Disclaimer: "Pirates of the Caribbean" belong to Disney.
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I
Elizabeth's little world was falling apart, and she felt tired and lonely. Nobody seemed to notice it, not even her beloved husband.
She could not believe that he was so much contented with his new life. She had thought him to be a free bird, something like a hawk or an eagle, but now she had to admit that there was much of a beautiful little canary or a starling in him. She was afraid to think of other resemblances. She didn't want to think how much he would change if she gave birth to his child. He was talking a lot about their future children, as if he wanted to confirm finally his entering into the Swann family - even though he knew that he wasn't accepted at all. He wanted to be accepted though, oh how much he wanted it. He ignored all those bewildered and indignant letters from the family in England - the letters still addressed to Miss Elizabeth Swann, as if she weren't a married woman, the letters persuading her to divorce, threatening her father with social ostracism and simply accusing Elizabeth of misconduct and the Governor of mental disease. He insisted on sending rare gifts, things only to be found in the Caribbean, as well as his famous swords, as presents to the family - a pathetic bribery that Elizabeth knew better than to count on. After the first try, when neither thanks nor reply had come from England, she just sighed and cancelled the despatch of the next of gifts - it consisted of some stuffed animals, which she had thrown away, and of three Negroes that she had to sell again, all in secret.
She wasn't saddened or dejected by the family's outrage and contempt, not in the slightest. She knew how bound up they were in their little narrow London society, where everybody knew and feared one another. They were bound to react that way; the best thing to do was to leave them alone, and they soon would cease to write and revolt against her marriage. Anyway, she could do without them, and she knew that old Aunt Margaret - she was living in Richmond and despised London, and was rather renowned for the number of her lovers who were recruited from all parts of society - was immensely fond of Elizabeth and had declared that she was going to leave her all her worldly possessions. It was enough for all the generations of Turners to come.
But poor Will was still unsure of his position and future, as if he thought the marriage with Elizabeth and the alliance with the Swann family a dream from which he could be easily awakened. He was desperate to assure himself that all was real. She often saw him wandering silently through the rooms, touching the furniture and even paintings on the walls, or opening his wardrobe and looking at his own overcoats and dressing gowns. Caught out on that hidden worship of his undoubtful luck, he was just smiling, half-ashamedly, half-apologetically. Elizabeth liked that smile at first, but then it started to annoy her. It was too naive, too youthful, almost a sign that Will would never grow up. There was love for her in that smile as well, but it was like a young boy's admiration for a girl who would never become a woman. And Elizabeth considered herself more of a woman than a girl. She wanted Will to become her man, her equal.
Will's sudden, almost hysteric respect for Governor Swann was even more irritating. Now, when he was a member of the family, Will was trying to cope with his position. He had always had a strong sense of propriety, as the Governor was once kind enough to notice, but now he was even more eager to observe the elusive rules of savoir-vivre. Elizabeth had taught him everything she thought necessary for him to know, and he became so strict about the etiquette that she was sometimes really dismayed. He was gentle and nice to his inferiors, but he expected an unconditional obedience and respect, and was very bitter when not receiving them. The servants in the house were being pestered about proper conduct, which meant a strict observance of Lord's Days and abstaining from liquor and dances. Will strongly disapproved of servants' talking when not asked, liked to use the word 'discipline', and generally was of the opinion that Elizabeth was too soft to the servants; he was really shocked when he saw that Estella, her wife's chamber maid, couldn't tell a stew spoon from a spoon used for entremets! Naturally, Will found his father-in-law a paragon of a gentleman. He had his clothes made by the same tailor and his shoes by the same shoemaker, he was imitating Governor's gestures and his manner of speech, he was accompanying him to the club, he was laughing at his jokes and accepting everything that the Governor said. Which meant that he not only was not capable of any critical comments about him, but also couldn't bear anybody criticizing him.
And he was having a hard time recently, because it was none other than his wife who was constantly bringing up a certain unpleasant issue that should be discussed and settled not necessarily in the Governor's favour.
