Jubilation of the Heart
As Opposed to the Mind
Chapter 3
By Aldesina
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Med Ward Fort Charles the next morning
"Captain Renyolds" The captain of The Lara looked up to see the young officer that had convinced him to step off of his sinking ship. The young officer walked towards him, papers in hand and a resolute expression on his face. They had put Renyolds up in an individual room since he was an officer. The rest of his crew had been put in a room with rows and rows of beds much like the hospitals that he had seen before in New York. He had learned from a passing naval officer that he managed to flag down that that particular young man was the commanding officer of this fort; a commodore, soon to be made admiral at the rate he was going. He also learned that his family name was Norrington, and if Renyolds remembered correctly meant that he had a relative in the army, and one in the House of Lords. Reynolds now began to wonder if the commodore actually earned his job, he was young after all, and in Renyold's fifty years of life he had never heard of anyone making commodore at such a young age.
"Commodore Norrington" The captain made to stand but was immediately waved down.
"Please don't get up on my account, you must be tired, there is no need for formalities." Jules Renyolds sat back down on the bed heavily sighing. He looked up sideways at the young officer that stood in front of him and grinned wryly.
"It's good to know you're always this practical Commodore." The corner of James's mouth turned up slightly at that comment, well that was one way that people described him.
"I'm here because I thought you might like to hear the report from your ship." Renyolds started for a moment, it was not a common thing for the leader of the fort to come and do reports.
"How come you didn't send one of your officers to report this?"
"Because I also have some questions, and it would be more efficient if we could get both the reports and questions out of the way in one go." Renyolds blinked, efficient indeed.
"Just the human causalities please, everything else is rather redundant." Inwardly James was surprised. Usually the captains of merchant ships were more worried over their cargo then their passengers.
"You're wondering why I only asked for the human count, as opposed to the cargo count aren't you?" Captain Renyolds asked. James blinked in surprise and Captain Renyolds laughed.
"Don't look so surprised, I know what's usually thought about merchant vessels, and their captains."
"I did not mean to offend in any way," James began.
"You didn't, you're just young and haven't quite mastered a blank face yet." Renyolds smiled up at James, yes there was that slightly surprised expression now, although it was also combined with a slightly insulted look. "Although I have to admit in all my years I have only known two people who could fully keep any expression from their faces under any circumstances."
"Oh?" James's eyebrow quirked "And who might they be?"
"A lovely couple, The Van Allystynns"
"I know that name," James said frowning a bit "They own that perfume company…."
"Firebird Efflux, yes that would be them, her now actually. Poor girl, her husband passed away some years ago."
"My condolences to her."
"Indeed." Renyolds sighed again.
"Shall I begin the report?" James asked. Reynolds nodded
"Straight to business I see."
"Yes, it seemed that although a good deal of your cargo was lost, most of your passengers did survive, except for one Mr. Clark Murston." Renyolds snorted at the commodore's words
"I guess there really are angels watching over us after all."
"Not a likable man I assume?"
"A ruffian, and a scoundrel of the worst sorts, tell me though Commodore, what makes you so sure that he's dead?"
"We found his carcass on some rocks near shore."
"Excellent!" Renyolds was nearly giddy with that news. James's eyebrows quirked again.
"Are you a vengeful man Captain Renyolds?"
"Certainly not, Commodore Norrington sir! I just happen to be a very gleeful one right now."
"I see," James wondered what the man could have done to merit such joy at the news of his death. " Well actually another odd factor we found was the lady that floated in to shore in a box." Renyolds looked at him confusedly
"Box?"
"Yes, she was not registered on any of your manifests. Also when we described her to your other passengers they could not identify anyone with that particular description" Renyolds was silent for a moment.
"What did she look like?" James paused for a moment remembering.
"She's pale, exceptionally so, with black hair and wide set long eyes. Tall girl, medium build, very light…"
"How would you know she's light?"
"I had to pick her up and out of the box. She had been knocked unconscious by the time we found her, and we could not wake her either."
"Well there's only one person so far that could possibly match that description as far as I know, and she cannot possibly be on this ship."
"Why's that?"
