I'm sorry for the delay in updating, but I have been cursed with exams which are taking up the majority of my time.

Chapter two

          Home of the Norringtons'

The weeks that followed my sudden departure from my former home were spent on the sea, aboard a passenger ship, The Spirit of Reverence. The captain, Captain Parsal, was an old friend of my fathers, and I knew him from happier times. Because of this, he spent time amusing me, showing me around the ship, and demonstrating how different things worked.

Most of the other passengers aboard were young couples with children. Pain was still fresh in my heart, so I tended to avoid the children, not wanting to be reminded of young Lorie.

When I had arrived at the dockyard, I was immediately introduced to Kenneth and Mabel Norrington, my father's friends, my new care givers. They seemed nice enough, and came from well to do family. Kenneth spent his days at sea conversing with other gentlemen in a room below deck which seemed to me to be set aside just for this purpose. I had passed the door way several times while aboard The Spirit of Reverence, and had listened, trying to find out what went on in there. It was only after Captain Parsal caught me with my ear pressed to the door, claiming that that room was no place for a young woman such as myself, that I left the room alone.

As the weeks dragged on, I spent most of my time wandering the decks, watching us draw closer to the horizon. I loved the salt air and spent many an hour leaning on the side rail watching the waves roll by. It reminded me of my father and his love for the sea. It was because of this that I also tried to write often in the book Daddy had given me. But thinking of Daddy made me think of how much I missed Mamma and Lorie. I had opened the package Mamma had given me in my first week aboard. It was a book, much like the one Daddy had given me, and from a swift flick through the pages, it was a diary of my Mamma's life. I had stared at the cover pondering my mother's words; "It'll help you understand what's happening and why." What more was there to understand about what was happening that she had been unable to tell me herself back home. The thought that my mother had a secret locked away inside the very book I was holding scared me, and I had yet to read what was written. I was terrified of finding something I didn't want to know.

I tried to avoid Kenneth's wife Mabel. It seemed that every time I stepped below deck into our rooms, she would fuss over me, often complaining that my hair didn't look right, or my skin was getting to much color. Mornings were spent below deck where Mabel's maid Nina pampered my hair, curling it into the latest fashions. Mabel insisted that if I was to live in Port Royal, in her family, I must look like a respectable young women. I was given stunning gowns made of the finest silks to wear as well as delicate parasols to hold while above on deck.

While Mabel's consistent badgering was frustrating, I found Kenneth's stony silence far worse. Throughout our voyage he seemed to only speak to me when it could not be evaded. He was up on deck before I awoke and appeared to make himself scarce whenever I seemed to get to close to him. I was vastly disappointed in this as I had hoped that Kenneth might have been able to provide me with a father figure. Not that anyone could ever come close to filling the gap my fathers death had inflicted on me.

It wasn't until our passage ended that I truly held a conversation with Kenneth Norrington.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø

Whatever I had imagined Port Royal to be, I knew when it first came into view that it succeeded it. As we came into the harbor, I watched fascinated, I was falling in love with Port Royal and I had yet to step on to its shore.

Though I had spent many weeks aboard The Spirit, I had scarcely conversed with Kenneth and Mabel about their station at Port Royal, and it was only now that I was beginning to realize that that was an error. When we stepped off the ship, I became immediately aware of the authority both Kenneth and Mabel walked with. The passengers we had traveled with stood aside to let us disembark first, and the inhabitants around the harbor seemed to move aside, waiting for us to pass. It made me feel nervous and I followed close behind my foster parents until we came to where a horse and carriage were patiently lingering. Kenneth helped Mabel step up into the carriage, her gloved hand holding fast to his. He then turned to me, his hand out stretched expectantly. Offering an edgy smile, I accepted his help and climbed aboard, seating myself across from Mabel. Kenneth joined us a moment later, taking the seat opposing me, next to his wife. As he reclined back into the soft seat he fixed his grey eyes on me, observing.

I felt myself squirm under his scrutiny, my fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with a sliver bangle on my right wrist. This was the first time I had really spent with Kenneth in a confined space. Apart from the dinners spent aboard The Spirit, he had made an effort to avoid me. His presence unnerved me somewhat, for a reason unbeknown to me. He had shown me no reason to fear him, and had not harmed me in any way other that neglect. But I was willing to overlook that small detail as I was a young woman, not a child, and I had intruded in on his family. Apart from that I found him to be the perfect gentleman, always well mannered and polite.

Mabel had spoken to me a lot, but never about the things that interested me. She never told me about my new home or what to expect, but instead about the people she socialized with. Who had married whom, and what certain ladies had worn to luncheons and outings.

Perhaps this lack of communication had some effect on the fact that I was so naïve about what was expected of me and what sort of life I'd be living when we reached Port Royal, so I was utterly relieved when Kenneth finally decided to have a stop avoiding me and talk.

"Adora," Kenneth's smooth voice interrupted my thought, tumbling me back to reality. "I believe there are important matters that need addressing." His eyes watched me intently, looking for any sign of defiance.

I nodded slowly, feeling the smooth wave of relief engulf me. I was eager to have this conversation; after all, here I was, along way from the only home I had ever known, in a new place, with a new family. How was I supposed to act?

"You are now in Port Royal, Adora, and under my care. I will provide you with board in my home, with food for your stomach, and clothes for your back. In return I expect certain things from you."

I swallowed thickly, nodding my head in understanding. Had I judged him wrongly? Was he in fact not a gentleman, like I had guessed, but instead a controlling, dominate man?

His eyes bore into mine, looking for comprehension. "Good," he said when he saw the nod of my head. "Firstly, my family and I hold a great deal of power and influence in this port. My son, Christopher, is commodore here." Kenneth stated with pride.

