I
still don’t have him despite a begging letter to Santa!

With
thanks to those who reviewed and to Kat.

I dedicate this chapter to Hellborne who died yesterday. Such tragic news. RIP.

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style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Chapter
twelve

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Much
to her consternation, Celia found herself fretting far more over the effect Jack’s
kiss had had on her, than what Brother Paul might be saying to Father
Michael. ‘I should not be having
these feelings for him,’ she fretted as she stared out of the stern
windows, but not seeing anything. ‘You had them for Robert,’ another voice
argued. ‘You didn’t think they were
wrong then.’ She sighed, gettin to
her feet and pacing about the cabin. ‘But
I was engaged to Robert…’ “Oh,
blast you, Jack Sparrow!” she exploded, holding her head in an attempt to quell
the thoughts which were making her dizzy as she tried to work them out.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “My life was much simpler before you came
along,” she shouted out loud, but even before she had finished the sentence,
the voice in her head was arguing that her life was not simpler before
she had met the doe eyed pirate – just not quite so complicated.

“Everythin’
all right, Miss?” Oliver Fernan enquired through the locked cabin doors.

“Fine,
thank you, Mister Fernan,” Celia called, praying the crewman had not heard what
she had said.

“Can
I get yer anythin’, like?”

“No,
no – I am fine,” she assured him, not trusting him enough to open the doors
until Jack’s arrival. “Thank you for
asking.”

“All
right, Miss. Just call if yer need
anythin’.”

“I
need to go home,” she smiled sadly, sighing as she thought about the letter she
would have to write to her parents, just in case Father Michael did the
same. “What am I going to tell them?”

‘Th’truth?’
came Jack’s voice in her head.

“How
can I tell them the truth? It would
break their hearts. Oh goodness me, I must
be going as mad as Jack, having conversations with thin air!” she chuckled to
herself before sobering once more. “I
will have to tell them the truth,” Celia sighed, plopping down
dejectedly on the stern seats, going over in her mind what she was going to say
to her mother and father.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>…

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

“Why
can’t I get into my cabin?” Jack slurred, reeling backwards from the force of
trying to push open the locked doors whilst more than a little inebriated.

“Miss
Hammond’s locked th’doors, ain’t she?” Jacob Sumner sighed, rolling his eyes at
his crewmates.

“Oh
yes,” Jack nodded vigorously as he remembered.
“Celia! Let me in!” he called,
banging on the door.

“All
right, all right!” she replied, hurrying to unlock the cabin doors and stepping
back quickly as he burst through.

“I
got somethin’ fer you,” he grinned, his hands doing a dance in front of
him. “It’s here… somewhere…” Jack
frowned, patting his coat in an attempt to locate his gift.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Ah!
Here it is. Brought it
especially fer you…”

“Thank
you,” Celia smiled uncertainly as she took the battered looking object from
him. “I-it’s most kind…”

“Well,
take th’cover off then,” Jack urged, shooing her with his hands whilst swaying
wildly.

“Oh,
this is a cover?”

“Well
you don’t think I’d give a gift lookin’ like that, do you?”

“No,”
she smiled apologetically as she unwrapped the present, almost dropping it in
shock as a beautiful leather bound, gilded bible appeared from the
wrapping. “Oh!style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Oh, Jack, it’s…”

“I
noticed you didn’t have one, an’ thought you might need cheerin’ up after our
little encounter with Brother Whatshisface…”

“Paul,”
Celia smiled, running a gentle finger along the delicate gilding.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “I-I don’t know what to say,” she murmured,
looking shyly at the pirate. “Thank
you.”

“It’s
a pleasure,” Jack beamed. “Now, I could
with some more rum…”

Celia
caught herself before she questioned whether he should have yet more to drink,
reasoning that it would be churlish in face of his generosity.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “May I sit and read it for a while?” she
asked, hoping he did not have some chores for her.

“Aye,
of course you can,” Jack replied with a wave of his hand.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “I was thinkin’ that we could have supper in
th’mess tonight…?”

