Usual disclaimers - damn and blast it! There's another familiar face in
this chapter.
Chapter 6
'Maddy, Maddy-y-y-y-y!' called a childs voice from the garden. 'Come and watch me play Maddy.' Madalene groaned, Celia Norrington was enough to try the patience of a saint. It wasn't the childs fault she was spoiled, James Norrington had doted on his daughter, since her mother died shortly after giving birth to her. Maddy went to the garden, and watched as the child played with her dolls. It felt longer than 2 months since she arrived in Port Royal, boredom was nearly sending as mad as Jack. 'Jack.' The mere thought of his name bought a lump to Maddys' throat. 'Did he wait for me?' Maddy wondered, 'Did he come back? I suppose I'll never know.' Maddy shook herself from the mood that was enveloping her. There was no use in crying, it didn't solve anything, didn't make The Pearl suddenly appear in the bay. Madalene had spent a lot of time down at the quayside, half wondering whether to commandeer one of the boats and try and make it to Tortuga. But mostly she just looked out at sea, willing the Pearl to come and take her back. There was a man who also spent a lot of time watching the sea, as if he was looking for something. Maddy wondered if maybe he was waiting for his wife to join him in Port Royal, for he had a wedding band on.
'Oof. Celia, don't run into me like that!' The force of the child had knocked the wind out of Maddy. She took off her belt, with the silver clasp, and put it on the ground, while she recovered. Celia took another run at Maddy, who sidestepped her, but in doing so, the child lost her balance and stepped on the clasp, breaking it in two. 'Oh Celia, now look what you've done.' Maddy felt close to tears.
'What's happened.' James Norrington had heard the commotion and had come to see what was going on.
'Nothing Commodore, it was just an accident.' Maddy showed him the broken clasp.
'Ah that can easily be mended, there's a blacksmith in town, by the name of William Turner. Take it to him and tell him to send me the bill.'
'Thank you, you're most kind.' Maddy smiled at him. 'That's true, unfortunately,' she thought to herself, 'He is a very kind man.' Maddy felt pulled in two over James Norrington. On the one hand, he wanted Jack and the crew dead, but on the other hand, he had been generosity itself since taking her in.'
Norrington excused Maddy to go and get her clasp mended. Maddy was glad to get away from the house and child for a while. She walked the short distance into town, and found the smithy. There was no signs of life, unless you counted the man in the chair, blind drunk and snoring loudly.
'Hello,' Maddy called softly. ''Hello!' A little louder. She heard a chuckle behind her and spun around to face the man from the quayside.
'You won't get much response out of him, I'm afraid,' he said with a smile that lit up his face. He held out his hand, 'Will Turner.'
'Maddy Jones,' Maddy shook his hand and looked at him properly. He had deep brown eyes, like Jacks, but not like Jacks. Will's were lighter coloured and had a gentler look in them. 'The Commodore said you'd be able to mend this. Is it possible?' Maddy asked, hoping he'd say yes.
Will took the clasp and turned it over, inspecting it. 'This is beautiful, there shouldn't be a problem mending it. Do you need it urgently?'
'No, no, any time will do. The Commodore says you are to send him the bill.' Maddy looked around the gloomy shop. There was a donkey, standing idly by, chewing on some straw that it had pulled from the many bales strewn around the floor.
'Sorry it's a bit of a mess.' Will apologised, 'I've been really busy, and haven't had time to load these up there,' he said, jerking a thumb upwards, towards the loft. 'Do you know the Commodore then?' Will frowned, he didn't remember seeing Maddys' face at the many parties Elizabeth liked to attend.
'Yes, I'm governess to his daughter.'
Will laughed. 'Ah, you've got your work cut out then?' He said, with a big grin on his face.
Maddy laughed with him. 'Yes she's a little horror, I swear one day I'll put her over my knee! Well Mr Turner, I'd best be off and see what mischief the said horror has been up to in my absence.'
'I'll drop it in when it's mended. It shouldn't take a day or two.' Will opened the door for Maddy, 'Good day Miss Jones.'
'Good day Mr Turner.'
****************
Maddy walked slowly back to the house, not looking forward to returning to her duties. She felt bone tired, she hadn't slept properly since joining Norringtons' household. Madalene sighed, she missed the gentle swell of the sea rocking her to sleep, she missed the banter and friendliness of her crewmates, but most of all, she missed Jack. Celia Norrington flew down the drive into Maddys' arms. 'Sorry Maddy, I didn't mean to break your belt.'
