For nearly three years Harriet and James, and Elizabeth and Will met in secret. James did not know of Will, so they went to different places: Elizabeth and Will in the blacksmith's, Harriet and James on the secluded end of the beach. "It sounds like I'm getting the shorter end of the stick here," Elizabeth joked after finding out where Harriet would meet James. "James suggested it, not me," Harriet explained. Not that she didn't like the idea...
Every Tuesday they would meet instead of going on the walks that Harriet and Elizabeth usually went on. There were times where their father would be suspicious. "Why is it that you and your sister always appear worn out after your walks?" he had asked. And they would usually reply either it was hot or they had walked a lot. He never really pressed the subject.
It was two months before Harriet and Elizabeth's sixteenth birthday. Harriet and James were at their usual spot in the secluded section of the beach. The sky was clear, a light shade of blue, save for a few wisps of clouds. The water lapped against the shore, making a soothing sound as Harriet and James sparred. She felt herself overpowering him.
"Are you getting tired, James?" she teased. Sweat was pouring down her forehead and back, but she fought with tremendous energy. She wasn't that worried about getting caught because if she looked like a man no one would really suspect much, would they? She changed in the back room of the blacksmith's shop when she drops off Elizabeth there. She had gotten the clothes from the men's clothing shop. The clerk had looked at her weirdly, but did not ask anything.
"Not at all," he feigned. He was getting tired. Harriet had grown strong in the time he has taught her.
She swung at him. He barely blocked it. He swung at her and she expertly dodged it. She knocked his blade from his hand and pointed her blade to his throat. His eyes widened as he held up his hands in submission.
"I submit," he said, breathing heavily. "You win."
Harriet smiled happily and lowered her blade. "You did a fine job yourself."
James turned a shade pinker than normal. He sat down on the beach. Harriet sat down next to him. This made him even more nervous.
"How have I done?" Harriet asked.
"You've grown strong Harriet," James told her nervously as they sat on the beach looking out onto the ocean. "You're quite skilled. I have to say, I'm quite proud of you."
Harriet blushed slightly. "Thank you," she said with a sheepish grin on her face. "I'm proud of you too."
James looked at her, slightly confused. "I beg your pardon?"
Harriet shook her head. "You've been able to teach me how to use a sword while having to deal with your busy schedule as a naval officer. Not only that, but you have been promoted as well. That's no easy feat, James."
James flushed. "It's not that big a deal," he said.
"Yes it is!" Harriet insisted. "Don't be so modest, Captain."
James blushed even more, suddenly aware of his status.
"I don't think you need lessons anymore."
That caught her by surprise. She enjoyed her time with James. She had gotten used to seeing him every week. Would she not be able to see him as often? She didn't know if she could bear it. She did not want it to end.
"I'm going to miss this," she said.
"I feel the same way," he said so softly that Harriet wasn't sure she heard it. He looked at her with nostalgic green eyes. She had grown up to be a fine woman in his eyes.
"Do you remember the first time you met me?" Harriet asked.
James smiled. "How could I forget?"
Harriet flushed a deep red. The way they had met had not been the most picture-perfect meeting. She was seven years old, and she and her twin were walking along the docks in England, and he was one of the officers stationed there at the time. Harriet was walking on the edge of the dock, trying to keep her balance, when she fell into the water. James dived in and pulled her back out. When they got up she wasn't breathing. When she finally did she coughed up the water that had been trapped in her lungs. Unfortunately for James, she accidentally coughed the water onto him. He hadn't forgotten it.
James laughed. "That was so long ago, and I can proudly say you have vastly improved in balance."
Harriet smiled. A rare occurrence it was to see James talk like that, so she made no comment that would embarrass him. Harriet hit him in the side of the arm. "...and strength," she added as James rubbed his sore arm.
James laughed. He then got up. "It's getting late. Your father will be looking for you soon." He held out a hand to her. She took it and got up. Then their eyes locked onto each other's. Harriet held the gaze as long as she could. She wanted to look into his mind and see what he really was inside. She wanted to see the true James. It was he who broke the gaze, flushing greatly and looking away. It left an awkward silence between the two.
"I'd better go," Harriet said. "Thank you."
She turned and started toward the blacksmith's. She couldn't very well arrive at home without her dress or Elizabeth now could she?
---
When she arrived at the blacksmith's Elizabeth and Will had just finished their lesson.
When they heard the door, they thought they were caught. They were relieved to see it was only Harriet, though slightly confused, because they didn't expect her for another half hour or so.
"Hello Harrie," Elizabeth greeted her. She and Will were both filthy. "You're early."
"We decided to take a break," Harriet explained. "How was your lesson?"
"Great!" Elizabeth replied, looking at Will. "He said I've done well and that I've grown strong."
"James said the same thing," Harriet smiled. "About me, of course. Actually, he said he thought I didn't need lessons anymore, since I've gotten so skilled." She could not help being slightly proud of her achievement.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Harriet Swann?" she smiled mischievously. "I challenge you, missy, to a duel."
"I don't think that's such a good idea, Elizabeth," Will said cautiously.
A smile curled on Harriet's lips. She unsheathed her sword and stood in ready position. Elizabeth followed suit.
"En guard," she said.
They both swung at each other, eyes filled with such fierceness you would not have believed they were sisters if not for their partial resemblance. Their swords clashed, creating sparks that flew everywhere and disappeared. They went at it, Will nervously watching from the sidelines. If something happened in the blacksmith's shop, it'd be his head.
