The Map

Usual Disclaimer:

PLEASE READ: For some unknown reason which completely baffles me. There are mistakes in this text which just doesn’t occur when I read it through in word. For instance ‘ofn’ in the ‘intent on going out the door’ line and the word hand appearing twice and some letters being doubled up. I am very sorry about this as I know how annoying it can be to read something that doesn’t flow because of errors. If anyone has any idea why it’s showing on the upload but isn’t in the original document I’d be very grateful. I’ve reloaded this chapter three tinow now and it’s still appearing! ARGH! There be ghosts in my computer!

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The moonlight was now shinning brightly into his cabin, illuminating the room with a silver glow that, at any other timeld hld have made Nell think it was pretty.
But hanging upside down over Jack Sparrow’s shoulder wasn’t conducive to noticing things like that. He whistled through his teeth as he crossed to his bed and dumped her, unceremoniously, onto it. He turned away and crossed to the lanterns attached to the walls. He drew a tinderbox from the table and set about lighting them.
“You despicable, dirty, lying, thieving, underhanded….”
“Why thank you , Nell. Does fair warm the old h to to hear you speak so kindly of me,” he cut her off with a wave of his hand.
Nell struggled to her feet and surged across the room, intent ofn going out of the still open door.
He moved like lightening and slammed the door shut before she could reach it. He turned to face her, leaning back against the door. Nell skidded to a halt in front of him, just managing to keep her feet with the motion of the anchored ship beneath her feet. Reaching up he removed his hat from his head and threw it to land on the table.
“Right, first things first,.” Hhe announced and undid his top coat, standing away from the door long enough to take it off. “I have to be telling you that I’m getting a mite tired of your continual lack of integrity,.” Hhe spoke casually, not even looking at her as he folded his coat, taking care to fold it neatly.
“My integrity?” she gaped at him open -mouthed and then crossed her arms in annoyance. “I’m sorry, but I fail to see how my integrity is in question here.”
“To my knowledge, and please do correct me if I’m wrong, which I have no doubt you will do anyway, we have made three accords, all of which you have broken. I take it you are unsure as to the meaning of honour.”
Nell felt righteous indignation fill her at his words. How dare he talk to her about honour? The man didn’t have an honourable bone in his body.
“How dare you?” she squeaked at him in fury “Honour? My honour? You are a pirate. I doubt you could spell the word if your entire life depended on it, let alone know what it means.”
He rolled his eyes at her and leaned back against the door throwing the coat onto his bed with a flick of his hand,hand; oblivious to the care he’d taken in folding it.
“H O N O U R.,” he spelt it out for her “Satisfied?”
She glared at him and then stomped away from the table to sit on the seat under the window.
“You miss the point,.” Sshe said through her teeth.
“No, on the contrary; you miss the point.” He pushed himself away from the door and stalked towards her, one hand stretched outwards, one pointed directly at her. “You can paint it anyway you wish, but the fact remains that you agreed to stay with me until I find the treasure, and you have just broken your word to me. I gave you a choice, be a guest aboard my ship or remainyouryour cabin as my prisoner. I’m beginning to think the latter must actually appeal to you.” There was no slur to his words and no theatrical gestures; he just looked and sounded irritated.
“I no longer have a cabin,.” Sshe whispered, refusing to meet his eyes as he stopped just in front of her. “I have a hole beneath the deck so I don’t think you can lock me in anymore.” Nell was beginning to shake in reaction but she vaguely recognised that she was no longer afraid of him. She was talking back at him and she wasn’t frightened by what he might do to her. Later she would ponder just what that meant if she had the courage to do so, but for now she was centred on her anger at him.