“Oh.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Why?” she enquired.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “What is wrong with eating in here?”

“Apart
from th’fact that th’men think you don’t trust them, an’ that their captain no
longer sees their company is good enough fer him, nothin’.”

“B-but
I… do we have to?”

“Toby
is cookin’ somethin’ special just fer you,” Jack chided.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Besides, you can’t stay holed up in
th’cabin fer a year – if you polish an’ scrub it any more, you’ll wear th’wood
away. Time ter start mixin’, eh?”

“But
I have been,” Celia replied uncertainly, sitting sat down on the stern seats
and leafing through the pages of the bible, but not taking anything in, her
mind otherwise occupied with the thought of having to leave the cabin and work
and socialise amongst the pirates.

“Swabbin’
th’decks once a day isn’t mixin’. They
won’t hurt you,” Jack told her from his chair at the oak table which dominated
the centre of the cabin. “I gave my
word.”

“I
know you did,” she nodded, blushing at the thought of him watching her as she
sat there. “It’s just… after… I’m,
well, frightened.”

“I
know,” Jack said gently. “Me an’
Gibbs’ll watch over you, not that we need to.
Th’men won’t hurt you – there was a lot of anger when…” Jack stopped
himself from saying something, making Celia look at him curously.

“When
what?” she enquired. “When they found
out what happened to me? Jack!style="mso-spacerun: yes"> How could you have told them?” she cried,
putting the book down on the seat and jumping to her feet.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “How?”

“I
didn’t need ter tell them much,” he confessed.
“They’ve heard of Stockton and guessed a lot of it.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> They’re all fer goin’ after Stockton should
our paths cross, an’ makin’ sure he doesn’t hurt other women, like he’s hurt
you.”

“But…?”
Celia frowned, confusion crowding her mind again. “You’re all pirates! Why
should you care?”

Jack
sighed, trying to give himself chance to think up a reply but was saved by a
knock on the cabin doors. “Come,” he
called.

“Will
yer be eatin’ in here or th’mess?” Tobias Pellew, the cook, enquired as he
entered the cabin, looking directly at Celia as he spoke, making her colour
once more under the scrutiny of both men.

“T-the
mess,” she stammered, knowing she had little option but to agree.

“That’s
my girl,” Jack beamed, winking at her.

“It’ll be ready in *one
turn,” Tobias informed them as he turned and left the way he came.

Jack
grinned to himself as he sat back in his chair and tipped his hat over his eyes
for a nap, leaving Celia to sit back down and pick up her bible, with the
questions on her lips still unanswered.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>…