Harriet and Elizabeth however didn't seem to mind, let alone remember he was there. When they competed, everything else about the world seemed to vanish. It was a twin thing. He wouldn't understand.
They swung at each other for what seemed like ages, until Will finally stopped them.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked sweetly, though it was a bit challenging, she being tired and grimy.
"Look," Will said. "You both are very skilled. It's hard to say who the better one is. Let's just call a truce."
The twins hesitated. Competition was fierce between the two of them, even if it was only friendly, so it was hard for them to call a tie. But they agreed to a truce, after some coaxing and pleading from Will, of course.
Harriet turned around and walked toward the back room. "We'll settle this some other time, Harrie," Elizabeth said. "You better watch your back."
Harriet spun around so quickly her head spun. Elizabeth smiled. "Just kidding."
Harriet just smiled and rolled her eyes.
Some things may never change.
---
"Father! How much longer do we have to wait?" Elizabeth complained.
"Oh hold on, darling! This will only take a minute longer..."
That's what you said a half an hour ago, Harriet thought.
You'd think he was shopping for himself, watching him rake through the material like looking for a needle in a haystack. But alas, that was not so. He was shopping for his daughters. It was to be their sixteenth birthday in two months, and he only wanted the best for them both, so he went shopping especially for them that day. Elizabeth and Harriet appreciated the gesture, though they found it painstakingly irritating to have to wait so long for him to choose a suitable option.
They were at Port Royal's most high-class tailor. Governor Swann was busy looking through racks and racks of fine material. He stopped looking just at the end of that rack and pulled out a material emerald in colour. "This is perfect!" The governor cried out in contentment. "It would go well with your eyes, Harriet!"
Harriet stared at the material in amazement. It was the most stunning piece of material she had ever seen. She held the material in her hand and gently felt the fine feel of it. And yes, it went well with her eyes, as well as the eyes of a certain naval officer...
"It's perfect!" Harriet said.
Governor Swann smiled a wide smile, happy that he had pleased one of his daughters. "Now, go over to that woman over there and tell her what you would want to put on the dress," he instructed Harriet, handing her the material and indicating to the person behind the counter across the room.
"Do I tell her what style I want it in?" Harriet asked.
"That won't be necessary, dear," he said. "I already told her what style it should be in." He turned toward the material rack and started looking for a material for Elizabeth.
Harriet remained smiling happily, though inside she dreaded the thought. She loved her father dearly, but he was too proper, and she wasn't sure if he knew what women wore these days. She was worried that he had chosen a style too conservative or too old-fashioned or some such thing. But she couldn't complain. Her father had spared no expense in making these dresses for her and her sister, and she didn't want to seem ungrateful. She swallowed her pride and walked up to the woman across the room.
She was an elderly woman, with grey hair matching her eyes and wrinkles shaping her face, telltale signs of a hard life. She seemed quite happy though, the skin around her eyes wrinkling whenever she smiled.
"Good day, miss," she greeted Harriet as she approached. "How may I help you?"
"Good day," Harriet answered politely. "I wanted to choose the embellishments for my dress." She handed the material over to the woman. "My father chose this for me. What do you suggest?"
The woman held the material with a somewhat nostalgic look in her eyes. "Your father chose a wonderful material," she told Harriet, smiling kindly at her from behind the counter. "It will look beautiful on you."
Harriet smiled back.
The woman turned around and started rummaging through the drawers behind her. "I have just the thing for it," she told Harriet, her back still turned. "Now where did I put it?"
As she kept rummaging through the drawers for the said embellishment, Harriet looked around the shop at all the dresses on display. Some she thought were pretty, some she thought were absurd. There was something that caught her eye, though. It wasn't a dress. Actually, Harriet didn't know what it was. It was the colour of flesh, with string along the front and back holding the two hip-length pieces together. It seemed to be of regular size at the bust, though it tightened towards the waist.
Who on earth would wear such a thing? she thought.
"Aha!" exclaimed the woman. "Here it is!"
Harriet turned back to her and gasped. The woman held in her hand the most intricate thread pattern Harriet had ever seen. It was made of gold thread and reminded her of the vines that grew on the side of her house. "It's beautiful!"
The woman smiled. "I thought you'd like it. It would go perfectly with your dress."
"I know!" Harriet said excitedly. "I'll take it!"
"Alright," the woman said. "I'll put it together with your material. I'll make your dress personally."
Harriet smiled. The woman was nice. She was happy she was making the dress.
"I have a question though," Harriet said.
The woman turned to her. "Fire away," she said, propping her head on her knuckles.
"The style my father chose..." Harriet began. "Is it...horrible?"
The woman laughed. She put her hand on Harriet's hand reassuringly. "Don't worry," she assured her. "Your dress will be beautiful. I'll make sure of it."
Harriet smiled at her. Before she turned to return to her family, she had one more thing to ask.
"What's your name?" she asked the woman. "So that I may send my thanks to you if you are not the one delivering the dress."
"My name is Josephine White," she replied.
"Mine is Harriet Swann," Harriet said, holding out her hand. "Lovely to meet you."
The woman shook her hand. "Lovely to meet you, Miss Swann."
With that, Harriet turned and returned to her sister and father excited.
How long will I have to wait for my dress? Harriet thought. I hope not too long.
A/N: Hmm... Well? A penny for your thoughts? Well, more like a cyber-penny, but anyways... How has my OFC been? Please review!
