Hello yet again fellow Fanfictioners, and welcome to "A Woman Scorned". Yes, back by popular demand, (well, there's a couple of interested folk, and a particularly gifted labrador who logs in now and again), it's time to meet up with Mowett and Pullings once again as they set out on another adventure! This one is a little different to the last two, as it will take us to a new and exotic destination. That's right, we're heading off to the Caribbean! Not only that, but this time, Aubrey and Maturin and the gang from the Surprise will be along to join in the fun, as will Charlotte Pullings and Madeleine Mowett, and a few new and interesting faces! Huzzah!

OK, having said that, please note that this story is going to be pretty full on. I am always looking for ways to get people talking, and this story will certainly do that. I have currently rated this as PG13, but I can tell you with some certainty that the rating will probably go up to R before the story ends. This is an adult story, and not meant for the little uns. There will be some scenes that are sexually graphic, and some that are violent, and some that are both. Please note that some, particularly the latter, may offend more sensitive readers. I have written what I think is a story that will get you thinking, and hopefully illustrate that not everything in this world is what it seems. Please please review when you read it, and tell me what your thoughts are. I live for my reviews – I love them!

Oh, and one other thing. This story is the movie universe. The characters are not like the book, and I don't want them to be. If you have read 'Ocean of Secrets', or particularly 'Abbotsleigh Park', you will understand the characterizations of these guys and their ladies better, but if not, just read this with an open mind, and all will become clear as you progress.

So here we go. Once again please review, and tell me what you think. I will try and update when I can, but it's a bit hectic for me at the moment, so the updates may be a little further apart than in the past. Oh, and Bean02, you'd better wake up Olivia, she may want to read this one, too!

Luv Miss Flossy. xxx

"He's not coming."

Mrs Charlotte Pullings was perched on a small seat on the Portsmouth dock, pouting. She was not impressed. Not one little bit.

"He should be here by now," she added, tossing her head irritably.

Her brother, one Captain William Mowett of the HMS Voyager, stood beside her in the late morning sun, smiling broadly, with his wife Madeleine by his side.

"Patience, Charlotte," Mowett said, his amusement at his little sister's bad mood obvious. "He'll be here. They weren't that far behind us, remember, and we only arrived back yesterday morning."

"Will's right, Charlie," Maddie added, pulling her soft blue shawl tighter around her shoulders. "There may have been some problems, give him some time."

Charlie looked up at her sister-in-law sharply. "Problems? What do you mean prob…"

She cut short her comment when the sight of a frigate in the distance, its full sails set to the breeze, caught her attention. She suddenly stood, straining to see the approaching ship, standing on tippy-toes in the hope of obtaining a better view.

"Relax, Charlie," Will laughed, resting his hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "It's the Enterprise alright. I'd know that ship anywhere."

Sure enough, as the minutes slowly ticked over, the HMS Enterprise sailed closer into view, her decks gleaming in the sun, her crew standing to attention as they watched their home port approach with hungry eyes. The ship had been away for quite some time, and her crew was eager for the fun and games that awaited them in the taverns and brothels upon their landing in Portsmouth.

The Enterprise was the last of the fleet to return from the successful action in Copenhagen. The Danish Navy had been captured by the British, and now the various Royal Navy vessels were returning, one by one, to their home port, and to celebrations of victory. The HMS Voyager, one of those successful in the campaign, had arrived the day before, Captain William Mowett having led his crew successfully, with true valour and dedication to the cause. Mowett's wife Madeleine, and his little sister Charlotte Pullings, had been waiting patiently for the arrival of their husband's ships, having traveled from their homes in Essex to meet them upon their arrival. When Will had brought Voyager into port, Charlie had almost thrown herself into his arms the minute he stepped out of the rowboat and onto the dock. Madeleine, however, was a little more restrained, simply taking her husband's arm, and telling him in rather direct (and very hushed) terms how much she had missed him, and exactly what she intended to do to him over the next twelve hours to prove it.

Now, the following day, Charlotte had waited patiently on the same Portsmouth dock for her husband, Captain Thomas Pullings of the HMS Enterprise, to return to her arms. She had waited and waited, and now, seeing his ship approaching, painfully slowly from the far horizon, was almost enough to drive her insane. She did well to contain her annoyance, mainly due to the continued amusement of her brother and his wife, who simply laughed when she suggested that the wind was just not fast enough, and that perhaps the ship needed some men with oars to push it on a little quicker.

Soon, inch by painful inch, the Enterprise made its way to its designated berth, beside the towering 88 gun Orion, with Captain Pullings ordering the disembarkment of the crew in an orderly fashion. He had then made his way to a smaller rowboat which awaited himself and the ship's doctor, Rodrigo Mendoza, ready to take them to land in advance of the crew, anticipating a happy reunion with his beautiful wife and her brother, his best friend Will Mowett.

