AN: well…how can I thank you all enough for all your encouraging comments? As ever, I am most truly humbled. And as the consensus on continuing seems to be mixed, I've decided to keep posting to please those who do want more Norrington. I'll be able to gauge later if people are losing interest. For now at least, here is some interaction with a character I've actually really enjoyed writing, considering how aggravating and 2 dimensional she can be in the films: Elizabeth. Enjoy… dd xx
PS: this chapter is for Rurouni-Wolf, a great inspiration and friend. Thank you.
33
Elizabeth Swann picked irritably at her embroidery. She was currently attempting to sew delicate roses onto the hem of a tablecloth for her new home. However, regarding the tangled threads that made up the few pink misshapen patches she had so far embroidered, she was forced to concede that sewing really was not her forte.
Besides, she was more than a little distracted. She had been sitting in the bay window stabbing the tablecloth with her needle for most of the morning, keeping an eye and an ear fixed on the road. Her father had looked in on her in her feminine toil more than once, confused by her sudden allegiance to such domestic pursuits.
'Are you quite well, Elizabeth, dear?' he asked from the doorway on one such occasion.
She looked around guiltily and smiled sheepishly. 'Yes, very well, thank you, father,' she replied.
'Who are you waiting for?' he asked suspiciously. 'Mr Turner is out of town for a week, you know that…'
'Oh…noone,' she replied breezily. 'The light is simply much better in this window.' She smiled sweetly, hoping her father would pry no further. Now, she neglected the sorry embroidery entirely, impatiently staring at the open road. She slid a small piece of paper from beneath the bolster and smiled secretively as she read it once more.
Miss Swann, it read, not wishing to be one to count his chickens before they have hatched, I am nevertheless almost certain that your latest venture has been successfully concluded. Capt. Gillette.
If truth be told, Elizabeth was a little put out that neither of her friends had ridden over to the Governor's house to thank her for her pivotal role in their courtship. She began to be anxious – surely James had proposed? She would not be responsible for her actions if he had invented yet another weak excuse…
The sentimental, romantic side of her wondered whether the Commodore had whisked his young fiancée away to marry her immediately in a hidden, provincial church somewhere. However, knowing James Norrington, she was forced to admit that this was somewhat unlikely.
She tormented herself with the thought that Alicia, after all her counsel, might have refused the Commodore, or that Gillette was playing an elaborate jest as he was wont to do.
Finally, at nearly three in the afternoon, just as she was about to rise and ride to the Commodore's house to ascertain the grim truth, she heard the doorbell ring. Entering the cavernous hall, she saw Alicia Groves removing her bonnet, and rushed forward to greet her friend.
'Alicia!' she exclaimed in delight. 'What a very unexpected pleasure!'
The two young women strolled into the parlour and took seats next to each other. Elizabeth scanned her friend with her eyes furtively, looking for any change in her demeanour or appearance.
'So…' she inquired casually, 'you are well?'
'Yes,' replied the other, smiling gently. 'Yes, I am very well…'
Elizabeth would have wagered her entire wardrobe that she was talking to Commodore Norrington's fiancée, but she knew she would be most ill-advised to venture this speculation.
'And…what manner of engagements have you been enjoying since I saw you last?' she asked lightly, rewarded by a modest blush from Alicia.
'I…' she began. 'Well…I confess I have been rather slothful at home…um…I have been practicing the pianoforte a great deal, and arranging flowers with Elinor.'
'How…pleasant…' Elizabeth returned exasperatedly.
'And you, Miss Swann, have you had an eventful week?' Alicia asked politely.
'Not particularly,' replied her friend. 'Some planning for the wedding, of course, and a walk along the sea front with my father yesterday evening, which was very refreshing…what else? I have been failing miserably to embroider the linen for my new home…you know Will is away, of course…Alicia, for God's sake, just tell me!' she ended in frustration, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
'I beg your pardon?' Alicia said mildly.
'Alicia, may we not drop this idle pretence? Walks along the sea front? Pianoforte practice? Come, let us discuss real news…answer me, Miss Groves, are you or are you not engaged to be married to Commodore James Norrington?' she sat back in satisfaction as the other bowed her head in shock and gentle embarrassment.
