Chapter Four:
There were a few hustled voices behind the door, and finally, it opened, followed by a surprised cry "James, OH! What happened!?"
Will's eyes grew wide. The woman standing in the doorway rushed towards the little boy, a mix of anger and sympathy on her face. The woman was Elizabeth.
"Frieda, come get James!" she yelled as she bustled towards her son, cupping his face in her hands .
The maid took Young James into her arms sturdily giving Will a nod of thanks. Elizabeth, still holding her son's head lovingly was about to follow the maid up the stairs when the butler spoke, "Mrs. Norrington, shouldn't we thank the kind sir who has brought Young James home?" She turned around quickly, looking somewhat embarrassed and nodded to the butler.
Walking forward she took a step towards the man in the shadows, "The kindest of...Oh!" She gasped, there was an uncomfortable silence.
"Nice place you have here Elizabeth." He said looking around nervously.
She, on the other hand, appeared on the verge of tears. Suddenly she had leapt into his arms and was crying into his shoulder. "Oh Will! It is so good to see you! Has it really been ten years?"
"It seems that way." He said, still holding her cradled in his arms, sweetly, not wanting to disturb her joy and excitement. But she soon realized that it wasn't entirely proper for her to be holding him so tightly.
Letting go, she looked up at his face, blushing slightly and somewhat embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry..."
Will grabbed her hand, "About what? I've missed you too."
"I must tend to Young James...but we have so much to talk about." She said, looking around nervously. "Would you like to come for lunch on Monday? I could have it arranged."
Will didn't entirely want to come to lunch. It would be awkward...possibly more awkward than this was itself. "How about we meet at the beach at 3:00 Monday afternoon?" he asked.
"I would love that." Elizabeth answered. She understood that Will seemed a little uncomfortable with the thought of Norrington possibly seeing them together. It would be uncomfortable for her too. They didn't plan to become romantically involved...after all, she was married...both she and Will knew that. There wasn't anything Norrington should be worried about. But the beach was a relaxing place...it would calm her, and possibly ease the conversation.
"Well, 3 o' clock then." He made his way towards the door. "Your boy, is very sweet, quite adventurous." Will said fighting to find the right words to say.
Elizabeth wanted so much to tell him her suspicions...that Young James was his child, not the Commodores. But would he believe her? "Thank you. He's a big fan of yours too." She said, as he made his way to the door.
&
Elizabeth made her way slowly up the stairs. This was quiete overwhelming, and it had been so uncomfortable. She hadn't seen Will in years and suddenly he showed up at the door. With her son in his arms! HIS SON in his arms...
She walked slowly into James' room. He was lying on the bed looking miserable. Immediately her compassion towards the hurt little boy left her and she became angry, "What were you thinking?" she asked "I told you not to play with swords again."
"No mum," Young James said. "You told me not to play pirates again."
Elizabeth was frustrated with her son's sarcasm. "James..." She began. But seeing the innocent look on her son's face made her melt and she sat down on the bed smiling. "James, you knew that your father...and I... don't appreciate it when you disobey us."
"I'm sorry...but..."
"No buts..." Elizabeth said, brushing a strand of hair out of her son's face. "It's not that we don't want you to have fun, we just want you to be safe."
Elizabeth kissed her son's forehead affectionately, then made her way to the door. She was about to close it when Young James called, "Mum, that man, Mum...that man said he knew who Will Turner and Jack Sparrow were, you know! From the story you told me last night!"
"I know," she answered slowly. "Why don't we put that behind us, and now don't tell your father he was here. You know he doesn't like pirates. Our little secret, okay?"
"Of course, Mum." He said smiling, enjoying the thought of a secret.
"Now get some rest," Elizabeth said, "We'll talk later."
&
Will walked to the inn slowly, thinking silently to himself. He wasn't expecting that and still wasn't sure it had actually happened. Finding himself in Elizabeth's doorway...with her son.
And there was something about her son that was intriguing. His free spirit was nothing like the Commodore's traditional, tightly wound lifestyles. A thought came subconsciously into Will's mind, but he pushed it away, barely thinking about it. Impossible...it was impossible.
&
The commodore arrived home just in time for supper. He found Elizabeth and Young James seated at the table waiting for him. "Good Evening dear!" He said addressing Elizabeth and kissing her hand.
"Hello darling." She said, not looking at him, but still addressing him with slight passion. Her mind was still on Will, every thought of him swirling through her head and making her feel slightly dizzy.
"James, what happened to your arm?" The commodore asked, looking at the bandage wrapped around it tightly.
"Nothing, I was just playing and..."
"WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT PLAYING PIRATES?!?!" The Commodore yelled, interrupting his son as he gripped his arm roughly, "ANSWER ME!" He didn't mean to sound so upset, but the future Commodore should know better than to engage in piracy, even fake piracy.
"You told me not to play." Said Young James as the Commodore loosened and then let go of his son's arm.
"Yes, I have, and so has your mother." Norrington looked at Elizabeth, she too was looking down. "Tell me it won't happen again, and if it does, there are to be serious consequences. Just like a real pirate,"
"It won't." Young James didn't dare say anything more.
"Now let us eat..." the commodore sat down at the head of the table, ending the argument abruptly. Elizabeth smiled at him. "Anything else happen today that would interest me?" he asked.
"No, it was...quite...well...a simple day." Elizabeth looked at Young James, begging him silently to keep his mouth shut.
She caught his eye and he smiled. "Yes, quite a simple day." He enjoyed having a little secret with his mother and the house help, grinning sheepishly, he went back to his mashed potatoes.
Elizabeth's thought slowly drained away. Suddenly the commodore spoke. "Elizabeth, dear, will..."
"Will who?" Elizabeth jumped, then caught herself, "I mean...will what, I mean..."
"...pass the bread?" The Commodore finished, looking stunned, then quickly containing himself, " Elizabeth is everything alright?" Norrington was worried, Elizabeth seemed flustered. "Is there something we need to talk about?"
"No," she said. "It has just been a long day. If you will excuse me, I will retire." She kissed Young James on top of the head and left the room.
The Commodore looked at his son, he was eating in silence, and quite properly, very unusual. "James, I'm going to ask this again...Did anything happen today that your father should know about?"
James choked on his water. "No, nothing at all. We had a dull, unexciting day. I probably just...tired Mum out with my...mischievous actions." Young James felt very good about his strong vocabulary.
"I trust you are telling the truth." The commodore spoke. It hurt Young James to lie to his father, yet it also gave him a feeling of satisfaction.
Suddenly the door opened and Gillette came darting in. "Commodore, you are needed at the Fort."
Norrington stood up and bid his son good-bye, grabbing his hat and coat from the butler.
Young James watched as his father stood up, looking innocent as he stared down at his almost empty plate. But as soon as the door closed, he leapt up, watching the window until the buggy made its way down the drive.
The second it turned the corner, the little boy darted towards the entry hall, then up the stairs, making swashbuckling whoots and hoots as he slashed his invisible sword. Then standing heroically at the top of the stairs, he proudly claimed the foyer as his!