“And for your information, I was about to come on board when you made me angry again, so it’s your fault I broke my word,.” Sshe added waspishly.
Jack lifted an eyebrow and with one quick deft movement, un-strapped his sword. He took his pistol and moved to place them both on the table with his hat. He flicked out one wrist and faced her again; his earlier irritation gave way to his usual casual flamboyant style.
“And just what did I say to make you so angry, I wonder?” he mused half to himself and then carried on talking as he advanced towards her. “Would it be the fact that I called into question your intelligence? Or would it be the fact that you didn’t like the idea of my returning to Bessie?” he grinned at her and stopped just in front of her, one hand on his hip one hand stuck out, fingers pointing upwards.
Nell arched an eyebrow and clenched her hands in her lap.
“And why would Bessie worry me?” she demanded angrily.
“Why indeed?” he mocked her and, fingering his braid, he began to pace in front of her, his eyes never leaving her face as his other hand danced in front of him slightly. “Unless you were thinking of Scarlet: my supposed wife. Indeed, on another occasion, I would be glad if you would be so good as tell me where you heard that name, ‘tis something I shall be intrigued to hear, but not now.”
Nell could quite clearly see the humour glistening in his eyes and it annoyed her immensely. He was having fun at her expense and she didn’t like it.
“I care not for you or your wife or your numerous whores. In fact I don’t give a damn if you slept with every woman in La Romana.,” Sshe said airily and really meant it. “In fact… I think you should go now, leave it too long and you won’t have enough time for Bessie, let alone however many more are waiting for a chance at the famous Captain Jack Sparrow.” Her voice dripped icy sarcasm and he laughed aloud in delight.
“Well, well. Who would have guessed that underneath the timid façcade there lurked a shrew?” he mocked her gently “Tis good to see you crossing words with me without cowering under the table, as before. Illustratively speaking, of course. It tells me we’ve reached a special place in our lives together, incontrovertibly so, in fact.”
Nell frowned at him wondering what the devil he was talking about now.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea what you’re talking about. In fact I’m of a mind that half the time no one knows what you’re on about, including yourself,” she snapped.
“My. But you do like to insult me don’t you?” he mused, his eyes gleaming as he watched her. His mouth curved in a mocking smile.
“If you were one of the crew, now, I’d have to punish such a show of insubordination.”
“But I’m not one of your crew!” she snapped “And for that I am, and always will be eternally grateful.”
He laughed at her and stopped pacing to contemplate the ceiling for a few seconds.
“I have to confess to liking the sharpness of your tongue, Miss Nell. Although you’d do well to consider that a tongue too sharp can cut the owner far worse.” He turned on his heel and looked down at her, hands braced on his hips.
“But I’m of a mind to see how sharp that tongue can be,” he mused and without warning he reached down, gripped her upper arms and hauled her to her feet, purposely unbalancing her so that her hands caught hold of his waistcoat just to keep upright.
She looked up at him in surprise and he wasted no time in claiming her lips. She gave a mewl of protest as her eyes widened going slightly crossed as she stared into his own eyes. He pulled her tightly to him, his eyes closing and his hands left her arms to slide around her back till he had one hand pressed into the small of her back and his other hand on the nape of her neck.
Fire spread from his lips and his hands on her body till it converged in the pit of her stomach. All thoughts of fighting him off disappeared as her eyes closed. His mouth moved over hers, making no attempt at gaining access to her mouth. Her hands gripped at his waist as his other hand slid low over her back and down onto her hip. His fingers tracing fire through the thin material of the britches she was wearing, still. She moaned low in her throat at the sensations he was creating in her. His tongue ran across her mouth and she opened her lips eagerly to him as she stood on tip toe, unconsciously trying to get closer to him.
