Misconception

Chapter 37

“Bella?” Jack called her name again as he looked around and then took a step closer to her. She blinked and suddenly stood up from her chair. She looked at him with a blank expression before she turned to walk back inside.
“Hey, hey, love!” he said as he gripped her arm when she moved to pass past him, “What’s wrong?” he asked and she looked at him.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then why do you seem ready to bolt at the sight of me?” he asked her with suspicious narrowed eyes.
“I have work to do. I am not here for recreation like some.” She said bitingly and he chuckled.
“Are you angry with me, love?” he asked her as he cocked his head to the side and leaned closer to her, “I missed you.” He breathed against her lips and for a moment she almost leaned in but stopped herself in time.
“Let go of me. I have to get back inside and you back to your companion.” She said and he blinked.
“Do you have a problem with me, darlin’? You know, beside the usual.” He said as he refused to let go of her.
“You mean beside the fact that you’re a liar?” she hissed at him and he frowned.
“What?”
“Oh, there you are!” Mr. Stevenson appeared at the French doors and Jack immediately released her. Bella muttered an apology and excused herself, leaving the two men behind.
She found Nellie and sighed with relief, “What can I do?” she asked and the older woman patted her arm.
“Are you alright, dear?” she asked and Bella nodded, “You sure? Alright then. We have to gather all the food and glasses and give them to the other servants. They will clean them.
“What about the people still here?”
“Mr. Stevenson asked me to clean up. It’s just them and-…”
“That man.” Bella finished for her and Nellie nodded, “Where’s James?” she asked as they walked to the buffet and started picking up glasses.
“They sent him to get the carriage. Apparently Ms. Rousseau is tired.” Nellie rolled her eyes.
“ Yes, apparently.” Bella grumbled.
A few moments later said miss appeared at their side.
“Can I help you, Miss?” Nellie spoke up while Bella gazed at Mirabelle with a blank expression.
“Yes, a glass of water please. I’m parched.” The woman smiled at them but Bella immediately became suspicious and looked at Nellie with nervousness.
“Of course.” Nellie fetched her a glass and Mirabelle took it with a wide smile.
“Thank you. So, Bella,” she started as she turned ad gazed at her, “How did you find the party? Did it dazzle you?” Mirabelle’s eyes were twinkling.
“It takes more than fancy glasses and clothes to dazzle me, Miss.” Bella answered and Mirabelle chuckled.
“Yes, of course. I assume you’re one of those women who prefer adventure, am I right?”
“Perhaps.” Bella muttered as she looked at the glass in the other woman’s hands. Nellie walked away with a tray of glasses while rolling her eyes, leaving them alone.
“Is there something wrong with the water, miss?” Bella asked when the other woman didn’t drink it.
“No. I think I’m going to enjoy it in the balcony. It’s too hot in here.” Mirabelle smiled before she walked away in a swirl of skirts.
Bella looked at her retreating figure and then returned to her work.

