A Pirates Passion

Chapter 16

Madeline watched as everything shook in the room as James slammed the door.

Elizabeth and Will watched as James stormed from the room. "James" Elizabeth said quietly.

"I have a body to dispose of" James said sternly.

"Commodore, what's wrong" Will asked.

"So help me God if I even think I see Black sails in this harbor I will have every last man I have waiting to blow that bloody pirate out of the sea and out of my life forever" James growled and stormed from the house.

Elizabeth watched as he left. "Will, what are we going to do if Jack does come back" She asked. She was scared. She had never seen James so angry and knew he meant every word.

"Hope that it won't be any time soon that Jack comes back, give the Commodore time to grieve and get his anger under control" Will said.

James quickly got a regiment together and told them what they were to do. He then headed for the docks.

A few hours later…………..

Madeline sat on the now clean bed and looked at the small bundle on it. She slowly got out of bed and looked for a scissors. She found one and sat down. She was still in a great deal of pain. She gently brushed her daughter’s hair and cut two small patches of it. She wrapped each of them in a handkerchief. She would put them in her journal later.

“Your Da would have loved you Angel.” She said in a whisper. As much as she loved James, she couldn’t marry him now. It had nothing to do with Jack. It had everything to do with her. She failed at everything in her life. She failed in loving Jack and she had failed James. She didn’t want to deny him the chance to continue with his life and marry someone who would be able to provide him with a family. He deserved better than her. She saw the look and disappointment in his eyes when Dr. Williams said that she would probably never be able to have any more children.

She looked down at her daughter again. Her heart felt empty. She blamed Louis Jacquette for the death of her daughter.

She had made some decisions. She would take Angel to the island and bury her there. And she would help to rebuild the island. Her life in Port Royal was over. She couldn’t remain.

Madeline turned when she heard the soft knock on the door.

“Maddy?” Elizabeth called and walked in.

“Aye cousin.” Madeline replied. She watched as Elizabeth walked over to Angel and looked at her.

“She’s beautiful.” Elizabeth said quietly.

“Aye, that she is.” Madeline said, sitting back down. “Jack never got the letter.” She said quietly.

Elizabeth’s head snapped up. “But I thought Mr. Taylor said it was gone.”

“He did. It was stolen.”

“Stolen? By who?” Elizabeth asked.

“Louis Jacquette. He saw Will and Mr. Taylor in Tortuga and decided he needed it more.” She said quietly. “He came to Port Royal to kill me.” She said reaching up to touch the slash beneath her eye.

Elizabeth looked at Madeline. “You aren’t going to marry James are you?”

Madeline lowered her head. “No. I do love him, but I can’t give him what he wants any longer. I’d feel too damn guilty.”

“Have you told him yet?”

“No.” She said quietly and turned to take hold of a piece of paper from the nightstand. She handed it to Elizabeth. “Please make sure Mr. Taylor gets this.” Elizabeth read it and looked at her cousin.

“You’re leaving?” She asked.

“Aye. I cannot remain in Port Royal Elizabeth. Too many memories. I’m going to the island to bury my daughter. And help to rebuild.” She said quietly. “Try to rebuild my life.”

“What about Jack and JJ?” Elizabeth asked.

“What about them?” Madeline asked looking at Angel. “I have no idea when or if they will ever return Elizabeth. I have to live with that. Jack made his decision when he left. He does not want me Elizabeth. He just wants our son.”

“But what if they come back?” She asked sitting down next to her cousin. “What do I tell them?”

“You can tell Jack whatever you wish.” Madeline said. “I need to be me for a while. I need to feel the sand of the island in my feet. I need to feel the ocean breezes in my hair. I don’t need anyone anymore Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth reached out and took Madeline’s hand. “You’ve changed Maddy. In this short time, you’ve let your heart grow cold.”

“Perhaps I have.” She said glancing at her daughter. “Is the undertaker here yet?”

Elizabeth stood and looked at Maddy. “He should be here any moment.” She said quietly.

“Thank you Elizabeth. Ye are the best friend I’ve ever had and I love you like a sister.” Madeline said.

“I know Maddy.” Elizabeth replied quietly and moved towards the door. She could see the distant stare in Maddy’s eyes and knew that she wouldn’t change her mind.

