Disclaimer: Still don't own Jack, Will, or anything else. Bummer.
AN: Okay, Reikon, the broccoli thing was really, really gross, and no one should know about that sort of thing! Also, I realize that people probably wanted Jack in the first chapter, but I promise he'll show up sooner (or later, depending), so hold onto your hats, people. It won't be long! Enjoy reading!
Chapter 2: A Talk and False Hopes:
Her frantic knock on the door was answered by a somewhat flustered Elizabeth, whose face lit up at the sight of her friend.
"Lara!" she cried before wrapping her arms around her former maid. Both girls stood on the front porch for several moments, hugging each other like they'd never hug again. Finally, they broke apart, smiling.
"Come in, come in!" Elizabeth said, waving her hand toward the inside of the house, closing the door once she'd entered the sitting room. "I haven't seen you in at least a month! How have you been? Can I offer you some tea?"
The thought of Elizabeth making tea was an amusing one. "You actually make your own tea now?" Lara said, quirking an eyebrow.
"Well, not anymore," Elizabeth said, smiling. "Father recently hired a maid for us. I don't think he liked the idea of his 'frail daughter' doing her own housework."
Lara laughed. "Let me guess, you burned all of your food and Will had to cook?" She laughed even harder at Elizabeth's blush.
Elizabeth huffed at her friend. "Actually, neither one of us could cook, so we've had to eat out for the past nine months."
Lara laughed even harder as Elizabeth picked up a small bell and rang it. A maid in a brown dress came in. "Tea for two, please, Ella." The maid curtsied and left. Elizabeth turned back to Lara, who was still giggling, but managed to contain herself.
"So, what brings you here? The last I heard, you worked for that new family, the Worthingtons."
Lara sobered quickly and shifted in her seat, suddenly very uneasy. "Well, Lizzie, the thing is." She was interrupted by the entrance of the tea. After it was placed on the table, Elizabeth prepared two cups with cream and sugar, then handed one to Lara.
After taking a few soothing sips, Lara spoke again. "Lizzie, I've got one huge problem. Thomas Pierce has asked me to marry him."
Elizabeth stared in shock, her tea cup half way to her mouth. "What? When did this happen?"
"Last night, on the beach," Lara replied, taking a few more sips of tea to further sooth her nerves.
Elizabeth put her cup down. "Lara, I have no idea how you can remain calm at a time like this! I thought that you loved Jack?"
Lara shifted in her chair even more and stared into her tea cup. "I do love him, it just that, well, we all know he's not coming back for me, Lizzie. If he were, he would have done it already."
Elizabeth frowned. "So that's it? You're just going to marry Tom? Lara, Jack will be back for you, you just have to wait a bit longer."
Lara set her cup down, and looked sadly at her friend. "Lizzie, I can't wait forever! Sooner or later, I'll have to answer Tom, and I have no plausible reason to say 'no!' I can't just tell Tom that I can't marry him, simply because I'm in love with the most wanted pirate in the Caribbean!"
Elizabeth pulled her own chair closer and took Lara's hand in hers. "Lara, I know it looks bad, but if you'll just wait a bit longer, I'm sure Jack will show up! Patience is a virtue, after all."
A tear rolled down Lara's face. "Lizzie, it's been nine months. What if he's forgotten all about me?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "Lara, if I know Jack, I doubt that he's forgotten all about you. What do you say to waiting for another few weeks? I'm sure Jack will show up by then."
Lara smiled. "You're right. And I do have some time. Tom said that the Commodore wants him at sea for the next three weeks patrolling the islands, so I guess I could wait. He says he'll ask for my reply when he returns."
"Excellent!" Elizabeth said. "Now, why don't you tell me about life at the Worthington estate?"
The two of them talked until late afternoon before Lara realized that she had to return to the Worthington house. Before she left, Elizabeth caught her arm.
"Lara, my father is having a small party at his home tomorrow night. He's invited Will and myself and asked me to invite you as well. Won't you join us there? It would be like old times again."
Lara grinned broadly. "Yes, well, except for the fact that your father won't be trying to match you up with every available young man on the island. Oh, and I won't have to follow you around with pockets full of fans and gloves. Other than that, it will be just like old times!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Well, good-bye, Lara. I'll see you tomorrow night."
Lara walked home with a smile on her face. As soon as she got back to the Worthington's mansion, her smile broadened as Amanda raced out to meet her.
"Lara!" the little girl cried, right before she latched on to her skirts.
"Good afternoon, Mandy," Lara replied. She bent down and gave the girl a hug. "How was your day? Did you get some new dresses?"
Amanda jumped up and down, tugging on Lara's dress. "Yes, and they are all so pretty! One is blue with white lace, and another one is." The little girl continued to babble on about her clothes as her mother came down the steps.
