Well, here's a nice long chapter finally. I appreciate the feedback I've been getting, don't stop your reviews! Okay, read on and enjoy. -
Through the Winds of Doubt: Chapter Four- Without a Sail
Elizabeth sat fuming on her bed. If one more unfortunate event happened within the next hour, she would throw herself out the window. That morning, after her meeting with Jack, Governor Swann left for a two day trip to another port. Which would have worked in my advantage, Elizabeth thought, if only Norrington hadn't offered his watchful eye! Yes, the Commodore was probably downstairs, enjoying a fine cup of tea while she suffered every moment. Elizabeth sighed, doggedly as one more idea popped into her mind.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," she whispered to herself.
She rose from her bed and took a long look at herself in dresser mirror, wondering if she'd be able to convince the Commodore with her…assets. Quickly, she powdered and perfumed herself and pulled the shoulders of her gown down lower, more of her milky smooth skin shining in the sunlight streaming through the open window. She nodded to herself in approval and began her descent to the lounge. The Commodore sat regally in a huge chair next to the fireplace; a few other officials stood in various parts of the room making small talk. Elizabeth smoothed her dress before strutting into the room.
The Commodore gazed up at his ex-fiancé, astonished. "Eliza-I mean Miss Swann, nice of you to drop by, please sit down and have a cup of tea. I'm sure our political talk might bore you, but if it pleases you to listen…"
"Actually, Commodore, I mean to speak with you, in private."
The others stopped their conversations and turned to the governor's daughter. The Commodore appeared calm.
"Gentleman, if you don't mind, Miss Swann and I must talk alone."
The others paused for a moment before clearing the room. Elizabeth shut the doors to the lounge and turned back to the Commodore who was still sitting, calmly sipping at his tea. Elizabeth walked to him and sat languidly down on the arm of his chair.
"Commodore, I do enjoy when you stay here. Everything is much more appeased when you are present."
Norrington sniffed the air curiously. "Is that perfume you're wearing?"
"Why, yes, you noticed? I'd begun to think no one noticed anymore, even Will. He is so forgetful of how a woman must prepare herself for her man-"
"Elizabeth, you're not going anywhere, and those are direct orders from your father."
Elizabeth rose, infuriated, from the chair. "You can't expect me to stay inside for two days doing absolutely nothing! I'm not a child; I am a woman and may go wherever I wish."
Norrington sipped his tea again, raising his eyebrows at her. She narrowed her eyes before sighing.
"Please, James? I swear on my life that it'll be our little secret; father will never know."
The Commodore rose from his chair, put his tea on a small table, and ambled until he stood right in front of her. He leaned in to her ear, his breath running down her neck. Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat.
"You know Elizabeth," he breathed heavily, "I'd really thought, after all this time," here he paused. Elizabeth looked into his eyes. "Yes?"
"That you wouldn't act like such a spoiled child anymore." He leered at her and watched expectantly, as Elizabeth's face turned a bright pink.
Before she could open her mouth, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," the Commodore commanded.
A soldier in the King's red uniform saluted Norrington and Elizabeth.
"My apologies sir, but there's a bit of a ruckus in town. Some hooligan girl is-excuse my profanity, miss-raising hell down in one of the pubs, sir. She requested you by name."
Norrington sighed irritably. "Arrest her, don't waste your time with me."
"Technically, we can't Commodore. She hasn't physically hurt anyone or destroyed public property. But she screams terribly, and she's causing a huge commotion, sir. She swears she'll be quiet once she sees you."
Norrington closed his eyes in exasperation.
"All right, I'm on my way."
The soldier saluted and strode out. Norrington followed suit, Elizabeth close behind. Norrington stopped at the door and gazed at her before calling one of the servants, an old man with graying hair. "
Yes, sir," the servant inquired.
Norrington reached into his own pocket and pulled out a few doubloons. "Miss Swann does not leave this house, understood?"
The Commodore dropped the coin into the servant's hand. "Quite clear, sir," the servant nodded as he pocketed his reward-in-advance.
Elizabeth glared at Norrington, who only shook his head and strode out. She gazed at the servant, who had a look of complacency etched on his face. She nodded at him coldly and walked gracefully up into her room. It wasn't until she had shut her door and buried her head in one of her many pillows that she screamed in frustration.
For fifteen minutes, Elizabeth wrote furiously in her journal about yesterday's discovery of the Black Pearl, up until that very moment. When she heard a large rap on the front door, she shut her book quickly and walked out to the banister to see who it was. She watched the old servant open the door grandly.
