Chapter two! BY GEORGE I THINK I'M ON TO SOMETHING HERE!!! *dances* I should warn you, you're going to want to read my other story "Moments of Value" if you don't understand why Elizabeth is the way she is, and why she married the Commodore and all that. "Moments of Value" explains it. %_^


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As every day went by, the wedding (which had been in the works for quite some time before Thomas proposed) drew ever-nearer, and with each passing day, Nova drew more desperate for some sort of escape. Every waking moment was a new argument between she and the older Jennings woman, over even the smallest things, and after a while, Novialeigh just stopped arguing back. There wasn't a point in it. Her lack of authority over her own wedding pushed her farther and farther into the corners of her mind, finding solace in her depression.

A warm spring evening, Novialeigh and her cousin Elizabeth were ushered into the gardens as fast as their feet would carry them by Mrs. Jennings, who was praying that there was something Elizabeth could do to make her daughter take an interest in the fast-approaching future, even if it were a false one. She winked quickly at Elizabeth before all but locking the two out.

They walked, silently, the heels of their shoes pressing softly into the damp earth. Frustrated, Elizabeth sighed, resting a hand on her overly swollen stomach. "Nova, marriage really isn't all that bad... especially since you're to wed Thomas... he'll never be home for you to see him." She offered, trying to comfort the younger, obviously miserable girl. Novialeigh stared at her cousins stomach for a moment, quickly averting her eyes, and Elizabeth let out a short, soft laugh. "This really isn't that bad either... better than that bloody corset you're having so much fun wearing, at any rate." She said, watching Novialeigh force herself to keep walking. Indeed, it was a bit painful for her to walk, and terribly apparent to everyone else, but the comment only made Nova stand up straighter, denying her face the right to wince with ever step she took.

"Elizabeth... I... I've heard some things... around the house about you, and the Commodore, and a mystery suitor..." she said quietly, trying to not meet her cousins eyes. "Oh, please tell me it's not true, tell me you were away, tell me you were forced into your marriage, please! I can't bear it if Mother was right, if you actually chose to marry him over whomever else there was!" Elizabeth smiled a sad, bitter smile. "Nova, you'd know it if I were lying to you..."

She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at her married, pregnant, inwardly miserable cousin, because it was all she could do. "You chose him over someone else? Was Mother right about you being in love with him? The other man, I mean... Oh, for goodness sake's, Elizabeth, how could you have been so stupid!?" Elizabeth shrugged, looking to the ground. "I suppose I had love for him, if that's what you mean... maybe more than I love James, but it wasn't right... It's all about how our family name looks, nowadays, Nova... By marrying James, I've only done that much more for Father, and for you, and Aunt Anne, Uncle Benjamin... had I married Wi-" Elizabeth stopped short, catching herself before she said it aloud, and Nova's breath caught in her throat. "Had you married whom?! Elizabeth, tell me!" But Lizzie could only shake her head, continuing. "Had I married for love, Nova, I couldn't possibly begin to tell you what life would be like for he or I, for the children we may have had, or what would have happened with our reputation... can you blame me?" She took her cousins hand, and peered into her eyes. "Was I wrong for doing what I did? Making a sacrifice?" Nova couldn't return the gaze, and looked away. "I'm just surprised... ever since we were children, you've wanted the same thing... love and adventure... you find love... and you turn it away..."

'You're forgetting the adventure...' Elizabeth though bitterly, chewing on the inside of her lip thoughtfully. "If you think about it, I have love and adventure... I can go away with James most times... he hates for me to be out of his sight lately... and he really does love me, Nova..." She leaned her lips down to her cousins ear. "Even if I don't always return the sentiment."

Novialeigh looked at her cousin with wide eyes, trying to conceal her surprise. "You don't mean... you're not... do you still see him? The other suitor?" Elizabeth gasped angrily. "For goodness sakes, Novialeigh, no! What kind of... of... common street whore do you take me for?!" She spouted. "No, no, Lizzie, please! I wasn't trying to say that! I was..." She lowered her voice drastically, whispering to her. "All I was trying to say was that if I were you, I wouldn't have let him go..."

Elizabeth shook her head sadly. "I did let him go... haven't seen him in months and months, since before you came from London, actually... I miss him sometimes..." She inhaled shakily, as though she were going to cry, and looked away before Novialeigh could see her tears.

Novialeigh shook her head. "I thought I envied you, you do understand that, don't you? The perfect opporotunity, within your reach, you had it, for one moment in time... and now it's gone... No, I don't envy you... I think I pity you..." Elizabeth shrugged, obviously trying to act like everything Novialeigh had just said was having no affect on her. "I've made my bed, I'm sleeping in it..." She stared at the ground, quiet for a moment, and Novialeigh began to inwardly scold herself for saying the things she said, to Elizabeth, of all people.

But then a wide smile spread across Elizabeth's face, and she raised her head quickly, taking Nova's hand, already in hers, and pressing it to her stomach. "Novialeigh, do you feel it? Can you feel it?" Nova gasped - the baby was kicking. "Doesn't it hurt?" she whispered, staring. Elizabeth smiled, shaking her head, but suddenly, a look of misery spread itself across her face, and she shrugged, swallowing hard. "I guess this is it, then... the sum of my entire life, right here... I suppose I'm another one of James' cargo ships..." She looked at Novialeigh, her eyes full of sadness, and quickly pulled from her younger cousins hand, heading into the house as fast as her feet would carry her.

