Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A little less than a week later I lay in my bed, ready to go to sleep. Surprisingly, I had not been caught, in fact, I doubt that my father was even the least bit suspicious, although Elizabeth had been watching me like a hawk. She walked in constantly, as if she thought she were going to catch me sneaking out that window. I smiled at her complacently and picked up a book from the side of my bed, flipping through the wrinkled and musty pages leisurely.
"Is there something you want, Lizzy?" I asked kindly, smiling up at her.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "I don't know what you're up to but you are doing something and when I find out, you will be in a lot of trouble," she said, grabbing a ribbon from my night table and walking out again. Good Lord, she is one paranoid little girl. It's not like I'm up to anything…much.
I had been slipping out of the house early each morning with Mary, entering the blacksmith shop through the alley way door and spending at least an hour with Will. I had decided against going to see him each night, considering that would most likely end up in me not behaving in a seemly way for an unmarried woman. But then, considering my age, it is an unfortunate thing that I am still unmarried. Most women my age are married and have three children by now…I would have expected that to be my sister's fate at least, seeing as how she is so proper and beautiful and has had ever so many suitors. My sister and I, it seems, are very strange. That is about the only thing we have in common, aside from parents (though I haven't quite gotten over the notion that I may be adopted) and birthdays.
The day after tomorrow my sentence would be lifted, and I intended to have Will over for tea. I quite liked flaunting the fact that we were together in front of Elizabeth, after all the trouble she went through to make me look like someone less than a lady in front of Will.
Did I not mention it? She sent Mary to him with a letter asking him to meet her the day before yesterday, because there was a lot of things she'd like to discuss with him. Mostly they were about me, and she had taken the liberty of reading the note to me right before she slipped it into a basket of fresh bread that she also had made for him. Actually, she didn't make it, because my sister, like myself, if completely illiterate when it comes to preparing food. Anyway, I had to feign fear when she read the note to me, and then laughed when Will sent back a note he had Mary write saying that he already knew about the Commodore and the duel and what not, and was not in the least bit upset. In fact, he said, the only thing he truly felt he had to be angry about was the fact that I didn't win. Elizabeth was sorely disgruntled and had taken even more time to make me miserable than usual. I was tired just putting up with it. In fact, I was despising the whole rift between us, not that we'd ever been particularly close since Mother left. But I found when I had idle time, I wished the Elizabeth and I could be like normal sisters instead of competitors all the time. Or rather, her thinking she was competition. And after thinking that, I chided myself on being so self-important, because at any given moment Will could have chosen her over me, considering how he had spent a good eight years fawning over her.
Then there was my Father, who seemed intent on inviting the Commodore every bloody chance he could get and showcasing Elizabeth. This I minded not at all, because it irritated her to no extent, except for the fact that with Commodore Norrington came First Mate Gillette, and my father seemed thrilled at the idea that Gillette fancied me - which, I'll have to remind you, he does not. Apparently, I am too "invigorating", whatever that means.
Mary and I went to the market a lot, everyday actually, after Will and I had our forbidden time together, because I suppose that really is what it is. Mary loved going to the dress shop, but she wouldn't let me buy her another dress. And recently, Mary seemed to have taken a liking to our esteemed Commodore. She had bumped into him two days ago, and he - being the polite chap that he really is - looked at her like she was a piece of meat. Mary is really very pretty, but dithered like an idiot so that when we walked away I felt obliged to tease her mercilessly. For the days after that, whenever the Commodore came over I wanted to dress her up, but she wouldn't have it, saying it was much too risky. I told her that I'm sure Elizabeth wouldn't mind, considering it would give her a break from the Commodore trying to get her to be interested in him again.
However, he had met Mary for tea every day since they met (which was really only yesterday and today) and she'd spent her time with him, giving me more time with Will. I hope she doesn't fancy him, because that will put her in a rather tight spot. Not that anyone should feel that they have any right to complain, after all, I am the Governor's daughter and look who I'm marrying. I mentioned this to Mary and she made sure to braid my hair extra tightly, leaving me scratching at it all through tea, while Gillette and the Commodore looked at me like I had ringworm or something. Lovely friend, isn't she?
Mary came hustling in again, this time to braid my hair so it would be in waves tomorrow. I sat up and let her do what she would, looking out the open balcony. It was still early, the sun had just begun to set, but I was feeling tired so I intended to go to bed early. Before I tucked myself away, there was something that I had to ask of my father. Since I'd been such a good girl, there is not reason why he shouldn't give it to me. It had to do with the absence of dear Mr. Brown.
