Alrighty, everyone! here's the second chapter. it's basically the same as the first, only in Cordie's POV
we don't own anyone but the people you don't recognize. thanks much!
Ladyship
Chapter Two
Cordelia's POV
"Oh my little Cordelia, you look so lovely." My mother smiles warmly as she pats my shoulder. I roll my eyes and feign a grin.
"Mother, I am no longer little. Must you continue thinking so? I am almost eighteen." I say unenthusiastically, twirling the handle of my crème colored parasol.
"Well, my grown up Cordelia, you look so lovely." Great, now she is patronizing me. Just like every other person that speaks to me. "The green in the gown match your eyes so beautifully." There is a silence that she assumes will be filled by my thanking her, it is not. She gives me her stare and clears her throat. "Have a wonderful time dear." She leans in closer. "And for Heaven's sake, watch your sister." With those parting words she leaves me alone in search for someone more talkative than myself.
Casually I make my way over to where my sister is standing alone. She looks quite unhappy, yet I do not blame her. Although I do wish she would not make her feelings known, it is not good for Ronni to allow others to see her sadness. I know she misses Father, as do I but some things happen for good.
Before I am able to reach her I see her take off running. Something is wrong. Turning I see my cousin Elizabeth's fiancé looking over the edge of the cliffs. I chase after Ronni and finally understand what has happened. Elizabeth had fallen over and into the rocky ocean below. "Veronica, where are you going?" I ask in a panic as I see her take off. I know where she is going, she saw the man too the one that jumped off the ship to save our cousin. I attempt to follow after her but I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. "Dear Cordelia, now this is none of your concern." My uncle informs me, panic thickening his tone. "Hurry men, to the docks!" He shouts, but his words pass right through me. Dejected I walk away from the cliffs. I am tired of this party.
"Mother, my cousin's fall has caused such a shock that I am beginning to feel very ill. Would it be alright if I were to leave?" I feign a look of sickness. Touching my gloved hand to my head daintily.
"I had several prosperous gentlemen I was looking forward to you meeting." She grins in a secretive fashion. All of them at least twice my age I imagine. After hearing this, my illness was no longer faked.
"As lovely as that sounds mother, I believe it would be most beneficial to my health that I depart. I need to lie down as I am feeling quite nauseous."
"Well, alright. But be sure to have a guard escort you on your carriage ride."
"Thank you mother." I bow my head slightly and walk off towards the carriages, smiling politely to all those that look my way. The mask I put on has been far more difficult to wear as the days crawl by. Slowly, pieces are being chipped away. Soon no longer will I be able to hide my feelings, but until then I shall continue to smile and laugh. Just like the woman I was raised to be.
The sun is almost setting. I am certain of this by the pink and orange hues tickling the skies. Sadly, I did not get the sleep I desired. With a small sigh I gather my skirts, my mother would die if she were to see my lying in bed still in my gown, and walk over towards the armoire. But before I am able to find my nightgown, I hear the loud sounds of my sister arguing in the hallway, with our mother no doubt. Curiously I wander out from our room to investigate. "Where have you been? There is a pirate on the loose! You could have been killed!" My mother shouts, very unlike the lady she prides herself in being. I watch from the doorway in interest.
"Yes, wellÉI wasn't. As you can perfectly well see, I'm just fine." Ronni growls as she pushes past me to get into our bedroom. Naturally, I follow her closing the door behind me.
"What in God's name do you think you are doing?" I question raising an angry black eyebrow. I see her fiddling with the drawers of the armoire pulling out pantaloons, and one of our father's shirts that she loves frolicking around in.
"Heavens, Cordie…a lady like yourself using the Lord's name in vain? Tsk tsk." For the second time that day I roll my eyes. Sometimes Ronni can be just as frustrating as the others.
"Be quiet, Veronica! And don't call me that!"
"Fine, CORDELIA." She basically rips her dress from her body and proceeds to remove her corset and put on father's shirt.
"Well, are you going to answer my question?" I tap my foot impatiently, mostly to get on her nerves. She glares at me and I cannot help but smile, she has the same stare as our mother. If I told her this she would probably stab me with her blasted sword.
