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Harry & the Pirate: Norrington's Choice

Chapter V. The Marvelous Idea               

With Harry busy showing Lady Margaret the house, and Miriam Lightfoot tearing herself away to help Nurse Maria keep an eye on the children, Jack returned to the Black Pearl and supervised the offloading of three important items: the harpsichord, his chef Anatole, and Alphonse, his valet.

"There's to be a celebration tonight, Anatole, and your help in the kitchen would be appreciated, as usual," Jack told the Frenchman.

Anatole twirled one side of his dark moustache. "But of course, mon Capitaine! It goes without saying they will need my expertise, does it not?"

"And I, Capitaine Jacques," said Alphonse, smiling with anticipation, "will put forth efforts of the most heroic to make you worthy to be seen as the consort of the so beautiful Madame Henrietta."

"A bath and a trim'll do just fine," Jack told him, a slight growl to his voice. "Don't be gettin' any ideas about me hair. What I really want from you is help setting up that harpsichord!"

"I am entirely at your service, Capitaine. A surprise for Madame?"

"Aye. I'm hoping she'll like it better'n jewels an' such."

She did.

Jack and Alphonse had managed to sneak the crates into the drawing room and, closing the doors against prying eyes, had got it all set up and ready to play without Harry becoming aware. Finally, smiling, Jack had poked a key, then jumped at the surprisingly loud note that sounded.

Five seconds later, the door opened, and Harry poked her head into the room. "What was that?" she demanded. Seeing Jack and Alphonse standing in front of a large, unfamiliar, and interesting object, she came into the room, followed by Lady Margaret.

Jack exclaimed, "Bl…I mean…Blast! You were supposed to stay out of here 'til after dinner!"

"Oh, what is it?" Harry exclaimed, hurrying forward. Jack and Alphonse exchanged resigned glances and moved out of the way. "A harpsichord! Oh, Jack! It's lovely! Where did you get it?"

"Same place I got Lady Margaret," laughed Jack with a wink at Harry's friend. He watched his wife circle the instrument in awe, for every side of it was decorated with colorful, beautifully rendered scenes taken from Greek mythology.

"The Valliant, you mean? Do you know who this was going to, Maggie?"

"I've no idea," said Lady Margaret, "Although we were to stop at Martinique to offload some goods before heading on to New Orleans."

"I'll wager it was for the Governor of Martinique!" Harry said. "Jack took Anatole from him, and cases and cases of good brandy, and probably a good many other things."

Alphonse said, "My former master, Monsieur Beauvais, was also a friend of the Governor's."

Harry cocked an eyebrow at Jack. "Well, I would say the Governor of Martinique is not like to be counted among our friends any time soon. But this instrument is too beautiful!" She sat down on the little bench and played a five-note scale. "The tone is lovely!"

"We've brought the music that was packed away for it," said Jack.

"Oh, let me see!" Harry exclaimed eagerly. Jack handed her several sheets of music and she looked quickly through them. " I used to know this one: Lavolta or Lady Morley, by Byrd!" She set the music up and began to play, but slowly and somewhat hesitantly. Finally, wincing along with the third wrong note (as did her three listeners) she stopped and turned to them with a weak smile. "I'm sorry! I shall have to practice. It's been far too long since I had the opportunity to play. Can you play, Maggie?"

"No, not really. The harp was my instrument, if you recall. But all you need is some practice! I remember how well you played when we were at school!" Lady Margaret looked at Jack. "Truly, I assure you!"

"Yes. It was nearly my only innocuous pastime, wasn't it?" laughed Harry.

Jack grinned. "Lady Margaret has been telling us of some of her little adventures with you at St. Mary's Academie for Young Ladies."

"Oh, has she?" Harry shook her head sadly at Margaret. "Really, it is too bad of you! I daresay she exaggerated my propensity for getting into scrapes out of all proportion!"

"Not at all!" said Margaret, primly, eyes laughing. "There was no need to exaggerate! And I felt quite justified telling him of some of them as you invariably dragged me into them."

Harry pouted. "Dragged you, indeed! Really, Maggie, you would have had the dullest time if you had not been my friend. Admit it!"

Lady Margaret smiled. "Oh, I do! Truly. In spite of the discomfort associated with the aftermath of some of our adventures, I would not undo any of it. But I pray you, watch what you say of it to my children. Charles is mischievous enough, but I could see my little Suzanna getting ideas, especially when I was telling Captain Sparrow of that night we stole out to go swimming in that beautiful little lake."

"You told him of that?" Harry said, surprised. "And of dancing naked in the moonlight?" She looked at Jack, her lips quivering. "I had been reading of druidic customs, and it was Beltane--if one dances in the dewy morn of Beltane, one's beauty is ensured for the year!"

