Jacquotte

Chapter 5

 His face drained of color. Somewhere, in the back of Jacquotte's mind, she marveled at how quickly it went from tanned to chalky. He was silent for a long while, staring at her.

"You must get rid of it. I will pay for a healer, but you cannot have this child."

Jacquotte recoiled, wrapping her arms around her stomach. She may not want to be a mother this young, but she never considered anything like that. And now, at the notion of it, she knew immediately that she would do nothing of the sort. She would bear this child, keep this child, and raise this child. But she'd much prefer that she had a husband, to avoid the destruction of her reputation. Even now, people showed disdain and superiority towards her mother, after sixteen years. That's why Jacquotte had to go the market, in place of Maman, to spare her the ill-will of the town's people. Ironic though, since the town consists of mostly pirates and prostitutes, while the fields are tilled by the respectable people.

"No! I could never do that! I will keep this child."

He scoffed, disbelieving.

"Oh, yes? And how, may I ask will you manage to do that? I will not marry you. As soon as I return to London, I am to be married to my betrothed, an affluent heiress with connections to the Crown. Your reputation will be in tatters."

He is engaged to be married? But then why did he make love to me? Ah, but it was not love, she realized. She had no idea who this man in front of her was, the father of her child. He was a Captain in the British Navy, and unfaithful to his betrothed. That was all Jacquotte knew about him. She took a step backwards, finally realizing that she was going to be alone in this. She shut her eyes, briefly. She could not stay here on Tortuga. She did not want to end up like her poor, dear mother. Perhaps there opportunity in a big city like London. She could find work as a governess, perhaps. She had heard that they made very good money. Mayhap Captain Bridges would give her passage in return for her silence on the identity of her child's father. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage.

"I will not tell anyone that you are the father, but in return I want to go to London. I promise not to ever contact you, nor speak your name, but I must have safe passage to London. I can get work there."

He looked as if he wanted to say no, but she could tell that he was thinking it over. Finally, he nodded.

"Alright. I will talk to a friend of mine, and he will take you to London. He is due to leave in two days. Meet me here tomorrow, at the same time."

With that, he left. Jacquotte didn't quite know what to do. In all her life, she had never expected this. London? Why, she had heard that there were hundreds of people there! She drifted throughout the town, making herself remember the familiar faces that she had grown up with.