Elizabeth leaned against the solid tree trunk behind her, her arms tight around his waist as a smile graced her lips. Drops of cold water dripped onto her head from the leafy canopy high above, the cold water running down her face and neck. The ground was muddy beneath her feet, the soft semi-liquid soil oozing between her toes. Curious, her brown eyes scanned the area around them. This was a totally different world, a new part of Jamaica she had never seen before. Everything was shades of green with towering grayish-black tree trunks reaching high up into the heavens. There were leaves of all shapes and sizes, most of them bigger than her hand. The leaves glittered as if covered in diamond dust as weak sunlight started to filter down from above, the light reflecting off thousands of water drops. Vines as thick as the ropes they used on the great navy ships hung everywhere, many with exotic flowers or pods attached. Even stranger, many of the tree trunks seemed to have odd roots that were above ground, dozens of roots twisted together to hold up the impossibly thick trunk.

 

Pulling away from her, James noticed the smile on her lips. “Elizabeth, are you enjoying this? Getting drenched in a sudden storm and running into the rain forest isn’t exactly what I had planned…”

 

“It’s like an adventure…” Elizabeth admitted as she brushed past him to stand in a little clearing between several huge moss-covered trunks. Tilting her head back, she gazed upward into the green canopy above. Wings flapped as dozens of bird species flew about, their loud raucous cries filling the warm tropical air about her. The hum of insects was loud, too.

 

James watched her for a long moment, a sigh escaping his lips. His green eyes shifted over her shapely form, noting the jagged edges of her once beautiful gown. Not only was the silk soaked through but what remained of the bottom hem was mud stained as well. A few long strands of silk even trailed behind her, dragging on the ground. Her feet were caked with mud and he just prayed she wouldn’t step on anything sharp or get stung by some nasty creature. Jamaica had a large and varied insect population, not all of them nice. Her hair was wet, plastered to her head and neck. The water had made the silk cling to her in a most alarming way and he forced his eyes back up to her face. Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat and the abrupt heat that surged through him, he called on his years of service to the crown to keep his voice even. “Elizabeth, I would hardly call this an adventure. Your gown is obviously ruined and it is my fault.”

 

Lowering her gaze from the canopy onto him, she raised her chin hauntingly. “Perhaps you’ve seen a rain forest before, but I haven’t. I, for one, would like to look around. Are you going to accompany me or not? And I’ve lost a gown before as you very well know.”

 

He stared at her, surprised as he tried very hard to not think of her running about in only a thin nightgown. “You want to look around the rain forest?”

 

“Why not? We’re here, aren’t we?” She asked innocently, that knowing she won smile spreading across her rosy lips. Stepping forward slightly, she moved closer to one of the tree trunks to study a red and green plant growing directly on the trunk. It was colorful and would look wonderful growing in her father’s yard or so she thought, but was it a separate plant or part of the tree?

 

Seeing she was distracted for the moment, James slowly turned around in a circle. The heat started to rapidly fade from his body to be replaced by a nervous lump in his stomach. The torrent of rain had swept away their footprints, the ground around them a solid rich brown sprinkled with green leaves knocked free during the storm. Insects started to scurry about again, their hard shells shining in the weak, filtered light from above. A particularly large beetle, its black shell almost as big as his palm, crawled up onto his boot and he shook it off. Tearing his eyes from their surroundings for a moment, he glanced at Elizabeth nervously. Would she panic if a giant bug dropped down on her from above? Pirates didn’t seem to faze her, but surely most women feared insects? As of yet she didn’t seem to notice them and he felt slightly relieved. Still, which way had they come? Perhaps running haphazardly into the jungle hadn’t been a very bright idea…

 

“Elizabeth,” James nervously wetted his lips, feeling fairly inferior at the moment. His white shirt was plastered to his body, almost becoming obscenely transparent; a fact he was very much aware of. His hose were faring better, although they were horribly mud-splattered. The stains would probably never fully come out and they’d have to be discarded. Add to that his missing jacket, hat and wig that had been left in the field when the downpour had started. Yes, his date with Miss Swann was becoming horribly expensive. No doubt it all would have to be replaced. Shoving a wet strand of dark hair out of his eyes, he worked up the courage to tell her the news. “As you know, I’m a man of the sea and well, I’m not experienced with exploring jungles…”

 

Tearing her eyes off the colorful bromeliad, she stared at him. “You’re saying we’re lost.”