"William, dear," said Elizabeth, when they sat down to have dinner, "it's unbearable indeed. We should do something."
"Oh, wait a moment, if you please," he said suddenly.
Elizabeth sighed, watching him. The servants had mistaken the cutlery sets again. She raised from her seat and gave Will his set, with WT monogram, taking her own set in return. Now it was Will who sighed - he considered it highly improper for Elizabeth to exchange the cutlery sets herself; it was the servants' task. But he didn't say anything, noticing Elizabeth's impatient look.
"I'd like you to think about father's conduct recently. You spend a lot of time with him. Maybe you should discuss the matter and remind him that he should not bring shame upon the family." She was choosing her words carefully. Will looked at her with sudden anxiety - he really cared about 'family'.
"What are you talking about, dear Elizabeth?"
"Father made Mademoiselle Dou a present." She took a deep breath. "Of a pearl necklace."
Will smiled, embarrassed. Isabella Dou was Governor's mistress and there wasn't anybody in Port Royal who would be unfamiliar with this fact. Elizabeth knew that keeping a mistress was a common thing among the high society gentlemen and she hadn't had a single complaint when her father had chosen Mademoiselle Dou a year ago. But his infatuation with her had assumed threatening proportions. In the beginning, the Governor was just charmed and amused with his new flame, spending two or three evenings a week in her house or enjoying a little occasional excursion outside town; but then he began to neglect his friends, his household, his daughter even, only to be with Isabella. He was behaving as though he were in a daze, thinking about her constantly. His affection had grown even more when he learned that she was pregnant; there was almost nothing he would have refused her. There had been one good point of his fascination with her - his sudden indulgence towards love affairs of others. He would probably turn a blind eye to the most scandalous romance of Port Royal now; Elizabeth felt that his sudden approval of her marriage with Will had something to do with his own passion for Isabella. It hadn't counted then, but now it was more and more unpleasant to think of, and Elizabeth knew one thing: the Governor was poisoned. He was fighting the poison with all the strength he had left, but now he was defending himself in the last stronghold, and Elizabeth didn't know how long it could last. That stronghold was called Marriage. Mademoiselle Dou wanted to be the Governor's wife. It was impossible, the Governor knew it and was offering resistance, but at the same time he was giving up more and more, and his latest present for Isabella was a clear proof that his surrender was only a matter of time.
"It is only a necklace," murmured Will with his eyes fixed on the little dessert fork.
"I wish it were only a necklace, William," said Elizabeth bitterly. "It's my mother's pearl necklace. It's her wedding gift, and father gave it away to his... to his kept woman."
Will frowned. He didn't like his wife to use such words. In fact, he didn't like her to talk about those matters at all. Things like keeping mistresses shouldn't exist for a lady of Elizabeth's social standing.
"Elizabeth, dear," he said softly, "I understand your rancour and grief, but there's nothing we can do. The Governor is free to present Mademoiselle Dou with everything he pleases."
"I don't care about the pearl necklace, Will. But I do care about my mother's memory. I will not have it defiled like that. When I was a girl, I was sometimes allowed to look at my mother's jewellery, and I remember father promising me that he would give it all to me when I grow up and marry... he told me that he would give me everything but the pearl necklace... because it was mother's remembrance. And now..."
Elizabeth lowered her head. She felt tears getting very, very close, and she didn't want Will to see them.
But he stood up and walked to her. She was surprised to see his concerned, loving eyes so close; he smiled and embraced her shyly and tenderly.
"Please, my love," he said, "don't let things like that bother your clean soul. As long as father doesn't introduce that woman into the family, there is nothing to worry about. And he knows that he can't do that. Yes, I know," he continued seeing Elizabeth's incredulous look and completely mistaking its meaning, "I was nobody before marrying you, but at least I was an honest blacksmith. I did many irresponsible things, but it was because of my love for you, and now I am a respectable member of society. And Mademoiselle Dou is a woman of ill reputation and everybody knows it. She cannot enter any honourable house, and any family that took her under its roof would be immediately disgraced and ostracized. The Governor knows it. He is a reasonable man and he wouldn't make such horrendous mistake. It simply cannot happen."