"Mary, do you fancy going into town again tomorrow morning?" I asked, craning my neck to look at her. She tugged my hair harshly and I swore, trying to swat at her but unable to do so.
"What else do we do every morning, Christina? Of course I'll go into town," she said, sounding annoyed.
"Well, excuse me, Mary, but you happen to enjoy going into town. I seem to recall a certain tall, not quite handsome, in my opinion, and not so young man who makes you get as red as an strawberry!"
"I don't know who you're talking about," Mary said stiffly, pulling my hair even tighter.
"Christ, woman, will you let up on the hair? Its not a weave, you know, it hurts when you pull it so. And I'm talking about a certain Commodore-'Please-call-me-James'-Norrington. You made me lace up your corset extra tight these past two days, and even used some of my powder just for his benefit. Not on your face, mind you," I teased, and then yelped as she yanked my head back. "Damn you, Mary," I gritted. She fastened a ribbon and shot up off the bed, turning around with her hands on her hips.
"You are an awful woman," she said, her face flushed a lovely shade of near purple.
I grinned, "I'm really not. And you were the one who was berating me about my neck for the past five days, so this is what you get."
"That was because it looked like he took a bite out of you, and it was rather obvious. I'm surprised that you're father didn't find out!"
"Find out what?" said my father, walking down the hall at just the appropriate moment. Damn. I shot up off my bed and nodded at Mary, telling her to get the hell out of my room before she said something stupid and I was imprisoned for another week.
"Find out what I had to speak with you with, Father, let's take a walk, shall we?" I asked hastily, taking him by the arm.
"Christina, what has gotten into you? Do you feel ill? You shouldn't be walking about in your night gown, you know, it isn't proper."
I sighed. "Father, I seem to recall myself walking around in little more than a shift a few days ago, in front of the Commodore and his men. Why can't I walk around in a night gown, with a robe, that is not cut up in any way, in a house that has no strange unmarried men in it?" I asked.
My father said, "Well, I suppose you're right. Such a clever child, always finding ways to prove me wrong. You're lucky that Mr. Turner has agreed to marry you, I can't think of another man who would suffer such an uninhibited wife. Now what was it you wanted to talk about with me?"
I'm very lucky that my mind is able to work in mysterious ways. Because first of all, the reason I am able to prove my father wrong all the time is because he is wrong all the time. Secondly, Mr. Turner did not agree to marry me, he asked for my hand in marriage. Thirdly, and fourthly, I can't think of anyone else I'd want to marry and since when do men suffer their wives? It seems to me that women are the ones who suffer their husbands, after all, men are so very dim witted and slow that it is amazing the human race can function at all. And it was definitely my mother who was forced to suffer my father, because after all she was the one who ran off, wasn't she?
After all those thoughts, however, I was able to say, "Well, the last time Mr. Turner and I had the opportunity to speak, he told me that Mr. Brown was never at the shop anymore. The last he'd heard, Mr. Brown had flitted off to Tortuga, and it seems unlikely that he will be returning. Which leaves the shop without an owner, because after all, Mr. Brown did own it, and he didn't leave Will in charge. Which, of course, makes it public propert and, seeing as how you are the Governor, and you must see what it to be done about it."
"Well, you're right. Perhaps I'll give it to Mr. Turner, as a bit of a dowry, what do you think about that, sweeting?" I frowned.
"Yes, well, that is what you could do. But I had hoped that I would be able to buy the deed to it and give it to Will, as a gift from me. I haven't seen him in such a long time, you know…"
…Yes…since this morning…
"You are going to make a splendid little wife, Christina, that is a lovely idea. Of course you may do so, in fact, I'll get the deed to you tomorrow and you may give it to him the day after, how does that sound, darling?" my father asked, looking entirely pleased with himself, as if the whole grand plan was his idea. This is how we must manipulate men, I suppose.
"It sounds wonderful, Father, what a brilliant idea," I said, kissing him on the cheek and flouncing off to my bedroom…
…only to be met by Elizabeth. She crossed her arms over her chest, her brush in her hand. "Is that how you did it, then, Christina?" she sneered at me. I walked past her and pulled open the blankets of my bed, then walked out to the balcony to watch the last of the sun set.
