Triplets in Love

By: Raven in Red

The adventures of three triplet sisters as they all meet the men of their dreams. Long story, told in three parts, please R&R

Part One: Beginnings

Chapter One: Possibility

Jasmine, Lily, and Holly were not normal sisters. Even as triplets, they were as different as three girls could be.

Jasmine, the youngest, was a free spirit. She wanted adventure and choices in her life. She was bold and independent, always doing things her way, but she had a tendency to be pessimistic.

Lily, the middle sister, was cautious and delicate. She was perfectly content to embrace society norms and follow the rules. She didn't even trust herself to find a good husband, so her parents had agreed arrange a marriage for her.

Holly, the oldest, was a dreamer. She was calm and collected and together on the outside, but romantic and daydreaming on the inside. Her goal in life was to find the perfect husband.

While they may have all been different, they were as close as three sisters could be…

…Until they all fell in love.

"Slow down! You're going too fast!" Holly panted and chased after Jasmine, her long red hair blowing in the breeze. Jasmine had stolen her parasol, and the summer sun was hot.

"Come and get it!" Jasmine taunted, waving the white lace parasol over her head. Her short, choppy brown hair left her neck exposed, allowing it to be burned pink. The fact that the girls had been on a ship for two weeks already meant that they were utterly at the mercy of the sun, and so far there had not been a single cloudy day.

Holly sighed and held up her hands in surrender. She went to sit on a bench beside Lily, whose long blond curls were perfectly pinned away from her face. "Not getting sunburned, are you, Lil?"

Lily smiled, taking a moment to look up from the dress she was mending. "I'll get out of the sun soon. I'd hate for my skin to turn pink like Jasmine's." Both girls burst out laughing.

"It seems like an eternity since we left England," Jasmine approached the girls, sat down, and handed the parasol back to Holly. "And we've only been out at sea for two weeks." The girls' father had decided to move to Port Royal right after his daughters turned eighteen.

"I wonder what our new home will be like," Lily wondered, keeping her eyes fixed on her tiny stitches.

"Me, too," Holly added, her voice seeming to trail off. Jasmine followed her dreamy gaze and fixed her eyes upon Lieutenant Norrington. She elbowed her sister.

"Ow!" Holly whined.

"Not daydreaming about him again, are you, Holly?" Jasmine teased.

Holly playfully shoved Jasmine. "Hey, I can't help it. He's so handsome!" She blushed like mad when Norrington gave her a handsome smile. The two had talked a few times before, but nothing beyond casual conversations.

"I think he likes you," Jasmine whispered slyly.

"Come on, Jasmine, he hardly notices me," Holly said sadly. As if on cue, Norrington smiled towards her again, which caused her to blush.

"I beg to differ," Jasmine winked. "Go talk to him."

"What?" Holly gasped in shock.

"If you like him so much, then you should go talk to him," Jasmine pressed on.

"Jasmine is right," Lily finished her sewing and looked up. "Anyone can see that he's interested in you. You've got to give him a chance."

"Alright," Holly sounded unsure of herself. She cautiously stood up. "How do I look?" She asked nervously. Jasmine quickly adjusted Holly's dress and pinched her cheeks to bring a little color to her face.

"You look lovely," Jasmine smiled. "Now, go sweep him off his feet." She gently turned Holly around and nudged her towards the Lieutenant. Then she went to sit beside Lily again. "How much do you want to bet that those two will end up courting?"

Lily laughed a little. "It definitely sounds like Holly. She always gets what she wants."

Holly cleared her throat as she approached Lieutenant Norrington. He turned around and gave her a bright smile. "Miss Gardener," he bowed at the waist. "It's a pleasure to see you." Holly giggled and blushed as he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. She loved how polite and proper he was.

"And you, Lieutenant Norrington, sir," Holly replied with a bold smile. Don't be nervous, she told herself.

"So I've heard that you and your family are going to live in Port Royal?" Norrington said in order to start a conversation. He gently took Holly's arm, and the two began to stroll around the deck of the ship.

"Yes," Holly replied. "My father decided that we would move once my sisters and I turned eighteen."

"Port Royal is a lovely town," Norrington smiled. "It is built right around Fort Charles, and it has excellent defenses."

"I've heard many good things about it," said Holly.

"You have…two sisters, correct?" Norrington asked, suddenly changing the subject.

