Proffitable Affairs

Chapter 4

Mary felt like a fish out of the water as she stood timidly at the centre of the Black Pearl. To say that she was overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century. Although her family was rich, she had never been aboard a ship let alone travel on one. It was dark but she could still see every detail of the vessel. She was surprised to see that it was indeed black, just like its name. A soft breeze blew her hair in her face and she pushed it back slowly, still in a daze.
A warm breath next to her ear made her shudder and she turned her head sharply to her right.
“What’s the verdict, love?” Jack asked as he lingered to her side for a few seconds before he pulled back to give her some space.
“Verdict?” she asked and he nodded.
“Is it adequate for a lady like you?” he asked with a wave of his hand. The words stung her but once she gazed into his eyes she knew that he was simply teasing her again.
“I know it’s an awfully big shock to a man like you, Captain, but I wouldn’t be able to tell whether it is adequate or not. I’ve never been on a ship.” She said quietly and Jack cocked his head to the side.
“Never?” he asked as he took a few steps closer to her, close enough to make her nervous.
“Never. I don’t seem to…react well in open waters.” She started as a blush started from the base of her neck, “I get nauseous…” she continued as she dared to look at him.
“That’s until you find your sea legs.” He said and she bit her lip.
“I don’t think I have sea legs, Captain.” She whispered and he looked at her curiously.
“The only thing that remains now is to tell me that you hate the sea.” He said amused and she swallowed hard.
“Actually I am…not particularly fond of the sea. No since I was six.” She said embarrassed and it caught Jack’s attention.
“May I ask why?” he asked as he looked at her pale face.
“We were at the beach…My father tried to teach me how to swim…He had me on his shoulders but he tripped over some rocks and…I …you know, just bloom!” she explained and Jack chuckled.
“You just bloom?” he said and she nodded, wondering if she had ever seen someone smile at her so sincerely, without pretences.
“Yes. I didn’t want to be near water for a week after that.” She admitted and he shook his head.
“Come on. Don’t tell me that you can’t swim.” He said incredulously as he quickly looked her up and down. Was it his imagination or was she slowly starting to seem more appealing to him in those nightclothes? Corsets and heavy dresses didn’t suit her. Thin silk on the other hand was more than appealing on her. It embraced her rich curves and made her look more slender. Hardly any resemblance to the beautiful women at Tortuga and not remotely close to Eli-…
Stop it! He thought with a scold, shaking his head to clear it before he returned his attention to Mary.
“Once again I have to let you down, Captain. I can’t swim. If you throw me right into the water I’ll probably drown.” She said with a shrug as she looked at the calm water.
“We’ll have to remedy that then, aye? Can’t have me own wife not knowing how to swim.” He said with a grin as he approached her and gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
Mary froze at that and she looked away.
“May I ask you something?” she whispered and he nodded.
“’Course.” He said as he looked at her.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked as she hugged herself.
“Why am I doing what, love?” he asked with a frown.
“Why are you spending time with me? I already know that I don’t matter. You are after what I have not after me. Why did you ask me to come here tonight?” she asked quietly and he was startled by her blunt awareness.
“I simply wanted to know you. People tend to know each other before they decide to be married.” he said matter- of- factly and she paused.
“But you don’t have to get to know me. I know why you’re doing this so, what’s the point? No one bothers with me! Not even my father! Why would you?” she snapped quite loudly, all her anger and hurt coming into the surface.
Jack regarded her quietly before he raised a single eyebrow.
“Are you quite finished scaring seagulls away?” he asked and she felt herself flush with embarrassment.
“I…I just don’t understand.” She whispered at last.
“It seems to me that we need to work on your confidence, love.” He said gruffly and she was dumbstruck.
“M-my confidence? What’s wrong with my confidence?” she asked in a shaky voice as he kept looking at her intently.
“You don’t have one.” He said simply and her eyes widened.
“I beg your pardon?” she whispered and he licked his lips before he spoke.
“I said you don’t have one.” He repeated firmly and she blinked.
“I…Well, thank you for telling me.” She whispered and he looked at her incredulously.
“That’s it? You won’t try to prove me wrong? You won’t try to prove me otherwise?” he asked and she sighed.
“No…You’re right. I am not confident. You wouldn’t be too if you were in my place.” She whispered as she shivered and looked away. Jack looked at her closely while she avoided his gaze and then sighed.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, lass.” He muttered and she turned her gaze towards him.
“You didn’t offend me…I just-…I just don’t like being reminded of how I am and how I must look like to you. You don’t have to tell me with words. I have a mirror.” She said and he smirked.
“Mirrors don’t show the soul, love.” He objected and it was her turn to smirk.
“You’re wrong, Captain.” She shot back, “You can see the eyes through them and believe me they are the only true mirrors in this world.” She said quietly and he smiled.
“If that’s so what can you tell about me?” he asked as he leaned closer and looked into her green eyes. Mary looked at him for a few moments before she spoke.
“Nothing.” She replied and he frowned, “I can’t tell anything for you.” She said and he narrowed his eyes.
“How so?” he asked and she smiled.
“I can’t see through so much mischief. Sorry.” She shrugged and he smirked. The girl had spirit. She just didn’t know it yet.
“Hmm…Good for me then, eh?” he murmured as he pushed back a tendril of hair that kept getting on front of her eyes. He had no idea why he kept doing that for her that night.
“Indeed, Captain.” She whispered as she pulled back, “Can we go back now?” she asked suddenly as she once more hugged herself.
“But I haven’t given you a tour yet.” He smiled as he spread his arms and bowed slightly.
“I’m cold.” She said softly and the smile left his lips.
“As you wish.” He said as he offered her his hand. She took it and she followed him quietly, her mind on the things he had said about her.

