Opera Comes to the Caribbean
Chapter 9
Coming to an abrupt halt and looking around behind him Majorano asked, "What happened to that other fellow, the one with the hair?"
Governor Swann looked at him questioningly; James huffed with distain, catching on immediately as to exactly who Mr. Majorano was talking about, "I'm sure Mr. Sparrow is deep in a mug of rum somewhere."
"I insist you go fetch him immediately." Majorano said haughtily as he pointed at James.
"I shall do no such thing." James said with his own haughty tone and stature.
Sensing a good chance of calamity about to strike Weatherby tried to defuse the situation, "Mr. Majorano, Commodore Norrington, I'm sure we can discuss this with civility."
Majorano puffed up even more, his haughty stance and tone increasing exponentially as he jabbed his finger first at James and then Weatherby, "Civility be damned! I am sure my patrons, who happen to be your superiors by the way, informed you I was to be given carte blanche while I am here. I can't believe either of you would be foolish enough not to do as I say. Now go fetch that Sparrow fellow."
James was absolutely fuming; his face was red, his eyes shooting green fire. He had stiffened his normal Commodore-ly posture tenfold, his jaw was clamped so tightly shut to keep from saying something he knew he would be sorry for but wanted to say so badly anyway Weatherby was sure if something wasn't done immediately the Commodore would do himself, or worse Mr. Majorano, physical harm. Weatherby was nearly as outraged by Mr. Majorano's words as James, but ever the diplomat, he decided an alternative course would be the wise choice at the moment.
Weatherby laid his hand on James' arm, "Commodore, a moment please." James continued to glare at Majorano as he and the Governor walked a short distance away.
"It appears to me it would behoove us to pick our battles with Mr. Majorano a bit propitiously. Perhaps we would be wise not to turn this into one?"
Elizabeth and William, who had been lagging a bit behind had now joined the scene. "What is going on?" Elizabeth asked seeing James standing by her Father in a state of near apoplexy.
"Ah dear lovely lady, perchance you can explain to these two boeotians the egregious mistake they are making by not doing as I request." Mr. Majorano said as he waved his arms wildly at the two men.
"I'm afraid I don't understand Mr. Majorano, just what is it you were requesting they do?" Elizabeth replied as she wondered to what extreme the request must have been to put James in such a state.
"I simply told that navy fellow or who ever he is to go fetch that interesting man with all the things in his hair." Majorano answered.
Elizabeth bit back a smile. No wonder James was in a state. Mr. Majorano had committed not one but two faux pas in dealing with the Commodore; firstly you never ever told James what to do, and evidently Mr. Majorano had expected James to run off like some lackey at his command. Secondly was of course the particular person Mr. Majorano was trying to send him off after.
"Mr. Majorano," Elizabeth said trying to keep the humor out of her tone, "perhaps William and I can be of some assistance here. We would be more than glad to relay your invitation for Captain Sparrow to join you at the Governor's Mansion, wouldn't we William."
William wasn't nearly as sure about that as Elizabeth, after all Mr. Majorano seemed to grate something terrible on the Commodore's sensibilities, much as Jack did. He had a feeling it would not be one of the smartest things they had ever done to subject the Commodore to the company of both of them at once, especially in the agitated state the Commodore already seemed to be in. "I don't know Elizabeth, maybe that's not such a good idea."
"Oh fiddle-faddle William." Elizabeth retorted giving William a frown. She turned back to Mr. Majorano, "We shall be back shortly." She headed back toward the tavern district without another word to or glance at William, and a few moments later smiled as she heard his footsteps behind her.
James had not heard the conversation between Mr. Majorano and the Turners he had been so intent on getting himself back under control. Weatherby had not paid any mind to it either as he had been concentrating on helping the Commodore to calm down. As Mr. Majorano started to speak there was a bit of a delay in his words sinking in to either one of them.
"If I could pull you two away from each other for a moment I would appreciate it if we could continue on to this supposed mansion you spoke of. The light is waning and I shall be most unhappy if as I said before the accommodations do not prove satisfactory and I am forced to be out and about seeking alternative lodging around this pitiful excuse for a settlement after dark."
Mr. Majorano had already begun to walk up the road by the time his words did sink in and they began to follow, Governor Swann doing his best not to curse the man walking ahead of them but huffing and puffing none the less as the audacity of the man, James not doing so well at refraining from verbalizing his extreme level of irritation with the man, although he did manage to keep it in a low pitched tone that only Weatherby could hear.
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"Ah, if it isn't the bonny lass and der young William venturing out so soon for another visit ta see old Jack." Jack said with a smile and a wave of his hands as Elizabeth and William approached his table in the corner of the tavern, "To what do I owe the pleasure of being graced with the grace of your graceful presence….at least graced with the grace of your graceful presence Lizzie…….not so much you William ya understand as yer not really such a gracefully graced creature as Lizzie here when all has been considered…..course that's not ta say ya couldn't be as gracefully graced as Lizzie if ya put yer mind to it, more 'n likely could prove most gracefully graced if not more if that'd be what ya was really wantin as it were, with a lot of practice of course ya see, though I'd be hard pressed ta figure out the reason ya would be wantin such gracefully graceful grace ta be about yer personal person as it were, be just a bit strange in my opinion William if ya were in fact wantin such, although to each 'is own I always….well usually…well sometimes say, but never the less as it stands now I'd be sayin I can't really be sayin…….."
Elizabeth made a face, "Jack!"
Jack gave her a puzzled look, "Aye luv?"
"I need you to do me a favor." She replied.
Jack tipped his head to the side as he looked at her, "Ah, another one of those." He paused as he picked up the bottle of rum and looked at it, "I am at present engaged in much more better pursuits than doin the odd, which I've no doubt it is considerin the source, favor for me acquaintances and friends and it would seem currently at this time I'd be a bit loath ta pull meself away from said pursuits and am not sure as I'm in the mood to be doing any favors, friends, acquaintances or no."
Elizabeth contemplated Jack's words for all of two seconds before replying with a smirk, "Well then Jack, are you in the mood for me to make every second of every minute of every hour of every day while you are here in Port Royal absolutely the most miserable time you've ever endured?"
"Believe me she can do it too." William muttered in Jack's direction, then realizing he had said it out loud gave Elizabeth a wary glance and then sent a thanks to what ever being was watching over him at that moment and had somehow kept her from hearing it.
Jack gave her a pout and fluttered his fingers, "Well when you put it those particular terms luv mayhaps I've just had a favor doin mood descend upon me."
Elizabeth smiled triumphantly, "Good."
To Be Continued
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