He was just about to seal the final letter, when there was a knock on the door and a young sailor stepped into the room looking rather uneasy.
"My apologies for interrupting, sir," he said nervously. "Some urgent matter has come up and your assistance is required to elucidate the situation."
Commodore Norrington sighed softly and slowly gathered his documents in a neat pile in the middle of the desk, before he stood up and addressed the younger man.
"Very well," he said as he dragged a tired hand over his face. "Tell them I shall join them in a moment".
"Yes, sir,"
The sailor quickly scurried out of the office, as if afraid that by remaining there another minute he would suffer the consequences of disrupting his superior at such an improper hour.
The Commodore took a small moment to adjust his coat and cravat, and properly set his face into its usual stern features, before he strode out of the room, anxious to sort out whatever situation at hand, in order to return home and retire after a long and stressful day.
Unfortunately, little did he know, that the already taxing day was not to be concluded just yet.
As he set out of the office, it soon dawned upon him that the lieutenant had failed to notify him exactly where his presence was required. However, as soon as he stepped foot outside, he was quickly approached by his good friend, Lieutenant Groves, followed by two younger sailors supporting a woman who looked dead on her feet.
"Lieutenant Groves, what seems to be the trouble here?" he asked in his typical no-nonsense attitude.
"This woman was found unconscious on the beach, sir," he said as he hesitantly regarded the woman, who was dressed in a rather peculiar fashion. "She seems to have lost her memory."
Norrington studied the woman in question. She was dressed in what appeared to be men's clothing; cream-colored trousers with a white shirt tucked in to it, topped off with a forest green jacket. Her clothes were soaked through and her skin was pale as a ghost, leaving her looking rather ill.
"How can you be certain she has lost her memory when she is unconscious?" he inquired.
"She gained consciousness for a moment, sir," one of the sailors said. "We asked her what her name was and how she ended up lying on the beach." He paused and looked uncertainly at the woman in his hands.
"Well?" demanded Norrington.
"She looked thoughtful for a moment, sir, but then she started getting terribly distressed. She said she could not remember, sir."
"It looks like she might have taken a blow to the head, sir," added the other sailor.
"Very well, you may take her to my house, gentlemen. Have the servants set up a room for her and call for the doctor immediately," the commodore instructed the two of them, before he turned his attention to Lieutenant Groves, who remained standing.
"Will you make inquiries about her in town, Lieutenant? See if you might learn her identity and who she belongs to," he requested somberly. "I should hate for her family to worry about her."
"Yes, sir," said Gillette. "I will see what I can do".
The commodore lingered for a moment, deep in thought. He then quickly returned to his office to retrieve his belongings and close up the room, before he hurried home in the hopes that the doctor had arrived and had found the time to evaluate the state of health of the mystery woman. Perhaps he might even have information about her identity.
He had a most curious feeling about the whole situation that he just could not shake, and Commodore James Norrington was certainly not a man who was typically fazed with such irrational considerations as curious feelings.
Hurrying through the front doors, absentmindedly allowing a servant to take charge of his belongings, James Norrington hastened through the hall and up the stairs, making his way to the guest room. He was almost at the top when he was jerked out from his racing thoughts as he collided with something solid.
"My apologies, Commodore Norrington".
He looked up into the anxious eyes of an older man, slightly plumb, carrying a medical bag. Apparently, the doctor had finished his assessment and was headed out.
Norrington waved his hand in dismissal. "The fault is all mine, Doctor, I was thoroughly distracted."
He took a moment to mentally shake his head and clear his thoughts.
"How is the patient?" he inquired politely.
The doctor sighed and turned his gaze towards the closed door to the left, before gesturing for the commodore to enter.
"She is still unconscious, I am afraid", he offered as they made their way over to the bed where the unidentified woman lay. A servant was busy keeping a fire going in the room, but quickly bowed and left when the two gentlemen entered. "The blow to her head is not quite as severe as it may have appeared at first glance, though she may have acquired a mild concussion. Her unconsciousness however, is more disconcerting. She is running with an alarmingly high fever."
Norrington frowned as he took in the disturbingly pale woman in front of him.
"What can be done?"
"There is not much out of the ordinary I can do, I am afraid. One can only pray that the lady is strong willed and will put up a fight of her own."
The two gentlemen settled into silence for a moment as they gazed upon the patient, both deep in thought.
While the doctor was distraught that he could not do more to aid his young patient, Norrington was pondering the concern and curiosity he felt for the lady he was not acquainted with. As far as he could tell, there was nothing remarkably unique about her that might help discover her identify, and according to the soldiers who found her, there was nothing in her pockets that might aid them in such a feat. The young woman was indeed a mystery and for once in his life, James Norrington felt rather at a loss as to what to do.
He decided however, that until her family was located and she had recovered enough to journey home, she would be his responsibility, and he would be damned if he did not have her properly taken care of. He was, after all, a gentleman.
Three days later Norrington came home only to find his housekeeper, Mrs. Ridge, waiting anxiously for him in the hall, which was rather unusual. While the butler took hold of his coat and hat, he curiously inquired after the matter at hand.
