Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. However I do own Rosalie.
Author's Note: Hi everyone! Here is the next chapter! I enjoyed writing this one and it's another long chappie so I hope you like it. Please read and review! I really appreciate hearing any comments and thoughts you may have.
A huge big thank you to AnimeFan918, keecha and brunette25-08! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Also a big thank you to all my readers!
Chapter Seven
Rosalie didn't know what to say. She just stared at Will silently, going over his words again and again in her mind. I don't want you wandering around out there on your own. It wasn't just the words themselves either. It was how he had looked into her eyes when he had said them. Those beautiful deep brown eyes of his had been boring straight into hers. For a moment, one brief moment, Rosalie had been sure that there was a hidden meaning behind those words.
But now that she had managed to shake herself from her stupor she realized how ridiculous that was. He hadn't meant anything. He was just concerned for her safety, as anyone with a conscience would be if they were in his place. She broke their eye contact and looked down. She felt stupid and was quite sure her face would give her away. She didn't want Will to know what had crossed her mind, even if it had only crossed her mind briefly.
"I'll go write that note," said Will suddenly and Rosalie looked up as he rose to his feet and walked away from her. He walked over to a flight of wooden stairs that led up to a loft and turned back to face her. "I'll just be up here. You sit and rest and if you need anything just call. I won't be long."
Rosalie nodded and then he turned and climbed the stairs. Once he was gone Rosalie turned her attention to her surroundings and looked around the blacksmiths. It looked to her as if Will had been working before she arrived and she hoped that she wasn't keeping him from anything too important. It occurred to her that Will Turner had come to her rescue twice now. She hoped the man didn't think her incapable of looking after herself or staying out of trouble.
If she was honest she was glad that Will had told her to sit and rest for a while longer. Her legs seemed to be made of rubber and she felt quite weak and tired as if she had been running a race. She knew that Will was right in making her stay until her brother could pick her up. And she couldn't deny that she didn't mind staying in Will's company for a bit longer.
She clutched the blanket more tightly around her as her thoughts returned to what her brother would say when she eventually got home. He would surely be angry with her for wandering off again. He wouldn't understand why she had done it and now that she wasn't so mad at Wexley, she could see it had been silly of her and she could have very easily gotten hurt. She didn't know the town very well yet and her brother had always warned her not to wander far unaccompanied. She should have just bitten her tongue and told Wexley to take her home. She could have had a good rant to her brother and Charlotte about how rude Wexley had been and that would have been it. She wouldn't be sitting in the smithy causing trouble for Will and she wouldn't have been attacked by that man.
Her breathing quickened at the memory of the knife pressed to her neck. If it had slipped one inch she would be dead now, lying in a pool of her own blood in that alley. She shuddered at that thought.
That man knew my name, thought Rosalie. How did he know that? I'm sure I've never seen him before in my life. It didn't settle well with her at all that a strange man she had never met before knew her name. And what was that about a necklace, she thought. That man had seemed to think she had it but she couldn't believe that any of the ones she owned were of any real value and it was a lot of fuss for a piece of jewellery. And this key, the man mentioned. What was that all about?
Rosalie continued to ponder this until she heard the sound of Will coming back down the stairs. "How do you feel now?" he asked, coming over with the note in his hand.
Rosalie smiled. "I feel much better. You really don't have to go to all this trouble, you know. I'm quite sure I could manage to walk now."
Will laughed but still shook his head. "I don't think that's wise. Your brother would have my head if I let you go out there again. I think it's best if he comes and collects you from here himself."
"I suppose you know best," said Rosalie, grinning. "But you could always walk me back yourself."
Will chuckled. "I feel you should stay off your feet a while longer yet. You've had quite a scare after all."
Another shiver ran down Rosalie's spine and she clutched the blanket tighter around her neck, as she thought again about what could have happened to her if she hadn't managed to get free.
"I'll get someone to deliver this note to your brother," said Will, walking over to the door and exiting the shop. Rosalie waited and he came back a few minutes later. "I've given it to young Oscar from next door. He says he will take it straight away."
