Part XXXVI

"Forgive me for the delay," I say, finding Norrington waiting for me at the town center, my "love note" clutched in his hands. "Time escaped me. I have no other excuse."

"There is nothing to forgive," he assures me, lifting my hand and planting a rather sloppy kiss on the center. "I must say, Miss Swann, I was quite surprised to receive such a correspondence from you. You have not been so forthcoming regarding your feelings till now."

I place both hands over my heart. "I simply could not hold them in any longer, Captain. You have wrenched them from my very soul."

He laps up every syllable.

"Tell me more about your feelings for me," Norrington requests, offering me his arm. I accept, pressing close, and we begin to walk the main street of town.

"Well, I believe it began with the hat," I say. "It's so jaunty. And the uniform. Goodness, who can resist a man in uniform? And the way you seem to know what's best for me before even I do. Brilliance!" I flutter my eyelashes. "How can I possibly resist?"

"Few can, I suspect," Norrington agrees.

"After the ball, I thought to myself 'What a fool I am to push such a catch away. You best go get him, Elizabeth, before some other girl snatches him up for herself.'" I slide my arm from his, stopping in front of the fountain at the center of Market Street.

The Captain preens like a peacock at my words. "Yes, well, at least you came to your senses."

"Absolutely," I agree. "What a fool I was to even think of letting you get away." I glance off to my right, making sure Will is manning his agreed upon location at the little fountain wall. He nods to me and I step close to Norrington, walking my fingers up his coat buttons to emphasis each word. "Don't you agree that every girl needs a big, strong man to control her every move?"

"Well, perhaps 'control' is too harsh a word," Norrington says. "I prefer 'mold her every move.'"

With each step I take forward, Norrington takes one back. He stumbles when the back of his legs bump up against the fountain but doesn't fall until --

"Mold her? I wouldn't let an overstuffed, pompous peacock like you near me, dearest James. You'd do well to remember that."

Will grasps Norrington's shoulders right as I give a great shove on his chest, making the Captain do a smart little back flip into the water. He comes up sputtering, hat somehow managing to stay in place. He pushes the waterlogged feather away from his face as the crowd erupts just as I hoped – in laughter.

"Why you horrid little chit!"

Will stands next to me as we face Norrington, reaching for my hand as a sign of silent support. "Call me what you may," I say, "but that does not change the fact that I have a mind of my own. I do as I choose – not what Papa or you dictate."

"You choose the boy?" he asks.

I glance at Will. "I choose freedom. If Will embodies this, so be it."

"You shall regret it," Norrington predicts.

"If I do, it is none of your concern since it is my decision to be made."

"Let us go," Will says, squeezing my hand. "He will never change."

I nod and soon we are racing hand in hand down the beach, kicking up sand in our wake. Once we are at the jetty, Will releases my hand, leaning forward with palms flat on his knees in an attempt to catch his breath.

"I don't believe today shall deter him forever, but you are free for a time, Elizabeth," Will says.

"All the same it is glorious to be free!" I crow, twirling in a circle. "Thank you, Will," I add, voice softer. "For everything."

"You are quite welcome."

"Does not it seem as if our whole lives are before us?" I ask, turning a few cartwheels in my exuberance despite being weighed down by my cumbersome dress. "Anything we wish, we can make it so. Ours, Will. Ours for the taking."

He takes both my hands in his, looking very serious and earnest. "Promise me one thing, Elizabeth."

"Anything," I answer automatically.

"Promise me you shall never conform to society's whims. Always be as you are."

"I promise," I say, leaning forward till our foreheads are touching. "But you must do so as well. Never change, Will. I couldn't bear it."

"I promise," he agrees, breath warm on my face as his lips find mine.