"Good evening, Elizabeth," I said calmly as she walked out and stood behind me.
"So you've just been giving him gifts then? That's how you got him to love you? How very pathetic," she snapped. I sighed.
"Don't you think you're being a bit ridiculous, Elizabeth?" I asked, not bothering to turn around.
"It makes a girl wonder what nature of gifts you've been giving him, to make him want to marry you," she hissed nastily. "Or to force him into it. He's a very honorable man, you know, Will is." Oh, I can't believe her.
"He is honorable, another thing of which you know nothing," I concurred shooting her a nasty look and turning around in time to feel her pull the ribbon out of my hair and dump it off the railing of the balcony. Oh, very mature. "Go away, Elizabeth, I want to go to sleep."
"That girl can hold a grudge like nobody's business," said an unfamiliar voice from behind me. An unfamiliar, deep, masculine voice from behind me. I turned around to see Richard Millar, our late butler's son, standing in my door way. I hadn't spoken with him since Elizabeth and I had almost ripped each other's eyes out. Technically, that happens almost every day, but I hadn't seem him since before I was banned from leaving the house.
"Hello, Richard," I said politely, pulling my rob closed and not making a move to walk any nearer to him than I already was. As if on cue, it has begun to get darker. Lovely, a man is standing outside my doorway after dark. As if my reputation is as upstanding as can survive something like that. But of course.
"I haven't seen much of you lately, Miss Swann," he said with just as much careful politeness, but I was very aware of the fact that he was taking in the sight of me in my robe and night gown, and now my hair loose down my back. Usually, it would be up. It is not seemly for women to have their hair loose and down, I'd learned that quickly enough the first time I'd gone out like that and everyone looked at me as if I was a tourist from Tortuga or what have you.
"I can'timagine why. I haven't gone anywhere," I said, walking up quickly to the bed and fixing the blankets. I was starting to get nervous, because no matter how much faith Will had in me, if Elizabeth told him that there was a man in my room after dark - well, no man could be so understanding as all that. "Well, it was nice to see you again, Richard, but I really must be getting to sleep. Beauty rest and all that," I stammered, holding up a blanket to my chest. He watched me with his storm gray eyes, which I had at first thought were incredibly pretty but now wished that I had some sand or something to throw in them. He had a small, unintelligible smile playing at the corners of his lips and I was getting fidgety.
"You don't need any," he said.
"Excuse me?"
"Beauty rest, I mean. You don't need any."
I sighed angrily. "As sweet as that is of you to say, I really had hoped to get to sleep. I've had a trying day in the market, and I'm very tired. Good night," I said, walking up to him with my jaw set. I reached for the door, only to have him grab my arm rather hard. I flinched inwardly, but kept glaring up at him, fully prepared to scream but not wanting to. After all, he is Henry's son, and Henry was ever so kind to my sister and I when we were younger.
"I would ask that you unhand me, Mr. Millar," I said softly, tugging my arm. He didn't let go. I felt my heart start to pound faster, and I met his eyes. He wasn't smiling anymore, but looking at me very peculiarly.
"I remember seeing you when you were fifteen," he said faintly. "I had come to visit my father. Turner was here, he was looking at your sister like she was a goddess. And you were so sad. You didn't even see me, but I was the only man who ever looked at you first, without noticing your sister. Do you not realize that?" he said. I felt my throat get tight, remembering how horrible it felt when I was fifteen.
"Let go of my arm, Mr. Millar," I said, harshly.
"You never noticed, did you? Too busy fawning over him, weren't you? I should be the one to marry you, he never treated you the way you deserved," he spat, and I could smell rum on his breath, the scent easily recognizable from all the time spent with Jack.
"Let go of me, or do you think that assaulting is the way I deserve be treated?" Still no luck. He leaned in closer and I bit my lip, wanting very much to hit him.
"Hello, Father," I said loudly, and Richard started back, looking around wildly and releasing my arm. "Good night, Mr. Millar," I snapped, pushing him out of my room, taking advantage of his confusion, and slamming the door, locking it. I walked quickly over to my dresser, running a brush through shakily my hair and staring at myself in the mirror. I tried to find something of my appearance that was similar to Elizabeth, trying to justify that I wasn't too horribly inferior. We have the same shape eyes. My lips pale in comparison to hers, my hair nowhere near as curly and I am not blonde. My nose is the same shape, just larger, unfortunately, but not pointed up prettilylike hers is. I have two birthmarks one on each cheek, but I do not freckle like she does in the sun. My skin is darker, especially with all the time I spent in the sun recently. We're not completely different. It's not completely preposterous that I was chosen over Elizabeth.
