DISCLAIMER I do not own any original plots, characters, themes, ideas or anything from 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl'. All I own is everything in this story of my own creation.
Chapter One – A Sad Beginning
Diane Fairweather believed that to live a happy life you had to have a wonderful, hard working husband who belonged to the navy, three children who all were educated, a large, white, Victorian house in the upper-states of London, the finest dress, a hand-maiden and have a high rank in society. Diane had successfully achieved most of these things. However, instead of her large white Victorian house in the upper-states of London, she had a large white and blue mansion in Port Royal, one of the many English governed ports in the Caribbean. She didn't deny that she wasn't happy with her life; she was very satisfied with it in fact. The Fairweather's, were high on the social ladder and were rolling in money. However, sometimes she wished she could have more.
"My husband? Captain Philip Fairweather. Did I mention that he was a Captain? A very high ranking in the navy apparently, he works very closely with Commodore Norrington – I am sure that you have heard of the Commodore. He basically runs this establishment. So because my husband works closely with him we are invited to all the fashionable parties and are quite close to the Governor. Did you know that we get invited to the Governor's house for tea occasionally?" Lady Diane sat facing Elizabeth Swann, the Governor's daughter, with pride. She was attired in her Sunday best – a long lavender coloured dress with flower embroidery over the skirt. Her auburn hair was curled and taken off her face. Around her neck she wore a single silver cross and little silver earrings in her ears. She sat bolt upright resting a white teacup in the palm of her delicate white hands. She sat opposite Elizabeth who was bouncing her child, Mary, on her knee. She wore a simple white gown and had her hair fall around her face. The two women were sitting out in the sunroom of Diane's house on white armchairs with gold painted frames. The large room looked over the garden of Diane's estate and then onto the water.
"Is that so?" said Elizabeth smiling. She was quite fond of Diane, even if she was quite critical and thought very highly of herself. She patiently listened to Diane tell her about her husband and perfect life for about the hundredth time.
"Yes it is. Rosemary," Diane called looking back into the house. A small handmaid appeared in the doorway – she was very pretty with dark hair pulled under a white cap letting her golden brown face be exposed. She was wearing a very simple light blue dress that all the servants in Diane's house wore. She wiped her hands on her white apron and smiled at Diane and Elizabeth.
"Yes, m'lady," she said obediently.
"Rosemary, can you please fetch me my little red book? It is on my dresser," Rosemary quickly darted away, "She is such a lovely girl, sometimes I let her wear my own clothing, Philip and I even let her sit on our pew at church. She even wears my dresses to church – however she doesn't quite fit into them. She is such a small creature," said Diane fondly.
"Where is Philip?" Elizabeth asked taking a sip of her tea.
"Oh he was called out to serve. I am frightfully worried about him though; he has been gone for a month. He usually stays here to protect the port," she said looking at her hands. Elizabeth lent over and patted Diane's arm gently, smiling warmly at her. Mary looked at her mother and made a gleeful squeal, Elizabeth looked at her daughter and smiled bobbing her up and down on her knee.
"I am sure he will be home soon. My Will has gone for a while too," she said.
"Really? Where did he go?" Diane asked, it was fascinating at how much William Turner was away; I mean he was just a blacksmith.
"Oh he has gone to visit an old friend," Elizabeth said. She would never tell whom though. Will wasn't just visiting an old friend he was pirating with an old friend. Captain Jack Sparrow had once again come and taken Will away claiming that without his help Jack was endanger. Elizabeth knew it was complete bullocks and that Will just wanted adventure on the sea. Pirate was in his blood, but sometimes Elizabeth wished that she could go too.
"I do hope that he will be home soon, for your sake. Leaving you at home alone with such a young child," said Diane appalled.
"Oh I have plenty of company in the house," she said cheerfully. Rosemary stood at the door and coughed attracting Diane's attention.
"There you are Rosemary," Diane said as Rosemary brought the little red book over to Diane. 'Thank you,"
"This also came m'lady," she said handing Diane a piece of parchment. Diane's delicate grey eyes darted over the parchment and a look of worry came across her face. Tears began to well in her eyes. She dropped the parchment and looked at Elizabeth who had a worried look on her face.
