Proffitable Affairs

Chapter 3

Daylight flowed into Mary’s room from the half open window and she groggily opened her eyes. She sat up slightly, her long hair getting in front of her face and she pushed it out of the way with her hand. She blinked and slowly untangled the covers from her body before she stepped barefoot on the carpeted floor. She rubbed her arms, wondering how she had forgotten to shut the door before she went to sleep and then she paused. A shuddery breath left her lips when she recalled the previous night’s happenings and her stomach jolted with fear and nervousness. By agreeing to marry the infamous Captain, she was agreeing with her father’s decisions for her. That much she knew. She also knew that a man like Jack Sparrow could no be trusted. Then why had she seen understanding in his eyes?
Shaking her head, trying not to regret her decision, she went to the window and pulled it shut before she splashed her face with water. She took the towel that was neatly folded next to the water basin and dried her face before she looked at the mirror. Frowning at the disheveled state of her hair she took her brush and untangled it before she pulled it back into a braid. She tied the end with a blue ribbon that matched her robe and frowned when someone knocked on her door.
“Yes?” she called and Margaret, the maid, walked inside the room.
“Thank God you’re awake, miss.” She said with a sigh of relief and Mary frowned.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No but…your father is still asleep and the guests from last night are still here.” Margaret said and Mary’s eyes widened.
“What? Here?” Mary breathed and the maid nodded.
“In the guest rooms?” she asked but Margaret shook her head.
“No, in the parlor still asleep. I think they’ve been talking with your father until late and then…they passed out in the parlor. I think all that sherry went straight to their heads, miss. Miss Anne took your father upstairs early this morning.” The maid said in a rush.
Mary nodded wearily, already knowing that her father had a fondness, if not addiction, to alcohol.
“Alright…I’ll be down shortly.” Mary said and the maid nodded, leaving her alone to get dressed.

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Once she was dressed she left her room and walked down the long stairs that led to the parlor. She entered and she paused when she saw the two men sprawled on the couch, the older one snoring quite noisily. Fighting her nervousness she walked over to the pirate captain and gently shook his arm. He stirred, mumbled something incoherent but didn’t wake up. Feeling ready to burst from embarrassment she gently shook his again but this time more forcefully. A pout appeared on his face before he finally opened his eyes and looked straight at her.
“Oh.” He muttered and she pulled her hand back from his arm. She took a few steps back and looked at him.
“Hello, love…What time is it?” he asked as she sat up and stretched on the couch as if he owned it.
“It’s past nine, sir.” She said quietly and the way she addressed him earner her a dumbfounded look.
“Sir? No, no, love. It’s Jack.” He said as he waved a hand at her.
“Oh…alright…” she said softly and he smirked at her briefly before he shook his first mate awake.
“Besides,” he started as he looked away from Gibbs and back at her pale face, “Don’t you think that under the circumstances you should call me by my name?” he said and from his tone she could tell that he was teasing her.
“I guess so, s-…I mean, Jack.” She stuttered and he chuckled at her before he stood up and straightened.
“Ah…there’s something I’ve been dying to ask but…” Jack started as he turned to face her once more.
“Yes?” she asked and in the morning light she saw the exact color of his eyes. They weren’t as dark as she assumed them to be. They were lighter than black…they were brown, like-...
Blinking, she turned her attention back to what he was saying.
“The map,” he started and she nodded, “Where is it exactly?” he asked as he came closer and spoke in low tones.
“My father has it in his study, I think.” Mary said equally quietly and the pirate nodded.
“I figured as much.” He mumbled as he pulled back, distancing himself from her.
Gibbs cleared his throat and Jack looked at him.
“Right. Got to go.” Jack said suddenly and Mary moved back to let them pass. Gibbs nodded at her with a soft, almost sympathetic smile and she finally realized how she must be looking; she realized the picture she made. Weak, trapped and most of all pathetic. Swallowing hard at that thought she called for Margaret, mumbled an excuse and fled the parlor leaving Jack staring after her with a frown on his handsome face.

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Mary did not come out of her room that day. She just stayed in her room with the company of a book she has recently bought. She didn’t feel the need to wander around the house like the previous days because she knew that she wouldn’t be alone. The happy laughter of Anne rang in her ears all day and it was terrifying to her that the mere sound of the woman’s laughter felt like another betrayal to her own heart. Her father had brought Anne to the house a few months after her mother’s death. He didn’t even have the decency to even fake the feeling of sorrow. But of course he wouldn’t; not for her mother.
Giggles erupted again and Mary shut the book loudly before she threw it on top of her bed with a dull thud.
A knock on the door made her look up and saw the kind face of Margaret appearing.
“Good evening, miss…Diner is served. Your father-…”
“Tell my father that I have no wish to eat tonight.” Mary cut her off and the maid frowned.
“But, miss…you’ve been in here all day. Aren’t you hungry?” she asked and Mary shook her head.
“I’ll have something later, Margie.” She whispered but the maid didn’t move.
“But, miss…the captain’s here again.” Margaret said and Mary looked up at that.
“He’s here? So soon?” she asked in a small voice and the maid nodded.
“Then you can tell them that I am sorry for not coming.” Mary said as she stood up and walked to the window.
“It’s not my place to ask, miss. But…if you can’t stand his presence why did you-…” the maid started but Mary cut her off.
“It’s not him that I can’t stand!” she suddenly snapped and the maid closed her mouth.
“I can’t stand to see that woman taking my mother’s place. I-…” she faltered and the maid looked away.
“I know, miss. I apologize. Perhaps…I could bring you something to eat up here. Secretly?” Margaret suggested with a small smile and Mary nodded.
“Thank you.” She said quietly and the maid nodded before she walked away, closing the door behind her.

