye nervous?”

“No. I’m exactly where I belong.”

With a small nod he began escorting Elizabeth out of the cabin onto the main deck of the Pearl. There were oil lamps lighting the deck casting an ethereal glow as the sun was steadily disappearing below the horizon. She could smell the perfume from the many stargazer lilies that were tied to the railing of the ship. Her tea colored eyes shifted to helm of the ship to see Jack standing there waiting for her with Roux…the man that had once been a priest before turning pirate. Jack was dressed in all black including his hat and had his dreadlocks pulled back with a black ribbon. He looked absolutely perfect to her. Their eyes met and he smiled as he took in her appearance. She looked like an angel to him as Gibbs brought her to stand by his side. Jack took her hands in his and nodded for Gibbs to step back. The ceremony was about to begin. Roux opened his bible and cleared his throat. Just as he was about to begin with an opening prayer the sound of something breaking the surface of the water startled the serene silence. Everyone whipped their heads around to see what was the cause of the disturbance. Elizabeth’s tea colored eyes widened and Jack’s mouth fell agape when they saw the Flying Dutchman floating alongside the Black Pearl. Water seeped from every porthole on the Dutchman as it dropped anchor to rest next to the Black Pearl. Jack’s dark eyes darted from Elizabeth to the Dutchman and back again as he wondered what reason Will could possibly have for showing up.

A/N: Okay another cliffhanger! Evil I know…but not to worry I will update again soon! Hmmm…I wonder what Will wants! Please read and review!