Triple Drabble: 'An Execrable Business', continued

[dwgm]

Using up some of those drabble prompts I neglected these past months. Here are another 300 words of An Execrable Business, unbetaed this time, but hopefully OK.

1. Tortuga
2. Happiness

~ An Execrable Business, continued...


She was sufficiently grubby for a street urchin, but the pretty, kittenish face was dead pale under the soot, save for a spot of chagrinned color, and the wide eyes held a look Jack recognized. “S'pose you’re hungry.”

A beat of surprise. Then, “Yes.”

“Don’t try to run.” He let her go, and watched as she straightened and, eyes downcast, rubbed her sore wrists. She bit her lip again. He said quickly, “We’ll go to Whitby House for some victuals and chat. Come along.”

She trudged beside him obediently enough, slogging along in silence through the raucous, muddy streets, his hand on her shoulder or tug at her coat sleeve all that was needed to direct her and remind her who was in charge. It wasn't long before they left the waterfront behind and entered the better part of the town, where the streets were less muddy and the inn lay, trim and welcoming.

At the sight of it, she halted in her tracks. "I can't go in like this."

Jack saw her point. Whitby House was the newest and best hostelry in Tortuga, built by Robert Whitby for his bride Martha, using his prize money from the lucky sack of a Spanish treasure ship. Robert was a less than exemplary husband in some respects, being a sailor and a pirate, and ill-tempered besides. But the construction of Whitby House had done much to reconcile young Martha, scion of innkeepers, to her lot, and she was exceedingly happy and proficient in its management. Jack had to admit that the present condition of his companion was a painful contrast to the inn's neat, white-washed façade, green painted door, and shining tile roof. "Come round the back. We'll clean you up a bit. I happen to know the proprietress. She won't mind."




TBC…

Comments

[bombazzinedoll.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I just read both installments and I am very Curious. Also, despite what Jack may say, he's awfully ooey on the inside; it's one of the things I love best about him.

"TBC" are perhaps my three favourite letters to see from you, by the by :B

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Probably there will be quite a few of those TBC's in this story, so I'm glad that makes you happy. I wrote Dark of the Moon that way, in 2006, and it was a lot of fun, as well as very manageable. There's always time to read a drabble, and they're pretty quick to write, too.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He probably needs to clean up a bit himself.

There will be some observations about Jack's appearance in the next bit. So glad you liked this -- and I adore that icon of yours!!

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

Dear, dear Jack!! Always sensitive to a woman's needs. (ha!) Shall we guess how he happens to "know" the proprietress?

It's also quite interesting that he knows the straight route to the "better" parts of town, not an exploratory path, to be sure.

Jack in his home turf! Good stuff.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Martha Whitby and Whitby House were featured in 'Dancing Day', that Christmas fic I did a while back. Her exact relationship with Jack may be delineated in future bits. Or maybe not. *g*

Very glad you're enjoying! Thank you for commenting.

[aravah.livejournal.com]

Intriguing. :) Looking forward to the next instalment.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

It's all delightful, but this is my favorite line:
Robert was a less than exemplary husband in some respects, being a sailor and a pirate, and ill-tempered besides.
...being a sailor and a pirate... hee!

I happen to find Jack irresistable when he's giving orders, even such orders as "Don't try to run." Makes me all squishy inside, in the very nicest of ways. *g*

Good story.

*settles in for the duration*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think Jack would realize a wife's lot would be difficult under those circumstances, being a quick lad and all.

I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I'm going to try to post often and use up all those old drabble prompts, so hopefully it'll go quickly. Thank you for commenting!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Are you sure that this is going to be only a triple drabble?... Because I'm more than certain that it would make a perfect 1st chapter for a longer fic... *hint, hint* ^^

Wonderful! I can't wait to read more! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's going to be a series of drabbles, much more manageable for me to write when I'm busy, but hopefully I'll be able to post often. The story is rapidly taking shape in my head. *g*

I'm so glad you're enjoying!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for double posting, I just realized that for some reason I understood that there were going to be only 3 drabbles in total LOL While in fact you didn't say how many drabbles there were going to be '^^ Which of course makes me very happy - I hope that you will write MANY of them, because they are great!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

No worries. I wrote a story in this way (a series of drabbles and short vignettes) back in '06 -- Dark of the Moon -- and I thought it would be fun to try again, though I hope to write more quickly this time. I have a lot of drabble prompts to catch up on. :)

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

I love it when Jack takes charge :-)

Can't wait to read more of this, and to hear that pending conversation. Wonderful work and intriguing as always ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

This is pre-mutiny Jack, and he's even more full of himself than usual, being very young for a captain, and pretty much irresistible to females of any age. Interesting times ahead, for both of them. *g* I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Thank you for letting me know. ♥

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

"the wide eyes held a look Jack recognized. “S'pose you’re hungry.”
Oh, sweet, he's just bossy wonderful sometimes--She must be a desperate little bit business, still offering up a minor bossiness of her own. And what or whose look does he recognize?

More please, love the description of her "kittenish" face, becos any one with kits with tell you, even the smallest still posesses claws. I'm cruising with this one thanks!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

what or whose look does he recognize?

He's been hungry a time or two himself, so he recognized that look.

Time will tell if she's a clawed kitten or not. *g*

So glad to know you're enjoying it!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

Still just as intrigued as I was with the first drabble ;)

I love Jack's concern for her well being - exemplified by "“S'pose you’re hungry.”" I think it shows a different side of him, especially when it comes to women.

"I happen to know the proprietress. She won't mind." - How he knows her is a mystery, but I'm presuming the circumstances are highly dishonorable ;)

Wonderful drabble!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm presuming the circumstances are highly dishonorable

Quite possibly. ;-)

I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying it!

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Very late here, for which I'm sorry. You know I enjoyed this a lot and the whole series so far! As always, your descriptions convey the scene vividly, even when it's as short a snippet as this.

the inn lay, trim and welcoming I just like that description.

Robert was a less than exemplary husband in some respects, being a sailor and a pirate, and ill-tempered besides. LOL! Love this!

And of course Jack knows the proprietress. *g*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm so very glad you're enjoying it, and hope you're finding it a pleasant distraction to read and edit for me. Your input always improves my work, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to beta read, even in the wee hours as you do!

*big hugs*