Yey! Yey! Another update. I'm so happy to be able to write on this story. It contrasts so greatly to my other fics right now.
Anyway, thanks for all of the wonderful reviews. I truly enjoy them. Please keep them up!
Enjoy!
Romen
Disclaimer: Here is what I own; Margaret, Cook, Susan, and Mary. Nothing else is mine, kay? Kay.
Chapter 9
Will Relieved
Will fiddled with the end of his sleeve, trying to ignore the fact that he was hungry. Margaret had brought him some bread for lunch earlier, but that was the only meal that he had eaten that day. He wondered how long he would have to stay there until Susan finally confessed, or the governor decided that he had been punished enough (the latter being most likely). He hoped it wouldn't be...say, two months?
Even worse than that was the fact that Elizabeth probably believed that he had done it, just like her father. Every time he thought of that he felt the pit of his stomach fall out. He scowled, glancing at the small window. The soft evening light that shone through did little to lighten his mood.
The sound of someone pounding up the stairs drew his attention. He groaned. It was probably Susan. Why wouldn't she just leave him alone? He flopped down on his pillows, pretending to be asleep. Hopefully she would go away if she didn't think he was awake.
'Oh no', he thought to himself, sitting up worriedly. 'She might kick me or something, to wake me up.'
A soft knock at the door drew him from his thoughts. He cocked his head to side nervously, wondering if he should say anything.
"Will?" came a soft voice. "Are you awake? It's me, Elizabeth."
"Miss Swann!" he cried, rushing to the door and yanking it open. "Please forgive me of my tardiness; I did not realize it was you."
She laughed. "Oh, no that's fine, really"-
"But you must believe me," he continued hurriedly, not pausing to breathe, "when I say that I did not take the cross. It really wasn't me, you see. I didn't take it and I don't know where it is. I would never steal like that. Never. And I wouldn't lie to your father. I hope that you believe me." He drew in a deep breath.
Elizabeth blinked, a small smile creeping up her face. "Really, Will, you have no need to worry; I believe you. So does my father."
Will couldn't help but gape. "Really?"
"Yes, really! Mary found her precious cross."
He hesitated. "Um...Where was it?"
Elizabeth waved it away. "It was in her bible, though something tells me Susan had something to do with it. Do you want to come down for supper, with my father and I?"
"Yes, yes of course! Let me, let me get ready..."
She nodded. "I'll wait for you in the dining room, all right?"
"Yes, thank you very much, Miss Swann."
As soon as she had shut the door behind her, he scrambled for his chests of drawers, trying to find his best waistcoat. "Where is it, where is it," he murmured to himself, his brow furrowed. He paused. "Wait. I only have one waistcoat!"
"What are you looking for?"
Will stopped abruptly, whirling around. "Susan! Stop coming in my room without any forewarning!"
She rolled her eyes, slumping against the door frame and taking in his room idly. "What are you looking for?" she repeated, not even fazed.
"That's none of your business," he snapped, shutting the drawer embarrassedly. "If you don't mind, I'm...I'm trying to..."
She smiled wryly. "Say it Will."
"Leave. Now." He pushed her through the doorway, shutting the door before going back to his frivolous search for some proper clothes.
"You know," Susan noted thoughtfully, walking back into his room, "you could just wear what you have on."
"Would you please?" he shouted. "I'm trying to CHANGE!"
"Ha!" she cried, doing a small jig. "Ha! Ha! You did it!"
"What, what did I do?" he questioned, frustrated. "What!"
"You said it! Ha! You said it!"
"Stop that! What did I do?"
"I told you to say it, and I got you to say it." She grinned, ceasing her dance and moving towards the door. "Don't worry; I'm really leaving for good now. Enjoy the fine tables of the governor for me, and smuggle me some desert, all right? After all, you owe me one. Without me you wouldn't be eating at all right now. Bye."
Will scowled, slamming the door (and thinking to himself that he should have a lock put on it).
(Space)
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes?"
"Did...did you think that I did it?"
Elizabeth let out a deep breath, hesitating. "Of course not," she finally said. "I knew it wasn't you."
"That's good."
"So did you bring Susan anything?"
Will shook his head, suppressing a yawn. "No," he finally managed to say. "She was just joking anyway." 'I think.'
"Oh." Elizabeth fell silent for a moment, looking up at the many shelves in the library, grateful for the small amount of light that the fire provided. She pulled the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders up a little higher, tucking it under her neck. "I thought maybe you brought her a piece of fruit...or something."
"Mmm."
"Will?"
"Mmm?"
"Uh..." She paused. "Have you ever gone...er...riding?"
"Mmm."
"Oh." Was that a yes or a no? She glanced down at his face. It was hidden in the shadows of the dark room. "Will? Are you awake?" No answer. "Will?"
A soft snore erupted from the darkness. She giggled, glancing down at the orange flames fondly. It reminded her of the winter holidays, something she hoped would arrive soon. Of course she knew when they would arrive, but she always wished that they would come earlier. She knew that it wouldn't snow in Port Royal like it snowed at their chateau in London, but family would still come and visit, and there would be celebration and gift exchange. She laid her head upon the arm of the chair, listening to the crackling logs.
