Broken Faith
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: They're still not bloody mine.
OC/E, J/E, W/E, N/E

Henri searched the dimly lit room. "The Gathering Place" was the only pub in Port Royal. It's patrons were the seedier dregs of society. There was no one there who would recognize Henri, and even if there was, they wouldn't tell, for it would betray their own presence. Henri slid into a secluded booth and called for a rum. He had just received it when a shadowy figure slid silently into the booth across from him.

"I did not think you were coming." Henri said.

"A chance at the Black Pearl? I wouldn't miss it, even if I must condescend to show up in such a place as this." the figure sneered.

"And the terms of our little bargain?"

"You receive your reward for killing Norrington. You receive a letter of marque when you hand over Sparrow."

"A letter of marque." Henri said wistfully. "I shall need a guarantee that it won't be taken from me again. I almost had to turn pirate...or legitimate." Henri winced at the thought.

The figure laughed "Is legitimacy so distasteful?"

"One can only stand so much of it. Illegitimacy lends a certain...spice to life." Henri grinned sardonicly.

"You know that the King is a creature of whims and passion. You shall have to prove your worth to maintain your legitimate illegitimacy."

"For what I'm delivering, I damn well better have an irrevocable letter of marque, or I shall hide Sparrow myself." Henri examined his rings, a bored expression on his face. He sighed. "I ought to have a right to all the crown jewels of France for what I do for the throne."

"Don't get conceited, my friend. Besides, what would they say to an Englishman taking the crown jewels of France so as to pay his hired pirate?" Both men laughed. The figure flipped a gold coin onto the table, then vanished as quickly and effectively as he had come. Henri sat back, savoring his rum, and thinking of the gold that was soon to come his way.

Elizabeth smoothed down her hair as she walked briskly toward the governor's mansion. Ever since she'd seen Henri that afternoon she couldn't stop a silly little half smile from appearing on her face. She couldn't help but feel a slight twinge, as though she were being disloyal to the memories of Will and James, and disloyal to that fragile little hope she had held, buried though it was, that Jack would come back someday. But Will and James were dead, she reminded herself, and probably Jack, though the man had an unnerving habit of not dying when he should. After all, why shouldn't she have lunch with Henri? Both Will and James would want her to be happy, and it was just lunch with an old friend. Wasn't it?

"My dear, you are unusually quiet." the governor remarked. "Is something the matter?"

"No, no nothing is the matter, Father." Elizabeth said quietly. "I had a visitor today."

"Oh? One of the ladies from town?" the governor tried to look interested for Elizabeth's sake, but secretly he rather disliked her new acquaintances. Always carrying on about this or that, they were, and Elizabeth had grown dreadfully pale since she had taken up their association.

"No. Actually, it was Henri d'Alphonse." The governor chocked on his water. "You remember him, Father. He was quite a friend when we were still living in England."

"Yes, I remember the boy quite well. You were rather fond of him, weren't you?"

"Yes, for a time." Elizabeth said dismissivly. "He says he struck up quite the correspondence with you."

"We would right from time to time. He was rather fond of you. I dare say if Norrington, may he rest in peace, hadn't desired your hand I would have pushed for a union between you and Henri."

Elizabeth smiled to herself. Even if Henri had not told her that, she wouldn't have been surprised. Elizabeth picked at her food, letting her father's response float through the thick Caribbean air.

"What did you and Henri talk about?" her father finally inquired.

"Oh, this and that." she replied airily. "I told him about my adventure with Barbossa, and he told me about some of his sea adventures. He had led a rather exciting life, though he is only a few years older then me." Elizabeth quickly took a bite of her salad, so as to avoid her father's questions. Her father waited patiently.

"Perhaps we should invite him to dinner some night. Is he still in Port Royal?"

"Yes." Elizabeth paused. "Actually, I had promised to eat lunch with him tomorrow." Elizabeth quickly took a sip of water to avoid her father's startled expression.

"Elizabeth, is that entirely proper?"

"Why shouldn't I take lunch with an old friend?"

"Because you are a widow." her father protested.

"I've been a widow for four years, Father. Will is not coming back!" Elizabeth's cheeks flamed red and her eyes brimmed with tears. "Please, Father." she implored.

He looked thoughtfully at his daughter and sighed. "I worry about you, you know. Four years you have spent in mourning when most women would spend no more then two, except, of course, your new friends." he tried not to let his annoyance with them seep into his voice. Through her tears, Elizabeth managed to laugh.

"I like them no more then you do Father. But continue."

He reached across the table and held her hand, looking down at the gold band that Elizabeth continued to wear. "I want you to be happy, my dear. I believe Will would too. If you want to go to lunch with Henri, I will not forbid you."

"Thank you, Father. But, if I may ask, why did you not wish me to go to lunch with him? You yourself wished to invite him to dinner."

"That, my dear, would be an event at which you would not be alone with him." Elizabeth stared at her father incredulously. "Are you suggesting anything-"

"No, no, my dear. It is just that Henri is not known here-"

"Oh, Father." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "You worry entirely too much about your reputation."

The Governor bristled. "I am the governor of this island! One cannot be too careful."

"Oh, Father." Elizabeth laughed. He stared at her a moment, then smiled. They both turned their attention back to the meal at hand.

"Still, oughtent we invite him to dinner? Introduce him to some people?" the governor suggested hesitantly. Elizabeth looked up and smiled indulgently.

"I'll bring it up. Will that satisfy you?" The governor nodded, and they finished the rest of their meal in companionable silence.