"Oh, Will, but you don't understand!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "It's the first step to the proposal. He gave her my mother's necklace, the very one he gave my mother when she was his fiancee!"
"It's impossible, love. He will not marry her. His career would be ruined. He knows it better than you and me. And how on earth can he marry a woman who will have a child born out of wedlock, and who is known to be a mistress of another man before? And if it bothers you... it's a filthy thing to talk about, but... nobody can tell who sired the child she is bearing now."
It was true; Isabella came to Port Royal with her previous suitor, a rich London merchant named Hutton. He had been said to participate in obscure financial operations and had been trying to keep up his appearances, but after a short time was forced to leave Port Royal because his company in London had informed him that the business is in danger. Nobody knew the reasons, but people were whispering that the company had run afoul the law, and the gossip had it that he had simply let Governor Swann win Isabella from him during his last game of cards in the club, because he needed to get rid of her.
Elizabeth blushed now at the thought of her father involved in such morally questionable practices.
"Will, dear," she said, "I can understand the blinding power of..." she couldn't bring herself to call it 'love', though. "... of passion. But the only thing I would like my father to avoid is dragging the memory of my mother in the gutter."
"I understand it, Elizabeth, but what can we do? Your father is the only person who can put an end to it."
"But we can at least talk to him. Please, Will, try to appeal to his sense of decency. It's improper for a daughter to talk to her father about such matters. Please do talk to him. Remind him of my mother, of the respect that is due her..."
She already knew it was in vain and the words died on her lips when Will assumed a very sorry and solemn look.
"Elizabeth, my love," he said gently, taking her hand, "it is truly lamentable that the Governor," he stressed the title, "would forget himself to that extent, but there is really nothing we can do except bear it in silence. He is the sole authority here and he is free to do as he pleases. After all, he is a man and should be allowed the... the outlet for his natural needs. As long as he doesn't plan to make that woman his wife - and I dare say it is unthinkable - we should not interfere. This is my opinion. I promise you I shall do my best to wean him from Mademoiselle Dou's company. Maybe I shall suggest that he spends more time in the club..."
Elizabeth sighed. Once again she was reminded of Will's loyalty towards his father-in-law. Will didn't want any conflict; moreover, he considered her anxiety and displeasure to be caused by her lack of understanding. He thought her, as a woman, unable to perceive what it was to be a man of high social standing. Such a man should have a mistress and he would be well within his right to buy her favours with anything he chose, as long as it didn't compromise his social position. Elizabeth knew that her father - who trusted Isabella too much to be jealous - had already introduced her to Will, and that Will had visited her villa several times. Of course it had been always in the Governor's presence, and Elizabeth, for her own part, was too sure of Will's honesty and love to be jealous, but Will was clearly convinced that the Governor's mistress was not dangerous. He must have been underestimating her, as every man underestimates such creatures. Elizabeth, who was watching her father's behaviour of late, was sure that the woman was a cunning and artful enemy.
She smiled at Will, assured him that she would try to think reasonably of her father's affair, and then she declared that she's going to take a little nap because of an unexpected headache.
"Oh, it's terrible," said Will, "my poor love! Do you want me to stay home this afternoon?"
"No, William dear, it's nothing serious. I have felt it coming through this morning. I should be all right after a short sleep. I know you are going to the club with father, and I don't want you to miss Lord Yeardley's birthday."
Will sighed politely, saw her to her bedroom, and after kissing her hand promised not to be too late. Then he entrusted her to Estella and left for the Governor's house. Elizabeth waited until the sound of Will's carriage vanished, and then leaped from the bed. She didn't want the feeling of desolation and loneliness to overcome her now. She ordered Estella to prepare her dress - she was going to visit her foe, Mademoiselle Isabella Dou, this very afternoon.
tbc
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I
Elizabeth's little world was falling apart, and she felt tired and lonely. Nobody seemed to notice it, not even her beloved husband.