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Celia,
pet!” Joshamee Gibbs beamed as she and Jack walked into the mess, which fell
instantly silent. “It’s good to see
you.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Thank
you, Joshamee,” she whispered, clinging to Jack’s arm for dear life.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Come
and sit yourself down here,” the portly man smiled, patting a space on the
bench beside him. “Cook’s got a right
treat for us tonight.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“So I
hear,” Celia replied, her voice breaking with nerves as she sat where beckoned,
feeling a couple of dozen or so pairs of eyes on her.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Fer
gawd’s sake!” Jack muttered, casting impatient looks at his crewmen in the mess
as he squeezed in besides Celia. “It’s
like a bloody graveyard in here.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I ain’t
ever tried venison b’fore,” Elliot Deane commented, breaking the silence.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Wonder what it’s like?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Yer’ll
find out, soon enough,” came Tobias Pellew’s voice as he entered the mess,
carrying a tray filled with meat and potatoes, setting it down on the trestle
table in front of Jack.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Venison?”
Celia echoed, her eyes agog. “Where on
earth did you find venison here?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Ways
an’ means, Miss,” the cook winked.
“Ways an’ means.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“But
there are an awful lot of men… surely venison wouldn’t feed all of you?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It
won’t,” Jack informed her. “They drew
lots ter see who would be th’lucky ones.
An’ these fine gentlemen you see here are th’said lucky ones.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Have
you ever tried venison b’fore, Miss?” Elliot asked, watching as the cook doled
out equal shares of meat and potatoes onto petwer plates and handed them out.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Yes,”
Celia nodded. “We used to eat it quite
often at home.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“What,
in th’nunnery, like?” Oliver Fernan enquired in amazement.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“No,”
Celia chuckled, her nervousness dissipating.
“When I lived with my parents,” she replied, a sad smile on her face.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Have
you decided what ter do yet?” Jack questioned.
“Are you goin’ ter tell them?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I have
no choice, do I?” she sighed. “Father
Michael is the sort who would write to them, telling them all about their
daughter’s fall from grace.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
haven’t fallen from grace,” Joshamee put in, a frown turning to a glare as a
couple of men snickered. “Any more of
that and you’ll be served slop in the brig!” he snapped, warning the whole mess
as he did not know who the culprits were.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Aye,
just before you enjoy th’lash,” Jack snarled angrily. “I apologise, Celia,” he said.
“For my uncouth crew.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“That’s
all right, Ja… Captain Sparrow,” she replied, her head bowed in shame and her
earlier unease returned. She looked up
briefly as the cook put a plate before her, and nodded her thanks, before
bowing her head again and murmuring grace to herself, knowing that it probably
would not be worth saying it in front of the men.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Cor!style="mso-spacerun: yes"> This is bloody lovely!” Elliot exclaimed as
he tucked into his food. “What’s
venison from, anyway?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Deer,”
Jack informed him through a mouthful.
“My congratulations, Toby.
You’ve excelled yourself.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Thankee,
Cap’n,” the cook grinned, showing a silver toothed smile.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “It’s nice ter cook with decent meat fer a
change.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Celia
tentatively ate a piece of the red meat, doubting it would be as nice as they
had claimed, but to her amazement it was every bit as juicy and tender as any
her mother’s cook had prepared. “It is
wonderful,” she nodded at the still hovering cook and was rewarded with an even
bigger smile.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’m
glad yer like it, Miss. I take it
yer’ll be eatin’ with th’crew from now on?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Y-yes,”
Celia nodded. “I expect I will be.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’ll
make sure there will be a senior member of the crew with you at all times,” the
quartermaster assured her. “You will be
quite safe.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“She
will be quite safe anyway, Gibbs!” Jack snapped, clattering his fork on the
plate. “They’re not savages you know.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I
wasn’t suggesting they were,” Gibbs defended.
“It’s just that she has been through a very trying ordeal and I was
trying to reassure her.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Do you
mind not talking about me as if I were not here?” Celia enquired angrily.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “And just how much of my ordeal did
you tell them about, Captain?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I told
you, Stockton is well known in these waters.
Men can guess what he’d do ter women, savvy?” Jack sighed with
exasperation. “An’ I am quite capable
of decidin’ what is best fer my guest,” he retorted to the older man.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I am
not your guest,” came Celia’s sharp response.
“I am your servant, remember?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh, do
forgive me,” Jack replied cuttingly.
“Perhaps I should start treatin’ you more as a servant, eh?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> You’d soon have somethin’ ter complain about
then.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“There’s
no need for that tone, Captain,” Gibbs reproached, flinching as Jack got to his
feet and glared angrily at him.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Don’t
you dare talk ter me like that!” Jack snapped, ignoring the stunned looks on
the rest of the crew’s faces as they watched the drama unfold.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’m
sorry, Captain,” Gibbs replied contritely.
“I forgot my place.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It’ll
be in th’brig, if you’re not careful,” his captain warned, although both men
knew it to be an empty threat.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“In
which case, you would have to lock me up as well,” Celia declared, standing and
looking Jack in the eyes. “Mister Gibbs
is only trying to look after me.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“An’ I’m
doin’ what, exactly?” Jack enquired, placing a finger against his lips as if
thinking.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Looking
after yourself, as usual,” she retorted, pushing past him and flouncing from
the mess, peering into the dark corridor before turning left and praying it was
the correct direction.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’ll go
after her…” Gibbs began, stopping when he saw Jack’s raised hand.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Jack
shook his head. “No you won’t.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Fernan, go an’ show her th’direction of my
cabin.”

style='font-family:Georgia'>“Aye, cap’n,” the Irishman agreed, pushing his
empty plate away and going on his errand.