'I…I…' Alicia said in surprise. 'I…how on earth did you know?' she looked incredulously at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled back smugly. 'Ah! So you admit you are engaged to our dashing Commodore?'
'I am,' said Alicia with a note of pride in her voice. 'Last night…he came to see my brother…we…well, we took a turn about the garden…'
Elizabeth barely suppressed a squeal of delight and excitement. She grasped Alicia's hand and clasped it compassionately. 'Oh, Alicia, I am so very happy for you! I cannot say how much I have wished for this…oh, I must tell my father! He will be sure to be similarly glad…Alicia, you are so very perfect for each other…I declare, I shall go wild with joy!'
Alicia looked overcome with happiness, both at her own joy, and at the reaction of her dear friend. The two women embraced tearfully, and Elizabeth rejoiced in the great mutual fulfillment to be found in such a fortunate event.
Outside, there was the scrunch of carriage wheels and horses' hooves on the gravel drive. The friends broke apart, wiping their eyes, and hurried to the window to determine the identity of the visitor.
Elizabeth was far from surprised to see the Commodore descend from the carriage, smooth down his pristine coat, and remove his hat before walking slowly to the door, evidently still very dependent upon his cane. Alicia, however, gasped quietly, and covered her mouth with her hands.
'Oh, goodness,' she hissed. 'What is he doing here? I…oh, Elizabeth, look at me, all teary-eyed and wearing such an old dress! What…oh, what if he has changed his mind? It will be so awkward to meet with him now…I shall not know what to say to him!'
Elizabeth patted her comfortingly on the shoulder. 'Don't be silly, girl,' she said laughingly. 'The Commodore, change his mind? When hell freezes over, I assure you…and besides, you must talk to him at some point…or do you intend to ignore your husband for the rest of your life? Now, stop being a little goose, dry your eyes, and sit down demurely while I greet him.' She handed the younger girl her handkerchief and guided her to the chaise longue, giving her a reassuring smile as she crossed to the door.
She opened the door to reveal the Commodore in his stiflingly hot uniform, polishing his boots subconsciously on his trouser legs. Upon seeing her, his entire face lit up, and he stepped smartly into the cool house.
Elizabeth began to greet him properly, and was offering to take his hat, when he burst out happily, 'Oh, Elizabeth, I am to be married!' Elizabeth was greatly touched by the note of boyish glee in his usually solemn voice, and she smiled widely.
'Married!' continued the Commodore. 'I asked her…last night, it…we simply seemed to understand each other's intent…oh, Elizabeth, I cannot imagine what I have done to deserve this joy!' he hugged his friend impulsively, and she reached up gladly to return the embrace, wondering at the great change in the Commodore since Miss Groves had arrived in Port Royal.
'I offer you my very, very best wishes, James,' she said sincerely, her voice muffled against his shoulder. 'You…oh, you will be so happy, I know.'
Releasing her a little self-consciously, Norrington grinned as though he were a boy of twelve. 'Imagine, Elizabeth! Me, me, engaged to be married! They will not be able to believe it…and to such a wonderful woman, too…oh, Elizabeth, her eyes! And her lovely neck…she is always on my mind, bewitching me…I could die happily with her voice lulling me to sleep.'
Elizabeth laughed softly, and cuffed his shoulder playfully. 'Listen to you now, James, a man besotted…such a contrast to your stupid stuffy excuses a few weeks ago…'
He laughed too, a warm, genuine sound that spoke of the great change in his character. 'I was stupid, Elizabeth,' he said quietly. 'I should have listened to you months ago. It seems…I think…it seems Alicia quite enjoys my company…at least, her actions…suggest that she does…'
Elizabeth refrained from rolling her eyes. 'Yes…it seems probable that she tolerates you, Commodore,' she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 'Now, come through to the parlour so you may drink tea and eat cakes with me.'
AN: forgive me if I don't post tomorrow, it's results day in Britain and I will most probably be out drowning my sorrows or celebrating. Hope you've enjoyed this installment, dd xx