"Yes," Holly grinned. "Jasmine and Lily. We're triplets."

"That's not very common," Norrington sounded genuinely interested. "Are you three close?"

"We're very close," said Holly. "As close as best friends."

Holly and Norrington talked for several more minutes. Holly felt like she was getting to know him pretty well. They talked about their lives in England and about their families and friends. Norrington even told Holly that he was interested in her.

Unfortunately, Norrington's attention was called by another crew member who needed his help.

"I apologize, Miss Gardener, but I must be going," he said with regret. He bent down to kiss Holly's hand. "I hope to have the opportunity to talk with you again."

"Good day, sir," Holly said in farewell before she curtsied and went back to the bench to sit with Jasmine.

"So…?" Jasmine teased.

"Oh, stop," Holly blushed.

"How did it go?" Jasmine pressed on.

"It actually went very well," Holly sat upright and folded her hands in her lap, speaking in a perfectly proper tone, which caused both the girls to erupt into fits of laughter.

"Looks like someone has a new fiancé just over the horizon," said Jasmine, crossing her hands over her heart.

"You know? I just might," replied Holly.

After Lily had stored the mended dress in her cabin, she leaned on the railing and looked out at the other ship. Besides the Red Dawn, the ship she and her family were sailing on, there was the Siren Song. The Red Dawn was ferrying people over from England to Port Royal. The Siren Song was sailing alongside it to offer protection. It was a strong, heavy war ship.

As Lily gazed upon the Siren Song, her eyes fell on Lord Cutler Beckett. He was a representative of the East India Trading Company, and he was a man who carried a lot of power. From what she had heard from her father, she would soon be promised to him in marriage. Lily was a little scared of the thought of being married, but she had heard that Cutler Beckett was a dependable man. Although she had never officially met him or talked to him, she knew that she liked him. He was handsome, but not wildly handsome, which would have made Lily nervous. He seemed very intelligent and resourceful, but also calm and together.

"Ah, Lily!"

Lily turned around to greet her father, who was coming up the stairs from the lower decks. He kissed both of her cheeks with a big smile on his face.

"Good morning, Father," Lily said politely. "You seem quite happy."

"I am indeed, darling," Lionel beamed at his middle daughter. "I just met with Lord Beckett this morning."

"Any news?" Lily said in anticipation.

"Only the best!" Lionel said joyfully. "You two will be wed within a month of our arrival in Port Royal!"

"That's excellent!" Lily said with a smile, although deep down she was scared. "But…I've never talked with him before."

"We'll take care of that soon enough. I'll schedule a meeting for you two as soon as I can," Lionel reassured his daughter.

"Could I possibly see him tonight after dinner?" Lily suggested, wanting to learn more about her soon-to-be husband.

"I don't see why not," Lionel nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."

"Thank you, Father," said Lily. She was nervous, excited, and happy all at the same time. She would soon be married, and she would be able to have a family and a comfortable life. She had always dreaded going to parties or social gatherings as a young teenager, because it meant about a dozen young men all trying to get her attention at once. Now, at least she would have only one person to focus her time and energy on.

Early that evening, the sisters all gathered in their cabin.

"I have the most exciting news!" Lily giggled with excitement.

"Oh, do tell!" Jasmine squealed. She clapped her hands and grinned widely.

"Father has promised me to Lord Beckett!" Lily concluded.

"Oh, that's simply wonderful!" Holly leaned over to give Lily a hug. "When will the wedding be?"

"Father says that we'll be married within a month of our arrival," replied Lily.

"We'll make it the finest wedding in all of Port Royal!" Jasmine declared happily. "Now, Holly, tell us how it went with Lieutenant Norrington."

"I already told you," said Holly. After an impatient glare from Jasmine, she continued, "We talked for a little while today. That's all."

"What did you talk about?" asked Lily.

"Mostly just England and our families," Holly shrugged. "Nothing special."

"I think you need to spice it up a little, sweetheart," Jasmine sighed. "You'll never get a proposal out of him if you don't show him you're interested."

"Oh, alright," Holly surrendered. "I hope he and I can talk again tomorrow."

"We'll make sure of it," Jasmine winked.

Author's Note: So, Lily has been promised in marriage to Lord Beckett, and Holly and Norrington are becoming close. But what about Jasmine? Just be patient. She'll find her true love soon enough.