She could not believe that he was so much contented with his new life. She had thought him to be a free bird, something like a hawk or an eagle, but now she had to admit that there was much of a beautiful little canary or a starling in him. She was afraid to think of other resemblances. She didn't want to think how much he would change if she gave birth to his child. He was talking a lot about their future children, as if he wanted to confirm finally his entering into the Swann family - even though he knew that he wasn't accepted at all. He wanted to be accepted though, oh how much he wanted it. He ignored all those bewildered and indignant letters from the family in England - the letters still addressed to Miss Elizabeth Swann, as if she weren't a married woman, the letters persuading her to divorce, threatening her father with social ostracism and simply accusing Elizabeth of misconduct and the Governor of mental disease. He insisted on sending rare gifts, things only to be found in the Caribbean, as well as his famous swords, as presents to the family - a pathetic bribery that Elizabeth knew better than to count on. After the first try, when neither thanks nor reply had come from England, she just sighed and cancelled the despatch of the next of gifts - it consisted of some stuffed animals, which she had thrown away, and of three Negroes that she had to sell again, all in secret.
She wasn't saddened or dejected by the family's outrage and contempt, not in the slightest. She knew how bound up they were in their little narrow London society, where everybody knew and feared one another. They were bound to react that way; the best thing to do was to leave them alone, and they soon would cease to write and revolt against her marriage. Anyway, she could do without them, and she knew that old Aunt Margaret - she was living in Richmond and despised London, and was rather renowned for the number of her lovers who were recruited from all parts of society - was immensely fond of Elizabeth and had declared that she was going to leave her all her worldly possessions. It was enough for all the generations of Turners to come.
But poor Will was still unsure of his position and future, as if he thought the marriage with Elizabeth and the alliance with the Swann family a dream from which he could be easily awakened. He was desperate to assure himself that all was real. She often saw him wandering silently through the rooms, touching the furniture and even paintings on the walls, or opening his wardrobe and looking at his own overcoats and dressing gowns. Caught out on that hidden worship of his undoubtful luck, he was just smiling, half-ashamedly, half-apologetically. Elizabeth liked that smile at first, but then it started to annoy her. It was too naive, too youthful, almost a sign that Will would never grow up. There was love for her in that smile as well, but it was like a young boy's admiration for a girl who would never become a woman. And Elizabeth considered herself more of a woman than a girl. She wanted Will to become her man, her equal.
Will's sudden, almost hysteric respect for Governor Swann was even more irritating. Now, when he was a member of the family, Will was trying to cope with his position. He had always had a strong sense of propriety, as the Governor was once kind enough to notice, but now he was even more eager to observe the elusive rules of savoir-vivre. Elizabeth had taught him everything she thought necessary for him to know, and he became so strict about the etiquette that she was sometimes really dismayed. He was gentle and nice to his inferiors, but he expected an unconditional obedience and respect, and was very bitter when not receiving them. The servants in the house were being pestered about proper conduct, which meant a strict observance of Lord's Days and abstaining from liquor and dances. Will strongly disapproved of servants' talking when not asked, liked to use the word 'discipline', and generally was of the opinion that Elizabeth was too soft to the servants; he was really shocked when he saw that Estella, her wife's chamber maid, couldn't tell a stew spoon from a spoon used for entremets! Naturally, Will found his father-in-law a paragon of a gentleman. He had his clothes made by the same tailor and his shoes by the same shoemaker, he was imitating Governor's gestures and his manner of speech, he was accompanying him to the club, he was laughing at his jokes and accepting everything that the Governor said. Which meant that he not only was not capable of any critical comments about him, but also couldn't bear anybody criticizing him.
And he was having a hard time recently, because it was none other than his wife who was constantly bringing up a certain unpleasant issue that should be discussed and settled not necessarily in the Governor's favour.