For a moment in time, Novialeigh could only watch her go, and by the time her feet began to walk after her, Elizabeth was long inside the house. "Lizzie!" she called after her, quickly turning the corner, only to fall flat on her behind.

"OOOF!" she yelped, her bottom hitting to hard tile with a thud. "Oh, Miss Nova, my apologies!!!" Jameson gushed, setting his candle aside, and helping her up. "Tha' wos entirely my fault, Miss, I'm so sorry!" She shook her heading, brushing off her skirts as she rose. "No, no, Jameson, it's quite alright..." He looked her over, making sure she was alright and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her down the hallway.

"Jameson, what on earth-!" She stopped her whispering as he spun around, eyes wide. "This came for ye a moment ago... sai' it wos urgent, Miss!" He pushed a small, brown paper parcel into her arms, and she examined it the best she could in the dark. "Did the messenger say who it was from?" He shook his head vigorously. "No, Miss... jus' tha' it wos only for yer eyes, and tha' it wos of the utmost importance..." She nodded. "Thank you, Jameson..." She gave him a grateful smile, and flew up the stairs, closing her bedroom door behind her.

"Where to put this, where to put thi-" She searched her whole room over, finally deciding to put it in the back of her wardrobe. As she closed it's door, she spun around quickly, jumping at the sound of her mother's voice. "Novialeigh, why haven't you come down? Reitiring without even saying goodnight?" She shook her head nervously. "No, I'll be right there, I had to... find something for Elizabeth!" She interjected quickly. Her mother raised a suspicious eyebrow, but let it pass. "Alright... well come on, then, you can look for it later." She stood in the doorway, waiting for Novialeigh to pass through before she closed the bedroom door and followed her daughter down the stairs.

As they entered the sitting room, both the Commodore and Thomas stood, Thomas smiling like a small child on Christmas morning as his eyes fell upon Novialeigh. He gestured to the empty chair beside him. "It's lovely to see you again... won't you sit?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes, hiding it behind her teacup, and Mrs. Jennings smiled. "Of course she will." She offered as she watched Novialeigh sit.

"As I was saying before you left, Mrs. Jennings... that is, if you'd like me to continue?" questioned the Commodore. "Yes, of course, it's always interesting to hear about your duties for the crown." The two of them, quite apparently a better match than Elizabeth and himself, sat chatting politely as Novialeigh tried to avoid Thomas' eyes, and Elizabeth fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair.

"Has there been any word on that terrible pirate captain, James? The one that was in Port Royal before we came?" He nodded, a small, sadistic smile forming in the corner of his mouth. "As a matter of fact, we've recieved word from a royal ship that circulates the Gold Coast that Captain Sparrow should be on his way to the Caribbean in anywhere from a week to a months time." Anne's hand went to her throat. "Oh my, how dreadful..." The Commodore nodded. "Indeed... of course, I plan to see to it that he gets what he is most deserving." He glanced sideways at Elizabeths face, taking note of the anger that flashed in her eyes, and set his teacup and saucer down. "Thank you once more for a wonderful dinner, Mrs. Jennings, it was lovely to see you..." He stood, bowing, and offered his arm to his bride. "Elizabeth, shall we?" She sighed quietly and rose beside him. "I believe it would be right smart of us to turn home..." She forced a smile in his direction and gave Novialeigh one last pitiful look before she said her goodbyes to everyone else and left, proudly displayed on the Commodore's arm, feeling like no more than a trophy.

Novialeigh took this as her cue to head up to bed, and she faked a yawn. "Mother, Thomas..." she regarded each of them coldly as she stood up quickly, Thomas not far behind. "Novialeigh, you have a guest, I think it'd be only appropriate for you to stay." Thomas smiled at them both, shaking his head. "No, it's quite alright, I'd much rather her be rested..." He kissed Novialeighs hand, and watched her walk away, waiting until she was out of the room to finish talking about wedding arrangements.

As soon as she was in her room, Nova remembered to lock her door before heading across to her wardrobe to retrieve the small package. She tore it open as she sat down at her desk, and pulled out the small leather book Elizabeth's father had given her own father for Christmas two years ago. She closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of it. It smelled like him, and the thought of her father was comforting. She opened the book, and began to read.

"My dearest Novialeigh...

If you're reading this, you should know it's because I've decided to not come home this time.

I'm praying you know this has nothing to do with you at all, and I know you know I love you...

but there's been too many fights between your mother and I for me to give up what I love so much...

the freedom of being where I am now... for her one more time. I simply refuse to do it. Make sure,

for your benefit, mind you, that she does not find this journal, especially before your wedding.

Speaking of, no matter what she may try to say, I've been against the idea of you marrying Thomas

from the beginning. I trust him naught, and you'd do well to follow my lead. Keep an open eye at all

times as far as he is concerned.

You must hate me for doing this, and I don't blame you, but know that all the love in my

heart is yours alone, mon papillion... and I know our paths will cross again, someday.

Every bit of love, from a father to his daughter,

Papa"


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There, well that's chapter two... I'll be writing alot more from now on, a sad attempt to clear my head... :) Laters!