EL LOBO DEL MAR

[Welsh Wench]

Her eyes filled with tears and she hastily wiped them away. As she stood there trying to get herself together, a crew member from the Black Rock walked by.
"Honour? You alright, Miss?"
She nodded. "Hello, Jenkins." She tried to get her breathing under control. "Jenkins, I'm sorry. I was attacked and he got away."
"Miss! You alright? You're bleeding!"
She picked up her sword or what was left of it. "Jenkins? Could you please tell me what is wrong with my sword?"
Jenkins looked at it. "Miss, dinna take a swordsmith to tell me what is wrong wit' yer sword. This 'ere blade is brass. Soft metal. Never to be used for a blade."
"I see. Thank you."
"Miss, you want me to see you back to the tavern?"
"No, Jenkins, thank you. I'll be alright."
She took her bodice dagger out and ripped her cloak into strips, wrapping them around her arm and using the pieces to wipe the blood up. Jenkins stood there doubtfully. Honour managed a wan smile.
"I shall be fine. Please, enjoy your night."
"If yer sure, Miss.."
"I am."

She watched him walk away, looking back once. She gave him a self-confident wave she did not feel.
She picked up the two pieces that used to be her rapier and looked at the blade. And her mind went back to the day she spent the day with Captain Faraday.
Captain Adam Faraday.
The captain whose credit she had ruined.

Adam had stood her up one night. He claimed he had been arranging supplies for his ship but he had been seen on the arm of Molly Easley.
'Easy' Easley.
A cut-rate strumpet.
The next day, Honour had pretended to believe his excuse about having to take care of the ship's supplies.

She allowed him to keep her company the next day. Adam had taken her to the shops on the northern side of town. A new dress, a new pair of boots....guilty compensation for taking his affections elsewhere.
They had stopped at Master Campbell's while Adam had picked up his sword that was being sharpened.
"Oh, Adam! I like this one!"
Honour had picked up a French rapier.
"But I want the brass on the blade and the steel on the hilt. To match my grommets."
Adam had laughed. 'Brass is never used in a blade. Too soft. But yes, my dear, I shall order you a sword. One sword for the little lady, Master Campbell."
The swordsmith grinned, "Aye....just need to size it to her petite stature. Be ready in two days."
Honour gave Adam a beatific smile.
The night came and Adam had expected he would be spending the night with Honour but she claimed she was indisposed that night.  Adam had kissed her hand and said he would see her the next day.

And the next day is when she got her revenge. She told the bootmaker she and Captain Faraday were betrothed and as a wedding gift, she could pick out any pair of boots she wanted. And what she wanted was white kid boots with a high heel. But it was to be a secret as Captain Faraday had to untangle a bit of a problem.
The problem being a shrewish wife in Bristol.
The story was repeated throughout the shops until Honour felt she had compensated herself for Adam's slight.

Adam had spent the next night with her but she remembered him being a bit quiet in the tavern. It now became all too clear to her.
Adam Faraday got even with her too.

She sat down on the deck, bewildered. And she burst into tears.
Was he that upset to put my life into jeopardy? She looked out and saw The Ebony Blade.
She took ragged breaths and then she slowly got to her feet. She wiped the tears off her face with the cloth from her cloak. Walking down to his ship, she stealthily climbed on board. The crew must be out on the town. A light glowed in the Captain's cabin.
She got out her bodice dagger and walked over to each sail.
And carved her initials, HB, in each one.

Quietly, she walked over to the cabin door. She stood there for a minute. Then she carved her initials in the fine wood. And dropped the two pieces of her sword in front of it.

Honour climbed off the ship and walked back to the tavern. As she entered, she saw the barkeep sitting there with an ale.
She stood there and said, "Amos? I think..I think I need a doctor."
And fainted.

[Welsh Wench]

Amos had carried her to her room and summoned the doctor. The blade Jonas Corwin had used was contaminated. Between Doctor Benson and Honour's best friend Kate, they continued their ministrations on Honour.
 
Honour stirred in her unconsciousness. She had been vaguely aware of someone holding her down and a burning sensation in her arm that felt like fire. The smell of bourbon wafted near her nose. In her delirium, she heard the clash of swords that brought back memories she thought she had pushed far down and blocked. Jonas brought those memories back.

The dreams were always the same. The door banging open. The shadow in the candlelight. The angry voices, the accusations.
And then....

She sat up and screamed. Kate jumped a mile. She came over to her. Honour was shaking.
Kate gathered her into her arms and rocked her gently.
All Honour could do was whisper, 'Oh God. The blood! All the blood! And there was not a thing I could do..'
Kate made soothing noises to try to calm her down but to no avail.
'I tried! I really tried but he wouldn't listen....'

She cried like her heart was breaking.

Kate never left her side. She was shaking with the fever and talking of things she ought not. None of it made any sense.
She tried to get her to calm down but Honour's skin was like fire.
She looked at Kate and whispered to her, "Am I going to die?"
She said, "Honour, you are feisty. I would hate to see the damage you inflicted on the person who did this to you."
She murmured, "I need to make a confession."
"Hush! There is time for that later."
She whispered, "Two men died because of me, Kate. I never meant for it to happen. It just did. And now I shall burn in hell for it!"
Kate tried not to smile. "Then I pity the devil when you arrive as he shall have his work cut out for him!"
She shook her head. "If he is there, then I shall truly be in hell!"
"Who? The devil?"
"My husband."
Kate tried to figure out what she was talking about. "You were married before? I did not know this. You are a widow?"
She shook her head again. "No. I am a murderess."
Kate was taken back by it. "I can see you doing alot of things, Honour, but murder? What did you do, love him to death?"
She laid back on the pillows, still burning up. Kate continued with the cool cloths.
"It wasn't my fault. He was never to find out."
"Honour, you aren't making much sense."
She took a deep breath and whispered, "I've totally screwed up my life. I have always loved foolishly. For all the wrong reasons. And the wrong men. And I had a man die in my bed."

She tried to gather her strength. makine no sense as the fever was taking its toll.
"All the blood. It was so awful." She looked at her hands and it was as if she could still see the blood there.
"I held him. He drew his last breath in my arms. Oh, Kate! It was the worst thing to happen to me."
"Honour, maybe you need to be quiet for a while.."
"No! I need to tell someone! What if I die and no one here ever knew who I was. I never told a soul what really happened that night! Except Father Simon."
Kate sat next to her and held her hands. "And you feel the time is right?"
She took a deep breath and continued, still in fever. She whispered, "Have you ever heard the name Rhys Morgan?"
Kate nodded. "The Captain of the Neptune Rising. Henry Morgan's nephew. Dashing man. I met him once. Well-educated, smart and savvy. Makes berth in Tortuga."
Honour's eyes filled with tears and she could barely speak. "Not any more. He's dead."
"Dead? You were married to him?"
She shook her head. "He's dead because he knew me."

Kate listened to the gut-wrenching story of what had happened that fateful night in Beaumaris. When dawn approached, Honour's fever had broken. And she was going to live.

Kate awoke from the bed she slept in next to Honour's to find her staring out the window.  Softly she said, "I want to thank you, Kate. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have made it."
Kate reached over and smoothed the hair back from her face and smiled.
"You would have done the same for me."
Honour looked down.
"I did some soul-searching last night, Kate. And I came to a decision."
"And what is that?"
She looked up with a look of determination on her face.
"The next time I bed a man, I'll demand a wedding ring first."

Kate laughed. "You can say that now. But what happens when the next handsome captain walks through that door?"
Honour smiled softly, "I can add Mrs. Captain to my name."

A month later, Captain Mad Jack Wolfe walked through the door of the Varlet and Vixen and into her life.

[Welsh Wench]

"Mama! Mama! Kee! Kee!"
Honour broke away from her reverie to see Jack and Zara walking towards her. Jack was laughing and Zara had a proud look on her face.
Except her quarry didn't feel the same way.