I glared at the door, angry at how easily Richard was able to remind me of how invisible I was in the past. It's ridiculous; that was five years ago, and gradually I had become less transparent and more solid to Will since then.
I jumped upon hearing a knock on my door. "Who is it?" I asked, walking over and reaching for the doorknob.
"It's Mary, let me in," Mary's muffled voice came through the wood. I pulled open the door quickly.
"What happened? I heard you talking to someone and then the door slammed, did Elizabeth...?" Mary asked. I smiled and shook my head no.
"Well, what happened? And your hair - I told you to leave it up, you little twit," she teased. I walked over to the bed and sat down, letting her braid my hair again.
"Mr. Millar decided to pay me a visit," I said offhandedly, after debating whether or not I should tell her. I heard her grimace from behind me.
"He's a bit of a nuisance, he is," she said, fastening my hair with a ribbon and putting it over my shoulder. I stood up and she took my robe, hanging it up on a bed post and turning to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked. She sighed.
"Well, he's always rather forward with the maids. I can't tell you how many times I had to chase him out of the kitchen and away from Anita," Mary said slowly, untying her apron and throwing it disgustedly into a corner. "Secondly, he's a bit over fond of his drink, if you know what I mean, and he is a smidgen depressing, to tell the truth. What did he say to you?"
"He just told me that Will never noticed me when Elizabeth around. A bit blunt, I think, when he said that Will would look at my sister like she was a goddess and completely ignored me for the rat that I am or something of the sort…and then he said that he was the only man who had looked at me first and not my sister. Does wonders for that little bint of self-esteem that I have, don't you think?"
"Just ignore him, Christina," Mary said, looking angry, getting up to blow out the candle and leave. "He's just upset - he was rather well off when his father was around. Now he has to work for his money, and he's not over fond of that either. I think he just wants to marry in high places so he's set for life, and seeing as how you're engaged, he just drank a bit too much and forgot. I've seen him hounding Elizabeth in the garden, too, but she showed him the rather sharp side of her tongue. Don't you worry about it. I'll lock up your room if you want, when I leave."
"Good night, Mary," I said softly, laying down and closing my eyes. She didn't say anything, and I heard the lock turn as she closed the door and walked down the hall to the maids' chamber.
I woke up a few hours later, hearing someone cry out. Tonight I had been sleeping lightly, and had forgotten to close the doors to the balcony. I got up and pulled on my robe, closing the doors. It was a bit chilly tonight. I walked across the room and unlocked my door, taking a candle with me and fumbling with the match. Once it was lit, I walked down the hall until I came to my sister's room, where I heard her crying through the door. I rolled my eyes and reached out, swearing as the wax from the candle made its way onto my hand. I opened the door and peeked in, seeing Elizabeth sitting up with her arms wrapped around her knees, crying softly.
"Elizabeth?" I said hoarsely, slightly worried. For all her tough façade, it seems, she is not made of ice. I wondered if Mr. Millar had visited her too, tonight, and felt something akin to dread settle in my stomach. The door to her balcony was open too, letting a cold wind rush in. Dark clouds half covered the moon, it looked exactly the same as the night she had been kidnapped.
"Elizabeth, whatever is the matter?" I asked, walking over to her and sitting on the corner of her bed. She looked up at me, in the faint glow of the candle her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair a mess. Eleanor, evidently, is not good with braids. "What's wrong?" I whispered, placing the candle on the nightstand.
"I dreamt about them," she said, sniffling. "The pirates," as if I needed her to expand. I nodded, not looking away from her but a bit of at a loss of what to do - this was the same girl who, earlier today, had accused me of sleeping with Will as a means of getting him to propose to me. Unfortunately, being related to her made me obligated to care for her, even if it didn't work the other way around.
"They were awful, rank and disgusting, and I dreamt that they did awful things. I dreamt that you and Will and Mr. Sparrow didn't come in time - and I dreamt…remember on the Black Pearl, the day they made us walk the plank…their hands were so vile, Christina, I dreamt about that day…when the ship blew up I thought Will had died…" she started to cry again. I remembered that day horribly, having dreams about it myself a couple of times since it happened, different, horrible outcomes. Seeing the ship blown to pieces and thinking that Will still might have been in it was the most frightening thing I ever had to think of. The only things that I never told Mary mostly had to do with those pirates.