Elizabeth stared slack-jawed at the man who stood on the threshold.
"Good after noon sir. What, may I ask is your business at the house of Governor Swann?"
Jack Sparrow grinned widely, his golden teeth gleaming fiercely. "I've come to see Miss Swann. She, ah, requested my presence," Jack stumbled over the words.
What does he think he's doing, Elizabeth thought. He's bloody mad, Norrington could come back any moment now.
The servant looked to Elizabeth, who hastily closed her mouth and regained her confident composure.
"Your name," the servant inquired.
Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "Smith. John Smith. Or Smithy, if you so like it."
Elizabeth swallowed her laugh and descended down the stairs.
"Oh yes, Mr. Smith. I have been expecting you. Do come in."
Jack nodded and staggered across the threshold, gazing at his surroundings curiously.
"Nice place," he noted aloud.
The servant glared at him, "Indeed."
Elizabeth stepped beside Jack and cleared her throat noisily. "If you don't mind, Mr. Smith and I have much to talk about in private."
The servant eyed them suspiciously before turning away to maintain his post at the door. Elizabeth led Jack into the lounge and shut the doors. She turned to see Jack looking around absent-mindedly.
"Y'know, this really is some house ye've got here. I've been to some other mansions like this but the interior design-"
"Jack," Elizabeth exclaimed grabbing him the shoulders forcefully, "what are you doing here? Are you mad?"
Jack shifted his eyes to the window. "There's no one, tha' can see in 'ere is there?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes before walking to the window and closing the curtains.
"Jack, Norrington will be back any moment. If you don't leave now…"
"No he won't," Jack replied as he stalked to the liquor cabinet.
"What? How do you know?"
Jack grabbed a huge rum glass from the cabinet and popped open the top. He looked at Elizabeth mischievously and sat lazily on a chair. He gazed at Elizabeth for a few moments, staring her up and down.
"You have no decency, do you," she asked him.
He took a long swig from the bottle and smirked at her. "I should be askin' you the same thing, mate."
Elizabeth looked down at herself, realizing she hadn't fixed her appearance after her talk with Norrington. Her shoulders were bare and her hair hung down around her collarbone. She blushed and quickly gathered herself.
"Lemme just say, no matter what level of decency, yer absolutely…ravishing," Jack smiled.
Elizabeth blushed an even darker shade of red. "Thank you Jack, but really you shouldn't be here. I don't want to see the noose around your neck again."
Jack stood up and walked over to her. "I've been thinkin' and I've a proposition for ye." Elizabeth scowled at him. Jack ignored her look of contempt. "Ya see, it's my belief that you can 'elp me find this treasure I'm seekin'." Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest but Jack barreled onward.
"Now I swear, on pain of death, if you 'elp me find this treasure, I shall never bother you or dear William ever again. How do ye fancy that?"
"Unlikely," she muttered to herself.
But, against her own will, she closed her eyes in thought, and began to consider Jack's offer. Chances of her seeing Jack again after this were probably unlikely; and for Elizabeth for some unknown reason deep within her heart, she was saddened by this thought. There wasn't much she could help Jack with anyways. He'll probably ask me for a map and be on his way, she thought. She opened her eyes and looked at Jack who was still gaping at her.
"All right, I'll help. What is it that you need? Money, a map?..."
Jack didn't answer though. Instead he circled Elizabeth until he was behind her. "I wasn't kiddin' when I said you were ravishing and all," he whispered to her.
Her heart stopped. "Jack, please, just tell me-"
But Jack had placed his hands on her bare shoulders. "Must be…temptin' when Will isn't here," he murmured.
Elizabeth stood, frozen. "I don't know what you mean."
Jack chuckled, "You know well what I mean, love."
This is so wrong, she screamed in her mind. But her body rebelled. Jack pushed his entire body into her back and leaned his head in towards her neck. He ran his hands gently down her arms and back up again.
"Jack, get away…" she said half-heartedly.
She could smell him he was so close. She smelled the sea salt on his skin and the rum on his breath. The only other time she'd been this close to him was when she had been stuck on an island with him. Just them. Alone. And even though she had been repulsed by him then, she had been close enough to see his handsome features. Those soft brown eyes, that perfect jaw...and those hands. They were rough, just like Will's…Will, she thought and she opened her eyes to shove Jack off of her. But before she could protest or open her mouth, a cloth was shoved into her face. She struggled but the grip on her was too strong.
"Sorry, love," Jack whispered.
Those were the last words she heard before all melted black.