*****************************************
A knock on the door broke her from her pitiful sleep the next morning. She opened her eyes and before she had the chance to speak the door opened and Anne walked in with a dress in her hands.
“Good morning.” The dark haired woman said as she closed the door and walked in uninvited.
“I didn’t allow you to come in.” Mary said in a low voice as she sat up on the bed.
“I simply wanted to help you. You’ve overslept. It’s time for the ceremony.” Anne said and Mary blinked. She had forgotten.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” Anne said and Mary sighed.
“No…I remember.”
“You don’t seem like you do. You need to bathe. You can’t get married with your hair looking like that. I brought you a dress. I hope it fits.” Anne said and Mary bit her tongue hard.
“I don’t need your dress. I have my own.”
“It’s not mine. It wouldn’t do anyway. Your father asked me to buy it for you.” Anne said as she placed the cream white dress on a chair and looked at Mary expectantly.
“I am sorry but I don’t plan on wearing white.” Mary said as she calmly stood up and put on her robe.
“What? Why not?” Anne asked with a gasp, her perfect manicured hand flying to her mouth.
“Spinsters tend to not like that color much. So, you can take that back.” Mary replied before she passed by her and went to the washroom, shutting the door behind her.


Margaret finished fixing Mary’s hand in a fancy bun and stepped back to evaluate her work.
“It looks perfect, miss.” Margaret said with a smile and Mary looked at her through the mirror.
“Thank you, Margie.” Mary said quietly as she pushed back her chair and looked at herself. The pale blue dress she wore wasn’t that fancy but it fitted her better than any others she possessed. Sighing, she looked at Margaret and nodded at her.
“I am ready. Please tell me when it’s time to come down.” She said quietly and the maid nodded before she made her exit. Soon after her leave, Mary collapsed on her bed, fearfully waiting for the minutes to pass.

*******************************************
An hour later, Margaret peered into the room and nodded at her. Mary stood up and followed her downstairs and into her father’s study. Her father was sitting there, so was Anne and Jack Sparrow was casually leaning against the wall dressed in black breeches, white shirt and a black coat. She never thought that he had such clothing but it turned out that she was wrong. Behind her father’s desk was a vicar who looked more bored than anything else.
“Ah, you’re here then. Then we may begin shall we?” her father said and Jack straightened. His dark eyes fell upon her and she felt self conscious under his intense gaze. He grinned lopsidedly and winked at her, something that made her even more nervous.
“Come, come, Mary. We don’t have all day.” Her father scolded and she bit the inside of her mouth in order to remain silent. She stepped in close to Jack who placed a hand on her lower back as if to steady her while he moved his fingertips in gentle circles on the soft fabric of her dress. The simple gesture managed everything that the full affection of her father could have managed in all her living years; it gave her hope.

End of chapter 4