"Philip is missing," she said her voice shaking. Rosemary immediately dropped down to the floor and wrapped her arms around Diane like and automatic reaction. Diane straightened up and dried the tears – she would let no one see her cry. She released herself from Rosemary's grasped and walked over to the corner of the sunroom and looked out the window then dropped to the ground her face in her hands. Swiftly Elizabeth raced to her side and pulled her into a comforting embrace. Rosemary also dashed to her side and began stroking her back. Diane cried and cried.
Elizabeth ended up staying that night with Diane. She got supplies brought over form her own manor to get her through the night. She, however, said that in the morning she would have to leave to meet Will at the dock but assured Diane she would come back.
"You promise you will come back? I can't have you leaving me too," she pleaded tears streaming down her face. Elizabeth just smiled warmly and said:
"I promise on my mother's grave that I will come back to you," she said putting her arm around Diane as the two sat on the large bed in their nightgowns. Elizabeth stayed up all night comforting Diane – she was hysterical. In the morning when the two awoke Diane was quiet and didn't cry anymore but looked frightfully depressed. She hardly ate or spoke at breakfast despite Rosemary and Elizabeth's attempts.
"You must eat something m'lady, or you will become frightfully thin and sick. And I for one would not like you to become either," said Rosemary with worry in her voice as she knelt beside Diane at the breakfast table.
"Please eat something Diane, listen to Rosemary and me – we are you friend's and want the best for you," said Elizabeth facing Diane who just looked into space. Tears welled in Rosemary's eyes. Diane looked down at her faithful handmaid, she was so pretty, she was filled with such emotion that Diane began to eat, very little but something.
It came time for Elizabeth to leave and she left very slowly. She was very reluctant to leave Diane alone and made Rosemary promise to stay with her until she got back. Elizabeth climbed into the carriage with Mary cradled in her arms. She looked out the window at her friend standing at the entrance in a dark blue dress. The carriage began to pull away from the house and down the main street.
Will's ship was being unloaded when Elizabeth arrived at the dock. Elizabeth called out to the men asking where she could find her husband when he came up behind her and squeezed her sides.
"Will! Don't do that!" she said laughing and turning around to face him. He kissed her softly on the lips then took his daughter out of Elizabeth's hands and hugged and kissed her gently.
"Oh how I did miss you both, my girls," he said smiling at Elizabeth. "How are you both?" he asked at the two began to walked towards the town.
"We are well, we are well. Mary is beginning to form words I think, which I am very proud of. Father is quite well too he is having a party tonight which we both must be present at," Will groaned at this remark, Elizabeth whacked him playfully on the shoulder, "You will be glad to know that I turned down tea at the Norrington's. I also bought some new dresses and got some more curtain's ordered for the study,"
"I don't understand why we need them – I mean do we actually use the study?" he asked throwing Mary up in the air and catching her again.
"I do. And when Mary gets older she will use it too, some people are educated Will," that stung him hard, "Oh sweetheart I didn't mean it like that, I am sorry, really," she said pleading as she placed her slender hand on his brown arm. He shrugged it off and turned to smile at Elizabeth, he was very handsome when he smiled. Then a very solemn look came across her face, "You know Philip Fairweather – Diane's husband?"
"Yes," he said pretending his daughter was and aeroplane making her laugh gleefully.
"Well, he has gone missing," she said stopping and looking at her love.
"What?" he said turning to her and holding his daughter still.
"He went missing and Diane is in a terrible state. We found out yesterday when I was at her estate for tea. Mary and I ended up staying the night there. I am actually going back because she is still very shaken," Elizabeth said clasping her hands.
"Oh dear, the poor thing – I could go out looking for him. Jack wouldn't mind going on another adventure," he said his eyes lighting up. Elizabeth shook her head as they started walking.
"No, for starters he is a navy officer, Jack and navy men don't work and I don't want to loose you," she said placing her arm around his waist. The two walked up to the town. They hailed a carriage and went back to their manor. Elizabeth soon left Mary in Will's care and made her way back to Diane's. She had begun crying again.