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Bella and Nellie were just coming back through the curtains when they heard loud voices coming up from the hall entrance.
“What is the meaning of this?” Bella heard Mirabelle’s enraged voice cry and she looked up. Her eyes widened at the scene in front of her. James was holding Mirabelle’s arms while Jack and Mr. Stevenson had two guns pointed at her.
Nellie gasped next to Bella and grasped her arm.
“What’s going on here?” she whispered and Bella shrugged helplessly.
“John! What is the meaning of this? Let go of me at once!” Mirabelle cried as she twisted in James’ hold.
Christopher stood staring at the scene just a few feet away, glass of water in hand.
Bella’s eyes widened and she looked at Jack who was smirking and keeping his gun pointed at Mirabelle’s chest.
“Mr. Sparrow,” Mr. Stevenson started and Bella gasped while Mirabelle’s eyes widened, “Can you search the lady for any compromising…liquids?”
Jack lowered his gun and looked at the man with a smirk.
“Sure I can, mate.” He approached Mirabelle who was glaring murderously at him and grinned, “May I?” he placed his hands on her neckline and started moving them downwards.
“What in hell?” Nellie exclaimed and Mr. Stevenson turned his eyes to her.
“Can you escort my son outside, Nellie? Please.” He added firmly and Nellie hurried to comply while Bella still stared at Jack as he searched Mirabelle.
“Really, Mr. Stevenson? You give your alliances to pirates now?” Mirabelle spoke up and everything clicked in place in Bella’s head.
Jack was working with the Stevensons to trap Mirabelle. But why?
“If it meant that I’d save my son and myself then why not? It seems like you didn’t see this coming, did you?” John asked as he approached her.
“Found it!” Jack exclaimed in triumph as he held up the vial of poison.
“Hand it over, Mr. Sparrow.” John said as he held out his hand. Jack placed it in the other man’s palm and stepped back. He looked over his shoulder at Bella but she averted her eyes.
“I take you in my house, I help you to get over your financial problems by doing business with you and you try to poison my son?”
“All’s fair when one has to deal with money. Don’t you agree, Jack?” Mirabelle turned to look at Jack who kept her eye but didn’t speak.
“Did you really think that you could succeed?” John asked and James who had been silent spoke up.
“Did she really try to poison, Mr. Christopher?” he asked with wide shocked filled eyes and everyone turned to glare at him.
“Take her away, James.” John ordered.
“Where?”
“We shall escort the lady to the authorities. With our proof of course.” John motioned towards the entrance before he turned to Bella.
“Once James is back he’ll take you to the house.” He told her but Jack spoke up.
“I’ll keep an eye on her.” He said as he raised a bejeweled hand and grinned.
“Fine. We’ll talk later.” He looked at Jack who inclined his head in agreement.
When they were alone Jack turned to her and walked towards her with a smile.
“Surprised you, did I, love?” he asked as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She let him but when he proceeded to actually touch her skin she pulled back.
“When did you decide to go to their side? After or before you reunited with her?” Bella asked and he chuckled.
“Love, I was never with her.” He stated with a grin and Bella narrowed her eyes at him.
“Really? you could have fooled me.” She snorted.
“What is that suppose to mean?” he growled and she looked him in the eye.
“I saw you with her behind the curtains.” She told him and he paused before he barked a laugh.
“And here I was wondering why you were so angry.” He chuckled.
“You think it’s funny? I actually believed that you were with her in all this.” She scolded him and he stopped laughing.
“Well, I was not. Do you really think that I could ever be with the person who tried to kill me? Twice?” he asked her as he walked closer and reached around her to grasp at her braid. He brought it over her shoulder and twirled it around his fingers as he looked at her with intense eyes.
“She tried to kill you?”
“Aye.”
“For what?” Bella asked as he dragged his nose up her cheek to her temple, inhaling her scent.
“For leaving her…and stealing from her.” He answered simply as he pulled her to him and kissed the side of her head.
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.” He chuckled lightly, “I don’t like it that you always doubt me, you know.” He commented as she closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.
“Trusting you isn’t easy.” She whispered against his chest and he lightly tugged on her braid.
“It should be…I haven’t lied to you.” He said with his lips brushing her ear as he talked.
“Really?” she asked quietly and he paused.
“Well…recently at least.” He said and she let out a small chuckle.
“Alright.”
“Let’s get out of here.” He murmured as he snaked both arms around her and pulled her to him tightly.
“And go where? I have to be here.” She said as she pulled back to look at him.
“I have a carriage.” He wiggled his eyebrows and she chuckled.
“You do?”
“Aye! How do you think I got here from the docks? On foot?” he grimaced and she bit her lip.
“What if they come looking for me?”
“They won’t. They just left.” He said as he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.
After a moment’s hesitation she nodded, “Okay.”
Jack grinned and took her hand to lead her outside.

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“Did you drive this here?” she asked as they stepped inside the empty carriage.
“Aye. I couldn’t afford to have a driver. That’s why it’s here in the back.” He said as he sat beside her and drew the curtains.
Bella gazed at him suspiciously, “Jack, did you steal this?” she asked and he looked hurt.
“Stole? I borrowed it.’ He said as he shrugged off his fancy coat.
“Is there a difference?” she asked with amusement as he turned to face her.
“’Course. I won’t take it with me on me ship, will I?” he said and she blinked.
“Right…” she muttered and he frowned.
“What?” he asked with a grimace, “What did I say now?” His hand touched her knee and squeezed.
“Nothing.” She shook her head with a small smile and he grinned.
“So…” he trailed off as he hooked a finger on her neckline and pulled her forward, “Did you miss me?” he asked as he kissed the corner of her mouth and snaked his free arm around her waist tightly. Bella’s eyelashes fluttered and she nodded as he placed another kiss to her upper lip.
“Good.” He smirked as he tightened his hold on her and pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him. She gasped and grasped his shoulder for support as his hands gripped her thighs. His mouth parted and he crashed his lips to hers hungrily as a low groan escaped the back of his throat. Bella’s arms went around his neck and she responded eagerly before she grasped the collar of his shirt and held on for dear life. His hands squeezed her legs in response before they slipped up her back. He pushed against her lower back and her chest collided with his, causing him to moan and her to gasp.
“You fill me arms just perfectly, love.” He murmured against her lips and she let her lips curl up into a smile at his words.
“Is that good or bad?” she asked breathlessly and he chuckled huskily.
“It’s very good.” He said as he took her mouth in a kiss again and quickly reversed their position by pressing her against the seat of the carriage. Her legs parted to accommodate him and he pressed himself against her with a low hiss.
“I can’t stand being away from you.” He whispered hotly against her neck as he pressed kisses along her skin. Bella nodded and grasped fistfuls of his shirt to bring him closer.
“Come with me.” He murmured against her mouth as he kissed her again and hitched her leg around his hip, “Come with me, love.” He breathed and she opened her eyes to look at him.
“Yes.” The word was out of her mouth before she had the chance to stop herself and Jack paused on top of her. His dark eyes looked at her with shock before he pulled back slightly and frowned.
“Yes?” he asked dubiously and she licked her lips before she replied.
“Yes.” She replied quietly as she looked up at him.
“Alright.” He grinned before he leaned down to seal their deal with a kiss.

End of chapter 37