Mrs. Worthington smiled at Lara before she interrupted her daughter. "Amanda, dear, why don't you go upstairs while I talk to Lara? I'll send her up in a moment and then she can look at all of your pretty new clothes."
Amanda beamed. "Yes, Mama," she replied before racing inside.
Mrs. Worthington sighed. "She's been full of energy all day. Lara, would you be a dear and take Amanda into town for me to run off some energy? Have her put on a new dress as well. Let her get used to them?"
Lara curtsied. "Of course, Madam, as you wish."
She immediately went up to Amanda's room. The little girl was in the middle of a ring of boxes, each one opened to reveal a new dress, each one more beautiful than the last. Lara wished that she had such lovely dresses, but she could never have them. She couldn't dress better than her charge, after all.
"Amanda," she said to the little girl, who turned around at her voice. "What do you say you put on a new dress and go show it off in town, hmm? Wouldn't that be nice?"
The young girl instantly started jumping up and down. "Yay! Can I wear the blue one? Please?"
Lara laughed. "Of course! And I'll wear my favorite blue dress, too, so that we can match!"
Amanda grabbed Lara in a huge hug before picking up a dress from one of the many boxes on the floor.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Twenty minutes later, the two were walking around town, Amanda in a charming blue gown with white and silver lace, and Lara in a sky blue gown to match. They were quite the pair; Amanda with her blond tresses and blue eyes to match her gown, and Lara with her chocolate colored hair and eyes, which were brought out by the pale blue of her gown.
As the two walked about town, Lara kept an eye open for anyone she knew, mostly servants from the Swann house. She had become good friends with most of them, and often saw them in the market place.
As the two of them peeked in the window of a toy shop, Lara swore she saw a male figure in a red bandana walk right behind her. Her eyes widened and she twirled around, her eyes scanning the crowd.
"Lara?" Amanda tugged on her arm. Lara looked down. "What are you looking for?"
Lara scanned the crowd again. Nothing; no man wearing a red bandana on his head. "Nothing, Mandy. I just thought I saw someone I knew."
"Who?" the little girl asked.
"A man.just a man." Lara's heart dropped. 'It was probably my imagination.' She then caught sight of a woman with a red handkerchief. Her heart dropped even more, and the two continued walking towards home.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Caribbean:
"I'm comin' for ye, my bonny lass. I'm comin' for ye."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: (Enter evil laughter here) Almost had Jack, but didn't! Well, maybe just a little bit of him. Guess you'll just have to read the next chapter! Please review!
AN: Okay, Reikon, the broccoli thing was really, really gross, and no one should know about that sort of thing! Also, I realize that people probably wanted Jack in the first chapter, but I promise he'll show up sooner (or later, depending), so hold onto your hats, people. It won't be long! Enjoy reading!
Chapter 2: A Talk and False Hopes:
Her frantic knock on the door was answered by a somewhat flustered Elizabeth, whose face lit up at the sight of her friend.
"Lara!" she cried before wrapping her arms around her former maid. Both girls stood on the front porch for several moments, hugging each other like they'd never hug again. Finally, they broke apart, smiling.
"Come in, come in!" Elizabeth said, waving her hand toward the inside of the house, closing the door once she'd entered the sitting room. "I haven't seen you in at least a month! How have you been? Can I offer you some tea?"
The thought of Elizabeth making tea was an amusing one. "You actually make your own tea now?" Lara said, quirking an eyebrow.
"Well, not anymore," Elizabeth said, smiling. "Father recently hired a maid for us. I don't think he liked the idea of his 'frail daughter' doing her own housework."
Lara laughed. "Let me guess, you burned all of your food and Will had to cook?" She laughed even harder at Elizabeth's blush.
Elizabeth huffed at her friend. "Actually, neither one of us could cook, so we've had to eat out for the past nine months."
Lara laughed even harder as Elizabeth picked up a small bell and rang it. A maid in a brown dress came in. "Tea for two, please, Ella." The maid curtsied and left. Elizabeth turned back to Lara, who was still giggling, but managed to contain herself.
"So, what brings you here? The last I heard, you worked for that new family, the Worthingtons."
Lara sobered quickly and shifted in her seat, suddenly very uneasy. "Well, Lizzie, the thing is." She was interrupted by the entrance of the tea. After it was placed on the table, Elizabeth prepared two cups with cream and sugar, then handed one to Lara.
After taking a few soothing sips, Lara spoke again. "Lizzie, I've got one huge problem. Thomas Pierce has asked me to marry him."
Elizabeth stared in shock, her tea cup half way to her mouth. "What? When did this happen?"
"Last night, on the beach," Lara replied, taking a few more sips of tea to further sooth her nerves.
Elizabeth put her cup down. "Lara, I have no idea how you can remain calm at a time like this! I thought that you loved Jack?"