"The lady upstairs is conscious at last, sir," she offered. "I thought you might want to know at once."
"Yes, you are quite right, Mrs. Ridge" He offered her a small smile of gratitude. Despite being known as a stoic man, Captain Norrington was quite fond of his staff, and always treated them with the utmost respect.
He frowned at the thought of the mystery woman upstairs. "How is she fairing?" he asked, worry lazing his voice.
Mrs. Ridge smiled reassuringly. "I am no doctor, as you well know, sir, but she seems to me to be quite recovered."
"Good," Norrington replied relieved. "I shall see her at once, if you will let her know, Mrs. Ridge. Thank you."
She curtsied in response and quickly left the room.
To say that he was excited would be a gross exaggeration, but Captain Norrington was quite curious to finally meet the enigmatic woman who had been under his care for three days straight. There were still no news of her identity. No one could tell him who she was or where she might have come from. It was very puzzling indeed, though there was a great possibility that she had washed onto land from some ship wreck in the Caribbean Sea. Though it was truly a wonder that she had survived.
He promptly made his way upstairs, knocking on the door to communicate his arrival. The door was opened by Mrs. Ridge herself, who politely stepped back to let him enter, then stepped forward to formally announce him.
"Captain Norrington for you, miss."
She then quickly curtsied and left the room.
Captain Norrington let his eyes study the woman sitting upright in bed, supported by a good amount of pillows. Being able to finally have a proper look at her, he noticed that she was quite an attractive woman. Her skin was slightly tanned, no doubt by the caribbean sun, and held a healthy flush in her cheeks. She had been properly taken care of by the servants, who had dressed her in a simple dress they had acquired in town, and her blonde hair had been carefully styled in the usual fashion. Piercing blue eyes stared evenly at him, she did not seem shy, though she did radiate a sort of uneasiness. To his great surprise, the woman was the first to break the silence.
"I know I am greatly indebted to you, Captain Norrington." her voice was soft and quiet. "Thank you for looking after me, I don't know how I shall ever repay you."
She seemed a little distressed by the last notion, nervously busying her hands with her blanket as she looked down in clear agitation. He took it as a sign of her not wanting to be a burden to him, and he wanted to dissuade her from such thoughts immediately.
"Think nothing of it, miss," he replied and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "It was my pleasure, I assure you. No debt is owed."
She offered a grateful smile in return, but he could still tell she was quite uncomfortable with the idea. "Thank you, you are very kind, sir."
"How are you feeling?" he inquired, concerned for her state of health. "You look much improved, if I may say so."
"Thank you, sir. I do feel much better." She smiled warmly at him. "Your kind Mrs. Ridge has informed me that the doctor has been called for to ensure my recovery, but I'm sure that won't be necessary. I feel quite rehabilitated."
"Nevertheless, he will be called. If for nothing else, then simply to properly put the matter to rest," Norrington declared. "It would greatly ease my mind."
She looked as if she wanted to protest for a moment, but then changed her mind with a soft look of understanding. "Well, if you insist, Captain."
His face took on a more somber expression as he hesitated in broaching upon the next subject, fearing he might upset her in her somewhat fragile state. Nevertheless, it had to be asked.
"Have you recovered any memories? Your name or your family perhaps?"
The girl sighed with a small grimace. "I'm afraid not."
"My mind is completely blank. I know how to read and how to talk. I remember every fact and any knowledge I ever acquired. But I could not tell you anything about myself," she finished in exasperation. "I don't even know my name."
She looked up at him with a helpless expression, and he suddenly felt a great deal of compassion for the poor girl. To lose your identity, he could not imagine what it would be like, only that it would be very frightening.
"Well, perhaps time will bring it back to you," he offered gently. "In the meantime, you will stay here under my care, so you need not worry about anything but your full recovery."
She opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to protest again, but he beat her to it.
"I absolutely insist," he said firmly.
The girl sighed, looking very uncomfortable again, but simultaneously very relieved.
"Thank you, Captain Norrington. You are kindness itself."
She looked at him with such profound gratitude, as if he was some sort of saint, and he waved away her thanks, suddenly feeling rather uncomfortable himself.
"Please, do not mention it," he said.
She offered him another soft smile and settled back into the pillows. He could tell she had grown tired however, and quickly excused himself, with a promise that they might resume the conversation in the morning, and should she need anything, she should not hesitate to call the housekeeper. Then he left her to rest.
As he sat down in the armchair in front of the fire, he took a moment to make a small prayer that the mystery lady would soon regain her memories, so she might be at ease once more, and be reunited with her family.
But days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. And even though she made a full recovery physically, no memory resurfaced. They searched extensively, inquiring through letters and newspapers, but no one could discover her identity, and indeed, they could find no family having reported her missing. Eventually, they made up a new name for her, as it became increasingly difficult for her to live without one. She became Ophelia.
And upon finding that he didn't really mind her presence in the house, Captain Norrington decided she might as well stay with him indefinitely. Although she found the idea very unsettling at first, she did not want to be a burden to him, in the end he managed to convince her that it was no trouble indeed. Soon she entered the social life of Port Royal, made friends, and they settled into somewhat a comfortable life.
