Deliverance And Destruction

A/N: Thank you for all the fantastic reviews!! Oh yes Miriam is certainly going to cause some trouble for Jack and Elizabeth…because of her guilty conscience for keeping their secret. Hope you enjoy this latest edition and don’t hesitate to leave your comments!!

Their laughter echoed through the foyer of the mansion as they strolled in from spending the better part of the morning walking along the beach just enjoying the sand and surf. They held hands casually as they headed towards the sitting room where a light lunch of baked salmon and carrots and green beans awaited them. There was a bottle of chardonnay and two goblets sitting on the coffee table as well. Elizabeth smiled at Jack as she pulled him into the room after her. Miriam frowned as she watched their ridiculous antics as they sank down onto the sofa as if they didn’t have a care in the world. What they were doing was utterly disgusting and she hated that she had been forced into keeping their sordid little secret. Jack leaned in to whisper something into Elizabeth’s ear making her blush before letting out a disgustingly sugary sweet giggle like a smitten little school girl. That was all Miriam could take. She cleared her throat loudly making the two of them flinch before creating a little distance between them. Elizabeth looked over at where Miriam was standing at the French doors that led onto the terrace. She flashed her a smile but it was only met with a frown and small shake of the maid’s head. It was clear that she disapproved of what they were doing just by the look on her face. Elizabeth cleared her throat and gently brushed Jack’s hand away from where it rested on her thigh.

“Jack…would you mind giving me a moment alone with Miriam?”

“Certainly love…I’ll jus’ be out on the terrace.”

Jack stood and walked past Miriam touching the brim of his worn leather tricorne hat in a gesture of respect to her. She merely lifted her chin to snub his gesture of respect which only made him give a small chuckle. Miriam sighed heavily and rolled her green eyes as she walked over to where Elizabeth sat. Elizabeth patted the sofa for her to sit down next to her. Reluctantly Miriam sat down on the sofa next to her.

“You wanted to have a word with me Miss Elizabeth?”

“I did indeed Miriam.”

“Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know…you tell me? Is there a problem Miriam?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about Miss Elizabeth.”

“Oh I think you know exactly what I’m talking about Miriam…all those disapproving looks and head shaking that you have been doing.”

“I…it wasn’t meant with any disrespect Miss Elizabeth…honest.”

“Oh no disrespect? Well you certainly could have fooled me.”

Miriam grit her teeth as she tried with everything in her to hold back the nasty comment that was just aching to pour out of her mouth.

“Every little shake of your head or frown is meant with disrespect…well I’ll have you know that this is my house and you work for me! Don’t forget your place Miriam or I’ll send you back to where I found you…whoring down at one of those disgusting brothels!”

That was all it took to break the last crumbling bit of her self restraint and she scowled as she spat out the nasty comment that had been waiting on the tip of her tongue.

“How dare you speak of respect when you’re the one who’s being the most disrespectful of us all! Carrying on with another man while your husband works all day long down at the smithy! You are the one who has no moral center or sense of honor!”

Elizabeth’s tea colored eyes widened and Miriam’s mouth fell open in shock at her own outburst as her face went white as flour. Unable to find her voice Elizabeth just reached out and slapped Miriam across her face hard. The sound of her hand making contact with Miriam’s cheek echoed through the room. Miriam’s hand raised to touch the right side of her face. It stung where Elizabeth had slapped her and she had no doubt that her face was red from it as well. She rubbed her cheek softly to try and soothe the stinging sensation. Blinking quickly to try and make the tears retreat she lowered her head before whispering.

“I-I’m sorry Miss Elizabeth…please forgive my outburst I don’t know what came over me.”

Still seething with anger Elizabeth merely nodded her head to keep from saying anything else hateful to the young girl. She pointed towards the door dismissing Miriam from the room. Miriam quickly scurried out of the sitting room and back towards the safety of the kitchen. Elizabeth sank down onto the sofa her head whipping around at the sound of the French doors opening behind her. Jack swaggered back into the sitting room to see Elizabeth sitting on the sofa looking as if she were about to burst into tears. He hurried over to her side and knelt down on the floor in front of her. Taking her hands in his he looked up at her and spoke softly.

“What’s the matter love?”

“Oh Jack…she’s right.”

“Right? About what love?”

“About me! About us…and what we’re doing.”

“What are we doing love?”

“Jack you know what we’re doing and it’s wrong. We both know it and yet we still do it.”

“We’re not doing anything wrong Elizabeth.”

“How can you say that? Jack I’m married! Will is my husband and yet here I am having an intimate relationship with you! I haven’t let Will touch me in weeks…since the first night that you and I were together.”

“Izzy…don’t let what that girl said upset ye…yer not doing anything wrong.”

“Jack what we’re doing is very wrong…we shouldn’t be together.”

“Why not?”

“Because I made promises to Will on our wedding day and I have broken every last one of them! And I break them every time that I let you take me to bed! My God Jack…you can’t even tell me that you love me!”

He lowered his head for a moment at her words. It wasn’t that he didn’t love her…he loved her with everything inside him…and more. She was everything to him…she was the reason he wanted to keep breathing. But saying those three words opened him up to the possibility of having his heart cut from his chest if she were to walk away from him. Sighing heavily he looked up at her to see that she had started to cry. Her shoulders shook with the force of her sobs making his heart ache painfully in his chest. He knew he had to put his own personal fears aside and tell her just how much he loved her if he was going to keep her by his side. Grabbing her shoulders he shook her gently making her look down at him with wide tea colored eyes that were filled with tears.

“Alright…”

“Alright? Alright what?”

“I love ye…God help me I love ye Elizabeth Danielle Turner! I love ye with everything in me! You’re the only thing that keeps me going love…I can’t imagine not having ye in me life! I love ye.”

“Oh Jack…I love you…I love you so much it hurts!”

The two came together quickly their mouths crashing together hastily. Jack stood up scooping Elizabeth up into his arms as he did. He walked out of the sitting room with her in his arms and carried her up the winding staircase towards his bedroom. Their lips seemed to never part as he climbed the stairs. God how he loved this woman! He wanted her to be his…not just physically…no he wanted her to be his permanently. Reaching his room Jack pushed the door open with his foot and carried Elizabeth inside. Laying her down on the bed gently he turned back to shut the door. Laying over her his mouth slanted over hers once again his tongue slipping inside to tangle with hers. Elizabeth’s head tilted back to deepen the kiss her arms wrapping around Jack’s neck to pull him closer to her. Jack’s calloused hands slid up between them cupping her small breasts through the heavy wool fabric of her dress. She moaned into his mouth as she felt her nipples harden at his touch. She wanted this…she wanted him…she wanted him forever…not just when her husband was away at the smithy. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she realized that she no longer wanted the life she had made with Will. She wanted a life with Jack…he was where she belonged…he had always been where she had belonged.


A/N: Evil cliffhanger I know…but it makes you want to come back for more!! Please read and review!!