"No."

"Norrington we have to talk about ..."

"No."

"But Norring…"

"Miss Hamilton, we are most decidedly not going to have this discussion. It is improper and ridiculous."

Alexandra huffed, "So is this is how it's going to be? You get to decide what is proper conversation and what is improper conversation? I do not believe that I can live with those terms."

"Well then, you can always marry Rowlands," he shot at her. Watching her pale, he regretted his impetuous comment.

She proudly met his eyes, "Blackmail, Norrington? I thought that you had more honor than that. This is a topic that will greatly affect our marriage and I thought it better to lay our cards on the table. I'd have thought that you would be relieved to know that you could expect no jealous tantrums from me when you decided to pursue," here she paused trying to think of the right word, "extracurricular activities."

Really, Alexandra fumed to herself; he was making this so difficult. It was not as if she were enjoying having this conversation. It was rather embarrassing to talk about this issue with one who had been like brother for many years.

In a gritted voice he said, "Just leave it. Contrary to whatever fiction you've created in your fertile brain, I am capable of exercising self control. I expect you to be able to do the same. For the foreseeable future, there will be no extracurricular activities for either of us. If the situation should change, I assure you that you will be the first that I shall notify. Now, can we get on with the planning?"

Not entirely happy with this response but realizing that she was unlikely to successfully further pursue the subject at this time, Alexandra agreed. Several hours later found them having finalized the majority of decisions regarding their forthcoming nuptials. At first she had wanted a strictly private ceremony but, as Norrington had pointed out, social obligations were a necessary evil in his profession and a large wedding would cover several in one fell swoop. It was as they were compiling the guest list that a truly awkward moment arrived. The list of names had grown to one hundred and still there was no mention of Governor Swann, his daughter, or his son-in-law. As unconventional as Alexandra might be at times, even she knew that to exclude them from the party would be a major social and political faux pas. Never one to shy away from unpleasantness, Alexandra took the plunge and stated matter of factly, "And of course the Governor and the Turners will be invited."

"Yes. Of course they must be invited," Norrington murmured and refused to meet her eyes.

Impulsively, Alexandra caught at his sleeve, "Don't worry. No one need ever know that ours is not a love match." When she saw the dark look on his face, she hastened to add, "Not just for your sake, for mine as well. I don't fancy being the object of speculation and pity amongst the social set." A mischievous grin lit her face, "Besides, it will drive Lily crazy if she believes that she actually was responsible for my happiness." As she spoke the words, Alexandra realized how true they were. She did not want people to view her as a poor replacement for Elizabeth nor did she want them to think that Norrington had only proposed out of duty. That was their private business and no one else need know. Annoying Lily was an added bonus to maintaining the charade.

Norrington gave Alexandra a speculative look. She never had been one to care much for others' opinions. That was why he was constantly having to lecture her about behaving properly. Why did she care if others knew the truth of their arrangement? This concern not three hours after she had so blithely announced that she believed that they both should feel free to engage in extracurricular, that very word set his teeth on edge, activities was puzzling. Deciding that trying to fathom the workings of Alexandra's mind was like trying to untie a Gordian knot, he shifted the topic of conversation.

"We will of course live in my house, but feel free to bring any of your personal belongings or furniture. Frankly, my home is rather spartan."

Alexandra glanced around the room. "There's not much left here that I would wish to take. After she married father Lily launched a campaign of redecoration, and I have no desire to continue to feel as if I'm living in a tea room. There is my bedroom set and a few pieces of furniture that I managed to squirrel away before Lily could sell them. My books will present the biggest challenge. Your library is already rather full; perhaps we could turn one of the spare bedrooms into library for me?"

"That is an excellent notion. You could also use it as a study to continue your work." Norrington agreed with a twitch of a smile on his lips. How could he have forgotten her books? He could not remember ever seeing her without a book in close proximity. Unlike many of his peers, he found the habit endearing. Her voracious reading had also meant that she could intelligently converse on a wide range of subjects, which was a talent to be admired in a hostess.

Alexandra snapped, "I realize that you see no value in my interests but I would appreciate it if you could refrain from being so damn supercilious."