“I’m
sorry, Jack,” Gibbs shrugged. “It’s
just she’s so…”

“Innocent?”
Jack suggested.

“Aye, sweet and innocent.
I don’t want her to lose that, that is all. I know the men wouldn’t dare touch her, but you know how coarse
they can be.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“She’ll
get used ter it,” Jack shrugged. “But
don’t you dare undermine me like that again, savvy?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I
won’t,” Gibbs agreed as his captain left the mess to find the young woman.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“If
venison livens things up this much, can we have it once a week, Toby?” Elliot
quipped, drawing gales of laughter from his crewmates.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You’ll
have a clip round the ear once a week, if you’re not careful,” his
quartermaster warned him sternly as he too left the mess, the excited buzz of
chatter following him as he walked down the corridor.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>…

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It’s
this way, Miss,” came a broad Irish brogue in the near darkness.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh!”
Celia yelped. “Oh, Mister Fernan, you
frightened me half to death.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Sorry,
Miss. They call me Mouse, ‘cos I move
so quietly, like. Th’Cap’n sent me ter
take yer to th’cabin.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“T-thank
y-you,” she stammered, grateful for the lamp which he carried.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Y-you must think I’m a silly little girl.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Of
course not, Miss,” he assured her as he lead the way. “Yer’ve had a hard time of it, with all that’s happened.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Be enough ter frighten anyone, man or
woman.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You’re
most kind,” she smiled, shrugging ruefully as she reaslied he would not be able
to see the smile. “H-how long have you
been over here?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“A
couple of years. I was sent as a slave
but managed ter escape when we docked, an’ joined th’Cap’n’s ship soon after.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“What
did you do in Ireland?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“What
ter get sent out here, or my livin’?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Both,
if that’s not too nosey.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Heh!style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I was a fisherman by trade, but did some
thievin’ as a way ter make ends meet. I
got caught an’ shipped over here as punishment.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“That’s
terrible. Do you have family back
home?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“A wife
an’ two children, but I doubt I’ll see them again.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I’m sorry about that, Mister Fernan.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Ah,
call me Oliver, or Mouse. An’ don’t yer
worry about it. Maeve can an’ will take
care of herself. Probably found herself
another man by now.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Celia
fell silent as she climbed the steps up to the main deck, gasping at the vivid
red and orange sunset above her.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Never
had ‘em like this back home, eh?” Oliver chuckled. “‘Tis beautiful.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It is,”
Celia agreed. “Thank you for escorting
me, Mis… Oliver.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“‘Tis a
pleasure.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
found your way, then?” Jack enquired dryly as he caught them up.style="mso-spacerun: yes">