Lara shifted in her chair even more and stared into her tea cup. "I do love him, it just that, well, we all know he's not coming back for me, Lizzie. If he were, he would have done it already."
Elizabeth frowned. "So that's it? You're just going to marry Tom? Lara, Jack will be back for you, you just have to wait a bit longer."
Lara set her cup down, and looked sadly at her friend. "Lizzie, I can't wait forever! Sooner or later, I'll have to answer Tom, and I have no plausible reason to say 'no!' I can't just tell Tom that I can't marry him, simply because I'm in love with the most wanted pirate in the Caribbean!"
Elizabeth pulled her own chair closer and took Lara's hand in hers. "Lara, I know it looks bad, but if you'll just wait a bit longer, I'm sure Jack will show up! Patience is a virtue, after all."
A tear rolled down Lara's face. "Lizzie, it's been nine months. What if he's forgotten all about me?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "Lara, if I know Jack, I doubt that he's forgotten all about you. What do you say to waiting for another few weeks? I'm sure Jack will show up by then."
Lara smiled. "You're right. And I do have some time. Tom said that the Commodore wants him at sea for the next three weeks patrolling the islands, so I guess I could wait. He says he'll ask for my reply when he returns."
"Excellent!" Elizabeth said. "Now, why don't you tell me about life at the Worthington estate?"
The two of them talked until late afternoon before Lara realized that she had to return to the Worthington house. Before she left, Elizabeth caught her arm.
"Lara, my father is having a small party at his home tomorrow night. He's invited Will and myself and asked me to invite you as well. Won't you join us there? It would be like old times again."
Lara grinned broadly. "Yes, well, except for the fact that your father won't be trying to match you up with every available young man on the island. Oh, and I won't have to follow you around with pockets full of fans and gloves. Other than that, it will be just like old times!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Well, good-bye, Lara. I'll see you tomorrow night."
Lara walked home with a smile on her face. As soon as she got back to the Worthington's mansion, her smile broadened as Amanda raced out to meet her.
"Lara!" the little girl cried, right before she latched on to her skirts.
"Good afternoon, Mandy," Lara replied. She bent down and gave the girl a hug. "How was your day? Did you get some new dresses?"
Amanda jumped up and down, tugging on Lara's dress. "Yes, and they are all so pretty! One is blue with white lace, and another one is." The little girl continued to babble on about her clothes as her mother came down the steps.
Mrs. Worthington smiled at Lara before she interrupted her daughter. "Amanda, dear, why don't you go upstairs while I talk to Lara? I'll send her up in a moment and then she can look at all of your pretty new clothes."
Amanda beamed. "Yes, Mama," she replied before racing inside.
Mrs. Worthington sighed. "She's been full of energy all day. Lara, would you be a dear and take Amanda into town for me to run off some energy? Have her put on a new dress as well. Let her get used to them?"
Lara curtsied. "Of course, Madam, as you wish."
She immediately went up to Amanda's room. The little girl was in the middle of a ring of boxes, each one opened to reveal a new dress, each one more beautiful than the last. Lara wished that she had such lovely dresses, but she could never have them. She couldn't dress better than her charge, after all.
"Amanda," she said to the little girl, who turned around at her voice. "What do you say you put on a new dress and go show it off in town, hmm? Wouldn't that be nice?"
The young girl instantly started jumping up and down. "Yay! Can I wear the blue one? Please?"
Lara laughed. "Of course! And I'll wear my favorite blue dress, too, so that we can match!"
Amanda grabbed Lara in a huge hug before picking up a dress from one of the many boxes on the floor.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Twenty minutes later, the two were walking around town, Amanda in a charming blue gown with white and silver lace, and Lara in a sky blue gown to match. They were quite the pair; Amanda with her blond tresses and blue eyes to match her gown, and Lara with her chocolate colored hair and eyes, which were brought out by the pale blue of her gown.
As the two walked about town, Lara kept an eye open for anyone she knew, mostly servants from the Swann house. She had become good friends with most of them, and often saw them in the market place.
As the two of them peeked in the window of a toy shop, Lara swore she saw a male figure in a red bandana walk right behind her. Her eyes widened and she twirled around, her eyes scanning the crowd.
"Lara?" Amanda tugged on her arm. Lara looked down. "What are you looking for?"
Lara scanned the crowd again. Nothing; no man wearing a red bandana on his head. "Nothing, Mandy. I just thought I saw someone I knew."
"Who?" the little girl asked.
"A man.just a man." Lara's heart dropped. 'It was probably my imagination.' She then caught sight of a woman with a red handkerchief. Her heart dropped even more, and the two continued walking towards home.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Caribbean:
"I'm comin' for ye, my bonny lass. I'm comin' for ye."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: (Enter evil laughter here) Almost had Jack, but didn't! Well, maybe just a little bit of him. Guess you'll just have to read the next chapter! Please review!