AN: hey, sorry for the delay…as predicted, I was too busy hitting the town yesterday to go anywhere near my computer! Thank you to all of you who sent your best wishes for my A level results – I got 6 A grades so I'm off to Cambridge in October to study History, yay! However, there are more important things to consider, such as Norrington's present inability to express his feelings coherently. Typical man…dd xx

34

The sunlight streaming into the parlour was intense, so that it was several moments before Norrington realized that there was another occupant in the room.

Suddenly, as a cloud passed across the sun, he saw Alicia sitting composedly on the chaise longue, her dark hair spilling in gentle curls on her shoulders and neck. His heart stopped momentarily, as he re-accustomed himself to her beauty. It was as though he had forgotten how lovely she was, in the night they had been separated. He was uncomfortably aware of the state of his uniform, and the way in which several strands of errant hair were escaping from beneath his wig.

'Elizabeth, you might have told me Miss Groves was here,' he said accusingly to the smirking Miss Swann.

'And then what?' she demanded. 'Would you not have embraced me?' she winked mischievously.

Norrington was at a loss for words, and he twisted the brim of his magnificent hat in his hands, while Alicia looked inquiringly and a little fearfully at him.

'Well, are you not going to greet your fiancée, James?' Elizabeth asked teasingly.

Norrington blushed and took Alicia's hand, kissing it swiftly. 'Miss Groves,' he said softly. She, in turn, curtseyed deftly and swallowed nervously. The Commodore was horribly unsure as how to proceed, and he wished Elizabeth would leave the room.

'Really, James,' said the aforementioned, 'is that any way to treat the woman you love?'

Norrington blushed again, and noticed that Alicia was doing the same. 'I…I think that will suffice while there are others present,' he said stiffly.

'Oh, you do make me laugh, James Norrington!' Elizabeth retorted, flouncing from the room to order cakes and tea from the kitchen staff.

Left alone, Alicia and Norrington looked shyly at each other. The silence seemed to be strangling them both.

'You…you are still of the same opinion as last night?' Norrington asked haltingly.

'I…yes, I am.'

'Good,' he said distractedly, fiddling with a piece of gold piping on his sleeve. 'That is…yes, splendid…I…I have written to my parents in England…I…wondered if…if it is to your liking…that Miss Swann might sketch a miniature of you…I would very much like them to see their…their daughter-in-law,' he continued rambling.

'I…that would be very nice,' she said lightly. 'I…Commodore, did you mean those kind words?' she whispered.

Norrington looked slightly bemused. 'I apologise…which words?'

'In the hall, just now,' she said. 'I know it was very wrong of me to eavesdrop in such a devious fashion…but I could not help overhearing your dear voice.'

'I see…' he said slowly, looking over her shoulder, a little embarrassed. 'I…yes…every word…I…am afraid you will find me a man of…few words, and little inclination to express…my regard…I mean…to express how very much I love you. I…ahem…however, that does not alter or diminish the strength of my feeling…Alicia, please believe me…'

'You…you said I had bewitched you…' Alicia said as though unable to believe it.

Norrington looked into her dark eyes, and knew he had spoken the truth. Gently, he caressed her smooth cheek, his mouth twitching slightly.

'Sorceress,' he murmured jokingly.

She smiled. 'You should be demoted, Commodore Norrington,' she teased. 'It will not do for men in such important positions to be so…susceptible…'

He laughed quietly, and kissed her softly, his hands falling to her tiny waist.

'I thought…I feared…' Alicia began in a low voice, pulling away from him momentarily. 'I wondered if perhaps you might have…changed your mind.'

'No,' he replied, his face close to hers. 'Never. Please, Alicia…darling…you have my pledge and my lifelong affection…'

'And you mine,' she said solemnly, gazing into his eyes. 'I…I haven't told you…that I love you. What you…what you said about me…er…quite enjoying your company…in the hallway, just now…James…let me enjoy your company for the rest of my life…my love…'

Norrington thought there should be music, soaring strings, as he leaned in again to kiss her. Sadly, this remained deficient, and he had only the feel of her little hands laid on his chest, and the sound of Elizabeth Swann coughing in mild amusement.

'And what, pray,' she asked slyly, 'would you have done had my father walked in just now?'

Norrington had the grace to look guilty, and released Alicia, handing her back onto her chaise.

The three companions soon set about demolishing a fine tea of dainty cakes and iced beverages, and Elizabeth took the opportunity to quiz the newly betrothed couple further.

