AN: ah, bless you all for your kind reviews! I am fairly overcome by emotion (not to the extent of my sister Rebecca yesterday, who was sobbing because Zinedine Zidane disgraced himself in the World Cup Final. But she's quite a sensitive soul generally…), I assure you. And, as promised, I bring correspondence goodness…I often wish I had a nice country gentleman to send letters to. However, I do not, so I while away my days writing rather enjoyable twaddle about our favourite Commodore. And no, I still haven't seen DMC. Sob. dd xx

19

Norrington was listless in the days that followed, after he had watched Miss Groves being helped into a carriage, and waved sadly as the train of carts and carriages took the family away into the country.

He was greatly distracted by the thought of his own impotence to help her personally, and was aggravated by his reliance upon the brief reports of Miss Groves' progress, which seemed to be alarmingly slow.

It became his daily routine to write his first letter of the day while still in his dressing-gown, often dripping hot tea on the parchment, in his haste to write to Miss Groves with firmly expressed concern for her health. He found it difficult to write of his life in the town, finding nothing in the monotony of his naval duties to amuse the patient, but instead attempted to recall humorous snippets of Port Royal life he had overheard, despite the fact that his own heart was heavy and sombre with anxiety.

For weeks, he found himself writing these brief yet sincere letters with only scribbled and unsatisfying notes from Groves in reply – My sister is slowly recovering and thanks you for your letter; Alicia is still not able to sit up, but was cheered when I read out your latest correspondence and so on. Norrington found himself becoming ever more frustrated by these bland reports, and by the absence of any contact with Miss Groves. With alarm and a little curiosity, he found that he thought of very little else, even when he was poring over important documents and charts.

Thus it was the source of great internal excitement and happiness when one day, around a month and a half after the disastrous island trip, he descended the stairs of his home to find, instead of Groves' usual short note, a letter in the hand of Miss Groves herself.

Barely able to suppress his pleasure at this evident sign of her increasingly improved situation, he nearly choked on his tea and toast as he slit the seal and began to read.

Dear Commodore, read the letter,

Today I was finally able to sit up and read for myself the countless letters from you during my convalescence. I confess your distress on my part fairly reduced me to tears, and I fear that this brief note is inadequate thanks for the care you have shown me ever since I arrived in the Caribbean, but most of all in recent weeks. I write to reassure you that I am now out of danger, although still suffering with a bad cold. I am very happy to be able to reply to your kind letters in person now. Please do tell me more of life in Port Royal – although the estate is beautiful and the air greatly beneficial to an invalid such as myself, I find I miss the bustle and variety of life in the town considerably.

I await your reply anxiously,

Miss A. Groves

Thereafter, Norrington's daily anguish and worry subsided, and he was able to conduct his affairs with a much lighter heart. He settled into a pleasing and comfortable correspondence with Miss Groves, who was convalescing at a much more satisfactory rate.

Dear Miss Groves,

I was happy to hear of your continuing recovery, and send you a bunch of bananas from my orchard, which I have heard tell often help with colds. A word of warning: check the end before you eat it, for I believe spiders have a tendency to make themselves little nests therein. The weather on the sea-front continues to be excellent. Two days ago, a family of most rare parrots took up residency in the forest near the fort. I am sure you would have been enraptured with them: the plumage of the male was identical to the damask dress you wore on your arrival in Port Royal.

I hope you enjoy the bananas,

J. Norrington

Dear Commodore Norrington,

I thank you: the bananas were indeed delicious, and I have entreated Theodore to plant some trees in our own plantation. I am sure your kind gift (and the lemon tea I have been consuming in obscene quantities) has contributed to my current state of good health. Yesterday I was finally able to arise from my bed and walk in the garden, which affords excellent views over the entire countryside – a very different prospect to the bay of Port Royal. Theodore has high ambitions for this estate, and has already commenced the construction of a new stable-block. I have learnt a great deal about the cotton business already, although I confess it makes my head ache somewhat! As you know, my usual reading matter is much less intellectual – I enclose my favourite example for your perusal and diversion.

I trust you remain well, and are busy in the fort,

Miss A. Groves

Dear Miss Groves,

I was indeed diverted by 'The Romance of the Rose', far more so than by any nautical report that found its way to my desk this week. Young women must indeed find the other sex a disappointment in reality, if they grow up expecting such amorous and passionate advances from men. I was greatly relieved to hear of your full recovery – no doubt you will be helping your brother very much in the running of the plantation within weeks. Please pass on my compliments to Mr Groves, along with the best wishes of the regiment, who miss him dreadfully, as do I. I am sure he will be saddened to hear that several of my best officers (including your brother's particular friend Lt. Lowry) have been posted away to New South Wales. I confess I am largely ignorant of this region of the globe, but, having read my atlas and encyclopaedia a little, believe it to be a varied and interesting place, like our current home.

With renewed wishes for further favourable reports on your health,

James Norrington

Dear Commodore,

I am so glad you liked the romantic novel – I recall clearly a conversation we had weeks ago in which you confessed that you had never read anything of that genre before. Now you are truly educated in the field of modern literature! All have been busy here on the plantation, with the appointment of several hands to help with the cultivation of the cotton, all of whom seem very agreeable and willing. Theodore, I believe, is much aided by my good health, for he no longer needs to care for me, and can spend long hours riding around the estate, overseeing the frenetic building programmes. I myself am content – infinitely more so in recent days, for I was fortunate enough to take delivery of a beautiful pianoforte for my enjoyment. Having not played since leaving England, I find myself engrossed by this new diversion, and am anxious to know the identity of my generous and anonymous benefactor. You must visit the estate soon to hear this instrument, though I fear I will be completely unable to do it justice.

With fond regards,

Alicia Groves

Dear Miss Groves,

I should indeed be delighted to visit the Groves residence once I am assured that you are fully recovered, and once your brother can spare some time from his improvements and business dealings. Please discount me from your search for the donator of your new pianoforte, for I had no idea that you played. However, I hope the enclosed sheet music will complement the gift well, and hope to hear you sing when next we meet. I confess I have been most slothful in my pursuit of the marvellous art of music – since my promotion to the office of Commodore, my cello has lain idle in my house. Perhaps our shared passion for music can inspire some new enthusiasm in me. I look forward to hearing you play very soon, and wish you good luck in the hunt for your benefactor.

James Norrington

AN: I blatantly rip off Jane Austen's 'Emma' here, with the whole pianoforte thing. So…I should probably disclaim that. Anyway, next chapter sees Elizabeth take matters into her own hands. Fare thee well for now and apologies if I don't update quite so regularly, as my friends from Germany are arriving today for a week, dd xx

PS. Ellie (if you're reading this)…as you know, I'm of the British persuasion. I lived in Minnesota for a couple of years when I was very young, but have only ever returned to the US once since then. While we spent most of that vacation in Washington, D.C., we also paid a visit to…guess where? Yup, Colonial Williamsburg. So I was majorly freaked out by your review, I must say. I love that place, but sad to say I cannot remember the Huzzah! eatery. I must one day return and visit that hallowed restaurant, if only for the comic value.