Harry & the Pirate III: Norrington's Choice

[geekmama]

Chapter Fourteen: From the Frying Pan to the Fire


 "Harry! No!"
"Yes! And it is too s-soon! Oh, my baby! My poor baby!"

Harry clung to him, sobbing, and Jack began to look rather frantic. Lady Margaret disengaged herself from James and went to them. She gave Harry's arm a little shake and scolded gently, "Harry, no! You must not do this! You must calm yourself or chance doing harm to the both of you." Margaret looked at Jack and said, "I've told her your calculations may have been incorrect. From what she tells me you were together for a whole month when your crew was stricken with illness."

"Aye, that's true. D'you hear that, love?"

Harry lifted her face from Jack's chest. "Y-yes." She forced herself to straighten, took a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at him. "Oh, Jack, I am so glad you are returned safely! Do you have a handkerchief?"

He pulled the wadded, lace-edged cloth from his pocket. "It's got blood on it, I'm afraid."

She took it anyway, saw that it was only slightly soiled, found a clean spot, and blew her nose. "Is it your blood?" she asked, a slightly militant tone in her voice.

"No, James's. Are you all right? Does it hurt dreadfully?"

"No, of course not. Not yet, at least. It only began two hours ago." She gave another little quaking sniff and said, imploringly, "Do you really think the baby will be well?"

"He's my son, ain't he?" said Jack, in his more usual tone.

"What if it's a girl?"

"Well…she's your daughter, then, eh?" He smiled crookedly, and, seeing her answering smile, kissed her.

James said in a cool, amused tone, "As reluctant as I am to interrupt your reunion, I feel I must point out that the French ship is nearing, and is indeed readying her guns from what I can see."

Jack turned his head to look out at the approaching ship and his smile turned feral. "By God it is, then. Harry, get below to the cabin. Elizabeth, you'll accompany her, if ye please."

But Harry, having turned to look too, suddenly forgot her worries in her excitement at the prospect of seeing the Black Pearl in action. "May we stay on deck to watch?" she asked.

"Yes," said Elizabeth, "I want to help! You know I am quite capable of it."

Jack's eyes flashed fire. He snapped at Harry, "You will bloody well get down to that cabin and stay there, Ma'am, an' that's an order! As for you…" he turned to Elizabeth, but was interrupted.

"Capitaine!" said Amelie, "If you will allow me to accompany Madame, I would be most honored." She turned to Harry and curtsied. "I am Amelie Guerinot, your new lady's maid."

Harry's mulish look turned to a smile. "Oh! I am so very pleased to meet you! Jack, how thoughtful of you!"

"Aye, it was, wasn't it?" he agreed. "We've a new cook, as well: Madame Louise, Madame Amelie's sister."

"A new cook!" came an outraged Gallic voice. Anatole pushed through the crowd around Jack, looking most offended.

Jack grinned. "Anatole! Ye know we'd never replace you, you old villain."

"Anatole!" Louise Guerinot looked first at the newcomer in patent loathing, then turned to Jack, murder in her eye. "You are the pirate who captured this…this…"

"I am!" Jack growled, "an' if ye try cuttin' 'is throat I'll bloody feed ye to the sharks a bit at a time, savvy?" Satisfied that Madame Louise looked appropriately surprised and intimidated, he made introductions in a milder but still brisk tone. "Madame, the 'so famous' Anatole. Anatole, Madame Louise Guerinot, formerly head cook for the Governor of Martinique. Ye'll please to go down to the galley while we take care o' these belligerent countrymen of yours and make the biggest and best breakfast the both of you can contrive for us. We're devilish sharp set!"

Louise looked at Anatole, rather as though he were an insect she was thinking of squashing. Anatole, however, was looking her over, as well, and obviously liked what he saw. Louise's expression lightened somewhat.

Anatole said to her, "Madame, if you will accompany me, I will show you my galley. As fine as it is, it would be most enhanced by your presence."

