Chapter 1
Amelia lived a pampered and privileged life. Only she didn't quite see it that way. She had grown up as an only child, living with her aunt and uncle in Port Isabel. Her mother had died in childbirth, having her. Her father died four years later by some disaster at sea, but he had already sent Amelia to live with her aunt and uncle by then.
She was now a booming eighteen and hardly remembered either of them. Her Aunt Mary and Uncle Mort Bridges were the closest thing to a family she had ever had. Growing up as an only child she was very spoiled and her aunt would let her get away with anything. Nonetheless, they still made her take lessons and raised her to become the picture perfect wife for a high-ranked gentleman in society (who they approve of, of course).
She never enjoyed lessons or all of the etiquette with which she would have to perfect, but soon it became secondhand to her. In her free time she would sneak out of the house and go to her favorite spot to sit and draw whatever came to her mind, she was a very good artist. The spot was on a grassy hill, under a willow tree, that overlooked the ocean. Sometimes she would go there and fall asleep. If she slept too long then her aunt would realize that she was gone and then send a maid to go look for her. By now the maid that she was closest too, Maria, already knew where she would go and so she would come out to warn her if it was time to go back in.
This was one of those days. Amelia had left the house and went off to her spot. She sat her self down, propping her back against the tree and taking out a sketchbook that was almost filled up with all of her artwork. She took out a writing utensil and closed her eyes. She would draw the first thing that she pictured in her mind. That happened to be a ship. Opening her eyes again she started the illustration and the more she drew, the faster she would draw.
Pretty soon on a page that used to be empty, there was an elaborate picture of a large ship with black sails. Then she had realized what she had drawn. It was the ship from the childhood stories she used to hear from her aunt when she would tuck her in at night. It was the Black Pearl. A chill went up her spine and she shuddered, trying to shake it away. Those tales used to frighten her and that is why as a child she would be scared of ships and the sea, always thinking that those damned pirates would come and get her. She got over it though, went she realized that it was just a story and could not be real. Or could it? she thought. No, it's impossible.
Changing her thoughts to something else, she laid out a blanket and stretched herself out on it, looking up at the sky. Some birds flew by and then she could see the clouds clearly. They almost looked fake, and if she didn't know any better then she would think that they were. Closing her eyes from the bright sun, she yawned and began to drift away...
"Amelia," her maid said, shaking her. "wake up. Dinner will be soon and we are expecting a visitor."
She blinked and then fully opened her sea-green eyes to see Maria standing over her. She immediately sat up and began to pick up her belongings.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I guess I must have dozed off."
"Don't apologize to me, it is your aunt and uncle who will be upset if you are not ready for dinner." her maid replied bluntly.
They both walked back to the house together and then Maria went to the kitchen and Amelia tried to get to her room as fast as she could. A maid waiting in her room to help her get dressed and ready. Her long dark brown hair was pinned up in a loose, but elegant, bun and she placed a fancy comb encrusted with emeralds and rubies in it. On her neck she wore a sapphire necklace. Both the comb and the necklace were once her mother's, which her father had sent to her aunt, who had in turn given them to Amelia to remember her mother by. The maid tightened a corset on her and then zipped her into an practically new dress that Mary bought her recently, shipped from France. It was pale blue silk satin, with dark blue bobbin-lace trim and hammered silver floral brocade. If she had not worn the necklace, then she would have still been an exquisite site.
She did some last minute finishing touches and tried to become at least somewhat comfortable in the restricting corset. Then she was ready to go downstairs. She entered the hallway and slowly walked down the slightly spiraled steps. Glancing down she could see both her aunt and uncle talking, but she could not see who to.
Mary looked up. "Oh, here she is. Amelia darling, look who is joining us for supper tonight, Commodore Charles Thornton."
"Good evening." Amelia said politely to him.
"If I may say so," he replied. "you look lovely."
She smiled. "You may." She was starting to get used to the string of suitors who Mort and Mary were inviting to dinner. They wanted nothing more for her then to get married and bear children. To Mary that was the only worthwhile purpose in a woman's life. Amelia thought that could be so, but she was not sure how she was supposed to choose who to marry if she hardly knew any of them.
She knew Charles for several years, he was a close friend of Mort, who insisted that one day he would take his place as governor of Port Isabel. He was a nice man, but she didn't love him and she wondered why so many women marry men they don't love just because that was what they were raised to do. She was going to become one of those woman, she realized, for there was no other way for a governor's niece.