 

“If I had known, I would have brought my compass…” James hung his head, heat creeping up into his cheeks. How could a simple picnic go so wrong? Perhaps they should have stayed out in the field. Lifting his gaze slightly, he peered at her to see how she was taking the bad news. But instead of wailing like most women would, she seemed to be thriving on it. A fire seemed to burn within her brown eyes as she studied the area around them with new interest. And that, of course, was why he loved her so much.

 

“Perhaps we could climb up one of these trees?” She suggested. “We couldn’t have traveled very far into the rain forest. The field must be close by, we just can’t see it due to all the thick vegetation…”

 

James eyed the nearest tree with distaste. “I doubt if either of us could climb that.”

 

“But sailors scurry up the mast to the crows nest all the time…”

 

“The sailors actually climb the ratlines, not the mast itself.” James corrected her. “I’m sure you’ve seen them countless times, those nets that lead up to the yard arms? Anyway, I’m afraid I never climbed a tree in my life and I’m certainly not going to allow you to do so. It’s far too dangerous.”

 

Elizabeth shrugged, dismissing the idea without worry. Smiling at him, she moved to stand alongside him, gripping his forearm with her hand. “Then we’ll just have to go for a little walk then, won’t we? And later the sun will tell us which direction to go. Its must be directly overhead now…”

 

Of course, the sun, how could he have forgotten something as basic as that? Seafarers have been using the sun to plot their position on the sea for countless time. It’s why all ships carried a sextant. Without it, they would be lost. James tightened his lips, frowning slightly. Where had his brain gone these past few minutes? He had risen through the ranks due to his intelligence, ability to command and make snap decisions. Had that ability vanished into thin air just because moss-covered trees instead of a fallowing sea surrounded him? The heat from Elizabeth’s hand warmed his arm directly through his still wet shirtsleeve and he knew the answer. Her presence was distracting him in the most pleasant of ways. Turning his head slightly, he smiled at her. “You are, of course, correct. The sun will travel to the west and Port Royal lies to the south. I … I suppose I must have been distracted to not think of that sooner…”

 

“Really?” Elizabeth leaned slightly closer and fluttered her eyelashes the way she’d seen other girls in town did at their beaus. “Now what possibly could have distracted you?”

 

The urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss her senseless was overpowering, delicious heat flooding his body. But now was not the time nor place. They were alone together, their chaperones most likely lost during the mad rush to escape the storm. It wasn’t proper and these feelings coursing through him wasn’t all that proper, either. Yet it wouldn’t do to be anything but a gentleman. It was a miracle the pirates hadn’t spoiled her and he certainly wasn’t going to. No, he would wait until they were properly wed as the law dictated. “I think you know very well what has distracted me. You should be thankful that am I gentleman. Other men in this situation would not be so kind.”

 

Elizabeth’s brown eyes widened slightly, one finely curved brow rising. “Why, James, are you saying you can be passionate?”

 

“I am a man, Elizabeth.” He huffed. “And yes, I feel passion towards you. Why else do I desire you to be my lawful bride?”

 

“I thought perhaps you wanted something pretty on your arm…” She remarked, gazing at him with new interest in her eyes. “And no, I haven’t forgotten the love letter you sent me. It’s just that you often seem distant to me, even though you’re here.”

 

“It’s just that I find it difficult to express my feelings for you. I worry that I may offend you…” James admitted, heart pounding within his chest. He couldn’t believe he was actually admitting some of his fears to her. What would she think? A man wasn’t supposed to appear weak, especially not in front of the woman he loved. And he had dully noted long ago that Elizabeth seemed to favor the hero type, the kind that was willing to risk his own neck to save hers. “It is, I’m afraid, all my years in the service. I cannot show emotions in front of my crew or officers. It is a habit I cannot easily break.”