"Well because the person you just described sounds vaguely like Madame Van Allystynn, and she's busy in New York right now." Renyolds paused, something was very wrong with the description of that girl. And the fact that no one else, not even himself was aware of her presence aboard his ship bothered him even more. "Would you happen to know the color of her eyes?"
"No, she hasn't opened her eyes once, she's feverish and delirious, I had her brought to my house to be taken care of." Renyolds raised an eyebrow at this.
"Why not the med ward like everyone else?" James frowned; it seemed that he would be defending this action to everyone that he met.
"It would be unseemly. As you probably know, most of the women that were aboard your ship, as well as the children were all either sent home or to the governor's house until further arrangements could be made for them."
"That was very kind of you to do."
"It was our pleasure."
There was a slight pregnant pause as both men quietly contemplated their thoughts.
"I would like to see her, if you don't mind Commodore. Perhaps I can identify her."
James nodded
"That would be a good. When do you want to go?"
"Now would be fine." Renyolds said once again attempting to struggle to his feet. He had been more badly banged up then he thought he was from the storm. He had knocked his head once or twice, and had been whacked in the stomach by a swinging beam.
"Sit down Captain Renyolds, you're about to keel over."
"No, no, what will really make me keel over is if this girl is who I think she is." Renyolds finally managed to stand up and James found himself looking eye to neck with a man a good five inches taller then himself.
"If you really think it's that important," James lent the captain an arm and helped him walk outside to a waiting carriage.
"Commodore the importance of that young lady's identity will shock you."
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Norrington Estate
"Sir you're home early." His butler Reginald answered the door with a slight bow. He looked up and saw the commodore supporting a tall man who seemed to be leaning rather heavily on him. The tall unidentified stranger was beginning to sweat, and looked mildly uncomfortable, it seemed as if he wasn't accustomed to depending on someone else for mobility.
"Another one from the sunken ship sir?" Reginald moved to help the commodore by taking the man's other arm. "Shall I have the maids prepare another bed?"
"Actually I haven't even thought about that, but yes, that would be a good idea, and send someone down to the med ward to pick up Captain Renyold's possessions."
"Eh, there's no need for that, I'm perfectly fine in the med ward."
"Let's get you upstairs to see the girl first." James smoothly cut in.
"Right down to business aren't you?" Renyolds smiled at the younger man. "It's good to finally have an officer that earned his title instead of inheriting it." James did not answer, although inwardly he did flinch. He didn't know the man well enough to figure out whether or not he was taking a jab at him. It was true that most of the officers in the navy got to their positions due to their family's standings in the House of Lords, an already high placed military family relative, or their family's wealth, which ultimately led to power. True, James's family was quite well off, and he did have a family member in The Crown's royal services, but his uncle was in the army. James chose to join the navy. He would be damned if he would let people think that the only reason why he did so well in the navy was because he had a family member already in the service. His mother had said it was an unwise and stubborn decision on his part to join the navy. Instead of just being a Commodore, he could have become a general already. His father; a minor yet influential lord had agreed with his mother. He couldn't say his parents weren't completely disappointed, in fact his whole family had been pleasantly surprised and slightly impressed that he had made it so far on his own. He was their third and youngest son, second only to his little sister who was seventeen, and already betrothed. That was the other thing that he could not get his parents to stop nagging him about. Ever since the incident with Elizabeth, which he had not written to them about yet, he had been hard pressed for a bride. Also there was the little fact that he had been sent to the Caribbean, and usually once officers were sent there they hardly ever move up the ranks. James had managed to prove that theory wrong to make Captain, and then Commodore all before hitting thirty. And if all things went well, he would be an Admiral at forty. And apparently after his parents heard that news they decided maybe James wasn't wasting his time in the navy after all.
"Something plaguing your mind Commodore?" James snapped out of thoughts and realized that they had already made it up the stairs and over to the young unidentified woman's room. "No, not really I was merely thinking about the young girl." He lied smoothly.
"Yes," Renyolds nodded toward the door. "So, shall we go in?"
James nodded and opened the door letting the other man go in first. Captain Renyolds nodded to him and walked in slowly, cautiously looking at the bed. It had been veiled over with a transparent curtain, so it blocked her features, but not the outline of her body. Renyolds walked over to the side of the bed pulling back the veil to look at the sleeping girl's face.
