Misconception

Chapter 36


Bella fidgeted where she stood as she tried to smooth down her skirt. Loud chatter and music filled the large hall and the heat was starting to bother her enormously. She eyed the glasses on the long buffet next to her but she averted her eyes as soon as Nellie came to stand next to her.
“Oh, hell!” she exclaimed as she fanned herself with her hand, “It’s awfully warm in here, isn’t it?” she asked over the music.
“Yes. Is there no water? All I’ve been serving is champagne and wine.” Bella said into the other woman’s ear.
“I’ve no idea, dear. I can’t understand how they can stand in those clothes.” Nellie looked at the expensively dressed women in the hall.
It was true. All women were dressed in either heavy dresses made of silk or satin and their necklines and cuffs were decorated by lace. Their hair was styled in complicated braids or it was pulled neatly on top of their heads and secured by shiny pins.
The men were not dressed lighter either. Expensive coats and vests adorned their bodies and wigs rested on top of their heads.
“They’re dressed like bloody peacocks!” Nellie laughed and Bella chuckled.
“I think that describes them perfectly.” She said quietly but the smile fell from her face when she saw Mr. Stevenson beckoning her to him. She sighed picked up the tray of drinks and headed towards his direction. As she got closer she realized that he was accompanied by his son, Mirabelle and two other gentlemen.
She stepped over to them and they took a drink each without really paying attention to her. She was glad but when she looked at Christopher she realized that he was gazing at her. When he caught her eyes he smiled and she returned it timidly.
“Bella.” Mirabelle spoke up from next to her and Bella turned to face her, “What a lovely braid. Is it a French one?” the blonde asked as she eyed her hair with curiosity. Christopher frowned at her but Bella only nodded and stepped back.
“Lovely, isn’t it, Chris?” Mirabelle asked and Bella was confused. The woman hadn’t acknowledged her at all since the incident in the kitchen and all of a sudden she decided to praise her for her hair?
“Of course.” Christopher said with a small smile and Bella offered another small one in return before she turned to walk away with the now empty tray in her hand.
When she arrived at the table she noticed that James was already there. He was sulking and tugging at the collar of his shirt angrily while cursing quietly to himself.
“What’s the matter?” she asked him and he scowled.
“I hate these clothes.” He stated and she slapped his hands away from his shirt.
“They look fine to me.” She shrugged and he stared at her.
“Well, they are not. How are you anyway? Aren’t you hot?” he asked as he eyed her dress.
“I am.” She muttered as she wiped her brow with a handkerchief and then put it away.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the entrance?” she asked him as she started filling another tray with glasses.
“I took a break.” He snapped and she chuckled.
“I am just saying it because Mr. Stevenson’s giving you the evil eye.” She told him and he gulped.
“I’m going.” He hurried to walk away and she laughed to herself. Someone brushed by her and she muttered an apology.
“My, my, love. You’re sweating. Are you hot or something?” a husky voice said next to her and she almost dropped the tray. She quickly spun around to face the person and she almost had a heart attack. The man standing in front of her looked like Jack but at the same time he didn’t. His clothes were new and immaculate and his shiny new boots shone in the light. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail and he looked surprisingly clean. His eyes were not smudged with kohl but they were nicely accentuated with it and his beard was nicely trimmed. Gone were the braids and tattered clothes but his eyes shone with the same old mischievous glint.
Jack broke her stare with his next words.
“Is that champagne?” he asked with wide eyes and Bella looked at him shocked.
“Is that what you have to say?” she hissed as she looked around wide-eyed, hoping that no one was looking at them.
“Well…” he trailed off with a golden grin.
“And what are you wearing?” she asked him and he looked at himself before he shrugged.
“Oh, this…Stole it from a fop. How do I look?” he asked her as he leaned close to her.
Instinctively she pulled back and the tray swayed dangerously in her hand.
“Ridiculously…fine.” She forced out reluctantly and he laughed heartily before he grabbed a glass of champagne from her tray and took a step back. He paused and looked her over slowly.
“I’d love to bloody kiss you right now but alas someone’s waiting for me.” He smirked.
“I thought you wanted to see me?” she asked him before she could stop herself and he grinned.
“’Course, love. But I have some business to take care first. Just keep looking pretty.” He winked before he disappeared in the crowd of guests.
“Bloody pirate.” Bella muttered before she steadied her tray and turned to walk in the other direction. She came face to face with Christopher.
“Oh!” she gasped as soon as she realized who it was.
“Who were you talking to, Bella?” he asked her slowly with a raised eyebrow.
“Um…a gentleman. He wanted some champagne.” She stuttered and he nodded.
“I see…Did you get his name?” he asked but she shook her head, “He looked like the man my father had been waiting for…He’s a friend of the Rousseau’s….French…Jacques…something.” Christopher shrugged and Bella’s eyes widened minutely.
“Jacques…Oh. Yes, I think he’s talking with Mr. Stevenson.” She said as she looked towards the centre of the hall where his father stood talking with…Jack.
Jesus, he sure has some nerve. She thought amusedly to herself.
“He looks close with Mira.” Christopher noted and Bella sharply looked at the blonde who was hanging off Jack’s arm like her life depended on it. The three of them were talking animatedly and she could see even from that distance that Jack was completely relaxed and at ease. It was a miracle that Christopher hadn’t recognized him yet.
Yes, yet. That is indeed the magic word. Her inner voice pointed out and she stifled a sigh.
“I have to get back to the guests.” She told Christopher quietly and he nodded at her.
She walked away with her stomach feeling a bit queasy. If Jack was expected to be there then he had agreed to work with the Rousseau’s. But why? Wasn’t he afraid that someone would recognize him? And what did the Rousseau’s want?
And most importantly what part was Jack going to play in all this?