"Elizabeth, shh, Will is fine. He'll be coming for tea the day after tomorrow, you can talk to him then if you like," I said, kicking myself inwardly but knowing how terrible she felt. I knew Will was fine, it was easy to console myself after such awful dreams because I saw him every morning. Elizabeth never saw him anymore and it was plain to see she was still very much in love with him. And even if that jeopardized me, she was still my sister and I could not be so heartless to her.
"Really?" she asked, wiping her eyes and looking at me. I sighed quietly and nodded, sitting stiffly as she threw her arms around me for a hug. "Go to sleep now, Elizabeth, I must be getting back to my room." I said, standing up and tucking her in as if I was her mother. She smiled and closed her eyes, looking like a perfect little angel as the clouds moved away from the moonlight that bathed her. I sighed and picked up my candle, which had by now burned low. Amazingly, it had stayed lit through the wind from the balcony. I walked out of her room, closing her door quietly , and made my way back to my room.
"Good morning, miss!" Mary said happily, pulling out my dress and corset, and handing me my shift. I had gotten a new one made, fortunately, do you know how hard it is to walk in a shift that gets its torn pieces all tangled up with your other skirts? Why women had to wear so much damned cloth in the Caribbean, I'll never know.
I got up groggily, and asked for the time. "It's nearly eleven," Mary said, pulling me out of bed so she could straighten up the blankets. "Nearly eleven! Mary, Will have expected me by now, I'm usually there at nine!" I said, running behind the screen to put my shift on and waiting for her to lace up my corset.
"I think he'll understand if you overslept for a day," Mary said snappishly, pulling the laces extra tight. She is such a wench. I gasped for breath and put my hand over my chest, trying very hard not to faint, "Mary, do you think you could allow me at least a little bit of air?" I groused, craning my neck to glare at her.
I walked out from behind the screen and saw what dress Mary had picked out for today. It was bright red. "Do you want me to look like a harlot?" I asked incredulously.
She looked offended, "I'll have you know that this dress is my favorite out of all the dresses you have," she said, helping me into it and pushing me to sit in front of my vanity and mirror.
"So why don't you wear it?"
She pulled a brush hastily through my hair, not bothering to answer, and braided it intricately on the top of my head. "You'll have to bring a parasol today, there is no way a hat will fit over that," she said helpfully, going over to my closet once again and pulling out a subduing cream dress for herself. The bright red tint of her hair was all the color she needed, it seemed. She quickly put her hair into a French braid - I'll never figure out how she was able to do that - and turned to me, powdering my face and then hers. She seemed in such a hurry to leave today. I wonder if it has something to do with the Commodore…
"Let's go," she said, grabbing my arm and we ran out of my room and down the stairs. The carriage was already waiting for us, and she practically shoved me in and tumbled in after me, fussing with the neckline of her dress. I sighed exasperatedly, "What's with all the rush, Mary?" I asked.
"You overslept," she accused.
"Yes, well you let me," I retorted.
"Well, now we're late."
"For what?"
"Nothing. Tea," she said.
I grinned, "Do you mean to tell me that you took the liberty of setting up a date?" I asked.
She blushed, "Please do not be cross with me," she said, a small smile betraying her lips.
I smiled back, "Of course not. I just can't believe that one can be so taken with the Commodore of all people!" I said.
She regarded me coldly, "He's not that bad, you know. He is rather handsome, and he is a gentleman. I don't know how your sister found the audacity to turn him down," she said.
"Will Turner," I explained, and Mary hit me with her fan.
It must have rained the night before, because the streets of the market were muddy. Animals were milling about, as usual, but at a more chaotic pace than before, and this time the pigs were relishing in the mud, chasing shrieking women and laughing children. The men seemed very exasperated indeed.
"Does this mean that I wont see Will today?" I complained as Mary dragged me over to our restaurant. This time we would not be eating outside, because Mary let the doorman usher her inside. I pouted as she led me over to a tall man with a white wig, whose back was to us. Obviously, it was the Commodore.
He turned around and smiled upon seeing Mary. "Miss Pearl," he said pleasantly, kissing her gloved knuckles. Luckily it wasn't too well lit in this restaurant, because she blushed horribly and I was the only one who could tell.
