Such Great Heights Chapter 4
A/N: thanks for the lovely reviews and for favourite-ting the story! I know that it has been a while since I updated, but I have been swamped with homework, had writers block and also spent three days of my week walking around the city! But I will try to become more regular with the updates, I promise! Anyway! Have a read and don't forget to review!
Edith's first impression of Port Royal was that it was very different from the expectations she had dreamed up in her head. Instead of their being complete and utter chaos around the town and docks, it was quiet, almost sleepy. Edith in all honesty had been expecting some sort of pirate town where the British nearly had no control at all, but her arrival only consisted of seeing a normal scene which she would expect to see in a village not far from London. There were markets, several dress makers along with shoemakers, several specialty stores and beautiful houses. Edith had never seen such clear water and white beaches before she stepped off the ship into Port Royal.
But as soon as she stepped on the weathered planks of the docks, the good opinion of Port Royal Edith had immediately dissolved. Mrs Norrington insisted that they meet their son on the docks, instead of heading up to the fort and meeting them there, and in the afternoon sun, it was a very long wait. A young first lieutenant was sent to them, and Edith felt sorry for him as he spent several minutes trying to reassure Mrs Norrington that her son would be coming as soon as possible.
Finally, the revered Commodore came, taking as much time as possible to get to his parents. He wore a cocky smirk, which by naval standards wasn't hid very well and Edith decided that he was most definitely like his mother. James Norrington presented himself like any other naval officer, hidden under layers of clothing and Edith asked herself how he was not fainting in the thick overcoat he was wearing. He was clean shaven, and his hair was covered by the white wig which any high ranking naval officer wore and seemed the same old boring and cocky officer.
The carriage ride became awkward when he caught her staring at him in distaste as he went on about how wonderful the town was. How he had worked so hard to make it become what it was and how he had become the 'scourge of piracy'. It was all so very boring and monotonous.
Soon they pulled up at a house that really didn't look like the type of house that a Commodore would not own. It was too big to be a large house, but too small to be a mansion and was not showy at all, something that a rich merchant would own rather than the commander of naval forces on an island. The house was made of a type of stone that Edith had never seen before which was a sandy colour and the white trimmings on the porch, windows and doorways, which made the house, possess a subtle elegance.
The Commodore and his father were the first ones out of the carriage, and waited on both sides of the door for the two women to get out. Admiral Norrington helped his wife down and onto the cobblestone drive, and like before, the Commodore offered his hand. Looking at the ground and then up at the house, Edith decided to swallow her pride and just let the Commodore help her down, just that once. Placing her hand in his, Edith placed one foot on the ground and gracefully stepped out of the carriage.
Moving her hand quickly out of his grasp, Edith moved behind Mrs Norrington as they walked past the house staff that had arranged themselves in an orderly line. Edith was quietly shocked as she entered through the doors. The inside of the house was clean, neat and had a timeless look about it. The floors were a beautiful marble and a large staircase wrapped around the back wall, which commanded the attention of those who stood in the foyer. To the left were three large doors, which were all closed and on the right side of the foyer were two doors, of which one was open.
Standing awkwardly, Edith watched as Mrs Norrington rather rudely walked into the open room and started looking around. "James! The view from here is wonderful! You must have worked so hard to get a property like this!" she called from the room. Trying not to smile as the Commodore suddenly looked flustered, Edith bit her lip and turned her head as she watched him tail his mother helplessly around the house, trying to evade comments his mother made.
"James! This ballroom is far too small! How are we meant to hold an engagement ball here!" Edith choked when she heard the words leave Mrs Norrington's mouth. "This could probably hold only half of this small town!" She said as she came back to the foyer where Edith and Admiral Norrington had been standing.
"If you plan for us to be married within the month, will there be enough time?" The Commodore asked cautiously as he directed them to the dining room where his staff had set up a meal for them in a short amount of time.
"Of course there will be James. I have planned it so that hopefully, if we have enough time I'm sure we could organise it so that it is next week." Mrs Norrington said brushing off his comment as she sat at the head of the table. The Commodore looked disgruntled as he took a seat that was across from where Edith sat herself down.
"And have you asked Miss Reynolds what she wants?" he asked, not looking at his mother, but straight at Edith. Moving uncomfortably under his intense gaze, Edith turned her face downwards and looked at the china that sat on the table in front of her.
