Disclaimer: Still don't make money of POTC. Still don't own Norrington.
Chapter 3: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Marianna took a few minutes before she could speak coherently again.
In that time, Groves spoke up. "If you don't mind, Lady McGarvey, I told Colin that it was only proper to ask you first."
"It is no trouble at all…Aileen, will you tell cook that we'll be needing another setting at the table?"
Her sister went of to do her bidding. Mari offered Theo a drink in the parlor while they waited.
"Are you well then?" Theo asked.
"Quite well indeed."
There was a rather large pause there that grew larger and larger.
Colin broke the silence, telling Groves all manner of things. Mari smiled softly as Theo listened solemnly to every word and told the boy more about his life in the Royal Navy.
"I want to join the navy!" Colin exclaimed.
Mari smiled at her brother. "Colin, you're a baron, and you've a responsibility to your title…"
Theo placed a hand on the lad's shoulder. "Your sister is right, you know. Everybody has their place in the world. Some of us must be sailors and others must be barons. You've got a responsibility to take care of your sisters and protect them."
Colin stood up straight and puffed out his chest. "Yes sir!"
Mari laughed as Aileen came in and announced dinner to be served. As they settled down to eat, Marianna asked the group at large as to how they had met.
Aileen provided the answer. "We were walking along the beach when a gust of when blew my hat clean off my head and down the beach. Colin and I both chased after it, but we clearly knew we could not catch it. It was then that the Lieutenant," Aileen blushed, "picked the hat up and brought it to me. Colin invited him to dinner in thanks…"
Theo spoke, "and he did it most properly as befitting a gentleman."
Mari grinned at her younger brother. "Perhaps there is hope for you yet brother."
Colin gave her a cheeky grin.
"Miss Murdoch," Theo said to Aileen, "What…"
Theo was quite attentive to Mari's sister during the meal. For some reason, Marianna experienced the most peculiar pain as she watched their exchanges. Aileen was shy and demure, and Mari couldn't fault Theo for being captivated. Then why did she feel like screaming to get his attention?
What was worse was the fact that Aileen appeared to like Lieutenant Groves as well. Mari loved her sister, but it rankled when she thought that Aileen might be infatuated with him.
In the midst of her imaginings, Mari never noticed that Theo managed to glance at her with every chance he had.
During supper, she couldn't surmise his true thoughts, which were glad that he'd had the happy chance of running into her family or that he concentrated on her siblings because he became tongue-tied when trying to talk to her…
The meal ended and Groves began to leave. Mari escorted him to the door. As they walked down the hall, the family dog, Ian, bounded towards them with Colin chasing the pet at a dead run. They knocked into Mari, who began to fall. However, she was saved by Theodore who caught her in his arms.
They both froze, staring at each other in shock.
His eyes…she thought dazedly.
Say something, you fool, he berated himself.
"Be careful." Theo admonished.
She stiffened. "I'm always careful, sir. I've been taking care of myself for quite awhile now."
Suave, Theo, Very Suave…
"Yes…well…"
"Quite." she whispered.
Groves finally realized the impropriety of the fact that he still held her. It hadn't occurred to him until that point because he was quite enjoying the position…and the fact that they hadn't been talking…which meant he wasn't making a fool of himself.
He released Marianna. "I must be going…" he said.
She curtsied. "Until we see each other again…"
"Which hopefully will be soon." He smiled, silently congratulating himself on the fact that he'd sounded coherent that time…
He bowed, kissed her hand, and left. Mari went upstairs to find Aileen.
Entering her sister's room, Mari said, "Aileen…"
Her sister turned to face her. "Yes?"
"Have you taken…a fancy to the Lieutenant?"
She'd not meant to ask that, but she'd been dying all night to know.
Aileen sighed. "Oh, I don't know. He's handsome and kind…but I don't feel the spark I want to feel with a gentleman…"
Marianna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." she muttered.
"What was that? Do my ears deceive me or do I think I hear my sister fancying someone?"
"Of course not! Besides, I think it was clear that the Lieutenant liked you. He talked to you most of the night…"
Aileen smirked. "What you didn't notice was that he was stealing glances at you all night…and at the beach, he was asking scads of questions about you…"
"Perhaps he wanted to know if I would allow you to be courted by him…"
"Hardly. Be prepared sister dear. For I think you might be engaged before I am!" Aileen giggled when Mari threw a pillow at her…
"I think we can consider this matter closed. I just wanted to tell you that I'll be going out. I'm going to loiter in a tavern frequented by sailors to see if I can get familiar with the patrons in hopes they'll have information…"
Aileen frowned. "I was hoping you'd gotten over that foolish plan…"
"I haven't." Mari said determinedly.
"I have half a mind to tell your Lieutenant Groves what you're up to!"
"YOU WILL NOT, AILEEN JOY MURDOCH! AND HE IS NOT MY LIEUTENANT!"
"Deny it all you want, but let me make this clear: If I think you're going to be in extreme danger because of this, I will tell someone…"
"I'll be safe. Father taught me to use a gun, much as mother didn't want me to learn. Make sure Colin goes to sleep…I'll knock on your door when I return…"
Mari left her sister's room and went into her own. Thirty minutes later she completed her disguise: her hair was piled under a tricorn hat, and she was clad in a plain shirt and cheap breeches. It was time to start her investigation…
Meanwhile...
After the supper at Lady McGarvey's house, Theodore was feeling a bit keyed up and chose to walk a bit to relax. He found himself in a tavern that the officer's frequented often and sat for a couple of drinks with a few of his fellow navy men.
Time passed and eventually Theo decided it was time to return to his quarters. Alone. It seemed as if he were alone quite a bit lately. In the past few years, his best friends had all married and were quite in love with their wives. He didn't begrudge them that. Lord knew, the Commodore and Lieutenant Gillette deserved happiness. However, it had become all too apparent that Theo was the odd man out in many situations.
He'd once proudly proclaimed that it would be a long time until his neck was caught in the noose of matrimony. As he recalled, neither Norrington nor Gillette had believed him. Theo now thought they were right; it was time he married and started a family.
And that led him back to Mari. She'd entranced him from the moment he saw her, so much so that he'd tripped over his own feet. He could vividly see her as the bride to his groom. However, Theo realized he knew nothing of her character besides what he had gleaned from her sister. He would have to get closer to her in order to find out if the feeling in his gut matched reality. What scared him was approaching her about his feelings…Theo had so often said something stupid…and to perhaps court Mari…he would have to be on top of his conversation…
He heard footsteps rapidly approaching at a run. Turning to see, he placed his hand on his sword. Norrington and his officers tried their hardest to clean up Port Royal, but it wasn't always safe at night...
A small man ran toward him.
"Help me!" the high voiced stranger implored.
"If I can be of assistance…"
Pushing Theo against the wall, the stranger began kissing him hard on the lips…
AN: Whoever suggested that Murdoch was in reference to Jeff Murdoch from "Coupling," I have to say that I actually didn't think about it when I used the name. :) I jumped from McGarvey to Murdoch…but I'm sure that that's why the name came into my brain! I love Jeff…but my real love is Steve (partially because of Jack Davenport!).
Finally moved into my dorm today. School starts Monday!