"William, dear," said Elizabeth, when they sat down to have dinner, "it's unbearable indeed. We should do something."
"Oh, wait a moment, if you please," he said suddenly.
Elizabeth sighed, watching him. The servants had mistaken the cutlery sets again. She raised from her seat and gave Will his set, with WT monogram, taking her own set in return. Now it was Will who sighed - he considered it highly improper for Elizabeth to exchange the cutlery sets herself; it was the servants' task. But he didn't say anything, noticing Elizabeth's impatient look.
"I'd like you to think about father's conduct recently. You spend a lot of time with him. Maybe you should discuss the matter and remind him that he should not bring shame upon the family." She was choosing her words carefully. Will looked at her with sudden anxiety - he really cared about 'family'.
"What are you talking about, dear Elizabeth?"
"Father made Mademoiselle Dou a present." She took a deep breath. "Of a pearl necklace."
Will smiled, embarrassed. Isabella Dou was Governor's mistress and there wasn't anybody in Port Royal who would be unfamiliar with this fact. Elizabeth knew that keeping a mistress was a common thing among the high society gentlemen and she hadn't had a single complaint when her father had chosen Mademoiselle Dou a year ago. But his infatuation with her had assumed threatening proportions. In the beginning, the Governor was just charmed and amused with his new flame, spending two or three evenings a week in her house or enjoying a little occasional excursion outside town; but then he began to neglect his friends, his household, his daughter even, only to be with Isabella. He was behaving as though he were in a daze, thinking about her constantly. His affection had grown even more when he learned that she was pregnant; there was almost nothing he would have refused her. There had been one good point of his fascination with her - his sudden indulgence towards love affairs of others. He would probably turn a blind eye to the most scandalous romance of Port Royal now; Elizabeth felt that his sudden approval of her marriage with Will had something to do with his own passion for Isabella. It hadn't counted then, but now it was more and more unpleasant to think of, and Elizabeth knew one thing: the Governor was poisoned. He was fighting the poison with all the strength he had left, but now he was defending himself in the last stronghold, and Elizabeth didn't know how long it could last. That stronghold was called Marriage. Mademoiselle Dou wanted to be the Governor's wife. It was impossible, the Governor knew it and was offering resistance, but at the same time he was giving up more and more, and his latest present for Isabella was a clear proof that his surrender was only a matter of time.
"It is only a necklace," murmured Will with his eyes fixed on the little dessert fork.
"I wish it were only a necklace, William," said Elizabeth bitterly. "It's my mother's pearl necklace. It's her wedding gift, and father gave it away to his... to his kept woman."
Will frowned. He didn't like his wife to use such words. In fact, he didn't like her to talk about those matters at all. Things like keeping mistresses shouldn't exist for a lady of Elizabeth's social standing.
"Elizabeth, dear," he said softly, "I understand your rancour and grief, but there's nothing we can do. The Governor is free to present Mademoiselle Dou with everything he pleases."
"I don't care about the pearl necklace, Will. But I do care about my mother's memory. I will not have it defiled like that. When I was a girl, I was sometimes allowed to look at my mother's jewellery, and I remember father promising me that he would give it all to me when I grow up and marry... he told me that he would give me everything but the pearl necklace... because it was mother's remembrance. And now..."
Elizabeth lowered her head. She felt tears getting very, very close, and she didn't want Will to see them.
But he stood up and walked to her. She was surprised to see his concerned, loving eyes so close; he smiled and embraced her shyly and tenderly.
"Please, my love," he said, "don't let things like that bother your clean soul. As long as father doesn't introduce that woman into the family, there is nothing to worry about. And he knows that he can't do that. Yes, I know," he continued seeing Elizabeth's incredulous look and completely mistaking its meaning, "I was nobody before marrying you, but at least I was an honest blacksmith. I did many irresponsible things, but it was because of my love for you, and now I am a respectable member of society. And Mademoiselle Dou is a woman of ill reputation and everybody knows it. She cannot enter any honourable house, and any family that took her under its roof would be immediately disgraced and ostracized. The Governor knows it. He is a reasonable man and he wouldn't make such horrendous mistake. It simply cannot happen."
