Oldest Story in the Book

Chapter 36

Disclaimer: Not mine

Pearl sighed as she adjusted the dress. "It pinches."

"It fits perfectly, which is a wonder since Maggie wore it when she was years younger than you and one child lighter," Emmie said.

"And several years of pillaging," Pearl said. "I think the bust is too tight."

"The bust is fine," Elizabeth said. "Yours is smaller if anything. It's the muscles," she said to Pearl's angry stare.

"Then why aren't the arms too tight?"

"Maggie was fairly muscular," Emmie said.

"Thank you, Emerald," Elizabeth sighed as she pressed the string of pearls into place and wrapped the hair of her wig around it. "You look beautiful. And if you wanted another gown you could have had one made."

"Three months, the dress maker wanted, with another two to get the lace. I'm not putting up with these people that long," Pearl announced, shifting the bodice. "This is easier. Even if I do look like an older woman trying to impersonate his first wife."

"Only half the town thinks that," Jack said from the doorway. "The other thinks you're after his gold."

Everyone turned to stare at the picture of gentlemanly dress in the doorway. Perfectly shined shoes covered silk stockings tucked into spotless white knee britches. Lace peaked from the collar of his deep blue coat covered in brocade as well as the sleeves that equally spotless white gloves that he adjusted under the newfound scrutiny. He also fussed with his hat, a perfect tricorn perched on top of a white powdered wig.

"Well, my wig looks better than that at least," Pearl commented.

"He said it was the only way I could keep the beads," Jack said.

"Who said?" Elizabeth asked.

"The darling Commodore. He said it's the only way he would let me into the ceremony." Jack adjusted the sleeves of the coat again. "The gold isn't so bad, nor the silk, although I could do with my old hat back."

"That would make you Bethany's uncle then?" Emmie asked. "I didn't know he was a navy man."

"Nor did I," Jack said, removing the hat and plunking into a chair to press his shoes onto the table, crossing them properly at the ankle. "Apparently this family is just full of surprises."

"Anyway," Pearl said, regaining the attention of the room at large, "who says I'm not after Master Norrington's gold?"

"Me," Jack answered. "I already put it on the ship. The silver too."

"The gold I won't argue with. That would go to Ethan. But the silver is mine and then Emmie's. I expect that back."

Jack shrugged. "Early inheritance."

"You can have it back when I'm done with this ridiculous exercise," Pearl said. "If it's all right with Emmie, although I think the guests will want fine silver. China too, for that matter."

"All right. I'll keep my mitts off until you return to pillaging as you should."

"Aren't you supposed to be singing my praises, rather than my dining set's?" Pearl asked.

"You're pretty. You know that. Could give even your mother a run for her employers' money."

"Thank you ever so much for commenting on how much I could make on the streets, but I'm marrying today."

"Judging by the noises I've heard from you two," Emmie put in with a sniff, "I'd say you don't need any reassurance on how my father feels about you."

"Emmie, I'm not certain that's appropriate," Elizabeth scolded.

"Appropriate has no place at this wedding," Pearl commented. "I don't think Port Royal has seen this much excitement ever."

"At least not since Jack's daring escape from the gallows," Elizabeth chuckled. "I think that will take care of your hair."

Pearl sighed into the mirror. "I don't look like myself." She smoothed the skirt. "And I'm naked without my sword."

"There's still one thing missing," Elizabeth said, reaching behind herself to the clasp around her neck.

"Lizzie, no. I gave those to you," Pearl argued as Elizabeth lay the string of Pearls around her neck.

"Actually, I gave them to her, by way of you," Jack argued.

"On the day of my wedding, so there's tradition behind it," Elizabeth said. "They brought me luck. I want the same for you."

"And I need pearls for that?" Pearl asked.

"After the curse and whatnot I'll take whatever I can get," Elizabeth said, placing the wig firmly into place.

"It looks like a rat Emmie's cat drug in," Pearl said.

"It looks like a perfectly respectable woman's hair," Elizabeth said.

"No arguing with that," Pearl said.

