A Pirate's Love

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

               "I'm sorry Maddy."  He truly was.

               "Me too.  The last time I saw Barbossa was shortly before you killed him.  He looked terrible.  One night he told me about the curse.  And that he had marooned you on an island."

               "Ye knew about me?"

               "Aye, I knew about you.  Though I had no idea that I would ever meet you.  Let alone…" her voice trailed off.

               "Let alone what?"

               "Fall in love with you."  Jack finished his drink and Madeline refilled both of their glasses.

               "Shortly before everything happened with you and Barbossa,  I had been reunited with Elizabeth.  It had been a long time since we had seen each other."  She turned to face him once again.  "After he died, I went to visit Elizabeth and she told me of what had occurred.  Then shortly after, I met you."

               Jack slowly approached her.  He could see the pain she was in.  He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her.  But he didn't.

               "And my life changed.  Changed for the better."

               "The better?"

               "Aye.  You were my life Jack.  The only thing that I'm grateful to Barbossa for was bringing you into my life.  No matter what the circumstances."

               "Maddy love.  Ye can't pick who yer parents are and I'm sorry that ye had a bastard of a father."

               "It's not your fault Jack.  Can you forgive me for not telling you?"

               "Aye love.  This I can forgive ye for.  But we have many things to discuss."

               "Aye, we do.  And I…."

               "Dinner is served mum." She heard Tessy speak from the door.

               "Thank you Tessy.  Is my mother in the dining room?"

               "Yes mum."  She bobbed a curtsey and quickly retreated.

               Jack watched her.  She watched him.

               "Ye look beautiful Maddy love."

               "Thank you Jack.  But why? Why this dress? Why this necklace?"

               "Because I knew if would look perfect on you."  Madeline was quiet for a moment.  Then she remembered her fury from earlier.  She walked over to a closed case.  Opened it, and withdrew a sword.  She turned quickly and held the blade to Jack's neck.

               "If ye ever order me to my own table again Jack, I will gut you like a pig.  Savvy?"  Jack watched her suspiciously. 

               "Aye Captain.  Savvy."  Jack held out his arm to her.  She raised an eyebrow at him.  She cautiously took his arm after putting the sword on the desk.  They began to move towards the door way when Madeline suddenly stopped.

               "Wait."  She turned back to the study and walked to the fireplace.  She reached up and pulled down the portrait of Barbossa.  She was about to toss it into the fire, but held back.

               "If ye want to burn it, burn it." Jack said behind her.  But she couldn't.  Knowing it would hurt her mother even more.  Despite the fact of the animal that he was, her mother still loved him.

               "No.  I will put it in my mother's room.  There she can stare at the bastard."  She set it down and took Jack's arm once again.  They strode into the dining room.  Mr. Taylor, Mr. Gibbs and her mother were waiting.

               "Playin' the pirate whore again Madeline?"