Dusk had fallen on Port Royale, followed swiftly by one of the darkest nights in recent days, cloaking the town in blackness that seemed almost impenetrable. This on the heels of a fog that had obscured the sails sighted earlier that day and prevented their identification. It was not the best of Caribbean weather.
Governor's House felt tense, uneasy, the governor and his sister-in-law sitting close by a window, their eyes gazing anxiously out at the darkness. But it was not the weather that had caused this sudden worry that enveloped them, for out on the bluff, Captain Gillette walked beside Laura. The time she had been dreading for weeks had come.
'Miss Blythe?' he said, somewhat hesitantly.
Laura turned to look up at him, suppressing the alarm that was steadily rising within her at the expression on the captain's face. Please no, she prayed. Don't do this, not now.
'We have known one another for some time now,' Gillette began carefully, clearing his throat awkwardly. 'That is to say, I hope I may consider myself your friend . . .'
Laura smiled, a little desperately, latching onto that phrase to save herself from what was to come.
'Of course you may, captain,' she assured him. 'And likewise, I should hope that I am a friend to you.'
Gillette didn't seem to pick up on the emphasis she used on the word 'friend', continuing with his uncomfortable recitation as he stared out across the darkened bay, sharp eyes picking up movement at the mouth of the harbour.
'Without a doubt, Miss Blythe,' he hastened to assure her. 'But quite aside from that fact, I feel we have reached an easy friendship in these past few weeks, and I am most grateful for it.'
Laura found herself unable to look at him, terrified that there was nothing she could do to prevent him from saying what she had no wish to hear. If only someone would come out to them, her mother perhaps, then she would have an excuse to stop his rambling before she had to give him an answer.
'Forgive me for interrupting, captain,' she said suddenly, hoping to distract him, 'but have they managed to identify those three ships that were sighted this afternoon yet?'
Gillette frowned, clearly displeased with her interruption but too much of a gentleman to ignore her query.
'No, I don't believe they have, Miss Blythe,' he told her. 'Should they manage it before I leave this evening, a runner will be sent up to the house to inform us of the captains' names.'
Laura nodded, turning away once more to stare out at the harbour mouth. She had so been hoping that the Black Pearl and the Dragon were among the three, perhaps escorted by another of their friends. Beside her, Gillette launched into another attempt to get what he had to say out into the open.
'Ah . . .' he groped for the right words, determined to get this right this time. 'I . . . I must confess, Miss Blythe, I find it difficult to put into words what it is I want to say.'
He risked a glance down at her, to find her eyes fixed on some point in the distant darkness, giving her an ethereal sense of deep and abiding patience. Taking this as a good sign, he plunged on.
'Over these past few weeks, I have seen my regard for you rise from acquaintance, to friendship . . . and now, to something more.'
Without quite realising what he was doing, he reached out and took her hand in his. Laura forced herself not to shudder, knowing now that there was no way she could avoid what was coming.
'I would be honoured, Miss Blythe, if you would consent to be my wife.'
Laura froze, unable to speak. She had no wish to offend or hurt the captain, but how could she not, when the only answer she felt able to give was in the negative? She couldn't meet his eyes, no more than she could move away, her hand held captive within his own. He was trembling slightly, and Laura realised that her answer meant a great deal to him. Perhaps he fancied himself in love with her . . . no, that was too terrible to even consider. He couldn't, he just couldn't.
'Miss Blythe?' Gillette ventured, sounding a little anxious.
She glanced up at him, her expression an agony of indecision. Somewhat alarmed, the captain dropped her hand, letting her walk away from him a few steps.
'Forgive me if I have been too forward, Miss Blythe,' he said quietly, as though he knew her answer already. 'I am not accustomed to courting women such as yourself.'
Laura closed her eyes, trying to shut it all out. How dare he propose to her without first asking her uncle? If he had done so, she would at least have had some warning as to when the penny would drop on him.
There was a shout from the house, and they both turned to watch with wide eyes as Lady Rosemary Blythe came running towards them across the grass, skirts held in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.
'Laura, you must read this,' she said breathlessly, thrusting the paper into her daughter's hands. 'I'm terribly sorry, Captain Gillette, but this is rather important news.'
Laura's eyes scanned the paper, picking out words such as 'Pearl', and 'Dragon', and more importantly, 'entering harbour now'. She let out a little cry of joy, throwing her arms about her mother as Rosemary did the same to her.
