A/N: Thanks to all who read and review! Keep them coming! Thanks to my good friend MadameDeficit1793 for her help on this chapter and the info!

Chapter 4: A day at Fort Charles

As the morning sun shined on Fort Charles, James along with Brenna and Nickolas walked to his office. Brenna was content to spend the day with her father and brother. Here, she would be able to read and play her favorite instrument, the lute. Isabella had her playing the piano and Brenna had somewhat enjoyed it, but she preferred to play the lute. She would be able to play all day without any interruptions. It was also easily portable to the gardens where she could sit amongst the flowers and strum along in the sun much to her mother's horror.

"Freckles! You should never leave the house without a hat on! You will be kissed by the sun!" Her mother were yelp as she ran to cover her daughter's head with a sun hat. It didn't do any good as she still received the sun's marks.

"I thought kisses were good."

"Not if they are from something other than a suitor. Even then, be wary of them. They can lead you into further complications which I shall not digress at this moment as you are far too young to be even thinking of kisses.

And so she would either play the lute or read at the Fort when she visited, which was rarer than rare.

Nickolas was happy as always to be in his environment that consisted of ships, swords, navigation maps and other various important navy instruments. Nickolas would also wander around the fort and one day happened upon an old office. It was very grand with expensive furnishings. One could tell it belonged to someone powerful because of the huge world map that covered an entire wall. It was left intact, papers, letters, ink, and quills scattered about the desk. Every time Nickolas ventured into the room, a cold shiver ran down his spine. Something was hidden in that room, something his parents did not want him to know.

Once they reached James's office, Brenna quickly went over to the shelf and grabbed her book. She smiled as she opened up to the page she had left on, and sat down on one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. Nickolas smirked while gathering a few parchments for James. They both enjoyed Brenna's company as she would hardly bother them and they were able to get some work done. Most women badgered their relatives for a few turns about the fort to spy on the handsome young officers that some would presume upon to marry. Brenna rather hid from them, making the soldiers grow worried that they were not handsome enough for an heiress to look at. They found many excuses to casually walk by James's office and were more often than not met by stern stares of disapproval. At that, they would scurry off without even completing their missions. James would close the door after some time so that no one could bother him further.

"Nickolas, will you start patrolling the brigs for me. I shall meet you down there in a few moments. Have Lieutenant Greyson accompany you." James said as he handed a few more parchments to Nickolas.

"Yes of course." Nickolas and left down to Lieutenant Greyson's office.

James turned and smiled as he saw Brenna already reading, not even noticing what was going on around her. She was directly in the sunlight, disobeying her mother's wishes as always. James walked over to where she was sitting and kneeled down before her.

"Is something wrong?" asked Brenna innocently. She turned a page but was now more focused on her handsome papa.

"No everything is fine. I just want to speak with you about something." James pushed her book down so she would look at him.

"I take it you have talked to mother." Brenna rolled her eyes. She loved her father, but she could sense one of his brilliant lectures was about to come.

"Last night actually. Angel…your mother is only looking out for your best interests as she loves you far too much from being healthy." In a way he understood Isabella. She just wanted to make sure her children ended up happy and secure with their lives. She didn't want them to go through what she and James had. Something that almost completely destroyed them. On the other hand he also understood Brenna. She just wanted to be free and have no worries. A carefree life was her one desire.

"I love her too. But every time I go with her to those gatherings, someone is always seeking my hand in marriage. I am sick of it. I really do not want to worry about this right now, all I want is to be left alone with my books and lute, and just…just be free like a gipsy!"

James's eyes became the pits of hell making his daughter shamefully turn her eyes to her hands. "Don't you ever mention a gipsy, do you understand?" James snapped as he stood and turned to face the large windows that faced overlooked the endless ocean.

"Sorry, I know how you despise them and pirates. But it is the truth. I wish to be free from this corrupted elite society."

James sighed. "Do you know how easy you have it? You can do what you please. If you were Mr. Turner then you would have a hard time just getting by. If you were a simple peasant, you could not live as free as you wish. If mother wishes you to be married soon, then you must be."

Brenna stood and turned about the room. Her corset was killing her and she wanted desperately to take it off. She had almost made it out of the house without wearing one, but her mum had caught her and forced her into it yet again. "If mum wants me to marry…then I will. But not to a man of propriety. I shall fashion myself an ordinary husband who takes the simple pleasures of life and enjoys them with his heart."

"As long as he has a Count, Comte, Baron, Duke, Lord or other title attached to his name, that is all very well."

Brenna snickered to herself. "I think I shall marry a simple Mr."

James eyed her with anger. "You will not. No daughter of mine will marry outside of her station."

"Why? Nickolas is inheriting everything. Robin already has her life of a socialite. What is there for me? A life of books and lutes is what's for me. There is no large sum of pounds in which my name is attached to."

James shook his head. She was awfully wrong. There was a large sum attached to her name but Isabella had insisted that they keep it to themselves as it might never come into use later on down the road. Brenna could very well end up a spinster and they were both damned if she did. Brenna had about two years to find a suitable husband or she was destined to marry Christian. "You may change your mind." James mumbled beneath his breath unnoticed by his daughter.

James turned back to his work and Brenna to her book to continue a long, leisurely afternoon catching freckles so her mother would faint when she pranced home…

Nickolas contently walked to Leuitinant Greyson's office. He was one of the few officers Nickolas actually liked. The rest would be so intimadated by his father and always seemed to misunderstand an order and do something completely wrong. This of course would irritate James, and Nickolas would just shake his head.

Upon entering the small and humble office, Nickolas noticed this simple yet pretty young woman in a light blue dress. One could tell she is not very high in the elite group, her dress was not as extravgent as his mother's or sister's , her black tresses in a simple loose bun. She had fair skin, it was paler than Brenna's, but then again she is always disobeying Isabella. She was the only child of Lueitinant Greyson. She was kind and caring, but very quiet at times. Nickolas barely got a word out of her. Annalise Greyson was the young woman's name.

"Good morning Miss Greyson". greeted Nickolas.

""Oh"! Annalise spun around in a fright.

"I apologize Miss Greyson, I did not mean to startle you, sorry". replied Nickolas feeling bad for what he just did.

"No its fine, I have been quite frightened lately I don't know why. But I am fine, I trust you are here with your father".

"Yes, and my younger sister, Brenna. Mother finally let her spend the day at the fort". replied Nickolas.

"That's good to hear". said Annalise who was always nervous to be in Nickolas's presence. They stayed in awkard silence for a few minutes.

"Well I must go find your father, I have some work to get done for my father, you how he likes to be always on time with his work". smirked Nickolas

"That is Admiral Norrington". giggled Annalise as Nickolas bowed to her and left. She watched him intently as he left. She had a fondness towards Nickolas, but she knew she would never have him, she was not of his stature. But alas poor Annalise could only be with him in her dreams...

A/N: Hope you all liked Annalise, more to come! Oh and a Lute is a guitar. That is what they called it in the 18th century. Update soon to come! Please R&R!