"Thank you," said Rosalie. "I hope I'm not being too much trouble. I'm afraid I've needed you to get me out of trouble twice now. You must be fed up with me."
"Oh no, Miss Middleton," said Will at once, sitting back down beside her. "I'm pleased I've been able to help."
Rosalie blushed and looked down to hide her red cheeks. "Is it a habit of yours to help young women when they find themselves in trouble, Mr. Turner?"
Will chuckled deeply again and she found herself thinking she liked hearing him laugh. "Not if I can help it, it isn't," he said, grinning. Then he winked at her and said, "But then again I can see it becoming so, if it was you I was rescuing all the time."
Rosalie's heart jumped in her chest and a shock shot down her spine when he winked at her. She was sure her face was aflame now but she managed to smile up at him and say, "Not that I would mind having you rescue me again, but I do not want a repeat of today any time soon."
Will's smile faded at this and he slowly reached out and grasped Rosalie's hand gently. "No, I bet you don't."
Rosalie found herself wanting to move closer to the man in front of her. His hand was so warm and she could only imagine what it must feel like to be in his arms, wrapped in his embrace. She squeezed his hand briefly, itching to move forwards and wrap her arms around him. Rosalie swallowed as Will reached up with his other hand to push a strand of her hair behind her ear. She shuddered again, but this time it was not because of fear.
"Are you sure you are not harmed?" asked Will, softly. He wanted to make completely sure the woman before him didn't have a single scratch.
Rosalie nodded her head, suddenly unable to speak.
"Can you tell me what happened?" continued Will, leaning forwards in his chair.
Rosalie bowed her head and nodded again. "Yes. As I told you before I wandered off, away from Lieutenant Wexley. I think I must have been deep in thought and the next thing I know is that I have wandered into an area that I do not know. I turned to retrace my steps and was stopped by this man. I asked him to let me go but he would not."
Will closed his eyes as he clenched his jaw. If he ever found out who this man was, he would kill them. He was feeling it again; that incredible protective urge that he had thought he would never feel again.
"He asked me for this necklace. I wasn't even wearing a necklace so I thought he must be crazy. I told him I didn't know what he was talking about but he wouldn't let me go. Then he started babbling on about this key. I kept telling him I didn't know what he was going on about and then he pulled out a knife. I was getting really scared then but I managed to kick him and I broke free. Then I just ran. Luckily I managed to find my way here. I knew I could count on you to help me and I was right," said Rosalie, smiling now.
Will returned her smile. "I would never turn you away."
Rosalie blushed but then remembered something else. "There's one more thing. The man called me Miss Middleton. How do you think he knew my name?"
Will frowned. "I don't know. He probably heard it from someone else. I'm quite sure you're the talk of the town at the moment," he told her after a pause.
Rosalie's eyes widened. "Me? I'm the talk of the town? What makes you say that?"
"Well it's not every day a Lieutenant asks his lovely sister to come and live with him is it?" said Will, smirking.
Rosalie laughed. "I suppose you're right. Do you really think he could have picked it up from gossip?"
"It's the only explanation I can think of," said Will, shrugging. "He might have seen you walking with Wexley and then when the opportunity arose tried to take advantage of it. He probably thought a lady like you could have a few valuable jewels on her person and couldn't resist having a go."
Rosalie nodded and sighed. "I think you're right. I do hope I don't stay the topic of peoples' conversations for too long though."
Will chuckled. "I doubt you will. I'm sure there will be a new scandal for them to talk about soon."
Rosalie smiled but then her grin turned into a yawn.
"You're tired," said Will. "It's no wonder either. Why don't you have a lie down upstairs until your brother arrives? I'm sure he will be a while yet and some sleep will do you good."
"That does sound like a good idea," admitted Rosalie, "as long as it's not too much bother."
"I wouldn't have offered if it was," said Will, getting to his feet and pulling her up too. He felt relieved when she was able to stand without much help; her legs must be feeling better. He took her arm properly and then led her up the stairs to the loft. "It isn't much but it's comfortable," he said, when they reached the top.