The four of them proceeded into the dining room, where a feast of turkey, vegetables, and many other dishes was waiting for them. Everyone ate slowly and ceremoniously, with polite (otherwise known as boring) conversation here and there. When dessert came around, a chocolate bunt cake with strawberries, her uncle announced that he had a surprise for her.
"Well, what is it?" Amelia asked, not particularly interested.
"You are being sent to visit Port Royal. You will be staying with Governor Swann. He is a close companion of mine and he said he would be glad to show you around for a couple of months. You leave in a couple of days and Commodore Thornton here will be escorting you there." he informed her, expecting her to be thrilled. "It is a good five to seven day journey there of course, depending on the weather."
She was quite for a few minutes as she thought it over. She hadn't left Port Isabel since she came there. She knew he was sending her with Charles for a reason, because he trusted him and because he wanted them to get better acquainted. It would be a change, the same hot weather, but a different place and she would be able to experience life somewhere else. She could continue her piano lessons there as well and expand her reading.
She made up her mind. "That will be delightful." she said to him enthusiastically. By that time everyone had their fill of the dessert and a maid was taking away the plates.
That was the response that he wanted. He smiled and added "Oh, and since you will not be with us for your birthday, Mary could not help herself but to get it early." He clapped and in came Maria holding a squirming white bundle in her arms.
"A puppy!" Amelia squealed, against all the teachings of how a woman was supposed to behave. "He is adorable." She took the puppy into her arms and started petting his white fur. He licked her hand and then turned around and licked her nose. She laughed and hugged him. Instantly the dog and the new pet owner bonded.
"I knew you would love him." Mary said to her, proud of herself for her excellent gift-picking abilities. "What are you going to name him?"
Amelia pondered that question. She absolutely had no idea. Then she thought of something. She chose the Spanish word for snowy because of his snowy white hair. "Nevado."
"Good choice." commented Charles after he figured out what nevado meant. Then he asked her "Would you like to take a stroll with me in your garden, if it is ok with Governor Bridges?"
Mort nodded in acceptance and all three of them looked at Amelia for a response.
"I'd love to." she once again replied with the reaction that they all wanted to hear. He got up, pushed in his chair, and went over to her so he could pull her chair out for her. He gave her his hand, she accepted it as he pulled her up, pushed her chair in after her, and took her arm to lead her outside.
They walked for a little bit talking about meaningless nonsense. "It has been beautiful day." she said, looking around at the scenery.
"Indeed," he responded. "and this is a charming garden."
"I know. Maria- I mean our maid, planted it. In the spring it is to die for."
"I've been meaning to talk to you about something." Charles said, sitting down next to her on a bench overlooking the red roses. "It is about time that I marry and I would like you to be my wife." He looked into her beautiful eyes. They had always had a youthful sparkle, but he could tell by looking at them that there was more to her then he would ever get the privilege to know. "Will you marry me?"
She knew this was coming, but she was still shocked at the same time. Even though she was aware that one day this question would be heard, she had not thought up an answer for which to indulge him with. He would like to hear yes and how would she ever describe why she said no to her uncle? She was at a lost for words. "Uh..."
"You don't have to answer now," he added, saving her from hurting his feelings and making an arse of herself. "but please think about it and tell me later."
She nodded. Phew! At least this buys her some time to think. Time she had, considering she would soon be on a ship for a week and bored out of her mind.
Shortly, he left and she went upstairs once again to her room. This time it was Maria who helped her undress and they had a short conversation about Charles. Despite what Mary might think, Amelia had no problem discussing her life with Maria. To her, Maria was not just a maid, she was a sister. The only thing she would truly miss would be her, for she is the only soul that she can tell her deepest thoughts to, without having anyone ignore her or try to convince her otherwise.
Maria left the room and Amelia laid down in her bed. She recalled the events of that day, not that there were many. She pushed all thoughts of marriage and pressure from her guardians aside and closed her eyes. Once again she saw a ship, but this time it was one similar to the ship she would be taking to travel to Port Royal. Imagining a nice sea breeze, she drifted off to sleep without a care in the world.
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A/N: This time I decided to try something new. This is just the first chapter, so I hope it will get better. Please review, it doesn't take long and I will appreciate it! Thank you!
