Chapter 4
The next day Victoria woke up, the covers moved on her other side; Norrington had left her side. Victoria got out of the bed and placed her coat over her nightgown and went downstairs. She went into the dining room and saw that there was breakfast for two, but one of the plates had been already emptied. One of the maids came out and cleaned up the plate,
"Where has James gone?" Victoria asked the maid
The maid looked up, "Admiral Norrington had gone into town, miss. He's gone to buy his clothes for the wedding. Here, he wanted me to give you this," she said, pulling out an envelope with a wax seal with his initials.
Victoria took it and opened it.
Dearest Victoria,
I'm sorry that I've left you so early, but I had to go into town to buy my clothes for the wedding. There will be another carriage waiting for you after you have finished breakfast so you can go and buy your dress. I will see you later my dearest.
Forever Yours,
James
Victoria closed the letter and said, "Get my dress ready for me after I'm done with Breakfast. I shall go into town after,"
"Of course my lady," said the maid, then left with Norrington's plate
Victoria sat in her chair and then began to eat the bread and eggs; each moment she put a morsel into her mouth was warming her heart. As she ate, she began to think about Jack; she had loved him for a time and she still had her engagement ring that he had given to her in Tortuga. She had stopped eating and looked at the ring that had been on her right hand; it was the engagement ring from Jack he had given her long ago. She brought her hand in front of her face so she could get a better look at the ring; it was very beautiful. The ring was one of the many treasures that Jack had gotten from the Isla de Muerta and he had given it to the greatest treasure that now he could never get back.
Victoria then looked down, "I'm sorry Jack, but I'm following my heart now. If you had come sooner I would've been yours," she said
Victoria then finished her breakfast and then went up to her room where the maids have picked out a black striped dress for her. She went behind the screen for another round of gasping as the maids tightened her corset laces. After she and her two maids stepped outside to where the carriage had been waiting for her, just as Norrington had said. Victoria and her maids went inside the carriage and it set off into the town to a clothing store near the docks. When Victoria stepped in the owner of the store came up to her,
"Hello milady, what my I help you with?" he asked
Victoria smiled, "Yes, I need to pick out a wedding dress," she said
"Ah, you're a very lovely bride. A new shipment just came in last night, and you will be the first to try them on. How grand will your wedding be milady?" said the owner
"Oh, it's not really big. My fiancée doesn't want to send invitations to relatives that are all the way in England. Only a small amount of people are going," she said, lying
"Well, then your theme will be simple but elegant. Here, try this one on," said the owner, pulling out a white dress with lots of embroidery on it.
Victoria's maids took it and the three went into a small room to change, when she walked out she said,
"I think this dress is a little to big for a small wedding,"
The owner looked at it, "I'll have to agree with you on that; here try this one. It's not as big as that one but it's still as pretty," he said, pulling out another dress
The dress was cream and white colored, with beads and ribbons and a small veil; the neckline was low-cut. When Victoria stepped out again, she smiled,
"I love this dress, how much is it sir?" she asked
"For you, the lovely bride. I believe that it is around forty pounds, as a discount of the eighty pounds it really is," said the shopkeeper
"I thank you sir," said Victoria, handing him the forty pounds after she had changed back into her black and white striped dress
"I do hope your wedding goes wonderfully," said the shopkeeper, placing the dress in a big box and handing it to one of the maids
Victoria said goodbye to the shopkeeper and then stepped back into the carriage and went into the Norrington manor. When she stepped in Norrington was waiting for her in her room.
"Victoria, you're here. You got my letter right?" he said, coming up and kissing her on the lips
"Yes, and I just bought my dress a while ago. It'll be ready for the wedding day," said Victoria
"I met with the reverend today; he said he can do the ceremony tomorrow in here. So we don't have to go far for the wedding," he said
Victoria smiled, "Then will the servants decorate the manor?" she asked
"Yes, and they will watch the wedding too. But they will not sign as the wedding certificate as a witness, Wetherby will be the only one signing as a witness," said Norrington
The two maids came in, one of them carrying the box with the wedding dress in it.
"Well, then I won't be able to see you wear the dress until tomorrow," said Norrington
"Yes, the dress is very beautiful," said Victoria
Then a servant came in and said, "Dinner is served,"
That night dinner was silent, Victoria kept on thinking about Jack and she didn't want to talk about it to Norrington. After dinner Norrington escorted Victoria to her room,
"You're not going to stay with me tonight James?" said Victoria
"Not tonight, I have to be ready for tomorrow. Besides, right after the ceremony tomorrow we'll both have each other," said Norrington, smiling
Norrington then leaned in and kissed her and when they pulled away Norrington said,
"Good night, my dearest. Til' tomorrow,"
Victoria smiled and then walked into her bedroom, her hand gradually letting go of Norrington's as she left him.