He slid his other hand down over her neck and down to her shoulder, his fingertips barely touching as he slid them back and forth over her collarbone each sweep going lower and lower over her skin, till she felt as if her whole world had stopped and only the sensation of him, touching her skin remained.
His lips left hers and Nell reacted in the only way she could think of; she gripped at his waist as her mouth sought and found his again, her lips and tongue battling with his own as she responded to his intimacy. She tried to get closer still, her hands moving up his back in a dance that she didn’t know she knew.
His lips left hers once more as he worked his way across her jaw line, leaving tiny kisses until he reached the skin under her ear. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly over her skin, murmuring something unintelligible as his lips nibbled at her ear.
In that moment he could have what ever he wanted from her. She would give it all and more, besides. Her body sang as she submitted to him. And then, as suddenly as it started, he stopped it.
He kissed her ear gently and stood back from her, letting her go and breaking her hold on his back. Nell tipped over at the sudden loss of his hold and grabbed at him to stop her fall. He caught her arms again and looked down at her confused and aroused face. Her breathing heavy as she looked up at him through dazed eyes.
“Nell,” he spoke her name softly. “I had a mind to bring you here and seduce you. But I find myself unable to continue,” he set her back from him and turned quickly to the table taking his sword and strapping it back on swiftly.
“What?” Nell raised her fingers to her lips, her other hand going to her still slightly bruised throat. She was adrift still, her body and mind given over to the sensations he had created… “I don’t understand,” her words sounded strange even to her as she watched him replace his pistol into the cloth bound around his waist.
“I think, luv,” he came up to her and reaching out stroked a finger down her cheek “I think I haven’t consumed enough rum for what was about to happen here,” he stood back again and half bowed to her before retrieving his hat and coat and headed out of the cabin shutting the door behind him. Some part of her numb brain heard the key turn in the lock and she knew he had locked her in, but it didn’t register past what had happened.
She slumped backwards and ended up perched on the seat staring into space.
What had happened? What had he meant? Why did she feel bereft?
He had obviously found her wanting in some way, and of that she shouldn’t really be surprised. Her knowledge of carnal matters could be written down on the outside of his compass box, with room left to spare. And she was certain he was aware of that. It was no wonder then that he had high-tailed it back to Bessie; who probably knew enough to fill the hold with volumes on the subject.
But that didn’t help, only made her feel slightly depressed and with a pent up feeling of … what was she feeling? Why was she aching like she was? Why did she feel that she would give almost anything for him to come back and carry on kissing her that way? Why did she feel frustrated?
And why did she feel this way about him in the first place; knowing he was married and a pirate to boot. She closed her eyes as tiredness and despondency washed over her. She hugged her arms around her and crossed to lie on his bed. She didn’t think he’d be back anytime soon. He would probably be at the Inn all night with what Bessie could offer him. And what Bessie could offer Jack, Nell knew she never could. She could offer experience. But it was more than experience, it was no regrets or recriminations come morning.
But with a sinking feeling deep down inside, Nell knew that had he stayed with her, she wouldn’t regret it come morning. And considering how much she really disliked him as a person, that made her no better than Bessie, and in some respects, infinitely worse than Bessie.
She closed her eyes against the feelings of humiliation and pain that coursed through her. She forced herself to think of something else, anything else; other than Jack and the feelings he created in her.