"Oh, Will, but you don't understand!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "It's the first step to the proposal. He gave her my mother's necklace, the very one he gave my mother when she was his fiancee!"
"It's impossible, love. He will not marry her. His career would be ruined. He knows it better than you and me. And how on earth can he marry a woman who will have a child born out of wedlock, and who is known to be a mistress of another man before? And if it bothers you... it's a filthy thing to talk about, but... nobody can tell who sired the child she is bearing now."
It was true; Isabella came to Port Royal with her previous suitor, a rich London merchant named Hutton. He had been said to participate in obscure financial operations and had been trying to keep up his appearances, but after a short time was forced to leave Port Royal because his company in London had informed him that the business is in danger. Nobody knew the reasons, but people were whispering that the company had run afoul the law, and the gossip had it that he had simply let Governor Swann win Isabella from him during his last game of cards in the club, because he needed to get rid of her.
Elizabeth blushed now at the thought of her father involved in such morally questionable practices.
"Will, dear," she said, "I can understand the blinding power of..." she couldn't bring herself to call it 'love', though. "... of passion. But the only thing I would like my father to avoid is dragging the memory of my mother in the gutter."
"I understand it, Elizabeth, but what can we do? Your father is the only person who can put an end to it."
"But we can at least talk to him. Please, Will, try to appeal to his sense of decency. It's improper for a daughter to talk to her father about such matters. Please do talk to him. Remind him of my mother, of the respect that is due her..."
She already knew it was in vain and the words died on her lips when Will assumed a very sorry and solemn look.
"Elizabeth, my love," he said gently, taking her hand, "it is truly lamentable that the Governor," he stressed the title, "would forget himself to that extent, but there is really nothing we can do except bear it in silence. He is the sole authority here and he is free to do as he pleases. After all, he is a man and should be allowed the... the outlet for his natural needs. As long as he doesn't plan to make that woman his wife - and I dare say it is unthinkable - we should not interfere. This is my opinion. I promise you I shall do my best to wean him from Mademoiselle Dou's company. Maybe I shall suggest that he spends more time in the club..."
Elizabeth sighed. Once again she was reminded of Will's loyalty towards his father-in-law. Will didn't want any conflict; moreover, he considered her anxiety and displeasure to be caused by her lack of understanding. He thought her, as a woman, unable to perceive what it was to be a man of high social standing. Such a man should have a mistress and he would be well within his right to buy her favours with anything he chose, as long as it didn't compromise his social position. Elizabeth knew that her father - who trusted Isabella too much to be jealous - had already introduced her to Will, and that Will had visited her villa several times. Of course it had been always in the Governor's presence, and Elizabeth, for her own part, was too sure of Will's honesty and love to be jealous, but Will was clearly convinced that the Governor's mistress was not dangerous. He must have been underestimating her, as every man underestimates such creatures. Elizabeth, who was watching her father's behaviour of late, was sure that the woman was a cunning and artful enemy.
She smiled at Will, assured him that she would try to think reasonably of her father's affair, and then she declared that she's going to take a little nap because of an unexpected headache.
"Oh, it's terrible," said Will, "my poor love! Do you want me to stay home this afternoon?"
"No, William dear, it's nothing serious. I have felt it coming through this morning. I should be all right after a short sleep. I know you are going to the club with father, and I don't want you to miss Lord Yeardley's birthday."
Will sighed politely, saw her to her bedroom, and after kissing her hand promised not to be too late. Then he entrusted her to Estella and left for the Governor's house. Elizabeth waited until the sound of Will's carriage vanished, and then leaped from the bed. She didn't want the feeling of desolation and loneliness to overcome her now. She ordered Estella to prepare her dress - she was going to visit her foe, Mademoiselle Isabella Dou, this very afternoon.
tbc