"Are you suggesting all women's hair looks like pummeled rats?"

"Just fancy wigs," she said, staring morosely into the mirror. "I look like a pathetic replacement."

"Maggie was your replacement," Emmie said. "This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life."

"That was the day I had you," she informed her daughter. "This is just putting things in writing after I've had two perfectly good weddings."

"Edward's place is in Port Royal," Elizabeth reminded. "He's giving up a career he worked years for and fame and whatnot to sail with you. You could leave him with the ability to return home from time to time."

Pearl paused, shifted, stared at the mirror. "You're right, of course." She turned to look at Elizabeth. "What if he doesn't come?"

"What!" Elizabeth gasped.

"I can't be worth all that trouble. A second-hand whore that doesn't measure up to his first wife by half. What if-"

"I'll have no more of that," Jack bellowed, suddenly rising to his feet. "You're worth far more than that. You're far more than that wanna-be strumpet could ever be. And if he doesn't show up, I'll be just as happy for not losing the best first mate I've ever had. He'd deserve to live as the fool he is."

"More to the point," Elizabeth said, "he loves you. Everyone does this, has this moment of doubt. I did. Will said he did. It's only natural. This is a big step, and terrifying."

Pearl sighed. "More so when it's something you've wanted so long."

"You're a beautiful bride," Elizabeth assured her.

A knock sounded on the door and Will stuck his head in. "Is all ready?"

"Just the veil left," Elizabeth said. "Are they ready?"

"So I've been told," he said, stepping into the room. "Ethan's with his father. They're both waiting outside the door."

"Don't bother," Pearl said, standing to brush her off. "I'm not wearing it."

"But you must. It's fine Spanish lace. And there's tradition behind it."

"The tradition involves opening a woman's womb to her husband. I'd say I've covered that bit myself," she said with a nod."

"But the townspeople will think--"

"They think it already. Let them continue if they like."

"You can wear it back, behind the hair," Emmie broke in, taking the veil. "It will frame it perfectly."

"The hair that isn't mine," Pearl put in.

"You decided Bethany was a brunette, not me," Emmie informed her as she pined the veil into place. Stepping back she grinned. "Perfect. You're beautiful."

"Then let's get this over with, and no more weddings for a goodly long time."

"Such a cheerful bride," Will joked.

Pearl shook her head, snatching her bouquet from Emmie before stocking out of the room.

Norrington stood outside the closed door. Ethan saw her first, bowing properly and brushing his father's arm. Norrington turned, eyes lighting up when they settled on his bride. "You're beautiful," he said.

She couldn't help but grin at the look. "Not a poor replacement for a former wife?"

"Maggie died a lifetime ago," Norrington told her, taking her hand. "The two of you never spent a moment competing. Not in my mind, nor in my heart." He kissed her cheek. "I'm not supposed to see you before the actual ceremony." Pearl opened her mouth to object but he put up a hand to forestall her. "I know, after two ceremonies that's absolutely ridiculous, but we have appearances to keep up. Just step to the side while I go inside."

Nodding, she stepped out of sight while Norrington slipped through the door. She paused, then nodded. Emmie offered Ethan her arm, and he chuckled as he tucked it under his. At a rap on the door two of Norrington's men inside opened the door.

She could hear a murmur through the crowd as the two walked in and the tune struck up.

Pearl looped her arm through her father's. "All set then?"

"I look like a stuffed peacock," he responded.

"Better and better, because I feel like one," she said with a smile. "Go ahead," she told the Turners.

Elizabeth nodded, taking Will's arm and marching down the isle.

Pearl squeezed her father's arm one final time before stepping to the door. "Can't believe you're making me hand you off to the man," he muttered.

"You already married me to him."

"That was different. It was under orders from you."

"You do in this as well."

"Now. I want to keep you. I don't want to give you up to anyone."

Pearl smiled, turning to kiss his cheek. "It's sweet of you to say. But I'm far more than grown now, and it's long past time to go." She tugged at his arm. "Come. I have to get married one last time."

