Disclaimer: I cannot lay claim to POTC. I only wish I could for that would mean I was rather wealthy and had met Jack Davenport/Norrington.
"Ladies will never understand how gentlemen act with one another. Don't even bother trying to explain as the lady will try to convince you of its illogic…"
-Rules of Engagement for Dealing with Ladies
"Men prefer to settle disagreements with violence. It will never make sense and despite any protests, the gentlemen will never see how stupid they're acting…"
-Rules of Engagement for Managing Gentlemen
Chapter 11: Showdown
Gillette turned slowly away from Anne to face her brother.
James stared at his friend. "How could you do this? I trusted that you'd honor your word. There's only one thing I can do-"
Gillette bent his head as James continued, "But it's not the betrayal that I have to deal with at the moment. It is unfortunate that I have to avenge my sister's honor by dueling with the man who had been my best friend. Lift your sword…"
Anne pushed him aside. "James, this isn't what it seems…I-"
Gillette interrupted, "I understand what you have to do, sir. I am responsible for this." He lifted his sword…
Andrew was obviously trying to shield her. "STOP!" she yelled.
James looked at her coolly. "Stay out of this, Anne. I'll deal with you later."
The clang of steel against steel marked the beginning of the duel. The men circled each other. Lunge followed lunge, parry followed parry…
Anne stood there, trying her best to stop two idiots trying to destroy each other.
"I'm going now! Probably to become a loose woman in Tortuga and find a pirate to keep me as his mistress with the hopes that I can raid, pillage, and plunder to my heart's content! Goodbye!"
She began to stomp off. Immediately, they both grabbed her arms.
"Don't be foolish!" James gritted out to her.
While at the same time, Andrew shouted, "Anne! You will not…"
"I will if you two continue with this nonsense! Andrew, stop trying to take the blame…If you two will stop acting like you're infants, I suggest we adjourn to the drawing room and discuss this like rational human beings…"
With that, Anne turned and marched home.
"Thank you, Pru for coming down and helping me with this. I felt an added dash of reason would be helpful…" Anne said as she accepted a cup of tea from her sister-in-law.
"It's no trouble, Anne, but what's the problem this time? Which one of them started it?"
"He did." Anne and James said simultaneously. They each referred to a different person.
Gillette seemed determined to sacrifice himself. "I am responsible…"
"No, YOU ARE NOT." Anne stated.
James butted in with a cool, "Oh? Then how do explain his kissing you?…after he gave me his word to never be alone with you! That Anne, is betrayal as well as a slight to your honor…I, as your brother and protector, am bound to defend that…"
"Oh, brother. Not the old 'protection' line again." Pru muttered.
"Let me defend myself, James! I'm 23 years old! I can handle it…"
"Yes, like you handled yourself tonight? Being seduced by the man I thought was a friend?"
"He didn't seduce me!" Anne seethed.
"WELL HE BLOODY WASN'T ACTING LIKE A GENTLEMAN! He was making advances…"
Anne interjected… "He wasn't seducing me, you clod! I WAS SEDUCING HIM!"
The room went silent.
James was lethally still, just like a Panther before taking down his prey. "You what?" he breathed…
Anne turned to the two men.
"I kissed him! He wanted to escort me home, but I kissed him! Don't turn your back on a friend because of this."
"You will marry him at once then or I must avenge your honor."
"Who are you going to duel with? Me?"
"No. Gillette should have prevented this and for his betrayal, I am honor bound to defend you."
"Could you PLEASE stop repeating yourself?" Anne seethed. "Andrew, don'tlisten tothis. It wasn't your fault. I won't marry you because of this…I value your happiness more than that."
"Anne, I participated when I should have stopped you. I am responsible…"
"Why?" she emotionally asked, "Why can't we forget what happened and start over?"
"BECAUSE I FAILED YOUR BROTHER! I PROMISED I WOULD NEVER…"
"Don't regret it, please."
"I could never regret it. You mean far more to me than anyone…and that's why I'm at fault…"
"I agree…I must defend her honor…" James interjected.
"I don't need your defending and certainly not when you're being an ass!"
"Anne Millice-"
"Stop! I don't want to hear anymore of your ranting about something that didn't happen the way you think it did!
I don't want to break up your friendship. James, you have far too few friends and I will not be the cause of you losing another one.
Therefore, we will forget this happened. Andrew is not at fault. If he kissed me, it was because I initiated it. You cannot fault him for responding. He never broke his word to you. In fact, he risked you misinterpreting his actions by escorting me home, to protect me!