Margaret's cheeks went quite pink. "No, I obviously didn't tell him that!" she said, exasperated, "although I might have guessed you would not hesitate!"

"Well, yes, you have known me long enough, after all," returned Harry, with a grin. "We must have looked a sight, two skinny little things cavorting on the lawn! Fortunately we weren't caught out that time. But Maggie! I don't think you are much plumper now, after those months of sea-sickness! We must fatten you up again!"

"Anatole has been doing his best to tempt me to eat, and we had such calm weather while I was aboard the Black Pearl I was really much better. Still, I must say it is a truly lovely feeling to be on solid ground again!"

"That's a matter of opinion," said Jack, "But I think we are all of an accord as regards Anatole's cooking."

"Oh yes! And dinner will be ready soon, too!" said Harry. She got up and went to Jack. "I must thank you properly for the lovely gift!" she said and kissed him.

"Mmmm…was that proper, then?" said Jack, sounding disappointed, but looking sly.

"Yes," she said, trying not to laugh, "You must wait 'til later to be thanked improperly!" Harry turned to the valet. "Alphonse! Why don't you attend your master in his chamber, while I see if I can remember how to play this tune sufficiently well to entertain everyone after dinner!"

"Your wish is my command, Madame," said Alphonse, with a look of gleeful anticipation thrown at Jack.

Jack frowned, and assumed a put-upon air. "Oh, all right. But you're leavin' me hair alone, like I said."

"Oh no!" Lady Margaret said with dismay. "Harry has been telling me how beautiful you were at both Elizabeth's wedding and your own! I was quite hoping to see you with your hair in a less piratical style!"

"Well, as anxious as I am to please a guest, ma'am, you'll just have to keep hoping. 'Beautiful'! Good God!" said Jack, quite disgusted. "Come on then!" he said to Alphonse, "Let's get it over with."

He walked out, followed by Alphonse, who turned to grin at the laughing ladies before closing the doors.

****************

Harry, coming upstairs to dress for dinner, saw Jack walk out of his dressing room and down the hall toward her. Alphonse had done an outstanding job of grooming and dressing him without driving him mad with impatience, and he was now the epitome of piratical splendor, a worthy consort indeed.

"Oh, you are beautiful!" she exclaimed, approaching him with an appreciative glint in her eye.

Laughing, he allowed himself to be backed against the wall, and thoroughly kissed, doing his part by pulling her close with one arm and busily pulling the skirt of her dress up with the other. He had just slipped his hand under the bulk of it to caress her backside when Alphonse emerged from the dressing room. Jack let the skirt drop, and both he and Harry straightened abruptly, attempting to look innocent and not really succeeding.

Alphonse started at the sight of them, raised his hands, and said, vehemently, "But no! I am not here! It is as though I have never been!"

"You've seen nothing," Jack agreed.

"There was nothing to see as I have never been here," corrected Alphonse. The valet nodded to them as he walked by and went quickly down the stairs.

Harry turned back to Jack and said, "He did an excellent job for having never been here!" She straightened Jack's burgundy coat, admiringly, and smiled up at him, drinking in the sight of him after so many weeks.

"He did. You wouldn't want to be undoing it all you know. If I get undressed again I'll want to stay that way, and I'm afraid Lady Margaret would be a bit shocked."

"Not to mention Nurse Maria!" Harry said, and both of them snorted with laughter at the picture this conjured up. "She doesn't seem to like you!" Harry said, shaking her head in wonder. "And all you did was sink the Valliant!"

"Aye. There's no accounting for it. And I only threatened to lock her in the brig. I wouldn't have done it. Would've had to put the children in with her. Though that might've done young Charles a bit of good."

Harry laughed. "Is he very mischievous? I expect you were just the same at that age."

"Aye, I was. Or worse. And on that note, your ladyship, I believe I should go down and see what mischief he and Owens have got up to, while you go change your dress. Not that the one you're wearing is at all bad…" He slipped a questing finger beneath the fabric and lace at the edge of the low décolletage, and smiled at her slight gasp.

Harry put her arms around him again and said, her lips a fraction of an inch from his, "If you don't want to be undressed you'd better stop that!" Then she kissed him, and gave a soft sound of pleasure against his lips at the feel of his fingers as they caressed her though the silk of her bodice.

He moved his lips to her cheek, then breathed in her ear and moved one hand around to pull her close again as the other moved lower to stroke her belly, which had grown somewhat in his absence. "Young Sparrow's gettin' in the way here," he murmured.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. We'll have to be more creative, won't we?"

"Aye. We will." He suddenly bent and swept her up into his arms, smiling at her slight shriek.

