AN: so, here is more Norrie goodness. And I would appreciate some support, because Spain, for whom I have a soft spot, were knocked out of the World Cup yesterday. A sad day for football. Anyway, read, enjoy, drop me a line! Love dd xx

14

Miss Groves, meanwhile, was contemplating the awkwardness of the situation.

After her tearful ponderings of that morning, she was disposed to look on the Commodore in an even more pessimistic light – as a gentleman of great consequence, who deserved a wife of similar calibre to Miss Swann, not a shy, graceless girl newly arrived from the different world of England. He must surely scorn her for her inability to understand the customs and standards of his world.

And yet – he had offered to escort her home – the Commodore, the most important man in the British Navy in the Caribbean, who indisputably had better things to do with his precious time than seeing inelegant younger sisters home. And especially young women who had thus far certainly not endeared herself to said Commodore with her sparkling wit and effortless discourse.

They continued in uncomfortable silence for several minutes, both pretending to be engrossed in the sparkling water of the bay and the cloudy sails of ships loading and patrolling.

Presently, Norrington, out of sheer embarrassment, broke the silence. 'I am most awfully pleased you are accompanying us to Santa Maria, Miss Groves,' he began, cringing at his ungainly turn of phrase.

'Yes,' replied his companion, 'I look forward to it.'

'It is a most beautiful island, Santa Maria. I do hope you will learn to love it, as I have.' The moment the words were out of his mouth, Norrington felt how forward they were, and blushed a deep red.

'I have heard it is, indeed, a paradise.'

Norrington, too concerned with avoiding further humiliation, deemed silence to be the better option.

After several more minutes passed without any exchange between the two, even the most basic of topics, the weather, having been exhausted, the Commodore felt there was nothing to be done but to throw decorum and social rules to the wind.

'I must know, Miss Groves,' he began haltingly, feeing his resolve drain away as she turned to him and gazed quizzically upwards with her innocent eyes, 'do you not enjoy my company?'

Miss Groves looked mildly astonished, and opened her mouth to protest, but Norrington continued hastily, 'I know I have little to recommend me, for my personality is dreary and…occasionally abrasive, but I hope I have never done anything to intimidate you…'

Miss Groves was still looking shocked. 'Why, no, Commodore, indeed not,' she managed to gasp. 'I simply…I cannot imagine what two people as different as we two would have to talk about. That is all. I would not wish to bore you with talk of inane romance novels and embroidery.'

Norrington's eyebrows raised in similar surprise. 'By that, Miss Groves, I imagine you mean you would have no desire to hear of trade routes and orders for sail canvas?' he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Miss Groves had the grace to blush as she laughed. 'Not at all, sir…I am sure I could learn a great deal in conversation with a man such as yourself. However, I fear the advantage would not be mutual.'

Norrington was silent a moment, pondering her meaning. A seagull cawed raucously above in the flawless sky. 'On the contrary,' he said lightly. 'I have never read a romantic novel. I have a great deal to learn.' He smiled tentatively, and felt his throat tighten as she raised her head to smile back at him.

A light breeze picked up, ruffling the hair about her face, and rippling her full skirts, and Norrington felt a great satisfaction with the world in general.

'I…' he was unsure how to express himself. 'I only asked…because I thought you timid when I first met you.' He glanced sideways to ensure she was not offended. 'And yet…I saw you conversing with Mr Armitage last night.'

Miss Groves swallowed delicately. 'But Mr Armitage is not a revered and respected gentleman,' she replied quietly. Norrington felt his heartbeat quicken at her praise.

'So, you confess you are intimidated by me?' he teased her.

'I most certainly do not, sir. I simply feel Mr Armitage and I are on a more equal social footing. I would not be embarrassed should I bore him with information on the latest fashions in London.'

Norrington hoped with all his being that she was being sincere.

'Commodore Norrington?'

'Yes, ma'am?'

Miss Groves stopped on the walkway and looked at him earnestly. 'I wish you to know that I…I was not responsible for making Mr Armitage sensible of…the nature of your relationship with Miss Swann, although I was previously aware of it, I confess.'

Norrington felt his pleasant mood shatter. How inconvenient that she should know of his chequered and unhappy recent past! Her present open and affable nature, then, was most likely pity. He scowled.

'Please, sir,' she pleaded upon seeing his tempestuous expression. 'I was…most alarmed to hear of it, and I offer you every sympathy. I…' she ducked her head and spoke more quietly, 'I am sure you will find happiness somewhere.'

Despite his inner rejoicing at her sweet concern, the Commodore was unsure how to respond. Stiffly, he said 'I assure you, Miss Groves, my heart has been damaged more by the numerous pirates who have escaped my searches, than by a woman who was fully within her right to shun me for a…better emotional match.'

Miss Groves looked somewhat disbelieving. 'You certainly seemed in an ill humour yesterday evening, Commodore, if I may say so.'

'As I said, ma'am, I am no great lover of dancing,' he said curtly and began walking again, wishing desperately that they might move on from the topic of his ill-fated betrothal to Miss Swann as soon as possible.

They soon arrived at the Royal Oak, where they stood in uncertain silence.

'Miss Groves…I apologise if I have been…unduly rude or presumptuous,' Norrington said slowly. 'I confess my skills at conversation are lacking.'

'Not at all, Commodore,' she replied with another smile, although a little awkwardly. 'I thank you for taking the time to accompany me.'

'It was my pleasure.'

With a swift, chaste kiss to the hand, she was gone into the inn, and the Commodore was left in the morning sun to curse himself for his somewhat harsh tone towards the end of their promenade.

As he returned to the fort, deep in thought, he was torn between the agreeable memory of their briefly successful conversation, and confusion at her motivation. She seemed to pity him in his dejection, and yet he was not certain that this was all that compelled her to talk so candidly to him. However, with recent failures with women in mind, he was in no mind to presume a regard on her behalf which would invariably turn out to be phantom.

Nevertheless, he could not help but let himself look forward to the upcoming picnic, and allow his mind to idly daydream of possible scenarios in the lush jungle of the island as he strode briskly back the way he had come with Miss Groves.

AN: come back soon, dd xx