Somewhat mollified by his evident admiration, she sniffed, "Very well," and with a parting glare at Jack (who met it with narrowed eyes and a raised brow) she departed with her fawning peer.

"Well, that went better than expected," Jack said. He looked around and saw that it was time to have done with all this excessive civility. In his Captain's Voice, he barked, "Harry! Amelie! Get below with Alphonse, now! Gibbs, you'll take care of Charles-Lady Margaret can help you, and Norrington, too, unless he'd rather help blast these dogs to hell?"

"No," said James, turning to follow Gibbs, Charles, and Margaret. "I feel you and the Turners are quite capable of doing so without my assistance."

Jack laughed and said, "Aye, we are."

Elizabeth looked at Jack, and at Will, eagerly. "I can stay?"

Will gave a worried sigh and a roll of his eyes, and looked at Jack.

But Jack shook his head. "You knew what she was when ye married her, mate."

Will laughed, too, at that. "So I did," he agreed, meeting his wife's smile with one of his own.

Jack wiped the smile from his own face, and began barking orders to his crew.

o-o-o

Trailed by her keepers, Harry hurriedly made her way across the deck to the companionway. "Perhaps we can see at least some of the battle if we open the windows," she said over her shoulder before descending the steps, for all the world as though they were all being deprived of a high treat.

Amelie exchanged a look with Alphonse. "Voyons! I think Madame Sparrow is of the same temperament as her so amusing husband."

"Very much so," agreed the valet. "But we have not yet been introduced, Madame Guerinot. I am Alphonse de Tours. It is a great pleasure to meet so beautiful a colleague."

"Alphonse de Tours! Why you were the valet of that…of Monsieur Beauvrais! He was staying in the house of my employer when I left."

"Ah!" said Alphonse, and his smile faded as he observed the flush on Amelie's face. "I hope he was not the reason you desired to leave, Madame. I know better than most what he is, you see."

Amelie's cheeks grew redder, but she said, "It is as nothing. I am now free of him, and of the Tussauds as well."

"You will enjoy working with the so beautiful Lady Henrietta. She has both the funds and inclination to dress to perfection! Capitaine Sparrow is a little less fastidious, which is sometimes discouraging-his face and figure are suited to any fashion, and would enhance the reputation of even the finest tailor, but he will rarely wear anything but what you have seen him in."

Amelie laughed. "He is an original!"

Alphonse nodded. "As is his lady."

Reaching the foot of the steps, Amelie saw Harry at the other end of the passage, bent over a little, clinging to the doorpull of the cabin. The maid rushed to her, saying, "Ah, Madame! Madame!"

But Harry straightened, panting a little, as the maid and valet approached. "No, I am all right now."

She gave them a smile, but Amelie could see the worry and fear behind it. As they entered the big cabin and her new mistress went to open the windows at the back, the maid said, "Madame, you must not fear. All will be well. Your husband said we go to Barbados, to give warning to the English of the fleet that is gathered on Martinique. There is an excellent English doctor there, but, better than that, the finest midwife in the Caribbean! Madame Joujou. The ladies of Martinique pay her quite outrageous sums to attend them."

"Indeed?" said Harry. "That is most encouraging. How far is Barbados?"

Amelie's smile faltered. "It is, unfortunately, many hours away-I do not know exactly. No more than a day, I think."

"A day. Well, perhaps that will be soon enough." But she sounded doubtful.

But Jack, when he came down after the short but decisive confrontation with the French ship was more encouraging. "With luck and this wind we'll be there by nightfall, if young Sparrow can wait that long. The Pearl's sportin' every bit o' canvas she can take. How are you feeling, love?"

"I'm quite well. But we couldn't see anything out the window until the battle was over!"

Jack strode to the window and looked out, and laughed. The French ship, crippled and drifting, was diminishing behind them. "We did some fine quick work there!" he said. "Raked 'em fore and aft as we sailed by, and they never touched us!"