"What are you doing?" she laughed as he carried her back up the hall. "I thought you didn't want to get undressed!"

"I'm not going to," he said, with a lewd smile. "Just a little bite, before the main course, eh?"

And, entering their bedroom, he kicked the door shut behind them.

****************

The sun was setting behind a bank of swelling pink and orange clouds by the time Harry emerged from the house dressed for dinner, with her hair freshly done up. Lady Margaret, who was sitting alone in the shade of the veranda said to her, "There you are at last! I had wondered where you were. Your husband came out some time ago!"

Harry looked out across the courtyard to where Jack stood, conversing with Rachel and Gibbs. He looked up and saw her, and his serious look changed to a smirk and and a suggestive waggle of eyebrows. Harry felt herself coloring, her lips quivering against an answering smile. She tilted her chin at him defiantly, and saw his smirk turn to a grin. "Oh! He is the most arrogant creature!" she said, and sat down next to her friend.

Margaret laughed. "Apparently he has good reason: I don't believe I've ever seen you blush like that. Not even as a young girl!"

"Yes. Well. I've only known Jack Sparrow for eight months or so."

Margaret's smile faltered. "I can see that you are both very much in love. I envy you that."

Harry's ready sympathy was aroused. "Do you miss him dreadfully?"

The pale brows rose. "Geoffrey, you mean. I…" She hesitated, then said softly, "No. But I beg you will say nothing of this to anyone."

Harry was quite stunned. "I will not, of course! But Maggie, I thought yours was a love match! I am sure you told me so yourself!"

"Yes. I know it. But that was years ago—when we first were married."

"My dear! I had thought you so happy all these years!"

Margaret smiled sadly. "Oh, I was happy enough. I had my house, and my children. But with Geoffrey…things changed. There were others, you see. I'm afraid he grew bored with me, and of family life. He had been too long a man of the town, perhaps."

Harry bridled, indignant for her friend. "Too long a rake, you mean! How despicable!"

Margaret shook her head. "You did not think so with Wyndham. I was fooling myself from the start, thinking Geoff would change."

"Perhaps," said Harry, "But even so, he was a fool!" Her eyes flashed, thinking of how beautiful and sweet-natured Maggie was: a pearl beyond price, indeed. Holliday apparently had had not the least inkling of what he possessed!

"No, Harry," said Margaret. "I was a silly girl. You were far wiser than I, although at that time I could not have brought myself to set aside romance. At least…well…I've always had a soft spot for a rake, you know."

"Most women do, Maggie. Their mistake is in thinking they can alter the nature of the object of their affection. A leopard doesn't change his spots."

"There's a leopard?" Jack asked, insinuating himself into a seat. Margaret jumped a little, startled, and he raised a brow and looked a question at Harry.

"You," said Harry, "And your spots are unchanging. Once a rake, always a rake."

"Oh, a rake is it? I've not looked at another woman since meeting you and this is the thanks I get? Have to remedy that next time I'm in Tortuga, eh?"

"Only if you wish to have your throat slit the next time you come home," Harry said, without heat. "I keep that knife you gave me nicely sharpened."

Jack shook his head, and said to Margaret, "Bloodthirsty, ain't she?" He said to Harry, in a severe tone, "You're shocking Lady Margaret again, you know. And I'd hate to think what Nurse Maria would say to such talk."

Harry chuckled, and Margaret gave a most unladylike snort of amusement.

Jack nodded, sagely. "Best keep it to ourselves, eh?"

"Is dinner ready?" asked Harry. "I am quite famished!"

"It is. Rachel sent me to tell you. We've been discussing the storm."

"What storm?" Harry looked at the sky. The air was still, and heavy, although somewhat cooler than it had been earlier in the day, and the only sign of clouds were those on the horizon, which had been ablaze with color a few minutes before but were now fading with the setting sun.

"If you'd lived out here a few years you'd know. There's a storm coming, and a big one at that. I'm moving the ship to Pearl's Rest first thing in the morning. Should do it tonight, actually."

"Oh, can I come?" asked Harry, eagerly. "We could stay in the cabin tonight!"

Jack shook his head. "I can just see you and young Sparrow trying to climb that rope ladder. You can barely do it when you're not six months along!"

Margaret looked a question at Harry, who said with a rueful smile, "I am a little afraid of heights, you see."

"Really! I didn't think you were afraid of anything!"

"Aye," said Jack, to Margaret. "Nearly swooned at me feet the first time she had to board the Pearl."

"I did not!" exclaimed Harry, indignantly.

"You did," asserted Jack, and as he spoke a bell jangled, announcing supper. "Time for supper, ladies. Shall we go see what Anatole and his crew have been cooking for us?" He stood and offered them each an arm.

