Chapter 5
"I have heard word that Major Gates would like you to accompany him to Port Royale?" I heard the Commodore ask as we looked out at the horizon. I took a deep breath, thinking on my answer before I responded.
"Yes, he has asked me, but I am not so certain whether I will be well suited to the move." I answered. I neglected to let him know of the misgivings I had for his ship. I coughed slightly, clearing my throat before returning my attentions towards the sea. A strong breeze blew then, suddenly making me tighten my grip upon the railing.
"Port Royale is a beautiful place. The weather is much better there than it could ever be in London." He answered. I blinked.
"It is not the weather that disturbs me." I answered.
"It is my ship then?" he asked, turning finally to face me. I said nothing, looking out towards the ocean. When I found that he would say nothing more until I answered, I slowly turned my face to meet his quiet gaze.
The same uniform from yesterday he wore, only slightly more ruffled from the slight breeze, as his wig was as well. For some strange reason or other, his hat he wore remained perfectly in place, his finishing touch to everything he had chosen so carefully to wear that day. I still felt his unwavering gaze upon me, and slowly I glanced into his eyes.
And such dark ones he had, a stark contrast to the powdered wig he wore. Though his face was devoid of any feeling or emotion, his eyes betrayed the look I knew he was trying so hard to hide: disappointment. I looked away, instead pressing my gaze upon the water below, all the while noticing out of the corner of my eye him looking back at me.
"No, not at all. I have my misgivings…it is true. But I would never doubt you. You are a Commodore! How could I ever?" I answered.
"As I am sure you do not." He answered, his voice quiet and sure. "Then I am to suppose that you fear the water?" he asked. I shook my head no.
"I have a love for the sea." I answered. He narrowed his eyes in confusion for several minutes, trying his best to think of anything else that I could possibly be afraid of. As he slowly realized one more thing he had neglected to mention, I saw his eyebrows turn up in amusement.
"Pirates, then?" he asked me. I said nothing. "Is it pirates?" he asked again. Again, I said nothing. Slowly his gaze turned out towards the horizon as I heard his low chuckle. For several minutes he waited for my answer. When he did not hear me speak, I felt him reach for my shoulder.
"They are nothing to be afraid of, especially when you will be traveling on a ship of this caliber!" he said, trying his best to comfort my fears. "Let me show you." He continued. I turned my face to meet his just as he began to move from the railing.
"What in the world are you going to do?" I asked him.
"Just watch." He answered.
Commodore Norrington pulled away from the railing, climbing the stairs towards the wheel, which steered the ship. Though he was most certainly not going to maneuver a ship of this size, I could almost see him taking the wheel and doing some maddening routine to show me how wrong I was in doubting the protection he would be providing for me. But he was far from that type of man to do that. I turned away from the railing as well, watching him climb. He said nothing to me until he reached the final stair, looking down at me momentarily before he spoke.
"Come, I must prepare for the drill. If you would do me the honor, I would like you to stand beside me and watch how it's all done." The Commodore said. I nodded, reaching for my skirts as I hurried to climb the stairs.
"And your officers?" I asked. "How will they know when you have given the order?" I straightened my gown, taking a deep breath of the salty ocean air as I waited for his response.
In answer, Commodore Norrington took my hand, leading me towards the railing overlooking the deck of the ship. I looked out, realizing that we had a perfect view of the men preparing.
"You will see, Miss Polignac, you will see." Norrington answered. I looked out across the deck, noticing as the Officer Groves, or Left tenant Groves, ordered the men about. He stood quite a few feet away in silent watch over the hands on deck. Looking up, I noticed men in the rigging, tying ropes in sailor's knots about the masts. I was knocked from my reverie when, quite suddenly, I heard the call of the Commodore. He was nothing short of authoritative.
"Mr. Groves!" I heard the Commodore yell suddenly, making me jump in surprise. Immediately the man turned and faced us, his face nothing short of serious as he hurried to come within earshot of the Commodore.
"Yes, Commodore?" I heard him yell back, saluting.
"I want you to send word down below that the cannon drill is to begin." The Commodore answered. "We would like to show our guests how a proper firing of the cannon is to be done." He continued. I looked to Groves, watching as a wicked smile spread over his face.
"Of course, sir. I will send word immediately." He said. Calling a midshipman, Groves immediately interpreted the order to the boy, watching him hurry below decks to send word.
"Now, Miss Polignac," the Commodore said as he watched his men hurrying to prepare. "If this does not convince you of our strength, then I do not know what will."
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The sails were lowered, the anchor lain below the waters edge, stopping the ship from moving when he began to prepare the drill. He led me towards the side of the ship once again gesturing for me to keep watch for when the drill to begin.
And when it finally did, my hands shot to my ears, my eyes shutting in a mix of fear and exhilaration as the first explosions and booms were heard from the many cannons peaking their way from the hull of the Dauntless.
"You are not watching." I heard the Commodore say over the loud cries of the men below decks and above, trying once again to prepare the cannons to fire. "I know it's a bit startling to hear such a thing for the first time. But, believe me, it's quite a sight to see." He continued.
His voice was directly behind me, and I turned to see his smiling eyes looking out towards the ocean, waiting for the next barrage of cannon fire. His hands were folded behind his back in a gentlemanly manner, helping to create a look of knowledge and age, which he most likely did not possess.