"It's lovely," said Rosalie sincerely, whilst looking around.
Will smiled and led her over to his bed. He suddenly felt very awkward. He was standing by his bed with a woman that he admittedly found very attractive and all he could think about was how much he would very like to get in the bed with her. He scolded himself for such thoughts. He had to stop thinking of her like that.
What would her brother think? He wasn't sure it was entirely appropriate of him to offer her his bed like this - especially as they were very much alone - but it wasn't like he had another choice was it. The poor woman had had a traumatic experience and needed to rest. Her brother wouldn't be that long anyway and she could just rest her eyes until he got there. "Here you go. You take a nap if you want and I'll keep a lookout for your brother."
Rosalie smiled and letting go of his hand, proceeded to climb up on top of the covers. "I must thank you again for your kindness," she said, looking up at Will.
Will swallowed as he tried to clear his mind of the thoughts that had sprung up when she had climbed up on his bed. "You just get some sleep," he managed to tell her.
Rosalie nodded and lay down before closing her eyes. She fell asleep almost instantly.
xxxxxx
Will was sitting by the side of his bed, watching the rise and fall of Rosalie's shoulders as she slept. She was lying on her side. Her dark hair was spread out over the pillow beneath her head and her lips were parted slightly as she breathed deeply in and out.
Will groaned quietly and covered his face with his hands. It was taking a lot of self control not to lie down beside her and kiss those lips of hers. She looked like an angel in sleep and he was finding it harder and harder to ignore his deepening attraction to her. He knew it was wrong of him to feel the way he did and he kept telling himself that he had to ignore it. He couldn't allow himself to feel attracted to her. It would cause too much trouble and heart ache if he didn't.
He was still in love with Elizabeth and he knew it. Up until recently she was the only woman he had ever felt this attracted to, and also the only woman he had assumed he would ever feel this attraction for. But here he was, trying to ignore what he was feeling for Rosalie Middleton. It didn't make sense.
When Elizabeth had broken off the engagement he had told himself he would never love another woman. He wasn't even sure he could even if he wanted too. That woman had been his everything. The only woman he had been able to see himself being with for the rest of his life. Therefore when she had left him, he had resigned himself to being a bachelor for the rest of his life. He had told himself he would be happy with the memory of what love had felt like and he had been sure he would never feel anything for any other woman.
But he couldn't deny what he felt for Rosalie. But he also knew it couldn't continue. He could never be with another woman, not when his heart still belonged to Elizabeth. He wasn't sure he would ever get it back.
Rosalie stirred in her sleep and turned slightly, drawing his attention back to her. She deserved more anyway, he thought. She deserved to have a man who loved her utterly and completely and he wasn't able to do that. Perhaps he should stay away from her for a while, until he could get his hormones in control again.
Suddenly Will was disrupted from his thoughts by a sharp knock on the front door downstairs. Glancing once more at Rosalie he got up and went to answer it. It was Lieutenant Middleton. The man was very pale and he looked extremely worried.
"Is she alright?" he asked as soon as Will had opened the door. "What happened?"
Will stood back to let the man past and then started to explain what had happened.
"Thank god she managed to find her way here," said Middleton, after Will had finished talking. He looked around the shop. "Where is she?"
Will's face reddened as he wondered what the man would say when he realised his sister was asleep on his bed. "Oh…she's upstairs…having a lie down. I thought she could do with a rest."
"Oh right," said Middleton, with an unreadable expression on his face.
"It's this way," said Will, leading the way up the stairs and over to his bed. He noticed the Lieutenant look around the room and gritted his teeth for the tirade that was sure to come. But it didn't. Instead Middleton stroked the hair back off Rosalie's face and gazed down on her with obvious concern.
"Is she hurt?"
"No," replied Will. "I think she's just shocked and tired."
"That's good. I should get her home quickly then. I've got a carriage waiting outside," said Middleton. "Thank you for taking care of my sister, Turner."
"I would do it again without hesitation," said Will. The Lieutenant looked up at him with a strange expression for a few moments before turning back to his sister.