'That's all right Celia, I know you didn't.' Maddy walked hand in hand with Celia to the room used for the childs' lessons, with a heavy heart. 'Never mind,' she told herself, 'You can go for a walk tonight, along the beach.'
A few hours later, that's exactly what Maddy did. She kicked off her shoes and walked along the shoreline, enjoying the feel of the sea rushing over her feet. Maddy looked out to the horizon, yearning for The Pearl to appear.
'Miss Jones, Miss Jones.' Maddy turned to see who was calling her. It was Will Turner, she felt guilty at her heart skipping a beat.
'Mr Turner, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?' Maybe this was a chance to find out why he came to look out over the ocean.
'I needed a little air Miss Jones. And it's too lovely an evening to be indoors.'
'Yes, it is isn't it? Did your wife not want to join you.....?'
'No, my wife doesn't enjoy doing things like this anymore.' The regret sounding heavy in Wills' voice
'Wha....?'.....'Ha....' They both laughed as they went to speak together. 'You first Miss Jones.'
'Well first of all, you can stop calling me Miss Jones, my name is Maddy. And secondly, how is my buckle coming along?'
Will smiled at Maddy, 'First of all, my name is Will,' 'He said with a twinkle in his eyes, 'Secondly, I have mended your buckle, I'll drop it up to the house tomorrow, and finally, what made you come to Port Royal? Do you have relatives here?'
'No,' Maddy hated having to lie to Will, but she had no choice, 'I was shipwrecked by Montego Bay, with no memory of how I got there, or where I was going to. I met Commodore Norrington there and he kindly offered me the position of governess to Celia.' 'Well no, that's not strictly true,' Maddy thought to herself, 'I didn't have any say in the bloody matter.'
Will noticed Maddys slight mood change, 'I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry.'
'You're not prying Will.' Maddy sighed, more lies..... 'It's just strange not knowing who you are, or where you're from.'
They walked on for a while, making small talk and enjoying each others' company. They came back to the quay, and Maddy turned to make her way home.
'Thank you for the company Will, it's nice to have someone to talk to.'
Will hesitated for a second. 'Please, let me walk you home, it's not safe in the evening around here.' It was Maddys' turn to hesitate, if people saw them together the gossip would be all around town by the next day, but Will insisted that he see her to the gate of the Commadores house. They stopped outside, feeling a little uncertain, 'Well, goodnight then Maddy, I'll be up in the afternoon with your clasp.'
'Goodnight Will, and thanks again.'
**********************
Celia had a high temperature the next day, and Maddy spent the day at her bedside, trying to cool the girl down, which wasn't easy at the height of summer, in Jamaica. She felt sad that she missed Will when he delivered the clasp, it *was* nice to have someone to talk to. Celia was ill for two days, which had Maddy worried for the child. Norrington had Maddys' bed moved into Celia's' room, so she could nurse her through the night, and get some rest, when Celia slept. At the first chance, Maddy made her way to the smithy. 'Will,' she called, opening the door. Will was stripped to the waist, hammering a sword into shape on the anvil. Maddy waited, not wanting to disturb him in case it ruined the blade.....well, that's what she told herself. After a time, Will became aware of someone standing there and turned to see who it was.
'Maddy! How long have you been there?' He wiped the sweat from his face with a rag, and realised he was in a state of undress. 'Oh, I-I'm sorry.' He blustered about, looking for his shirt to put back on. 'What can I do for you? The clasp hasn't broken again has it?' He put his shirt on, quickly buttoning it up.
'No, no,' Maddy was amused at Wills' embarrassment. 'I just came to thank for you mending it so quickly, I know how busy you are,' she said looking past Will at the anvil.
'It was no trouble, really. To be honest, it was nice doing something intricate for a change, it gets a bit boring hammering blades all the time. Please, have a seat.' Will swept a pile of wood shavings off a barrel.
'Thank you Will. I would have come sooner, but Celia's' been ill, and this was the first opportunity I've had to leave the house. I was wondering if you were going for a walk this evening.' Maddy knew she was being bold, but if she didn't have a proper conversation with someone soon, she felt she'd scream, besides Will was nice company.
'Well, yes I was actually.' Will hoped Maddy wouldn't realise he was lying. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her, since she first came into the smithy. 'My wife is visiting friends, so I usually go for a walk then.' Elizabeth would be angry when he told her he'd be working late yet again. Will shrugged mentally, 'Well if she didn't insist on the best of everything, I wouldn't have to work my guts out to provide it for her.' A customer walked in, and Maddy made her excuses and left, feeling quite light-headed.