The small boat rowed steadily towards the dock, Tom faintly able to make out two ladies and a Navy Officer standing on the shore, patiently watching his boat make its gentle way towards them. He knew immediately that one of those ladies must have been his wife Charlotte, his heart beginning to pound as the rowboat slowly steered closer and closer to where Charlie was waiting, now standing excitedly as she awaited her husband's imminent landing.

When the small boat eventually berthed a little way up the dock, Charlotte literally ran to meet it, Tom jumping out onto the decking and sweeping his giggling blonde wife into a huge, spinning hug.

"My darling," he said happily, gently setting her down before him. "How I have missed you." He kissed her tenderly, Charlotte throwing her arms around his neck and reciprocating as the crew in the rowboat laughed in amusement.

"I think we may have something better to do than gawk at the Captain and his wife, gentlemen."

Will and Maddie, arm in arm, had followed Charlotte along the dock, with Will's stern words bringing the chuckling crew back to order. The men went back to their own concerns as Dr Mendoza stepped out of the boat wearily, immediately meeting with Will and Madeleine and offering them a rather serious smile.

"Captain Mowett," he said respectfully in his rounded Spanish accent. "It has been a little while, sir."

Will reached out and shook Mendoza's hand happily. "It has indeed, sir," he replied. "Welcome back."

Mendoza turned to Madeleine, and took her hand gracefully. "Mrs Mowett, I presume," he said softly, his eyes smoldering as he brought her hand to his lips for an exceptionally tender kiss.

Maddie glanced at Will, a slightly amused expression on her porcelain face. Mendoza had obviously been blessed with the gift of seduction, and was not backward in the presence of ladies, she thought silently. She immediately recognized his accent as Spanish, and decided to play a little game of her own, answering him in his native tongue.

"Why, yes indeed, Dr Mendoza. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir," Maddie said in perfect Spanish, causing Mendoza to almost fall backwards in shock.

"My dear lady," he answered back in Spanish. "Where on Earth did you learn to speak Spanish so well?"

Madeleine smiled. "My parents traveled a great deal during my youth, Doctor. I know many languages, including Cantonese, believe it or not."

Mendoza laughed, a rather odd expression for his heavy set features, and turned back to Will. "You truly have a remarkable wife, sir," he said in English, with genuine admiration for the lady on the Captain's arm.

Will looked at Mendoza curiously, not knowing what the doctor and his wife had just discussed, and simply smiled, although a little uncomfortably.

"Thank you, doctor. She is remarkable indeed," he said, throwing a rather nervous sidelong glance at Maddie. She sensed his disquiet, and gripped his arm reassuringly.

"It's alright, my love," she whispered in his ear. "He didn't try to seduce me, if that's what you're thinking."

Mendosa bowed to the Mowetts with a warm smile, before saluting to his Captain, who was still wrapped in the arms of his rather excitable wife, and making his way along the dock alone, headed to his lodgings in the town. Madeleine watched him walk away, and found herself more than a little intrigued by this rather interesting gentleman and his place aboard the Enterprise.

"He is Spanish, and on board a Royal Navy frigate? That's rather odd, isn't it?" she asked her husband quietly.

"Yes," Will replied, his voice hushed, "but he is one of the best doctors in the Navy, next to Doctor Maturin, so we will forgive him for his heritage."

At that moment, Tom and Charlotte turned to their companions, literally glowing with joy. Tom held out his hand and shook Will's happily, while Charlotte held Pullings' other arm so tight she was almost cutting off the circulation. She wasn't about to let go. Not for love or money.

"It's good to be back, mate," Tom grinned at Will, trying to ignore the pins and needles in his other hand.

"It is indeed," Will replied with a smile, "although there's no rest for the wicked. We've been called to a Ball at the Governor's this evening, Tom. A celebration of sorts, I believe, over the success of the Copenhagen campaign."

Charlotte almost squealed with delight. "A Ball? You never told me about a Ball, Will! Oh, how exciting!" she exclaimed, smiling up at her husband happily, slightly loosening her grip on his arm much to his relief. "I shall have to wear my very best gown, don't you think, Maddie?" she added to her sister-in-law, who stood quietly by her husband's side sporting a rather amused expression.

"Oh, yes, Charlie," Maddie said quietly. Mrs Mowett was never one to care all that much about Balls and parties, and simply smiled at Charlotte with affection. "You will no doubt be the Belle of the Ball, my dear."

With that the two couples made their way leisurely along the dock, to their waiting residence in the north of the city, where the ladies could prepare for the party of the year, and the gentlemen could share a quiet bottle of port as they waited for Mrs Pullings to find just the right gown for such an important occasion.

OK, so, please review and tell me what you thought. This is only a short chapter (yes, it's short for me – some of those to come are very long!), and there will be some important stuff coming up real soon, so stay tuned! Hope you enjoyed it! Ciao for now!