She sat up suddenly; it was no good. Every time she closed her eyes all she saw was his face, with his laughing mocking eyes. Her lips still sang with the feeling of his moving against them. She could still taste the sweet mix of rum, ale and something that was purely Jack, but indefinable. She could get drunk on that taste; she could get drunk on the memory of that taste.
So much for being a nun. Or at least an ex-nun. She knew that if she were ever to get the chance to go for confessional, she’d be in there a mighty long time. Shaking her head she got up from his bed and crossed to the table hurriedly, disgusted with herself. Desperate for anything to take her mind away from Jack she sat down on his chair and pulled the map towards her. It couldn’t hurt for her to look at the bane of her life. No, Jack was the bane of her life; the map just ran a close second.
Smiling at her thoughts despite herself she studied the map closely. It took her awhile to work out which way up it should go. She had never looked at a chart of the sea before so she dragged the chart of the Caribbean towards her and compared the two. Jack’s chart had writing on it, showing her exactly which was islands and which was sea and using that she quickly could see what they meant about certain islands just not being on there.
She thrust both charts away from her in a huff. She knew that being able to read the map made the difference between finding the treasure and just searching for it aimlessly and the major difference between being stuck here and being free of Jack. But if Jack couldn’t read it what chance did she have? Especially as it was her guardian that had made the map, and she knew just how devious he was - devious and intelligent. If he made the map up he certainly wouldn’t make it easy to read. Of that she was certain. She remembered him well enough to know that he would cover his tracks as well as possible.
She looked back down at the map, an idea forming in her brain. Both Jack and Will were under the impression the map was of a place that they had never sailed before because it bore little resemblance to the charts they already had. But what if her guardian had merely altered the chart? Taken places off to make it harder to find, or even taken off places that were important strategically. She stared at the islands but it still made no sense to her, as she didn’t really know what she was looking at.
Nell racked her brains as she remembered something from her distant past. And then it came to her; it had been when she was being taught to read. She didn’t remember who taught her to read but it must have been before she left Port Royal, as she had been able to read when she went to the convent school. She remembered her teacher had a s a slate with certain words missing and Nell had to fill in the words from a list on another slate.
Suddenly feeling as if it was important she searched for some ink and a quill. Unable to find a clean sheet of parchment she took another chart she didn’t recognise and turned it over. Using the two other charts she wrote down the names of each of the islands that were missing from the map. She sat there, scribbling through each name, playing with the letters until she formed one sentence that made absolutely no sense whatsoever to her: ‘Usque ad aras.’
Well it did make sense, it was Latin and meant ‘Enter the Altars’ but she didn’t see how it would mean anything to Beaumont or Jack.
She scribbled the Latin text and then the translation underneath on the back of the strange chart.
She would have to wait till morning to speak to Jack about it. He was after all spending his time with…
She suddenly remembered what had led her to his cabin in the first place and depression mixed with anger settled over her heavily. She took the strange chart and threw it hard across the room in a fit of pique.
She stood up and crossed to the door and banged on it loudly.
“Mister Timms? Mister Gibbs? Can anyone hear me?” she yelled loudly, banging on the heavy wooden door.
She stopped and listened but heard nothing in reply.
Disgruntled and very out of sorts, she yelled through the door.
“I hope your boat sinks with you in it, Jack Sparrow!”
She stalked away from the door and threw herself face down on the bed, cursing him.