"Chase?" Renyolds paled. Commodore Norrington came up from behind him and steadied the slightly shaking man.
"You know her then?"
"Yes, this, Commodore, this is Chase Van Allystynn."
"The glassware and perfume company Van Allystynn?" Norrington asked confusedly.
"The very same, she was Edward Van Allystynn's wife, now his widow," Renyolds turned to James, "You said you found her floating in a box? Can you give me a description of it?"
"I can do better, the box is still in our possession, I can have it brought up to the estate for examination."
"Edward?" A hoarse voice behind them breathed. Both men turned their heads toward the bed, Chase had stirred. It was the first time she moved since James had brought her in last night.
"Chase? Chase dear, its Jules." Commodore Norrington watched with slight interest as the older man practically ran back to the girl's bedside and took the young girl's hand tenderly in his own. "You gave me quite a scare there youngling."
"And you haven't called me that in a decade." She replied hoarsely opening her eyes. James found himself staring into a pair of dark gray green orbs framed by delicate eyelashes. "It's good to see a friendly face."
"You haven't acted young for over a decade."
"Could I have something to drink?" Her voice was still hoarse and raspy " It feels like I have been walking across a desert chewing on a mixture of sand and blades." Inwardly Chase's mind was spinning. The last thing she remembered was being knocked out and things going completely black. The fact that Jules was here eased her mind somewhat, but something about the situations just seemed too good to be true. She had no idea where she was, why she was here or how she had survived for so long on a ship without being conscious. And now she was in a well lit room that obviously showed wealth, she felt vaguely clean and she was in a very comfortable bed. Chase gently patted her legs and shifted slightly to check on her breeches. More importantly on her money and dagger. Both were there, meaning whoever had cleaned her up and only cleaned whatever her clothes revealed, and hadn't undressed her. She heaved an inward sigh of relief as she took a mental inventory of her bodily functions. Headache, her shoulders still hurt from trying to get out of that box, and her head felt woozy, like she had been drugged for a very long time. She moved slightly and found that her arm was sore near the shoulder, where the man had given her a shot. Chase began to wonder just how many times she had been stuck with that needle. There was also a naval officer standing in the middle of the room looking at her oddly. He had a gray wig on that was common for all the men to wear these days, and from the look of the brocade on his uniform he was a high ranking officer as well. His wig and expression made him look old, but he couldn't have been past forty. She studied him out of the corner of her eye as Jules babbled on and on about something, her hair? Her complexion? Something about being keelhauled, no he said she looked keelhauled. Chase shook her head at herself, she would have to pay much more attention if she wanted to get some answers and find her way back home. Finally the naval man standing in the background spoke up.
"Oh course madam, I'll have some tea brought up immediately." Norrington replied, finally drawing attention to himself. As if on cue the door was knocked upon, and Reginald walked in with a platter of tea and biscuits. Chase looked up and saw one of the naval officer's servants walk in.
"Ah I see the young lady has awoken, may I welcome you to Port Royal, young miss." The young woman who seemed to have just gotten her bearings perched on the bed gently and looked up at him with a slight smile.
"Thank you for your welcome." She rasped out. Reginald poured everyone in the room a cup of tea and left the room with a bow allowing the other occupants of the room to talk.
After they had each sat down and sipped their tea and Chase had finally soothed her parched throat she spoke again. This time her voice was clearer and contained a faint accent, it was British, but much more toned down then the aristocrats in England, and she drew out the syllables more, softening the language and adding a gentle tone to it. First things first she thought, I should address him, he looks to be the man helped me. What Chase did not know at the time was that James was also thinking about her. James wanted to start a conversation with her, but wasn't quite certain how to. She was quite lovely, not the stunning beauty that Elizabeth was, but she had a quiet beauty to her. And surprisingly she was very calm about her situation. James was sure that Captain Renyold's presence may have had something to do with it, but most young ladies of her age in her situation would usually be in hysterics by now.
"You must be my rescuer," She said addressing Norrington. He looked up startled out of his thoughts. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart, it was very gracious of you to show such kindness to a stranger. May I inquire your good name?"
