Part XXXV

Sunday. Market Day. The busiest day in all of Port Royale and the best time to ensure a crowd. The only trick will be convincing Norrington to meet me at the town center but I—or rather Will—has a plan for that as well.

"But I've only ever written curt notes or formal invitations to the Captain," I say, quill poised above parchment as I glance over my shoulder at Will. "If I write anything too very romantic, he may grow suspicious."

Will takes a step back so he is not leaning so very close to me at my writing desk. "From how you described his behavior of late, any bit of hope will be much welcomed."

I chew on the end of my quill. "True. What shall I write?"

"I. . .I'm hardly the one to ask advise on love note writing, Elizabeth."

"Well, you're a boy," I rationalize. "What would you like to hear?"

"If you wrote me?" Will asks.

I shrug. "If it helps you focus, yes."

"My dearest Will. . . ."

"My dearest Will," I repeat out loud as I write before stopping. "Will! This is to Norrington! I certainly shan't have him meeting me anywhere if I call him 'Will' in a love note." I crumple the parchment and reach for another. "Perhaps just Dearest?"

Will nods. "Yes. Yes, that is better." He thinks a moment before beginning the note anew. "Dearest – My whole being is a whirl with remembrances of you. I cannot sleep, for thoughts of you intrude and keep me wakeful. Whatever can be done to put my teaming mind to rest? I must see you. Only then shall my soul sigh and sink to calmness for it has found its true match. Meet me in the Market Square today at noontide. I shall be waiting. Yours ever -Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth," I repeat, signing my name with a flourish. I dry the letter before holding it out at arms length to inspect. "Goodness, Will, you are quite poetic when you wish to be."

He blushes. "I. . .Thank you."

I seal the letter next and address it to Norrington. The simple ringing of a hand bell produces a servant who sees to its delivery. I turn toward Will when we are once again alone. "I believe I shall have to enlist your help further if I ever wish to fool future suitors."

"Perhaps you shall have find a suitor you do not wish to fool," Will says.

"Perhaps," I agree. "Though not likely. Don't you believe the courtship process to be terribly dull, Will?"

"That depends on who is doing the courting," he says.

I prop my chin on my fist to show I am fully listening. "How would you do things then?"

Will's eyes bug and he tries to cover his surprise by coughing. "M-Me?"

"Yes, you."

He fixes me with a bleak stare and I know full well he would rather not speak on the matter but I am terribly curious.

"Go on," I prompt.

Will sighs. "There are other ways of expressing one's devotion rather than flowers and trinkets."

"Such as?"

"Such as you know perfectly well what I refer to," Will says.

"Perhaps I need a demonstration."

"Do not tease me, Elizabeth," he chides. "It is unbecoming."

I stand, crossing the short distance to Will.

"What are you doing?" he whispers, breath catching as I raise my arms slowly to rest around his neck.

"Your note," I say. "Is that what you really wish I would say to you?"

"It is just a note," he shrugs off the question. "Part of your plan."

"It appeared to me that you truly meant those words, Will."

His breath hisses through his teeth as he inhales sharply. "Perhaps."

"You are quite vague today in some regards, Will," I tease, twirling a lock of his hair about my finger. "It feels I shall never get a straight answer out of you."

"Perhaps you need to ask me a straight question."

"Did you mean those words, Will?" I ask. "In your note? Is that what you truly wish to hear from me?"

Will looks toward the mantel as the clock strikes quarter till the hour. "Nearing noon. If you do not hurry, Elizabeth, you shall be late for your own rendezvous"

"Oh, pish to the rendezvous," I say. "I am more interested in your answer, Will."

"It shall be of no consequence what I do or do not think if you are still partially engaged to Norrington," he says.

"Very true," I agree with a sigh, removing my arms from his neck in favor of grasping his hand in both of mine "I hope this shall work."

Will brushes his knuckles down my jaw line before chucking me playfully under the chin in a surprisingly comforting gesture. "It shall, for we thought of it together."