"He didn't have that knife out with Jack, did he?" Elizabeth asked while watching the captain's departure from the bedroom window. Will glanced to the hay stacked wagon rolling into the night and Elizabeth's worried expression.
"I make swords for a living; the child has seen a blade before." Elizabeth narrowed her eyes slightly in a brief pout before cracking the window slightly so she could see his silhouette better. A violent wind rushed through the room, snuffing each candle cold and casting a chill over Elizabeth's soft gown. Will sighed and strode forward to catch the swinging pane while his shivering lady fumbled for a candle. "Jack's window is open too."
"I didn't open his window," she defended rapidly.
"Darling, I didn't say you opened it, his window is open." She spun to face him, a single flame in her hand, with a fevered glare.
"Honestly, Will!" She turned and stormed into the room. He returned to fumbling with the buttons on his shirt in the darkness. A bright and shrill scream caused him to jump and sprint to the hall. "WILLIAM!" His feet buckled beneath him at the complete terror that was filling his heart fueled by the complete horror in his wife's voice. Scrambling, he nearly fell again while meeting Elizabeth in the doorway of Jack's room. She collapsed into his arms, hysterical, managing to point to the empty bed and open window before them. "William…my baby…"
"Where is he? Where is he!" He tore into the room, looking into the closet and behind the engraved headboard.
"I've looked…all there!" she cried, "he can't reach the handle on his door, William, he's been kidnapped! My baby!" Will turned to Elizabeth, a defeated and shattered spirit doubled over in her own tears. Their eldest maid rushed to the offer her own lantern and was shocked to see her mistress insanely upset.
"Madam! There's a rough storm outside, and…"
"Go and get James!" Will ordered, nearly pushing her aside to see the rest of the house was being awoken.
"Well, yes, Master Turner…"
"GO!" More shadows in nightcaps and aprons began to pass through the doors of the upper level as word passed that young Master Turner had escaped his bedroom chamber. The lady of the manor slowly tried to stand, choking on her own despair. "Elizabeth, darling!"
"My God, my baby! I…I was just…the window, I—" The rest was lost into tears again as she buried her shame into her husband's shoulder.
"I know you shut the window, the wind caught it; I saw it."
"It was my fault, God, forgive me!" She suddenly pulled herself from his hold and rushed down the stairs. Her mind was swimming, everything about her was melting away. How could she have let someone take her baby. She ripped the front door open and braved the screeching wind. Everywhere she looked she thought she saw his innocent face, waiting for her to find him in a game, or waiting with a new gift to show her. All she found was the night, cold and cruel, their daytime haven turned dark and foreign. "Jack?" She saw a shadow pass through the trees. "Jack, come here!" Will could see her running towards the creek but couldn't find a flame to take with him.
"Master Turner, we've nearly turned the house over, but the gate's been unlocked." Will faced the informant with shifting eyes. "Shall we inform the govoernor?" He winced, holding his brow with his hands.
"Find my child!" he roared in reply, tearing into the night. "Elizabeth!" The wind stole his voice with its own whining pitch. He could see her frail form struggling to stand, curls torn from their hold and slippers cast behind her on the lawn. "Wait!"
"JACK!" The frantic beauty tripped and fell onto the dew-soaked grass, hands digging into the muddy banks of the creek to try and break her fall. She couldn't feel Will slowly pick her up and carry her back to the house as the rain began to fall in thick sheets. She was completely numb.
"The whole country's awake and looking for him, Elizabeth," he cooed softly to her as she lay near the dying fire, "Jack's going to be safe and here with you by morning, I'll…I'll tear the world apart looking for him…" He wiped at his eye as his wife began to pass into sleep.
"Master Turner, the governor's men are here to assist you in your search," his butler announced
"I cannot leave my wife," he snapped, not turning from her.
"We can keep the ladies near her, sir, until she wakes." Will thought for a moment, watching Elizabeth move into a deeper slumber. Hesitant to look away, he stood and moved to the doorway where the uniformed men stood.
"They couldn't have gotten far," Will muttered while finding his horse waiting on the front yard. "If we comb the countryside east of the town, then maybe…"
"I was thinking of checking the ports, Master Turner." Will looked into the storm to find the commodore mounted and leading his men. Norrington seemed niether smug or upset, but still annoyed Will to appoint himself in search of the child that would have been his. "I hear there were some…criminal characters arriving early this evening."