Chapter 4 – Fate

Elizabeth had just returned home from her day in the park with Richard and felt extremely fatigued. Her feet were hurting and her corset was on a little too tight. Sitting down to take a breath her father came to sit with her.

"So how was it? Did you have a good time in the park?"

"No. It's quite hot outside and Mr. Thompson had nothing of interest to talk about. And when I would try to talk to him about things he would pay no attention and ask about something I had just told him."

"Elizabeth you must understand darling. These men are looking for a wife, not a social contact."

Elizabeth pit back a cry of frustration. "Is that how it was with you and my mother?"

"Oh heavens no, Elizabeth. I loved your mother very much, she was my soul mate. Our meeting happed by the hands of fate. You see sweetheart, nothing happens on accident."

Standing quickly she almost lost her balance. "So why should I be forced to marry someone I do not love?"

"You can learn to love. The 'love' you claimed to have had for that pirate is gone with him. That love is dead, and you can feel it in your heart."

The tears were coming so quickly now she couldn't see. "I, I have to go." She said and headed for the docks, where Captain Jack Sparrow had once saved her life. It seemed so long ago, a lifetime. Now was now and it was time for her to move on, for her and her father's sake.

The docks were quiet and she went to the edge of the dock, looking into the water, the wonderfully clear water reflected her image and she had to admit to herself she wasn't the same and never would be. No man could make her happy but Jack, if only she cold be with him.

If truth was known to Elizabeth she loved him from the moment she heard his name or read it in a book. He was her knight that was to come take her away. When she met him she felt the spark in her blood and was scared only of anything happening to him, not her. She felt both of their drunken desires on the island and only because she suppressed the feelings she had for him for so long was she able not to give in to his good looks and his advances.

She saw a small wave and sand was disturbed under the dock. She leaned forward and saw a clam, it was closed but unmoving. She jumped in.

A splash made Randall Marcus look over the side of his ship, the water was disturbed and he could see someone swimming. Leaning over the side of the ship he watched for a while and thought he saw them struggling. When the movement stopped so did his heart. He jumped in the water.

Elizabeth was caught on a piece of the wood that held up the dock, her dress was snagged and she wasn't coming free. Her head got hot and her lungs were requesting air. She had no choice but to try to breathe in. Instead of oxygen, her lungs filled with water. She blacked out and wasn't aware of the strong arms that circled her tiny body.

Randall grabbed her around the waist and cut the dress loose with a pocket knife. Swimming to the surface he was able to get her on deck and check her condition. He noticed how pale she looked and how she still was not breathing. Cutting her dress and corset from her he waited, nothing happened. Getting up next to her he used two fingers to pinch her nose together and laid the other hand on her chest. He covered his mouth with hers and breathed air into her passageway. Her lungs gurgled and he pumped her chest with both hands, feeling her ribs crack. Still nothing happened and he repeated it again and again until her eyes opened and she spit out the water that was drowning her.

It took a while for Elizabeth to focus but when she did she saw Randall hovering over her, his short dark hair was in his eyes and he smiled his teeth pearly white but no golden caps like she hoped.

"You should be more careful Miss Swann. Now, let me help you back home, your ribs are broken and you should stay off your feet for a while." He said and helped her to her feet. "Put all your weight on me."

Elizabeth listened and leaned into his strong body. "Thank you Mr. Marcus."

"It was no trouble, you'll be the one feeling the effects of my little rescue mission anyway, not me. I do hope you heal properly. Do you have a physician?"

"Yes, he is a good doctor." She said and coughed, pain coursing through her body so much she simply stopped and Randall almost dropped her.

Realizing they weren't making good time, Randall picked her up gently and held her to his body.

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"My goodness!" Weatherby Swann was greeted with a stranger holding his daughter and soaking wet at that. "I demand to know what is going on here!"

"Please sir, your daughter needs medical attention. I will tell you everything that happened as soon as she is taken care of."

The governor sighed and the doctor was sent for. Randall was lead to Elizabeth's bedroom and he gently laid her on the bed. Covering her up with the many blankets she stopped him. "That's alright Mr. Marcus, and I thank you but you may go. I don't want to keep you."

Randall looked at her and smiled again, she wished he would stop doing that. "I would Miss Swann but it's no trouble at all. I would like to see you better and perfectly alright."

"I am. I just have a few broken bones is all, nothing that can't be taken care of."

"Broken bones? How did your bones break?" Weatherby asked looking at Randall with distaste.

"I needed to break the ribs in order to get her breathing again."

"Breathing again? What happened?"

So Elizabeth and Randall told the governor the story of how she was swimming close to the docks and got caught on the post. By the time they were done Mr. Swann had to be lead to a chair to sit down.

"Well, you do seem to get into the worst situations that has to do with the sea Elizabeth. I think you should just stay away from it from now on."

"Father you can't do that to me! I love the sea! It's the only thing that brings me happiness anymore."

The haunted look on her face made her father yield to her. "Alright my darling, but you may only go to the docks with an escort. I will say I'm sure one of the wonderful men here for you will be more then willing to take you to see the sunsets and sunrises over the water. It's very romantic."

"Father! I do not wish that! If someone must go with me it will be Marietta."

Randall was standing at the window looking out to the horizon when the doctor came in.

"Well Miss Swann what is it this time?"

"I do believe my ribs are broken."

The doctor, Mr. Miller, looked unconvinced, like he was talking to a child that just told him they were dying of yellow fever. "Um Hm, and how do they feel?"

"They hurt when I breathe." She said and watched as he got a syringe ready.

"What is that for? I just have a broken bone or two."

Randall looked over his shoulder to see what the doctor was doing and stopped him. "What are you doing?"

"I need to sedate the patient."

"What on earth for? She just has a broken rib."

Mr. Miller sighed heavily and looked at Randall. "Are you an expert?"

"No, but I was the one who broke her ribs. I know her situation."

Again Randall and Elizabeth had to explain what happened that day on the docks. When they were done Mr. Miller looked to Elizabeth. "The sea is going to be your grave someday Miss Swann."

He had all the men leave the room while he wrapped her chest. She would be in the wrap for three weeks then he would come back to check on her progress. The wedding would be postponed and the courtship would be longer than Elizabeth would have liked.

"I can't believe I have to walk around with these men for two extra weeks. I don't even have any feelings for any of them." She said, watching Randall at the foot of her bed.

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well I must choose one of them. The one I can bear to be with the most is who I will pick."

Randall smiled, "Which is that?"

"Not one of them. Maybe my father can get some more for me to pick from. I don't want to sound like a spoiled girl who can't get her way but I don't want to just settle."

"I understand completely. Marriage is forever."

She nodded and closed her eyes. "Thank you very much Mr. Marcus, for saving my life, but I must ask why."

"Why? Well I couldn't just let you drown, that would be almost murder. Not saving your life."

"But after I was so short with you the night before. I thought."

"No need to worry about it Miss Swann, it was my fault entirely. Now, I will leave you to your rest."

Elizabeth couldn't help herself; she wanted to get to know him more; she didn't know where he was from or anything.

"Will you come talk with me tomorrow?"

Randall looked thoughtful. "I shall."

Elizabeth smiled her first true smile in weeks. "Good."

TBC