"Good night, my love," she said to him, then she closed the double doors and went to sleep
Norrington waited till Victoria closed the door and then went to his own bedroom and changed into his sleeping clothes and went to sleep
The next day was full of hustle and bustle as the servants began decorating the house. Neither the bride nor the groom saw each other, for the servants served them their breakfast in their bedrooms. Victoria sat at her vanity fixing her hair and looked at herself in the mirror,
This is it Victoria, you're finally getting married, she thought to herself
Then the maid walked in and then began to bring Victoria's hair into ringlets and Victoria continued to smile at herself, hoping that today would go smoothly.
In Norrington's room he fixed his Admiral uniform and placed his white wig on his head. He fixed his collar and looked at himself in the mirror,
Put yourself together James, you're finally marrying the woman of your dreams, he thought to himself
He then placed his hat on top of his head and fixed it the way he wanted it. A servant came into his bedroom and said,
"They are ready for you Admiral,"
Norrington stood up and said, "Alright, tell the reverend that I'm coming down now,"
The servant bowed out and then Norrington followed him and went down the staircase that was wrapped with ribbons and roses. When he reached the foot of the stairs he met the reverend and Wetherby Swann.
"Now Admiral, I have the marriage certificate ready to be signed by you, Mister Swann and the lovely lady that you are to be wedded. I say, I usually see the lady that is to be wedded but this is quite new to me for I have not seen her yet," said the reverend
"Not to worry Reverend, you shall meet my bride soon enough," said Norrington, smiling
Then the organ played the tune 'here comes the bride' and every one of the servants stood up to face the rose-covered staircase. Victoria came from out of her bedroom, her veil over her face and her bouquet in her hands. She walked to the top of the stairs and stood there for a time to let everyone see her in her dress for a moment. Norrington smiled and Victoria smiled under her veil, breathing steadily. She walked down the steps slowly, continuing to smile; her maid holding her train as she walked down.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs she took Norrington's arm and they walked up to the reverend,
"Dearly beloved, we're gathered here in the sight of god to join this man and this woman in bonds of holy matrimony. Admiral Norrington, repeat after me, 'I, Admiral James Norrington, take you Lady Victoria Henshaw, to be my wife. I shall cherish you through the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. And I shall remain faithful to you till death do we part," said the reverend
Norrington turned to look at Victoria, "I, Admiral James Norrington, take you Lady Victoria Henshaw, to be my wife. I shall cherish you through the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. And I shall remain faithful to you till death do we part," he said
"Now Victoria, repeat after me, 'I, Lady Victoria Henshaw, take you Admiral James Norrington, to be my husband. I shall cherish you through the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. And I shall remain faithful to you till death do we part," said the reverend again
Victoria smiled under her veil again, "I, Lady Victoria Henshaw, take you Admiral James Norrington, to be my husband. I shall cherish you through the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. And I shall remain faithful to you till death do we part," she said
"Now do you, Admiral James Norrington take Lady Victoria Henshaw as your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in god's ordinance in the holiest state of matrimony?" said the reverend
"I do," said Norrington, smiling at Victoria
"And do you, Lady Victoria Henshaw, take Admiral James Norrington as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish him in the holiest state of matrimony?" said the reverend
"I do," she said
As they exchanged rings the reverend said, "From this day forward, you shall be joined together as one for all eternity until the very end of time. What god has joined together let no man cast asunder. And as from this day forward, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Admiral James Norrington. You may kiss your bride," the reverend said to Norrington
Norrington turned to Victoria and pulled the Victoria's veil over her head. He then leaned in and kissed Victoria passionately; everyone applauded happily. When they pulled away they went over to the study where the reverend pulled out the marriage certificate,
"Now Admiral, you sign here. And Victoria, you sign here. And Mr. Swann, you sign right under where they had just signed," said the reverend, pointing at the lines under the marriage contract.
Norrington leaned in and signed the parchment, as did Victoria; then Swann signed it after her. Once they were done the reverend left and Swann shook hands with the new couple,
"I bid farewell, and I give you lifelong wishes on your marriage," said Swann
Norrington and Victoria smiled and then Swann bowed and left. Norrington then turned to Victoria,
"Now we're finally married," he said
The newlyweds walked back up the stairs, and towards a new bedroom that was larger than any of their rooms. When they reached the doors Norrington picked Victoria up, Victoria laughed and then Norrington kicked the door open. The room was decorated with roses, and had places just for Norrington and Victoria for themselves. The bed was full of thick velvet curtains and sheets; Victoria went over to the balcony. Norrington went over to her side where the moon had shone over them,
"I don't know what it is, but somehow it lead me to you," said Victoria
"What my dear?" asked Norrington
"How we met in Tortuga, something inside me brought me to you," said Victoria, turning to her husband
Norrington wrapped his arms around Victoria, "I know what it was," he said
Victoria looked up to him, "What was it?" she asked
"It must have been Heaven's Light," said Norrington
Victoria smiled and then they leaned in and kissed in the moonlight.
A/N:
What did ya think? This story is completely original and of my own weaving! This is the prequel to my other story 'A Pirates' Life No More,' a story that continues after Dead Man's Chest.