"None of your damn business, Cordie. There is fun to be had. I don't want to be a cooped up old woman the rest of my life." I wince at her words and attempt to defend myself, but am too tired to do so properly. We continue to argue, as she gets dressed. The words come out of my mouth but everything is a lie. My heart is not behind what I say and she is winning. "…Now, if you will excuse meÉI have plans." She bows mockingly and slips through the door.
I close my eyes, feeling hot tears trickle down my pale cheeks. Angrily I slam my still gloved fist on the wall. Everything she said was true. I look out of the window; the sun slowly disappeared beneath the waves, being chased by stars. I shake my head, black curls falling onto my face. Suddenly an idea strikes me! No longer am I in tears.
My feet cannot carry me fast enough. I tug self-consciously at the loose dress that covers my body; the maid I had stolen it from was much bigger than I. Pulling the hood of my black cloak over my head I find myself walking towards the most obvious place my sister will be. The jail. My palms are sweaty and my stomach is lurching out of shear nervousness. I smile coyly at the guard being sure to shield face as much as possible. "I am here to visit the pirates to be hanged. No harm, no foul." I state simply. The guard strokes my arm with his fingers and I tense, but with another broad grin I manage to receive a nod from the guard and he allows me to pass. Once through I see my sister sharing a meal with a wild looking man, presumably the pirate that saved Elizabeth. I scowl to myself as she continues to converse with him. It is not proper; she could not choose worse company even if she tried.
I proceed to watch them, she looks truly happy something I rarely see her. I am envious of her ability to let herself live. It is not fair that she can do so and I find myself forced to act a certain way so appease those that look upon me. I creep into my mind, the goings on around me disappear. The walls shake and a whizzing sound streaks through the sky. A cannonball blasts through the wall of the cell next to the one Ronni is visiting. I bite my lip resisting the urge to scream, although I do hear my sister's. My hands are shaking. The pirate tells Ronni to get home; I am terrified that she will notice me. She does not and pushes right past. I see her run down the hall and out the thick wooden door. I consider my options, with all the commotion going on outside and me with no protection it would be incredibly stupid of me to go out into the night and try to get home. Noticing a spare set of keys hanging on a hook, other than the ones in the dog's mouth, I grab them and set off past the pirate in the cell ignoring him as best I could. "Comin' to rescue me, 'ey luv?" He asks with a hint of hope.
"Hardly." I growl and shake my head furiously. Nervously, I unlock the cell furthest away from his and enter, locking myself in. Keys still in hand. I sit down on the cold, hard floor and curl myself up tightly.
"Imprisoning yourself?" The pirate is staring at me with an eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Leave me alone!"
"That's not how it works." He points out rather obnoxiously, ignoring my request.
"I know that! But I see it as being far safer in here then outside. I shall wait until all of this dies down and then simply leave." I inform him jingling the keys.
"Ah, I see." He smirks.
"You see? Do tell, what is it that you see?" My eyes are fixed on him, deeply perturbed by his attitude. He shrugs and picks up a bone from the ground in an attempt to get the keys from the dog.
"Name's Captain Jack Sparrow." He says as an afterthought. "What may I ask, is yours?" Before I can respond, I hear the large wooden door open. Thinking it is my sister; I tighten my grip on my cloak and hide in the corner of the cell. I hear men talking and slowly I raise my head to see what is going on. They are shouting at the pirate, they know him. Without warning the biggest man sticks his arm through the bars, and to my surprise it turns to bones. I muffle a yelp and bury my head in my knees, terrified.
"You know nothing of Hell." The deep voiced man says menacingly. As soon as they came, they were gone leaving the two of us alone.
"Very interesting." The pirate mutters. "So, ya still think it's safer in here luv?" He asks, with a small laugh.
"My name is Cordelia and if you ever call me anything other than that ever again, with the exception of miss, I assure you that you will be sorry." I whisper, my voice thick with fright. "Now for the last time, Jack Sparrow. Leave. Me. Alone." With that, I laid down facing the wall. Once again, tears filled my eyes and my entire body began to shake. My father's stories were true, everything about The Pearl and the skeleton pirates. Things I believed to be fairytales, fantasies are real.
Author's Note:
hey everyone. i know it's slightly tedious, but it will only be this way for another two chapters. :) reviews would be lovely!
-The Brunette Half