Disclaimer: I don't have permission to be writing this.
Author's Note (10/10/06): I feel icky. I think I've got the flu. Yet I still have to go to classes. What a bummer. Don't want to diagram sentences or finish reading political essays about T.S Eliot's "the Waste Land." Oh well. I'll do it anyway. Hope you enjoy this. And leave me reviews. Or chicken soup. That would be good too…
Chapter Nine: The Visitors
A knock at the door startled Elizabeth. She fidgeted in Jack's arms, looking at him curiously as he merely gripped her more tightly. They'd made it up to the bedroom, so if the visitor decided to barge in unannounced like Jack had it wouldn't be quite as awkward. "I need to go answer the door."
"Why? I thought you were disconsolate wiv grief." He yawned and kissed her. "I say, le' them decide to go away."
"You didn't decide to go away," she pointed out as she tugged at his arms. "Imagine the scandal if they knew what we'd just done."
"All the more reason t' do it again." He chuckled and kissed her. "Besides, I don' think they'd care if ye din' answer."
Elizabeth smiled slightly and kissed him back. "Yes, but if I don't answer, they'll probably rush in, afraid I'd offed myself, and they'd find me and you and it would be quite the scandal."
"Do let's," Jack murmured. "Sounds like fun."
"Unless, of course, it's the Admiral," Elizabeth pointed out, squirming her way out of his firm grip. "He'd probably shoot the two of us on the spot."
"Does 'e still have a flame for ye?" the pirate asked as he let go of Elizabeth and lazily stretched.
"Well, he never did marry." Elizabeth stood and grabbed her dress, throwing it on as her visitor knocked again. "I think it's a distinct possibility." She straightened her dress. "How do I look?"
"Beautiful. There's a smile on yer face. You're practically glowing wiv contentment." Jack grinned and stood. "Hardly like a grieving widow."
"It's a bit hard to grieve after that much fun, I must admit." She eyed him hungrily, desperately wanting to trace the various scars on his arms and chest.
"Weren' you going t' answer the door?" Jack asked, amused at the look in her eyes.
"Right." She shook her head slightly and tried to adopt the grim face that had been her companion for so long. "Do I look reasonably upset?"
"One can only hope." He smiled encouragingly, motioning towards the door. "Ye'd best hurry, darling, because I've got a feelin' they'll be entering of their own accord in jus' a moment."
She nodded. "Stay up here."
"Tha' was me plan." He chuckled. "I'll keep the mattress warm."
She laughed at that. It sounded odd in the depressing home, but she felt too wonderful to keep it in. The contrast of feelings was astounding. A week ago, she'd felt as though she'd never feel joy or love or anything again. She yearned for death. And now, now she wanted to live. "Good plan."
The front door opened and Elizabeth heard someone call out, "Hello?" Judging by the sound, it was a woman. Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat as she stepped onto the staircase and down the stairs. She'd been so worried it really was the Admiral after all.
A plump and dowdy woman stood by the doorway. She smiled slightly when she spotted Elizabeth. Elizabeth tried to mask the look of dismay on her face when she recognized the woman. "Hello Missus Shelby."
"Elizabeth, child, are you quite all right?" The kindly gossiping older woman was looking Elizabeth over anxiously, trying to find any hint of scandal about her personage.
"I'm managing, Missus Shelby."
"Oh, child, call me Nancy." She looked around the room curiously before taking a seat on the couch. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Not that I can think of." Elizabeth wasn't particularly fond of people like Nancy Shelby. It was very clear that the woman was trying to find Jack, but she was trying and failing in her attempt to be subtle.
"No more laundry?"
"I'm quite capable of doing my own laundry." Elizabeth slowly took a seat on the armchair, wishing that she could wave her hand and have the woman disappear. Cordiality dictated that she endure any houseguest for as long as they wished to stay.
Nancy winked. "Oh," she said in a horribly suggestive tone. "If you need any more laundry to be cleaned, feel free to send your personal courier over."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Elizabeth tried to keep her cheeks from burning as she thought of the dark eyed captain waiting for her in the bed she used to share with her husband.
"Then why did I hear talking when I came in?" Nancy's eyes were wide with curiosity.
Elizabeth shrugged. "I suppose I was talking to myself." She sniffled, desperately trying to make tears fall. They just wouldn't come.
Nancy watched Elizabeth critically. She seemed about to say something when there was another knock at the door. Both women jumped.