The crowd, standing as she walked in, turned to stare at her. Some of the women gasped, some sobbed into their handkerchiefs (forcing Pearl to bite down on her laughter). All grinned at her, but her eyes slid past them to fasten on her once-again husband.

She had thought him beautiful each time she came to accept him as her husband, but she had to admit that the fine dress did something for him. The blue brought out his eyes while the gold of the navy coat sparkled in the colored light shining through the stained glass. She'd ordered him not to wear the wig, so his brown hair picked out with traces of gray also seemed to glow before her. He smiled, something he seldom did, wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes as he grinned. She wondered, not for the first time, how the pristine creature could want to marry her.

Jack brought her forward, placing her hand in Norrington's with a warning look and an obvious movement toward the gold pistol tucked into his belt.

Pearl glared at him, attempting not to disturb the skirt while kicking her father in the shin before turning shinning eyes on Norrington.

Pearl couldn't help but match his grin as her husband kissed her gloved hand. "I missed you," he whispered to her.

"And I you," she whispered back before reluctantly turning to face the priest before them.

"The husband is the head of the marriage," the priest announced, raising his hands before the couple, "as Christ was the head of the church." Pearl squeezed down on Norrington's hand. "So it is written in the book of our Lord. The husband will keep the wife, and cherish her, and she will live to serve him." She squeezed harder and attempted to convince herself that she was completely deaf.

The ceremony ended, at last, and Pearl managed to recapture the smile that had slipped in favor of the look of murderous pirate rage that Norrington had been blithely ignoring while sweat trickled down his back.

He turned to her and kissed her, a short peck on the cheek. She was surprised to see a blush spread over his cheeks as the crowd cheered, especially considering everything she'd done to him in her marriage bed over the past few weeks.

"I am most proud to announce you to be husband and wife. Please turn to face the crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Edward James Norrington."

Pearl chuckled at the irony of that statement, and turned to look at those standing to applaud for her. Smiling she dropped a curtsy, eyes sweeping almost blindly over the crowd until…

There was a circular window of stained glass above the door into the room, letting light sweep through, pooling in the middle of the isle. And standing in the very center of that pool, bathed in colored light, was a woman that could have been her twin. Curling red hair surrounded a face slightly more round than Pearl's own, with eyes so blue they put the sea to shame.

Her hand clamped around Norrington's, and she felt his own tighten in return. He had seen it too.

As the couple watched Mistress Margaret Norriongton curtsied deeply to the new couple and gifted them with one of her rare smiles before disappearing.

Pearl met Norrington's eyes, finding them as round with shock as her own. He gripped her tightly, coming back to himself as the applause quieted marginally. "We should go," he whispered gently.

"Indeed," she agreed.

He led her shakily down the isle. Guests reached out to touch them, congratulating them. As they passed the crowd and stepped through the pool of light the overwhelming scent of roses came to them.

Pearl drooped against Norrington when the reached the hall, grabbing at his arm. "You saw that?"

"Indeed," he assured her.

"Mama, are you all right?" Emmie demanded, scurrying to her mother's side.

"I'm fine," she assured her daughter. "I think."

"At least we know we have her blessing," Norrington remarked.

"Whose blessing?" Elizabeth asked.

"Maggie's," Pearl said. "We just saw her."

"Where?" Ethan asked.

Pearl waved toward the sunlit isle from which people were emerging. "And I missed it!" Emmie moaned.

"A bit overwhelmed, eh?" an older woman said, coming up to pat Pearl's arm. "Ah, it happens to us all. Just you wait until tonight. You'll be right properly overwhelmed then." She walked off chuckling.

"Who was that?" Pearl asked.

"My nurse, once upon a time. I fear the heat may have gotten to her." He shook his head. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, of course I'm fine." She straightened. "It's nice of her to check in. Let's just hope she doesn't do it too often."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Norrington said. "In the mean time, we have guests to treat properly."

Pearl moaned.

"And cake to eat," Emmie added.

Pearl sighed. "Well, as long as there's cake we may as well."