Chapter 6
'Maddy, Maddy-y-y-y-y!' called a childs voice from the garden. 'Come and watch me play Maddy.' Madalene groaned, Celia Norrington was enough to try the patience of a saint. It wasn't the childs fault she was spoiled, James Norrington had doted on his daughter, since her mother died shortly after giving birth to her. Maddy went to the garden, and watched as the child played with her dolls. It felt longer than 2 months since she arrived in Port Royal, boredom was nearly sending as mad as Jack. 'Jack.' The mere thought of his name bought a lump to Maddys' throat. 'Did he wait for me?' Maddy wondered, 'Did he come back? I suppose I'll never know.' Maddy shook herself from the mood that was enveloping her. There was no use in crying, it didn't solve anything, didn't make The Pearl suddenly appear in the bay. Madalene had spent a lot of time down at the quayside, half wondering whether to commandeer one of the boats and try and make it to Tortuga. But mostly she just looked out at sea, willing the Pearl to come and take her back. There was a man who also spent a lot of time watching the sea, as if he was looking for something. Maddy wondered if maybe he was waiting for his wife to join him in Port Royal, for he had a wedding band on.
'Oof. Celia, don't run into me like that!' The force of the child had knocked the wind out of Maddy. She took off her belt, with the silver clasp, and put it on the ground, while she recovered. Celia took another run at Maddy, who sidestepped her, but in doing so, the child lost her balance and stepped on the clasp, breaking it in two. 'Oh Celia, now look what you've done.' Maddy felt close to tears.
'What's happened.' James Norrington had heard the commotion and had come to see what was going on.
'Nothing Commodore, it was just an accident.' Maddy showed him the broken clasp.
'Ah that can easily be mended, there's a blacksmith in town, by the name of William Turner. Take it to him and tell him to send me the bill.'
'Thank you, you're most kind.' Maddy smiled at him. 'That's true, unfortunately,' she thought to herself, 'He is a very kind man.' Maddy felt pulled in two over James Norrington. On the one hand, he wanted Jack and the crew dead, but on the other hand, he had been generosity itself since taking her in.'
Norrington excused Maddy to go and get her clasp mended. Maddy was glad to get away from the house and child for a while. She walked the short distance into town, and found the smithy. There was no signs of life, unless you counted the man in the chair, blind drunk and snoring loudly.
'Hello,' Maddy called softly. ''Hello!' A little louder. She heard a chuckle behind her and spun around to face the man from the quayside.
'You won't get much response out of him, I'm afraid,' he said with a smile that lit up his face. He held out his hand, 'Will Turner.'
'Maddy Jones,' Maddy shook his hand and looked at him properly. He had deep brown eyes, like Jacks, but not like Jacks. Will's were lighter coloured and had a gentler look in them. 'The Commodore said you'd be able to mend this. Is it possible?' Maddy asked, hoping he'd say yes.
Will took the clasp and turned it over, inspecting it. 'This is beautiful, there shouldn't be a problem mending it. Do you need it urgently?'
'No, no, any time will do. The Commodore says you are to send him the bill.' Maddy looked around the gloomy shop. There was a donkey, standing idly by, chewing on some straw that it had pulled from the many bales strewn around the floor.
'Sorry it's a bit of a mess.' Will apologised, 'I've been really busy, and haven't had time to load these up there,' he said, jerking a thumb upwards, towards the loft. 'Do you know the Commodore then?' Will frowned, he didn't remember seeing Maddys' face at the many parties Elizabeth liked to attend.
'Yes, I'm governess to his daughter.'
Will laughed. 'Ah, you've got your work cut out then?' He said, with a big grin on his face.
Maddy laughed with him. 'Yes she's a little horror, I swear one day I'll put her over my knee! Well Mr Turner, I'd best be off and see what mischief the said horror has been up to in my absence.'
'I'll drop it in when it's mended. It shouldn't take a day or two.' Will opened the door for Maddy, 'Good day Miss Jones.'
'Good day Mr Turner.'
****************
Maddy walked slowly back to the house, not looking forward to returning to her duties. She felt bone tired, she hadn't slept properly since joining Norringtons' household. Madalene sighed, she missed the gentle swell of the sea rocking her to sleep, she missed the banter and friendliness of her crewmates, but most of all, she missed Jack. Celia Norrington flew down the drive into Maddys' arms. 'Sorry Maddy, I didn't mean to break your belt.'
