There'll be no livin' with her after this

Chapter 22-The ball

Disclaimer: No, I don't own POTC…

Dinner was not the most comfortable; Elizabeth acted as if nothing happened, but didn't talk much to Will. In fact, she didn't even wait up for him afterwards. When Will came back to the room later, Elizabeth was already asleep, in bed.

Will woke the next morning to find Elizabeth absent. He went into the bathroom, and saw her dressed, sitting in front of the mirror, combing her tresses.

"Elizabeth", he said softly.

She looked to him. "Good morning", she said, and resumed attending to her hair.

He continued to look at her, absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the door post.

She turned again. "Will, I don't want there to be anything…"

"Elizabeth, I just want to know what's wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Don't. The way you went off like that…"

"I'm sorry. I'm just stressed."

Will looked at her unconvinced, and still bothered. "And that's why you were so uneasy when…"

"No—I was just. Nothing. Don't worry about it."

"How could I not worry about you, Elizabeth? You're my wife for heaven's sake!", he cried out as he came to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I look at you, as I do now, and I see change."

"Good change?", she asked meekly.

"Liz."

"Will I don't want to get into whatever we're getting into now. We have the ball tonight to think about."

"Oh, yes. I almost forgot it", Will said. "My, there's to be a lot to deal with."

"Yes, you see? I'll have to speak to everyone, usher about…it'll be much worse than the reception."

"Well, I suppose you father has planned everything?"

"Of course."

He was about to turn and leave, when he said, "Elizabeth?"

"It's alright. You'd best get ready and I'll see you later then?"

"Alright."

When Will left to go into the bedroom again, Elizabeth looked in the mirror, biting her lip. She thought about today for a few moments, deciding things over in her mind.

"Will?", she called softly.

"Yes, Elizabeth?", he returned, coming back into the room.

"I….I", she stopped. "Can you help me decide what to wear this evening?"

Will looked at her curiously. "Well, darling, I don't really know about these things, but if you can't decide…"

"Thank you", she said, as she rushed up to him, kissing him on the cheek.

"I want everything tonight to be absolutely grand; nothing out of order."

"Yes, Governor Swann."

"Well, it's seems as if you have the whole thing under control", Aunt Charlotte strolled up to him.

"I surely hope so, dear sister."

"They are a lovely couple, aren't they?"

"Yes. I'm glad for them. Uh, is your husband here, Charlotte?"

"Oh, yes, of course. He wouldn't miss out on anything for his niece. He went to town and he'll be back sooner than later."

"Ah, very well. I'll look forward to speaking with him."

"Indeed. You don't get much chance to visit us, since you're the Governor of Port Royal."

"Duty is the priority whence it comes to such things. Right at the moment though, I've set its well-being in the charge of Port Royal's finest. The military, for certain."

"Ah, your most trusted guards."

"Of course. I especially put forth my trust in Commodore Norrington. Good bloke."

"Excuse me, Monsieur", a young man came up to him. "A telegram delivered from Jamaica."

"Thank you."

The man nodded, and left.

"I hope everything's alright", Charlotte said.

"Well, it's not addressed to me; it's addressed to Miss Rochet."

"Oh."

"I'll have to wait to give it to the miss, though. I think she left."

"Left? But the ball tonight."

"I'm sure she and Captain Sparrow will be back soon enough."

"Madame! Will you come to the kitchen, s'il vous plait?"

"Excuse, brother, I'd best see what's cooking."

The Governor excused her, and looked at the telegram in his hand. "Hmmm."

He placed it on the windowsill for the time being, knowing that when Miss Rochet did return, he would remember where he put it, and would be able to give it to her.

"Miss Rochet…", he pondered. He was certain he had encountered someone like her before. But maybe not. He decided to let go of the matter, since it was of no immediate importance to him, at any rate.

He then thought of Katrina. "Dear Katrina. My poor niece", was all he had time to sympathize, for he was ushered off to verify the plans once again.

"Oh!", Elizabeth exclaimed, as she saw that basically, the whole first floor of the mansion was filled with people.

"Pardon, mademoiselle", someone unknown to Elizabeth said, as they hurried passed.

She felt Will at her side.

"Oh, there you are."

"My, what's all this?"

"Well…", Elizabeth peered through the room, until she saw a glimpse of her father.

"Father!" She made her way over to him.

"Oh, Elizabeth! Just in time. One of the chef's wants you try her croissants, and something else."

"Father, what's going on here? All these people already?"

"Well, dear, we haven't any time to waste. The hours will fly by; you'll see. Soon it'll be time."

"But, father, really. It's just a…simple…marriage party", Elizabeth said, finding the right words.

"What?", Will and the Governor exclaimed at once.

"Well", Elizabeth said, with a roll to her eyes.

"Well, my dear, you've just become wedded less than week. It's more than a simple party."

"You're father's right, dear. Marriage is a very special thing that is to be celebrated."

