AN: yay, more Norrie goodness. And on a completely unrelated point, I hope Cristiano Ronaldo gets what he deserves. A nice kick in the goolies from John Terry wouldn't go amiss. And I, as a Welshwoman, don't even support England. Man, I'm well and truly riled now. Let us commence with a nice, sophisticated picnic in the sun, shall we? dd xx
15
The days before the proposed picnic passed in a flurry of careful organisation and unchecked excitement in all sections of the party.
The huge wicker hampers were packed with mouth-watering foodstuffs, from glazed cold hams and spicy pickles to deep fruit pies sprinkled with sugar and tropical salads containing pineapple, mango and all manner of colourful offerings. Ten of the most eager marines were to be seen very early that morning, carrying huge parasols, gazebos, and dainty chairs for the ladies onto the Dauntless.
Commodore James Norrington watched these proceedings with a satisfied air. Whatever happened with regard to his indecisive friendship with Miss Alicia Groves, he would be safe in the knowledge that his men had enjoyed a well-earned break. He was pleased to hear their joyous voices as they gladly hoisted the crates of food on board.
It was not until some hours later, when the first chill of the morning had dissipated into the customary warmth of the Caribbean day, that the members of the party who had not risen with the dawn to help with the preparations began to arrive. Norrington noted that several officers seemed to have acquired young women on their arms, and were strolling around the deck proudly with these companions in tow. Norrington was, as ever, in no mood to observe the young ladies, but rather kept an eye on the shore, in the direction of the Royal Oak.
There were but a few minutes remaining before their projected departure when the Commodore, who had unwittingly been jiggling nervously from foot to foot as he awaited Lieutenant Groves and his sister, spotted the couple making their way down the steps to the quay.
'Ah, Lieutenant!' he hailed loudly, waving from the deck.
His friend saw, and waved in return, and Norrington scampered down from his high perch to help Miss Groves on board the ship. He could not help but beam foolishly as he handed her down onto the polished boards of the deck and welcomed her proudly onto his Dauntless.
He walked with the two siblings some way around the deck, watching as Groves pointed out the attention to detail in the workmanship.
Presently the company of the ship galvanised into action, and Norrington was obliged to step up to the captain's deck to oversee their brief voyage to the island. It was another fine day, and he relished the familiar feeling of the rushing wind making his eyes water as they made good progress through the clear water.
He was so engrossed in scanning the horizon with his telescope, watching the green island draw ever closer, that he failed to notice another presence at his elbow, until his new companion spoke.
'It is just as my brother described, Commodore Norrington – a palace on water.'
The Commodore lowered his telescope and turned to greet Miss Groves, who was looking pretty in a mint-green dress.
'You like it then?' he asked casually, one protective hand on the rail of his beloved ship.
'I do.' She replied sagely, as though her opinion on the Dauntless was of great importance. And, Norrington realised, it was. He smiled at her sheepishly, and became aware that he was unconsciously stroking the wooden rail. He desisted.
They stood in silence in the refreshing breeze as the Dauntless sped on her way. Norrington wondered what sort of a domestic image they presented to the others leisurely strolling arm-in-arm about the deck. He decided it was a magnificent feeling to be standing tall and proud at the helm of his ship with a fine woman at his side, and smiled to himself.
He was smiling far too much these days, he thought, for a man with so much responsibility and with the humiliation of Miss Swann's final decision fresh in the memory of most of society.
'Has something amused you, Commodore?' Miss Groves asked gently. He turned sharply towards her and caught the laughter in her eyes, and recalled the closed, sullen face he had first seen in the harbour, the day the Groves family had arrived.
'Not at all,' he replied with a great sigh of happiness at the perfection of the day and the company, 'I was simply considering how lucky I am.'
'Oh? How so?' he could have sworn she was raising an eyebrow in that tantalisingly mocking way Elizabeth often had, and immediately cursed himself for having drawn comparisons between the two again.
'I…to be stationed in an Elysium such as this…and to have no pirates to pursue, to have the wind in the sails…what naval officer could want more?'
Miss Groves returned her gaze to the open ocean. 'And the company, Commodore Norrington? Is that similarly to your liking?' she almost whispered.
He paused, and contemplated his reply carefully. 'Yes. I like the company very much,' he said equally quietly, almost solemnly, and also looked out to sea, an expression of great concentration on his face.
Presently, just as the Commodore was beginning to think he must say something else to back up his previous statement, Lieutenant Groves came bounding excitedly up the steps towards them.
'Not long now, eh, sir? A few more minutes?'
'Fifteen minutes would not be a poor estimate, Lieutenant,' replied Norrington, a little flustered.
'And how do you like the voyage, sister? A fine day for sailing the high seas, do you not agree?'
'Yes,' Miss Groves said, returning to the quiet composure to which Norrington was more used. He felt a certain sense of relief that Groves had arrived on the scene to alleviate the tension he felt growing, and wondered if it might be easier to converse freely with her on the beach instead.
As promised, it was only a further quarter of an hour before the Dauntless anchored offshore, and launched the small boats to take the company and the accompanying luggage to the island. There was a great air of excitement and anticipation among the gathered group, and they chattered eagerly as they loaded into the boats and struck out for shore.
In the race for the boats, Norrington lost sight of Miss Groves, and was momentarily caught up in organising an orderly system for loading the crates of cutlery and crockery, which was in danger of being left onboard.
Finally the party was successfully onshore, with the Commodore's boat the last to ground itself in the fine sand of Santa Maria. He looked about him as he jumped agilely out of the boat. Some of the men had already kicked off their cumbersome shoes, and peeled off their pristine stockings, and were relishing the feeling of hot sand between their toes. The ladies were strolling merrily arm-in-arm, their delicate skin shaded from the sun by lacy parasols. It was indeed a perfect picture.
AN: um…the bit where Norrington is stroking the rail…I would request that you remove your minds from the gutter, as this is a K fic. Shame on me for even thinking it. Right, roll on the barbequed pork, and thank you for all your reviews! dd xx