'They're here?' she asked, her green eyes aglow with excitement. 'They're really here?'
Rosemary nodded cheerfully, both women having forgotten Gillette's presence for a moment.
'They are,' she told her daughter. 'Weatherby is calling the carriage around to the front. We must go to greet them!'
They set off across the grass, leaving the captain behind them. Laura stopped suddenly, turning to face him with an apologetic smile.
'I'm awfully sorry, captain, but my cousin's ship has just sailed in, and we really should go to the dock,' she explained. 'You don't mind, do you?'
Gillette forced a smile, knowing now that his commodore would reclaim the young woman as his own as soon as he set foot on the quayside.
'I do not mind at all, Miss Blythe,' he said tightly. 'I shall make my own way down more sedately.'
She threw him a beautiful smile, and hurried after her mother. Gillette sighed, snorting a little as a thought occurred to him.
'The Englishman has won again,' he muttered, kicking out at a bush as he made his own way to where his horse was saddled and waiting for him.
The carriage rumbled quickly down the slope, its occupants unfazed by the jolting they were enduring as they watched the three ships slip into spaces large enough for them in the harbour. As they had when the pirates had set off, shanties echoed across the still harbour as the hands hurried to secure the vessel before going ashore.
Governor Swann stepped briskly from the carriage, turning to help the women out. Laura scrambled down, hurrying to the edge of the dock as longboats were lowered from both the Pearl and the Dragon. She felt more than heard her mother and uncle come to stand behind her, both as excited as the young woman but rather better at hiding it.
The wait seemed interminable, but at last there was movement across the water as the boat from the Dragon pulled away from the ship and set out for the dock. After a few more minutes, the Pearl's boat did also, following in the wake of the longboat that bore Governor Swann's daughter, son, and grandson, towards him.
The longboat thumped against the dock, and those waiting had to contain themselves as the occupants stepped ashore before greeting them warmly. As Elizabeth held her father close, Will found himself pulled into Rosemary's arms, a loud kiss planted on his cheek for surviving a trip she had been certain would kill them all. Released from the lady's grasp, he grinned down at Laura, accepting her somewhat gentler embrace with pleasure. Beside them, Governor Swann was exclaiming over the appearance of his grandson, who stood anxiously behind his mother's skirts waiting to be told everything was alright.
There was another thump, and the second longboat came alongside. Will pulled Elizabeth away from Laura, knowing full well what was going to happen next. The young woman turned, and found herself face to face with a man she had dreamt about for months. James stared down at her, unable to speak, unable to move, simply content to gaze into her eyes. Likewise, Laura had lost all semblance of control over her ability to move or speak, her eyes fixed on those of the man standing so close to her as to be almost touching.
Tactfully ignoring the couple where they stood, Rosemary glanced around them to where Jack was helping Marin out of the longboat and let rip with a squeal that nearly deafened her brother-in-law. She hurried forward to embrace the young woman, mindful of her bump as Marin laughed to see the lady so animated.
'How wonderful to see you,' Rosemary breathed, holding the pirate girl close. 'May I?'
She gestured hopefully towards the bump. Marin smiled.
'Of course you may,' she told her friend.
Rosemary crowed with delight and placed her hand on Marin's swollen belly, feeling the child within kick excitedly. Governor Swann smiled at the two women, taking Jack's hand for a firm handshake, surprising the irascible pirate.
'Welcome back, Captain Sparrow,' he said warmly, meaning the words he spoke as he had not meant them before. 'And congratulations.'
Jack let the older man shake his hand, his familiar grin breaking across his face.
'Well, my thanks, mate,' he grinned.
Swann's gaze flicked to where James and Laura were still staring at one another.
'How long do you think that will go on?' he asked softly as Will came to stand with them.
Jack shrugged.
'I should think that silence is going to break any moment now,' he predicted.
Her eyes were still that beautiful shade of sea green he had remembered, still sparkling with emotion as she returned his gaze. James could hardly believe that she was standing here before him. After so many months of dreams and hopes, here they were, together, and he could not think of anything to say to her. His mouth worked in silence, trying to form words that were dying on his tongue, when she stepped closer, standing taller to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek.
'Welcome home, James,' she murmured, drawing back to look into his eyes once more.
'Laura?' he managed, his voice almost lost on the breeze.