"Please excuse my rudeness for not introducing myself. My name is Commodore James Norrington." James gave a small bow, "Right now you are in the Caribbean at my estate. You had floated into shore in a box, I had though it would be unseemly for a lone woman to be at the med ward so I brought you over to my estate, you have been here for a night already."
"Then I must thank you again for not only rescuing me, but also for providing me with accommodations." Chase took another sip of her tea and continued. "You said your family name was Norrington?" James nodded "You wouldn't by chance be related to General Norrington would you?"
"He's my uncle." Chase smiled.
"I met him when I was younger, he is a fine man. He must be proud of your accomplishments here in the Caribbean." Captain Renyolds looked from one person to another with disbelief clearly painted on his face. Norrington was conversing with Chase as if he had just invited her over to tea, and Chase was responding as though nothing was a matter. They completely ignored the fact that she had just floated onto shore, in a box no less, and were currently discussing the weather as if nothing had happened at all. Perhaps Norrington is better at hiding his expressions then Renyolds thought he was. Or perhaps it was merely his high pedigree. He'd heard about men like him, highly trained aristocrat sons that were bred with perfect manners, not to mention a blind eye toward any signs of trouble and distress. He certainly hoped Norrington wasn't oblivious.
"Chase I don't mean to be rude or anything, but…. but, have you gone mental?" Reynolds finally cut in. She tipped her head at him inquiringly.
"What makes you say that?"
"You look awful, you apparently have been abroad my ship for fifteen days, you floated in unconscious in a box no less and you have nothing better to do then to make polite conversation about the man's family?"
"He is my rescuer after all, isn't it polite to thank him and then inquire after the well being of his family?"
Captain Renyolds and Commodore Norrington both blinked at the utmost sincerity and perfect calmness of her voice. So this was the person who Renyolds said could hide her emotions perfectly. She certainly lived up to the brag. James also understood that this meant she probably didn't want to discuss her problems and concerns in front of him.
"If you'd like madam, I can give you and Captain Renyolds here some privacy." Chase was startled, she hadn't expected him to get the point quite so quickly.
"I would be most appreciated Commodore." She said addressing him by his title.
"Please call me James."
"James" She said acknowledging it. The Commodore realized then and there he rather liked the sound of his name on her lips. "You must call me Chase then."
"Chase." He acknowledged. " Please take your time to talk, I'll have Reginald come in every now and then to refill your refreshments. If you'll excuse me I have other duties at the fort that I must attend to now."
"Thank you James." Chase said.
"Good day," He replied in return. Captain Renyolds tipped his head at him, and he and Chase watched as the Commodore walked out the door and latched it firmly closed behind him.
"Well, that certainly gives him bonus points, he's certainly an intelligent chap isn't he?" Renyolds remarked once the commodore had left. He was glad that the commodore had not turned out to be the type with blinders on either side of his face.
"Yes, he certainly is" Chase remarked. She decided instantly that she liked the Commodore, he was well mannered, intelligent and seemed trustworthy with nothing to hide. That was hard to find in a man during this age. She knew well enough that first impressions could be deceiving even if they did reveal quite a bit about a person.
"Jules, I need you to fill me in on the happenings of the past fifteen days. It seems like I'm missing that slot of time in my memory."
"You don't remember anything?"
"I remember what happened before I got onto your ship, and I remember what happened after I discovered I was aboard your ship."
"Where were you?"
"In the very box I floated in on I imagine. I'm sorry to say that your ship was sinking, there was a gapping hole in your hull right in the middle of your cargo." She grinned wryly. "It seems as if I was knocked unconscious when the box I was in was dragged from the hold. All I remember was screaming for help and then a sharp pain, then darkness."
"Yes and now you have a slight fever, which seems to have mostly gone away and a nasty bump on the back of your head."
"Ah so that's where this nasty headache is coming from" She said rubbing her head gingerly. "Always good to know how one is knocked unconscious."
Renyolds chuckled.
"Always the optimist"
"Always the realist." Renyolds laughed.
"Now, shall we get down to business, how about explaining to me what happened before you got onto my ship?"
"Gladly."
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