Taken aback by this unfair accusation, Norrington was about to bite out a scathing reply when he realized that she had mistaken his humor regarding her reading as condescension regarding her work. "I was not making light of your studies. I understand that it means a great deal to you. What I can not comprehend is why you chose to pursue this avenue of inquiry when much of it has been discredited?"

"That's just the point. Mr. Gall was a womanizing self promoting charlatan who practiced poor science. However, I believe that in spite of his faults he stumbled onto a kernel of truth. His own prejudices caused him to look for external signs of brain functioning because that way he could attribute it to blood lines. Of course that is just absurd, no one is born to be a criminal. His primary theory was all wrong but his idea that areas of the brain are devoted to specific functions has some merit. Why Dr. Broca has found…"

She really is quite something when she's all fired up, Norrington mused silently to himself. Her uninhibited passion for her pursuits was refreshing after the past months spent in the company of young ladies who didn't have two opinions to rub together. Still, she would need to learn to curb some of her enthusiasm or risk offending others.

Suddenly Alexandra became aware that she was in full blown lecture mode. Smiling sheepishly she apologized, "I'm sorry. I let myself get carried away once again. I do have an appointment this afternoon, are we almost complete with our planning?"

"Yes. I can think of nothing else that we have to discuss," and here he paused uncertainly and took a small box from his breast pocket. "I suppose you should start wearing this as soon as possible. It will quell any rumors before they can start."

The emerald ring sparkled and sent a rainbow of light dancing across the far wall. "But this is not the ring that you gave Elizabeth!" Alexandra blurted out.

A look of annoyance settled on his face. "No, it is not," he agreed tightly.

"I'm sorry. Truly, I am not trying to be difficult. I'm just surprised. There was no need for you to buy a new ring. It doesn't matter to me." She had meant the words to be conciliatory but if anything Norrington's face revealed a significant increase in annoyance.

"It may not matter to you but it would set the social tongues wagging if I were to give you the same ring as Elizabeth. We've agreed that the circumstances of our marriage are our business only but we have to maintain some semblance of societal norms," he stated icily.

Alexandra felt as if she had failed some sort of test. "I... yes... of course..." she stuttered. "It just seems so," she faltered trying to find the correct word to describe the situation. The word sad kept coming to mind. Now that was odd. "So... extravagant," she finished rather lamely.

"I'm not exactly impoverished. However, if it warm the cockles of your frugal little heart, the ring was my grandmothers' and therefore required no outlay of capital."

Deciding that further protestations were useless and that the ring was truly beautiful and well suited to her, Alexandra simply settled for, "Thank you, Norrington."

Norrington heaved an exasperated sigh. "Miss Hamilton..."

"What have I done now?" came Alexandra's frustrated cry. "This is never going to work. We are continually bickering Norrington."

"James."

"What?"

"My... name… is… James. My men address me as Commodore. Acquaintances address me as Commodore Norrington. Friends address me as James and it is only fitting that my fiancée should also address me as James."

"But I've called you Norrington for years. It never seemed to bother you too much," Alexandra protested.

"You know very well that I dislike it and have always done so. That is precisely why you do it." He caught her eyes and held her gaze. "You may want to reconsider that strategy. After all, a husband who is constantly taunted by his wife may decide to," and here his eyes flicked towards her pale pink lips, "strike back. You might not like the consequences."

The air in the room suddenly seemed unbearably heavy and still. Was Norrington flirting with her? Once again Alexandra felt a tiny of frisson of fear in her stomach. No. It wasn't fear but more like anticipation. Well now, this was getting interesting. It seemed that Norrington had hidden depths. He might be a worthy adversary after all. She gave a feline smile and did a fair imitation of Lily simpering, "Of course James and you must call me Alexandra. No need for us to stand on formalities."

James was surprised to feel a tingling of fear run down his spine. No. It wasn't fear but more like anticipation. He could not fathom what had prompted him to make such a provocative remark to Alexandra. All he knew was that he had issued a challenge to her and that challenge had been met with one of her own. Well now, this was getting interesting.

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