Madeline received word that the ship was ready two days later. Her daughter safely in the hold. She returned to her house and packed everything and had it delivered to the ship. She would not be coming back to Port Royal. She pulled on her black breeches and white flowing shirt. She strapped on her sword and put on her hat and made her way to town. She caught the stares of others but she held her head high. As she walked through town, she saw Jorja standing in the doorway of the tavern. She smiled at her as she went past. Time to let go of the past she thought.

She knew that Will and Elizabeth weren't home and she took her journal and placed it in their study on the desk. Elizabeth could do with it what she wanted to. She approached the fort and knew she would find James in his office. She slowly opened the door. "James."

James was in more pain then he could remember ever being in, his thoughts never far from Madeline whom he had not seen since the loss of her daughter. "Come in" he said gruffly.

Madeline walked in and wasn't surprised to see how dark it was in the room. Only a few candles were lit. She took her hat off and slowly approached him. "Have you been drinking"

"So what if I have. I would think it would be something you'd be rather used to being around. Sparrow drinks all the time, at least he seems to be in a constant state of drunkenness every time I've ever seen him" James mused.

Madeline sighed and looked to the heavens to give her strength to say good-bye. She set her hat on the table and moved to kneel next to him. "James, look at me. Please." she pleaded with him.

"I've not seen or heard from you for two days Madeline. Why should I think you are here for any other reason then to say goodbye" James asked irritated that she would even come to him like this.

Madeline could see the pain in his face and it broke her heart. She laid her head on his lap. "Would you have preferred I leave without saying anything" She asked quietly.

"I'd preferred we'd never met" James growled. "But why should I think for one moment that matters to you, all I've done for you. How much I've loved you. You knew the whole time you were using me, maybe I did too. But you knew just the same that you would never marry me and yet you led me to believe you cared. How do you expect me to act or feel now, no wait, you don't care so don't bother answering that. Go away Maddy, but if I ever get the opportunity to hang that pirate make no mistake, I am going to do it. And if I catch that son of yours in the act of piracy, well, he'll hang right along side his bastard father" James growled his voice getting louder with every word until he was shouting.

Madeline slowly rose to her feet. "My decision to leave has nothing to do with Jack." She hissed. "I loved you James. I fell in love with you. I may have used you at first. But you showed me what love was. What it could be." She turned and picked up her hat but turned back to him. "Jack knew nothing of my daughter. He never got the letter telling him he was going to be a father James. He never knew" She said angrily. "I loved you." She said and turned on her heel. She could hear his chair scrapping against the floor as she hurried to the door.

James caught her by the arm"Then why leave? Why throw everything we had away"

Madeline looked at him. "Because I can't give you what you want James. A family. The chance to be a father. You know as well as I do that you could never be a father to JJ." She tried to pull away but he pulled her closer. "I can't be selfish any longer. I need to be alone James. I've made too many mistakes in my life and I can't keep bringing those I love pain." She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.

James held her close"Madeline please, if you would just stay with me, I don't need to be a father to anyone, I need you." He was begging, damn it he swore he was not going to do this and here he was begging her yet again. "If you stay with me I will never pursue Sparrow again, he'd be free" he said.

"James." She said in a whisper. "You may need me, but you would resent me later on. I'm sorry my love." He crushed her to him. "I’m sorry James." She said and kissed him deeply. She tried to keep her tears in check, but was failing. He had captured her heart. "I love you, please let me go." She gently took his hand and placed his ring in his hand. "If you love me, let me go." She whispered against his lips.

James knew he could not persuade her; he clenched the ring in his fist, turned on his heel and slowly walked back into his office without another word to her. His heart was broken yet again. He threw the ring across the room. Captain Jack Sparrow would pay, one way or another, he would pay.

Madeline hurried to the docks and quickly boarded her ship. She heard Elizabeth and Will calling her name. She stopped and turned. Elizabeth crushed her to her and hugged her.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” She asked.

“Aye cousin. It is.” She said quietly. Fighting back tears.

“And we can’t convince you to stay?” Will asked moving close to them.

“No Will.” She pulled out of Elizabeth’s arms and hugged Will. “Take care of my cousin. And for goodness sakes, have a baby. Lord knows the two of you get enough practice.” She said with a wink and hurried to her ship.

Mr. Taylor and the rest of the crew shoved off and they were off. She wiped her tears away as they pulled away from Port Royal. She glanced back and saw Will and Elizabeth standing on the docks waving. She waved back and blew them a kiss.