A/N: Hey everyone, here is chapter 4. I want to appologize that I can only update every few days but school and work keep me busy. I'm trying to get these up as fast as I can though and I appreciate your reviews. They are the authors fuel! . Also, just as a note I'll probably be revising the first two chapters (no significant content change...a bit of wording and grammer corrections) so look out for that. And again thanks for reading...hope you enjoy.

Chapter 4

"Admiral?" Lt. Gillette had already opened the door to Norrington's office three quarters of the way before bothering to address his superior. "Permission to speak freely?" He requested, eying James who was bent over a map and doing a terrible job at pretending to read it. "How did it go?"

"Permission denied," came the reply. I don't want to talk about it. The woman has been in my care less than half a day and already I have served to make sure the experience will be as unpleasant as possible. Is that what you wanted to hear Gillette? The Lieutenant shut the door fully and relaxed his stance, arms folding over his chest.

"I'll accept my punishment later for my blatant disregard for orders…now tell me. At least tell me how Edward is, God knows I haven't seen the man in ages and now it's likely I won't see him again." James was still bent over he noticed, though he had stopped his charade with the map and was now resting his chin in one palm, a clearly irritated look on his face.

"He's fine, in his health anyhow. Though why he wanted to move back to London I can't really understand…." He sat back in his chair some, gesturing across the desk Gillette. "You might as well sit down since you are already imposing yourself upon me Lieutenant." Gillette, use to this meaningless banter took a seat, head nodding as he mulled over James' statement a moment.

"More like you don't understand why he didn't sale the estate and relieve its staff? Though, it is odd how you said Edward seemed so fond of the girl and yet they did not wish her to go with them?" Gillette had sat crookedly in the chair, one arm lain over its back, the other propped up, his fingers smoothing over the side of his jaw. "Might there be something wrong with her? Hmm…" He was really more thinking aloud now than talking to James', a fact which did not escape the Admiral.

"Are you quite done speculating on my new house guest? Or shall I have to endure your philosophies for the remainder of the afternoon?" The irritation had all but vanished, leaving a familiar sarcasm and small smile in its wake. "Edward has intended for her to marry, or so says the letter he left me with this morning." A slow smirk began to work its way up James' face, culminating in a look that Gillette knew all to well. "You are welcome to make her an offer, take her off my hands." He barely contained the bit of laughter that threatened to spill out of his mouth at the incredulous look the officer gave him.

"You're mad." Gillette stood, shaking his head at James and crossing to the door. "Next time just tell me you want me to get out." He shot a smirk of his own at James and they momentarily shared a small laugh before Gillette excused himself and shut the door. Looking back down to the map before him, James picked up his pen, intending to make a mark, the humor of the earlier moment still not completely gone. There was something else there too now though, he laid the pen back down and gave the emptiness of his office a quizzical stare. Was that guilt? Surely not, Miss Williams meant very little if anything to him and he hadn't exactly said anything degrading about her…. But she does mean something to Edward Wells and you owe it to him to be respectful of her, if nothing else.

"Damn it," the curse left his mouth easily. In the past few years he had learned to ignore guilt, to mask it and blame it away on other emotions. He hadn't felt it quite so strongly in a very long time. The uncomfortable feeling that hit him moved him from his chair and to the window. The evening was fast approaching and he wondered momentarily if it wasn't better to simply send word for Miss Williams to dine when she pleased, while he remained at the Fort on business of course. "Coward," he cursed himself. He hated to admit it but he was mildly wary, if not afraid perhaps, of going back. The privacy he had enjoyed for the better part of his adult life was completely shattered as far as he was concerned and to make matters worse, he had managed to break any air that might have surrounded him as a good host with his earlier offensive comment. Doubtful she'll have anything to say to me. "Good…dinner will be much more pleasant if she will just stay silent." The guilt was no more, an indignant mood taking him over. While he would keep his word to Edward and keep her safe and well he had no intentions or obligation to treat her with anything more than that. It would do no good to let her live under the pretence of station, only to find herself beneath it when she married. Certainly no one in James' social circles would have anything to do with her… Glancing out the window again, though reluctantly, he swept the thoughts from his mind and resigned himself to go home, however much he may not have wanted to.

The blazing of the Caribbean sun, fiery and hanging low on the horizon seemed so different from the balcony of her room at the Admiral's estate. At the Well's it had been pleasant, a sign to signal the end of the day and time to relax and seek some semblance of normalcy. Tonight, it meant that she would have to go down stairs and eat her dinner with Norrington. He had plagued her thoughts for the better part of the morning, distracting her as Anne gave her the grand tour of the home.

