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New character:
Henry Durmack--Hopelessly in love with Caroline, deadly sick as well
Enjoy!
I didn't really take my anger out on packing before, but by the next morning, all of my things were ready to leave. I was bound and determined to enjoy my last few months of James Norrington and if he married my sister, then that would be alright. At least I could love him in secret. Though it would kill me to watch their family grow, there was nothing I could really do about it. Father always told me to take life the way it was and to not fuss about it.
Who was I kidding? I could fool everyone else but not myself. This was something I couldn't ignore. James has known both of us since he moved here…though his attentions were geared more towards Anne.
I kicked a trunk. It was always about Anne. Anne this, Anne that. Mother's favorite and probably father's too. Why couldn't I be someone's favorite for once?
"What have you been doing?"
I spun around, hands behind my back, to see my mother staring with shock on her face. I took a small look around and smirked. "Well, since everyone can't wait for me to be out of here, I just figured I'd pack. Plus you'll need to make room to host all the decorations for Anne's wedding."
My mother looked about as dumbstruck as a dead moth. "What—why that's ridiculous! No one wants you to leave."
I didn't say anything as I closed all the trunks. "It does not matter. I've never spent much time in this room anyways."
Mother didn't say a word as I skittered past her; I was starving anyways.
As I rounded the corner, I heard a light laughter and a male's chuckle. Mum was upstairs—unless she was a witch and could move about quicker than normal. I peered around the corning into the green room to see James sitting down at a small breakfast table, sipping on tea with my sister. My fists clenched as I braced myself. I never said I was a good child so I didn't feel guilty listening in.
"…didn't say much when I told her."
"I suppose she will protest to the council of your parents."
"She is only a year younger than I, Admiral. Not a child."
"Yes, but she acts the age of seven."
"She just," Anne sighed, "doesn't know who she is yet. Caroline has a lot of growing up to do."
I was already exhausted with their talk of rubbish and so, without further ado, I pounced out into the green room making a beeline for the open veranda doors. I took off running ignoring Anne's feeble call after me. There was only one place I could venture without anyone spiting me.
Henry Durmack's house was just across the way from mine, closer to the city and fool of mischief. I had spent many of my younger years there and often times I wondered what it would be like to marry Henry. He was simple, pleasant, handsome, from a good family, and listened to me. But he was week—like my sister. He was ailed with a sickness that kept him from the outside too much. He would die on me too soon and I couldn't be married to a meek man. There was also the trouble of consummating the marriage. He was too week to do anything.
"Henry!" I called at his back door. His mother, Mrs. Durmack greeted me and ushered me upstairs to Henry's room.
I burst into his room full of smiles and brightness hoping to cheer him up. So much sickness surrounded me that it was hardly tolerable. But I couldn't point out that to Henry.
Henry, a thin man with curly blonde hair hanging from his temples, gave me an appraising smile. Though sick with illness he was still thicker than I was. "Lamb!" He cried as I pounced beside his bed. Mrs. Durmack closed the door knowing that I wouldn't allow Henry to try anything. We were safe from suspicion in his home. "Where have you been?"
"Mourning over lost loves…"
"Admiral again?"
"It's awful!" I cried sending a punch down on Henry's mattress. He jumped slightly. "He's to wed my sister."
"Anne?"
"Yes, Anne. And I'm being shipped to England because apparently I'm just too much for anybody to handle."
"I can handle you."
"Yes, you could."
"If you married me, then you wouldn't ever have to listen to them. I would allow you to do whatever it was you pleased, presuming of course that you took an hour out of your day to visit with me."
"Now Henry," I began to scold, "that would make an unbalanced match. You wouldn't want me for a wife."
He caught hold of my hand. I gasped as he held it more tightly than I presumed. "The doctor says I will be able to walk in a few days. My strength is returning. I'm serious when I say I would marry you. Not one heart ache would touch you again."
"Yes, but Henry…"
"Marry me, Caroline."
Biting my lower lip, I pressed Henry's hand against my cheek. "I don't deserve you."