Amelia lived a pampered and privileged life. Only she didn't quite see it that way. She had grown up as an only child, living with her aunt and uncle in Port Isabel. Her mother had died in childbirth, having her. Her father died four years later by some disaster at sea, but he had already sent Amelia to live with her aunt and uncle by then.
She was now a booming eighteen and hardly remembered either of them. Her Aunt Mary and Uncle Mort Bridges were the closest thing to a family she had ever had. Growing up as an only child she was very spoiled and her aunt would let her get away with anything. Nonetheless, they still made her take lessons and raised her to become the picture perfect wife for a high-ranked gentleman in society (who they approve of, of course).
She never enjoyed lessons or all of the etiquette with which she would have to perfect, but soon it became secondhand to her. In her free time she would sneak out of the house and go to her favorite spot to sit and draw whatever came to her mind, she was a very good artist. The spot was on a grassy hill, under a willow tree, that overlooked the ocean. Sometimes she would go there and fall asleep. If she slept too long then her aunt would realize that she was gone and then send a maid to go look for her. By now the maid that she was closest too, Maria, already knew where she would go and so she would come out to warn her if it was time to go back in.
This was one of those days. Amelia had left the house and went off to her spot. She sat her self down, propping her back against the tree and taking out a sketchbook that was almost filled up with all of her artwork. She took out a writing utensil and closed her eyes. She would draw the first thing that she pictured in her mind. That happened to be a ship. Opening her eyes again she started the illustration and the more she drew, the faster she would draw.
Pretty soon on a page that used to be empty, there was an elaborate picture of a large ship with black sails. Then she had realized what she had drawn. It was the ship from the childhood stories she used to hear from her aunt when she would tuck her in at night. It was the Black Pearl. A chill went up her spine and she shuddered, trying to shake it away. Those tales used to frighten her and that is why as a child she would be scared of ships and the sea, always thinking that those damned pirates would come and get her. She got over it though, went she realized that it was just a story and could not be real. Or could it? she thought. No, it's impossible.
Changing her thoughts to something else, she laid out a blanket and stretched herself out on it, looking up at the sky. Some birds flew by and then she could see the clouds clearly. They almost looked fake, and if she didn't know any better then she would think that they were. Closing her eyes from the bright sun, she yawned and began to drift away...
"Amelia," her maid said, shaking her. "wake up. Dinner will be soon and we are expecting a visitor."
She blinked and then fully opened her sea-green eyes to see Maria standing over her. She immediately sat up and began to pick up her belongings.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I guess I must have dozed off."
"Don't apologize to me, it is your aunt and uncle who will be upset if you are not ready for dinner." her maid replied bluntly.
They both walked back to the house together and then Maria went to the kitchen and Amelia tried to get to her room as fast as she could. A maid waiting in her room to help her get dressed and ready. Her long dark brown hair was pinned up in a loose, but elegant, bun and she placed a fancy comb encrusted with emeralds and rubies in it. On her neck she wore a sapphire necklace. Both the comb and the necklace were once her mother's, which her father had sent to her aunt, who had in turn given them to Amelia to remember her mother by. The maid tightened a corset on her and then zipped her into an practically new dress that Mary bought her recently, shipped from France. It was pale blue silk satin, with dark blue bobbin-lace trim and hammered silver floral brocade. If she had not worn the necklace, then she would have still been an exquisite site.
She did some last minute finishing touches and tried to become at least somewhat comfortable in the restricting corset. Then she was ready to go downstairs. She entered the hallway and slowly walked down the slightly spiraled steps. Glancing down she could see both her aunt and uncle talking, but she could not see who to.
Mary looked up. "Oh, here she is. Amelia darling, look who is joining us for supper tonight, Commodore Charles Thornton."
"Good evening." Amelia said politely to him.
"If I may say so," he replied. "you look lovely."
She smiled. "You may." She was starting to get used to the string of suitors who Mort and Mary were inviting to dinner. They wanted nothing more for her then to get married and bear children. To Mary that was the only worthwhile purpose in a woman's life. Amelia thought that could be so, but she was not sure how she was supposed to choose who to marry if she hardly knew any of them.
She knew Charles for several years, he was a close friend of Mort, who insisted that one day he would take his place as governor of Port Isabel. He was a nice man, but she didn't love him and she wondered why so many women marry men they don't love just because that was what they were raised to do. She was going to become one of those woman, she realized, for there was no other way for a governor's niece.