"Miss Williams?" Anne had asked repeatedly, "Are you well?" The maid, only about five years Danielle's senior had suspected that her Master had said something that didn't sit well with their guest. The man was not famous for having a pleasant way with words. "If you will pardon my intrusion here…the Master, he, well he says many things." She shook her head, finally catching Danielle's attention with her words. "He's not a bad sort of man though; his wig fits him a bit too tight at times is all." She spoke in a hushed voice, finishing the statement with a conciliatory smile that was too genuine for Danielle's natural good humor not to respond to.

"I understand…" She'd said, the small exchange opening her back up a bit and leaving the rest of the day with a more pleasant feeling than it had earlier. They had finished their tour and a turn around Danielle's room with swift and light hearted conversation. If nothing else, at least she had managed to find a willing ear and someone to speak to when the Admiral was away. She had the distinct feeling though that another session with Anne might be in order after dinner.

"Miss?" Anne had stepped inside the door and was beckoning to her. "He's home" She whispered. "Dinner is about to be served its best that you go on down…" She nodded her head reassuringly, holding out a hand to Danielle and ushering her out of the door and down the stairs. The Admiral was already waiting for her when she entered the room. Standing beside the table in his waistcoat, the uniformed jacket having been removed along with his hat and wig, he looked younger. His face looks less severe, more human. She wished she could have made the comment aloud to Anne but she refrained and merely gave the woman a cryptic smile as her chair was pulled for her and both she and the Admiral sat down.

"Good Evening Miss Williams. I trust that you had a fair afternoon." As far as Danielle could tell, he hadn't looked at her since she first appeared in the room. After that he'd lowered his gaze and now he seemed to find something very interesting about his cup. Part of her wondered if he felt embarrassed at his words from the morning and part of her thought that he must just be that displeased with her presence. Not that she was eager to be spending her evening with someone who so clearly disapproved of her. Though, after a well spent afternoon with another woman, close in age and in disposition, most of her good humor had returned and she was determined at least to enjoy the meal, even if the company was uninteresting.

"Thank you Admiral. Your home is lovely and my afternoon was delightful." Danielle gave him a curious glance, picking up her fork and toying with her food a bit. "I hope you had an equally pleasant day at the Fort." She commented, her tone light, no sign of offense lingering, which surprised James greatly. He only nodded in reply though he had to admit, had their roles been reversed he'd have probably still been seething. The remainder of the meal was eaten in silence, neither of the room's occupants seeming more than mildly interested in either the food or each other. It was when Anne came in to remove the latest platters from before them that Danielle spoke again. "Anne was kind enough to give me a tour this afternoon." James groaned inwardly, he had seen the secretive smile the two women shared earlier and prayed that the girl would not meddle with his staff. Though he should have thought earlier that the two women, closest in age might find a common ground. "She informed me that your study has quite a large collection of books. I was wondering if you might pick out one you think suitable for me…" James looked up at her, really looked at her for the first time since he'd been home. "Since we've established that I am capable of reading." She added, almost an afterthought and with so sweet a tone that he nearly wanted to be sick. Anne, who was clearing the rest of the platters away still made a choking noise and hurried from the room while Danielle all the while seemed to remain oblivious to her own remark, a genuine smile curling her lips.

"Of course," he cleared his throat. "You may accompany me and pick one out if you like…. We can go now." He stood stiffly and gave her a slight nod, indicating that she should stand. She did and he did not bother to offer her his arm this time, but simply strode from the room leaving her to follow behind. "Since we've established that I am capable of reading." He mocked. The last thing he wanted her to do was read one of his books now. What he wanted was to tell her no, to scold her for her remark and send her to her room, preferably in tears for the way she had made him feel. Guilty, twice over, in one day by one woman. This was absurd. "Here…" He opened the door for her and moved inside the study behind her, pointedly taking a seat in his armchair and making some great noise while trying to find a comfortable position. He wanted her gone, every moment he had to look at her his anger only grew. She seemed to sense his mood and she worked quickly, he didn't even bother to hold up the book when she finally picked one out. "Goodnight Miss Williams." He gave the curt reply and turned his gaze away an unmistakable signal that it was time for her to leave.

Danielle managed to maintain her composure and pick out something fairly quickly though she doubted if she would even read the book. "Goodnight Admiral" She closed the door behind her with a loud crack and fought the urge to vent her frustrations just outside it. The book clasped firmly against her chest, she forced her feet up the stairs, each step adding to the growing sense of dread she'd been trying to ease around all day. She hoped Anne would stop in before she retired for the night. She needed a friendly face, or really any face that was not the stone picture of animosity that Norrington's was. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized, even after this morning she thought that perhaps he was just unaccustomed to having someone else in the house, that maybe she would be able to acquaint herself with him enough to make the experience tolerable. She had been comparing him all the while to the last man she'd lived with, but she had been terribly wrong. James Norrington was nothing like Edward Wells, tough on the outside, Edward was still human when it came right down to it, and at the moment she wasn't sure if Norrington was.