 

He felt her eyes scan him up and down as heat flooded into his face. He looked the mess, of course. Wet shirt with the wide leather sword belt hung over one shoulder, mud-stained hose and he was positively naked without the powder wig. Worst, his shirt wasn’t even properly buttoned but hanging partly open to reveal a few chest hairs. The Governor would be horrified no doubt. At least his hair was still tied neatly with a black ribbon. “Do not look at me. I am a mess…”

 

“No, you look like a pirate.”

 

“Why are you so fascinated with pirates?” He asked, truly wanting to know. He couldn’t understand why a lady such as she would find sweaty, dirty scoundrels so interesting. There was nothing good about the lot of them, not really. Yes, Sparrow had saved her from drowning and he supposed he had saved her a few other times, but that was the rare exception. “Surely your little adventure has made you realize they aren’t really what you think they are.”

 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “As if you’re not fascinated by them as well! You spend all your time chasing after pirates. And as for why I find them interesting, it’s very simple. Life in Port Royal is very boring, don’t you agree? The stuffy social functions where one must be totally proper with every hair in place and says just the right words. The people act so proper yet they’re too glad to gossip about you behind your back if given the chance. At least pirates don’t pretend to be other than what they are.”

 

“Elizabeth, I assure you that you would not find life as a pirate enjoyable.” James informed her, knowing Elizabeth had never known anything but a wealthy lifestyle with servants, fine food and an expensive home. “They are dirty, moral-less creatures who commit murder just for coins or other trinkets. Not only do they kill men but woman and children as well. A person more wicked and full of sin does not exist. They deserve to be hung for the countless crimes they committed. They rarely bathe or have proper meals, their teeth are rotten and their hair greasy. Honestly, Elizabeth, would you wish to live like that? It would be worst than being a commoner, like your friend Mr. Turner.”

 

“I’m not saying I wish to be a pirate, I just like to read about them.” Elizabeth replied, her hand still on his arm as they slowly moved through the rain forest; wet leaves brushing against her gown. A myriad of insects scurried about the towering trunks around them, their shells glittering like jewels. They passed through a hovering cloud of gnats and she swung at the tiny but harmless pests, annoyed. “Reading about pirates was the only excitement I had as a child. Surely you can understand that? It’s entertaining to imagine digging up gleaming treasure, battles at sea and exploring deserted islands no one’s ever been to. It was either that or slowly gone mad while witling away countless hours at embroidery. I never expected to meet a real pirate. And I do admit the reality of piracy is different than I had imagined. And all you have said of them is true, especially the bad hygiene.”

 

James considered her words, realizing that his betrothed’s pirate fascination was more based on her idea of pirates than the actual reality. Her ideas were very similar to the excitement young boys dreamed of during childhood before they actually stepped onto the deck of a ship and met reality. Their dreams included swinging on ropes, the loud clash of steel blades, the heroic actions and the rewards that were to follow. The truth included back-breaking labor, riding out terrifying storms, foul air below decks, scurvy, shark-infested waters, bad food, boredom and yes, pirate attacks. Nor would he enjoy sitting and stabbing at a piece of cloth with a needle for hours, as she was forced to do. But then, he had mended torn sails before, hadn’t he? Yet it was what society expected for a lady of the upper classes. 

 

“Is it so bad to want a little excitement once in a while?” She asked, her brown eyes staring into his.

 

“I think part of the problem is that this is a colony.” He explained, his voice clear. “If you were living in London amongst the ton you would not be bored. You would know how to ride a horse, as your father pointed out. There would be daily rides in the park and several parties a week during the season. You would visit the shops to buy dresses and study the fashion books with girlfriends instead of your father buying them for you. There would be Lords, Dukes, Earls and all sorts of exciting news going about; not just the handful of wealthy folk you have here. You would attend the theatre, the opera, and music recitals. We don’t even have a theatre yet. There would be trips to the countryside with foxhunts and the young lords competing in horse races to impress the ladies. And I’m sure you’d put that brilliant mind of yours to work playing matchmaker if nothing else. My point is, Elizabeth, you would be very busy with the ton and not dreaming of pirates at all.”