Her smile drew him in, welcomed him to her, as he slipped his arms about her waist, pulling her as close as he could, revelling in the possessive way her arms came up to hold him in return.
'Dear God, how I've missed you,' he whispered to her, feeling her arms tighten about him in response to the almost feral longing that coloured his voice.
'And I, you,' she murmured into his ear. 'Don't ever leave me so long again.'
James felt his heart leap within him on hearing those words, drawing back slightly to look down into her eyes, to show her the depth of his feeling for her. His eyes fairly shone with love and adoration for the woman held securely in his arms.
'Just say the word and I will never leave you again,' he swore, leaning down to kiss her lips.
She gasped lightly at the intensity of his touch, but met him with a fervour that was easily his match. Her hands clutched at his coat sleeves as his fingers traced tender designs over her back, willingly letting him plunder her mouth as she held him fast. Breathless, he drew away again, thankful for the darkness of the night to hide their embrace from anyone who might be watching on from the fort.
'Laura,' he breathed, savouring her name as it rolled off his tongue.
They were so caught up in one another they didn't notice their companions move a little way down the dock, determined not to interrupt this very important moment. Laura gazed up at him, willing him to say what only an hour before she had been praying another man would not.
'I . . .' he faltered, finding it so hard to put into words what he had wanted since the moment he left her side. 'You . . . perhaps you'd consider . . .'
Laura held his gaze, trying not to laugh as he stumbled over his words in desperation.
'What I'm trying to say is . . . would you . . . er . . .'
His voice trailed off, his expression one of abject misery. Laura couldn't hold in her smile any longer. She stroked one finger along his cheek, soothing his fears with the loving touch.
'Yes,' she told him simply. 'I would.'
James' eyes widened in shock. He hadn't even managed to get the words out and she'd answered? Another thought hit him. She said yes.
'Yes?' he repeated, not quite able to believe his ears.
She nodded, her smile widening as his arms tightened about her. James let out a joyful bark of laughter, lifting her off her feet to kiss her once again.
A little way down the dock, Marin nudged Jack, a triumphant grin on her face. He glanced down at her and groaned.
'Alright, alright,' he muttered, digging in his belt pouch for a pound. 'I never would have thought him capable of it, though.'
Marin smiled sweetly up at her husband, slipping the coins into her own pouch.
'Well, you thought wrong, didn't you?'
*~*~*
There's a lonely little blue button down here . . .
Governor's House felt tense, uneasy, the governor and his sister-in-law sitting close by a window, their eyes gazing anxiously out at the darkness. But it was not the weather that had caused this sudden worry that enveloped them, for out on the bluff, Captain Gillette walked beside Laura. The time she had been dreading for weeks had come.
'Miss Blythe?' he said, somewhat hesitantly.
Laura turned to look up at him, suppressing the alarm that was steadily rising within her at the expression on the captain's face. Please no, she prayed. Don't do this, not now.
'We have known one another for some time now,' Gillette began carefully, clearing his throat awkwardly. 'That is to say, I hope I may consider myself your friend . . .'
Laura smiled, a little desperately, latching onto that phrase to save herself from what was to come.
'Of course you may, captain,' she assured him. 'And likewise, I should hope that I am a friend to you.'
Gillette didn't seem to pick up on the emphasis she used on the word 'friend', continuing with his uncomfortable recitation as he stared out across the darkened bay, sharp eyes picking up movement at the mouth of the harbour.
'Without a doubt, Miss Blythe,' he hastened to assure her. 'But quite aside from that fact, I feel we have reached an easy friendship in these past few weeks, and I am most grateful for it.'
Laura found herself unable to look at him, terrified that there was nothing she could do to prevent him from saying what she had no wish to hear. If only someone would come out to them, her mother perhaps, then she would have an excuse to stop his rambling before she had to give him an answer.
'Forgive me for interrupting, captain,' she said suddenly, hoping to distract him, 'but have they managed to identify those three ships that were sighted this afternoon yet?'
Gillette frowned, clearly displeased with her interruption but too much of a gentleman to ignore her query.
'No, I don't believe they have, Miss Blythe,' he told her. 'Should they manage it before I leave this evening, a runner will be sent up to the house to inform us of the captains' names.'
Laura nodded, turning away once more to stare out at the harbour mouth. She had so been hoping that the Black Pearl and the Dragon were among the three, perhaps escorted by another of their friends. Beside her, Gillette launched into another attempt to get what he had to say out into the open.
