My head was fogged, and my thoughts, unclear. I wasn't even sure where I was. I opened my eyes slowly. What I saw was surprising. I was lying in the four-poster bed in the Honeymoon Suite; everything was intact, not even moved. My heart sped up, as the things around me didn't fit with one another.
What had happened to me?
Panicked, I lifted my head, and looked around the room. Beckett was snoring quietly behind me, lying perfectly still. I slid out of bed and onto my feet. Looking around cautiously, I began to pace silently around the room. Soon I noticed that my nightgown was askew. I walked over to the mirror, and stared into the blackness.
I noticed that I had no light in the room, except for a small candle on the nightstand. I strode over to the candle, and lit another candle to it. The wick caught immediately. I glided quietly back to the mirror. I looked at my pathetic self.
The candle illuminated my stomach and chest, lights gleaming from under my facial features, making me look like some kind of a monster, and the environment behind me was darkness. I looked at my nightgown, disheveled, and unkempt. I fixed it.
I was sore from head to toe.
Suddenly, it clicked.
Cutler had...used me. Used as in molested! I clutched my arms around my waist, suddenly feeling a sense of insecurity, and fear. I felt almost sick. I clutched harder, feeling a black hole in my stomach crawling up my esophagus, and soon encasing my whole body. I lay back down, uncertain. Just thinking of what he did to me was too much. Tears trickled out of my eyes, and wetted the pillow next to me.
I couldn't fall back to sleep.
I was still awake as the town clock tower chimed six o'clock. I leapt out of bed, and threw on a dress. The dress was composed of a crème silk blouse with ruffled sleeves, and a skirt, deep and deep green could be. Almost like forest green, I put on my matching necklace and earrings. I reached for a ring that was Emerald, but it was no ordinary ring.
It was my engagement ring. I put it on grudgingly, and strode out the door. The ring felt heavy on my finger, and cold. The more and more I thought about it, the ring was killing my finger! It was like a burden! I jogged down the stairs, two at a time, and as soon as I cleared the front doors, I sprinted back to the Governor's Mansion.
My heels were making it unnecessarily more difficult, but I soon saw the house on the hill, and I ran faster. As I approached the house, I walked. (To cool off...you don't want to sweat as a lady.) I knocked lightly on the door, and the doorman quickly opened it. He smiled his warm smile.
"Good morning, Lady. Beckett." I don't know why, but the title made me cringe. It wasn't the Beckett part, the Lady. part. It made me sick when I'd just recovered from my other surprise.
"Good morning, Tom." I shouted back as I was beginning to round the stairs. I began calling the Governor's name. I needed his support right now. I'd just topped the stairs, when I ran into Lucille. She dropped the sheets she was holding, and fell onto the floor. I hadn't fallen over, but immediately leaned down to help her up. She looked overjoyed to see me.
"Miss Swann! Or Mrs. Beckett...I guess." she dropped her eyes to look at the floor.
"Lucille, you're one of my best friends, you can just call me Charlotte." I said back. She raised her eyes, and gave me a small smile. "Have you seen the Governor?" She began refolding the sheets, and I glanced over her shoulder at the clock. It was nearing 6:45.
"No...Charlotte." she seemed to hesitate at my name. "Elizabeth has disappeared with Will. The Governor's terribly worried. He couldn't sleep for more than two hours at a time, and he rose this morning at five, and stayed up! He's been in town since it opened! I guess he's just trying to unwind." I tried not to seem rude, but she wasn't telling me anything.
"Lucille, this is important, do you know anyone who's seen him?" Her eyes wandered over my left shoulder, and I followed her glance.
Mary had just entered the room.
"Mary! Have you seen the Governor?" I shouted across the room.
She smiled as she replied. "He's in town, I believe." I lifted up my skirt, and darted down the stairs.
"Thank you, Lucille, thank you, Mary!" They watched me with loving eyes as I sprinted down the stairs. Tom had the door open before I was at the bottom of the stairs, and I shot him a thankful look, and ran out to the Villa. Surprisingly, there was a carriage sitting there, unoccupied. I jumped inside, and shouted, 'to the market!' to the driver.