"It was most exciting, Aunt!" Elizabeth said, as she and Will came in, powder-smudged but smiling.

"While I was confined to quarters!" Harry complained. "Do not taunt me!"

Elizabeth laughed and went over to where Amelie was pouring fresh water into a basin and Alphonse was setting out towels so the combatants could clean up.

A few minutes later, Jack was drying his hands on a towel when there came a rap at the door and Anatole, Madame Louise, and several underlings came in bearing trays loaded with the breakfast things. Madame gave the pirate a narrow look that was softened somewhat by the slight smirk that curved her lips. As the group proceeded to set the table, it was obvious to the others that Alphonse was nothing less than smitten, his eye roving with relish over the ample form of his new associate as they worked. Sitting down at the head of the table, Jack exclaimed, delightedly, "Not even mid-morning and we've been rescued from a dire fate, defeated a French ship o' the line, and are sitting down to a splendid breakfast! Anatole, Madame: you've surpassed my expectations here."

Anatole said, "Merci, mon Capitaine. The so excellent Madame Guerinot has a way with an egg that is nothing short of miraculous."

Madame nearly simpered. "Anatole, you are too kind."

All the French expatriates took their leave, presently, Anatole and Louise repairing to their galley, and Alphonse and Amelie to view the quarters Jack had indicated would be allotted to the ladies. However, the diners were soon joined by Lady Margaret, Norrington, and Gibbs.

Margaret said, "We've left Owens to watch over Charles for a little while."

"The boys are quite well," Norrington added. "Gibbs had no trouble with the arm, after Charles was induced to take a dose of laudanum. He'll be sleeping most of the day, and just as well after what he's been through. Owens, too, although he, too, seems to be made of resilient stuff. We left him with a plate of Anatole's pastries and a mug of watered wine. Hopefully he will take a long nap when he is finished with them."

"They're fine little lads, the both of 'em," said Gibbs. "But look at this spread! We'll all be fat as Tortuga pigs if we don't watch ourselves. All except Lady Harry, that is: are ye able to eat anything, Ma'am?"

Harry, who had been surreptitiously biting her lip against the discomfort of another contraction, sighed with relief as it eased and shook her head. "No, I am not at all hungry."

Margaret said, "Oh, Harry, we will soon be finished and clear this away. But you should drink enough water, you know, with perhaps a little rum or brandy to sweeten it. Or the water should be boiled if you do not care to take spirits."

"Perhaps she could take some tea," suggested Elizabeth.

"I think perhaps I could take a little tea," Harry said, brightening. "Jack, will you send for some?"

"I'll go," said Will, who had finished his repast. "I'll watch that the sails are kept trim, too."

"Good," said Jack, "I'll be stayin' with Harry. If she wants me."

"Oh, Jack, of course I want you," she said, leaning against him gratefully.

"We'll reach Barbados in record time, Mrs. Sparrow. Don't you worry." He kissed the top of her head.

o-o-o

Jack was right about getting there in record time. After the breakfast things were cleared away, he spent the day pacing the cabin with Harry, suffering with her as she gripped his hands through pains that slowly grew stronger and closer together as the day progressed, and occasionally running up to double check the sails. No one knew the Black Pearl like its Captain, but between Will, Norrington, and Gibbs there was little Jack could do to improve matters. He felt even more helpless below decks, but as long as Harry wanted him there he was determined to stay, though by the time Barbados was sighted in the late afternoon his anxiety over her discomfort had reached a fever pitch. Harry, who by now was laying down much of the time, almost wished he would go on deck a little more, for she was having difficulty stifling the groans and cries that she knew would only distress him further.

"Jack," said Margaret at last, as gently as she could, "Don't you need to be at the wheel as we come into port? Elizabeth, and Amelie, and I can take care of Harry. It will be some time yet, I think."

"Oh, aye. I suppose I should. Will ye be all right, sweet?"

