Subsist
By Suslin
In which Edward receives a package, Elizabeth decides to be defiant and Master Brown plays matchmaker.
Thank you everyone for the amazingly amazing reviews. I'm sorry I haven't updated. After the third chapter I just lost all inspiration…until now. Hope you enjoy.
***
Chapter 3
Edward Norrington was shuffling through the legal papers on his desk distractedly when there came a knock on the door. His head snapped up and he looked across the dark, cluttered room at the lacquered mahogany door.
"Yes, come in," he bade. He watched to see whose form would appear in the doorway.
"I send my greetings to you commodore. And how was last night?" A familiar voice questioned. Edward dropped the papers onto his desk and rose. His lieutenant stepped inside then shut the door behind him, the room echoing with a resounding 'click' as the door fit into place.
"Lieutenant," Edward said as a manner of greeting.
"Commodore," Anthony Gillette replied, amusement twinkling in his eyes.
"Last night went very well, thank you for asking."
"Was she everything you every dreamed of?"
"Lieutenant, I'm sorry, but I do not wish to discuss what happened between my wife and me last night. It's a personal matter and one not to be discussed at such a time." Edward looked Anthony square in the eye and the lieutenant laughed, then placed a package on the commodore's desk.
"This came for you."
"Thank you, now if you would kindly get back to your duties?"
"Yes," Anthony said, leaning on the desk. "But will I see you tonight?" Edward glared.
"Can we please discuss this later?"
"When? Tonight?"
"Well, I-," Edward started when the door slammed open. The two men hastily stepped away from each other.
"Norrington, I've just gotten a report of this Sparrow raiding ports along the coast of Hispaniola. This is what we you for letting him go. I could have you're head for this, but you're too valuable. I want you going after him as soon as possible. Gillette, get back to work."
"Yes, general," Edward responded.
***
Elizabeth sat in bed, examining the bruises between her thighs. There were several impressive purple-blue marks and she sighed in misery, then pulled the hem of her nightgown back down her legs. What was I thinking? Will would have been so much gentler. It would have been such a wonderful experience with him. But with the commodore, no. It was awkward at best. Very awkward. She sat in the midst of the blankets and sheets, head between her knees.
"What have I done?" Elizabeth slid herself to the side of the bed, then swung her legs over the side. She got down on her hands and knees and pulled up a corner of a sheet that was dragging on the floor. She groped in the dark, then felt something soft. She dragged out one slipper, then the other and sat there, pulling them on. She got to her feet, her muscles sore and aching, and then pulled on a bathrobe.
She then exited the room, not caring that the maids, the butler and who knows who else would see her in nothing but her nightclothes. She closed the door behind her, then wound her way through the hallways until she appeared on a balcony overlooking the front door to the house. She leaned against the banister for a moment, then made her way downstairs and she found her way to the servants quarters. As soon as she entered, the servants all stood, looking shocked. She saw some of the stablehands exchange looks, but she just leaned against the doorway, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning. Do you have anything to eat?" She asked. Some of the younger maids snickered. An elderly woman approached her and took her by the elbow and led her into the dining room.
"Are you alright, mistress?" Elizabeth nodded.
"Yes, thank you. By any chance could I have a mug of willowbark tea and a mug of honey tea?"
"Yes, all you have to do is ask. That's what we're here for. Do sit down," she said. Elizabeth complied and the housemaid left Elizabeth to contemplate the far wall. Her eyes eventually wandered to the window.
"Will, dammit. Come rescue me." She whispered halfheartedly.
***
Will stared at the sword he had finished. It was a work of art. Double-edged like love and sharp like cupid's arrows. The osage orange hilt shined with gloss as Will held it to the light.
"That's a handsome sword, Will." Will turned to face his master.
"Thank you."
"I think you could fetch a handsome price for that." Will shrugged.
"I could care less, really." He readjusted his hands along the blade then offered the hilt to his master. Johann Brown took the sword, then sighed.
"Will, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
"Who?"
"A friend."
"Well I can't talk long because I have to work on Mr. Whitefield's order, but alright." Johann's ruddy face split into a grin.
"Good. Now splash your face with some water and rub off the soot. You have to look presentable." Will raised an eyebrow but went over to the basin of water near the window of the forge and rubbed the grime off his face. He dusted himself off, then went into the adjacent room. A girl, pretty and blond stood there clutching a blue bonnet in her hands.
"Will, this is Mary Edwards, the baker's daughter. Mary, this is Will Turner. Mary's interested in blacksmithing. Do tell her about it. Oh, and you have the day off. Walk with her." Will gaped as his master departed quickly, leaving him with the girl.
"Well, then," Will said.
"So," said Mary. "I was wondering, do mules wear horseshoes or do they wear muleshoes? Because they're not really horses."