There, clutched in her hand, was a tail.
And that tail was attached to Puddin. His claws left scratches in the deck. The very deck that Jack was so meticulous about.

Honour laughed and shook her head.
Oh yes, this one will have Captain Mad Jack Wolfe twisted around her finger. No doubt about that.

Puddin glared at Honour as if to say, 'you had to go and have her'.  Honour gently pried Zara's clutches from Puddin.
"No, no, sweetheart. 'Kee' doesn't like to be dragged by his tail through the ship."
The cat looked relieved and tried to resume a measure of dignity as his position as the ship's master ratter. He ambled off casually, but bumped into the mizzen mast.
Honour turned to Jack. "You really shouldn't let her get away with things like that, Jack. Allow Puddin some pride."
"But, Honour, she kept reaching for him and exclaiming, 'Kee! Kee!'  What else could I do?"
Honour put her hands on her hips and said, "You could have said 'No.' "
"And what fun would that be?"
"Puddn would have kept his pride. I think he deserves an extra ration of rum tonight. And now I think Zara and I will head back to the cabin. She needs her nap and I need to put a few things away."
Reluctantly, Jack handed her back to her mother. "I suppose. She has been rubbing her eyes."
He kissed the tip of Zara's nose and then kissed his wife's cheek.
"I'll be on the quarterdeck playing captain. Briggs is only pretending to let me be in charge."

Jack met Josiah up on the quarterdeck. He opened the binnacle and took out his pouch of pipeweed and his pipe.
Lighting it, he inhaled deeply.
"Ahhh! I've been waiting for that!"
Josiah chuckled. "Glad to see you haven't totally gone soft on me! Seeing you with the little one is jarring. I can't quite get the 'Mad' Jack out of my mind.
Jack stood looking out over the port.
"As much as it was nice to spend time in Beaumaris, I'll be glad to get back to Barbados."
"Family treat you right?"
"Megan and Daffyd and the other two sisters--Dilys and Gwyneth--were wonderful! The father was something else."
"Not accepting of you?"
"Not accepting of his daughter although he did look on my daughter as a leaf in the family tree. Not realizing that her name was Zara Wolfe and not Lady Zara Conaway."

The men gazed over the harbor. "Hear anything on what happened? You know....the aftermath?"
"I'm guessing Dolan was the one to see that Rhys...you know...."
"It's not really the kind of thing you want to find out or talk about."
"I don't suppose you have heard where Johnny Dolan is, have you?"
Briggs shook his head. "After Rhys left the account, I heard he was talking about Boston in the Colonies.  I am guessing that is where he ended up."
"Good guy. You all are. Were."

The two men were silent.
Briggs asked, "You think about him often?"
Jack nodded. "I do. Lately I have been playing the 'what if' game. What if I never went into that tavern...what if I never heard of Mercedes...what if you didn't get to me in time."
Josiah clapped him on the shoulder in a brotherly fashion.
"Stop torturning yourself like that, Jack. Things turned out good."
"For me. Not for Rhys."
"Rhys was a grown man who got involved with a girl. A married girl. Not a woman. No sense in wondering what would have been if you hadn't been kidnapped. You were. You were saved. And if you weren't then that little lass would not have been."
"I know, Josiah. The best I can do is take care of her for Rhys. And I will."

Josiah reached in the binnacle and got the bottle of rum out. He put a splash in his coffee and added some to Jack's.
"Heard a really interesting story."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. We had stopped in Aberdeen for a day or two. We saved some of that swag to trade off the rum for some Scots whisky and ran into an old acquaintance."
"Who?"
Briggs took a deep drink. "Remember Jonas Corwin of the Golden Phoenix?"
"Yeah, I remember him. Calculating SOB who always ended up with the prettiest tavern wench but he used to rough them up. I remember him and that one tavern wench in Marigot. What brought Corwin to mind?"
Briggs chuckled. "Guess he met his match in one of the ports."
"Oh, really? What did she do? Turn him into a eunuch?"
"No, not quite that bad. Jonas came into port in Aberdeen. His hands were like this---"
Briggs curled each of his hands up in a contortion.
"--it seems he picked up the wrong wench. At least this one was more creative. She threw his clothes out the window. Left him with nothing but his boots and sword. Then it seems he tracked her down and they mixed into it a bit. She kicked him where he wishes he had been a eunuch and then clocked him on the chin. He goes unconscious and she ties him up and then steps on his hands."
"Wow, that is harsh!"
"Corwin says that if he ever lays a hand--" and here Josiah demonstrated again the crippled hands--"he will wring her neck."
"Is he able to function?"
"Aye. Just looks kind of freakish. You know how he prided himself on his looks. Now he really is ticked off."
"Wonder where it was?"
"Didn't say. Just said somewhere in the Caribbean. But I think he's been searching for her when he gets into each port. Barkeep told him she ran off somewhere."
Jack chuckled. "I'd like to meet her and buy her a drink! Pretty creative what she did."
Briggs laughed. "Some of these women get wild ideas. Look at what Honour has done to you. Remember when you kidnapped her to get that Sun key?"
Jack threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah. She took that sgian dubh out of her boot and nailed my shirt--with me in it--against the mast."
"Or when she threw you out of the cabin in what God gave ye and I had to get ye a blanket to wrap in--"
"You would have to bring that one up."
"And when she almost dumped the hot candle wax on your--"
"Alright,  Briggs. That's enough," as Jack winced.
Josiah laughed. "Glad she and that tavern wench never got together and compared notes."
Jack drew deeply on his pipe before he dumped out the remains. He knew how Honour hated it and he didn't want her creative side to kick in.
All of a sudden he had a notion on that tavern wench.
"Naw...couldn't be. No. Not Honour."
"What did you say, Jack?"
"Oh..nothing."

"Wonder what is taking Duckie so long?" Jack said. "We should sail as soon as the evening tide. Old Ducks had better be here or he can swim after us!"

Briggs took out his spyglass and scanned the docks. "Well, speak of the devil! I see him over by those barrels. And he ain't alone. Got a woman with him."
Jack grabbed the spyglass out of Josiah's hand.
He put it to his eye and shouted, "Bollocks!"
There, following close behind Duckie was none other than the next to the last person Jack wanted to see.
First place would always go to Colonel Mendoza.
But now there was a new contender for second place.

Rose Gander, widow on a mission.
Or the prowl.
Made no difference, it was all the same to Jack.

[Welsh Wench]

The door to the tavern opened, its bright morning light streaming in behind the tall figure sillouetted in it.
"Bonita? You around?"
A head popped up from behind the tavern bar.
"Her not here. Her went to shore to collect her purification salt and her geckos. What you want?"

Cade Jennings looked over at the woman with the bright red ribbon in her hair,  the dreadlocks swirling around her shoulders.
"Ah, I see you are still here!"
Drusilla broke out in a grin. "I know you! You be de man dat been here when de earth do a shake!"
Cade laughed. "You remembered me."
Drusilla nodded. "You be havin' de face of an angel, dat I remember. And you give lots of coin."
He sat down. "So let me have an ale."
She poured and he handed her the coins.
"Still de same man!"
"And can you give me any information?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Depend."
"Depends on how much?"
"No. Depend on what I know."
"Has El Lobo del Mar been ported here since I was here last?"
Drusilla wiped the bar down. "Not dat I know. You look for anyone special?"
"Just trying to avoid the captain. And a blonde woman who used to come here with said captain. I seem to have....misplaced her."
Drusilla snorted, "You not be de-placing a person. You not be dat careless, man."
"The woman I am looking for is Honour Bright. Seen her?"
He slid another coin across the bar top.