"Yes, I think so," said Harry, and smiled as he gave her a quick kiss and took his leave. "Oh, thank God!" she said, relaxing. Margaret wiped her brow with a cool cloth. "I love him so very dearly, but indeed I don't think I can quite keep silent much longer."

"No, likely not," said Margaret. "But you must not worry about him, Harry: it is one of the few times in a woman's life when she must put herself, and her baby, first."

But Harry said, "I can't help worrying about him, Maggie," and made a valiant effort to contain herself.

As they pulled into the harbor at Bridgetown the sun was sinking below the horizon. Norrington said to Jack in his calm way, "I will go to the fort and tell the Naval Commander about the fleet that is building in Martinique, and fetch the British doctor. Will, Giles, and Davis will search for this Madame Joujou. I pray they have good luck in finding her."

"So do I," said Jack, grimly. "I don't think we've much time left."

To Jack's and Norrington's surprise, the Black Pearl was signaled to come tie up at the town's docks. Jack, though impatient to see how his beloved was faring, nevertheless stayed at the wheel to accomplish the task in the gathering dusk. As the ship was tied off and a gangplank lowered, a pair of representatives from the fort were on hand to greet them and find out what was toward, having heard some time before that the pirate ship now carried a Letter of Marque. They were very much impressed with the ship, and addressed Jack with as much respect as they did the Commodore, both of which pleased the Captain greatly. Hearing of Harry's extremity, they commiserated with Jack, but informed him that the doctor had been called away across the island that morning. Madame Joujou, however, whom they seemed to know from both reputation and experience, lived only a few blocks from the harbor and was likely at home.

"She's the one you need, Captain," said the younger of the two officers. "She attended my own wife last year. She and her daughters are a bit startling, but they know what they're doing. In fact, I'll take you there to fetch her!"

Jack sent Will and Giles with the officer instead, and returned to the cabin, but it was less than an hour later when a knock was heard on the door and a great many people entered without further ceremony.

"Here she is, Jack!" Will said by way of introduction, holding the door open.

Three women of African descent came into the cabin. The two that were obviously Madame's daughters were tall and stately, with a smooth, dark beauty that was most impressive, and were dressed in simple white dresses of a rich, embroidered fabric. Their mother, in contrast, wore a loose robe of exotic hue and pattern. She was much shorter than her two offspring, but was seen to be a commanding figure in spite of her lack of inches, endowed with a wiry strength and smoldering glance.

Madame Joujou looked swiftly around the room, took in sight of the distressed little mother and her four anxious helpers, and fixed a baleful eye on Jack.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I'm the father!" he exclaimed, in offended surprise.

"The father!" Madame's voice held contempt. "Your work was done many months ago. You will leave now, for it is time for your wife to do hers."

And with that, she and her daughters swept across the cabin and Jack had time only to exchange a startled look with his wife before she was suddenly surrounded, effectively removing Jack from the circle of women.

Then Giles was there, taking his arm. "Come, lad, have a drink with us and let them do their work!" Jack found himself drawn out into the passageway, the cabin door closing with a slight slam behind him. Looking quite lost, he followed the rest of the men back up to the main deck.

A table with refreshments had been set up on deck under the stars, with chairs and barrels around it to sit on, and the men gathered around it, pressing a mug into Jack's hand. They began to converse with what lightheartedness they could muster, although there was an air of tension running through the whole company, and indeed the whole crew. In fact, quite a few crewmembers came to Jack over the next half hour, gently inquiring if they had leave to go ashore, most of them feeling it would be more appropriate to go to one of the many taverns in the area rather than carouse and drown their worries on the ship as they ordinarily would have done.

Jack let them go without protest. He looked quite stunned at the turn events had taken, and sat with an untouched mug in front of him, only half aware of the conversation although occasionally he would rouse himself to force a smile, or put in a word. Then the smile would fade or the banter would cease, and his thoughts would return to his cabin and the struggle for life within it.