'So,' she asked, as the Commodore was inconvenienced by a mouthful of coffee cake, 'when is the engagement to be formally announced?'

Norrington did his best not to choke on the cake, and looked sideways at Alicia in ill-concealed alarm. Her expression was one of similar horror at the prospect of such a clinical, public statement of their connection.

'Well, I…we…' he began slowly, 'I…to be honest…'

'Honestly, James!' Elizabeth said, stirring sugar into her tea. 'For one so tied up in rules and responsibility, you haven't given this much thought, have you?'

'I…well…it's not really the first thing one thinks of when one is proposing, if truth be told…'

Elizabeth smiled. 'That much is true, I suppose. But you simply must organize some kind of gathering, James. Not dissimilar to that which my father arranged for me. And seeing as your good father is in London, you…'

Norrington finished his mouthful, and irritably put down his plate. 'Elizabeth,' he said firmly. 'I really don't see why all this razzmatazz and pomp is necessary…I will not satisfy the gossiping masses by staging a huge, glittering display simply to fulfill expectations…'

Alicia sat silently, delicately drinking from her cup, feeling that she, too, would hate to be paraded and displayed in such a fashion. Elizabeth, however, was not ready to give in so easily.

'You know that not to have a party would…how shall we say? …cast some doubt upon your attachment. You would surely leave yourselves open to scandal and idle rumour,' she said quietly, staring intensely at the Commodore, who was feeling decidedly uncomfortable.

'Surely,' he said lightly, glancing cautiously at Alicia, 'the public would not…would not presume that…Miss Groves has been…dishonoured in some way, simply because we both prefer not to celebrate our engagement along with the hoi-polloi of Port Royal?'

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and declined to answer his question immediately. 'Well…James, you must know you are not exactly the reclusive bachelor you have cast yourself as…dueling in public, diving into the stormy ocean, letting Jack go free…now, it's all very well if you don't give a fig for public opinion surrounding yourself, although I believe you do at heart, but it's quite a different matter to leave Alicia open to scandal and gossip.' She sipped at her tea, frowning at the Commodore, who looked rather dumbstruck.

He looked wildly at Alicia, who was picking miserably at a biscuit and seemed disinclined to share her opinion on the matter. Elizabeth, however, would not allow this.

'Alicia,' she said suddenly, as she passed her friend the sugar bowl and tongs, 'you simply must convince James not to be so awfully stubborn! It is most selfish of him to deprive you of a party in your honour simply because he is too lazy and too proud to dance!'

Alicia smiled weakly. 'Actually, Elizabeth…'she began timidly, looking most apologetic. 'I'm not at all sure I would like an engagement party, in truth…it would be so expensive for my brother, and I quite agree with the Commodore…these events are rarely enjoyable…I mean…'

Elizabeth glared.

The Governor entered the room abruptly, looking lost and a little agitated. 'I say, Elizabeth, dear, have you seen my…' he began, before noticing the other two occupants of the room. 'Oh! Miss Groves,' he said paternally. 'And the Commodore! What a nice surprise…Elizabeth, you did not tell me you had visitors.'

'They are only just arrived, father,' his daughter explained, with the smug smile of a victor on her lovely face. 'I was just telling the Commodore he simply must have an engagement party. Don't you agree, father?' she smiled benignly at Norrington, who could quite cheerfully have murdered her with the butter knife.

'Oh, yes…an engagement party, capital idea, I agree totally, Lizzy dearest…I…I…an engagement party, did you say, dear? A…good Lord, Commodore Norrington, are you engaged? I…my goodness, I own I am quite confused. Do explain, Elizabeth…'

The Governor sat down heavily, his hand automatically reaching for a large ginger biscuit. He looked overwhelmed, and Norrington frowned at Elizabeth while he turned to explain.

'I am indeed engaged, sir. 'My fiancée, Miss Alicia Groves,' he said proudly, indicating Alicia with his hand, looking at her with a small smile as he did so. The Governor scratched his head weakly.

'Don't they make an excellent match?' Elizabeth said happily. 'It would be a dreadful shame not to have a betrothal party.'

Norrington stared into his saucer glumly, knowing he was beaten.

AN: and there you have it. I've just been watching 'Pride and Prejudice' for the umpteenth time, so I'm feeling a bit romantic, I'm off to write more misadventures of our favourite Commodore. The next chapter is the afore-mentioned engagement party…lots of love, dd xx