 

Elizabeth frowned, biting her bottom lip slightly. “I don’t remember anything like that back in London…”

 

“You were just a child when you left England and children are not introduced to the ton.” He pointed out, smiling at her. “But I for one am glad you are here or we would never have met.”

 

As if to prove his point, James leaned forward and kissed her, his lips pressing tenderly against hers. He felt her hands snake up his chest to slowly wrap around his neck, as she pressed closer. It was becoming increasingly clear she had no qualms about kissing at all and it would be all too easy to get carried away. Her mouth was soft and inviting under his, her skin scented with rose water, her body warm with tempting curves. His heart rate increased as the kiss became more exciting. Firmly placing both hands on her shoulders, he stepped backward to put distance between them. Turning to face the other way, he studied a tree with his hands folded behind his back. “Do not tempt me, Elizabeth, not here. We do not have a proper chaperone and things could very easily turn into something you are unready for.”

 

Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled unseen behind his back. “You are a good man, James. I admire you for that.”

 

Once he was calm, he turned to face her again. Offering his arm, he smiled at her. “Come. Let’s see if we can find our way out of this maze of trees.”

 

Pushing their way through the sometimes-thick vegetation, he delighted in pointing out interesting things to her. Colorful orchids bloomed among the riot of plants, their sweet scent perfuming the air. Once he even spotted a giant black and yellow butterfly, its wingspan larger than his entire hand. Amazed at its size, they both stood silently and as still as statues as it sipped nectar from a flower with its curved proboscis. Spreading its brightly colored wings, the swallowtail took flight and rose on the air currents that carried it higher and higher into the canopy until it disappeared from sight.

 

James tilted his head slightly, listening. “Do you hear that?”

 

“Hear what?” She asked, puzzled. Mosquitoes buzzed in her ears and she slapped at one that had landed on her arm. “With all the noisy birds and bugs, how can I possibly hear anything?”

 

The Commodore chuckled. “Didn’t your adventure stories mention the biting mosquitoes?”

 

“They most certainly did not!” She replied hotly, brushing the squashed remains of the dead insect off her hand, a tiny red smear left on her perfect skin. Glancing at it with disdain, she quickly wiped it on her dress. A few bloodstains on the gown wouldn’t matter now; it was already ruined beyond repair. Stepping forward, she was alarmed to hear something make a loud crunching sound under foot. Gripping his arm firmly, she slowly lifted her foot to peer underneath and quickly wished she hadn’t. Some horrible white slime clung stubbornly to heel and it looked very disgusting. “Ewwwww!”

 

“They didn’t mention stepping on giant beetles, either, I take it?”

 

“No!” she exclaimed, her eyes darting about for something to wipe her foot on. Her gaze turning to him, she pleaded with her eyes. “Are you going to actually do something or must I stand here on one foot like a flamingo?”

 

Hiding a smile, James tore a giant leaf from a nearby bush and carefully wiped the bottom of her foot. “I did tell you to keep your shoes on…”

 

“Yes, I know you did.” She replied as she carefully put her foot back onto the soft earth. “Now what were you going to say before we were interrupted?”

 

“That I hear running water?”

 

Elizabeth licked her lips. “I’m parched. It’s this humidity. It’s much hotter in here than in Port Royal. Do you think you can find the water?”

 

“I think so.” James led her in the direction of the sound he had heard; often shoving vines out of the way. Once he gripped her arm tightly, preventing her from walking through a tempting clearing between two enormous mahogany trees, pointing out a thick yellow python she had mistaken for yet another hanging papaya. The snake’s body was thicker than his thigh and it studied them with silent black eyes like hard bits of obsidian. Leading her away from the dangerous reptile, he sighed. “The rain forest isn’t just an exciting place for a stroll, Elizabeth. It has its dangers as well. So far we have been very fortunate. Be thankful we haven’t met any of this country’s nasty spiders.”

 

“Spiders?” She asked, curious. “Are they poisonous?”

 

“I once had a crewmember that was bitten by something and it grew bad very quickly.” James explained, his voice becoming serious. “No one actually saw the spider, but the doctor confirmed it was a spider bite after the injured area had swollen up larger than a mango, red and angry with a black dot in the center. The black area began to spread, the skin and tissue…”

 

James paused, remembering to whom he was speaking. His lips firmed into a straight line. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I should not be discussing such matters with you. It is unsuitable to say the least.”