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oliver
showed me,” Celia replied huffily. “At
least he cared enough to ensure I didn’t get lost.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Jack
raised his hand as Oliver was about to correct her, shaking his head with a wry
smile. “Aye,” he agreed.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “An’ I’m very grateful to him.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It’s a
pleasure, Cap’n,” the Irishman answered with a confused smile.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “I’ll see yer, Miss.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Yes, I
expect I will be out on deck tomorrow, working…”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“A mind
reader as well as beautiful, is there no end ter your talents?” Jack teased,
pushing his cabin door open and holding it for Celia.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
flatter me, Captain,” she sniped as she breezed past him.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “But it will still get you nowhere.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“We’ll
see, Miss Hammond,” he murmured with a sly smile as he followed her into the
cabin. “Would you care fer some wine?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Wine?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> First venison, now wine – I’m starting to
wonder if this is a pirate ship at all.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Just
because we’re pirates, doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy th’finer things in
life. Well?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“No,
thank you,” she replied, declinging the offer of wine.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “You’re an enigma,” Celia mused, sitting in
her favourite spot on the stern seat.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“So
you’ve told me before,” Jack winked, settling in his chair and propping his
feet on the table, ignoring her arched eyebrow.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“How did
you come to appreciate the finer things in life, Jack?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> By stealing them off ships?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“If only
you knew,” Jack chuckled, shaking his head slowly.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“So tell
me then,” Celia demanded. “Tell me all
about the infamous pirate, Jack Sparrow.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“An’ why
should I do that, missy? I don’t owe
you an explanation, an’ my private life is just that – private!”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“So
you’re hiding something, then?” she smirked triumphantly.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’m a
bloody pirate,” Jack sighed exasperatedly.
“Of course I’m hidin’ somethin’!”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“How did
you get your ship, did you steal her?” Celia enquired, changing tack with an
innocent smile.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Nice
try, Celia,” he grinned, seeing through her ploy.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“But you
know everything, well, nearly everything about me.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I know nothing about you, other than I do
not understand you at all. For
instance, why do you put on that act?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“What
act?” Jack frowned, cocking his head to one side. “I don’t put on an act.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Yes you
do. When you’re alone with me, you’re
sort of normal, but whenever there’s someone else around, you behave
strangely. You act as if you are drunk
when you are not. You walk, well…” she
sighed, throwing her hands up. “You
walk as if you are even more drunk than you act – why?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Jack
regarded her thoughtfully, his head still to the side.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Because,” he eventually replied.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “It suits my purpose ter let others think
I’m a little strange. Those who
don’t know me, or at least don’t know me well, think they can pull one over a
drink and sun addled fool.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I can
understand that,” Celia nodded. “But
why act with your crew?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Habit,”
he grinned. “An’ because they know it’s
an act. An’ because I am a little drink
an’ sun addled…”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
don’t say?” she replied caustically.
“Can I at least ask where you are from?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Same
place as you,” he smiled enigmatically.
“Good ol’ Blighty.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh, I
give up,” she sighed, turning away from him and picking up her bible which she
had left on the seat earlier.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Lymington,”
Jack eventually drawled. “A small
seaport on th’south coast.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I
see. Why did you leave?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’m a
sailor, luv – I sailed away. Come ter
think of it, I don’t even know where you’re from.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Lichfield,”
Celia smiled, thinking of her home town and her family.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “It’s in the middle of the country.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I
know,” Jack nodded. “I was a
cartographer by trade, maps interest me – even those that aren’t of th’sea.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Really?”
Celia exclaimed, putting her bible back down and looking at him with renewed
interest. “So how did you end up being
a pirate?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You not
goin’ ter give up, are you?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Well
I’m going to find out sometime in the next year, it might as well be now,” she
reasoned with a sweet smile.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
are, are you?” Jack mused, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table,
scrutinising her closely. “An’ what
makes you think that?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Well
it’s going to be a very boring year if we’re not going to make any sort
conversation.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“It’s
not conversation that interests me, Celia,” he smiled wolfishly.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Well it
will have to do, I’m afraid. You’ll get
no other form of entertainment from me.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Is that
a fact?” Jack enquired, rising from his chair and walking slowly towards
her. “An’ just what makes you so sure
of that, Miss Hammond?” he husked, sitting beside her on the stern seat.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Y-you
know that,” she stammered, trying to inch away and letting out a gasp as Jack
leaned over and breathed heavily in her ear.
“I-I’m n-not that sort…”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Really?”
he purred. “Well you give a damned good
impression otherwise.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“H-how
so?” Celia squeaked indignantly, held back from jumping to her feet by his
restraining hand.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
don’t exactly fight me off when I kiss you, eh?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Y-you’ve
kissed me twice,” she protested. “Both
time you caught me unawares and both times I broke it off as soon as I could!”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“As soon
as you could, eh? I hadn’t noticed,” he
chuckled, the sound sending a shudder through her body.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “In fact, Miss Hammond, I think I’m goin’
ter kiss you a lot more often. Face it,
luv, you certainly enjoy it.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I do
not, Captain Sparrow! And I will not
allow you to kiss me or anything else, unless you are going to revert to type
and force yourself on me.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Celia,
Celia,” Jack sighed, shaking his head and brushing against her hair as he
did. “I have enough control over myself
ter not force myself on a woman, an’ I am very patient.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> But it doesn’t mean ter say I won’t be using
every opportune moment ter break down th’barriers, so ter speak.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I’d
like to see you try,” she snorted, realising immediately the words came out
that it was the wrong thing to say to him.
“D-don’t you d-dare…” Celia let
out a muffled shriek as Jack pushed her on the seat so she was lying on her
back with him on top of her, pressing his lips hard against hers.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She fought an inward battle between the
conflicting feelings of wave upon wave of desire washing over her and the
horror that was she was doing was wrong and sinful.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh, Celia,”
Jack murmured in her ear as he grasped her hands in his and raised them above
her head.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Please
stop,” she implored, writhing beneath him and moaning as he sucked the hollow
of her collarbone. “This is wrong.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
don’t want me ter stop,” he rasped, moving along her neck until he reached her
ear. “Do you…?”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Y-yes,”
Celia panted as the tip of his tongue explored her ear once more.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Oh, Lord,” she swore as a burning throb
pulsated between her legs “Jack, stop,”
she begged.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“All
right then,” he agreed breezily, gettin off her and brushing down his breeches,
leaving her still lying on the seat, flushed and flustered.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “What?
You wanted me ter stop, didn’t you?” Jack enquired innocently.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Never let it be said I force myself on
women…”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Celia
watched as he calmly walked from the cabin, her mind in a whirl and her body in
even more turmoil. ‘I am never going
to survive the next year,’ she thought forlornly. ‘Oh, Lord, what am I going to do?’style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She stood slowly and walked to the side
cabin, panicking slightly at the moistness between her legs, and splashed some
water that was still in the bowl from her morning wash, onto her face.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Celia jumped as Jack’s voice came from the
main cabin, calling her name.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“I-I’m
in here,” she called, her voice breaking.
“J-just gettin ready f-for bed.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“You
sure you still want th’hammock?” Jack teased, knowing that she hated sleeping
in it and had actually fallen out the first couple of nights.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Quite
sure,” she stated firmly. “Your little
tricks simply will not work.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“If you
insist,” he grinned, coming into the side cabin as he untied the sash around
his waist, dropping in on the bunk.
“Night, luv. Sweet dreams.”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“They
will not be about you!” she sniped, glaring at him as she flounced from
the side cabin.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Methinks
you protest too much…”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Goodnight!”