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Bella half listened to Nellie’s words. Her eyes were trained on Jack’s form as he directed himself and Mirabelle behind the heavy curtains of the hall. Her eyes sought the Stevensons and she found them talking with some other people that had just recently arrived. Without pausing to think she walked away from Nellie and towards the curtains. When she was sure that no one was looking at her she slipped behind them and searched for Jack. She found him at the far corner of the hidden space. He and Mirabella were several feet away and they were facing away from her. The woman had Jack pressed against the wall and she was hissing something at him.
“I told you not to try and do anything stupid, love.” She heard Jack whisper and she frowned.
“You agreed to help me.”
“I only agreed when I thought that you were only going to steal from him not kill him.” Jack snapped and Bella stifled her gasp.
“What is it to you?” Mirabelle asked him angrily.
“Nothing. But do you rally think that poisoning him in a public event is sensible?” Jack asked her calmly and Bella’s eyes widened in shock.
“I had everything planned out.” Mirabelle said with exasperation and Jack chuckled.
“Really? You were quite obvious to me. If I hadn’t stopped you you’d have been caught by now. They’d have thrown you into Newgate until you begged for death.” He hissed, “Now, give it to me.”
Bella frowned.
“Give you what?” Mirabelle asked as she pressed closer to him and leaned towards his mouth. Jack turned his face away and sneered.
“The poison. Give it to me.”
“No.”
“I won’t let you do anything stupid.” He said in a low voice.
“Why? Do you care so much about me? And here I thought that you’ve already found a new plaything. And what about Joan? Is she still running after you like a puppy? You left me for her, remember?” Mirabelle asked him angrily as she pushed against his chest.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. And don’t change the subject.” Jack evaded her questions and Bella blinked, trying to understand everything that she was hearing.
“For your information, “Mirabelle started in a deadly voice, “If the Stevensons get out of the picture the entire company will be in my hands.”
“You mean your brother’s.” Jack corrected, “George, right?”
“My brother? My brother’s just to easily misled. So technically will b in my hands.” Mirabelle laughed.
“Nevertheless, I need that poison. I’ll give it to you once you’ve thought of a more reasonable way of getting them out of the picture.” Jack insisted and Bella heard the click of a gun.
“Are you going to shoot me, Jack?”
“Not if you give it to me.”
“They’ll discover who you are if you do shoot me.”
“They’ll discover who I am if you try and kill them anyway.” Jack pointed out smartly.
“You like that little girl, don’t you?” Mirabelle asked suddenly and Bella started walking backwards. It was all too much for her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That girl you kidnapped. What is it? Did the abductor fall for the prisoner? A little too cliche for you, don’t you think?”
“That’s none of your bloody business!” Jack snapped and Bella grabbed the crimson curtains in her hand for support.
“I saw the letter, Jack.” Mirabelle continued, “Does she know that you used her to get the map for Blackbeard’s treasure?” she taunted and Bella had already heard enough.
Without waiting to listen to his answer she walked out of her hiding place and headed back towards the hall.
“Bella?” James touched her arm and she flinched, “Are you alright?” he asked her and she closed her eyes for a few moments before she looked up at him.
“I need some air.” She whispered and he looked around. There were fewer people for it was already getting late.
“Come on.” He said quietly as he took her hand and led her outside in silence. He sat her down in one of the chairs that were out in the large balcony and smiled at her.
“I’ll get you some water.” He promised as he disappeared inside once again.
Bella rubbed her temples and looked out as she played the scene over and over again inside her head. Everything was so confusing and she felt like a complete fool for ever thinking that he was there for her; because he wanted to see her. He never did anything unless he had something to gain. She was an idiot for believing otherwise.
“Here.” James broke her from her thoughts and she took the glass of water from him.
“I have to get back to the front. Nellie will cover for you. The idiots are leaving anyway.” He told her and she nodded as she took a sip. He patted her head affectionately before he walked away.
She sipped the rest of the water and then started fumbling idly with the end of her braid. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again she saw a pair of boots.
“Bella?” Jack’s voice was worried and she slowly raised her eyes to look at him, “Are you alright, love?”

End of chapter 36