'Ah . . .' he groped for the right words, determined to get this right this time. 'I . . . I must confess, Miss Blythe, I find it difficult to put into words what it is I want to say.'
He risked a glance down at her, to find her eyes fixed on some point in the distant darkness, giving her an ethereal sense of deep and abiding patience. Taking this as a good sign, he plunged on.
'Over these past few weeks, I have seen my regard for you rise from acquaintance, to friendship . . . and now, to something more.'
Without quite realising what he was doing, he reached out and took her hand in his. Laura forced herself not to shudder, knowing now that there was no way she could avoid what was coming.
'I would be honoured, Miss Blythe, if you would consent to be my wife.'
Laura froze, unable to speak. She had no wish to offend or hurt the captain, but how could she not, when the only answer she felt able to give was in the negative? She couldn't meet his eyes, no more than she could move away, her hand held captive within his own. He was trembling slightly, and Laura realised that her answer meant a great deal to him. Perhaps he fancied himself in love with her . . . no, that was too terrible to even consider. He couldn't, he just couldn't.
'Miss Blythe?' Gillette ventured, sounding a little anxious.
She glanced up at him, her expression an agony of indecision. Somewhat alarmed, the captain dropped her hand, letting her walk away from him a few steps.
'Forgive me if I have been too forward, Miss Blythe,' he said quietly, as though he knew her answer already. 'I am not accustomed to courting women such as yourself.'
Laura closed her eyes, trying to shut it all out. How dare he propose to her without first asking her uncle? If he had done so, she would at least have had some warning as to when the penny would drop on him.
There was a shout from the house, and they both turned to watch with wide eyes as Lady Rosemary Blythe came running towards them across the grass, skirts held in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.
'Laura, you must read this,' she said breathlessly, thrusting the paper into her daughter's hands. 'I'm terribly sorry, Captain Gillette, but this is rather important news.'
Laura's eyes scanned the paper, picking out words such as 'Pearl', and 'Dragon', and more importantly, 'entering harbour now'. She let out a little cry of joy, throwing her arms about her mother as Rosemary did the same to her.
'They're here?' she asked, her green eyes aglow with excitement. 'They're really here?'
Rosemary nodded cheerfully, both women having forgotten Gillette's presence for a moment.
'They are,' she told her daughter. 'Weatherby is calling the carriage around to the front. We must go to greet them!'
They set off across the grass, leaving the captain behind them. Laura stopped suddenly, turning to face him with an apologetic smile.
'I'm awfully sorry, captain, but my cousin's ship has just sailed in, and we really should go to the dock,' she explained. 'You don't mind, do you?'
Gillette forced a smile, knowing now that his commodore would reclaim the young woman as his own as soon as he set foot on the quayside.
'I do not mind at all, Miss Blythe,' he said tightly. 'I shall make my own way down more sedately.'
She threw him a beautiful smile, and hurried after her mother. Gillette sighed, snorting a little as a thought occurred to him.
'The Englishman has won again,' he muttered, kicking out at a bush as he made his own way to where his horse was saddled and waiting for him.
The carriage rumbled quickly down the slope, its occupants unfazed by the jolting they were enduring as they watched the three ships slip into spaces large enough for them in the harbour. As they had when the pirates had set off, shanties echoed across the still harbour as the hands hurried to secure the vessel before going ashore.
Governor Swann stepped briskly from the carriage, turning to help the women out. Laura scrambled down, hurrying to the edge of the dock as longboats were lowered from both the Pearl and the Dragon. She felt more than heard her mother and uncle come to stand behind her, both as excited as the young woman but rather better at hiding it.
The wait seemed interminable, but at last there was movement across the water as the boat from the Dragon pulled away from the ship and set out for the dock. After a few more minutes, the Pearl's boat did also, following in the wake of the longboat that bore Governor Swann's daughter, son, and grandson, towards him.
The longboat thumped against the dock, and those waiting had to contain themselves as the occupants stepped ashore before greeting them warmly. As Elizabeth held her father close, Will found himself pulled into Rosemary's arms, a loud kiss planted on his cheek for surviving a trip she had been certain would kill them all. Released from the lady's grasp, he grinned down at Laura, accepting her somewhat gentler embrace with pleasure. Beside them, Governor Swann was exclaiming over the appearance of his grandson, who stood anxiously behind his mother's skirts waiting to be told everything was alright.
