Thanks for reading on to Part Two everybody! There are so many prizes in store I hope you are all ready for them…
James helped me into our carriage and then helped my mother, who had been silent for three days, into the carriage. She had not said a word to me, nothing about Lord Beckett or about James. It was as if she was trying to convince herself that James was ok to marry. I shook the thoughts off as we rode through the streets.
I saw many old stone buildings with people bustling around and working for the day. There were men pulling bags from wagons and putting hay back into them. Women hurried their children home from school or shopped among the markets. There didn't seem to be a lot of nobility upon the island. It seemed that the only the men in the navy, the Governor, and a few wealthy fruit sellers made up for the loss of wealth.
I didn't mind at all because I knew that James had cleaned up the mess of Port Royal that had plagued it for years. He built new homes and cleaned up the filth, he gave jobs to men and husbands to women. Maybe that was why I loved him so, he was caring. He helped people…he had a heart full of bravery and willing to help others.
We turned into a long road that was secluded from the road we had just traveled, and we climbed up. It was somewhat of a steep hill, but we went further and further, climbing until we leveled off. As soon as we had leveled, the carriage stopped. James opened the door, stepped out, and waited for my mother's hand. She took it and left the carriage. I breathed in and out, willing myself to stay calm.
I took his hand, his strong hand that never faltered. I gathered my dress in one hand and left the carriage preparing my eyes. I was stunned as I looked around. There were huge meadows full of wild trees and birds sang high above. There were people tending to the gardens, a few men and women who were dressed finely walking upon the dirt paths that went throughout the greenery. Flowers upon flowers seemed to have fallen from the sky. They were everywhere the eye could see. Before us was a large mansion that had vines and flowers wrapped around its core, gleaming in the sun. I looked to mother who was equally stunned. It was different from Britain that was for sure, but it was not a bad different. It was like a dream. I turned open mouthed to James and he only smirked as if to say "Yes, all of this is mine…"
He took my arm and led me up the steps to the large front door of glass and strong wood. He turned the brass doorknob, letting the air from inside rush towards us. He touched the small of my back, willing me to go inside.
My mouth gaped as I stood in a large foyer, one with stairs that wrapped up to the second floor. There, in the center of the room stood a table with large flowers in a glass vase. There was a hallway straight ahead that led to other rooms and wings, with a hallway that veered off to the left, shut off by a dark oak door. It must have been the servant's quarters because a small young maid of no beauty came from it. She saw me, put her face down, and rushed off with a dusting rag to go clean. I wondered if James ever talked to them…most likely not.
I didn't have long to look around because I was ushered with my mother to another part of the mansion, a separate wing for mother and I. James bowed and left us alone, having to attend to business immediately. I was shocked at the fact that he couldn't show us around or even stay long enough for mother and me to get comfortable. It was as if he was someone else in this house and on this island.
Whatever it was, it had to be important. I couldn't help but feel alone and unwanted, but mother gave me no sympathy.
She looked at me with venomous eyes. "If you had married Beckett, he would not have ignored you. To him you were everything."
I glared at her. Things had changed between us. We were no longer mother and daughter, but equals. "He has to do his job. He can't give every ounce of attention he has to me."
But still, I agreed with her. We had just arrived and already he was off working on some problem, not even taking a notice that I was in his home, as his fiancé. This was probably the first time he brought a woman home with him and most likely the last.
"Lord Beckett had given you everything…" She smirked with evil behind her eyes.
I slightly laughed at her response. "That's because he was obsessed with me. All he wanted was to bed me and that was all. There was no love, no personality, not even a bright light in his eyes."
Mother slowly moved past me letting her sweet perfume fill my nostrils. She entered the wing through French double doors and looked about her apartments. They were suitable and fine enough for her daughter. But it was nothing Lord Beckett could have given her.
She moved her hand across a wooden table that sat in the center of the room with fresh flowers. There were four rooms that I could use and they were all lavishly dressed. One was my bedroom; I had a bathroom also inside the room. One room was for reading and playing the piano, one was a receiving room and one was my own closet filled with all of my clothes. In the room for my reading, there was a pair of French double doors that led out onto the meadows. People still walked around but continually glanced in my direction. They knew about me that was for sure.
What I couldn't figure out is why they were there? Were they there just to make the place seem nice? Or was there actually nobility on the island?
"Baroness McEllister, your quarters are this way." A butler interrupted our viewings of the rooms.
Mother left with a smile and the halls, my rooms, and my mind was quiet. I watched outside as people passed and birds swooped down to play with other birds. The flowers swayed in the wind and it was peaceful. I clasped my hands together watching the world around me glistening. I could just make out the sea from below the rocky cliffs which the house sat upon.
"How do you like it?" James said, one hand on his sword, leaning on his right foot with the other pointed out, and starring at me.
Turning with my hands still clasped, I smiled at him lovingly. "How long have you been standing there?"
He smirked as he walked over to me, his long coat swaying, his white and gold uniform showing in the light and his heels tapping on the stone floor. He stopped in front of me, his stern face calm and relaxed. He took my hands in his and kissed them softly.
"I like it…" I finally answered.
He smiled. He was about to say something when I interrupted him.
"Who are all of these people? What are they doing here?" I asked, walking back over to the window, pulling the curtains back and watching them.
He came behind me, his warm breath on my neck, giving me warm chills.
"Oh, those people are here to welcome you. It's for our engagement party tonight, remember?" He asked, stroking my hand that was at my side.
I had forgotten all about the entire engagement party. I shot a look at him and realized it was almost sundown. I jumped into action going through my wardrobe for something…anything…to wear besides my traveling clothes. But none of them were right for the occasion.
James laughed as his fiancé began to throw dresses here and there. Maids came in and looked at the mess. They began to pick up clothes when she told them to leave it.
I sighed in anger. "James, I-"
He put a finger to my lips and pointed to a box on a table. I tapped over to the box, gently taking off the ribbons and pulling the top of the box off. I peeled off the tissue paper and gently pulled out a crisp new gown. It was beautifully made with gold and hints of blues.
"James, you didn't have to…" I said, a tear forming in my eye.
"I wanted to…" He said, shuffling his feet awkwardly.
The gown was definitely expensive, but then another question popped into my head. I opened my mouth to say something, but he shushed me.
"You didn't let me finish. When Miss. Swann and I were somewhat…engaged…the Governor bought me this house, knowing that Elizabeth, or someone of wealth and fortune, would come to live here. He fixed everything up, making it lavish for his daughter, but soon came to realize where her heart truly lied. I won't say who, but it wasn't with me. Governor Swann felt so bad about the whole thing he gave me the house for my own personal use on one condition. He said that the wealthy families didn't have a place to walk around and view the scenery without viewing the poor. So, they come onto the grounds every so often and walk, never bothering me or my home. They live in the hills behind us, protected by the royal guards and what not." He finished with reassurance that I wouldn't be harmed.
"Now, I myself must finish getting ready." With that, he kissed my cheek and left.
