A/N French translations were obtained online so if incorrect please let me know or just ignore them. Thanks

Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 14

A full day before the Pearl would arrive at Saint Domique Will and Elizabeth began saying their good byes. They were touching, hugging, and kissing more than usual if that was even possible. If any of the crew saw them come on deck, or come into the galley, or ran into them anywhere on the ship, they would groan, make a face, and immediately get as far away from the couple as they could, the displays being way to mushy for any of them to witness.

"Will, I'm not so worried about the mission as I am the fact that I will be away from you." Elizabeth said as they stood on deck in each other's arms.

"I will miss you something terrible too Elizabeth." Will answered as he kissed her on the neck.

"You two really need to find somewhere's besides me deck to be doin all that huggy kissy stuff. Can't get an honest days work out o the crew cause their all hell bent on tryin to avoid the seein of the both of you doin all that huggy kissy stuff." Jack said waving his arms about as he swayed up to the couple.

"Oh Jack, it's surely not that bad." Elizabeth said with amusement.

"No luv, I'm tellin ya it is…..it is that bad, believe me. Why Mr. Cotton's parrot has even commented to me about it." Jack said with more arm and hand fluttering.

"You're kidding?" Will said looking at Jack questioningly.

"Dear William, even if I was kidding it's not something I would kid about." Jack replied.

"What?" William replied as he tried to decipher what Jack had just said.

Elizabeth looked at Will and seeing the baffled look on his face, rolled her eyes said, "Of course he's kidding Will."

"I don't know Elizabeth, he sounded pretty serious." Will replied, still trying to figure out whether Jack was serious or not.

"I'm havin a thought here luvs, how bout the two of you toddle off somewheres else and decide about the seriousness of me statement," and then with more waving and shooing motions continued, "or do what ever it is you two do when young William doesn't understand something and you have to explain it to him luv. How bout that?"

"Jack, you are terrible." Elizabeth said a bit aghast, but with a little bit of humor in her tone.

"Aye luv, you can discuss that too as long as you are some place other than me deck while you do said discussin. Savvy?"

Elizabeth gave him what she was trying very hard to be a frown but looked more like something that was trying hard not to turn into a smile, Will still looked confused as Elizabeth led him off towards their cabin.

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The next day they made port in the harbor at Saint Domique and were met by the aides of the Governor who would be escorting them to the Governor's Palace. Will walked by Elizabeth's side as they followed the men carrying Elizabeth's luggage. As they reached the palace the Governor himself greeted them. The man spoke passable English with only a sprinkling of his native French, and greeted them enthusiastically, "Welcome Madame Turner," the man said, and then turning to Will said, "And you must be Monsieur Turner, merveilleux, come in s'il vous plait." and motioned for them to follow him into the palace.

"He seems nice enough." Will whispered to Elizabeth as they were shown into a large dining room and chairs around a huge table loaded with more and different kinds of food than Will had ever seen in his life.

"Now please, amusez-vous bien." The Governor said making a sweeping gesture towards the food. " I do have some other affaires a regler to attend to but will be back tout a l'heure." He gave them a polite bow as he exited the room.

"I don't think there is any need to worry Will, it benefits the Governor to at least appear to be working towards the trade agreement as much as it does us. And any sleuthing I do will be done in the most covert way. There is a contact here in the Governor's staff that will make themselves known to help Will."

"I know, it's just normal for a husband to worry about his wife." Will said a bit forlornly.

"Oh Will things will be fine and before you know it we will all be back in Port Royal." Elizabeth said patting his arm and giving him a peck on the cheek.

"I just wish it was all over and we were back there now." Will said still a bit sad.

"I know you do Will." Elizabeth said in a conciliatory tone.

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Several hours later one of the Governor's aides entered, introduced himself as Alon Bergeron, and explained the Governor had been delayed longer than he expected, and it would probably be tomorrow before he could meet with Mrs. Turner. If she would kindly follow him he would escort her to her room. They both followed the aide out of the dining room, and were led down a number of corridors and up three or four flights of stairs.

"I don't know if I'll ever find my way out of here." Will said after the fourth or fifth turn and the second staircase.

"Not to worry young sir, I will show you out when you are ready to go." the aide said.

"I think you're going to have to." Will said smiling at the man.

He finally approached a door, opened it, and gestured for the couple to enter.

Will's eyes went wide as he took in the richness of the room, it was very large and filled with all sorts of expensive furnishings, a lot of them covered if not with solid silver or gold then silver and gold filigree. There was a large crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the room, and several expensive looking candelabras sitting around on various tables. The floor was covered in thick oriental carpets, and there were several floor to ceiling windows adorned with thick velvet drapes. Will was almost speechless with amazement. He did however stop to say a word of thanks in his mind that Jack had decided not to accompany them, they would probably have been unceremoniously escorted from the palace if not just outright shot, because he knew Jack would never be able to resist the temptation of taking something, or more likely a number of somethings. Will was still looking around in awe when Elizabeth addressed him, "Will…….Will….Will!"

"Sorry Elizabeth, I've never seen anything like this before."

"I know Will, but you really should be getting back to the ship, the Captain will be wanting to leave soon." Elizabeth said as she walked over and put her arms around his neck.

"I guess you're right Elizabeth, but I sure hate to leave." Will said, and applied a bit of Jack's mannerisms to himself as he tried to put a pout on his face.

"That doesn't suite you any more than it does Jack dear Husband." Elizabeth said with a smile and a kiss.

"You will be careful won't you?" Will said, his eyes looking straight into her's.

"Yes Will, don't worry, just be back here on time to pick me up."

"You can definitely count on that dear Wife." Will said returning her hug and kiss before turning and opening the door where Alon was waiting to show him out. He really didn't want to leave, but knowing he must he figured now was the time before he thought of a million reasons not to.

To Be Continued

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