There was another thump, and the second longboat came alongside. Will pulled Elizabeth away from Laura, knowing full well what was going to happen next. The young woman turned, and found herself face to face with a man she had dreamt about for months. James stared down at her, unable to speak, unable to move, simply content to gaze into her eyes. Likewise, Laura had lost all semblance of control over her ability to move or speak, her eyes fixed on those of the man standing so close to her as to be almost touching.
Tactfully ignoring the couple where they stood, Rosemary glanced around them to where Jack was helping Marin out of the longboat and let rip with a squeal that nearly deafened her brother-in-law. She hurried forward to embrace the young woman, mindful of her bump as Marin laughed to see the lady so animated.
'How wonderful to see you,' Rosemary breathed, holding the pirate girl close. 'May I?'
She gestured hopefully towards the bump. Marin smiled.
'Of course you may,' she told her friend.
Rosemary crowed with delight and placed her hand on Marin's swollen belly, feeling the child within kick excitedly. Governor Swann smiled at the two women, taking Jack's hand for a firm handshake, surprising the irascible pirate.
'Welcome back, Captain Sparrow,' he said warmly, meaning the words he spoke as he had not meant them before. 'And congratulations.'
Jack let the older man shake his hand, his familiar grin breaking across his face.
'Well, my thanks, mate,' he grinned.
Swann's gaze flicked to where James and Laura were still staring at one another.
'How long do you think that will go on?' he asked softly as Will came to stand with them.
Jack shrugged.
'I should think that silence is going to break any moment now,' he predicted.
Her eyes were still that beautiful shade of sea green he had remembered, still sparkling with emotion as she returned his gaze. James could hardly believe that she was standing here before him. After so many months of dreams and hopes, here they were, together, and he could not think of anything to say to her. His mouth worked in silence, trying to form words that were dying on his tongue, when she stepped closer, standing taller to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek.
'Welcome home, James,' she murmured, drawing back to look into his eyes once more.
'Laura?' he managed, his voice almost lost on the breeze.
Her smile drew him in, welcomed him to her, as he slipped his arms about her waist, pulling her as close as he could, revelling in the possessive way her arms came up to hold him in return.
'Dear God, how I've missed you,' he whispered to her, feeling her arms tighten about him in response to the almost feral longing that coloured his voice.
'And I, you,' she murmured into his ear. 'Don't ever leave me so long again.'
James felt his heart leap within him on hearing those words, drawing back slightly to look down into her eyes, to show her the depth of his feeling for her. His eyes fairly shone with love and adoration for the woman held securely in his arms.
'Just say the word and I will never leave you again,' he swore, leaning down to kiss her lips.
She gasped lightly at the intensity of his touch, but met him with a fervour that was easily his match. Her hands clutched at his coat sleeves as his fingers traced tender designs over her back, willingly letting him plunder her mouth as she held him fast. Breathless, he drew away again, thankful for the darkness of the night to hide their embrace from anyone who might be watching on from the fort.
'Laura,' he breathed, savouring her name as it rolled off his tongue.
They were so caught up in one another they didn't notice their companions move a little way down the dock, determined not to interrupt this very important moment. Laura gazed up at him, willing him to say what only an hour before she had been praying another man would not.
'I . . .' he faltered, finding it so hard to put into words what he had wanted since the moment he left her side. 'You . . . perhaps you'd consider . . .'
Laura held his gaze, trying not to laugh as he stumbled over his words in desperation.
'What I'm trying to say is . . . would you . . . er . . .'
His voice trailed off, his expression one of abject misery. Laura couldn't hold in her smile any longer. She stroked one finger along his cheek, soothing his fears with the loving touch.
'Yes,' she told him simply. 'I would.'
James' eyes widened in shock. He hadn't even managed to get the words out and she'd answered? Another thought hit him. She said yes.
'Yes?' he repeated, not quite able to believe his ears.
She nodded, her smile widening as his arms tightened about her. James let out a joyful bark of laughter, lifting her off her feet to kiss her once again.
A little way down the dock, Marin nudged Jack, a triumphant grin on her face. He glanced down at her and groaned.
'Alright, alright,' he muttered, digging in his belt pouch for a pound. 'I never would have thought him capable of it, though.'
Marin smiled sweetly up at her husband, slipping the coins into her own pouch.
'Well, you thought wrong, didn't you?'
*~*~*
There's a lonely little blue button down here . . .