Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' (49/?)

[dwgm]

550 words, with thanks to my dear hereswith for beta reading, editing, and excellent suggestions.

Previous bits...

1. Tortuga 2. Happiness 3. Festive 4. Last Minute 5. Calm 6. Truth 7. Bargain 8. Spook 9. Down 10. Wounds 11. Moon 12. Monsters 13. Beauty 14. Name 15. History

16. Service 17. Advice 18. Captain 19. Awe 20. Cross 21. Mistake 22. Heroism 23. Gold 24. Echo 25. Greed 26. Advance 27. Challenge 28. Adventure 29. Sentence 30. Treasure

31. North 32. Coat 33. Good and Evil 34. Sickness & Health 35. Lost 36. Court 37. What if? 38. Island 39. That can't be 40. Prophesy 41. Ten Years Later 42. French 43. Deed 44. Tea 45. Scarlett & Giselle

46. Link 47. Comedy 48. Mothers

And here's today's...

49. Fathers


~ An Execrable Business, continued...

Nell looked up at Jack. "These are worth a fortune! Won't your men object to me having them?"

"They won't know, will they? Just keep 'em out of sight and you'll have some baubles to wear when you're home and ready to go into society. Or you can sell them, if you find you need the money."

Concern for him, and a slight regret for Madame's losses that she hardly liked to mention in view of his probable reaction, were overwhelmed by wonder at his generosity, and the thought behind it. "What kind of pirate are you?" she asked—not him, but the ambient air. And immediately flushed, realizing he might take offense.

But he did not. Instead, his charming, crooked smile appeared, and he bent to kiss her, a brush of his lips against hers.

Not enough. Not at all!

She dropped the jewelry on the bed and reached for him, giving a sigh of pure joy as she was gathered close and kissed. Properly.

Or improperly.

When he broke it off, his breath was coming short, and the smile was gone from his lips, if not quite from his eyes. He said, "P'rhaps I'm the kind of pirate who lures innocent chits to my bed through bribery, leaving them ruined and heartbroken."

As she took in the sense of this, her feeling of dazed, heart-pounding elation turned to a flame of indignation. "Rubbish!" She rose and stood over him, and said, "You are not, and I'm not. Lured, I mean. And I refuse to be heartbroken, or ruined!"

"Nell, Nell, Nell," he said, half-laughing, and he pulled her around and set her on his knee.

She put her arms loosely about his neck and kissed his lips, smiling.

He asked her, "Do you know what I want to do with you? Do you have the least notion?"

"Well, yes." She sat up very straight, and she could feel her color rising but went on anyway. It was time to tell him the truth. "You wish to bed me. I know more than I probably should about it, not only from my weeks in Tortuga, but from my father's books."

"Books?" Jack arched an inquiring brow.

"Yes. Father died when I was eleven, of course, but he was an historian and natural philosopher and he had a collection of books. From foreign parts, India and the like. They are in an attic at my Grandmother's house. I've often looked at them, studying the… the pictures. As well as the texts." She could tell from his expression that he knew exactly the sort of books she was talking about. "I saw a few volumes on your own shelves that are remarkably similar."

For a long moment they stared at one another, and then, faint but clear, the sound of piping came to their ears, a sweet, gay tune that refreshed the mind and raised the heart.

"That means our work's nearly done here," said Jack. "I've got to go out and play the captain." He raised a hand and brushed her hair back, behind her ear, and then kissed her again, briefly, before saying, "I'll not ruin you, but it may be a close run thing, considering our mutual taste for study." And the charming, crooked grin reappeared once more.



TBC...

Comments

[kayden-eidyak.livejournal.com]

Okay. I will confess to having been reading and enjoying these all along and not commenting. My bad. So I only thought it fitting that I finally pipe up and say what a splendid little tale you have spun thus far. Jack is perfect, as is usual for you. Nell is lovely and quite likeable, as are all your OFCs. Barbossa is quite like himself. All and all, a fantastic story!

I have been wondering though. Do you make all these up as you go along, or do you have each little...er...chapterette planned out ahead of time? Or do you just have a general idea of where the story will go as a whole and write the parts accordingly as they come to you?

