dwgm | Fic: 'Harry & the Pirate VI: Blood and Treasure (Jack/Harry, etc.

Chapter Eighteen: Anticipation

The Norringtons departed for London by post-chaise the morning after everyone was reunited at Fleet Hall, much to Tom and Anne’s distress. With the carriage at the door, they were given a last five minutes alone to bid each other farewell, and though there were few words spoken between them, neither was left in any doubt of the other’s love, longing, and grief at this necessary but thankfully temporary parting.

Tom had initially met with some reproach from his mother and Anne’s on the Black Pearl and the Christiana’s return to Boston, but the merchant and his wife had been so effusive in their praise of Tom’s quick action and heroism in saving them and their children and crew from their burning ship that Harry and Maggie were quite overwhelmed. Tom’s somewhat battered appearance proved an aid in gaining their sympathy as well, particularly when they discovered it was Anne who had left most of the marks and not Anne’s father. Anne said that Tom had behaved very foolishly, but then so had she, and she was resolved to break with Hartfield and marry Tom as soon as it might be arranged – “Just as I’ve always wished to do!” she’d asserted, smiling at Tom and coloring quite charmingly. There seemed little to be said after that, though the whole thing had to be explained again to Tom’s cousins when they arrived home, at which Daisy sang out, “I told you so! I told you so!” and danced William Weatherby about the room.

A few days later, Tom received a letter from Anne, telling him that, though they would be reunited in a few weeks, she had been strangely overcome after their parting and had shed tears all the way into Mavis Enderby. Her mother had been most understanding, but her father had merely looked exasperated and handed her his handkerchief.

But Tom, when we reached London and told my Aunt Caroline the news, my father came immediately to my assistance when she began to voice her objections as we had anticipated, and for my own part, feared. Father was firm in his support of our marriage and said such wonderful things about you that I had to hug him and thank him right then and there! Aunt Caroline said she wondered that an Admiral of the Royal Navy would consent to give his daughter to a pirate, and from that and some other things she let fall it became clear to us that some rumor of our clandestine adventure had already reached London, though how it could have done so before our arrival I cannot imagine. But Father continued adamant, and later, after Mother had spoken privately with my aunt, all was well. Aunt Caroline has even informed me she will travel into Lincolnshire to attend the wedding, though I’m afraid she means to speak to you regarding the conduct to be expected from a gentleman to his lady and I beg you will be patient with her if she does, for she has been very kind to me these three years and more. I know you can charm her if you put your mind to it, for that is the Sparrow way.

This inspired some mirth in Tom’s audience, all seated around the breakfast table, and Jack said, “Ha! Turning you up sweet already. Your Annie’ll lead you a merry dance, I reckon.”

Daisy rose from her seat, came over, gently kissed the now mostly faded bruise on her brother’s cheek, and said, “She’s already begun!”

Tom grinned rather ruefully and put his arm about his little sister’s waist.

Day said, with obvious delight, “Only three more weeks and I shall be a sister-in-law! How grown up that sounds.”

“Indeed,” their mother said, with a prim air and laughing eyes. “You will have to mend your ways, my love. Decorum should always be a sister-in-law’s byword.”

Daisy’s face fell ludicrously, until Elizabeth said, “Oh, yes, Aunt. My father has often spoken of your notions of decorum.”

Harry smiled, but said, “Now Elizabeth, it’s true that your father and I are sometimes at odds, but your mother and I were very good friends. I lived with her and your father, you know, after I came down from school and before I married Wyndham. I don’t know what I would have done had she not been there to pour oil on troubled waters, so to speak.”

“Aye,” said Jack. “That’s what your brother says, though he’s more blunt about it. Such words as hoyden and mayhem often come into it.”

“I daresay,” said Harry, dryly.

Will asked, “Does she mention Hartfield at all?”

“She does,” said Tom, and read…

I don’t know how it is, but since our adventure, and the understanding that sprang thereof, I find that my confidence has increased, and my tone of mind is such that I feel I can weather any storm life brings. You would hardly credit my calm resolution regarding Hartfield, but I had a note sent to him as soon as we arrived and he called upon me that very evening. I met with him alone, and when he walked into the drawing room he seemed to have some premonition what was toward. I was as kind as I could be, but not hesitant, and he was gracious enough to put me at ease. He said that he had feared this outcome when he heard I would be staying a month at Fleet Hall, for he’d sensed you and I were more than merely childhood playmates. He was not unaffected by any means, but he said that he hoped we would remain friends, and that he would always be at my service in that capacity. His magnanimity was even greater than I knew at the time, for we subsequently discovered that word had already spread that an Announcement was to be made at the ball. However, father says Hartfield has countered the gossip very effectively with a word or two in the right quarter, and I believe hope will have sprung anew in many a maiden bosom by the evening of the event, for he is considered a great catch, as you know.

“Brava, Anne!” Jack said.

“It could not be better,” agreed Harry. “What else does she say?”

Tom had been smiling in a bemused way as he silently scanned the rest, but looked up at that. “Oh, nothing, just some things about how happy she is and the like.” He went on reading his letter until he became aware of Daisy looking over his shoulder and quoting from the text -- …my dearest life, when we are at last entitled to the sweet Congress that is the province of a couple united before God and man… -- at which point he quickly folded up the missive and stuffed it into his pocket, favoring his sister with a glare. “Decorum, Day, remember?”

“Aye,” said William Weatherby, with some vehemence.