He cupped my face tightly, his strength weakening. Henry, I knew, would never get better. "You know that I cannot see the woman I love leave for England."
"Henry—"
"Let me finish!" He growled so fiercely that I was obliged to listen. "I promise you a life of comfort, happiness, not a care in the world. You needn't worry about your family. You can forget them with me. We could move—or travel, if you prefer. No one will be more devoted to you."
I paused to make sure he was finished. Henry already knew the answer as I bent to give him a hard kiss on the forehead. "I cannot be so rash, Henry. I love you, but…you are as a brother to me. I could not see the romanticism in a marriage with you."
"If you are worried about being bed, rest assured I have no problems in that department."
I chuckled softly. "No, Henry, I didn't say you did."
"But you were thinking it."
Well, I couldn't argue with that…
"Where have you been? It's almost dinner!" My mother crowed as I came through the veranda doors. Admiral Norrington and his future bride were nowhere to be found.
"I was visiting Henry Durmack."
Mother said nothing as I set my bonnet on the chaise and flopped beside it. "He proposed to me today."
"What did you say?"
"No."
"That boy has been proposing to you since you were eight. I'm glad you didn't take him seriously. He is on his deathbed."
"Mmm," I took a sip of tea before answering, "that may be. But so is Anne."
Mother slammed her teacup back on its saucer. "Watch your tongue!"
"No one can tell the truth around here."
"Hold that wretched tongue of yours and no one will have to lie to you. Your jealousy is an incurable thing."
Deciding not to reply, I sucked down the rest of my tea and stepped out into the hall to head up to my room. Charlotte appeared just as I opened the door to my room and waved me down. "Anne wishes to speak with you. She wants to give you a gift."
"Not now, Charlotte."
Charlotte gave me a long look, one that scrutinized relentlessly. "I see she's told you."
"Hence the 'not now, Charlotte'."
She took me by the arm and shook my out like a ragdoll. "Listen here, missy. The least you can do is go and see her. She loves you and you should be praising thanks to the lords that she is finally getting married. At nineteen she is growing older every day. Now, go."
Disgruntled, I began my small trek to my sister's room. I wondered silently what it was that she would want to give me. I certainly didn't deserve anything nor did I want anything from her. It wasn't a secret that I loved the Admiral. It had to be my sister who wouldn't know this small information about me. I debated whether or not to tell her when the door to her room opened.
Anne stepped out, dressed for a wonderful evening out at a dinner party. She looked sickly, but was walking upright and with pride. "I thought you weren't going to show!" Breathless, Anne ushered me into her room. "I have to give this to you for I won't be able to see you before you leave."
"Why? Where are you going?"
Anne flashed me a gallant smile whilst granting me a small kiss on my cheek before disappearing off to her closet. "I'm leaving to spend some time with Mrs. Norrington, James's mother. She has requested my presence."
When I took a glance about her room I almost burst out into years. Trunks had her clothes and necessities contained within them. She would be staying for a long time, I presumed. Engaged a day and she wasn't wasting any time in procuring her mark in his life. "Oh." My voice quivered.
"This," she appeared holding out something that flashed in the light, "was our grandmother's given to me by our mother. She said that it would give me good luck in finding a husband. Now that I don't need that I want you to have it."
The necklace fell into my hands, long, heavy with jewels, and smelt of perfume. I held it up to the light to find that it wrapped around the neck several times and at the very end hung a large lapis lazuli that mirrored my eyes. Blurry with tears, I looked up at my sister. "Th-thank you, Anne."
"I didn't realize you would cry! Come now, you will be back soon. Keep this around you at all times," she draped it over my neck, "and think of what you have to look forward to. I have persuaded mother to allow you to be back in time for the wedding. In nine months you will be back."
"Anne—"
"I must go now. I shan't be late. I feel so much life in this soul yet!" She laughed, plucked her cheeks, and turned to hug me. "Farewell, lovely sister. Grow up and make me proud."
"Anne, please—"
"I love you!"
Anne rushed out of her bedroom door leaving me stumbling for words in her wake.