"You have a son?" I asked feeling foolish. "I didn't know." I didn't know a lot.

Mabel smiled reaching out a hand to pat me gently on my knee. "Oh yes, he's made us so proud our Christopher, hasn't he Kenneth?"

"Yes, very." Kenneth agreed, before continuing with his lecture. "Because of our status, we are looked up to in this community. As such, I will not permit any behaviour that may bring disgrace to the Norrington name. Are we understood?"

"Yes, sir. I have never done anything to bring dishonor to my family in the past."

"Very good. See to it that this continues. I must insist that while you are here you go by the name of Norrington. You will be introduced as my deceased cousin's child." He looked down at me, awaiting my response.

"But why?" I asked outraged at the suggestion I abandon my fathers name. I glanced at Mabel who sat still and quiet, her face showing no emotion. No support. "As I have told you Mr. Norrington, I have never brought disgrace to my families name and therefore see no reason to discard it!" My voice had grown louder though my speech, my anger taking over.

"Miss. Black you will calm yourself." Kenneth stated, authority lacing his words. "Your name may never have been shamed by you yourself but your father did!" His face reddened as he spoke and I recoiled in my chair afraid. "To take the child of Troy Black into ones home is a tarnish ones name. I will not have my family humiliated because I owed a friend a favor. No, you will be known as Adora Norrington, while you live under my roof. If I so much as hear the name of your father you will be sent back where you came from!"

His anger scared me and my hands clutched at the edges of the seat in terror. But confusion was embracing me. How could anyone hate a loving soul as my father? He never wronged a man, and always showed kindness even to those below his station. How dare this man insult his like this!

"Is this understood?" Kenneth glared at me and I felt the tears burn behind my eyelids as I struggled to force them back.

"Yes, Sir." I whispered, frightened by his outburst. I lowered my head like a flag in defeat and stared at my feat.

He smiled, relaxing once again into his seat, his face falling back into the features of a gentleman. "Good," he said, voice returning to a smooth sound. The carriage rolled to a stop and as his lips formed a smirk. "Welcome your new home Miss. Norrington."

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø

Mabel showed me the room in which I would be staying, and I had to admit it was beautiful, telling me how she had decorated the house and I admitted that she did so with exquisite taste.

It was a very pretty, cozy room, painted white with a light blue boarder. There was a canopy bed, just like the bed I had had back home; only the headboard was made of golden oak instead of brown. The bedding, quilt, and pillows all matched the lilac shade of the canopy.

There was a vanity table with a large mirror and a matching dresser. In one corner was a desk and chair with a few writing utensils at the side.

Two open windows, one on each side of the bed faced the ocean. The breeze made the curtains flutter and wave. The sent of the sea air overpowered the vague sweet perfume I smelled when first looking in on the room.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Mabel said.

"Yes."

"I want you to be comfortable here," she said. "Just like your Mother was when she used this room all those years ago. We haven't had anyone use it since then."

I looked up sharply at the mention of my Mother. "She stayed here?" I asked.

Mabel smiled fondly at the memory. "Oh yes, that was just before they moved away. You're the first to use this room since then. It's such a shame; the room is one of my favorites in this house."

"But why does no one use it then?"

It was then that Mabel seemed to realize what she was saying. Her eyes went wide and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh dear," she whispered. "I've said more than I should have already. Kenneth doesn't like to talk about those days. Oh dear," she repeated.

"It's alright Mrs. Mabel. I shall not inform your husband of what you said." Despite the rooms recently lived in appearance, it felt more like a shrine to my mother.

She nodded but her face told me she was still upset she had let herself talk about a subject that her husband forbade. Mabel took a moment to collect herself before changing subjects.

"I suppose you could use a little rest after traveling for so long and so far. Dinner is always served at six o'clock. Kenneth likes us all to look nice come the evening meal." She smiled lightly again, looking at me for a moment before walking towards the closet. "Your mother left some garments here when she left," Mabel said in a quiet whisper, and then a bit louder she continued, "You are welcome to wear them if you like. You seem about the same size as she was. I'll send a maid up in an hour to help you dress."

She turned and paused in the door way, looking back over her shoulder. "Its wonderful having someone use this room again. Knowing that the things will be loved once more." Her face wore a strange soft smile.

Mabel closed the door behind her and I felt a chill run through me. I felt like an intruder in this bedroom. It was still my mother's room. My trunks were stacked beside each other against the wall. There was so little of me here, and so much of my mother. What kind of home had my Mamma sent me to live in? I had known my parents had visited here early in their marriage, before I was born. But that was years ago. Had Mabel really kept all my mothers belongings, and if so, why?

Trying to take my mind of the unpleasant aspects of this room, I looked through the closet at my mother's old dresses. They were in fact beautiful, if not a little out of date. I found I had trouble picking one out to wear, as they all possessed such elaborate designs and all held their own splendor.

When I had chosen a dress which I thought to be suitable for tonight's dinner, I walked to the window and stared out at the ocean and beach. From here I could also see the docks, and the many sailors scurrying back and forth unloading and packing ships. I imagined my mother had also once stood at this window and looked over Port Royal. Despite the unsettling feeling I got from this room, I found it to also be a comfort. My mother had also once stayed and lived in this very room. Maybe the same magic that had united her heart to my fathers would also seize me. The thought brought a smile to my face. Maybe Port Royal wouldn't be so bad after all.

Okay, I'm sorry. I know I said Jack would be here, and yes, I know he's not. But I have started chapter three and he IS there. I promise, cross my heart!

Thanks for reading =)