 

“No, I want to hear. Tell me, if only for my own protection.” She insisted, hands on her curved hips. “I am not some maiden who swoons at the mere mention of blood or have you forgotten? I’ve seen people die, including my own butler. I was kidnapped by pirates and watched the Interceptor blow up. I decked it out with cursed pirates and blown them down.”

 

“If you insist.” He replied sadly. “But I would have rather protected you from those things. It was my duty, both as Commodore and as your fiancé. You should not have witnessed such horrible things. They are not meant for a lady’s eyes. And as for the spider, it’s venom dissolves flesh somehow. It turns black and decays while you are still alive. Pray you are not bitten. The poor lad lost his leg in the end, the doctor being forced to amputate to stop the venom from spreading…”

 

James hung his head, saddened by the memory.

 

Her eyes widened, shock appearing on her pretty face. “All that from a spider bite?”

 

“After a few months, you’d have sworn it was a shark that had bit the man and not a spider…” James sighed, but pushed another leafy frond out of their way. The sound of running water had become noticeably larger, the roaring sound making him realize how thirsty he had become. His white shirt was damp still, but it was more sweat than rain that soaked it now. The humidity here was staggering, the air thick with moisture almost to the point of it being difficult to breath. Port Royal received cool breezes off the water, but here they had no such luxury. Beads of sweat dripped from his brow and for once he was truly grateful to be free of the heavy jacket and powdered wig. Sweat was running down his back, clouds of mosquitoes hovering around him with an annoying whine. Swatting at them did little good and he pondered how the tainos dealt with them. Probably some native plant, one that he had never bothered learning about. He certainly regretted that now. They could use a good repellent.

 

His mouth growing dryer by the moment, he forced his way through the thick underbrush, often yanking Elizabeth’s gown free. Her silk skirt was growing worse and worse, the damaged material shredding as it kept catching on brush and assorted plants. She looked the part of a ragged street urchin instead of a respectable lady. Nor was there any way he could disguise the damage. How would he explain it to her father? The Governor had every right to be furious with him, as he had no right to go trekking through an unexplored rain forest with his only daughter in tow. This little excursion could be very well considered life threatening. And if anyone saw them entering town, there would be more rumors, this time many of them focusing on him. Still, his original intentions had been good: run into the forest to protect her from lightning strikes. Would her father believe the truth? Governor Swann was a good man and simple in many ways, untainted by the crooked desires of most politicians. Still, he cared for his daughter deeply and would be very unhappy at her current condition.

 

Frowning at his thoughts, James shoved a final bush out of their path as his green eyes widened at the incredible sight before them. An impossibly tall waterfall reached up to the very heavens, a wall of icy white amid the tropical green foliage. The white water fell one hundred and twenty feet off three separate layers of rock, the ear-splitting roar louder than even cannon fire. Rainbows danced in the mist-shrouded air around the falls, the cold spray soaking the nearby land with icy water drops. It was without doubt one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen and his concerns about her father’s reactions evaporated into the cool mist.

 

Stepping forward, he pulled Elizabeth through the gap he had formed in the shrubs. Seeing her face light up with delight at the sight before them was worth all the bug bites and suffering the humidity. Moving to stand behind her, he held her in his arms as they both admired the awe-inspiring sight.

 

To be continued…

 

 000

Author's Notes:

1. The ton refers to the upper class or high society of Regency England. This mainly consisted of the nobles with titles (Dukes, Earls, Lords, etc) and others of similar high birth.

2. The spider James was talking about is the brown recluse (also called the Fiddleback Spider). It's found throughout most of the southern US, including Texas, Florida and California as well as Mexico and other tropical areas. There are two subspecies living in Jamaica. Information and photos can be found on the SpiderBite website (VERY GRAPHIC photos - not for those with weak stomachs). The website mainly deals with the US variety. The spider is brown with a fiddle shape on its back. It does not build webs but is a hunter, crawling about. Spiders mainly bite in self-defense (i.e., you're going to put your hand on it without realizing it) and most never feel the actual bite.