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Hours later, after she had eaten the tray of food Margaret had brought her, Mary had the need to take a walk in the garden. Thinking that by then the house would be quiet she walked out of her room and descended down the stairs. She headed for the garden but her relief was cut short when she heard her father’s voice. She paused a few feet away from the wooden garden table when she heard another deep but smooth voice talking.
The owner of the smooth voice looked up and Mary felt almost naked under Jack Sparrow’s gaze even if she did wear her robe.
“Oh, you’re here after all.” Vilmort said as he looked up from the map in front of him to regard her with apathy.
“I am sorry. I thought-…”
“You thought you’d be alone. Well, you aren’t.” her father scolded her and Jack decided to save the situation.
“Why don’t you have a seat with us, love?” he suggested and Mary was surprised by the endearment.
She blinked and walked over to them mutely, choosing to sit next to Jack instead of her father, something that didn’t seem to surprise Vilmort.
“May I ask what is this?” she asked quietly and Jack leaned closer to point at a certain spot on the map.
“this is the New World, love.” He said and as she leaned over she could feel his breath on her cheek.
“Ever been there?” he asked once she looked up from the map.
Mary opened her mouth to answer but her father’s voice bit her to it.
“Mary? Mary hasn’t been anywhere, Mr. Sparrow.” Vilmort snorted and Mary averted her eyes.
“I believe I didn’t ask you, mate. I think the lass is more than capable of answering for herself.” Jack said casually and Mary looked at him surprised. Vilmort narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak.
“Well, love?” Jack asked her again and her cheeks flushed.
“No…I haven’t been there.” She answered and Jack nodded.
“Where would you like to go then?” Jack asked as he leaned leisurely back in his chair.
“I…” Mary looked at her father but he was watching his watch and was not paying attention to them.
“I don’t…Where would you suggest I went?” she asked instead and a genuine smiled spread on his lips.
“Well…that would depend of your tastes.” He said with a wink and she once again felt her face burning up.
“Tastes?” she asked and he nodded, watching as his hand played with his beard before he waved a hand.
“You know…whether you like ordinary places or more…exotic ones.” He said and she blinked.
“I see.” She said quietly, feeling quite at ease with talking with him.
“Singapore would be a very good choice.” He said with a lopsided grin and this time her father snorted.
“Hardly a destination for a lady.” Vilmort said and Jack shrugged.
“Depends on the lady, mate.” He said with mischief and Mary looked between the two men, clearly seeing that neither of them liked each other.
“Now that you’re here, I’d like to discuss the ceremony.” Her father said and she turned to look at him sharply. Jack noted her apprehension but chose not to speak.
“We thought that it’d helpful if it occurred tomorrow.” Her father continued and Mary felt as if someone had stepped onto her chest for she suddenly found the task of breathing rather difficult.
“T-tomorrow?” she asked and her father nodded.
“You have a problem with that, Mary?” he asked and she pressed her lips into a thin line.
“From what the dear captain told me you didn’t object to his offer. You were quite willing in fact.” He continued and Jack sent a hard look towards Vilmort.
Give her a bloody break, mate… Jack thought as he gazed at the young woman in front of him.
“No, I didn’t.” Mary said tersely.
“Then the sooner the better, don’t you think?” her father said with a raised eyebrow, his expression the same as when he looked at her mother. Feeling more than a little humiliated she rose from her seat and nodded at Jack who gazed at her softly before she turned to her father.
“I hope mother still haunts your dreams.” She whispered spitefully to him before she turned and fled the garden, her long nightdress flowing behind her as she hurriedly disappeared into the house.

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Half an hour had passed since her outburst and she still hadn’t calmed down. A knock on the door broke her from her misery and she went to open it, expecting to see her father’s angry scowl but she was shocked into silence when the handsome face of the pirate greeted her.
“Not asleep yet, eh?” he asked with a lopsided smirk and she shook her head, quickly wiping a tear from her cheek.
“No…How may I assist you?” she asked and she saw his eyes briefly flicker over her chest, hardly covered by her robe. She pulled the robe tightly around her body and looked away while he cleared his throat ad spoke again in low tones.
“I was thinking if you’d like to come with me.” He stated and she turned to look at him surprised.
“Come… with you?” she asked and he nodded.
“Aye…you still haven’t seen me ship. After all you’ll be aboard soon.” He said and she swallowed hard, excitement mingled with fear surging through her.
“At this hour?” she asked and he chuckled.
“Will you be getting any sleep at all if I leave you?” he asked and she blinked.
“I don’t think I will, Captain.” She said in a barely audible voice, moving her hair behind her ear with her hand.
“That’s what I thought.” He smirked knowingly.
“I need to get dressed-…”
“No, need for that, love. It’ll take time. Come.” He said as he politely extended his arm to her, willing her to take it.
“But-…”
“It’s not cold out anyway.” He cut her off, obviously not caring of the inappropriateness of the situation. Feeling encouraged by the look of acceptance in his eyes she extended her hand to him and he took it with a golden grin before he led her out of the room and down the stairs.

End of chapter 3

Author’s note: Thank you for reading. Please, please review and tell me your thoughts. It’s always nice to hear from you.

Xxx Lina :)