James, stop being an insufferable ass! Neither of you need to duel over me, is that clear?"
James nodded. "There is only one thing left to do…"
Anne glanced at him. "And what is that?"
"You two will have to marry at once, as I've stated before, whether you like it or not."
Anne gasped. "You can't mean that, James!"
"Anne, you've made your choice by escaping the bonds of propriety…"
"I can't believe I'm hearing this! You snuck out with Pru dozens of times before marriage!"
"That's different!" he roared.
"How?" Anne asked defiantly.
"I only did it because she needed protection. And I never kissed her!"
"Yes, you did." Pru interjected.
"I did not!" James was on the defensive.
"Do you not remember the garden? And after you rescued me? And don't forget the storage shed…"
"We were engaged!"
"That still doesn't negate the fact that we were unchaperoned before we got engaged, and even after we were engaged wheter it was to prevent my engagement to that Sills fellow or really engaged…"
"I have to agree…" Andrew tentatively said…
"Don't start. I'm not done with you. I'm responsible for her protection. She's my sister and you callously made advances…"
"Don't start that again James! For God's sake, it was a kiss! He hardly made love to me…"
James turned to Andrew and glared… "And he better never even think about it…" he growled.
Anne put her head in her hands, clearly at the end of her rope. "I can't handle this…I can't stay here and see you two hate each other because of me…"
Anne ran out of the room. Pru followed with a backhanded glare to the two men.
"Get out." James ordered, not even looking at Andrew.
"I will marry her, James. If you'll only allow me time to make sure she loves me...I would never want to trap her in marriage with the result of her being miserable...I care for her too much..."
Gillette left, his insides in turmoil at the loss of his good friend and the possibility of the loss of something far more precious…
Throughout the whole altercation, he was frozen, unable to decide how to proceed. He knew after tonight that he rather desperately wanted to marry her, to mark her as his. But he also knew that she would be miserable if he didn't wait and any chance of their happiness together would be ruined. He couldn't get himself to say that. In James's eyes, Andrew had gone against his word and that could not be repaired. Andrew found he didn't know what to do: risk Anne's unhappiness by marrying her immediately...or ruin his friendship with James by refusing to marry...
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Pru gently asked.
Anne sniffled a bit as she replied, "Yes. I can't do this anymore. I'm obviously not meant for marriage. I have a friend who lives with her husband in New York who has invited me to stay for a bit…She can certainly find someone who needs a nursemaid or Governess. Perhaps taking care of others' children will suffice…Besides, I've always wanted to visit the American colonies…"
"There's a ship leaving tomorrow, early with the tide. If you're careful, we may be able to get you aboard without James or Andrew knowing…"
Anne nodded. "Thank you, Pru. You've really been the best sister I ever could have hoped for."
Pru cried as she gave Anne a hug. "I always wanted a sister and I'm so glad that I found one in you. Be safe and write often."
"You won't tell James until the boat has left, will you?"
"I won't. In the end, it should be your choice as to where your life goes. I'm just sad that it doesn't seem to be in Port Royal with Gillette…"
Anne gave Pru a watery smile. "For awhile, I thought it might…but it's clear that it would never happen. His friendship with my brother is far too important to ruin and it seems that's all I've done…He doesn't love me, though he might have been on his way to doing so…I'm sure he'll recover in time."
Pru looked at her with great concern. "But will you?"
Anne bit her lip and closed her eyes. "I'm not sure…but it doesn't seem likely…I really must stop this watering pot business! If I'm to do this, I must be strong…"
"You are strong, Anne. Maybe not strong in the noisy way I am, but you've got a quiet strength about you. I think you'll do fine in whatever path you choose…Be safe, Anne. I suppose I'll receive a letter soon…"
Pru began to leave Anne's room. "Wait a moment! Give this letter to James and Andrew when you tell them where I've gone…"
"Of course I will. Good bye. As much as I don't want you to do this, I certainly can't stop you…Oh, I'll miss you so much!"
With one last hug, Pru left.
Come morning, Anne snuck aboard with a couple of small valises containing clothing and a few sentimental items. She gazed at Fort Charles until it disappeared into the distance, and then went back to her cabin to cry for awhile…
AN: Oh dear. Anne can be rather stubborn. Sorry that this took longer than expected. I was having trouble with visualizing this part…but eventually things flowed a bit better…