Elizabeth, grateful for the distraction, stood and went to the door. Both she and Nancy knew that she was lying, but Elizabeth didn't want to admit that Jack really was there. She was afraid that if she said it she would wake up and discover this had all been a dream or that Nancy would go snooping about upstairs and jump to the correct embarrassing conclusion as to what had happened.
Patricia was outside the door. John was in her arms and William was clutching to her green silk skirts. "Mama!" William exclaimed happily, letting go of the green skirts and wrapping his small arms around Elizabeth's.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth," Patricia apologized, handing John over. The toddler seemed to have fallen asleep during the carriage ride from the other side of town and didn't even stir. "They wanted to see you."
"That's quite all right." Elizabeth gently kissed John's cheek, shifting him to one arm so she could pat William's head. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed them. "Thank you for watching them for so long."
Patricia nodded, brushing a strand of her ebony hair behind her ear before placing her hand on her growing belly. It was highly improper for her to be out and about while so obviously pregnant. "I would love to watch them longer, but they just can't stop crying." It was clear she was implying she couldn't handle the noise any longer. Patricia was of a sickly sort, prone to exaggerating any ailment to the extreme.
"I see." Elizabeth looked down at William. "Did you miss Mama?"
"Yes." He sniffled. "Where's Papa?"
"He's up in heaven." Elizabeth felt the slightest sting of tears behind her eyes, but did not start crying.
"Oh." William sighed, nestling into her skirts. "You smell good."
"Thank you." She smiled and kissed John's cheek again.
"You seem to be doing remarkably well." Patricia sounded relieved.
"I'm managing." Elizabeth was sick of giving that phrase as an answer, but there really was nothing else respectful towards her departed husband she could say in response to comments like that.
"If you need us to watch them, send for a carriage. Your father just has too much to do right now to be what they need."
"I understand." Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, Patricia."
"You're welcome." The elegant wife of Governor Swann turned and left. She didn't bother saying goodbye to her grandchildren. That was one reason why Elizabeth wasn't fond of her.
She watched her get into the carriage and then looked back down at William. "Are you hungry, love?"
William nodded and ran into the house, stopping and nearly falling when he spotted Nancy. "Hello," he said, squirming. He'd never entirely been fond of strangers.
"Hello, there little one." Nancy smiled. "You look very much like your Papa."
"Can you watch him for a moment?" Elizabeth asked, sparing William from having to respond to that. She'd never been fond of people saying that children resembled only one of their parents. William the third looked like himself, not like Will. She looked towards the stairs and then at John. "He needs his nap."
"Of course!" Nancy smiled at Elizabeth, sufficiently distracted from her search for Jack.
Elizabeth started up the stairs, gently cradling her softly snoring son. He could sleep through practically anything once he fell asleep. As a result, he'd been a very easy baby to have with a toddler afoot.
Once in her bedroom, Elizabeth seemed amused as Jack stared at her. "It's time for a nap," she said loudly, sure that Nancy was listening. "William will join you after he has a small snack."
Jack watched her disappear into the other room. She placed John on the straw mattress and covered him with his favorite blanket before kissing his forehead and smoothing his fine hair. Then she went back into the other room, placing a finger to her lips.
Jack nodded his understanding. "Get rid o' her as fast as ye possibly can," he whispered.
"I will." She smiled slightly. The boys certainly complicated everything. That said, she went downstairs to endure gossip and to give William a small snack.
Daisy: I once watched an entire show about puffed pastries. They look incredibly delectable. Wish I had the aspiration to cook one. The tragedy part is that I don't actually have a pastry. No, just kidding. The tragedy part, I suppose, is the fact that Will is dead...but I can throw something else in if you'd really like me to. I think your poster has great potential to come alive. Yep. My dreams are haunted by the very thought of that. Good luck with your homework, once more, an' thanks for the review!
howlongmustiwait: Aye...er...you'll see more of Jack's comments on children in the future that you probably won't like, but he sort of explains himself so it doesn't seem quite as bad, if that makes any sense at all. The sun is starting to come up and I still need to shower, so I apologize if this is a bit brief. I like chocolate chocolate chip cookies the best, I think. Oooh, and Danishes. If that's their plural...anyway, they're yummy. That's why I'm posting this now as I wait for my roommate to get out of the shower. Thanks for the review, hope to see another one!