*********************

"Jack."

"Hmm."

"Jack! Are you awake?"

"Go t'sleep, love. 's late."

"But I have the most marvelous idea!" Harry curled herself against him, thoroughly enjoying this closeness after all the lonely weeks. She ran a hand lightly over his bare chest, but he turned toward her and caught the hand in his.

"In the morning, eh?" He kissed the hand, and then her forehead.

"It's Norrington!"

There was a pause, and then Jack opened one eye. "Norrington."

She drew back slightly and studied his face, and smiled. "Yes. The Commodore, you know! Are you sure there's to be a storm? The moonlight is quite bright and lovely. Makes you look devilishly handsome."

He opened the other eye. "Well, that's an improvement over 'beautiful', at any rate. It'll be raining by morning. How is it I no sooner finish making passionate, and, arguably, exquisite love to you…"

"It was exquisite!" Harry smiled, eyelids drooping. She kissed him. "Didn't you think so?"

"Mmmm. Yes. Exquisite, then. How is it that we're no sooner finished and ready to sink into blissful slumber, when out o' the blue the name of the man who nearly succeeded in ending me illustrious career at the end of a rope is hovering on your pretty lips?"

"Are they pretty?" she murmured, kissing him again.

His hand slid down her back, and he lightly pinched her. "Harry!"

She chuckled, moved even closer, and said, "I was just thinking of Margaret. And Norrington. Together, you know."

"Together!"

"Yes. Margaret needs a husband. And a father for those children too, as charming as they are. And she deserves someone wonderful. And she knows James!"

"Does she, now." Jack looked dubious. "Norrington offering for a woman with three children? Can't see it meself."

"He'd make a lovely father! And she'd be perfect for him! And it would give him something to think about besides pirate-catching!"

He chuckled, himself, at this. "S'pose it would at that. An' how d'you propose to bring about this liaison? Margaret was going to visit her Aunt in New Orleans."

"Well, she shan't do so. You shall take us to Port Royal, on the Black Pearl! How lovely it will be to sail again! And I shall give a ball, in Weatherby's house, and everyone will come, and Maggie and Norrington will be looking their very best, and will instantly fall in love. I have quite decided on it."

Jack eyed her in fascinated wonder. "And they call me daft."

"What's daft about it?" she demanded.

"First, Maggie won't think it lovely to sail at all. She could barely walk when I took her off the Valliant: she'd been seasick for weeks! Second, your brother would likely have a few choice words to say about you takin' over his house to give a ball for her. Third, it's not likely the good citizens of Port Royal would come anyway."

"Why not?" said Harry, indignantly. "They would too!"

"Harry, love, they may have elected to overlook Elizabeth's little adventure--it wasn't her fault she was kidnapped by undead pirates, and marooned alone with me, after all. But you've made your own bed, as it were."

"So you think they'll cut our acquaintance! Because you're a pirate!" Harry shook her head, and kissed him again. "Much you know about it. Do you honestly think any woman in Port Royal would give up the chance to meet the notorious Captain Jack Sparrow, husband of the former Dowager Duchess of Wyndham, brother-in-law to Governor Swann, and friend of Commodore Norrington? Not bloody likely! And where the women go, the men will follow. Mark my words!"

Consider them marked… Jack heard the words in his head, spoken in Norrington's sarcastic yet ever well-bred tones. "'Friend' of the Commodore. I wouldn't go that far!"

"He attended our wedding!"

Jack eyed Harry with amusement, and some exasperation. It was quite obvious she wasn't going to back down. "Well, Mrs. Sparrow, I've one more argument you cannot refute. It'd be the devil of a lot of work, puttin' on a to-do of that sort, and you are supposed to be resting. Which, I might add, you have not been doing, contrary to orders. Have you?" He lifted a brow at her hesitation and sudden look of chagrin.

"Did Rachel tell you?" she asked, hurt and a little defiant.

"She didn't have to." He took the little hand that was gripping his arm and kissed her fingers and said, "These told me!" He ran his calloused fingers over hers, over the places that were newly rough and reddened, and smiled grimly at her gathering look of dismay.

She said at last, softly pleading, "Jack! I have things I want to do! And I am well. Very well! Truly!"

The humor faded from his face, replaced by something akin to wonder. He let go of her hand, moved and angled himself against her, pressing her into the bed, and kissed her rather fiercely. She caught his mood, and answered it, her arms tightening around him. He finally moved his lips across her cheek to breathe into her ear. "It scares me, how much I love you," he whispered.

Tears stung behind Harry's eyes. "Yes," she said, and turned her face to kiss him again with all the fear and tenderness that lay in her own heart, and all ideas and arguments were laid aside for that time, save one.