Chapter Seventeen
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but Mr. Turner checked out of the inn two days ago ..." The innkeeper gave a mournful sigh, "I wish I had more information for ya' Ms. But the fact is I don't..."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said as tears brimmed in her eyes. He had left. Will had left her again without saying good-bye. If she had known he would leave, then 2 days ago, she wouldn't have yelled as she walked out of his room...she would have given him the love he deserved, or if it was necessary, an honest good-bye...
Walking down the road, Elizabeth paused in thought as she had many times before. Was it really meant to turn out this way? She had asked herself that same question ten years ago. But now, it seemed so different. It really didn't have to turn out this way. It was all her fault... she had seen Will for the last time. She really had.
Leaning up against the door of her house, she spoke quietly to herself, dabbing away her tears, "Will...If I ever had the chance...If I ever saw you again, I'd tell you everything...all of my feelings, everything I've tried to hide...and I'd never let you leave me...ever again."
Turning around, she opened the door, letting herself into the quiet foyer, trying to make herself look presentable.
"Mrs. Norrington?"
Elizabeth looked to her right, to see Nan on her arm, "Mrs. Norrington, are you alright?"
"Yes Nan," Elizabeth said, brushing away. "I just got some dust in my eye, no worries, then."
She swiftly turned towards the stairs, moving as quickly as she could towards her room. Turning a corner, she ignored the knock on the door down below. It was about the sixth time that day someone had come to call. Whether she liked it or not, Elizabeth would take their muffins or their pity tears and she would small talk as gleefully as she possibly could.
She just wanted to forget about it all. But now, not only did she have to forget about James, she had to forget about Will too.
Elizabeth was just about to open her door when she heard Nan's voice from the top of the stairs, "Mrs. Norrington," she spoke softly, "Someone here to see you...a man...he won't give his name..."
Elizabeth turned around quickly, praying it her heart that the man was Will. But her hope was quickly dismayed when she realized that a number of unidentified guests came to call...especially male guests looking to set a good side with Elizabeth for when her year of mourning was finally up...
"Would you like Roberto to accompany you to the door?" Nan asked.
"No, Nan, I'll be fine," Elizabeth said, wiping her hands on her black dress. She hated wearing black, but it was only proper to honor her husband...
Walking towards the head of the stairs, she stopped as the maid spoke again. "And Mrs. Norrington..." She said.
"Yes?" Elizabeth turned towards the woman looking slightly impatient.
"I...it's just...the house help isn't blind ma'am. Don't dishonor the Commodore...he was a good man."
Elizabeth's eyes opened wide in shock. Had her maid really spoken to her in such a bold and distraught way? "Nan," she spoke, trying to calm herself instead of firing her favorite of the help right then and there. "If you'd excuse me, I have a caller waiting."
Walking out into the foyer, Elizabeth's words where caught in her throat as she came face to face with everything she had hoped for, yet nothing she had imagined.
AN: This chapter was originally about 5 pages, but I split it in two and gave ya'll a cliffy. There are only a few chapters left after this one, so don't worry, the suspense won't last much longer.