Misconception

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Such a shame really…


Chapter 28

Three weeks later…

The long dinner table was full of dishes that needed to be cleaned in order for the Stevensons and their guests to have their dessert. Bella and Nellie hurried to take away the expensive cutlery, trying to ignore the raucous laughter coming from the people at the table.
Nellie caught Bella’s gaze and rolled her eyes in exasperation. Bella stifled a giggle at the older woman’s expression before she proceeded to pick Sir Christopher’s plate. She watched as he looked up at her and smiled warmly. She offered a smile in return and moved away from the table, all the while trying to balance the plates in her hands. She could feel his eyes follow her until she was out of sight and she frowned. He had started doing that a lot lately. It was bizarre. He had always been kind but not like that. The staring was one thing; the small talk was another.
Bella shook her head as she placed all the dirty plates on the kitchen counter and leaned against it to take a breath. She noticed James sitting at the table looking as bored as ever.
“What are you doing?” she asked him as Nellie came rushing in.
“Resting?” he offered lazily with a wink.
“Well, if you have nothing better to do, why don’t you come help us?” she asked with raised eyebrows.
“But it’s so amusing to watch you rushing about.” He chuckled and Bella rolled her eyes.
“James, grab one tray and follow me.” Nellie snapped and James scowled, “Now.” She pressed and he reluctantly stood up from his seat. He picked a tray and on his way out bumped his hip against Bella’s, causing her to stumble.
“Hey!” she called as she followed them out of the kitchen, “You’re so mean.” She whispered and James turned to grin at her.
Bella frowned at him and shook her head as she urged him to walk faster.


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“What is this, Bella?” Nellie asked as she stood, leaning over Bella’s nightstand.
Bella turned to look at her and her eyes widened slightly at the silver ring in her hand.
“Um…a ring.” She said quickly as she walked over and sat on her bed.
“I can see that.” Nellie snorted, “May I ask who gave it to you?” she asked curiously.
“Uh, no one. I found it.” She shrugged and she feared that the blush on her cheeks would give her away.
“Huh. It looks pretty.” Nellie said as she placed it on Bella’s palm. Bella’s fingers tightened around the cool ring and she smiled tightly.
“Yes, it is. Thank you for the tea.” She cleared her throat and the older woman beamed at her.
“No, problem, dear. I am just going to bed now. See you in the morning, eh?” Nellie said as she walked towards the door. With a last smile, she exited and closed the door behind her.
Bella sighed and scooted back against the headboard of her bed. She slipped her feet under the covers and looked at the ring in her hand. She let her finger brush over the gem stone and she closed her eyes.
She knew that the ring meant something, but she didn’t know what. She had seen the exact same ring in Jack’s finger. Why on earth would he give it to her? And how had he passed through the gates? But of course she should have known that iron gates wouldn’t hold him back from whatever it was that he wanted.
She looked at the ring one last time before she placed it in her drawer. As soon as she had closed it a knock came on her door. She paused and looked at the door with a frown.
“Yes?” she called as she got out of bed and tiptoed to the door.
“Um, it’s me, Bella.”
It was Christopher. Bella’s eyes widened and she looked down at her attire. She quickly slipped on her robe and hurried to open the door. Christopher’s smiling face greeted her and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“Can I help you, sir?” she asked and he cleared his throat.
“Um…I was just…” he faltered with a wince.
“Do you need me to bring you something? Tea perhaps?” she asked.
“No! I mean, that’s not why I am here.” He shoved his hands deep in his pockets, “My father bought some new horses.” He blurted out and Bella frowned, “I was thinking that perhaps you’d like to see them tomorrow. Maybe go for a ride with me tomorrow morning?” he said and Bella froze in surprise.
“Um…you’d like for me to accompany you for a ride?” she asked and he nodded, “But I do not know how to ride a horse, sir.”
“I figured that. I could teach you. Or James could if you were uncomfortable for me to teach you.” He smiled and she could see that he was nervous.
“I have work in the mornings, sir.” She started slowly, “Besides it wouldn’t be proper for you to be seen with me, right? What would Mr. Stevenson say-…”
“My father left earlier this evening for business. He won’t be here tomorrow.” Christopher said quickly, cutting her off.
“Uh, I don’t know what to say, sir.” Bella stammered.
“Say yes. If you want to, of course.” He added quickly and she hesitated.
“Why should I come, sir?” she asked curiously and he blinked in surprise.
“I thought we could talk…I would like to get to know you. If you’d like that as well.” He said softly but he saw the suspicion and reservation in her eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that, Bella. I have no hidden motives, I swear. If you feel uncomfortable coming with me just say so.” He raised his hands up in surrender. The look of pure earnestness on his face made her falter. It wouldn’t hurt to keep him some company, would it?
“I guess if it will not cause any problems…then I’d love to come with you, sir. I have to take Nellie’s permission though.” She smiled and he chuckled.
“Of course.” He nodded as he took a step back, “Eight o’ clock tomorrow then? By the stables.”
“Alright.” She nodded as she too took a step back.
“Great. Goodnight.” He flashed a last smile and then walked away.
Bella closed her door and leaned against it. She sighed and bit her lip as Jack’s words flashed through her mind.
“Desire is a great incentive for a man, love. And from what I gather, Stevenson’s son has got it bad for you, lass. No surprise there.” He stated as his eyes moved over her twice.
“That’s ridiculous. He’s never showed any interest towards me.” She shook her head and he laughed.
“That’s because you’re oblivious to everything and everyone around you.”
She shivered as she remembered the intensity of his gaze and quickly pulled back from the door. She walked back to her bed, wondering if Jack was right. Did Stevenson’s son want her? Is that why he was suddenly paying so much attention to her? The idea was absurd but she couldn’t deny that she had noticed him look at her. More than he normally did anyway.
She sat on her bed and opened her drawer again. She pulled out Jack’s ring and looked at it before she slowly lay down on the bed. She turned onto her side and looked at it as it rested in her hand. She kept her eyes on it until she fell asleep.