"And Miss Swann, how lovely it is to see you," he said.
I grinned back at him through my teeth, "Good day, Commodore Norrington," Lovely to see you, my petticoated arse. He led us over to a table and pulled a chair out for Mary. She smiled happily up at him, and for her sake I hope he wasn't as priggish as he seemed.
"Miss Swann," First Mate Gillette was seated next to me. Joy. "You look very…bright…today," he smiled cheekily at me, nodding at my bright red dress. Oh, Mary will pay dearly.
"Invigorating, I'm sure," I said dryly, and Gillette chuckled and nodded in approval.
The Commodore took the liberty of ordering food for both me and Mary. I am ever grateful, to be sure. I sat in what had to be two hours of completely boredom while the Commodore paid compliment after compliment to Mary, and she lapped steadly grew pinker and pinker in the face. Actually, I am being rather cruel. Norrington, surprisingly, was a rather witty man, in his own way…I found even myself, the self proclaimed critic, laughing at one of his quips. Elizabeth would not have been so miserable if she had married this man.
Gillette wanted to talk about my skill with a blade, much to my dismay, and there was a whole conversation about it. It was a rather loud conversation too, so that the rest of the people in the restaurant were pretending not to here but were really all ears. The Commodore paid attention solely to Mary, however, and I was happy for that and for her. But alas, time flies when you truly wish to be somewhere else, it seems, and soon it was time to go. I got up first, perhaps looking a bit rude, but not really caring at this point, and led the way to the door. I walked out and waited for Mary to regain some of her wits, and then suddenly something large and heavy collided with the back of my legs and sent me careening into the mud; just at the same moment that Mary had walked up to me. I grabbed her arms and we both fell, she shrieking and me laughing, floundering in the mud with the culprit - a very large pig.
Everyone in the market place stopped to watch the commotion, and Commodore Norrington, being that gentleman that he is, slipped and slid across the mud to help Mary up. Nevermind me, I just love laying in mud. I grinned and grabbed onto her again, to "help myself up" and sending both her and the Commodore back down. I laughed loudly and stood up, covered from head to toe in mud, "Oh, dear, I am so very sorry Mary! Commodore!" but I was laughing so hard that my stomach hurt and I fell over again promptly, from lack of air.
"Christina!" I heard a voice that I'd missed all morning call. I looked up see Will standing over me, looking perturbed. He picked me up and looked me over, I was caked from head to toe with mud. I turned around to see Mary and the Commodore getting up shakily. He was apologizing profusely, evidently having landed on her in a rather compromising position. Mary shot me a nasty look.
"You look beautiful today," Will teased, I grinned and kissed him on lips, thereby covering him with mud as well.
"Will, you're welcome to come to the mansion, if you like. My sentence isn't over until tomorrow, but I don't think my father will mind. And there is something that I'd like to give to you," I said, smiling and turning back to Mary. We made out way over to the Commodore and Mary, "Commodore Norrington, you could come back to my father's mansion to clean up, if you like," I said politely. Mary blanched and shook her head, and the Commodore declined, seeing her desperation. I smiled.
"Well, come now, Mary, the carriage is over there. Thank you for the meal, Commodore," I said, nodding at him. Mary stalked off to the carriage, Will and I followed her.
"Don't even ask," Mary said sourly to the driver.
"Father!" I called, standing in the hallway of the mansion. My father made his way down the stairs slowly, his eyes widening as he saw Will and I standing together, holding hands and completely covered with drying mud. Mary had went around and entered through the kitchen, were she would be getting cleaned up. Nice to know that the kitchen also doubles as a wash room.
"Christina, I thought I told you that you weren't to see Mr. Turner for a week!" my father said crossly. Oh dear, I had undermined his authority.
"I haven't been seeing Will, father -"
Will coughed. If he doesn't get over his stupidity soon, I may have to make Jack's eunuch theory true.
"But Mary and I had gone to tea with the Commodore - he was kind enough to invite us - and surely you must know that it rained last night so streets are terrible…and to make a long story short, someone's pigcollided into me and we all - the Commodore, Mary, and I - fell in. I asked the Commodore if he'd like to come here to clean up, but he declined, and Mary decided that it would be best if she went home. And Will saw me, and came over to see if I was okay. He wanted to see me here to make sure I was all right, and I invited him to stay because there is something I'd like to give him - did you see to it, Father?" I asked. With my father, it is best to give a large amount of information quickly. His mind cannot process it all, and so he must agree to make sure he doesn't make a prat of himself.
