Thanks to the reviewers!
Summary of chapter: Will makes preparations for the journey.
Disclaimer: I don't own the film, or any original characters bla bla bla. But I do own Will's family, Richard and Charles. I don't own Rachel 'cos she's my friend.
Rating: PG-13 just in case.
Warning: Not much.
The Memoirs of Captain Jack Sparrow, Part 2
Will had had a hard time making his decision, but he eventually decided to do as Jack had asked. After all, he had been good to Will in the past. Although it would kill him to leave his wife and children for so long, he was going to make the journey. Reading the part about Elizabeth again, Will decided that she should come too. Jack had saved her life, and she and Will had both known Jack. Tucking the letter inside his pocket, Will got up and exited the smithy, shutting the door firmly behind him. The streets were busier now, as half an hour had passed since his early start. The shopkeepers had opened their shops, and the wares were displayed in the window. The cobbled roads were filled with townsfolk carrying baskets of their purchases, workers and young children playing. The sun had risen fully and was warming the town, and Will walked through the streets, enjoying the feeling of the cool air on the back of his neck.
Eventually, he arrived at the iron gates of the house where Elizabeth lived with her husband. Pushing one open slowly, he entered the grounds and walked the short distance to the front door. A butler appeared at his knock, and led him through to the hall before going to fetch Elizabeth from upstairs. A short while later, she walked into the room wearing a rose pink, tightly corseted dress, and looking much thinner than she had been the last time he saw her. On seeing him, she feigned pleasure, but her face gave away her reservations.
"Will! How nice to see you! How long has it been?" she exclaimed, smiling politely.
"Miss Swa- Mrs Stanford. I need to talk to you," he told her, giving a curt nod. Her expression faltered at his formal address of her. Their separation had assigned them into working and upper class again.
"Certainly. Come into the drawing room," she invited cordially, trying to keep the atmosphere between them friendly. They walked into the next room silently, and Elizabeth gestured to a light brown settle, which they both sat upon.
"Have you heard about Jack?"
Interest crossed Elizabeth's face. "What about him?"
"He passed away." Will immediately felt guilty for speaking so bluntly. Despite what had happened between them, Elizabeth didn't deserve to be told like that.
"Oh God. That's awful." She put her head in her hands for a few moments, then looked back up at Will. "How?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. I just found out yesterday from a friend of his. He did bring me this, though." Will took out the letter, unfolded it and handed it to Elizabeth. She read it slowly, then gave it back.
"Are you going to go?"
"Yes."
She was surprised. "You're going to leave Port Royal?"
"Not forever, it shouldn't take more than a year."
"But what about your family? What about the smithy?"
"Look, Elizabeth, I don't want to leave them! I just feel like we owe it to Jack."
"We?" Damn, thought Will, didn't mean to say that.
"Yes, I was going to ask you… will you come along? I mean, Jack did save your life as well…"
She considered it, surprised to feel how much she wanted to go. She would love to have a chance to get to know Will again, and she wanted to go travelling again. Due to the circumstances of her last voyage, it hadn't been a pleasant experience but she knew she would have enjoyed it if things had been different. Besides, she wanted some space. Richard was becoming possessive and demanding of her, and she wanted to get away for a while.
"Very well. I will come too," she agreed.
Will was stunned; he'd expected her to decline at once. In fact, her whole attitude to Jack's death had surprised him; with him, it had taken a little while to sink in, but Elizabeth seemed to have instantly taken it hard. "You'll come?"
"There's no need to look so surprised Will, I'm not entirely selfish," she defended herself. She didn't want to tell him her real reason for going.
At her barriers, he took it no further. "Fine. I'm going to arrange to borrow a boat for the journey. Will you be ready to go in a week?"
"Why not sooner?"
"I want to spend a last few days with my wife and children, if that's not too much to ask," Will said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice. Why would Elizabeth want to leave so early anyway?
"Of course. One week today, then. Early morning?"
"About seven o'clock. I'll come for you, be ready."