"I see her. Her on Little Muelle Cay."
Cade turned around to see Bonita standing there, her arms holding four jars filled with salt. She dropped a bag that squirmed and she kicked it under a chair.
"Little Muelle Cay? What the hell? I was with her in Glenlivet. How did she get there?"
"How you t'ink?"
"I have no idea. She was in my bed and said she had to run an errand but she knew I was leaving that morning. When she didn't come back I thought she had been delayed with whatever it was she was doing."
'What she doing was being wit' de great Jack Wolfe. Dey be t'gether."
"He tracked her down? He ported in GlenLIvet as I was planning to leave. I expected Honour to come back quickly and I was planning on taking her with me but I had to leave. I left her a note I'd catch up with her in a week or so but her landlady Mrs Washburn said she never came for her things. I didn't know what to think. Thought maybe she went to Wales to see family. She talked about arranging passage ahd she had planned to go back to Barbardos. So I figured that is what she did and I would catch up with her through Amos."

"Amos not know where de child be but Bonita do. I see wit' my own eyes."
"And what were they up to?"
Bonita took a deep breath. "Dey were looking for de treasure of de Ancients. Dey find it."
"WHAT?"
She nodded. "It not go too well. But dis I  promise you, young Cade. Bonita get de trreasure. It be wit' dem and dey do not know how to read. It useless to dem."
"So you can have the treasure, Bonita. I just want one thing."
"And you t'ink Bonita not know what dat is? Dat be what dance t'rough you mind, Cade Jennings and get you in de trouble to begin wit'."

She opened up the box she kept beneath the tavern counter and withdrew her tools of the trade.
"Bones. Bones no lie."
She shook them, spit on them and cast them on the table top.
Cade peered over her shoulder.  She looked closely at them.
"De two bones touch. Dis bone off to de side. You pushed to de side. But look! De bone chip. Dat mean somet'ing little come into de lives of dem."

Cade laughed. "Impossible. I know Honour. If she is with Jack then it is to get the annulment and they got sidetracked by a business deal. She loves me, Bonita. ME!  Jack Wolfe treated her like dirt the last few weeks they were together. I know. She told me the whole story."

Bonita shook her head.
"I see somet'ing else. I see two faces. De faces of Jack Wolfe and dat golden child. Dey overlap. Bonita not sure yet what dat mean...but dis I know. Whatever it be, it be serious."

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

"Bollocks," Jack exhaled.
"What's the matter?" asked Briggs.  "The father-in-law droppin' in for an unexpected visit?"
"Oh, I wish.  I'd rather see Rhodri than what's walking this way."
"Well, are ye gonna keep it a secret 'til they set foot on deck?"
Jack looked over at Josiah and stole his coffee cup.  He downed the brew in two gulps and handed the cup back.  "It's Rose."
Briggs' eyes went wide.  "Well, don't that beat all.  For a woman, she sure has a pair of brass ones to be showin' up here after the shenanigans she pulled."
"And what's in Duckie's head, bringing her here?  I swear, Josiah, it will be a contest to see what happens to her first; me strangling her, or Honour scratching her eyes out."
"My money's on Honour.  Hell hath no fury like a woman settin' out after another one what has designs on her man."
Jack sighed as Duckie and his sister began to climb the gangway.  "I'll have to get her off the ship fast.  Hopefully it's early enough, and she hasn't been..."
Rose grabbed Duckie's jacket and steadied herself as she almost lost her footing.
"... never mind.  Too late.  Hand me that rum.  No use arguing with a drunk whilst stone cold sober.  It's annoying."
Briggs fetched the rum and filled Jack's cup half way.  "Ye really think she's been tippin' at this hour?"
"Um, did it stop us?"
"Good point."  Josiah refilled his cup and took a healthy swig.  "On that note, I'll be leavin' ye to receive special dignitaries, captain sir!"
"Bloody coward."
"Damned straight.  Now, be charmin' and evasive.  Like usual."
"You're going to pay for abandoning your captain, Mister Briggs."
Briggs grinned, then pretended to smell something.  "Oi!  Smells like smoke!  I need to investigate.  Just doin' me job, captain!"
Jack laughed and slapped the taffrail as Briggs jogged down the steps.  The quartermaster greeted Rose and Duckie, and pointed up to the quarterdeck and Jack in response to something Rose asked.  Rose then patted her brother on the shoulder and walked toward the stairs.  Duckie looked up at Jack and shrugged helplessly, then beat a hasty retreat to the surgery.

Rose stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
"Permission to come aboard, Captain Wolfe!" she said cheerily.
"Rose, you're already aboard.  You should have asked that question way over there when you were still on the dock, and I had an opportunity to say no."
"Oh, Jack!" she laughed as she climbed the steps to the quarterdeck.  "You're not serious!"
"Don't count on it."
Rose paused, and sighed in mock exasperation.  "You're still upset about the party."
"And I shouldn't be?  Rose, you tried to destroy my marriage."
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration."
Jack crossed his arms and stared at her.  "You dragged out a secret that would have torn apart a lesser couple.  But that's where you miscalculated, Rose.  It's been tried before.  And like your attempt, it failed.  So I'm not quite sure what you hope to accomplish by showing up here this morning.  But I'll tell you what – if Honour sees you aboard, I won't stop her from trying to take your head off."
Rose gave him a petulant look.  "I'll have you know, I wanted to see my brother off properly before you take him gallivanting for God knows how long again.  And my, don't you look handsome in your captain's outfit!  What is the nautical term for it?"
"Clothes."
"Well, no matter.  It suits you.  But it is a bit threadbare in places.  I thought for certain you'd be more fastidious about your appearance, being a captain and all.  You cut such a dashing figure the other night..."
"Everything looks different in the daylight," he said flatly.
Rose sighed heavily, and Jack could faintly smell the cognac on her breath.  "You're set on being cold towards me, aren't you?"
Jack nodded.  "Pretty much, yeah."
"If you'd give me a chance, you'd find that I'm trying to apologise to you."
"Really?" he laughed.  "And was part of your plan to apologise to Honour as well?  Because she's the one who was hurt the worst by your foolishness.  I was collateral damage."
"Well, I hadn't...  I mean, I should, but..." Rose stammered.
"In other words, no."
"If you'd just give me a chance to explain!"
Jack shook his head.  "No.  I don't give second chances.  Not any more.  You were crystal clear the other night what your intention was.  To humiliate my wife.  And you accomplished that.  So I can't imagine what kind of 'explanation' you might have to offer.  Frankly, I don't care."
"You will not shut me out, Jack Wolfe!  I'll invite you to remember your place in polite society!"

Jack gave Rose a bemused look.  She was trembling with indignant anger.
"You're the one forgetting their place, Countess.  When you stepped aboard my ship, you left your world and entered mine.  Your title is worthless here.  Mine is the only one that matters.  Now out a sock in it and listen to me."
Rose stared back at him in stunned silence.  No one ever dared to speak to her as Jack just had, and she had no idea how to react.  This was not the Jack Wolfe she remembered.  This was something new, and quite frankly, it frightened her.
"I used to have so much patience, Rose," he continued.  "So much mercy.  But not any more.  I'm older, and fair amount of wisdom has come with that.  I can't excuse what you did, or what you tried to do.  I won't.  So I'm going to tell you this one time; leave my ship."
"Jack, you're just being cruel now."
"No, cruel is me telling how I can't stand the sight of you.  But you brought it up."
Rose swallowed hard.  She had underestimated just how much Jack could have changed, how much she had hurt him by her actions at the party, and how far he would go to support his wife.
"Jack, please.  What do you want from me?  Do you want me to beg forgiveness?  Here, in front of your crew?"
"Rose, get this through your head.  I want nothing from you, except to see you off my ship."
"Not until you forgive me," she said stubbornly.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

"Right then!  Since you don't want to leave, I'll personally let Honour know you're here.  How's that?  Makes no never mind to me.  And I have to tell you, there are a lot of sharp, pointy things aboard a ship like this, all in easy reach.  You know yourself just how talented she is with a blade.  Still want to risk it?"
Rose stared at him in astonishment.  "You wouldn't do that.  Not to me."
Jack locked her arm up in his and started to march her toward the stairs.  "Here we go!  Oh, she's going to love seeing you!  Well, not love.  More like grab the nearest heavy thing she can find and swing it at you.  Then we're right back to that whole her taking your head off bit again.  But if that's what you want, far be it from me to be a poor host..."
She quickly pulled herself free and stepped back from him.  "Fine!  I can see that I can't reason with you."
"Really?  You were being persistent?  I thought you were just being thick.  Doing a fine job of it, too."
"I'm sorry it's come to this, Jack," she said, trying to regain some of her dignity.  "I'll leave.  But I'd like to say goodbye to my brother first.  Would you escort me?"
Jack looked at her impassively.  "Down the stairs, walk toward the gangway.  You'll see a door to your left.  Go in, follow the hallway, second door on the right.  Mind you don't get lost."

Rose took a deep breath, and walked past Jack and descended the stairs.  She could feel his eyes on her back.  While she hadn't really expected him to listen, she certainly never thought he'd be so cold.  She stepped through the doorway and paused as her eyes adjusted to the largely unlit hallway.
"Second door on the right," she reminded herself.  Taking a flask from her clutch, she took several long swallows of the amber liquid to help steady her nerves.  She put the flask back in its hiding place, and started down the hall to tell her brother goodbye.  A familiar warm feeling began to spread inside her as the cognac began to work its magic, and she could feel her tension begin to fade.  She continued on until she reached the door of the surgery, which was slightly ajar.  Rose took a moment to smooth her clothes, then knocked on the door.

"Yes?  Do come in, the door's open."
Rose opened the surgery door to find her brother restocking a low cabinet with medicines.  Duckie looked up when he heard the creak of the door hinges to see her there, and went back to restocking.
"I was expecting to see you right about now," he said.
"Jack was... less than receptive," said Rose, obviously embarrassed by what had happened.  "In fact, he ordered me off the ship."
"And what exactly did you expect, Rose?"  Duckie closed the cabinet and stood to face his sister.  "Far be it from me to say I told you so, but there it is."
"Yes, you were right, Drake.  I hope you're happy."
"Far from it.  It's not pleasant watching you embarrass yourself not once, but twice.  Are you all right?"
"A bit shaken.  He was terribly angry with me."
Duckie sighed, then went to his desk and poured her some brandy.  "Here.  This usually settles your nerves.  But this is all you get.  I'm surprised Jack let you come down here after ordering you off.  He's being more generous that I would have."
"I think he did it more for your sake than mine."  She quickly drank the brandy and set the glass on the desk.  "But he's right.  I have no business here.  I suppose I should take my leave before he tells Rhiannon – or whatever her name is – that I'm here."
Duckie smiled at her.  "Her name is Honour now.  And that's the best idea you've had all day.  Still, it was good to see you, Rose.  I promise I'll try to get back to England on a more regular basis."  He hugged her, then held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.  "Promise me you'll take better care of yourself?  You worry me."
"I'll be fine, I promise.  Really, Drake, you worry too much."  She kissed his cheek.  "I'd better go."
"I'll write you when I get to Barbados to let you know everything's fine."
Rose forced a sunny smile.  "I shall look forward to it!  Safe travels, Drake."
"Safe travels, Rose."

She quietly left the surgery and closed the door behind her.  Her head was beginning to buzz from the cognac and brandy, and she found herself unable to remember which direction she had come.  The hall was even darker thanks to someone having closed the door at the end of the hallway.  Rose found herself feeling flustered, so she took another drink from her trusty flask.  Everything was turned around for her.  She tried to settle down and remember the instructions Jack had given her.
"He said the second door on the right," she whispered to herself.
Unsteadily, she made her way down the hall, keeping one hand on the bulkhead to make sure she didn't miss the door.  When she reached it, she pulled up on the latch and opened it.  To her surprise, it revealed a set up steps leading down.  A lamp hung from the overhead, casting a pale, flickering light on the surroundings.  Rose gingerly made her way down the steps.
"Why on earth would he send me this way?" she asked herself.  "This doesn't look right!"
She found herself surrounded by crates and bales and barrels, all stacked and held in place by ropes and nets.  Panic started to rise in her throat.  But she caught herself and stifled the urge to cry out for help.
"Steady, Rose.  Don't go losing your head."  She found a clean looking crate and sat down on it.  "Screaming is undignified and not for the aristocracy.  I shall wait for someone to find me.  Yes, that's what I'll do.  Surely someone will be along soon."
Besides, she was afraid that her shouts would catch the attention of Jack's vengeful wife, and that prospect was far more frightening to her than being lost.

Rose Carlisle sat there in the ship's hold, waiting more or less patiently for someone to come round and discover her.  But she found her eyes getting heavier by the moment, and it was becoming difficult to focus on her surroundings.  She leaned back against the crates, and let her eyes slowly close.  After all, what could a little nap hurt?

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

El Lobo del Mar swept out of Beaumaris' harbour on gentle and following winds.  Her course was southerly, plying the cold waters of the Atlantic en route to her home port in Barbados.  Jack had never considered any particular port as "home" until now.  But he could scarcely wait to get back there with his wife and child, and to begin their new life together there... at home.

"Studying those charts won't have us to Barbados any faster," Honour said with a smile in her voice.  She was busy looking at some of the scrolls they had recovered from the Ancient's temple as she enjoyed some tea.
"Oh, I don't know," said Jack.  "Never count out a little Wolfe willpower.  Add a bit of Conaway to the mix and we'll be home in a week!  Maybe I should let Zara steer?"
"And throw poor Josiah into fits?  I feel guilty enough that he's taking most of your duties so you can have more time with Zara."
"So do I, but he insisted.  You know how stubborn he can be.  Besides, he is for all intents and purposes the captain now.  I'm just the owner."
"The men still look at you as the captain, and probably always will."
Jack shrugged.  "That will all change once we make port in Bridgetown again.  Some of the crew will move on, new men will join... eventually they'll forget all about Captain Jack Wolfe.    I'll be just another faceless ship owner to them."
Honour shook her head, her long golden tresses glinting in the lamplight.  "You know that's not true.  No one will forget about 'Mad Jack' Wolfe."
"I don't know... there are a few I'd like to have forget about me.  For all our sakes."
Honour got up from her chair and went to Jack's side, and put her arms lovingly around his neck.  "I doubt we'll even encounter those people ever again.  They're ghosts now as far as I care."  She paused and ran her fingers through his hair.  "You're not having regrets again about leaving the account, are you?"

Jack looked up at her and smiled.  "No.  Not a one.  I won't miss it, not one moment."  He looked over at Zara sleeping quietly in her bassinet.  "With her around, I think I'll have my fill of adventure for years to come."
"And her little brother or sister..."
Jack's eyes went wide.  "You mean... you're not... are you?  Again?"
"Oh, heaven's no!" she laughed.  "But maybe one day.  And you shall be there with me when the time comes, hearing every name I dream up for you!"
"Mrs. Wolfe, it would be my honour to have you creatively conjecture about my family's history."
Jack gently kissed her, and drew her to him.  They kissed again, deeply, and Honour looked into his eyes.
"You're not planning on trying to make another little Wolfe just this moment, are you?" she asked.  "We haven't even had dinner yet, and Zara's just gone to sleep..."
"You're ever so practical," he chuckled.  "In fact, I'm glad you brought up dinner, because any minute..."

A soft knock came from the door.
Jack gave Honour another kiss, and answered the door.  Three crewmen came into the cabin, carrying trays filled with roasted meat, warm bread, plates and utensils, and wine.  Wordlessly, they set places at the large table, laid out the food, and filled two pewter goblets with deep red claret.  Jack thanked them, and as quickly as they had appeared, they departed.
"But... what's all this for?" she asked, dumbfounded.
"To celebrate the start of our journey home, my love."
"You didn't have to do this!"
"Of course I didn't.  But I do enjoy spoiling you."  Jack pulled out her chair for her.  Honour sat down, taking in the elegant meal arrayed before her.
"Might as well enjoy this now," said Jack, "because we'll both be tired of ship's food over the next month."
Honour took a sip of wine and chuckled.  "Remember the last time you surprised me with a meal aboard ship like this?"
"Oh, do I ever," he said, his face colouring a bit.  "I'm sorry for that.  I never should have behaved..."
She put her hand on his.  "Forgiven and forgotten," she said with a smile.  Jack nodded in agreement.
"But this time, we have an even more precious treasure in our midst," she continued.
"Ask Puddin' if he agrees.  He'll get quite good at hiding whenever Zara is toddling about, just you watch."
"Poor thing.  And poor Zara!  She's just learning to walk, now she has to get her sea legs as well?"
Jack smiled proudly.  "She's a Wolfe.  She'll find a way."

Another knock came at the door.
"That can't be dessert, not yet," said Jack.  "Come in!"
The door opened, and Briggs stepped into the cabin.
"Beggin' yer pardon and all, but, um," he said looking like he would rather be anywhere else at the moment.  "We got us a bit of a problem."
"What kind?" asked Jack.  "Are we taking on water?  Is something wrong with the crew?"  The last thing he wanted was another mutiny.
"I'm afraid we got us a stowaway," Briggs answered slowly.
Jack rolled his eyes.  "Oh, lovely.  Fine.  Give them some blankets and let them bunk with the crew.  Once we make Madeira, off they go."
"I think ye want to see this one for yerself, Jack."  He motioned behind him for someone to approach.  "We found her sound asleep in the hold."
A crewman stepped into the room, bringing with him the stowaway.

A dishevelled, unhappy, and very hung-over Rose Gander.

[Welsh Wench]

Honour called out, "Jack, is there a--what the HELL?"
Jack deftly stepped between his wife and the misplaced Countess of Shrewsbury.
"Now, Honour..."
"How did she end up here?"
Jack said to the crewman, "Thanks, Boswell, for bringing this...problem...to my attention."
Rose drew herself up, "Problem? You think this is a problem for YOU? I have staff to attend to! And the annual ball at the Duke of Argylle's next week and..."
Honour cut in with, "I can arrange it so you can get there on time, Countess."
"You can?"
Honour took a step forward. "How are you at swimming?"
Rose took a step back and Jack held up his hand.
"Alright, cooler heads need to prevail. There has to be a way around this."
Honour folded her arms across her chest. "I have a dozen ways to get rid of the problem."
"Honour, I'll handle this."
"Excuse me? She tries to ruin my--our--lives and you won't put her off in a tender with enough liquor for a week?"
Rose looked imploringly at Jack, hoping her doe eyes would win him over. Or at least buy her some time.
"Jack, you can understand how easy it is to take a wrong turn on your ship. I said goodbye to my brother and well, next thing I knew, I was in that dark place with all those barrels. You really should get them better organized. And that lamp needs cleaning. Don't you have servants here to do that for you?"
Honour put her hands on her hips and looked at Rose. "This isn't the Good Ship Lollipop, sister. It's a merchant ship."
Honour looked at Jack. "Well, what do you intend to do?"
Jack sat down. "Rose, here. Have something to eat."
Rose sat down and smiled, fanning a napkin out to put on her lap. "Why, don't mind if I do."
Honour took the napkin off Rose's lap and turned to Jack.
"I will NOT share my dinner with that..that...that..." she pointed to Rose.
He motioned for Honour to be quiet.
"I'll handle this."
Honour shut her mouth but Jack could see the thunderclouds behind her blue eyes.
He sighed. "Rose, yes, have something to eat. Honour, darling? May I see you in the other room?"
He took Honour gently by the elbow.
Rose looked over and said, "Oooh, Jack, is that your baby?"
She rose to take a look at Zara.
Honour broke away from Jack and laid her hand on Rose's wrist. "Touch MY child and you will never lift a flask again. You will have to pay someone to do it for you because your hand will be like this--"
Honour contorted her hand. Rose blanched.
Jack sighed. "Josiah? Keep an eye on Rose for her own health, alright? Honour? Please?"
She looked at Jack and then walked to the next room.

As soon as the door was shut, Honour whirled on Jack.
"John Michael Wolfe, I will not--I repeat NOT--sail to Barbados for the next month with that barracuda!"
Jack put his hands out in supplication. "What do you want me to do, Honour? Set her adrift to the elements and certain death?"
She raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
Jack exclaimed, "You can't be serious!"
"Try me. Does Duckie know she is here?"
"Doubtful. Otherwise he would be here apologizing all over the place."
"So what are you going to do, Jack?"
He put his arms on Honour's shoulders.
"I don't rightly know yet. I guess Briggs can share his quarters with Duckie. And Rose can take his room."
Honour said sarcastically, "Oooh, deluxe accommodations for the Countess yet!"
"I don't have much choice, do I?"
"I suggest she bunk with the crew. Give her a hammock and let her sit there for a month thinking about the wrongs she has committed.
He sighed. "You have a better suggestion?"
"Yes, but you won't like it. Sharks will, though."
"Honour, darling, be reasonable."
"Oh, I'll show you how reasonable I can be."
She headed towards the door with a candleholder.
"You--you wouldn't! Not in the face!"
She retorted, "Nonsense. I just needed more light. But the dear countess needs to realize the world is NOT her oyster."
Jack rubbed his chin. "We're about ten days from Madeira. She can book passage from there."
"Jack, are you going to make me tolerate her presence for the next ten days?"
"What else can I do?"

[Welsh Wench]

Honour stood there and gazed at an imaginary spot on the wall. Jack groaned, "Uh oh, I know that look, Honour. Your wheels are turning."
She turned back to Jack and smiled sweetly, "You are absolutely right, Jack."
He narrowed his eyes, "I don't like the sound of that, Honour."
She patted his face. "We certainly can't have a guest--however unwelcome--be cheated out of our hospitality, can we?"
Before Jack could stop Honour, she breezed back into the room. Briggs was chatting quietly with Rose, as she gave him a dimpled smile.

Honour gave Rose a welcoming smile. "Countess, my manners were a bit out of line. Please chalk it up to the surprise of seeing you so soon after the ball. I would like to extend a warm welcome to you as befitting the Captain's wife."
She let the word hang there.
"Jack, would you please give the Countess a glass of claret and then please leave us to have a little girl-chat?"
Jack and Briggs exchanged looks.
"Honour, I don't know about this...."
"Oh, fiddle faddle! It will be just fine. Frankly, it may be nice to have another woman to chat with for the next week."
Briggs handed Rose a glass of wine which she took readily. Jack looked skeptically at his wife. "Honour..."
She gave him a smile and pushed him out the door. "Please, Jack!"
He whispered, "Don't forget. I know where you live if she disappears and we have shark for dinner...."
Honour closed the door in his face.

Honour poured herself a glass of wine and raised it to Rose. "I want to propose a toast, Countess."
Rose looked quizzically at her. "A toast?"
"Yes. To you. If you hadn't opened up your big mouth, this would have always been between Jack and me. It made our love even more stronger."
"But--"
"Oh, Countess, no need to thank me! It is I who should be thanking YOU! And while you are staying with us, I want to make you feel comfortable."
Honour flung open the armoire.
"Now there should be some in--ah ha! Here!"
She pulled out a armful of clothes and shoved them in Rose's arms
"These should fit you. I hope you don't mind that they belonged to some of Jack's strumpets. After all, we WERE separated. But then I was no saint, as you have already told him."
Honour walked over to the basin. "Oh, and here's some soap. I'm sorry it is what I use for washing the basin but I am sure your creamy skin can take it. And here's a towel."
Honour piled a rough cloth on top of it all.
"I must say---"
"No need to thank me, Rose. After all, this is the LEAST I can do for you."
She spun Rose around and propelled her to the door. Shoving her gently outside the door, Honour said as the door closed, "Enjoy your stay. And please watch out for Puddin'. Sometimes he likes to show off his latest catch when you are sleeping!"

As Rose stood there with her cast-offs, Jack nodded and said, "Duckie's quarters are down the hall and to the right. The RIGHT. And please tell him he will bunk with Briggs."

As they watched her walk down the hall, Briggs smiled at Jack and said, "Ye keep tellin' me ye will teach me about women, Jack. But I think ye be the wrong gender for it."
Jack smiled. "I don't know what happened...but I think I like it!"

[Welsh Wench]

Jack tentatively opened the cabin door.
"Umm....Honour? Sweetheart?"
She poured herself another glass of claret.
"Yes, darling?"
He looked around. "Where did that other Honour go? The one with the morbid ideas?"
Honour waved him off. "Oh...that. That was just a momentary hissy fit. I've calmed down now."
Jack looked at his wife skeptically. "Oh, you have, have you? It's when you get that angel-pie look that I REALLY worry!"

Honour sat down and put her bare feet up on the chair opposite her. She gently nudged it away from her and gave Jack an innocent look. He sat down opposite her and gently began rubbing her feet. She giggled.
"You aren't playing fair, Jack Wolfe!"
He gave her a grin and said, "Take what you can..."
She raised her eyebrow. "..give nothing back?"
He leaned forward and whispered, "You know that isn't how it works around here.!"
She leaned forward and whispered too, "I know."

He kissed the tip of her nose and asked, "I want to know why the sudden change of attitude. You are up to something, Honour Wolfe. And I don't know whether to be proud of you or worried!"
She pulled her foot back. "Are you impugning my hospitality?"
He sighed. "Not at all."
She stared back at him. He relented, "Alright, maybe just a little...A LITTLE!"
Honour took a sip of her claret and ran her finger idly around the rim. "The countess is about to learn a lesson in humility."
"Humility? Or humiliation?"
Honour flared up. "Are you protective of your former sweetheart?"
He sighed. "I wish to God she never set foot on this ship. Ducks is second only to Briggs as my best friend."
Honour stood up. "And it is because of Duckie that I don't rip her to shreds. She can spend her time with her brother and sitting in his quarters. I don't want to see or hear her."
"You won't."
Jack put his arms around his wife and kissed her. She gently took his hands at the wrist and disentangled him from her.
"No."
"What do you mean, 'no'?"
She drew the sheets back.
"You can thank your countess for this."
"For what?"
"She ruined the mood. Now extinguish the candle, please. I am going to SLEEP!"

Jack sighed and from the dark, he said, "You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Damn Rose."
From the other side of the bed, she sighed, "You can say that again."

Rose struggled down the hallway under the burden of the clothes Honour had thrust upon her.
"Whoa now, Rose! What do you have here?" Duckie looked up from his medical book.
Rose peeked over the load of garments she was carrying.
"It seems the esteemed Mrs. Jack Wolfe decided I should wear what is available."
Duckie took the clothes out of Rose's arms.
"Here. Let me take that for you."
"And I am to take your quarters and you are to bunk with Mr. Briggs."
"Oh, I am, am I? Well, if it is alright with Josiah, it's alright with me."

He kicked the door to his quarters open.
"It isn't much, Rose, but I guess it will have to do."
She looked around. "My butler lives in quarters bigger than this, Drake."
"Well, I am not your butler. You should be glad that Honour didn't push you overboard as soon as she saw you."
"Oh, if she had her way, she would have. Jack's gallantry rescued me."
Duckie held up his hand. "Hold it right there! Jack is NOT being gallant. He is NOT your knight in shining armor to rescue you, princess. He's trying to protect his wife from any undue aggravation."

She sat down and crossed her arms over her chest. "I was only trying to protect Jack. I knew Lady Castlemaine. Why Madoc married her is beyond me. He was a well-respected and courtly man. Why, he even was involved with the political machinations to restore the House of Lords!"
Duckie sat down opposite her. "And what did Lady Castlemaine ever do to you?"
Rose said hotly, "She was all wrong for him. Everyone knew about Lord Conaway's wayward daughter. She was in a convent and was turned out for...well, for unseemly conduct. It wasn't hard to figure out. News travels fast in my social circle...."
"...with you being the herald of rumours..."
"..and no one was invited to the wedding. Just family. And it was within a month after she returned home that she was now an....equal!"
"Is that what bothers you?"
"What?"
"The fact that she was so young and was now your peer. Maybe even the fact that Lord Castlemaine was a rung up on the social ladder than Edward?"
She glared. "It is NOT! She played Madoc for a fool!"
"And what did he get out of it?"

Rose's mouth went into a thin line and she said nothing.
Duckie started laughing.
"You were jealous!"
"Jealous? Of HER?"
"Yes. Because she was young and beautiful and Madoc Castlemaine was rogering her roundly!"
Rose stood up and put her hands on her hips, her face flaming red.  "You never would have talked to me like that before, Drake! Mother would be appalled!"

"You have a bigger problem than that, as far as I can see."
"And what is that?"
"The blue dress on top is Desdemona's dress."
"Desdemona?"
"Yes. One of Jack's....close friends. Jack and Honour were separated for a time. And the man does have an insatiable appetite."
"You mean...this dress....?"
"I wouldn't worry about it. After all, who is going to know if it is last year's fashion. Goodnight, Rose!"

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Honour's eyes slowly opened.  It was morning.  Sunlight shone through the gallery windows, helping to warm the large cabin.  While it had been wonderful to see snow again, she longed for the warmth of the Caribbean sun.  She raised her head and looked over to see Zara playing quietly with her little toy rabbit.  It must still be early, Honour reasoned, because Zara wasn't hungry enough to want food yet.  She smiled, then rolled over to see if Jack was still sleeping.
He was gone.
She stroked the bed where he had been.  It was cool to the touch.  He had been gone for a while.  Honour hated when Jack got out of bed early.  She could understand it when he was responsible for the ship, but now?
Maybe it was old habits.  Yes, that had to be it.  He couldn't possibly be that upset over her not wanting to make love the night before.
Could he?
It was true that Rose's presence had ruined the mood for her.  That shrew from Shrewsbury had invaded Honour's world yet again.  Damn that woman!  It figures she would get "confused" and need a bit of a lie down to sleep it off.  Now she was their guest for the next ten days.  If Honour had her way, it would be the worst ten days of Countess Rose Carlisle's life.

Honour got out of bed and pulled on a heavy dressing gown.  She went to Zara's where the little girl was still pulling the toy rabbit's ears.  She picked Zara up and brushed the little girl's locks out of her face.
"Does Zara want to see how silly mean old Rose looks all tarted up in that stinky dress?"
Zara gave a little laugh and playfully grabbed Honour's nose.
"That's right!  That's my little girl!  Smelly, smelly Rose!"  She looked toward the door, and a sly smile played on her lips.
"I think it's a fine day for your mummy to look especially good, don't you agree?"

Jack looked out over the main deck.  If there was any time he wished he could will El Lobo to move faster, this would be it.  This was supposed to be a pleasant voyage back to Barbados and a new life.  Instead, an aggravating bit of his and Honour's pasts had managed to stow away.  Now Honour was out of sorts in more ways than one.  It was going to be a very long ten days.
"Keep starin' like that, and them waters may just part," said Briggs from behind him.  "Only one man I know of pulled that off, and he had help.  What has you up here when ye should be playing with that wee bairn?"
"Oh!  Good morning, Josiah.  I was lost in thought."
"Broodin' is more like it.  Still upset about the stowaway?"
"Annoyed.  Honour's more upset about it, though."
"How upset?  I know she hates that uppity countess somethin' fierce."
Jack looked at him.  "VERY upset.  To to point of... distraction."
"Distraction?"  Briggs thought about it for a moment, and his eyes grew wide.  "Oh, THAT distraction!"
"Yes, exactly."
"Hmph.  This is goin to be a long stretch for all of us, then."
"Excuse me?"
"If Jack Wolfe ain't happy, ain't nobody happy aboard this ship, and ye know it.  Ten days of no... well, ye'll be wound up tighter than a capstan holdin' two anchors.  Not that anyone could blame ye."
Jack laughed.  "I'm that bad?"
"Jack, everyone knows how much you and Honour love each other.  Ye both be... um, passionate people, as it were.  So it stands to reason that if ye ain't able to, um, express them passions, if ye follow, ye'd get a little keyed up after a while.  It's, y'know, normal."
"Very nicely put, Josiah."
"Thank ye."
"That settles it.  YOU get to tell Zara about the birds and the bees."
Briggs nearly spit out his 'coffee'.  "Like hell!  That job goes to the man what sired her!"
"Coward!" Jack laughed.
"Damn straight!  And proud of it!" smirked Briggs.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

"It's good to see you laughing this morning!  May I join you?" called a voice from the weather deck.  Jack looked down to find a sheepish Duckie looking up at him.
"Of course, Doctor!  Since when have you felt the need to ask?"
Duckie jogged up the steps.  "After yesterday, I wasn't sure you'd want to see me."
Jack waved his hand.  "I know it's not your fault, Ducks.  Rose's stowing away was her own doing."
"Yes, well, if I'd known she'd been drinking before I let her have some brandy..."  He shook his head.  "Oh, who am I kidding?  She's a slave to the drink.  Would you believe I found TWO flasks in her clutch?  And both nearly empty?"
Briggs gave Jack a worried look.
"I'll have the men secure the rum stores.  And the wine, and the brandy, and that stuff you're so fond of from Russia," he said as he quickly departed the quarterdeck.

"I've already put a lock on my brandies," said Duckie.  "But honestly, Jack, I feel awful about this.  I know it upset Honour terribly.  I should have escorted her off the ship."
"She's a big girl, Duckie.  One would think even a countess could find her way down a hallway."
"To be fair, it's been years since she was on a ship.  And you had her quite rattled.  Unfortunately, drinking is her way of dealing with stress."
Jack raised an eyebrow.  "Drinking is her way of dealing with her eyes opening in the morning, from what I've seen.  Look, I know she's your sister.  But after what she tried to do, I was in no mood to listen to her half-hearted 'apology'.  I should have let Honour toss her off the ship back in port.  Then we wouldn't have this mess."
"You don't mean that."
"Oh, don't I?  I can't believe you're defending her."
"I'm not defending her, Jack.  I'm just trying to make the best of a bad situation.  Events conspired to create this mess, as you put it.  We have to cope with it together until Madeira."
"You're right," said Jack with a sigh.
"I'll take responsibility for watching over her."
"Damned right you will.  I've got two women to look after.  I don't need a third!"
Duckie managed to laugh a little at that.  "Especially two at each other's throats.  I hope Honour wasn't as upset as Rose portrayed?"
"Did she tell you Honour wanted to watch the sharks eat her alive?"
"No, she left that part out."
"Between you and me, Duckie, I don't think my wife is quite done with your sister yet.  Best we keep them out of each other's way."
"That will be some trick, Jack.  The ship isn't that big.  Though the clothes Honour gave her to wear should help to keep her in the surgery and out of sight..."
A piercing whistle followed by catcalls from the crew interrupted the conversation.  Jack and Duckie looked down to see what was going on.
"Oh, dear," said Duckie.  "So much for that theory."

Storming toward the quarterdeck stairs with fistfuls of royal blue skirt clenched tightly was Rose.  She tried to ignore the catcalls of "Hey, it's Desi's sister!" and the like as her cheeks flamed red.  Without breaking stride she climbed the stairs and stood on the quarterdeck facing Jack and her brother.  Jack leaned against the gunwale with his arms crossed, wearing the expression of a man trying hard not to double over in laughter.  Duckie fared only slightly better.
"It's considered polite to ask permission before coming to the quarterdeck, Rose," he said with a barely disguised snicker.
Rose shot her brother a withering glare.
"Not to be a critic, Rose," said Jack, "but blue really isn't your colour."
"This is what your wife gave me to wear!" she fumed.  "Castoffs from your... your... trollops!"
"Well, Desdemona was a lot of things, but she wasn't..."
Duckie gave him a look that said "Oh, really?"
"All right, I guess she was."
"Jack, I insist you find me more suitable clothes to wear!  Surely you have something amongst your cargo?"
"Hmm, let me think...  No!  Sorry.  Can't recall dealing with any French ships in the past several months.  Which is just as well, since they'd be out of fashion by now anyway.  I'll tell you what, I can see if some of the younger crew have a clean shift they're willing to donate."
"I will NOT wear pants!" she exclaimed in outrage.
"Them I'm afraid you're stuck wearing the same clothes for the next ten days, or what's been provided you by my wife.  No point of you asking for any of hers, because, well, you wouldn't fill them out as nicely."
The colour of Rose's face matched her name.  "I think you're enjoying making sport of me."
Jack thought about it for a moment.  "As a matter of fact, I am.  Sorry about that.  Consider it penance for the other night."
"Really, Jack," said Duckie.  "Things are bad enough."
"Oh, all right.  For your sake, Duckie, I'll stop."

"Can anyone join this party?" came a voice from the stairs.  Honour appeared, dressed in a beautiful seafoam green silk dress with intricate lace work in off white.  Her hair was done up in a matching satin ribbon.  Zara was bundled up in a little off white dress that matched her mother's lace, complete with matching bonnet.  When she saw her father, she began enthusiastically waving her little toy rabbit.
"Da!  Da!" she cried, and reached for him.  Jack took her gently from Honour, and gave his wife a kiss.
"Well, aren't we the lovely pair!" said Jack.
Honour gave a pirouette.  "Remember this dress?  You bought it for me when we were first married.  It still fits perfectly!"
Rose's jaw was clenched tight.  She began to say something, thought better of it, and hastily departed the quarterdeck.
Honour watched Rose leave, and turned back the two men with a feigned look of surprise.
"Was it something I said?" she asked with a wink.

[Welsh Wench]

"See the moon, Zara?"
The little toddler looked up in the night sky. Her father had her on his shoulders and brought her down to his chest.
"Now look up and say, 'Moon, come closer!' See it? See it come to Zara?"
Her eyes grew wide and she reached her hand out.
Jack laughed. "And now you can hold the moon in your hands, sweetheart!"

"Jack, what are you telling her?"
He turned around to see his bemused wife standing there, her hands on her hips.
"Just showing her that if she wants something, nothing is out of her grasp!"
"But the moon?"
"Why not? She already holds the world in the palm of her hand."
"Yes. YOUR world!"
He leaned towards his wife and as she brought her face near his, a little face stuck hers between the two of them. Zara patted both their faces and laughed.
Jack sighed. "I think she is on to us!"
"Well, I came outside for two reasons. One--please get the baby out of the night air. I don't need her coming down with the sniffles."
Jack protested, "Oh, come on, Honour. I have her bundled up. What is the second reason?"
"Cook brought dinner. Grady caught some fresh fish and we still have some field greens. So come in before the fish gets cold."
Jack put his arm around his wife's waist and whispered, "And you are now over your snit-fit regarding you know who?"
She gave him that smile he loved to see. "I figured why should I punish myself along with you?"
Zara pouted, "Da-da!"
Jack shook her head. "She can't possibly be jealous of her own mother, can she?"
"Certainly not! But you keep spoiling her and she will be the diva of Barbados!"
"Well, why not? I like spoiling my girls!"
He bounced Zara up and down gently as the little toddler laid her head against her father's chest.
Honour leaned over and kissed Jack's cheek. "And we like being spoiled! Now, come in so we can have a nice, quiet dinner."
'"And later?"
"Dessert?"
"And after dessert?"
"Let's just see what transpires," Honour laughed.
Jack laughed and opened up the door to their cabin.
"After you, munequita!"
As their door shut, her voice was heard to giggle, "No, Jack! Not until after I have my dessert!"

[Welsh Wench]

The door to Duckie's quarters slammed shut.
"You break Jack's door and it won't sit too well with him."
Rose sat down on the chair.
"I am so bored I could just scream!"
Duckie leaned back and sighed. "Rose, it is only a week left---"
"NINE DAYS!"
"---until we port in Madeira. Jack and I will make sure you are booked for passage on a reputable ship and under the captain's protection. With any luck, you will be back in your own bed by the first of March."

Rose tried to smooth down the dress she had on. It was a satin dress in purple. Too short for a woman of Rose's stature. The waist hit her under her bust and the sleeves pulled every time she reached.
"These clothes---they are hideous! What kind of woman would wear a dress like this?"
Duckie looked up from the ledger where he was taking a few notes.
"That? Oh....I can't really recall her name. Buxom girl with brown hair."
Rose stretched her arm and the sleeve ripped in the armhole.
"She must have been a dwarf! Was there ANY kind of woman that Jack did not consort with?"
Duckie put his pen down and thought. "Um....no. If they were female, they qualified."
"So Jack Wolfe had no morals."
Duckie thought for a moment. "I wouldn't say that. He never bothered Bonita again."
"Who's Bonita?"
Duckie waved his hand. "Just someone...spooky."
She crossed her arms in front of her. "I was up on deck a few minutes ago."
"Taking in the night air?"
"Yes. Is it a crime?"
"Not at all. If that was really your reason for being there."
Rose hesitated. "I saw...them."
"Them who?"
"Rhiannon and her child. With Jack. They looked like a..."
"Family?"
Rose looked away. "It could have been me.." her voice trailed off.
Duckie shook his head. "No. It couldn't have been. You two weren't right for each other."
"But Jack has matured."
"The Jack you see now has. It wasn't even Honour--Rhiannon--that changed him as much as it was that little girl he holds in his arms. Honour tamed him. Zara refined him."
"And you are saying I couldn't?"
"Jack was wild, Rose. He endured situations no one should have. When Honour got him, he was coming to terms with alot things. He talked to a friend about his dream of quitting the account."
"And so that little tart was his key to freedom."

Duckie rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Please don't call her a tart, Rose. She's not."
"Carrying on like she did behind Madoc's back? And what makes you think she wouldn't do the same to Jack? Once a cheating wife, always a cheating wife. Madoc was good to her. He gave her the world. And did she appreciate it? No! She was more like his pampered pet. And from what I can see, Jack is treating her the same way."
Duckie burst out laughing. "I know what is bothering you! The same thing that bothered you about her and Madoc! She's warming Jack's bed!"
Rose retorted hotly, "Of course not! I was just mentioning that a woman like that falls backwards into money and position. Everyone knows that she was sent home in disgrace from the abbey. And the next thing we hear, Lord Madoc Castlemaine takes a wife. And that child-bride was barely seventeen!"
"Rose, from what I understand, Madoc Castlemaine wore two masks. The one he kept for the nobility of the land and the one he wore behind closed doors. Honour and I talked one evening when Jack was recuperating from a bullet wound. She painted a portrait of a controlling, cruel man. He used to pinch her and grab her for any slight breach of etiquette or any conduct that he felt didn't reflect well on the House of Castlemaine."

Rose sniffed, "Regardless, she took a lover. Who would have thought it? It was so...so common."
"What is, Rose?"
Her words were biting. "Cuckolding your husband with the help."
"The help?"
She laughed derisively, "And who would have thought Mortimer capable of doing that to Madoc?"
"Rose, I'm not following."
Rose took another deep drink. "Of course. Who do you think was found dead there? Madoc and his wife's lover. Edmund Mortimer. His very own valet."

Duckie dropped his wine glass.
Rose looked down. "Drake, you made a mess." She handed him her napkin. As Duckie picked up the shards, he found his voice. "You--you mean she was having an affair with her husband's valet?"
Crossly, Rose said, "Isn't that what cuckolding is all about? Madoc's son Henry came home and found two dead bodies in the bedroom. Madoc Castlemaine and his servant Edmund Mortimer. Edmund was sprawled across the bed. And the girl was gone. No one knew where she went. But Henry said the jewels were missing. Also gold coins and family heirlooms. And then the truth came out. She had a lover. And Madoc struck the blow that felled him before he himself died."

Duckie's head was swimming.
Two bodies.
Madoc Castlemaine and his valet.
But then...what happened to Rhys Morgan's body?

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Duckie lay awake, staring up at the overhead.  Briggs was nearby, snoring quietly.  It was well into the wee hours of the morning, but he couldn't find sleep.  Not after the things Rose had said over dinner.
He thought back to the day after Jack had been shot by Mendoza's sniper.  Honour asked if he had known Rhys Morgan and how he had met his end.  Finding out that she was the woman Rhys risked everything for and lost was the last thing he'd expected. 
Honour had made him promise not to breathe a word of it to Jack, and he lived up to his end of the agreement.  Thanks to Rose, Jack found out Honour's secret anyway.  As much as he deplored Rose's actions that night, Duckie was relieved to be free of that particular burden.  The truth about Rhys Morgan's death was out, the need for secrecy over and done with.

Or was it?

Honour claimed that Rhys died in her arms.  Her description of the scene and those moments could not have been fabricated, in Duckie's opinion.  It was too vivid, too detailed to be anything but the truth.

Now Rose had introduced a new version of the events that night.  Instead of Rhys, Honour had been cuckolding her husband with the help!  At least that is what popular gossip assumed, given that it was not Rhys' body that had been discovered with Madoc's but that of the manservant.  It was just the sort of tawdry, salacious grist the gossip mill loved to churn through.  But it made no sense.  Not with what Duckie knew of Honour Wolfe, née Rhiannon Conaway.

Duckie tried to make sense of it all.  There were always two or more sides to every story, with the truth falling somewhere in the middle.  Despite the intricate web of falsehoods Honour had hidden behind from everyone else, she had been for whatever reason honest to a fault with him.  She confessed her love for Rhys, and he knew first hand how much in love Rhys was with her.  Enough to give up a successful life as a pirate and smuggler.

Therefore, Rose's statement that Honour had been carrying on with the help could not possibly be true.

Honour claimed that Rhys died in her arms.  But what of Rose saying the second body was that of the servant, and not Rhys?  As much as Rhys must have visited that area over the years, he had to have been known by more than few people there.  And knowing human nature, the story of a nobleman and a pirate killing each other over a woman was far more interesting for the masses than the one currently accepted as truth.  If the second body was indeed the manservant, how did he die at that scene, and why had Honour never mentioned him?

And what of Rhys' body?

Honour and Rhys were to have made their escape that fateful night, only to be discovered by her husband.  Had one of Rhys' crew been waiting with their transport back to the ship, and come looking for them when they were overdue?  And if so, did they retrieve Rhys' body, killing the servant in the process?

No, thought Duckie.  It was too far fetched.  But the question remained-- what happened to the body of Rhys Morgan?  If the servant had been positively identified, then Rhys' corpse must have been spirited away somehow.

A terrible thought gripped Duckie like icy fingers around his heart.  Honour was in a state of shock and panic that night, having killed her husband and seen her lover mortally wounded.  She assumed Rhys died in her arms.

What if he hadn't?

He knew from his own experience that shock from profound blood loss could cause a man to appear dead, only to recover later if help comes soon enough.  Perhaps, if someone had gotten to Rhys in time....

Duckie shook his head.
"No.  He can't be.  The odds are too outrageous," he said aloud.
"Hhmph... Huh?  What?  What's that ye said?" asked Briggs blearily.
"I'm sorry, Josiah.  It was nothing.  Just thinking out loud.  Sorry to wake you."
"No, 's all right... g'night..."  In moments, Briggs was snoring softly again.

Duckie went back to staring into space.  Could it be that Rhys Morgan, by whatever miracle, was still alive?  Or were his remains spirited away to some unknown fate?  Either way, Honour could never know.  He would not see her and Jack's happiness jeopardised by this possibility.  Closing his eyes, he tried to will himself to sleep and forget this new burden that had been thrust upon him.

Another secret to keep from seeing the light of day.