Elizabeth usually despised her stay at their mansion in Port Royal. It was lonely and dull, even though she had found ways to keep herself entertained. That didn't mean that she didn't long for companionship with children her own age. She would usually beg her father to allow her to stay in London, where she could perhaps play with her cousins. Now she found herself contented to stay there, and she knew exactly why. Having Will around changed everything. She sighed, her eyes slipping shut as she allowed her mind to wander.
(Space)
"Apparently you did enjoy the governor's tables, maybe a little too much for your own good."
Will started, his eyelids fluttering open to the one thing he did not want to see.
"Susan?"
"The one and only. You best get up, before someone finds you two down here."
"What do you mean?" He pushed himself up into a sitting position, taking in their surroundings. "Where am I?"
"The library. Are you blind, or something? Now come, hurry. You don't want anyone to find you here with Miss Swann." She cackled. "It would be so scandalous!"
"Huh?" He ran one hand over his face, yawning. "What do you mean? Ow!"
Susan had just slapped him sharply on the back of the head. "Wake up, Will! Are you awake? Or are you still sleeping?"
"What was that for?" he exclaimed, standing and shooting her a glare.
She smiled. "Good. You're awake. Now hurry back to the servant's quarters."
He glanced over at Elizabeth. She was fast asleep in the arm chair across from the bench he had been dozing on. "We can't leave her here," he said softly. "She looks...cold."
Susan rolled her eyes. "Then what do you propose we do? Light the mansion on fire so she won't freeze?"
He ignored her sarcasm. "Look; she's shivering. Do you see it? Her shoulder is moving ever so slightly..."
"Or maybe you're just seeing things!" She grabbed his hand. "Come on, we have to leave! You're going to get in trouble!"
He pulled away from her, kneeling down next to Elizabeth. "Miss Swann?" he said softly. "Miss Swann, you need to wake up."
Elizabeth made a small whiney sound, covering her ear with the blanket. He took her hand, gently pulling the blanket down.
"Miss Swann, please, you must get to your room."
"No..."
"Miss Swann, it is late. You cannot stay here."
"Up, Miss Swann!" Susan suddenly appeared, pulling Elizabeth roughly to her feet. "We don't have time to waste!"
Her brown eyes flew open as she stumbled forward, nearly running into Will, who had moved of the way just in time. He glared at Susan, who didn't seem to notice. She was wringing her hands nervously, hopping from foot to foot in her nightgown. He'd never seen her like this before. It was a bit disconcerting, actually.
"We have to hurry," she hissed, gesturing for them to follow her. "If anyone finds us here, at this hour, we'll be in trouble."
Elizabeth and Will glanced at each other before silently obeying her (it was really disconcerting, truth be told). They stealthily made their way through the halls; Elizabeth toward her room, and Will and Susan toward the servants quarters. Only when they had reached the quarters was Susan back to her normal self.
"You idiot," she snarled as soon as they crossed the threshold. "What did you think you were doing? If you were trying to break a few rules you can't be stupid about it."
"When did falling asleep become a crime?" he retorted. "And besides, when did you become so worried about me?"
She snorted, rolling her eyes, making for the stairwell. "That's hilarious. Me, worried about you? That's the most imbecilic thing I have ever heard in my entire life!"
"No, I'm serious. What other reason would you have for going to wake me if you weren't worried about me?"
She stopped at the foot of the stairs, hesitating. "Well...it's just that, what I did today..."
Will frowned. "What about it?"
She pitted on her heel, looking down at her hands. "It's just, you know, what I did..." She paused, glancing up at him. "I could have been caught when I did that. I didn't want the risk I took to be in vain, that's all."
"So...what you did today, you did for me? Is that what you're saying?"
"I don't have time for stupid questions like this. Good-night."
"No, wait, I'm serious. Susan. Susan! What did you mean?"
"Good-night, Will. Oh yes. Here's your waistcoat." She tossed it down the stairs. "I didn't think you'd want your only one to go to waste in the library, gathering dust."
"No, Susan, wait!" He followed her up the stairs breathlessly, trying to tread softly as to not wake anyone. "What did you mean?"
"What did I mean about what?"
"Stop." He intercepted her just as she stepped towards her door. "Tell me what you meant."
She blinked before shrugging nonchalantly and lightly crossing her arms. "I just wanted to make sure that what I did today wasn't for nothing."
A smile slowly crept up Will's face. "So you did do it for me! I knew it!"
She rolled her eyes. "What? That you're not in London anymore?"
"You do care about me," he continued, choosing to ignore her comment. "I always knew you did."
"I don't care about you."
"You do, and you actually felt guilty about what you did," he insisted. "You didn't want me to be punished for something I didn't do."
"Stop being ridiculous," she scoffed. "The only reason I did this was because I didn't want to hear you complain and give me all that garbage about doing the right thing. I wasn't worried about you at all. Now get out of way." She shoved him aside. "Good-night, Will."
Before Will could say anything, she had already closed the door on him.
TBC...
