Fic: 'Bath Holiday' - Chapter 1 (2/7)

[dwgm]

More for potcfest prompt #9: Jack/Elizabeth, in England. As I said in my previous post, this is set in my post-CotBP universe, actually following Fevered (the header contains the pertinent information, if you don't want to read NC-17 smut).

Many thanks, as always, to my dear hereswith, for editing, suggestions, and encouragement. This part uses the current potc100 prompt...




~ Bath Holiday, continued...


2 ~

In the event, he did leave her, shoo'd out by Ana and the landlady, the sight of so much blood -- far too much, he thought -- and by the doctor's words, matter-of-fact, slicing like knives: "A miscarriage, I'm afraid. Your first, I take it?"

Elizabeth had gaped, speechless, and then her eyes sought Jack's.

A child. Their child.

But the tide of events intervened, another wave of cramping pain taking her, the landlady's bulk blocking Jack's view, and Ana grimly taking his arm, hauling him away.

"There's nothing you can do here, Jack, and she won't thank you for staying. Go down to the taproom and have a drink or three. "

And he was out in the hall, the door shutting firmly in his face.

She won't thank you.

He descended the stairs as in a strong gale, and made his way to the taproom. The landlord took one look at him and poured the rum – the good stuff. Jack tossed it back without a second's hesitation, held the tankard out for more and repeated the procedure.

"All right, there?" asked the landlord, with a worried brow.

"Better," Jack lied, though the warmth of the liquor was already seeping through him. "Thanks, mate."


~ TBC

Comments

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Oh dear oh dear. Jack needs all the rum he can drink. And Elizabeth probably needs some too.

You write so well, with so much said with so much economy!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I really do enjoy writing this way, in dribs and drabs, and hopefully it will all form a coherent whole when I'm finished. I need to do an outline -- I keep thinking of stuff I want to put in. And I have to do some research on Beau Nash and Bath in its heyday. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thank you for commenting.

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear. Angst ahoy. :/

But well done, as always. I particularly liked He descended the stairs as in a strong gale...; it's quite a visual phrase, isn't it?

I'll be over there --> waiting for more!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, a rather serious start, but it'll get better as it goes along. hereswith likes that UST, you know? *g* More coming tomorrow. Thank you for reading and commenting!

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

Oh darlin', we all love the UST! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, good!! ;)

[berne.livejournal.com]

The matter-of-fact doctor's words were particularly horrible. Oh, Elizabeth. Oh, Jack. *worries*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Doctors are necessarily hardened to such things, I suppose, but I often wonder how people managed to retain their sanity with infant mortality as high as it was back then. It was a different world, in so many ways.

Thank you for reading and commenting -- I really appreciate it!

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

Oh how can you break my heart in just a few lines? I'll be waiting with baited breath for the next installment of this saga.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

What a lovely compliment, as it is truly a heartbreaking situation. More tomorrow!

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Poor Jack. Poor Elizabeth! Looking forward to more.

(Psst. Your link to Fevered, it is broken.)

(I do love seeing that icon still in use.)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Link fixed, thank you for that, and for commenting, and for the wonderful icon, I think it works well for this fic. More soon!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I had a frown on my face after the first sentence. It's so hard to picture Jack caught up in such a situation. He's such a buoyant personality, I think he might need more than just three drinks! And poor Elizabeth! Miscarriages bring on such long lasting emotional distraught, I wonder if it will effect her character greatly?

Awaiting more! :]

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's so hard to picture Jack caught up in such a situation.

It is a strange situation for him, and it's always interesting to think how he'd react to something so completely out of his realm. Thank you so much for reading and commenting -- more tomorrow!

[awickedwench.livejournal.com]

what an intriguing plotline! Enjoying this very much.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So happy you're enjoying it! Thank you for letting me know. More soon, probably tomorrow. (And I LOVE your icon!)

[aravah.livejournal.com]

So sad! So Beautifully written!

My heart aches for them both. Somehow the simplicity of the prose makes their pain that much more palpable.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I try to aim for simple and clear, and I'm glad the emotion of the scene came through here. More later today -- yay for holidays!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh. There is something so heartbreaking about the doctor being so matter of fact and both Jack and Elizabeth so surprised. Their loss even greater because they hadn't had a chance to realize their joy before it was stolen from them. Oh, just sad stuff and JACK! - save some rum for Elizabeth -- she'll need a shot or two!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the contrast of reactions came through, here. It is sad stuff, the sort of RL stuff that just can't be ignored. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments!