‘Pirates!’

My heart sank at the cry of alarm and I hurried to gather my jewellery and other things that were precious to me and hid them in a secret panel behind a dresser. I jumped as a loud bang sounded from downstairs and the maids started screaming as the pirates swarmed through the house, shouting and jeering as they went. A couple of shots were fired and I prayed that my staff were safe, but doubted it. Realisation that I was still in my night things hit me suddenly and I scrambled to find something to cover myself with but it was too late and the door opened to reveal a wild looking man standing there, his eyes raking my curvaceous body.

I should have screamed, I should have begged for my life, but there was something about this man. Something sensual, feral, and to my dismay I felt my body start to betray my innermost feelings. He took a step towards me and I caught my breath, torn between hating and wanting.

‘Jack?’ came a voice from outside and I looked up to see a younger man come through the doorway.

‘Jack. So that’s his name,’ I mused before realising that he had used my distraction to move even closer and I could now feel the heat radiating from him and could look deeply into his dark, dark unfathomable eyes.

‘Jack, what are you doing?’ I looked again at the younger man, wondering how such a handsome man could be a pirate.

Jack waved his hand at the other pirate who retreated quickly, then reached out to me with a knife and for a brief second panic coursed through my body until I looked into his eyes again and saw no malice there, no cruelty. Only lust. He cut through the thin straps of my silk shift and it slid gracefully down my body and landed in a crumpled heap at my feet, leaving me naked before him. I trembled and licked my dry lips, which immediately brought his attention from my breasts to my mouth then he leaned forward and I felt his soft lips press against mine, his tongue seeking entrance to my mouth, which I gave willingly.

I held the back of his head and pulled him harder to me, moaning into his mouth as he pressed my body against his, his fingers kneading the soft flesh of my buttocks. I opened my eyes to see if the young man was still there, but the room was empty except for me and the pirate.

Jack broke away and looked at me, his eyes dancing with amusement and a crooked smile was playing on his lips. ‘D’ya want me M’lady?’ His voice was deep and throaty, like he gargled with stones.

I looked at him uncertainly before giving a slight nod, then gasped in surprise as he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bed. My bed. The bed I shared with my husband, who was away on business. I lay there watching as he stripped hurriedly and climbed onto the bed. I arched my back and gave a small scream as he immediately latched onto a nipple, sucking and teasing the one with his tongue whilst his fingers played around with the other. Long fingers stroked down my belly and along the slit between my legs before plunging into me and thrusting, brushing against something inside me which made my world explode every time they did. Jack carried me to a precipice and sent me crashing over the other side, screaming and calling out his name. He slowly withdrew his fingers from my body and lay there stroking me until I recovered, then he moved above me and slowly eased his generous manhood into me, smiling sensually as he did.

‘Ya still want me, M’lady?’ he asked, nuzzling my neck and probing my ear with the tip of his tongue.

I nodded eagerly, pushing my hips up to meet his thrusts, crooning in his ear as the pleasure he gave me escalated to another, more forceful climax and I raked my fingernails down his back, making him hiss with pain. I held on to Jack as he pounded into me harder and harder until with a grunt, he released his seed, biting my neck as he did and bringing me to another peak which left us breathless and panting hard in each others arms.

He moved off me and I expected him to leave there and then, but instead he pulled me so that I was half lying on top of him, and he ran lazy fingers down my back, chuckling as he felt me shudder at his touch.

‘Well luv, it seems we both needed that, eh?’ He shifted down so that our faces were level and kissed me with a tenderness that I could scarcely believe but broke away, all too soon. ‘I have ter go now. Thank you for making my visit such a pleasurable one.’ He stood and pulled on his clothes with swift hands and with an elaborate bow, walked out of my bedchamber and my life.
…

I was shaken from my reverie by a gurgle coming from my infant son as a butterfly fluttered past his nose as he lay on the blanket.

I picked him up and swung him into the air, delighting in his chuckles. ‘Who’s Mama’s big strong boy then, eh Jack?’ Jack. My husband hadn’t wanted such a common name for his son and heir, but as I looked into my sons deep, deep dark eyes, I knew it was the only name I could have given him.

… … … …

One year later


I waved at the nursemaid as I wheeled Jack’s carriage down the path towards the beach. I knew the staff and my husband didn’t approve of my being so active in my son’s upbringing, but I didn’t care. I was brought up thinking my nanny was my mother and that my mother was a stranger who lived downstairs. She was in a way, and I didn’t want Jack not knowing me and me not to know who Jack was, as a person. So I made sure that we spent at least three or four hours together every day and I always put him to bed at night and read stories to him.

I froze in shock as a figure appeared before me then launched myself across the baby carriage, shielding my son from the man.

‘Don’t worry luv, I’ve no intention of hurtin’ yer babe.’

‘W-what are you doing here?’ I asked, terror of being seen with him making my heart pound like a hammer on an anvil.

‘I was just passin’ an’ thought I’d pop in an’ say hello,’ he drawled, frowning as to why I was still hovering over the carriage. He pushed me away gently but firmly and gazed at the child within. ‘Ah. It seems a satisfied smile wasn’t the only thing I left ya with, eh?’

‘P-please, leave us alone,’ I stammered, glancing over my shoulder towards the house which fortunately, was out of sight. ‘If my husband sees you, he will kill you himself without waiting for the authorities to do it for him. Please,’ I begged, tears of despair welling up in my eyes.

‘Let’s go somewhere quiet an’ talk.’ Jack put his hand on the small of my back and guided me towards an arbour my husband had built, overlooking the sea. My son gurgled contentedly in his carriage, unaware of the turmoil going through his mother’s mind. I left the carriage outside the arbour and followed Jack inside, wringing my hands together agitatedly. I opened my mouth to say something and felt Jack’s lips press hard against mine and all resolve I had melted away as his hands explored my body once more.

‘J-Jack… no…’ I murmured, pulling away from him.

‘Oh yes luv,’ Jack whispered huskily, tugging at the laces of my dress, batting away my hands as I tried to stop him. ‘I want ya, I need ya.’ He deftly undid the laces and pulled my dress apart and slid it off me, then hoisted the under shift over my head, slinging it on the bench behind me then he sank to his knees and pulled my knickers down, burying his face in my hair and sliding his tongue into the crease between my legs, causing me to moan out loud. I parted my legs like a wanton whore and held his head as his tongue probed and licked then cried out as it disappeared inside me, lapping and thrusting and teasing. I pressed down, urging him deeper, higher and let out a low animalistic moan as I reached my climax, rubbing my womanhood across his mouth in time with his thrusting tongue.

Jack slowly stood, a smile that could almost be a snarl on his face then he held my head with his hands and kissed me fiercely, our teeth clashing together, our tongues roughly playing about, both of us trying to take over the other’s mouth. My hands were fumbling with the few buttons on Jack’s shirt that were actually fastened and I ran them across his bare chest once he shrugged the garment from his shoulders. I pulled away from the embrace and started to undo the sash around his middle, smiling to myself as I saw how aroused he was.

‘Like what ya see, darlin?’ Jack ran his nimble fingers down my back which he knew I liked, then carried on down to the crease between my buttocks and teased the opening there, rubbing his fingers across it and pushing gently but not penetrating.

‘Not as much as I will like what I see,’ I laughed, than gasped as one finger found its way in, gently pushing upwards. I stood there with my arms wound around Jack’s neck as another finger penetrated my backside and they began their ministrations, thrusting and twisting around inside me, causing pain and pleasure at the same time. I sank my teeth into his neck as I came, making him hiss and moan and thrust harder which in turn made me bite harder and so it went on until my passion was spent and a thin trail of blood was creeping down Jack’s chest from his neck.

Jack softly removed his fingers and kissed me then grinned as I knelt before him and undid the buttons of his breeches, allowing his prick the freedom it had been almost bursting for. I tentatively moved towards it, watching with fascination as it began to jerk and ran my tongue along the silky underside of it from the base to the tip, delighting in the guttural sounds coming from his throat. I slowly licked the crease at the tip of his manhood then took it in my mouth, suckling on it like a babe on a teat, making the most immoral noises I’d ever heard and I revelled in the fact that I was the one who was causing the noise. Jack gently pushed his hips forward so I took more of him in my mouth until I felt I was going to choke. I stopped, unsure as to what to do next but Jack must have read my mind for the next words told me exactly what he wanted.

‘Suck me… hard.’

I sucked on his manhood, my eyes widening in fear that he was going to push himself fully into my mouth but he pulled away slightly then started thrusting slowly and I sucked in rhythm with his thrusts, my tongue moving along the underside of his prick. I was surprised at how much doing this turned me on and shifted slightly so that I was resting on my leg and started rubbing myself along it, my desire growing all the time. As I came once more I sucked hard on Jack’s prick and screamed into it, the vibration sending him over the edge and he flooded my mouth with his seed. I swallowed it, noting how salty it tasted and wondered if all men tasted like that or whether it was because he spent his life on the ocean. Jack withdrew from my mouth and lifted me, stroking my face with the back of his fingers.

‘Ya ever done that before luv?’ His voice was as warm and tender as the look in his eyes as I blushed and shook my head. ‘Well, yer a very fast learner,’ he teased, kissing the tip of my nose.

‘I-I must check on Jack.’ I darted from the arbour and peered at my son… our son, sleeping peacefully and sucking on the edge of his blanket.

‘Jack?’

I glanced around at the pirate and smiled ruefully. ‘Yes, Jack. I knew he was yours as soon as I found I was with child.’ I took his outstretched hand and followed him to the bench, nestling back into his arms and smiling as he nuzzled the nape of my neck, moving round and teasing the tender skin at the back of my ear with his tongue before sucking on it gently.

‘Y’know luv he’s th’only child whom I know is mine, an’ ya named him Jack. Thank you,’ he whispered, squeezing me against him.

‘Why did you come back?’ I moved from his arms and half turned so I could see his face.

‘I told ya, I needed ya. I still need ya.’ He pressed himself against me so I could feel his arousal, long and hard against my back. We half fell, half slid to the floor and took each other urgently both of us lost to the world outside of our passion until a voice from outside interrupted us and I shot to my feet, grabbing my clothes and hastily pulling them on, while Jack slunk to the corner of the arbour beneath the window and out of sight. With a last desperate glance at him, I straightened my dress out as best I could and walked out of the door, a breezy smile plastered on my face.

‘M’am. Is everything all right M’am?’

‘Yes, yes,’ I squeaked, coughing to clear my throat and smiling at Betsy, Jack’s nanny. ‘I must have fallen asleep. Must be all the fresh air, Jack’s been fast as well.’ I steered the carriage back towards the house, chancing a look over my shoulder, my heart leaping as I caught a glimpse of Jack watching me before he disappeared from sight.

… … … …

Two months later

I faced George, my husband, with some trepidation for he had returned from business in town in a foul mood and was attacking the food on his plate, banging the knife and fork against the china so hard I was expecting it to shatter at any moment. I asked to be excused from the table, not wanting to be near him for a second longer but he ordered me to stay where I was. So I pushed my food around my plate, having no appetite to eat, listening to him ranting and raving and getting more and more drunk. My heart sank. I knew what it meant when he got drunk and I started shaking, biting my lip to keep the tears from spilling.

George stood and glared at me and panic coursed through my body. ‘I-I can’t. It’s my bleeds,’ I stammered, hoping he’d believe the lie. He didn’t. He stormed across the room and backhanded me, sending me spinning then falling to the floor. He grabbed me by the hair and yanked me to my feet, his red angry face mere inches from mine.

‘Don’t you lie to me, you bitch. You’ve tried that particular line once to often. Upstairs, now,’ he spat, shoving me in the direction of the door. I opened it and hurried out, eyes downcast to avoid the stares of the servants who had witnessed this all too often. I walked up the stairs, my body tense from his presence just behind me and I opened the door to our bedchamber, sickness welling up in my stomach.

‘G-George, p-please…’ I begged, wincing as his fist came towards me, slamming into my ribs. I lay on the floor too despondent to move, too despondent to even feel pain as my husband forced himself on me, not even bothering with niceties, just driving hard into me until he had his satisfaction then he buttoned his breeches up again and went to the guest bedroom where he had taken to sleeping.

I crawled onto the bed and lay there weeping until blessed sleep took me.

…

I almost let Betsy take Jack for his afternoon walk the following day, my body ached as did my heart, but I decided I needed the fresh air and to get away from the house for a while.

I held Jack’s hand as he staggered across the soft sand towards the water. I smiled at his delight as a wave trickled over his toes, then lifted him up by his hands and splashed him back down, laughing with him.

‘Got salt water in his blood I see.’

I spun, dangling my son in mid air as I faced his father once more. ‘Jack!’ I lowered the infant and stepped into his father’s arms, pressing my lips against his, feeling safe.

‘Glad ter see ya missed me luv,’ he murmured, reaching down and taking a chubby hand of his son’s. We walked along the beach, the three of us, looking like any other family, laughing and swinging baby Jack high in the air much to his delight. ‘Definitely his father’s son,’ I mused, wondering how I could know Jack in the brief moments we’d shared together. i]But I did know him, as well as he knew me. We made our way to the arbour and I settled baby Jack down in his carriage, smiling with secret delight as sleep took him almost immediately.

I entered the arbour to find Jack already naked and more than ready for me and I fumbled about with my dress, cursing the hooks holding it together at the back.

‘Here luv, allow me…’ Jack turned me around and quickly undid the hooks, sliding the dress from my shoulders and biting into the soft flesh where neck and shoulder met. I moaned as I felt his hard manhood press against my backside and then I turned and wound a leg around Jack’s and rubbed my hair against him, trembling at the abandoned look on his face and kissing his half closed eyelids.

‘Got… to… have… ya.’ Jack pressed down on my shoulders and stood above me as I lay, his eyes roving over the bruises and he cocked his head, a puzzled frown playing on his brow. ‘He hits ya.’

It was a statement, not a question and I nodded tearfully, not wanting to think of my husband. ‘Y-yes, I whispered, avoiding Jack’s gaze until he knelt besides me and cupped my chin in his hand turning my head so I was facing him once more.

‘All the time?’ He stroked my face, a tender look in his eyes, which very nearly undid me and I bit my lip, trying desperately to keep control.

I didn’t trust myself to speak and just nodded, pressing my lips into his palm. I wanted to get away from the subject so I reached out and ran my fingernail along the length of Jack’s prick, smiling as he moaned and shuddered then I pulled him down, kissing him hungrily, my tongue exploring the cavern of his mouth, running across his gold teeth and winding around his tongue. I let out a guttural moan as Jack pushed inside me and immediately began pumping, his hands roving where he could reach, his lips and teeth pressing into my neck then sucking on my earlobe, then my cheek, my chin, everywhere. Wave upon wave of desire washed over me as I released all my pent up emotions and I screamed Jack’s name as loudly as I could, not caring if anyone heard me. My scream turned to a gurgle as he sucked on my throat, chuckling as he did, the tremor sending another jolt through me. I winced as my ribs started to hurt and Jack immediately pulled away, concerned for my welfare.

‘Let me be on top Jack, please?’ I could not believe I had asked that. I never even spoke to my husband about marital affairs and yet here I was calmly asking to take control.

‘Ya sure you’re up to it darlin?’

‘Oh yes Jack, I need you,’ I pleaded, running my fingers along his thigh, grinning lasciviously the nearer to his manhood I got.

‘Yer leadin’ me into bad ways, ya know that?’ he laughed, lying down besides me, his eyes never leaving mine.

‘[]I’m[/i] leading you into bad ways? You’ve got a nerve Jack Sparrow.’ I straddled him, letting out a long moan as I lowered myself down on his prick and started moving up and down, leaning against his bent knees for support. His rough hands caressed my breasts, tweaking my nipples into hard peaks then rolled them round with the palm of his hands. He trailed his fingers down to the crack between my legs and started rubbing a finger along it in time with my thrusts, bringing me to the edge of a climax, then stopping, clamping his hands on my thighs so I couldn’t move until the feeling passed and he’d do it all over again until I felt ready to burst. As I felt myself nearing again I took Jack’s hand and sucked on his fingers, playing around with them in my mouth then bit down gently, trapping them between my teeth only letting go to cry out as my passion was finally released and I flooded Jack’s prick, the contracting muscles tipping him over the edge and his fluid mingled with mine as we rode each other until we were fully spent.

I lay on top of Jack, trailing my hands along his scars, feeling sad that he’d had such an obviously hard life. ‘How did you get these?’ I looked at the two shot wounds on his chest, then at Jack who had a small smile on his lips.

‘I narrowly escaped capture in Nassau th’second time I sacked it. Guess they didn’t like me too much fer lootin’ it th’first time,’ he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders at my admonishing look.

‘What about this?’ I ran my hand so far down his arm, stopping short of the criss-cross scar along his forearm. This was the scar I hated most, it indicated something dark and evil.

‘I was captured by th’Spanish, an’ they held red hot brandin’ irons against me arm, then wait til it scabbed over an’ do it again.’

‘Jack! That’s horrible.’ I wished I hadn’t asked and decided that maybe ignorance truly was bliss.

‘Aye luv, must’ve done it three or four times before m’crew came ter th’rescue an’ got me out.’ Jack must have sensed my dismay for he squeezed me and kissed my head, making soothing noises. ‘S’all right luv, part an’ parcel of life.’

‘I know, but… when you leave I may never see you again. You could be captured or hurt, or… worse.’

Jack shifted from beneath me and propped himself up on his elbow, looking deep into my eyes. ‘So come with me luv. You an’ the babe, come with me an’ I’ll set ya up somewhere were we can be together whenever we want.’

‘Jack… I-I don’t know.’

‘What have yer got to lose? A husband that beats ya.’

‘I have more to lose than that! Jack, you’re a pirate. What happens if you get bored with me? Where would I go then, how would I support myself and Jack?’ I cursed myself as Jack’s face hardened and he stood up, glaring down at me in much the same way George had done the previous night.

‘Is that what ya think of me? D’ya really think I’d risk everythin’ ter come here an’ see you if ya meant nothin?’ He pulled on his clothes and stormed from the arbour, his shoulders hunched, his hands thrust into pockets of his battered coat.

‘Jack! Jack, please wait.’ I hurriedly pulled my dress on, groaning as I realised I had no way of fastening it back up again, so left it gaping open as I ran down the beach towards where Jack had gone. ‘Jack,’ I called, crying out in dismay as I saw him rowing towards his ship anchored in a sheltered cove. I half wondered whether to try and swim to the ship, but then my son wailed from his carriage and I was torn. I stared at the figure of Jack climbing up the side of the black ship then looked towards where the sound of my son crying was coming from, finally turning and running towards my child, tears streaming down my face.

…

‘Mi’lady, what’s wrong?’ My maid, Ruth stared at my tear streaked face with dismay and ushered me to my room, picking Jack off my back, where I had placed him to hide the gaping dress. ‘What on earth has happened to you? Have you been attacked?’ Her hands set to work reliving me of the dress and she fussed over me until I could stand no more and ordered her out in a tone I never used.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out at the ship, which was rapidly nearing the horizon and let out an unearthly wail of desolation, making my son shriek in terror. Betsy came rushing into the room and scooped him up in her arms, shooting a look at me then disappeared back out of the room with my son, crooning at him to calm him down.

I do not know how many hours I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, going over the scene with Jack in my mind, hating myself for what I’d said, for hurting Jack. I shot off the bed as I heard heavy footsteps pounding up the stairs and I hastily pulled on a robe as George burst through the doors.

‘What are you doing, you lazy little bitch. Get yourself dressed and downstairs now.’ He hit me hard but I refused to cry out and I stood there looking at him defiantly, which only served to enrage him more. He grabbed my hair and threw me on to the bed, ripping the robe off me then stopping dead in his tracks as he saw the bruises and teeth marks from mine and Jack’s lovemaking. ‘You whore,’ he spat, slapping me over and over until the world started to go black. George hauled me up and shook me until I came to again then pushed his face into mine, an ugly expression written on his features. ‘Who is he? Who, you little scrubber.’

‘No-one you know, I’m not that stupid.’ I cried out in pain as George flung me to the floor, kicking me and concentrating on the bruises he’d already put there.

‘The child isn’t mine, is he? Is he?’ George left me and ran to the nursery, snatching Jack from his cot and shaking him like a terrier with a rat.

‘No!’ I screamed, launching myself across the room and clawing at George, who held Jack just out of my reach. Jack’s shrieks rang all around the house and the servants gathered outside the shut door, horror on their faces.

‘George, no. He is your son, I swear.’ I’d have sworn the sun rose at night if it made George let go of my son, but he didn’t and Jack was starting to go limp. I frantically scoured the room before coming upon a silver candlestick, which I grabbed and swung with all of my might at George. There was a sickening crunch and George looked at me in astonishment then began to fall, releasing Jack from his grasp and I snatched my son from the air, holding him to me, my sobs joining with his.

‘Mi’lady? Is everything all right?’ The door creaked open and Burnett, the butler, peered around, his eyes widening in shock as he spotted his master on the floor, blood seeping from his head.

‘H-he tried to kill Jack,’ I sobbed, suddenly feeling my knees start to give way. Burnett dashed across the room and caught me and guided me to a chair. The room became crowded with people, some whispering to their near neighbour, some just staring at the scene before them in stunned silence.

‘We must call the authorities,’ came a voice from the back of the room, eliciting gasps from everyone else.

‘But… the mistress would be arrested and hanged,’ Ruth cried, looking at me with panicked eyes.

‘He did try to kill the bairn, we all heard it, and there’s all the other times…’

‘What are we going to do?’

The voices babbled away unintelligibly until I stood, handing a now calm Jack to Betsy. ‘We can pretend we were looted by pirates again. It happened to the Blythe-Henshaws last year, remember?’ I looked around the room, wondering whether I would be betrayed by any of these people but no-one seemed to be shocked by the suggestion. I’d had a feeling for some time that my husband ill-treated some of the staff, but had no proof and it wasn’t something one brought up in conversation.

‘We could do that, it would surely work,’ Burnett nodded, almost to himself.

‘But how?’

‘We would have to pretend, ransack the place, destroy things, throw stuff into the sea,’ I urged, almost pleading with them.

‘But… but… M’am? Destroy the things you and the master brought to replace what the real pirates stole?’

‘Yes, that’s right. But I need to know I can trust all of you. If anyone wants no part of this, I shall pay you off on the proviso I have your word that you will not speak of this to anyone.’ I waited with baited breath but no-one uttered a sound and I breathed out an audible sigh of relief. ‘Right, we have to do this now, tonight. Burnett, I want you to organise the men to carry off the heavy valuables and throw them from the cliff top. Ruth and Ann, I want you to tear the paintings, all of them. Betsy, organise a team to pull down the drapes and create a mess, make it look as though a team of marauding pirates have been through the house. Go! Go now, all of you.’

I sat cradling Jack in my arms until he was asleep then carried him to my bed, shutting the door on both the nursery and my marriage behind me. I made sure Jack was fast asleep then went to help ransack my own house, revelling in the sense of freedom the destruction brought. We all finally sat down, exhausted but surprisingly elated some hours later eating a cold supper and drinking wine and spirits then smashing the bottles against the wall, laughing hysterically as we did.

I dragged myself up the stairs and climbed into bed alongside Jack, the enormity of what I’d done finally hitting me, and I started shaking and trembling, burying my head in the pillows to stifle the sobs. My son had been through enough that night, without seeing his mother being hysterical. I tried to sleep but there had been too much happen that day, so I paced the bedchamber, staring out at the starlit ocean, willing Jack to return.

I looked suitably red-eyed and distressed the following day when the authorities arrived and to my amazement, my staff played their part beautifully. They had obviously rehearsed their stories so that they tallied and the authorities didn’t suspect anything was amiss. They accepted without question our tale of pirates looting the house once more and my gallant husband rushing to the nursery to protect our son. The lie nearly made me choke as I recalled the scene and I had held Jack closer to me for comfort, eliciting sympathetic looks from those present. The only thing I had asked of the staff before the authorities turned up was that they did not say it was the same pirates as before. One or two had given me a knowing glance but no-one said anything.

…

I forced a smile on my lips as yet another well-wisher came to offer their condolences at the graveside. ‘Hypocritical bastards,’ I thought darkly, recalling how the local gentry had largely shunned us. I never questioned why but now he was dead, I was starting to hear rumours of crooked dealings and fervently hoped he didn’t owe monies to anyone.

I made my way slowly to the carriage, climbing in gratefully and leaning back against the plush seat, my head pounding with tension and I ordered the driver to go. I wanted to be as far away from people as I could. I watched as the house drew closer and my heart started to sink. I had never considered it a home, the atmosphere had always been too cold and tense during my four year marriage to George, a marriage I had no say in for it had been arranged between my father and George when I was but a mere child and George had been a business associate of Papa’s.

I took the carriage drivers’ hand as he helped me down and with a deep sigh I made my way to the house, smiling at some of the servants who greeted me although I still felt uneasy, wondering if any of them would betray me to the authorities or accidentally let slip to someone else who would. I shrugged mentally, ‘There’s nothing I can do about it now,’ I thought, making my way to the nursery, desperate to hold my son. ‘If they find out, they find out.’

Jack squealed as I appeared in his sight and stood in his cot, reaching out for me. I scooped him up and swung him high in the air, making him giggle and laugh. His fair baby hair was starting to turn dark and I idly wondered if he’d be as dark as his father. He certainly had his eyes and lips and I hoped he’d have some of Jack’s personality as well. The child struggled in my arms to be let down, so I placed him on the floor and watched as he ran around then hid behind the nursing chair, his dark eyes peering at me from around the back. The incident with George didn’t seem to have affected him much to mine and Betsy’s relief and so we spent a happy hour playing hide and seek, filling the house with the sounds of our calling and laughter, a sound that had never been heard within the walls before.

… … … …

Six months later

I stopped wearily and eased my aching back. ‘Jack!’ I called out at the retreating figure of my son. ‘Jack, don’t get too far ahead of me.’ I bent stiffly and picked up the heavy sacks containing my groceries and started on the track once more, praying my son wouldn’t disappear like he had last time we went into town. I had spent a frantic few minutes rushing around until I found him hiding down some dirty, dark alleyway, laughing with glee at my anger. To my relief I spotted him ahead, bending down, looking at some creature in the long grass and I hurried as best I could to catch up with him.

‘I wish you wouldn’t run ahead of me, Jack. You know I can’t run any more.’

‘Orry, Mama.’ He looked at me beneath long dark lashes and my heart very nearly stopped as I saw his father in his face.

‘Never mind, just don’t do it again.’

‘Pick up Mama, ‘Ack tired.’

‘I can’t pick you up Jack, I have to carry these sacks back to the house.’

‘Ack tired,’ he pouted, his bottom lips starting to quiver.

I sighed, then put the sacks down and eased my frame down on the grass at the side of the track. ‘Mama tired as well, Jack. Let’s have a rest for a while, eh?’

‘West, yeah.’ Jack sat besides me and snuggled up, placing his small hand on my swollen belly.

I don’t know how long we lay there dozing, but I woke with a start and jumped as I became aware of a figure bending over us.

‘There are better places to have a nap…’ came a familiar laconic voice.

‘I-I…’ I tried to stand but my bulk made it hard.

‘Stay where y’are luv.’ Jack squatted down so he was level with me and smiled that crooked smile of his. His eyes went from my face to my stomach and back again. ‘Is it mine?’

‘Yes,’ I whispered, my heart hammering in my chest. I had dreamt of this for so many months and now he was finally here, I lost my tongue.

‘Ya sure?’

‘Yes.’

Jack’s smile broadened then faded and was replaced by a puzzled frown. ‘What are ya doin’ darlin? Luggin’ these sacks in your condition an’ wi’the nipper in tow as well.’

I swallowed hard, not able to look Jack in the eyes until he lifted my face to his and cocked his head to one side. ‘We needed some food.’

‘So why aren’t th’servants getting’ it for ya? What’s happened?’ Jack sat besides me and wound an arm around my waist pulling me to him and I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling a heavy weight lifting from me.

‘I-I killed George.’ My voice was barely audible and Jack had to strain to hear me.

‘What!? When?’

‘That day… the day you left. He was going to force himself on me and saw the bites and bruises.’ I shuddered as the memory came flooding back. ‘He realised that Jack wasn’t his son and was going to kill him… he was going to kill him, Jack.’ A sob wracked my body and I buried my face in his neck as he crooned softly, soothing me. I took a deep breath and continued with my story. ‘I hit him with a candlestick then the servants and I ransacked the house to make it look like pirates had attacked us again and killed George. I told the authorities it wasn’t you this time,’ I smiled weakly, managing a small chuckle.

‘Good fer you luv, ya did th’right thing.’ Jack pressed his lips against my head then looked down at his son who was staring at him intently. ‘Hello little one,’ he smiled, moving his hand to ruffle little Jack’s hair.

‘I’m not ‘iccle, me a big boy,’ Jack pouted, folding his arms crossly.

‘So you are, so you are,’ Jack soothed pacifyingly. ‘Ya look after yer Mama well, don’t you?’ His son beamed at these words and snuggled back into me, his hand joining his fathers on my belly. Jack turned his attention back to me.’ What happened next luv? Where’re the servants.’

‘It seems my husband was a crooked businessman and owed money to people. We threw a lot of the valuables into the sea the night I killed George, so the debtors came and took anything that was left that could be sold. I had to let the servants go as I could not afford to pay them.’

‘Do you have any money left?’

‘Barely enough to feed Jack and me. This food is to last us until next month.’

Jack sighed heavily, shaking his head. ‘I’m sorry luv, I should’ve come back sooner.’

‘Why didn’t you?’ I whispered, tears breaking up my voice.

‘I was angry with you, angry that ya turned me down. Oh God, I should have come sooner, I’m sorry my darlin.’

‘You weren’t to know,’ I smiled, reaching over and kissing his cheek.

‘Ack ‘ungwy,’ (Jack hungry) came the plaintive cry from our son, making both of us laugh and lightened the mood.

‘Come on then my little sailor, let’s get you home.’ I turned over on my knees and with Jack’s help, managed to get to my feet, panting with the effort. ‘Go on Jack, you can run ahead now that your father’s here to catch you,’ I laughed, shooing my son along and watching him run down the lane, arms and legs akimbo, full of the boundless energy only toddlers have.

‘His father…’ Jack mused, a sweet smile on his face. ‘I like th’sound of that.’ He picked up the sacks and fell into step alongside me. ‘Will ya be comin’ wi’me this time?’

I looked up, surprised at the tentative tone in his voice. ‘If you still want me to, yes,’ I replied, smiling almost shyly at him.

‘Of course I want ya to luv. I know the very place ter build a house for you an’ m’children that’s safe fer you ter live an’me ter visit.’

‘Visit?’ My heart sank slightly, although I knew that he would never give up the sea.

‘Aye luv, although a little more often than I’ve visited ya here.’

‘Good, I should hope so too,’ I laughed, which turned to a wince as a sharp pain went through my back.

‘Ya all right darlin?’

‘Fine, it’s just the joys of pregnancy that’s all,’ I reassured him, glad to see the house come into view. I struggled the last few yards to the house and all but collapsed in a chair once we reached the drawing room.

‘Ya comin’ with me tonight.’ Jack knelt before me and cupped my face in his rough seaman’s hands.

‘Not tonight Jack, I’d never make it.’

‘First light then, an’ I’ll carry ya if necessary.’ After I recovered enough strength, I led the way to the kitchen where Jack rustled up a meal from the food I’d brought, surprising me with how good it was and I wolfed the lot down then had some more. I dozed in the easy chair while Jack put his son to bed, smiling as I was woken by a rough moustache and soft lips kissing my face.

‘Now it’s your turn fer a bedtime story.’ Jack pulled me to my feet and led the way to my bedchamber, both of us smiling at the shared memory of the night we first met.

‘I won’t touch ya luv, not if ya don’t want me to.’ He stood before me the candle light casting shadows across his face and making his gold teeth glint and he leaned in, taking my lips with his and kissing me softly to start with then more passionately until we were both dizzy and moaning.

‘I do want you, Jack. I always want you,’ I whispered hoarsely, my fingers already busy untying the sash around his waist.

‘That’s good,’ he whispered back, his voice like rich chocolate. ‘I always want you, as well.’ He lifted the large shift dress above my head, doing the same with the under shift, his eyes widening in astonishment at my belly. Right on cue, the baby gave a kick and I took Jack’s hand and placed it where it had kicked and watched and waited for his reaction to the next one. He leapt back, his face full of wonder as he looked at me then at the bulge. ‘It… it kicked. I felt it luv.’

‘Not as much as I did,’ I smiled, stroking his face. ‘Either I’m a little underdressed or you’re a little overdressed…’ I hinted, a seductive smile playing on my lips.

‘It won’t hurt ya, will it?’

I smiled sadly at all the times I had been forced to consent or not to consent to George while I had been carrying my son and shook my head. ‘No,’ I whispered quietly, ‘It won’t hurt us.’

Jack shed his clothes with his customary swiftness and we lay on the bed just touching to start with, soft gentle strokes and licks and kisses until our passion grew too strong and neither of us could hold back any more. I turned over and knelt down, leaning on my arms and using the pillows for support, wiggling my backside at Jack who moaned wantonly. He ran his tongue along the crease between my buttocks, making me moan wantonly.

‘Jack,’ I grunted, pushing back into him and feeling his hardness press against me.

‘Ya want me now, M’lady?’ he teased rubbing his prick between my legs, closing his eyes as my hot fluid coated him.

‘Yes,’ I hissed, wiggling my backside once more and shivering with desire. I moaned long and hard as Jack eased into me then shifted so he angled his thrusts to hit the spot within me that sent me half mad with lust. His arms came round me and he grabbed my enlarged breasts, teasing and pinching my nipples and biting into my neck, sending me over the edge and I screamed his name into the pillow, pushing back against him, desperate to take the whole of him in me. I groaned with disappointment as he withdrew and looked at him in bewilderment.

‘That’s just th’beginnin’ luv,’ he laughed, winking me then disappearing from sight.

I cried out as I felt his tongue lapping against my womanhood and leaned forward so I was supported by the bed head and was virtually sitting on Jack’s face, mewling as his mouth worked its magic, licking and sucking and slurping at my juices as I came again and again.

‘Right, now ya rest a while.’ Jack helped me back on my side, his dark eyes huge with hunger.

‘What about you, you haven’t had your release.’ I felt a failure, felt that I was too unattractive for him and tears welled up in my eyes.

‘I can wait a while luv. You recover yer strength, savvy?’ Jack kissed me and I could taste myself in his mouth then he worked his way down to my belly, lavishing it with kisses and strokes, crooning at his child still inside. ‘What d’ya reckon it’ll be?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t care either. Just so long as it’s born safely.’ I wound my fingers through his wild, untamed hair and kneaded his scalp, murmuring as his attentions stoked my desire once more. ‘I think I’ve recovered enough,’ I croaked, writhing beneath Jack.

‘Over ya go then,’ he laughed, helping me back over against the pillows and driving into me once more, thrusting harder this time, letting his desire have a free reign. He leaned against my back and murmured in my ear, making me laugh, making me moan, making me cry out as his fingers ran along the slit between my legs. ‘C’mon luv, give yerself to me again, give yerself ter Jack,’ he urged, panting hard with effort and need.

I shuddered violently as my release came and the feel of my muscles contracting against his prick brought Jack to his climax and our cries rang out together as we rode each other’s passion, neither of us wanting it to ever end.

…

‘Mama, Mama!’ I opened a bleary eye and looked at the figure of my son jumping up and down by the bedside. I jumped at the sound of a gruff grunt from behind me, then remembered Jack.

‘Is he always this loud in th’mornin?’ he grumbled, nudging me gently in reproach for my laughing at him.

‘No, sometimes he’s louder,’ I teased, turning over with some effort and facing him.

‘Oh God,’ Jack smiled ruefully. ‘He has his own cabin then. C’mon luv, we have ter make a move, m’crew will be wonderin’ where I’ve got to.’

I shooed little Jack from the room and with his father’s help, climbed from the bed, batting away his roving hands. ‘I thought you said we have to go soon?’ I teased, bobbing my tongue out at him and squealing as he took it in his mouth.

Jack broke away, a grin splitting his face as he looked at me. ‘We do, so stop distractin’ me woman,’ he laughed dodging my arm as it came round to whack him one then he gathered up his clothes and started to pull them on. I followed suit, then went to dress my son who was busily building wooden blocks in his room, right on the spot where I killed George.

‘What d’ya want ter take with ya luv?’

I glanced around at Jack who was leaning against the door frame watching me dress his son. ‘There’s nothing I want to bring, nothing worth bringing.’

‘Let’s go then, we can get somethin’ ter eat on board.’ Jack led the way down the stairs and out of the front door, scooping little Jack up in his arms and carrying the child towards the beach.

I didn’t even look back as I left the house behind me, there was nothing to look back for. I smiled at Jack and took his outstretched hand leaning on his shoulder as we made our way to the cove where his ship was waiting for us.

The End.