The four of them proceeded into the dining room, where a feast of turkey, vegetables, and many other dishes was waiting for them. Everyone ate slowly and ceremoniously, with polite (otherwise known as boring) conversation here and there. When dessert came around, a chocolate bunt cake with strawberries, her uncle announced that he had a surprise for her.
"Well, what is it?" Amelia asked, not particularly interested.
"You are being sent to visit Port Royal. You will be staying with Governor Swann. He is a close companion of mine and he said he would be glad to show you around for a couple of months. You leave in a couple of days and Commodore Thornton here will be escorting you there." he informed her, expecting her to be thrilled. "It is a good five to seven day journey there of course, depending on the weather."
She was quite for a few minutes as she thought it over. She hadn't left Port Isabel since she came there. She knew he was sending her with Charles for a reason, because he trusted him and because he wanted them to get better acquainted. It would be a change, the same hot weather, but a different place and she would be able to experience life somewhere else. She could continue her piano lessons there as well and expand her reading.
She made up her mind. "That will be delightful." she said to him enthusiastically. By that time everyone had their fill of the dessert and a maid was taking away the plates.
That was the response that he wanted. He smiled and added "Oh, and since you will not be with us for your birthday, Mary could not help herself but to get it early." He clapped and in came Maria holding a squirming white bundle in her arms.
"A puppy!" Amelia squealed, against all the teachings of how a woman was supposed to behave. "He is adorable." She took the puppy into her arms and started petting his white fur. He licked her hand and then turned around and licked her nose. She laughed and hugged him. Instantly the dog and the new pet owner bonded.
"I knew you would love him." Mary said to her, proud of herself for her excellent gift-picking abilities. "What are you going to name him?"
Amelia pondered that question. She absolutely had no idea. Then she thought of something. She chose the Spanish word for snowy because of his snowy white hair. "Nevado."
"Good choice." commented Charles after he figured out what nevado meant. Then he asked her "Would you like to take a stroll with me in your garden, if it is ok with Governor Bridges?"
Mort nodded in acceptance and all three of them looked at Amelia for a response.
"I'd love to." she once again replied with the reaction that they all wanted to hear. He got up, pushed in his chair, and went over to her so he could pull her chair out for her. He gave her his hand, she accepted it as he pulled her up, pushed her chair in after her, and took her arm to lead her outside.
They walked for a little bit talking about meaningless nonsense. "It has been beautiful day." she said, looking around at the scenery.
"Indeed," he responded. "and this is a charming garden."
"I know. Maria- I mean our maid, planted it. In the spring it is to die for."
"I've been meaning to talk to you about something." Charles said, sitting down next to her on a bench overlooking the red roses. "It is about time that I marry and I would like you to be my wife." He looked into her beautiful eyes. They had always had a youthful sparkle, but he could tell by looking at them that there was more to her then he would ever get the privilege to know. "Will you marry me?"
She knew this was coming, but she was still shocked at the same time. Even though she was aware that one day this question would be heard, she had not thought up an answer for which to indulge him with. He would like to hear yes and how would she ever describe why she said no to her uncle? She was at a lost for words. "Uh..."
"You don't have to answer now," he added, saving her from hurting his feelings and making an arse of herself. "but please think about it and tell me later."
She nodded. Phew! At least this buys her some time to think. Time she had, considering she would soon be on a ship for a week and bored out of her mind.
Shortly, he left and she went upstairs once again to her room. This time it was Maria who helped her undress and they had a short conversation about Charles. Despite what Mary might think, Amelia had no problem discussing her life with Maria. To her, Maria was not just a maid, she was a sister. The only thing she would truly miss would be her, for she is the only soul that she can tell her deepest thoughts to, without having anyone ignore her or try to convince her otherwise.
Maria left the room and Amelia laid down in her bed. She recalled the events of that day, not that there were many. She pushed all thoughts of marriage and pressure from her guardians aside and closed her eyes. Once again she saw a ship, but this time it was one similar to the ship she would be taking to travel to Port Royal. Imagining a nice sea breeze, she drifted off to sleep without a care in the world.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: This time I decided to try something new. This is just the first chapter, so I hope it will get better. Please review, it doesn't take long and I will appreciate it! Thank you!