Anyway, well done! I love that you post them in the morning, also. I can usually count on being able to read it before leaving for work. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So GOOD to see you here, and I'm very happy you've been enjoying the story!

As for writing, this one pretty much writes itself, one event following another, though I know what the ending will be, so that's the direction it's taking. Most of the time when I write something longer I write an outline, and with some of the longer stuff I've written out of sequence, as the mood or inspiration struck, and then filled in the missing bits. But not this one. It's just a (longish) drabble at a time, heading for the end.

Thank you for letting me know you've been reading! And again, very good to see you're still around and doing well. :)

*hugs*

[mindyracal.livejournal.com]

"I'll not ruin you, but it may be a close run thing, considering our mutual taste for study."


*fans self*

Oh, good lord.....how does she resist him!! I would have pounced in a second!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

She may be somewhat knowledgeable, but she's inexperienced. All in good time. ;) Thank you for commenting!

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness! Things are getting quite ... interesting, aren't they? Jack was quite right when he informed Bootstrap that Nell wasn't quite as innocent as she seemed. And I'm sure Jack's going to do his bit to cultivate that curious/naughty streak of Nell's ...

Eagerly anticipating those Jack/Nell late-night "study" sessions! I'd wager the midnight oil's not the ONLY thing that will be burning in Jack's cabin! ;-)

Excellent installment! Can't wait for more!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I expect things will get even more "interesting" before too much longer. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

Another great drabble for this series, and it truly strikes us with a lot of anticipation concerning Jack and Nell's relationship. I'm so anxious to see how much further they go with it and if Jack can keep his word on not "ruining" her.

I also like to see the similarities that they have in terms of "study," and it's very intriguing to see the naughtier side of Nell shining through as she warms up closer to Jack.

Anxious for more as always! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

In the interest of scientific enquiry, I'm sure there will be some interesting times coming up for the two of them. ;)

Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying this!

[jillianfish.livejournal.com]

You know what the ending is already? So you mean it's not just going to be a normal "jack rescues and takes home girl" story. Of course not, I should have known. lol! Loved this chapter and the last. God, how does she resist. I would have been the same way, blushing and stammering and putting everything in correct polite terms, just to say "I saw some naughty books when I was younger and clearly you have too." and then jumped him.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've had the ending in mind for a long time, almost from the beginning, and I do hope it won't disappoint.

Interesting research in the wings, and I'm so glad you're enjoying the ride! :D

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Oh squeee! Nell's a little naughtier than expected and so won't be too surprised when the dear Captain tells her to...um...that is...or puts his hands on her...ahhh, hmmmm. I guess I'll have to wait for you to write it, dear. But looking forward to him not ruining her. *g*

She's unbearably sweet, maybe even more so for her dabbling into things a proper lady would not dabble in (or at least would never admit to a pirate!)

Ah, Jack. You never did stand a chance.

I have an odd desire to own a Nell icon.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I have an odd desire to own a Nell icon.

What a fabulous compliment! I'm thrilled you like her so well. No, Jack's fairly smitten, doesn't really stand a chance, or won't pretty soon, anyway. *g* Thank you for another wonderful comment. I really appreciate it!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear! I'm sorry I qualified it with the word "odd". Thank you for understanding the compliment in there. I do love her so, I feel like she's always been a part of his story.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I didn't think the "odd" odd at all -- didn't really think about it.

I feel like she's always been a part of his story.

What a wonderful thing to say! I always thought Jack's pre-CotBP history should be replete with loves won and lost, which certainly leaves the way open for writing OFC's.

I've had such fun writing this, and it makes me very happy that you and so many others are enjoying it as well. Thank you again!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid that Nell's peace of mind (& heart! ^^) are totally ruined already! lol

Beautiful installment. I loved it! The chemistry between them is almost tangible, and they are just SO lovely together :]

This is wonderful!!! *waiting with bated breath for more*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid that Nell's peace of mind (& heart! ^^) are totally ruined already! lol

Nell and Jack, both. *g* Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying it!!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Awesome. X-D Simply awesome. Who said porn was a modern invention? ;-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Who said porn was a modern invention?

I have no idea. They would certainly be wrong. *g*

So glad you enjoyed this!