"This is your idea, isn't it, Will?" he spat, disdain thrust at the young man. Will immediately averted his eyes, having always been beneath the lord and still feeling inferior. "Raising the boy around swords and stories of things that may have been but are no longer…naming him after pirates? I thought he was named after my family!"
"'Tis only a pet name, sir," Will argued, placing his hands upon the child's small shoulders.
"I was sure you had given up such fantasies when you married my daughter." Will forced a smile as Elizabeth watched worriedly.
"My craft is that of a blacksmith, sir, and that is all I know." The spectators had begun to whisper and chatter aside from the scene, and the governor would not accept further embarrassment. Elizabeth gripped Will's arm and pulled his ear closer to her.
"Don't let him push you around like that, Will," she whispered, "he's just testing your temper."
"Why didn't you tell me he's still sore about the Captain?" Will angrily hissed back. Elizabeth drew her crimson lip tight as Jack pulled on the ruffle of her dress.
"It's been five years," she muttered back, eyes fastened to her father as he entertained them all. "I thought he'd forgotten about it."
"One usually doesn't forget about the man who brought an army of undead pirates to kidnap governors' daughters and steal expensive ships!"
"Quiet," she warned as a lanky, white-wigged military official strode forward. "It's the commodore."
"Good afternoon, Elizabeth," Commodore Norrington bid gratefully, bowing slightly before glancing to Will. "Master Turner," he added.
"William," Will corrected. It had been a while since he and the former fiancé of his wife had exchanged words, and in the recent events of William becoming a more than respected member of the society, he was unsure of how to act.
"Yes, I know I've always had the choice of calling you Will," Norrington replied flatly, "but I was giving you a bit of respect." He scowled slightly, not sure of Norrington's intent. The commodore then kneeled before their quiet boy, smiling graciously and extending a gloved hand. "I have heard about you, John Michael. I would have come to see your christening, but I was in France." Elizabeth nervously tugged on William's sleeve.
"My name is Jack," the child proudly replied. Norrington stood after a hesitant pause and coldly stepped back.
"Named after his father?" Elizabeth's cheeks grew entirely red as she stepped behind Will's shoulder. The blacksmith, however, would not take such words, and with a passionate, furious glare, rushed forward to the commodore's surprise. He restrained himself before Norrington's slightly cowered expression. "Careful, Mr. Turner," Norrington teased softly, "assaulting an officer can land you in jail. Perhaps you'd see a familiar face, after all."
"Bless your mother's grave I do not have my sword," Will fumed. Norrington could clearly see the man's fists were shaking with anger. Elizabeth looked as if she were ill.
"My apologies, Elizabeth," Norrington quickly apologized before turning and disappearing into the crowd. She took William's hand and brought it to the child's own.
"We'll eat, and we'll leave," she explained. William sighed and looked into the face of all which made his life well, complete, and full. "Jack," she called, and the boy smiled to his mother. "Darling, why don't you go find a place near Grandfather?" Jack smiled and sprinted off to the dining room. William shook his head as his wife held his arm. "Three courses and we're gone," she said again. His eyes drifted to where Jack was at the head of the table. "Savvy?" Elizabeth slyly smiled, and he did as well.
"Aye."