"No!" panic appeared in eyes. "Don't come to the house again. I'll meet you at the docks."
Will was curious at her protest, but didn't want to annoy her. "The docks it is."
Suddenly they both heard the front door slam shut, and Elizabeth jumped up in alarm as her husband walked into the room. "Richard!"
Richard looked at Will in surprise and superiority. "Well well well. William Turner. Master Blacksmith." There was no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice. Will nodded again. "And what brings you to this house."
"He found something that belonged to me, and was kind enough to return it," Elizabeth lied, stepping forward. Richard eyed Will with suspicion.
"And now I'll be going again. Good luck, Mrs Stanford." Will nodded towards Elizabeth, glanced passively at Stanford and left.
Instead of returning to the shop, Will went straight back to his house. He wanted to tell Penelope straight away while he had the chance. When he entered the building, he could hear a crying coming from upstairs. He hurried up the staircase and followed the noise. Emily was sitting on her bed, clutching her knee, and Penelope was crouching beside her, washing a small red wound with water from a bowl.
"What's happened?" asked Will, striding over to them.
Penelope started at his voice. "She fell over outside and cut herself. Nothing serious." Her tone of voice was more relaxed than the last time they spoke, so she must have forgiven him. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you." Will sat down on the bed and took Emily's hand, trying to soothe her. "My poor Emily. You're being very brave."
His daughter's wails became quieter at her father's sympathy, and she put her other thumb in her mouth. Penelope looked up at him, grinning as she finished. They both stood up, and Will helped Emily down. "About what?" Penelope asked, as she glanced across the room at the cradle. Samuel was sleeping.
"Emily, run down and play. Your mother and I have to talk." The little girl nodded, and ran out of the room on her chubby little legs.
"What's happened?"
Will slowly stroked the inside of his wife's forearm for a minute. "I'm going away for a while."
Penelope's eyes widened. "What?"
"There's something I have to do. My friend who died recently asked me to something for him, something very important. I can't just ignore his last request," Will explained, taking out the letter. He read it aloud to his wife, who couldn't read.
Penelope listened in silence, only speaking when he had finished. "But Will, how can you leave? We have children; I can't cope on my own."
"I have money put by. I'll only be gone for a year, you'll manage. Look, I hate to leave you, but Jack Sparrow was a good man. He deserves to have his life recorded."
"You're really set on this, aren't you? Will, how can you do this to me?!" Penelope stood up, tears in her eyes at the thought of losing Will for a year.
"I have to, Penelope! Please don't make this more difficult than it already is."
She turned round and pointed at the letter which was lying on the bed. "Well, even this Jack says you shouldn't be leaving your 'bonny lass' for that long! Sounds like he has some sense, unlike you!"
"I don't want us to part on bad terms-"
"It's all about you, isn't it?! I can't believe you even thought about leaving, with two young children! A year in the life of a toddler and a baby is a long time, Will! You're going to miss Sam's first word, his first steps, everything! He won't even know who you are when you come back, you do realize that! You're supposed to be a father, Will!"
"I know, and this is killing me. I'm so sorry, Penelope. I can come and visit sometimes, probably."
"Oh, don't do anything just to please me, you never have. Go."
Will left the room quietly, stung by her last comment. He had always trying to make her happy, why would she say something like that? Instead of returning to the shop, he started to make plans for the journey. Firstly, he arranged to borrow an old friend's ship in return for some repairs done in his house. The man was too ill to go sailing anymore, and he was happy to see the ship put to some use. Next, Will went to see an apprentice he had taken on a year ago. The young man was to take care of the smithy, and do as much work as he could. Will also went to visit his closest friend, to tell him the news. He and Charles Butterworth had been friends for many years, and had become even better when Will had broken his engagement to Elizabeth. Charles and his wife Rachel promised to keep an eye on Penelope and the children for him while he was away and Charles wished him luck.