He took off, and I saw Tom, Lucille, and Mary standing in the doorway waving and smiling. I quickly figured that Tom had ordered to ready the carriage for me while I was talking to Lucille.
"Thank you, Tom!" I shouted out the window. He waved harder. The carriage rounded the corner, and the house was out of sight.
We arrived at the market at impossible speed, and I leapt out to tip the driver. I jogged to the front, and drew out my little sack of money.
"No need to pay me! It's the least it can do for you!" he smiled, and whipped the reins. Tears welled up in my eyes; people are so nice to me! Why? I wiped away the tears quickly, and looked for the Governor.
I wound around the endless ensemble of kiosks, and carts. Dodging people, shouting children, and flying vegetables. Finally, I saw his large feathered hat over the crowd. I raised my arm, and shouted his name.
"Governor! Governor!" I tried to think of his first name, but I soon forgot. I racked my brain for the answer. A little child ran by me, shouting for his mother. I stopped in my tracks, thinking of the things I'd overheard that night of the attack…about my mother and father.
"When do you think we should tell her?" I remember her saying.
"About the marriage?"
"No! About...her real parents." Real parents...real parents...those words echoed painfully in my head, threatening to cause a serious headache. I tried my hardest to dull the pain. But I could not completely block it out. I tried again. Suddenly, the solution was simple
"FATHER!!" I shouted. The Governor immediately turned around, and smiled warmly. He pushed gently through the crowd, and towards me. As soon as he reached me, he wrapped me into a comfortable warm hug.
"My darling Charlotte." He whispered quietly. "At least I still have you."
I could tell he'd been crying, the bags under his eyes were puffy, and irritated. He sure didn't act like he was sad. He released me, and put his hand on my face, staring at me like I was the greatest treasure in the entire world.
"Governor…" I couldn't bring myself to say 'father'. "Where's Elizabeth? Lucille said she'd disappeared with Will." He immediately looked away. I knew it was painful for him.
"Oh, Charlotte…I'm just so worried! She disappeared late last night, and there's no trace! She didn't even take anything with her! I'm afraid she's been taken!" he stopped.
"Don't worry…she's strong. She wouldn't have let herself get kidnapped…she's with Will! Besides, who would want to kidnap her? Who would need her?" We didn't have much time to finish the conversation, before a carriage came screeching through the marketplace. People screamed, and pulled their children out of the way. I only got a quick glance at the carriage, it was deep black, almost shiny black.
Then I saw his face.
Beckett was in the back of the carriage, looking like he was talking to someone on the opposite wall. He looked out the window, and our eyes met. We stared at each other for what seemed like forever. The carriage passed by slowly, too slowly, finally moving enough to block his view of me.
He didn't even smile. He didn't grimace, or sneer, he just…stared. It was like an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Like when you finally get what you've wanted for years, only to find that it's too small, or broken, or…unsatisfactory in anyway. I felt that way about my marriage.
I rushed my goodbye to the Governor, and sped up the nearest hill. I watched the trail of dust behind the carriage rush down to the docks, then stop. I could barely see his escort party from the height. But I could tell that he was boarding a ship. It was the Endeavour.
I could see Mercer walking beside him, chattering furiously. I watched him walk up the gangplank, and disappear into the bowels of the great ship.
I was frustrated. There were too many questions to answer. Where is he going? Why is he going there? Where's Elizabeth? Where's Will? What's wrong with my life?! I turned and darted back to the Suite. I entered the suite, and ran up the stairs, ignoring the surprised and curious glances following my now tear-covered face.
It was too much.
I flung myself onto the bed; my skirt elevated my legs because of the many layers, and let myself cry. When I get this upset, I usually told the Governor, and he'd let my lay across his legs while he'd caress my hair, uttering words of consolation.
But he wasn't here. I had to remember that. Stop it! I thought to myself. I pushed myself up, and reached for my diary.