'That's all right Celia, I know you didn't.' Maddy walked hand in hand with Celia to the room used for the childs' lessons, with a heavy heart. 'Never mind,' she told herself, 'You can go for a walk tonight, along the beach.'
A few hours later, that's exactly what Maddy did. She kicked off her shoes and walked along the shoreline, enjoying the feel of the sea rushing over her feet. Maddy looked out to the horizon, yearning for The Pearl to appear.
'Miss Jones, Miss Jones.' Maddy turned to see who was calling her. It was Will Turner, she felt guilty at her heart skipping a beat.
'Mr Turner, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?' Maybe this was a chance to find out why he came to look out over the ocean.
'I needed a little air Miss Jones. And it's too lovely an evening to be indoors.'
'Yes, it is isn't it? Did your wife not want to join you.....?'
'No, my wife doesn't enjoy doing things like this anymore.' The regret sounding heavy in Wills' voice
'Wha....?'.....'Ha....' They both laughed as they went to speak together. 'You first Miss Jones.'
'Well first of all, you can stop calling me Miss Jones, my name is Maddy. And secondly, how is my buckle coming along?'
Will smiled at Maddy, 'First of all, my name is Will,' 'He said with a twinkle in his eyes, 'Secondly, I have mended your buckle, I'll drop it up to the house tomorrow, and finally, what made you come to Port Royal? Do you have relatives here?'
'No,' Maddy hated having to lie to Will, but she had no choice, 'I was shipwrecked by Montego Bay, with no memory of how I got there, or where I was going to. I met Commodore Norrington there and he kindly offered me the position of governess to Celia.' 'Well no, that's not strictly true,' Maddy thought to herself, 'I didn't have any say in the bloody matter.'
Will noticed Maddys slight mood change, 'I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry.'
'You're not prying Will.' Maddy sighed, more lies..... 'It's just strange not knowing who you are, or where you're from.'
They walked on for a while, making small talk and enjoying each others' company. They came back to the quay, and Maddy turned to make her way home.
'Thank you for the company Will, it's nice to have someone to talk to.'
Will hesitated for a second. 'Please, let me walk you home, it's not safe in the evening around here.' It was Maddys' turn to hesitate, if people saw them together the gossip would be all around town by the next day, but Will insisted that he see her to the gate of the Commadores house. They stopped outside, feeling a little uncertain, 'Well, goodnight then Maddy, I'll be up in the afternoon with your clasp.'
'Goodnight Will, and thanks again.'
**********************
Celia had a high temperature the next day, and Maddy spent the day at her bedside, trying to cool the girl down, which wasn't easy at the height of summer, in Jamaica. She felt sad that she missed Will when he delivered the clasp, it *was* nice to have someone to talk to. Celia was ill for two days, which had Maddy worried for the child. Norrington had Maddys' bed moved into Celia's' room, so she could nurse her through the night, and get some rest, when Celia slept. At the first chance, Maddy made her way to the smithy. 'Will,' she called, opening the door. Will was stripped to the waist, hammering a sword into shape on the anvil. Maddy waited, not wanting to disturb him in case it ruined the blade.....well, that's what she told herself. After a time, Will became aware of someone standing there and turned to see who it was.
'Maddy! How long have you been there?' He wiped the sweat from his face with a rag, and realised he was in a state of undress. 'Oh, I-I'm sorry.' He blustered about, looking for his shirt to put back on. 'What can I do for you? The clasp hasn't broken again has it?' He put his shirt on, quickly buttoning it up.
'No, no,' Maddy was amused at Wills' embarrassment. 'I just came to thank for you mending it so quickly, I know how busy you are,' she said looking past Will at the anvil.
'It was no trouble, really. To be honest, it was nice doing something intricate for a change, it gets a bit boring hammering blades all the time. Please, have a seat.' Will swept a pile of wood shavings off a barrel.
'Thank you Will. I would have come sooner, but Celia's' been ill, and this was the first opportunity I've had to leave the house. I was wondering if you were going for a walk this evening.' Maddy knew she was being bold, but if she didn't have a proper conversation with someone soon, she felt she'd scream, besides Will was nice company.
'Well, yes I was actually.' Will hoped Maddy wouldn't realise he was lying. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her, since she first came into the smithy. 'My wife is visiting friends, so I usually go for a walk then.' Elizabeth would be angry when he told her he'd be working late yet again. Will shrugged mentally, 'Well if she didn't insist on the best of everything, I wouldn't have to work my guts out to provide it for her.' A customer walked in, and Maddy made her excuses and left, feeling quite light-headed.