"Yes, of course, but do get cleaned up, Christina, you look a mess. And the gift for Mr. Turner is in my study, sweeting, bring it down when you're done. We'll be in the tea room," my father said.
"Gift?" Will asked, tugging on my hand. I grinned and kissed him on the lips again, my father tutted and I scurried away.
"You'll see," I whispered, and made my way up the stairs as fast as my heavy dress would allow. I bumped into Elizabeth along the way.
"Good heavens, Christina! What happened to you?" she asked, taking in my muddy, sodden apparel. "It's a long story…it rained last night, did you know? Anyway, I must be off to get changed," I said gaily, walking past her and into my room.
Mary was waiting for me already, having washed up and got into her maid's uniform. She looked entirely clean, except for a bit of mud that was still in her French braid. She looked very cross with me indeed.
"That was not very nice, what you did," she said. She gestured to the tub that had been filled with water, and I stripped out of my gown and shift, hopping in quickly.
"Hell, Mary, it's cold!" I complained, scrubbing away anyway, the mud making me itchy.
"That's what you get," she scolded. "It was awful, knocking me into James like that. How mortifying, we were so mud caked and you really made me look like an oaf," she said, handing me my robe and sitting me in front of my dresser. I dried off quickly and grabbed a new shift, buttoning it up and letting Mary lace me into my corset again. She had picked out a yellow dress with a floral print this time, it was a bit better than the red dress that had seen better days.
"How am I supposed to clean this?" Mary asked sourly, picking up the dress gingerly. "Mary, that dress is hopeless. Just throw it out," I said offhandedly.
"No, this dress is so pretty. I'll have to clean it," she said, fixing my hair up and tying yellow ribbons in.
"James must never want to see me again," Mary said quietly, looking upset.
I stood up to face her, "Listen to me, Mary, I've done my share of stupid and embarrassing things in front of Will, and we're to be married. Part of being in a relationship is being comfortable enough to do such things, and still being able to look each other in the eyes," I said, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
She smiled at me thinly, "Really?" she asked, turning me around and powdering me up. She took out a bottle and sprayed some rose smelling stuff on me, and handed me a pair of gloves.
"Of course," I said, smiling at her from the mirror as she fastened the string of black pearls around my neck.
"He really is quite nice, Christina, and charming…and handsome," Mary said, sitting on my bed and grinning prettily.
I snorted, "Are you talking about the Commodore or his wig?" I asked. Mary tossed her fan at me and I ducked.
"Get out!" she said loudly, biting her lips to keep from laughing. I curtsied to her,
"As you wish, Mrs. Commodore," and ducked as she threw another object at me.
"I haven't forgiven you yet!" she warned, and I knew it was probably best not to upset her too much. She was a gentle-hearted thing, but when upset she had quite a talent for revenge. When we were both thirteen, I'd unwittingly made her the center of attention one night at dinner, and had had to endure a week of extra lacy dresses, burnt biscuits, and insufferably tight braids.
I made my way down the hall and into my father's study, picking up the little piece of paper on his desk. It was the deed to the blacksmith shop. I smiled and slipped it into my pocket, after debating whether or not I should play a harlot and slip it down the front of my dress. Lord knows where that would lead me…
I made my way down to the tea room and walked in, seeing many things at once. One, Will was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Elizabeth. Mary was there, her face was red and she looked like she'd been crying. And the Commodore was present as well.
"Commodore Norrington -" I said, how the hell did you get here so damn fast? He looked at me hard, after glaring once more at Mary. She started to cry again. "Hell," I swore under my breath, walking up to her and looking at my father. "What is the meaning of this?" I demanded.
"You are in no position to make inquiries," my father said nastily. I looked away from him, to the Commodore. All the world's an arse, it seems.
"Tell me, Miss Swann, is this not the same Mary Pearl who accompanied you to the restaurant today?" Norrington asked. My heart dropped violently, but I didn't want to appear flustered in the cold eyes of the Commodore. Still, things were looking quite dismal now that Mary had been discovered. And it was all my fault. She would never forgive me.
I raised my chin. "It is," I said.
"She is a maid…she failed to mention that," he snarled, glaring at her again. She started to cry again, and I put my arm protectively around her shoulders.
