Ok, so this is my first Pirate's story ever. The only characters that I own are Katyanna, Caroline and Lord Granville, the rest belong to Disney. Any resemblances other works of Fiction or non Fiction are not intended.
Elizabeth Swan is engaged to a toad, announced Caroline.
"That's nice dear," Katyanna murmured, without looking up from the open book upon the writing desk.
She'd long ago learned to ignore her seventeen year old sister's infinite imagination and penchant for excessive drama.
"You must write Elizabeth immediately and insist that she dis-entangle herself and escape before it's too late! Katy!"
Katyanna glanced up from her book, surprised to find her baby sister looking genuinely distressed. Caroline stood in the middle of the parlor, clutching a letter in one shaky hand. Her dark brown eyes looked stricken and her normally flushed cheeks were as pale as the rice cakes that she herself was so fond of.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Her full attention now turned away from the book upon the desk. She'd been absorbed in the most fascinating tale when her little sister had distracted her. "Surely it can't be as grim as all that. Let me have a look"
Katyanna immediately recognized their Uncles's flowery scrawl. Brushing aside a pesky ringlet of her burgundy hair she quickly scanned the letter, skipping over the endless descriptions of business ledgers and insisted niceties. It didn't take long before she found the source of her sister's worry.
"My my," she murmured, arching one shapely eyebrow. "It appears our dear cousin has acquired a suitor".
"A suitor? A toad, you mean! A boring, odious toad!" Caroline peered over Katyanna's shoulder, one of her honeyed strands tickling Katyanna's nose. Turning the letter over Katyanna noted the name scribbled in the heading and the intended recipient.
"Really darling haven't I told you to stay out of father's letters."
"I'm sorry Katy, I just couldn't help myself, we haven't heard from uncle in so long and I just couldn't help myself!" The uncle to which her younger sister referred was Weatherby Swan, their father's only brother and a favorite of the two sisters.
Katyanna continued to scan the letter, "our uncle has thoroughly provided a most extensive catalogue of the young man's charms and in no way does he appear a toad. From his glowing recitation, one may assume the gentleman's list of accomplishments and virtues to rival that of the king himself."
"Yes! Exactly Katy, he's boring! He's bland and a toad!"
Katyanna rounded on her sister. "Oh come now, Caroline. Ever since you read that ridiculous tale of that pirate sparrow what's his name you've been spouting nothing but adventure and nonsense and condemning every man with an ounce of virtue and gentle manners. Had I had any inkling what that book would have done to your already heightened sense of imagination I would have tossed it into the trash heap as soon as I heard the word pirate cross your lips.
Drawing herself up to her full five feet and three inches, Caroline sniffed. "That book was not rubbish! It was full of exploits, escapades and adventure, If only I could sail the high seas with swashbuckling pirates, what a voyage that would be! And the pirate's name was Captain Jack Sparrow!"
Katyanna sighed, her already scant patience evaporating. "As far as I can tell this Captain James Norrington sounds like a wonderful, attentive and prosperous man, any woman would be truly blessed to have him as her suitor. Katyanna turned back to the letter continuing to read. She was the eldest, the sensible one, the one forced to firmly step up and be responsible, the one her father counted on to be dutiful, the one left to all but raise her younger sister after their mother's untimely death eight years before. The one left to comfort her father and sister when her own heart still lay broken in shards in her chest.
"I'm not trying to be cruel pet but you really must rein in that imagination of yours. After all it's not every day that a Commodore pays court".
"So you don't mind if Elizabeth weds an odious toad, one that she doesn't love as long as he happens to be a virtuous captain? You don't care that he could be cold and boring and lacking in any form of life?
Katyanna's smile faded, "of course I care but you know that not everyone can marry for love and adventure dear".
Caroline sank down on a chintz ottoman, rested her chin on one hand and shot Katyanna a reproachful glance. "I shall never marry someone that I don't love, never".
Katyanna sank down heavily next to Caroline before placing their father's letter on the writing desk she had earlier vacated, "I know pet, I know".