Elizabeth looked between the both of them.

'Oh, gosh, No matter how hard I try to make light of it, they must put pressure on me. Why must they make it such a big ordeal?"

The feeling of worry and nervousness filled Elizabeth again.

"Don't worry about thing, Elizabeth", her father said, breaking her thoughts. "Everything is taken care of."

"I can see that", she muttered.

Will looked at her, seeing that same look in her eyes. He remembered what she had said this morning. He would talk to her in more depth later. Hopefully she would talk to him.

"How much time have we got?", Elizabeth asked.

"Oh, let's see…It's around noon now, and the ball starts at 8:00 sharp."

'Brilliant. I've got eight hours until I have to wear that bloody corset.'

She suddenly felt self-conscious. 'What is it with London fashion these days? Sure, they give you cleavage…"

Elizabeth out these thoughts aside, deciding to handle this busy day the best she could.

"Oh! Gosh, gosh, gosh, gosh! Will!"

"Yes, Elizabeth! I'm right here, there's no need to shout."

"How can you be so calm?"

Will looked at his wife. "How can you be so excited?"

"Oh!"

"I'm just kidding!", he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Just kidding."

"Okay", she said, the air of jumpiness still surrounding her. "Oh, god! Look at the time!"

"Elizabeth, we still have forty minutes…"

"Exactly! And I'm not even dressed yet", she said, looking down at her robe. "Will, I'll be…in the bathroom."

"Alright", he shook his head. 'Women.'

She rushed into the bathroom, and took her robe off. She opened the closest and looked at the corsets reluctantly. She took one, and held it up, not wanting to put it on. She slowly walked over to the mirror, and looked into it. She cautiously skimmed her hand over her rib cage, then her stomach. She looked back in the mirror.

Elizabeth bit her lip again, filled with disquiet.

She would have spilt tears if it weren't for her conscience. She then picked up the corset and put it around her.

She sighed. At least it was on.

She took the laces in her fingers and pulled; bit by bit.

She felt it tighten, and cringed in discomfort.

As she tied, it tightened more so, and she gasped for breath, putting her hand to her chest.

She sat down, still breathing heavily, her hand still at her chest.

"Elizabeth, are you almost ready?"

She looked at the clock. Only twenty minutes left. Tears struck at the corners of her eyes.

"Yes, Will. I'll be out."

Letting out a sigh; pushing aside all thoughts, she took out her dress (which was pale blue and cream), and put it on.

She made a last adjustment to her hair, and then blew out the light.

Will and Elizabeth entered the ballroom; precisely at one minute to eight.

The chandeliers were lit; there was a banquet, and people filled the room.

Will fingered the cuffs on his suit. "Ready."

Elizabeth nodded.

The whole ballroom became quiet. "And here they are, friends, Mr. and Mrs. Turner!", the Governor announced.

Everyone cheered, all coming up to the couple at once.

"Will! How are you, lad?"

"Oh, Elizabeth, how stunning you are!"

"Come on over, Will, chap! Tell us what's happening!"

Before either of them could respond, Will was dragged one way, Elizabeth dragged the other way.

The night seemed to last forever, even though the party had lasted not merely an hour, yet.

"….So you like married, eh, chap?"

"Life's treating you good?"

"Fine Mrs. you've got there", one of them voiced, motioning over to Elizabeth, across the way.

"Oh, dear, dear, dear!"

"Fancy having a man like that…"

"Oh, yes. Lucky to have him, Elizabeth."

"My, my, we're just fussin' over you, aren't we?"

Elizabeth smiled forcedly, but politely.

"Oh!", one of the women exclaimed. "I've got to show you something."

The woman looked across at the other women.

"Oh, yes! We must show you! We'll be just a moment dear!", they said, and began to rush off.

"Oh, Elizabeth would you like some punch? Yes, I'll get you some."

And the woman ran off before Elizabeth had time to respond.

"Whew…", she sighed, shaking her head in exhaustion.

"Here you are", the woman came back, handing her a glass.

"Thank you."

"No trouble at all. Now where did Matilde go? Have you seen that girl? I don't suppose you have." The woman smiled at her. "Well, I'll just be right back."

Elizabeth watched her rush off again, and she took a sip of the drink.

"Oh! Rack punch. Awful stuff."

Elizabeth sighed, feeling exhausted again. She suddenly saw that Will was looking at her, and she smiled looked halfheartedly back at him.

She averted her eyes, and inattentively rose the glass to her lips. She took a small sip, and coughed.

The cough pained her greatly.

She coughed again.

(Cough, cough, cough)

Elizabeth took a few steps, her hand at her chest. She gasped for breath, in between the coughs.

She kneeled down on the ground, oxygen becoming harder and harder for her take in.

(Cough cough…cough cough)

She was unaware of what was happening around her. She heard muted sounds; her vision became distorted. She was only aware of one thing.

"Elizabeth!"