"Oh that does not matter James, we'll start getting ready for the wedding. We'll also have to work around the times you work at the fort and make sure that all of Port Royale knows that you, their loyal commander and protector is getting married! I'm sure that w-"
Mrs Norrington was cut short by the arrival of dinner and soon the only sound in the dining room was the noise of the silverware hitting the china plates. Edith kept her gaze focused on the plate in front of her, but when she looked up, she noticed that the Commodore and his mother where fiercely looking at each other. Moving her gaze down to the opposite end of the table, Admiral Norrington was intent on keeping his eyes on the plate of fish that was in front of him.
"Dear, don't you think that it is best to leave all of this conversation until a later date? It is becoming late and we are still to see Edith off to her accommodation." Admiral Norrington said in his quiet, yet commanding voice.
Moving from the table, Edith stood and gently pushed the chair in and went to stand at the front door. If the Norrington's had any unresolved business that could not wait, she was not going to get involved. In an effort to pass time, Edith gave another observation of the foyer and looked at the paintings that graced the wall. One was of the ocean, swirling blues, greens and whites, the ocean being chaotic, but graceful and beautiful at the same time. The one next to it was of the bay in Port Royal, which showed off all of the beautiful features that the small town possessed. As she looked closer at the two portraits, she noticed there was no artist's signature in the corner.
A throat was cleared, and Edith spun around. She was met with deep green eyes, and instinctively took a step backwards. "Those are very nice paintings, where did you get them from?" Edith asked in a quiet voice.
"I found a shop that did them for me specially." he said quickly as he examined the paintings. "We should be getting to the inn where you are staying. I had your possessions sent to where you are staying" Nodding, Edith watched as the Commodore gathered his things and opened the door for her. Moving through the door, Edith walked down the drive to the carriage and helped herself in.
When the Commodore pulled himself in and tapped the roof of the carriage, the horses went forward and pulled them down the hill. Edith watched as Ra spent his last few seconds gracing the ocean, before pulling itself beyond the horizon.
The inn where Edith was staying was in one of the nicer parts of town and was beautifully comfortable for those who would come and go through the town. Stepping out of the carriage and into the inn, Edith was met with the most wonderful smell of a culinary delight and the warmth of a fire for the cooling night.
"Miss Edith" was barely heard, but Edith spun around at the name and watched as Emma pulled herself from a chair and walk to her side. "Your rooms have been taken care of, so that when you go upstairs you can retire to bed. Your bags have also been unpacked and the wedding dress ha-" Emma cut herself off and quickly curtsied "Good evening Commodore."
"Good Evening" he said before turning to Edith who turned around when Emma became flustered. "I'm sure we will be meeting again soon and I look forward to it." Bowing, he left the two women standing in the foyer.
"Well Emma, I'm not sure about you, but I think that it is a rather good time to retire for the night."
The little room that was Edith's bedroom was quiet as the two women prepared to retire for the night. The only noise that was heard was the occasional creak of furniture or floorboards, and the roar of the fire in the grate.
"So Miss, what do you think of the Commodore?" Emma said as she placed a dress on a wire hangar.
"Dreadfully conceited and boring. He's also very pig-headed like the rest of the British naval officers. He seemed to take great joy in watching one of his men struggle to deal with Mrs Norrington, while he just took as much time as possible to make his way down the dock." Edith replied as she finished brushing her hair.
"Yes Miss, but you have only known him for so many hours. Do you really think it best to shoot him down so quickly? He could have actually been doing something on the docks, you just do not know."
"I'm not sure, but he still seems to be so very much like his mother. The only real thing from his father I can see is the fact that he is a naval officer." Edith murmured as Emma moved behind her and began weaving her hair into a braid.
"You must give him more time Edith. You do not know what he is like not in the presence of his parents." Emma pinned the braid into place. "And if I may be so bold miss, he is quite the handsome man too, those eyes…" she trailed off dreamily.
"Well if you think him so handsome, why don't you marry him?" Edith sniped as she helped Emma pull down the covers. At the hurt look on her friends face, Edith quickly made amends "Oh Emma, I'm so frustrated."
"I understand Miss, but as I have said before, give him a chance. He will be good to you if you are welcoming and come willingly into his life. It may be that he acts different when in the presence of others." Emma pulled the covers back over Edith and began to smooth the covers back.
"Emma, I appreciate the wonderful advice, but I don't think that someone like me is going to change a man like the Commodore. I'm just a merchants daughter from England, who is being forced to marry someone who I've never met before and then produce his children!"
"Just wait and see" Emma said as she blew out the candles around the room and closed the door softly behind her.
"I doubt it." Edith said as she rolled onto her side.
A/N: hey guys, they changed the review button so that it is more noticeable! Give a review on your way out!
