AN: ah, bless you all for your reviews! And there was me thinking you'd all have given up on me...hope this next installment pleases you...it features much awkwardness, which is always fun to write. Come back soon, dd xx
31
Theodore Groves sat very still for several moments, looking out of the bay window at the lush gardens. He opened his mouth three times to speak, thought, and closed it again in confusion. Norrington had never seen him so perplexed.
'You…you want to marry Alicia?' he asked finally, his voice awash with incredulity.
Norrington was breathing more easily once it was evident that Groves was not about to leap up and run him through for daring to approach his sister. He nodded briefly. 'That's about the size of it, Theodore,' he said quietly.
Groves stood and began pacing, his brow furrowed in confusion. After a while, he stopped and looked at Norrington, who was still sitting composedly in the armchair, looking politely puzzled at his friend's actions.
'Alicia?' repeated Groves in amazement.
'Yes,' replied the Commodore. 'Is that alright?' he asked tentatively.
'Well…I…' Groves spluttered. 'I really hadn't thought about it…I…but Alicia…why on earth do you want to marry her?'
Norrington stared. Groves had evidently forgotten the Commodore's outburst in his office, when he had attempted to prevent him from fighting Armitage. And it seemed that he was unaware of the perfection of his sister.
'I…where to start?' he mused aloud. 'Good God, Groves, I'd need all day to tell you…she…Theodore, are you telling me you don't understand my motivation?'
'Precisely,' replied the other, his composure somewhat recovered, as he sat again, pouring another measure of gin. 'I mean…James, you're comfortably wealthy, you're never allowed to sit down during balls and dances and so on for young women clamouring for your arm. You count Elizabeth Swann among your closest acquaintances…why, in the name of all things holy, would you choose my sister for a bride?'
Norrington nearly laughed out loud at Groves' ignorance and blindness.
'I…quite simply, Theodore, I love your sister. Very much. Now, if you wish me to detail my reasons for loving her, I am quite prepared to do so, although it might be advisable to order some sandwiches, for I fear we may be here a long time. Or, if you are prepared to believe me, then stop gaping like a goldfish and give me a proper answer, man.' Norrington felt suddenly inspired by a new confidence, and sat quietly, watching his friend as he turned over these words in his mind.
'Well…of course I have no objection, James…I…I can't think of a better husband for a girl…but, really…how much thought have you given this?'
'Oh, about six months,' Norrington replied breezily. 'So, I have your permission to make her an offer?'
'I…of course, James…I wish you luck…' Groves said distractedly, still looking a little flabbergasted. He downed his second measure of gin hurriedly. The Commodore smiled happily, suppressing his urge to leap up and dance merrily, as he felt his reputation and his back would most likely suffer as a result of such boyish antics.
Meanwhile, outside in the hall, Captain Gillette was studying a fine sculpture of Diana in the Roman style, when Alicia Groves suddenly entered from the kitchen. She pulled up short when she saw the officer standing in the hall, scrutinizing one flawless, languid marble hand.
'Captain Gillette!' she exclaimed. 'What are you doing here? Is the Commodore well? His condition has not worsened, has it?' she babbled fearfully.
Gillette straightened up at the sound of her voice, and spoke to reassure her. 'No, no, he is quite well, Miss Groves,' he said gently, kissing her hand. 'As a matter of fact,' he continued, refraining from showing any emotion, 'he is talking to your brother in the parlour right now.' He looked mildly pleased with the shock and scantily disguised delight on the young woman's face.
'The…the Commodore is here?' she asked faintly. He nodded in confirmation.
'Oh, goodness,' she said to herself, her fingers smoothing her hair and her dress unconsciously, fidgeting frantically for want of another occupation. 'Oh, what shall I do?' She seemed to have forgotten Gillette's presence, for she continued murmuring distractedly for some time, her face looking drawn and panicked. Gillette smiled to himself, thinking that the Commodore was likely to leave the plantation that day a very happy man.
Finally, Miss Groves, breathing shallowly, turned back to him. 'Oh, Captain Gillette,' she said, her voice trembling slightly. 'May I enquire…why the Commodore is here today?'
'Oh…business, I believe, simply dull business, as far as I am aware,' replied the Captain lightly, observing the way in which her face fell.
'I…yes, yes, I see,' she said, covering the disappointment in her voice admirably, Gillette thought. 'I wonder…do you think, sir, he might spare a moment to talk with me?' she asked shyly. 'I have not seen him for several weeks, and I...I want to ensure he is recovering well.'
'I dare say he might stop a minute to greet you as he goes,' Gillette said, thoroughly enjoying his teasing.
She nodded quickly, her eyes flickering towards the door of the parlour.
They stood in tense silence for several minutes, until the door opened and Commodore Norrington exited, replacing his hat as he did so, using his cane as a support. He stopped as he saw Alicia standing nervously in the hall, wringing her hands twitchily. There was a very awkward pause as the two regarded each other.
'Miss Groves,' Norrington said shortly, bowing briefly. She curtseyed in reply, barely murmuring 'Commodore' in return, her eyes shining in anticipation. Norrington thought she looked older than he remembered, despite the insecure way in which she fiddled with a ribbon on her cream dress. He noticed Captain Gillette smirking behind Alicia, and shot him a glare.
'I…' he began, and wondered where the hell he was taking this conversation. 'I…have been talking to your brother…'
'Oh?' said Alicia, her voice taut and an overly bright smile across her face that did not quite disguise the worry and confusion in her voice.
'He…yes,' Norrington said more firmly. 'He informs me the gardens are…particularly pleasant this month.'
Alicia looked at her brother, who had entered the hall behind the Commodore, and was looking somewhat ashen. She glanced at Gillette, who was still grinning foolishly, and finally at Norrington, who was gazing at her intensely. She saw the way in which he leaned on his cane, and realized he was barely able to walk – and wondered why on earth he had dragged himself from his sickbed to talk business with her brother, and indeed, why he was discussing the gardens with her.
'I…yes…um…the rhododendrons are exceptionally beautiful,' she replied, her head feeling a little light.
'Is that so?' the Commodore said quietly in return. He seemed to swallow nervously. 'I should…very much like to see them, Miss Groves.' He glanced back at Theodore Groves. 'Would you…do me the honour of showing me, Miss Groves?'
Alicia looked at the floor. She very much wanted to speak with Miss Swann, to receive some reassurance and advice. She wanted to take her brother to one side and inquire as to the nature of his conversation with the Commodore. She wanted to hit Captain Gillette, with his stupid superior smile, and was alarmed to realize that she wanted to embrace Norrington. She judged it either impossible or inadvisable to implement any of these wishes, and instead nodded in reply to the Commodore's request.
Norrington beamed, and it occurred to Alicia that he was achingly handsome whenever he smiled, and that it was so easy to smile in return. She took his arm, shooting a questioning glance at the other two men, who were completely impassive.
Together, they walked into the scented gardens.
AN: yay! Guess what the next chapter is? Yes, it's the moment you've all been waiting for. At least, I hope it is...and I hope it doesn't disappoint. Ah, I'm having a little private squee just thinking about Norrie and weddings. Bless him. dd xx
PS wtf is up with the page break tool on this here website? Grrr...