"I won't wake her now. She must be exhausted," he told Will. He then very carefully gathered his sister up and hoisted her into his arms, before turning to face the blacksmith. "Thank you once again, Mr. Turner. Good evening."
"You can use the side door," said Will, opening a door that led on to a flight of stairs that went down outside the building. "Good evening Lieutenant." He then watched as Lieutenant Middleton carried his sister down the stairs and then as he climbed into the carriage. Only when the carriage had trundled out of sight did he turn and go back inside.
xxxxxx
The first thing Rosalie became aware of when she awoke, was that she wasn't in her dress anymore and that she was under the bed covers and not on top of them like she had been when she had fallen asleep.
Oh my! Did Will undress me whilst I slept? She very slowly opened her eyes and found that she was now in her own bed in her own house. She sighed in relief and closed her eyes again. She wouldn't have been able to look him in the eye again if he had undressed her. She blushed at the thought of that man removing her clothes. Then she realised how stupid it was of her to even let that thought cross her mind. Mr. Turner was a gentleman. She was sure he was not the type of man to undress women without their permission or knowledge.
She heard her bedroom door open and opened her eyes to see her brother coming into the room.
"Rosalie, you are awake," he said, walking over and smiling down at her.
"How did I get back here?" she asked, sitting up.
"You were asleep," said Andrew. "Mr. Turner told me what happened. I thought you deserved to rest so I didn't wake you."
"That was kind of you," said Rosalie, smiling up at he older brother. "And before you say anything, I am really sorry for wandering off like I did. It was silly and irresponsible of me to leave Lieutenant Wexley's side."
"Wexley is the irresponsible one, not you," said Andrew, gently.
"It was me that wandered off though, not him. I made that decision myself," said Rosalie, feeling cross with herself.
"That is true," said Andrew, nodding. "But I am sure the Lieutenant isn't entirely innocent in all of this. I assume the man did something to make you leave his side. I find it hard to believe you would do it without a reason."
Rosalie nodded, her eyes hardening slightly. "He said something about Mr. Turner being below us and that it wasn't appropriate for me and him to spend time together. He wouldn't even apologise afterwards."
Andrew looked shocked. "He said that? Well I'm deeply disappointed in him. You know that I have never agreed with that type of nonsense."
"I know," said Rosalie. "I'm afraid I got a bit ratty at him then and walked off. It was very immature of me I know, but at that moment it was either that or slap him."
Andrew laughed and Rosalie grinned sheepishly.
"I can't say I agree that you did the right thing by walking off and I am rather cross at you for doing it. But I let you go out with Wexley because I believed he would look after you. You were his responsibility and he let you come to harm. He's the one who is to blame in all this," said Andrew, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "When he came back here and told me he'd lost you I couldn't believe it. I very nearly throttled him. I'm just pleased you managed to find your way to the blacksmiths. That was most fortunate."
"It was," agreed Rosalie. "It was very lucky. But as soon as I saw the blacksmiths I knew I could trust Mr. Turner to help me."
"I'm so very sorry about what happened Rosalie. You must have been petrified."
"It was very scary," said Rosalie. "But I'm fine. I do not wish to dwell on what could have happened."
"That is very wise," said Andrew.
"Did Mr. Turner tell you that the man knew my name?" asked Rosalie, absentmindedly tracing the pattern on the bed cover with her fingers.
"Yes, he did," said Andrew. "I'm quite sure it's nothing to worry about Rosalie. He must have heard it from someone else. You are sure you've never seen him before?"
"Yes. I am sure," said Rosalie. "He wasn't the type of person I usually spend my time with I assure you."
Andrew chuckled slightly and took his sisters hand in one of his. "I'm pleased to hear you say that. Hopefully we will catch this man and make sure he doesn't have the opportunity to scare any other innocent young women."
Rosalie nodded. "I hope you do too."