His tasks done, Will wandered around the different shops. He knew Port Royal well, but had never had time to look around properly. In a toy shop, he found a beautiful wooden rocking horse, and decided to buy it for Emily. It was a little extravagant, but he needed to do something to ease the guilt of not being there for her. He also found a carved top, which he bought for little Samuel to play with when he was older. Will went in many other shops looking for a gift for his wife, but could find nothing special enough for her. He half- heartedly bought a bunch of pink and orange flowers, and was on his way to pick up the items from the toy shop when he walked into Rachel Butterworth again.
"Whoa, sorry Will! Why in such a hurry?" Rachel was friendly woman who Will got along well with.
"On my way to the toy shop. I've just bought gifts for the children there."
"Oh, lovely! Have you bought anything for Penelope?"
"Well, she's a little old for toys," he joked. "But I can't find anything in this town that's beautiful enough for her."
"Have you tried Madame Jenevre's?" Rachel asked.
"Who?"
"Madame Jenevre. She's French, recently came to live in the town. She has a jewellery shop down St Carmain's Street. Very expensive of course, but very beautiful. Would you like me to show you?"
Will nodded assent, and Rachel led him down the main road and into a small backstreet. There was one small shop part way down, which had a large sign hanging outside, reading "Madame's Marvels". Will tutted at the alliteration, but they both walked down and entered the shop. Although it had no windows and the door was shut, the room was lit by candelabras standing atop counters, and one large one hanging from the low ceiling. The walls were and earthy shade of red, and the light fittings were of brass. There was a counter at the back of the shop, with a woman standing behind. As they walked up to her, Will saw that she was quite old, very thin and dressed in loose fitting, dark red and green garments, with flowing sleeves. She wore gold jewellery adorned with jade and garnets which jangled when she moved.
"Hello, my dear," she greeted, looking at Rachel. Her voice was strong and she spoke with a faint French accent. "What can I do for you today?"
"Madame, my friend Will wishes to buy a gift for his wife."
"Take your pick," she instructed, gesturing to the counter. It was covered with necklaces, brooches, rings and bracelets, all very exquisite and individual looking. Will scanned the table.
"How about this?" Rachel suggested, pointing to a gold link bracelet threaded with polished rubies. Will liked it, but shook his head. It was not personal enough.
"Is this gift for a birthday, another special occasion or just as a token?" asked the exotic shop keeper.
"I'm going away for a while, it's a goodbye present."
"Ah. Then may I suggest this?" Madame Jenevre lifted a locket pendant for Will to see. The locket itself was the size of Will's thumbnail, silver and covered with an intricate pattern. It was sporadically studded with tiny jade stones, and held on a smooth, light green silk ribbon. "It's a Chinese antique. Look," she demonstrated, opening the locket, which was lined with very fine, delicate green velvet. "Enough space for a lock of hair, to remind her of you."
"That's beautiful," commented Rachel, "Penelope would love it."
Will thought so too. "I'll take it. How much?"
"Well, as you're a first time customer, I'll let you have it for three crowns."
Will started. "Fifteen shillings?! Not even a King would pay that much for it! I'll give you eight, and that's being pretty generous!"
"Listen young man, this is a fine piece of jewellery, and I am not taking less than twelve shillings for it," the woman argued.
"Ten is as high as I am prepared to pay. That's my final offer."
Madame considered for a moment. "Very well. Ten." She grinned toothily at him. "You're a bold one!"
She ran her finger along the locket for a moment, as if saying farewell to it, then slipped it into a red silk pouch, which she folded up and placed on the counter in front of Will. Will took out his coin purse, and counted out the last of his money, all ten shillings, and handed them to her. She pocketed them, delighted with the sale, and grinned again. Will scooped up the pouch and tucked it inside his waistcoat, nodding at the shop keeper, then he and Rachel walked out of the shop. They parted in the town centre, and Will went to pick up the toys from the shop. The shopkeeper's son helped him to carry the rocking horse to his house, which was fortunately nearby, and Will prepared to make peace with his wife.
*****
Sorry if that one was a bit boring, the next few will actually start the plot! Please review, kind readers!