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Chapter 3

Miranda took a deep breath as she stood amongst the many guests that now stood scattered in the courtyard in celebration of the union of the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann, and Port Royal's new full fledged blacksmith, Will Turner. "Miss Andrews," James said as he walked over to her and she gave him a small smile.

"Commodore," she said quietly and James once again held out his arm.

"We are to congratulate the happy couple," he said stiffly and Miranda nodded her head before she laced her arm with his and pulled at the lace of the sleeve of her pale blue dress. Miranda smiled at seeing the lovesick smile on Elizabeth's face. "Turner," James said to Will and Miranda slipped away from him and moved to Elizabeth who immediately took Miranda's hands.

"Oh, Miranda, I am so glad to see you," Elizabeth said. "I did not know if you would come after your father's passing. However, Mr. Knox had said that you had news of your own." Miranda nodded as Elizabeth squeezed her hands.

"I myself have cause to celebrate, I guess you could say," Miranda said. The announcement was to be made after the party, but for some reason Miranda wanted to tell the now happily married woman that she would be joining her in the ranks of matrimony, just not so happily.

"Really?" Elizabeth asked glad to hear that Miranda could share in the happiness she was feeling.

"Yes," Miranda said finding it hard not to smile at Elizabeth's energy. "I am to wed the Commodore tomorrow afternoon." Elizabeth's smile faltered slightly and she glanced at James who was talking to Will, although he looked as if he would rather be back aboard the Black Pearl surrounded by pirates.

"Truly?" Elizabeth asked as she looked at Miranda once more and the dark haired woman nodded, her hanging curls bobbing about her head as she did so.

"Yes," Miranda said slowly. It took Elizabeth all of seconds to fully understand why Miranda was set to marry James and her heart went out to the slightly younger woman.

"Well, that . . . that is unexpected news, but happy news all the same," Elizabeth said before she let go of Miranda's hands and hugged her tightly. "He is a good and honorable man. He will treat you well," Elizabeth whispered and Miranda tightened her arms around Elizabeth before the women slowly parted.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Miranda said and Elizabeth gave her a reassuring smile.

"Elizabeth," James said and both women looked at him. "Congratulations," he said before and Miranda looked away from him and the sadness she could easily see in his eyes as he looked at the woman he truly wanted.

"Thank you, Commodore," Elizabeth said as Will took her arm and Miranda looked at them. "Miranda tells me that congratulations are due to you as well," she said hoping to ease his eyes from her and to the woman on his left. James, taking the bait, looked at Miranda as she looked at him. However, unlike when he looked at Elizabeth there was nothing in his eyes.

"Yes, we are set to be married," James said as he looked away from Miranda and between Will and Elizabeth. Miranda looked at the couple once more before he took her arm with his once more. "Nothing grand, a simple ceremony as Miss Andrews wished." Elizabeth nodded and smiled at Miranda.

"If I would have had my way, I would have been a married woman long ago with a simple ceremony myself," Elizabeth said and James' stiffening went unnoticed by all save for Miranda. "However, father insisted upon a large ceremony."

"Yes, well," James said quietly, "I think its best that Miss Andrews and I take our leave, you have many more guests waiting to share their well wishes. Good day." Miranda smiled at the happy couple as James turned her away.

"Good day, Elizabeth, Mr. Turner," Miranda said before James led her through the crowd. James was silent as they walked through and Miranda sighed quietly before she looked up at him. "If it was going to be so difficult for you to speak with her, why did you take me to give congrats?" she asked him as they came to a stop near one of the archways and he settled his light eyes on her.

"It is only proper, and you would have gone to wish Elizabeth well eventually," James said and Miranda's face set into a frown. There was such coldness in his tone that Miranda felt the chill in the warm September air.

"I would have, yes, but still," Miranda started but stopped when James looked away from her. "I am not so easily pushed, Commodore," she said causing him to set his eyes upon her once more. "I am vulnerable at this time, yes, but know that right now you have showed me a side that I never wish to see again."

"And what side is that?" he asked dryly, clearly caring nothing for what she was trying to say to him.

"Complete indifference," she said her voice shaking slightly and he frowned. "Not days ago you showed your concern for my worries and my happiness, but that concern seems to be gone. As we stood before Elizabeth and as we stand here now you look upon me with no emotion and no care; as if I were a speck of lint on your dark blue coat." Miranda looked away from him for only a second before he spoke.

"Miss Andrews," he said but she shook her head.

"Good day, Commodore," she said before she briskly walked past him, through the courtyard and to the street. She spotted Gerald easily enough and made her way to her carriage. At seeing her, Gerald quickly moved down from his seat and opened the carriage door.

"Miss Andrews are you well?" he asked her slightly worried at her flushed face and obvious state of her distress.

"Yes, Gerald," she breathed heavily as she took his hand. "I am fine, just take me home, please," she said and she climbed into the carriage with his help. Gerald nodded and closed the door before he quickly climbed back into his seat and urged the horses on.

James sighed as he rushed to the street only to see Miranda's carriage pulling away. He quietly cursed himself for letting his frustration at the situation he had put himself in out on Miranda when she had done nothing wrong.