Nothing was heard from below for what seemed a very long time but was actually only an hour or so. Then, however, there came a very distressing time during which occasional faint but quite audible cries pierced the clear night air. Jack, hearing these, looked rather as if chunks were being torn from his flesh. Quite pale, he turned fearful eyes to his friends, but there was little they could do besides assuring him, with varying degrees of confidence, that Harry would be just fine. Jack finally folded his arms on the table, buried his face in them, and silently prayed. And he was not a praying man.

There was silence again. The minutes dragged by and still there was no word from below, and Jack knew then that she was dead. He sat up, staring blankly at the mug in front of him, not really caring what those around him thought, as it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. There was tense silence around the table, although Giles looked rather less worried than the others and sipped his drink in almost a relaxed manner.

And then at last there was a sound of footsteps and Elizabeth burst out of the companionway and onto the deck. "It's a boy and my Aunt is safe!" she shouted, gleefully, and, as Jack just sat there gaping, she ran to embrace her husband who had jumped up with a relieved laugh.

Amid a great deal of backslapping and congratulations, Jack was hustled up and over to the companionway. He staggered down the stairs and along the passage, and entered his cabin with some trepidation, hardly daring to believe Elizabeth's announcement.

The cabin looked quite orderly. Madame Joujou and her daughters were just finishing putting away some things in the woven container they'd brought, and Maggie was sitting on one of the carved chairs, holding a tiny blanketed bundle, and smiling. Jack, however, ignored them, and slowly crossed the room to where Harry lay in their bed, pale and still, her eyes closed.

"Harry," he said, almost in a whisper.

But she opened her eyes, then, and saw him there, and smiled, and a little color came into her cheeks. "Jack! Isn't he beautiful?" She held out her arms.

Carefully, he sat and embraced her, pressing his face against her neck and hair, quite unable to speak. Harry closed her eyes, sighing with relief and happiness, and hugged and petted him comfortingly.

He finally sat up a little and looked at her closely. "My God, Harry, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes. Madame said it was an easy birth, though it did not seem so to me! I am sorry I cried out so. I knew that would upset you, but I was not quite myself for a few minutes, at the last."

"Harry, for God's sake!" Jack tried to find words to express what he felt at this evidence of heroism and could only come up with, "I love you."

Her eyes shining with happiness and unshed tears, she caressed the dear face. "I love you, too. Oh, Jack, isn't he just darling?"

"Who?"

Harry's brows twitched together. "Who? Why our son, of course!"

Lady Margaret, who had quietly come over to the bedside with her small burden, said "He has not yet seen him, Harry," and chuckled at her friend's indignation.

Jack, looking apologetic, disengaged himself from Harry's embrace and stood up. He cleared his throat. "This is him, eh?" He nodded toward the bundle.

Maggie smiled. "Hold out your arms."

Summoning his courage, Jack obeyed, and Maggie put the bundle into them.

"Hold his head in the crook of your arm, like this."

There was a bit of repositioning, and then Jack was looking down at the face of his tiny son with what could only be described as startled disapprobation. "He's…" He broke off, and glanced at Harry, who had endured so much for this moment. She was looking at him, hopefully. He made an effort to smile. "He's lovely!"

Harry's answering smile was far more genuine. "He's perfect!" she said, with great satisfaction.

Jack looked, to reevaluate his first impression, and to his consternation the baby woke. The eyes opened, absorbed the sight of his father, and then the little mouth opened in a peculiarly imperative wail, the tiny face screwing up quite hideously.

"Got a good set o' lungs!" Jack said, glad to be able to pay a genuine compliment to Harry's achievement. He quickly handed the baby back to Maggie.

"He's just hungry!" she laughed. "Here, Harry: I shall show you what you must do."

Jack moved out of the way, and suddenly one of Madame's daughters was there with a chair for him. She smiled, her teeth very white in her beautiful face. "You will like to sit down, no?" she said.

"No. I mean, yes! Indisputably. Many thanks, Madmoiselle!"

On to Chapter Fifteen