Tudor sat up in perfect posture at the large oak table in the Governor's dining table one warm Friday afternoon, the French doors open onto the balcony, affording a beautiful view of the ocean below.
"Miss Smith. I have a rather large service to ask of you." Governor Swann said, setting down his fork. "I am leaving for England this week. A short trip really, I'll be spending more time travelling then I will be there."
"Is there something wrong Governor?" Tudor asked, actually worried. Her whole mission might be disrupted by this new development. It could also mean that something was happening politically that might dispose Swann of his position.
"Oh, heavens no! Nothing at all to worry about." He assured.
"I am glad." Tudor said relieved. "Now, you said something about a favour?"
"Elizabeth will be remaining here in Jamaica while I'm gone, and I was wondering if you would stay with her. She would of course be properly looked after by the servants, but I thought more as company as well as a chaperone. That way she would not be forced to stay in all the time, if you were here as her chaperone."
Elizabeth held her silverware still. "Oh please say you'll stay Tudor. It would be so nice to have you here." She exclaimed.
Tudor's worried were assuage. The operation was still in tact. In fact, this gave an even better opening. "Why that is wonderful! I would love to." She said enthusiastically. She also felt it her duty as she was under contract to protect the Governor and his family. "When do you set sail Governor?"
"Monday morning at dawn. I thought perhaps you could have your things brought around tomorrow afternoon." The Governor smiled, pleased that both of the women were keen on the idea that he had developed. He worried for Elizabeth, and he didn't want to have to leave her alone, even for a relatively short amount of time. But if anyone had been able to cheer her in the last month, it had been Miss Smith. She was everything Elizabeth needed in a companion. She was genteel and refined, but she was witty and vivacious enough to lighten Elizabeth's mood. She was young and spirited enough for Elizabeth to feel her as her peer, but yet she was a few years older, and much wiser and more experienced, so as to be able to give sound advice, which her intelligence helped with as well.
Before Tudor could respond, the butler opened the door from the hall. "Senor Morales is here to see you Governor." Tudor's ears immediately pricked up behind the well placed stylish curls. Fernando Morales was a wealthy businessman in Port Royal owning a flourish trading company.
The governor had him sent in and greeted him warmly. "Of course you remember my daughter . . ." Morales bowed and kissed Elizabeth's hand, loudly proclaiming her charm and beauty, then the Governor motioned to Tudor. "And I don't seem to remember if you have met Miss Smith yet."
"Why of course Governor, don't you remember, I met dear Senor Morales at the dinner celebrating your ninth year in office." Tudor said as she sacrificed her hand up to the effusive Spaniard with a cringe. She would never forget that day. She had been dressed in one of her better gowns for the Governor's anniversary banquet, and she was sure she scared the life out of George when she came running into the house, practically dancing for joy, tripping over her hem. Her enthusiasm dimmed only in the days that had followed when, through careful recognisance, did she realise that Morales never travelled alone, but preferred to have the company of three body guards trail inconspicuously behind. "How is the trading business, Senor?"
"Oh, it comes and goes, but I shall not worry your pretty little head with facts and figures."
Tudor had to refrain herself from drop-kicking the patronising lout then and there. "I have heard that the Sugar trade is low this year. High demand, low supply – how do you meet all the demand then?" She asked shrewdly. Not only did he swindle money out of the English government by selling them Sugar cane that didn't exist but he was also involved in other petty crimes - like trading information along with his Sugar cane. Information that could easily start a war or bring down the British Empire, one brick at a time.
"Your forget Morales, Miss Smith is an independent woman, and has quite the head for business." The governor chuckled and shook his head. He himself was still not used to the fact that dear Miss Smith seemed to understand everything.
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"I have a feeling I don't know everything about you yet Elizabeth." Tudor said, sitting in the younger girl's bed with her, at midnight Tuesday. The governor had set out for England now 2 days before. "I know you are in love with a blacksmith turned pirate," Elizabeth tried to shush her. "Oh, don't be silly. No one can hear, and if they could it would only be the servants and surely they know already."
Elizabeth nodded, "Yes, but by all technicalities, my father and the Commodore are duty bound to . . ." She hesitated either choking on the word or looking for the correct one.
"Torture them? Hang them and display their rotting corpses as an example?" Tudor suggested impishly.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "Prosecute them. And even though they are not going to go out and look for them, well, it's easier to pretend they are ignorant if we don't talk about it."
Tudor shrugged and continued. "Anyway - and I think it's blazingly obvious that the Commodore is in love with you, but, I don't know really. There seems to be something in your eyes. You aren't as innocent and inexperienced as you show. You've seen more." Tudor squinted, and then gaped at Elizabeth when she realised something. "Why Elizabeth! You've worm a pair of breeches, haven't you?" She asked surprised, and somewhat impressed.
Her jaw dropped. "How on earth can you tell?"
She smiled knowingly. "When you have been as many places as I have been, seen as many thing as I have seen . . ." She started in a mock voice of insight, then shrugged. 'Or something like that – anyway I can just tell! So do tell all. You've been on an adventure. Something involving your pirate lover, his furry friend, the Commodore and you in a pair of breeches!" Tudor said as she flopped down onto her stomach to get comfortable for a story.
"Actually, it was my undergarments for most of the time." Elizabeth muttered, and Tudor was about to vice her approving interest, when Elizabeth's jaw dropped again. "How do you know about Jack?"
"Let's just say I met him on the docks when my ship got in." Tudor shook her head. Elizabeth also arranged herself more comfortably. "Well, it all started when the town was attacked by pirates . . . no, I should go back further. It all started when I was young and we were making the crossing from England – that was when I first met Will, his ship had . . ."
"He's your blacksmith turned pirate lover correct?" Tudor asked for clarity.
"He's not my lover!" Elizabeth insisted.
"What ever you want to call him." Tudor shrugged.
"May I continue?"
"Please do." Elizabeth smiled.
"We fished him out of the water. I was put in charge of taking care of him. I look back and realise that Father was probably just trying to keep me out of the way. When he was unconscious, I noticed that he had a medallion with a skull on it. So I took it."
"You stole it?" Tudor gasped with a laugh.
"Took it for his own protection!" She insisted, defending herself. She continued on for the next hour, with just such interruptions from her companion, but slowly and with much detail, she told of all her adventures. "And I stood there and I was miserable. They were going to hang Jack, and I knew it just wasn't fair, but I didn't know what to say, that nothing I could say would stop them. And then Will came up to us. He looked so handsome. He told me that he loved me. And then, when he turned away so quickly, I realised what he was going to do. I realised that he was going to rescue Jack and that was his way of saying goodbye to me. He knew they would be caught, he knew there were hundreds of Marines stationed around the courtyard, but he went. I threw myself in front of Will once he and Jack had been surrounded. Father called off the men then, Jack left, Norrington left, father left and it was just Will and I. He asked me to marry him. He told me that he would love me forever. And we agreed, he would go find Jack and help fit up the Pearl to set sail again, and in 2 weeks we would be married, but then, when he came back after 2 weeks, I had realised . . ."
"You thought you realised that it would never work." Tudor helpfully supplied, to which she nodded, and then she sat up and stretched. "Well. The whole point and purpose of your father having me here is to make sure your are well looked after. And as it is getting beyond late and into early, I suggest that we go to bed." Elizabeth yawned and nodded as Tudor stood. "Go to sleep Elizabeth, and have sweet dreams of dashing blacksmiths coming to rescue you." She said sweetly.
"And you, what do you wish to have dreams of?"
Tudor shook her head. "I don't have dreams anymore."