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Captain Jack Sparrow smirked as he turned the key in the lock and swaggered down the corridor before going out on deck.
“Capt’n.” Timms smiled at him as he approached them.
“Mister Timms. Unfortunately Miss Nell seems to think La Romana’s a good place to leave the Pearl. Being as she’s a little confused I’ve left her in my cabin, safely under lock and key so that we don’t loose her, accidentally. See to it that no one enters and she doesn’t come out till I return.” He began to sway his way down the plank to the dock. He stopped suddenly, turned on his heel and almost overbalanced into the sea, he righted himself and paying no attention to the fact he’d nearly went in he called back up to Timms.
“Oh and if she hollers at you, which, being a woman she undoubtedly will. Just ignore her,” he grinned cheerfully at them and turning, carried on down, hands out stretched to help him balance.
He felt rather pleased with himself. Nell was coming along nicely and he was fairly certain that had he pressed the issue in there he wouldn’t be heading back to Bessie. But he didn’t want to ruin it by rushing it. He wanted to know that when he finally made his way into her bed it wouldn’t be just once. He knew she was as green as grass and first times were never much fun for either party involved and he didn’t want to end his exploration of her in one night. If he tried to warm her bed too early, he knew she’d never let him back again and back again he knew he would want.
Patience was something he had an abundance of. He’d never been impatient, not over anything. Not even reclaiming the Pearl, which was just as well considering it took him ten years. No, he would always wait for the opportune time, which always came around if one was with it enough to see it. And Jack Sparrow was certainly with it enough, so it was no hardship to wait for that moment with Nell. He was sure it wasn’t far away now anyway.
Whistling happily, he swaggered back towards the Inn, his thoughts centred on Nell’s breathless and most certainly aroused face as he had let her go. It was strange how he had first thought her to be rather plain. He wasn’t certain what he’d been thinking of when he’d first seen her. Certainly she was no classical beauty like her ladyship or Elizabeth, now there was a cracker and was she not devoted to William he’d sure have a try at her again. His smile faded slightly as he remembered the last time he’d tried his hand at Elizabeth, albeit he had been drunk and she had been pretending; vixen that she was.
No, no! He certainly wouldn’t try his hand at her again after the result of that evening. He knew with a certainty that Elizabeth, while being beautiful, was most certainly not his type. Besides he would never do that to Will and she had far too little respect for the finer things in life anyway. Like his stash of rum. Ah! But there was the rub! Her ladyship and Elizabeth, while being sure beauties, were not his type. While Nell… well, Nell was Nell.
She had a beauty that was all her own. It showed when she was talking to one of the crew and she’d suddenly smile, or she’d laugh at something they’d say, or when she was talking to Jimmy, who she seemed to have a soft spot for. Yes, she was beautiful and she’d be his to explore, he’d make sure of that.
He knew that she’d be ruined in respectable circles if it were to ever come out. But he doubted that Nell would ever be one to frequent respectable circles, not like her ladyship, anyway. He would make good on his word and give her enough of the treasure to make sure she was set up for life and then he’d set her down at a nice quiet port somewhere, were she could make a life for herself, maybe marry some nice man who wouldn’t care she’d been educated by a thoroughly indecent pirate. Have lots of children hanging on her skirts… happy, carefree… He frowned as his steps slowed.
The thought of Nell having children with some nice man didn’t sit well with him. His frown deepened as he stopped altogether on the street, staring at his booted feet.
Suddenly it hit him and he smiled at his feet in delight. It didn’t sit right with him because he remembered her saying something about not being able to have children. He began walking again as he thought about which port he would set her down at. It would be hard to decide upon one. He couldn’t leave her somewhere like Tortuga, nor La Romana, and certainly not Port Royal; which was far too populated with red coats. If he ever got the inclination to check up on her he would want to be able to do it without worrying about ending the visit at the end of a rope.
Check up on her? He stopped again in front of the Inn door. Why would he want to check up on her again? Except to make sure she wasn’t spending his treasure willy nilly, of course. He’d have to make sure she would invest wisely; else she’d be broke before she could blink. He doubted they held financial classes in the convent.
He smirked again as he remembered she’d been a nun. He wondered if, at a later date, she could be persuaded to put her habit back on for him. That thought could keep him company on many a cold night indeed.
Smirking at the thought of Nell in her habit and not much else, he opened the door to the Inn and went in.
He made his way through the drinking occupants, spotting and acknowledging several of his crew. He swaggered back to a table at the rear of the Inn and grabbing the first serving wench he could see ordered a bottle of rum, minus a glass.
He was sitting, waiting for the rum when Bessie made her way back over.
She plopped herself down on his lap and wound her arm around his neck, her other hand casually settling on his chest.