Dear Diary,
I can't stop thinking about what the Governor and Elizabeth were talking about that night. About my real parents, it makes me so-
I couldn't finish it. I couldn't. I glanced up at the clock; it was already 8:15. Time passes quickly when you're miserable. I glanced at my pitiful face in the mirror, staring at the red, and irritated blue eyes I possessed. My makeup was smeared terribly, and I decided to fix it.
I strode slowly over to the porcelain basin on the table at the other end of the room, and washed my face generously. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small white envelope that was open. I wiped my face off quickly, and read the letter.
But it was not a letter. It was a communiqué, and it said,
TO: LORD CUTLER BECKETT
EAST INDIA TRADING COMPANY
FROM: ADMIRAL ALBERT GOYNES
Order to exterminate received. STOP
Congratulations on your plan. STOP
I would like to meet this Young Lady. STOP
I need you in England immediately. STOP
The plan needs your planning and wit. STOP
The Armada is ready for your command. STOP
Pirate Lord Sao Feng is still in hiding. STOP
A SHIP WILL BE READY FOR YOU AT 7:00 ON THE FIFTEENTH OF JUNE.
The communiqué shook in my hands. I don't know why, but it did. Exterminate. Exterminate what? Congratulations on your plan. Does that mean me? I would like to meet this young lady. Okay, this definitely was talking about me. I need you in England immediately. Why? This plan needs your cunning and wit. Oh, that's why. Lord Beckett's not that smart.
The Armada is ready for your command. Armada? There has been no word spoken of this? More secrets! Pirate Lord Sao Feng is still in hiding. Sao Feng? The name didn't ring a bell.
I didn't have much time to ponder, before the door to the Suite was thrown open. It made a loud bang, as it hit the opposing wall. It was Mr. Mercer standing in the doorframe. Why was I not surprised?
"Excuse me, but Lord Beckett has requested your presence on the Endeavour." He said. I decided to play the 'innocent card.'
"Why? Why does he request my presence? Where is he going?" I said and octave higher than my normal voice.
"That's none of your concern, you silly girl. Just pack what you'll need, and follow me to the carriage." I began to yell a string of curses inside of my head. I reached underneath the bed, and pulled out a large square piece of baggage, and then strode over to my Vanity, Curio, and Dresser, and began to unload the contents.
The journey to England was no picnic. The journey itself was almost two months, with a strong wind every day. Without wind…who knows how long it would take. I decided to pack twelve outfits just in case. A few bottles of perfume, a bowl to hold water, a purse, a few candlesticks, (candles included, of course) shoes, stockings, a few hair accessories, and anything else I could possibly think of.
Surprisingly, it all fit in that one piece of luggage. I closed it, lifted it, and then strode gracefully to the side of a patiently waiting Mr. Mercer. He grabbed my suitcase, and ran down the stairs. I spun around in the doorway, and snatched my diary off the nightstand, suddenly happy that I'd remembered it. I'd be sad if I had forgotten it.
He ran down the stairs, hitting every single one. I had to jog to keep up with him. Twice, I stumbled and fell, and he spun around every time, and caught me before I fell down the stairs to my death.
He seemed annoyed every time, though. We soon arrived at the bottom of the stairs, and out the door. There was a carriage outside, waiting. He escorted me in, quickly but gently, and threw my suitcase on the top.
The carriage took off with a jolt, and it rocked, and bounced the whole way there. We arrived at the dock quickly, and I was being unloaded. He was suddenly graceful, and kind, as he unloaded my suitcase. I looked past the bright sun, and squinting, saw the snake.
Beckett was at the top of the gangplank, with his hands behind his back. I used the built-in steps as guides, trying to go blind in the sun. I arrived at the top faster than I wanted to.
"My darling." He kissed me on my lips swiftly. "I am so pleased and honored that you had agreed to sail with me to England." Agreed? Sure, whatever you prefer…
"Yes, Cutler, I am very happy to be here too." I hoped I sounded convincing enough.