"Commodore," Raymond said as he walked over to the taller man, and James sighed yet again as he turned and looked at the lawyer, who was once again wearing the confused expression on his face. "Is everything well? I could have sworn I saw Miranda rushing through the crowd."

"You did, Mr. Knox, and unfortunately it was my doing," James said before he took a deep breath. "Good day, Mr. Knox," he said and stalked up the path. Raymond frowned as he watched the Commodore walk away.

"What about the announcement?" Raymond called, but James paid no heed and continued down the street.

"Miss, you will look so pretty tomorrow," Millie said as she brushed out Miranda's hair and Miranda forced a small smile. "The Commodore is a fine match for you, Miss, I'm sure you'll be very happy."

"Yes, very happy," Miranda said doing her best to keep the sarcastic tone out of her voice. Part of her was still angry with the Commodore for treating her the way he had, and the other part of her was beyond nervous for the next day. "Has Mary fitted in well with you and Grace, Millie?" Miranda asked after a moment of silence and Millie sighed quietly.

"Yes," Millie said making Miranda frown.

"Is there something wrong, Millie?" she asked and Millie shook her head as she helped Miranda settle into bed.

"No, Miss," Millie said quietly. "There is nothing wrong, it is just Mary seems a bit stuffy." Miranda laughed quietly as she thought of the Commodore and how he was 'a bit stuffy' at times.

"I'm sure that once she is fully settled, all will be well," Miranda said and Millie nodded. "Good night, Millie, and thank you."

"You are most welcome, Miss," Millie said. "Good night." Millie blew out the candles and quickly left the room, leaving Miranda to her thoughts. However, those thoughts were unsettled as she drifted off to sleep and she hoped with all her might that whatever tomorrow brought, she would survive it unscathed.

"Today we stand before our friends and our God, to bring together Commodore James Norrington, and Miranda Andrews in the bonds of holy matrimony," Father Kent said as he looked at the couple before them. Miranda eyes were downcast and she felt as though her stomach was in knots as she stood, her arm laced with the Commodore's, before the priest. "Our ceremony is simple at the request of the couple, and so we shall begin without hesitation. Do you, James Edward Norrington, take Miranda Isabella Andrews to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Father Kent asked as he turned his eyes to James who stood proud and looked at him head on. "Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her until death do you part?"

"I do," James said, his voice nearly the same cold tone it had been the day before and that fact did not help Miranda's nerves. Father Kent nodded before he turned his eyes to Miranda, who slowly brought her green eyes to the priest's brown.

"Do you, Miranda Isabella Andrews, take James Edward Norrington to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and obey him until death do you part?" Father Kent asked and Miranda took a deep breath.

"I do," she said quietly and Father Kent held out a ring to James, who took it as the pair slid their arms apart and turned to face each other. Miranda found that she could not get herself to look James in the eye, so, she settled her gaze on his nose instead.

"James, place the ring upon Miranda's finger," Father Kent said and Miranda raised her left hand to James. James took her hand and slowly started to slide the ring onto her finger. Miranda met his gaze then as the ring was pushed into place, a perfect fit as the jeweler promised him it would have been. "The powers given to me by our Lord and land, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Commodore," Father Kent said a small smile on his face, happy to wed yet another couple in just two days.

Raising his right hand from her left, he gently tilted her chin up and met her eyes. It seemed as though he was apologizing to her without words as he leaned into her, and before Miranda knew what was happening his lips brushed hers. It was a phantom of a kiss, and Miranda was certain that if her eyes had not been open, she would not have even known he kissed her.

Millie, Grace, Marcus, and Gerald clapped happily; Millie even letting out a small cheer, while Mary clapped with a small smile on her face. Miranda smiled at James, a smile much to her surprise that he returned.

"Thank you, Father Kent for that wonderful ceremony," Raymond said as he stepped forward and Father Kent looked at him oddly before he smiled and nodded his head.

"Yes, although I say it was rather odd to have the ceremony in Miranda's yard, don't you think?" Father Kent asked as Raymond led him away and Miranda sighed quietly as she looked down at the bouquet of daisies Millie had gathered for her that morning.

"Mrs. Norrington," James said and Miranda looked up at him, they were now wed and yet he still did not call her by her first name. "I will ask you forgiveness now for my actions yesterday. I did not mean to upset you."

"It is alright, Commodore," she said quietly as she once again looked down at the flowers. "What is in the past is done, and cannot be changed. Perhaps I myself overacted a bit." James opened his mouth to contest her words, but found he couldn't ruin yet another day for her. So, instead he simply studied her. She did look lovely in the simple cream and gold dress she wore and her long dark curls cascaded down her back, covered by the white veil pinned in her hair. She looked up at him, and it was then that he noticed the tears in her eyes.

"You look lovely today," he said in hopes of seeing her smile once more and to rid the tears from her eyes. However, a lone tear rolled down her tanned cheek, and she hastily brushed it away.

"Thank you, Commodore," she said quietly.

"Commodore, Mrs. Norrington," Grace said with a smile on her face making the couple look at them. "Esquire Knox is waiting in the dinning hall; dinner will be served in but a moment." Miranda nodded her head at the elderly woman and once more looked to James, who held out his arm to her. Slowly, Miranda took his arm and allowed him to guide her into her – their – home.

As they walked, Miranda could not help but wonder just what fate still had in store for her.