“Jack,” she purred and he looked up at her heavily painted face with a cocky expression on his face.
“It’s Captain Jack, luv,” he pointed out to her, sliding his arm around her waist and bringing his gaze level with her ample and mostly falling out bosom. Her skin was pale and dusted with powder, coupled with a strong perfume to cover the stench of sweat, drink and other men.
He brought his face forward and buried it into her neck his mouth just below her ear.
She giggled and wriggled on his lap, her hand drifting lower.
He brought his other hand up and caught hold of her hand to stop it from venturing lower still. He took a deep breath and brought his head back quickly, going slightly crossed eyed as the smell of her hit him. She was most certainly unwashed and covering it with a heavy dose of perfume. It suddenly struck him that he had never smelt perfume on Nell. He wondered briefly if she had ever owned a bottle, let alone worn any. But Bessie had almost drowned in the bottle judging by the smell.
“Did you fall in, luv?” he asked her mildly, bringing his face back to look down his nose at her.
“Eh?” She looked at him strangeblinblinking at him.
He smiled and shook his head, wondering what on earth the matter was with him.
“Nothing darlin’,” he grinned and leaned forward to capture her lips. Her mouth opened under his instantly and he found himself grimacing and pulling back.
“Jack?” she looked at him in puzzlement. But he looked past her at the wench that had brought his rum. He grinned at her, and putting her off his lap, he dug into his pocket for some coins to pay for the rum.
“Rum’s arrived, Bessie. Get yourself on now, girl! Can’t come between a man and his bottle.” Jack didn’t look twice at Bessie, who narrowed her eyes at him and placed her hands on her hips.
“You don’t want me, Jack?” she asked and moved her upper body in what she considered an entrancing movement.
He uncorked the bottle with his teeth and spat the cork onto the floor before looking up at her and grinning, flashing his gold teeth at her.
“I already got what I wanted!” he announced and lifted the bottle to her in a mock salute.
She humped and flounced her head in disappointment.
“Aye? Bet she weren’t as good as me, though,” she muttered and turning, flounced away.
Jack ignored her and took a heavy swallow of rum. He knew that he shouldn’t dally with Bessie tonight. He needed to make his way back to the Pearl soon and make sure they were ready to set sail, once more. It had nothing to do with the fact that with every aspect of Bessie he found himself comparing to Nell. And it most certainly had nothing to do with the fact that he compared her and found her markedly wanting compared to Nell. No, it wasn’t that, at all. He just knew that he had to have a clear head on him. He wasn’t sure how much of a lead over Beaumont he had. Especially as he couldn’t even read the damn chart the man had made.
Suddenly vexed, he took another long swallow of rum and looked around the still crowded inn. He knew that he had enough supplies on board now for a long haul journey. A smirk lifted his lips as he contemplated how Nell would react to the state of the food after the first four or five weeks.
A hand on his shoulder had him startled into going for his sword. But it was Will that sat down beside him.
Jack squinted at Will and shook his head.
“Shouldn’t creep up on a person, so,” he muttered and eyed the younger man, looking for evidence of his own drink. He had no desire to share his rum tonight.
Will called for ale and Jack visibly relaxed his hold on the bottle of rum, making Will laugh at him.
“Where’s your good wife?” Jack looked around but could see no signs of Elizabeth.
“Relaxing in a hot bath upstairs,” Will smiled smugly and Jack rolled his eyes. “I would have thought Lady Clarence and Nell would have jumped at the chance.”
“They never gave me chance to ask them,” Jack pointed out one hand waving dismissively towards the door as a sudden thought crossed his mind.
“Wonder what Hock’s doing to her ladyship,” he mused making Will’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Did I miss something?” he asked and thanked the serving wench that brought his ale.
“Aye, that you did,” Jack agreed “You missed her ladyship get her skirts in a tangle over young Jimmy’s birthday present. Stormed out so Mister Hock dealt with her…” he stopped, wondering again if he shouldn’t check on them.
“You’re worried about her?” asked Will in some alarm.
Jack looked at him as if he’d just said something incredibly stupid. Which he just had, really.
“I was thinking about Hock, actually,” Jack corrected him “But he can look after himself, I suspect…” Jack pulled a face “Just glad it wasn’t me that had to deal with her.” He brought a hand to his cheek in a subconscious gesture.
“And Miss Nell?” Will asked casually, taking a long drink of ale.
Jack smirked and sat back looking mighty pleased with himself, which he was.
“Oh, she’s safe,” he remarked and licked his lips.
“Jack, what’s going to happen next?” asked Will “What are we going to do about the chart?”
Jack sighed. Now there was a question that he wasn’t altogether sure of the answer to. Not that he would ever admit that out loud, and most certainly not in an Inn full of sailors and crewmembers. He had a reputation to uphold.
He tapped the side of his nose and took a swig of rum.
Will rolled his eyes.
“I guess you’ll tell us your plan when you need to.” Will sighed and drained his ale.
Jack nodded knowingly at him and turned his attention to the people around him. There was no point getting worked up about it just yet. Something would turn up, it always did. His name wasn’t Captain Jack Sparrow for nothing. He grinned aimlessly again and upended his bottle.