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“So you and the brat, huh?” James stated as soon as he entered the kitchen the next evening. He wore a scowl on his face as he glared at her.
“Excuse me? Me and who?” Bella asked as she looked up from the potatoes, knife in hand.
“You and Stevenson’s son. I saw you this morning. Riding horses. Well, he rode, you tried and failed miserably.” He snorted and Bella’s cheeks flushed.
“I did not fail! The horse didn’t like me at all.” She scowled as she continued peeling the potatoes.
“Yeah, right. So why were you with him?” James persisted as he came closer to the table.
“He asked me to. To tell the truth, I felt awfully nervous and uncomfortable.” She mumbled and James’ glare disappeared.
“Oh.” He murmured as he averted his green eyes, “Why did you agree to go then?” he asked as he came to sit next to her. He reached for a peeled carrot and took a bite.
“I couldn’t say no, could I? What if he got mad? I need this position.” She told him.
“Hmm. Do you plan on doing it again?” he asked nonchalantly.
“No…I don’t know. Not any time soon though. I think he understood my uneasiness.”
“That or he realized you’re not worth it.” He smirked and she grabbed the carrot from between his lips. She threw it away, ignoring his protests.
“You are so mean. So, just because I am a maid I am not worthy?” she asked angrily and he shifted in his seat nervously.
“I didn’t mean that.” He muttered and his gaze shifted towards the door where his aunt stood watching him. She shook her head at him.
“That’s the thing with you, James. You never mean anything you say. Like someone else I know.” Bella snapped as she took the peeled potatoes and placed them on the counter for Nellie to cook. She left the kitchen without another word.
James rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably as Nellie walked over to him.
“You know just what to say to charm a lady, son. Seriously.” She sighed as she slid behind the counter to start dinner.

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A hand on her arm made Bella jump as she stood in the garden, leaning over some roses.
She quickly turned and she sighed, “Oh, it’s you. Come to insult me some more?” she asked as she gathered some more roses for the vase that would soon adorn the dinner table.
“No…You need help with those?” James asked and she blinked at him.
“If helping me pick flowers is your way of apologizing…” she trailed off and he smirked.
“Is it working?” he asked as he leaned a bit closer and took the flowers from her.
“Hmm. Let’s see how long your politeness will last this time.” She muttered as he followed her through the garden.
“So, you never told me about your life upon that ship. Black Diamond…Black Rock…?” he trailed off and she turned around to face him.
“It’s the Black Pearl actually.” She corrected crisply, “What should I say anyway?” she murmured as she resumed walking.
“Well, where were you sleeping? Did they treat you right?” he asked with a shrug and she sighed.
“I guess it could have been worse…I slept in my own bed if you must know.” She told him and he smirked.
“Uh huh.”
“James…” she started and he looked at her.
“Hmm?”
“Have you heard anything about that ship? About J-.. Sparrow.” She quickly corrected and he paused.
“Eh, no. Nothing since the day he escaped. Why?” he asked her with a frown and she shrugged before turned away.
“No reason.”

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The hallway was dark as Bella walked towards her room. She held the candle in front of her as she walked, trying to be as quiet as possible. She had trouble sleeping those last few nights. She didn’t own many books so she had decided to use the library of the house. It was next to Mr. Stevenson’s study on the first floor and it was always unlocked. It was easy for her to sneak inside and read for a few hours before she returned to her room. She had been overwhelmed by the number of books that library housed. It was remarkable what money could do; even with books. Some of them were very rare and she didn’t dare touch those of course.
One floorboard creaked under her foot just in front of her door and she winced. She slowly opened her door and slipped inside her bedroom. She exhaled a sigh of relief as soon as she closed the door and leaned against it.
She frowned when she looked across the room. Why was it so cold? As she looked over, she realized that her window was wide open and the wind was rustling the curtain wildly. The movements created shadows on the walls and the window was creaking with the wind. She shivered as the cool air hit her and rushed towards the window to shut it. She paused just as she passed her bed though. A shadow that looked like the form of a man was sitting in the armchair by her bed. She gasped and drew the candle in front of her, pointing it towards the direction of the chair. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized who was sitting there. Jack was reclining lazily in her chair while he twirled the silver ring he had left her around his finger. When the light form the candle hit him he raised his eyes to hers and smirked slowly.
“’Ello, love.” He murmured almost reverently as he sat up and locked eyes with her.
Bella gasped as the light fully revealed his face. On his right cheek, half hidden by his hair, a long thick scar was marring the bronze skin of his face.
“Jack?” she whispered with wide eyes as she stared at him in shock.


End of chapter 28


Xxx Lina :)