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>…

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Oh
no,” Celia groaned.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “I do not need the toilet.”style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She tossed and turned, telling herself that
she could hold out until morning, but in the end she carefully rolled from the
hammock, having finally learned the knack of doing so safely and padded across
the cabin in the dark, holding her breath in case she woke Jack, and felt her
way to the head, sighing as she relieved herself. She crept back out, glancing upwards and then stopping dead at
the sight of Jack lying on his bunk, bathed in the glow of the moonlight
streaming through the window. Her eyes
travelled across his bare torso, taking in his wiry, muscular frame and two
round scars on his chest, and found herself edging closer, unable to stop
staring at him, until, with a gasp of horror, she looked at his face and his
dark eyes watching her. She turned and
fled as fast as she dared back in to the main cabin, her cheeks burning with
mortification.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>“Sweet
dreams, Celia,” Jack muttered to himself with a smile as he turned over,
falling back asleep almost instantly.

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>…

style='font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'> 

style='font-family:Georgia'>Authors notes:

style='font-family:Georgia'>*one turn is half an hour – one turn of the watch
glass

For this story, I have
completely ignored British, or rather English history, because with the
dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, there were precious few Catholics
and even fewer convents and monasteries in the country.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I did toy with making her Scottish or Irish
but decided against it.

style='font-family:Georgia'>Ani

style='font-family:Georgia'> 

style='font-family:Georgia'>