A/N: Sorry for the few days it took to get this update, work and school keep me busy, thank you to those three who reviewed, those are most assuredly what keep any author going. (thanks to Freddy2fan - Sarah Kathleen - Shadow Spirit) I appreciate everyones comments and suggestions. Also, I am trying a new style for me with this fanfiction in the way that I am moving from character to character, I generally use a slightly different method of transition. If it gets confusing or doesnt work for you, please let me know. And again review review review please...comments, suggestions, criticisms are all welcome. Thanks so much and enjoy.
Chapter 2
"Age indeed Lord Wells" he mused, the comment earning him a mock glare from the elder man. "That aside" the Admiral's tone seemed to change drastically "and not to show any ….disrespect for you, or you wife's, hospitality..." he cleared his throat slightly. "Why have you asked me here today?"
The air in the room seemed to suddenly grow stiff, both the Lord and Lady Wells shifting in their seats nervously. Danielle began to wonder exactly what sort of thing might put two people, such as these, in such a state of nerves so suddenly. Though worried as she was over the matter she was not at all prepared for what Edward Wells was about to say.
"Admiral" he began, audibly clearing his throat and casting a quick glance at his wife. "I am retired, we have been in Port Royal for some years now and…" he broke off with uncharacteristic hesitation. "We are moving back to England," he finished quickly, avoiding any direct eye contact with Danielle who sat across the table, mouth agape, face flushed, both without shame. Shock was not an appropriate word for what she was feeling right now, but Lord Wells wasn't finished. "Sara, who prepared this meal for us" he gestured a hand towards the kitchens "Came with us from London…as did Robert whom is out attending our business at the moment but…" he shook his head some forcing himself back from his rambling. "They both have family there…" Edward was not typically the type of man to steer around issues though today he was making good work of it. He simply couldn't seem to get it out, so his wife did it for him.
"Danielle, we are not taking you with us." The definitive statement shot out of Annabelle Wells' tight lipped mouth and might as well have been a 32 pound roundshot cannon ball fired straight at Danielle's chest for all the impact that those words hit her with. "You no longer have family there and we are not giving up our estate here, someone will need to look after it." The words were meant to ease any pain that the original decision had caused but they fell on deaf ears. Danielle felt as if she'd taken with physical illness, there was a weight against her chest and she thought that her throat might close up at any moment. Nothing said after those first words from the Lady meant anything and couldn't possibly have any bearing on how bad she felt, this was the worst possible thing that could have happened, she thought. "We will be leaving both the estate and Ms. Williams here, in your charge Admiral Norrington."
What? Surely they wouldn't pass her off to someone, to anyone. At least with the estate remaining intact she would be able to remain there and take care of things, wasn't that to be the way of it? The Admiral would drop by, delegate and then leave her in peace, wouldn't he? The rational and better part of her mind told her that no matter how much the Wells' fancied her she would not be left to single handedly run the estate with no staff, and consequently not allowed to remain there alone. Danielle had never been one of those girls given to flights of fancy, or fainting, or even really being overtly emotional but it took everything she had to hold back the tears that were burning the back of her eyes and reddening her face. She knew how she must have looked, her cheeks red, eyes watering, mouth pulled into a tight grimace. She did not care, all of her earlier worries about how she appeared had flown and now she felt like for the next few moments nothing she did mattered. She wasn't in control, the people she had trusted with her fate had just handed it over to a man she didn't know.
James Norrington did not usually speak out of turn, he didn't make faces or show emotion and up until now he had managed to hide his surprise at this revelation with the same passive face that he always wore in such a situation. "I'm not sure I quite understand your meaning Madame." His words were correct, a small miracle, his tone even fairly natural but there was an unmistakable trembling beneath his voice that betrayed him. He knew exactly what was implied within the statement, and so did everyone else. He was meant to oversee the affairs of the left behind estate, a less than challenging task, but to take on this girl as one of his staff? Or worse to have her simply living in his own house? This was simply unheard of and he fought terribly hard not to outburst his feelings, a glance in the direction of the young woman in question who seemed to be shaken sufficing to hold him back for the moment.
"James…" Edward began, "You have long been my friend and before that my student. You are an honest man and I trust you. I need to leave my estate in the hands of someone who is capable of seeing that it is properly cared for. And as for Danielle…." He broke off again, chancing a glance at her and quickly turning away, perhaps out of shame. "She works hard for us, she is trustworthy as well and Annabelle and I have become very fond of her…. I would not trust such precious things in the hands of any other man in all the world James..."
What could he say to that? This man was dear to him and even though this was the first time they'd visited in some years really, he had never once doubted that they were friends. He couldn't refuse him no matter how much the idea of having to look after someone other than himself bothered him right now. "Yes, I understand." He leaned back in his chair some, regaining his composure if any of it had really been lost, his voice evening back out into that flat, lifeless tone he used when conducting business. "I will take care of the estate…and Ms. Williams if that is your wish, I am grateful that you thought to ask it of me." What was he saying? Why couldn't he simply say what he felt? No Edward, I will not watch after your servant girl turned pseudo daughter? And in no definitive terms that's what the young woman was...else she would not have merited such a fuss. But to have her living in his home, could he do that? He didn't think so. His social skills, despite his breeding, often lacked greatly, it would be some great effort on his part to accommodate her and in reality he simply did not want a stuttering, blushing girl living in his house. His staff was one matter, this was something altogether different. He assumed they meant for her not to work? Or did they? He had several ladies that took care of what needed to be done as it were, he dreaded to think of introducing this young woman into them simply on the premise that she was fancied by and upstanding friend. This was already almost more trouble than it was worth.
Edward blew out a sigh of relief, shaking his head and laughing amiably, though there was still the echo of nervousness to his voice. The laugh, though partially because of the strain of his nerves, sounded rusty, as if it were a sound he hadn't made in some time. "James I can't thank you enough. We're due to leave within the month." Neither Edward, nor his wife looked at Danielle, though they shared glances between them that may have been sorrow or regret. Danielle didn't notice any of it. She sat simply and silently for the remainder of the meal, eating as if guided by some unseen force, her eyes forward and unfocused as her mind tried to work itself around what had just happened. This was the third time that some large change in her life had occurred that landed her in a new environment and situation and at present she was expecting the worse from it. The careful Admiral didn't have to say anything or show anything for her to know she was an equally unwanted responsibility to him as the entire situation was to her. She was to be in the home of a powerful man, who seemed to care little for very little, and most certainly thought her beneath him…. It seemed every time something like this happened, her prospects worsened and at the moment, nothing seemed worse than moving into the home of James Norrington.