"Look out towards the ocean, they are about to fire." He said to me, nodding for me to look forward. And I did, just as the explosions happened again. But, this time, I did not shrink from it.
Seeing the water explode up from the impact of the cannons excited me to no end as I watched it. Though I always flinched and closed my eyes at the sound of the cannonballs leaving the cannon, I forced my eyes open as I heard the splash of the water, which most certainly followed those jarring noises.
For about half an hour this barrage of cannon fire ensued. Towards the end of the drill I found myself leaning over the edge of the ship, watching with an eager eye as I hoped to follow the path of a cannon towards it's watery grave. It seemed like only minutes had passed until it finally ended, the deafening quiet replacing the noisy explosions I had grown accustomed to. The gentle lap of the water was all I heard until I heard the Commodore's gentle footfall approaching me once again.
"Not one of our best, but better than our last." He said. Looking over the edge, I watched as the cannons were quietly replaced within the ship's hull, the windows closing once again. "I see from your face that you found enjoyment in the spectacle?" the Commodore asked. I did not turn to face him.
"That has to be one of the most stunning things I have ever seen in my life." I answered, turning away from the railing to lean against it. I could hear Samuel's voice as he climbed towards the deck, most likely searching me out. The Left tenant could be heard as well, his accent thick and elegant as he spoke.
"Commodore, you have made me want to become one of your left tenants." I said, turning to look at him. "I think I would be most suited to this life, now that I have grown accustomed to it." He smiled completely for the first time, and I did as well, realizing that I had broken the walls that we had built against one another. I dared to think that perhaps I had made a friend.
"Were you a man, I would sign you here and now. But, you are the future Misses Gates. Not only that, you are a future Duchess. I do not think your husband would approve of you leaving him to join the Navy." He answered. "But, you did well in choosing the proper colors. Were there positions for women, you would most certainly be among the first chosen." He continued. The silliness of the idea made me laugh, and I looked to him, noticing the sparkle in his own eyes as he realized what he had said.
"Join the Navy?" I heard Samuel ask, the crimson and gold of his uniform the first thing I noticed as he appeared at the stair's edge. I broke my gaze with the Commodore to look at my future husband, noticing that he had removed his hat, wiping away a bead of sweat as he approached. His eyes were bright with excitement, almost as if he had just been through a war. "What in the world are you inducing her to do, Commodore?" I heard Samuel continue to say, reaching out expectantly for my hand as he approached. "I asked you to convince her to make a trip with me, not join the Navy."
Though he most uttered those words as a joke, his voice said otherwise. He had a dry sense of humor, which most people did not realize until they had been offended by one thing or another that he had said. The Commodore, on the other hand, caught what he had meant and immediately nodded.
"It was she who offered, Major." He answered.
"So you have?" Samuel asked, looking to me as I took his hand.
"Were I a man, I would, yes." I answered playfully. Samuel laughed.
"You've done quite a job on her, Commodore. Only yesterday she was refusing to give me an answer, and now only a day after knowing you, she is willing to put her life in your hands. You must be a special man, indeed." Samuel said, looking towards him once again. The Commodore smiled. "If you'll excuse me, I would like to speak to my fiancée alone for a moment, if you do not mind, that is."
The Commodore nodded.
"Yes, yes, of course. Take all the time that you require. Should you need me, I shall be up here." He continued. Calling Gillete to him, he began to immediately bark orders, all of which I understood not a word. Gillete only listened and nodded, never once turning to look at us as we silently made our exit.
"So, I hope that you have decided to come?" Samuel asked, as we descended the stairs. I did not answer him, allowing him to lead me towards the front of the ship. When we finally reached it, I heard the loud voices of the left tenants calling out the orders that the Commodore had said to do, the men reacting almost immediately as they began to climb the masts and lift the anchor.
Looking over the edge of the ship again, not feeling the tight knot in my stomach that I had felt earlier, I felt Samuel's hand cover my own. Looking towards him, I smirked as I realized that a lock of his hair had fallen free of his tail, the curl twisting and moving against the wind as he looked at me.
"Well?" he asked me. I hesitated for several moments before I answered. The Commodore's smile was still fresh in my mind, obliterating any remaining ill thoughts that I had left.
"Yes." I answered. Samuel smiled.
"The answer I've been waiting for…" he said in return. "My sister will be glad to hear it. She was waiting on your answer, you know. Now that you are willing to go, I'm sure Meg would love to come as well…" His blue eyes twinkled in the sun as he looked at me, expecting an answer. I did nothing but smile in return.
"Thank you…" he murmured quietly before he leaned in carefully, capturing my lips in a kiss. It was the first one that we ever shared. But my mind did not rest with the Earl that had been engaged to me for this whole while and who I now embraced, it rested with the Commodore who had captured my attention and trust with nothing but a smile.
A/N:
Another chapter…hehehehehe….and a forming attachment along with a healthy bit of fascination on the part of Miss Romola……Poor Major:(
So what did you think? It's not that great, but I'm slowly working my way up until the main plot of the story comes along. Don't worry, it'll be here soon!
Kay50: Glad to see you reviewing again. I have to work tomorrow so I had to get another chapter up tonight to tide you over until I could get something new written! Let me know what you think of the character…to cliché or what? Lol.