"And if she is?" I answered just as coldly.
"Miss Swann, I do not like being made a fool of," he said dangerously.
"Well then you'll just have to stay in bed all day, wont you?" I snapped.
"Christina, mind your tongue -" my father started to say.
"Norrington, you arrogant arse, so what if she's a maid? She is also my best friend - the kindest, gentlest and most temperate woman you'll ever have the luck to meet. If you were so taken with her while she was in fine gowns and jewels, why would any of that change just because she is in this coarse uniform?" I asked.
"Governor Swann, do you let all your woman servants go gallivanting about dressed as ladies?" the Commodore said nastily, a flush forming in his face. Ah, so I've struck a nerve.
"Most certainly not, Commodore, nor do I let my daughter's speak so to upstanding gentlemen such as yourself. Another week's punishment for you, daughter, and that is just the beginning," my father informed me. I was beyond anger now.
"She did nothing wrong, and neither did I! Father, I will not respect someone who cares only for what women wear and what their station is, rather than who they are!" I yelled.
"Mind that you lower your voice, Christina," my father snapped, standing up quickly. I bit my lip.
"She impersonated a person of a higher station and can be jailed for that," the Commodore said, looking harshly at Mary once again.
"It was my fault and my idea, she never would have done it if I hadn't suggested it. But she is my friend and I will not have her spend the rest of her days being looked down on as just a servant. She is better than that," I said.
"It is not for you to decide. If all the good people of Port Royal acted as Miss Pearl did, there would be chaos," Norrington said icily.
"You're just upset because she got to you, you liked her - the only woman you've liked since my sister actually did something smart and turned you down - and she's someone other than what you prefer. She's 'below your station' and you can't handle it because you're attracted to her. Well, I'll tell you something, Commodore, Mary deserves better than the likes of you."
Mary started crying again and I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her with shaking hands. I was so angry now that I feared I would leap across the table and strangle the Commodore if I wasn't careful. How they could sit here and insult Mary so, I'll never know.
"Christina, go to your room this instant, or your engagement to Mr. Turner will be called off, deed or no," my father said. My heart, which had been residing in my stomach throughout this whole confrontation, jumped into my throat.
"You wouldn't dare," I whispered. My father looked back at me stoically. I turned on my heel and walked out of the room, brining Mary with me into the garden. I'm not very good with ultimatums.
"Christina, what's going to happen to me? James will never look at me again," Mary cried. I sat down next to her by the fountain, "Mary, that is the least of your problems right now. He's pompous and rigid, he wont budge, but its not like you're in love with him, is it?" I asked. She hiccoughed and said nothing.
"Oh, lord, Mary you aren't in love with him are you?" I asked, horrified. She cried some more. "Oh, dear," I said quietly.
"He spoke of marriage, did you know? All those times when you were w-with Mr. Turner. He took me to tea and gave me a rose once, even. He said he was looking to marry a fine woman, now that he had achieved being Commodore."
"That git. After a week and already he is speaking of marriage. That's a bit bold, I would have thought that he knew better than that," I said.
Mary cried. "Where are they going to send me? Your father wont want me to work here anymore, and jail! Christina, are they going to send me to jail?" she wept bitterly.
I hugged her. "Don't worry, Mary, I promise no harm will come to you, even if my father threatens to call off my engagement. I promise. They wont send you to jail, love, I'll take the blame for everything." I stood up and took the handkerchief from her, wiping at her tears as if I was her mother. Good lord.
"Stay here, Mary, there's something I have to give to Will. And if my father and the Commodore come looking for me…" I didn't know what to tell her to do. For the first time, I was without a plan. I sighed, "Don't worry, Mary. This is my fault andI'm so sorry that you had to suffer for it, buteverything will be fine. I'll make it so."
"Will! Will, where are you? There's something I have to show you!" I called, walking through the garden. I wasn't as excited as I had hoped to be when giving him this, but a lot was going on so I should be confused. I heard my sister's voice in the garden, she laughing, and my heart froze.
Well, you did tell her that she could speak with him when he came for tea, I thought. I bit my lip and followed her voice. I could hear Will speaking as well, but his words were too low for me to hear. I was behind some bushes and could vaguely make out their shape standing very close together. "Will?" I called quietly, stepping out from the bushes in time to see Elizabeth lean over and press her lips against his.