"But until then I would feel better if you don't leave the house if I'm not able to come with you. It's probably unnecessary but it would make me feel better. It was probably an opportunist attack but I don't want to risk it. He could have even guessed your name correctly by chance. But if it does prove to have been a planned attack you should stay here out of harms way as much as possible unless I can accompany you. At least until we catch this man or otherwise rule out the possibility of you being in danger," said Andrew. He gave her hand a squeeze. "Do you understand? I'm sure you are in no danger but I would feel better if I knew you were where you were safe."
"I understand Andrew," said Rosalie smiling.
"Good girl," said Andrew. "Now, get back to sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay Andrew," said Rosalie, lying back down.
Andrew leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Andrew left and Rosalie fell back to sleep.
xxxxxx
"Did you have a good night sleep, Rosalie," asked Charlotte, the following morning at breakfast.
"Oh yes," said Rosalie, smiling. "I did. I feel much better."
"That is good news," said Andrew from across the table.
"I've got something I would like to do today," said Rosalie, brushing some crumbs off her dress. She looked up almost nervously at her brother. "I-I would really like to visit Mr. Turner. I know I said I wouldn't leave the house but he's been a great help to me twice now, and I would really like to thank him properly this time. So I have decided to bake him a pie and then take it down to him this afternoon."
"You have, have you?" asked Andrew, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes" said Rosalie and she took a deep breath, seemingly stealing herself for something. "And I would really like to do it with your blessing but believe me I will do it anyway with or without your consent."
Andrew and Charlotte looked at each other with amused looks on their faces.
"Well," said Andrew, pretending to be seriously considering his decision, "if you are determined to do it with or without my consent, then I think I have no choice but to give it."
"I-It's alright with you?" said Rosalie, looking shocked. "You really don't mind?"
Andrew chuckled and shook his head. "Of course I don't mind. I would like to thank Mr. Turner myself. But promise me you will take the carriage straight there and then get it to wait there for you."
"Of course," said Rosalie, smiling.
"Then, it is fine with me," said Andrew.
Rosalie just stared at him expressionless for a moment and then her face broke into a smile. "May I be excused then?" she said, pushing her chair back from the table. "If I am to go and visit Mr. Turner this afternoon, I will need to start baking as soon as possible."
"Of course," said Andrew, nodding his head. "You go and get baking."
Rosalie got up, rushed over to her brother, kissed him on the cheek and then left the room for the kitchen.
Charlotte looked over at her husband and raised an eyebrow. "Did I just hear all of that correctly? Did you just give Rosalie permission to go and visit Will Turner when you have been against her seeing that man at all?"
Andrew shrugged and took a sip of his tea. "He is a good man. He has proved that twice now. Yesterday Rosalie trusted him to help her and if she trusts him then it's enough for me."
"I agree with you," said Charlotte, leaning forward and taking Andrew's hand. "Its lovely that Rosalie has found someone that she can trust."
"It is," said Andrew, nodding.
"Are you going to let Lieutenant Wexley see Rosalie again?" asked Charlotte.
"Oh definitely not," said Andrew. "I can't believe he let her wander off like that."
"Rosalie wandered off by herself," pointed out Charlotte. "You can't blame Wexley completely."
"I know I can't," sighed Andrew. "But he did something to make her leave his side and I know Rosalie wouldn't have felt the need to do that unless he really upset her."
"I suppose you are right," said Charlotte, sighing slightly. "But the man did look awfully upset when he came around to tell us that he'd managed to lose Rosalie."
"I don't know how he managed to lose her completely. I mean she can't have got away so fast that he couldn't follow."
"He said he went after her but the streets were very crowded so he lost her."
"That still doesn't make up for him upsetting her. If he calls around again, I will give him a piece of my mind," said Andrew.
Charlotte smiled and then rose to her feet. "I'm going to go and see if Rosalie wants any help with her baking. It's been ages since I got really busy in the kitchen."
Andrew smiled and then got up to kiss his wife on the lips. "You two have fun. I'll see you later this afternoon."
Charlotte nodded and then headed for the kitchen, wondering if Rosalie had managed to bribe the cook into lending her the kitchen yet.
A/N: There it is! Please review! Thanks!