***
"Five Black Sea Bass. And could you filet them please? And remove the pin bones? Please," the man in front of Jack asked of the young woman at the fish stand. She nodded curtly, then took out five dark fish. She took a knife an cut off the head and tail of the fish. She split its stomach lengthwise and quickly gutted it. She cut the rest of the fish off and placed the two halves next to each other. She ran her fingers gently along the flesh from the broader head end toward the tail end. The tips of the bones lifted up a bit in the flesh and using small tweezers, she grabbed the tip of each pin bone and gently pulled the bones out. She discarded them in the wheelbarrow behind her, then wrapped the fish and gave it to the customer. The customer gave her the money and she thanked him then pocketed the money. She looked up and Jack stepped forward. He tipped his hat to her.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," she responded, eyes narrowing. She turned from Jack and called a small boy to her side. She deposited the money from her pockets into the boy's hand then sent him running. "Can I help you?" Jack leaned against the counter.
"Have you any brothers?"
"Yes. Five."
"Any of them good sailors?"
"Yes. All of them."
"Which one would you say is the best?"
"They're all fair sailors, but I'm the best of the lot."
"You?" Jack asked. "But you're….."
"A woman?"
"A girl, actually. That was the word I was looking for." The young woman frowned.
"That hurt." Jack smirked.
"I'm sure." She crossed her arms.
"I doubt any of my brothers would join your crew." Jack pouted.
"But one of my crew jumped off the boat for no apparent reason." She raised an eyebrow.
"In that case, I'm sure none of them would join your crew." Jack sighed.
"I see you didn't mention yourself. Would you join us?"
"I'm not a whore. I would do no such thing."
"But you work with your hands so well." She laughed.
"So you're the famous Jack Sparrow? We I am honored." Jack shrugged.
"What can I say?" The young woman laughed then drew a pistol.
"I think your last words would be appropriate at this point."
***
Edward stared at the contents of the package, horrified. He looked around nervously them ripped up the note that went with it and stashed its contents in a drawer in his desk. He locked the compartment then tossed the box in the corner.
"I'll kill him for this," he muttered. There came a knock at the door and he jumped half a foot in the air. He composed himself as best he could then sat down.
"Come in." The door swung open and Elizabeth stepped in, fully dressed, lace at her throat and wrists. She closed the pink parasol she had been carrying then looked around his office interestedly.
"So this is where you work. Your inner sanctum."
"Dearest, how are you? So good to see you. I missed you the moment I stepped out the door." Elizabeth looked up from her perusal of his collection of books.
"Did you? That's sweet of you."
"Thank you. Dearest, are you just here to see me or did you have something to tell me?"
"Oh. I came to ask you, do you mind terribly? I was bored and decided to open the wedding presents without you. I'm really sorry. I couldn't resist."
"No, no. Of course not dear. It's just… I thought we were going to do that together." Elizabeth sighed and fiddled with a piece of lace.
"You left early this morning."
"Yes. I have my job."
"Yes of course, your job. Well that explains it. Couldn't even have waited until I woke up."
"Elizabeth, please. I couldn't.
"Of course you couldn't dear. I was just a bit disappointed that you weren't there."
"I am sorry my dear."
"Of course you are." She walked forward and sat halfway on his desk.
"Do you have enough time for a short walk?"
"No, I haven't my dear, I'm terribly sorry."
"Right," Elizabeth whispered. "I'll be off then." She stood then slipped out the door. Norrington dropped his head into his hands as the door clicked shut.
***
"Well, that's pretty much all I can tell you about blacksmithing."
"It was fascinating," Mary said, stifling a yawn. "Perhaps I'll come tomorrow." Will nodded with much effort.
"Please do." She girl smiled then left the shop. Will choked on the tears he had been holding back all day and he slumped down in the nearest thing he could find when Mr. Brown appeared suddenly.
"How did it go?" Will closed his eyes and moaned. "Bad, eh?"
"Are you trying to torture me?" Will asked.
"No, I just wanted to help you."
"Help me what?"
"Find another true love."
"Another true love? Is that even possible?"
"Anything's possible Will. Especially concerning love."
"Not concerning true love, I think. Thank you for the effort, though." Mr. Brown sighed then squatted next to Will.
"Let's put it this way, Will. The capacity for a person to love is very big. Though Elizabeth may have taken a piece of your heart, there will always be room for another love. For an indefinite amount of loves. Because the capacity for a person to love is boundless. So I want you to find a girl and fall in love with her and be happy, alright?" Will looked at Mr. Brown
"Capacity?" Mr. Brown chuckled.
"My new word."
"Ah." Will covered his eyes for a moment, contemplating, then extended his hand. "Deal."