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A/N: Well there you have that. I hope that you enjoyed it. I know I had fun writing it, and at the moment I really need some fun.

As for updates in this story and One time thing… I’m going to be moving in the next four weeks. I hope to get chapters up for both stories before I move but… you good people all know how real life has a nasty habit on taking over.

Anyway:

Gylgirl: Thank you! I hope you like this one too.

Iamwickedcool: I hope this hasn’t disappointed you! Hope you enjoy it.

Dixie: Thanks for your help weeding out mistakes and for your support!

Whyisthissogood?: Thank you! Hope you enjoy this too.

Morning Glory: Your name always reminds me of a coffee mug I used to have with Garfield the cat on it. He was just waking up and it had “hello morning glory” on the back… well there you go for mindless drabble! Sorry I didn’t make the weekend with an update, but I hope you enjoy this one.

Lilitaliandragon: Thank you! I will get to your stories I promise! I hope you like this one too.

Hellyn: I hope your connection is working again! It can be a real pain when it keeps disconnecting. My hubby has promised me the soundtrack as a house warming present! Yay happy happy me! Thanks for your review and I hope you like this one too.

Sophie: Thanks! I hope you like these as well. I have no idea how many more chapters there will be. I know where it’s heading but how many? I do tend to waffle!

Twilight Whispers: Thank you! I hope you like this too.

KrissXed: Thanks for your review and for hitting the nail on the head. I wasn’t too happy about the last chapter myself. I thought it was too slow and dragged but I think you were correct in that it wasn’t involved enough, it was too rushed. Anyway. I hope you like this one better and thanks for your review it helped a lot.

Veronica Tyler: I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your ideas on Elizabeth too. As you probably realised she was missing again this time, conveniently in a bath! But she will be reappearing soon as she’s involved with the plot in a big way… I’m sorry I left you hanging – or rather Nell hanging over Jack’s shoulder! And I’m sorry nothing too great happened between them, I still think it’s too quick for Nell yet but they will get there. I hope you enjoy this anyway.

Eradwyn: Hope you’re not disappointed over the lack of action between Jack and Nell. I did play with the idea of things going further but I really don’t think she’s quite there yet. I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Serendipity: Thank you! I hope you like this one too.

Andy: Thanks! You made me smile. I’m glad you enjoy it. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Robyn Maddison: Thank you for coming back every time! I hope you enjoy this. A lot more Beaumont this time and more to come.

Calendar: Thanks! Hope you’re not too disappointed and that you liked it anyway.

Niyuluna: Sorry about the cliffhanger. I usually try and avoid them as I hate them myself but that was unavoidable as the chapter was getting too long! Hope you enjoy this one and you’re not to disappointed.

Pirate: Hope your computer is better! As for my age… ahem… technically speaking, I’m sad to say that I am in fact old enough to be your mother… damn now I’m feeling decrepit. I just turned 31… and still not dealing with reality well. I’ve been writing fan-fiction for years and will probably never stop. It’s a great reality escapism method for someone who refuses to grow up. Hope you like this one as well and thanks for reviewing.

Eva: Hope you like this one too. And thank you for reviewing!

Anway…. Thank you to everyone who had read this and liked this, regardless of reviews or not. I’m just glad someone is liking this.

Where ever you are have a great day!