Daisy sniffed at them both, but then gave her young cousin a grin of combined sympathy and mischief, which apparently he found irresistible. A few minutes later the two were seen escaping in the direction of the wilderness -- just the sort of thing Tom and Anne would have been doing ten years before.

*

There seemed a great deal to do to prepare for the wedding: invitations to a few select neighbors, flowers for the chapel – the same chapel that had served John Wainfleet and Katherine Sparrow all those years ago – a menu for the breakfast to be held at Fleet Hall afterwards (Anatole and Louise were delighted at the opportunity to showcase their skill and imagination), clothing readied or procured both for the ceremony and for the wedding trip. Jack had given Tom permission to honeymoon on the Christiana, with Gibbs as captain and a number of the older, more experienced Pearls as crew.

“I want to take Anne to France, to some of those little towns along the coast and then down to Paris for a few weeks.” Tom said.

“France. Well. Be careful. And make sure you are back,” his father said, rather severely. “I’ll not endure an English winter, even for you.”

“Are you sure it’s right to leave everything in Cousin Seraphina’s charge?”

“Aye, she’ll do, with Blake’s help, and the servants are a fine lot. I’m satisfied Alfred Blake’s a capable steward – not to mention he fancies Sera. Could be they’ll marry, too. Who knows, maybe we’ll be back next year for another wedding. It’s not such a bad place, this time of year.”

They were standing on the highest point of Jack’s land, a moderate hill which nevertheless afforded a wide view of the green fields and patches of forest, and of the distant house, set among its gardens.

“Not a bad place at all,” Tom said dreamily.

Jack chuckled. “D’you see yourself here, settled with a family?”

Tom’s brow clouded. “Leave the sea? I don’t know that I could. But… I think Anne would like to live here, some of the time, at least. And… well… children.” He flushed slightly.

His father noticed, of course. Jack said, “That’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, that sweet Congress Anne expects – and that you’ve a duty to give her. ”

“But Da, I… I’m not… inexperienced. Precisely.” He felt his color rising.

But his father’s reply shocked him. “That island lass?”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew.”

Tom stared. “Mother didn’t—“

“No! Though she likely suspected.”

Tom digested this. Then added, “But it was lasses, after the first night.”

“Was it?” His father lifted a brow. “No wonder you were bloody good for nothing that whole week.”

“Aye,” Tom agreed, remembering. “They were right insatiable.”

“The ladies can be.” His father grinned crookedly, his eyes losing focus as fond memories surfaced.

Tom cleared his throat. It was dreadfully awkward, but he asked, “Do you think Anne will be that way?”

The unfocused look vanished. “Maybe. But a great deal depends on you, savvy?”

Tom nodded. “Those lasses on the island, they taught me some things. I learned a lot that week.”

“I expect you did,” his father said, obviously not as impressed as Tom had hoped. “But they knew what they were doing, knew what they wanted from you. Anne’s a maid, and gently bred, if I know anything of James and Maggie. She’ll no doubt be eager enough, but it’s likely she knows next to nothing and you’ll be her teacher. It’ll be up to you to show her the joy of it. It takes some patience, but the rewards are great.”

Tom said solemnly, “I’ll have to hurt her that first time, won’t I?”

“Aye. But it doesn’t have to be terrible, not if you go about it the right way. If you take your time and make her ready – those island lasses no doubt showed you some useful tricks in that line. Just keep in mind, it’s Anne’s night, you’re there to serve.”

Tom swallowed hard, and shifted in his saddle.

Da noticed, and gave a chuff of laughter. “I’ll give you some of that scented oil your mother gets from Paris, makes things nice and slippery. Have Anne put it on you, and you can put it on her—“

“Da!”

“Stow it and listen.”

“Aye, sir.”

*

They were climbing the last rise before reaching the house when Tom asked his father in some wonder, “How many virgins have you had, Da?”

Jack shrugged. “A few. But you hear things, from men, but more from women, and the women are the ones to listen to. There are the ones you’d expect to be knowledgeable, those who’re in it for the money more than anything else – though I’ve met more than one courtesan who loved more than was good for her, like the one who took me under her wing when I was a green lad – that was a memorable fortnight and no mistake. But your virtuous lady is different in certain ways. It’s a crime how many have it rough that first time, have men who’re ignorant fools, out for their own pleasure and little else. It takes some real persuasion to get such a lass to see that there’s more to it than pain and animal lust. But there are few things in life that yield such treasure.”

His father was smiling reminiscently, and Tom frowned. “Mother wasn’t… one of those?”

“Oh, wasn’t she?” Jack said, the smile fading away. “I’d slit Fanshawe’s gullet if we ever met on the street. Or make him a eunuch at least. But he’s dead and gone, and that’s long been water under the bridge. You’re evidence of that, and Daisy, too.”

There was a silence as Tom digested all this, what had been told and what would ever be left unspoken. Finally he said, simply, “Thanks, Da.”

“You’re welcome. Consider it a wedding gift. I love you and Anne, both, and there’s little I can think of that’ll serve either of you better than helping you to a good start in that particular aspect of marriage.”

“Aye. But it’s not only that. Thank you for… everything.”

Jack stopped and turned to Tom, looking straight at him, opened his mouth, then closed it again, and simply embraced him.

And Tom hugged back, for his father was right again: there weren’t any words fine enough for such a moment.

Continued in Chapter Nineteen: Sweetness and Light

Fic: 'Harry & the Pirate VI: Blood and Treasure (Jack/Harry, etc. - 18/20)

no subject

no subject