AN: ah, my father is a cruel man, cutting off the internet…but I will escape from his evil clutches! In just over a month, actually. As a scant apology for the delay in updates, I present the next two chapters for your perusal. Toodle pip, dd xx

35

So it transpired, largely due to Miss Swann's interference, that three weeks later the Commodore's house was filled with the sounds of guests greatly enjoying the pleasures of music, drink and food.

The Commodore himself stood seething in the entrance hall, his arm tightly clutched by Alicia, who was hardly looking any happier. Each time a new guest arrived, they would smile brightly, and extemporize at great length on their pleasure at seeing said guest in such good health.

'Yes, that's right,' Norrington said in a snide undertone as one finely-dressed couple wafted by, 'enjoy my food, drink my wine, and then return home and pass critical comment on how thin and peaky my future wife looks, and how I am sure to beat her…'

'Don't be bad-tempered, James,' Alicia said soothingly, stroking his arm lightly. 'They will be gone soon. I am sure no one will miss us during the dancing, we can take a walk in the garden.'

'I fear not, Alicia,' he replied fatalistically, 'for here is Miss Swann, intent no doubt on inflicting some new social torture on us.'

It was indeed Miss Swann who descended upon the pair, dressed in sublime peach silk, and grasping Alicia by the arm. 'Come, Alicia,' she exclaimed. 'The guests are waiting for you and James to open the dancing.'

Norrington glowered at Elizabeth as she dragged them into the ballroom, a chamber the Commodore had barely noticed before. It was filled with excited, swirling women gazing with adoring eyes at unsuspecting men. He could feel only a numb relief and gratitude that he would be beyond their reach tonight, and he thankfully took Alicia in his arms to begin the opening minuet.

The evening progressed far slower than either of the betrothed wished, as the company drank their way through the contents of Norrington's cellars proposing ludicrous toasts to the future health of the couple's horses and blessings upon the cutlery and so on.

Inevitably, the melee meant Norrington was quickly separated from Alicia, and though he caught sight of her elegant silver wrought tiara and deep red dress several times, he was invariably whisked away by the arm to receive even more endless congratulations from strangers. He was intrigued at his sense of hopelessness when not with Alicia, and realized that he was becoming ever more dependent on her…on her radiant smile, her perfect manners, her consoling, understanding arm on his.

At one point in the evening, when his lonely mood was at its lowest and he was thoroughly sick of listening to tipsy girls telling him how lucky Alicia was, he found some refuge near the door with Groves, who was still treating him with distant respect, and still seemed to be bemused by the betrothal.

'I…are you sure, Commodore?' he asked incredulously. 'I mean…even though you've had this…all this partying and so on…I…you can still change your mind, you know…'

Norrington smiled wearily. 'I don't think that's very likely, Theodore,' he said gently. 'But I'll be sure to let you know if I…oh, blast, hide me, Groves, there's a good chap,' he ended hastily, bending his knees slightly and turning to face the wall.

'Why? Why? What's wrong?' the younger man hissed, looking around for the reason for the Commodore's distress, and seeing only Elizabeth Swann making her way through the crowd of guests. 'Are you avoiding Miss Swann?'

'Do not misunderstand me, Theodore,' the Commodore replied in a low tone, 'but I have had my fill of viscounts and earls' sons that I "simply must meet"…I cannot quantify my abhorrence of gatherings such as these…and as Alicia shares this dislike, I really do not know why…oh, damnation!' he said angrily, as Elizabeth spotted him and made a beeline for the two men.

'Commodore Norrington!' she said indignantly, but with a sly smile, 'could it be that you are hiding from me?'

'As though I would do such a thing,' Norrington replied smoothly, straightening up and bowing to her.

'And here is your future brother-in-law!' she exclaimed happily, extending her hand to Groves, who kissed it chastely.

'Miss Swann,' he said curtly, and Norrington was alarmed to hear how cold his voice was, and see how icily he glared at the young woman. She evidently sensed it, too, for she soon made her excuses and joined another party. Norrington frowned at Groves.

'Was that necessary, Theodore?' he asked crossly.

'Was what necessary?' inquired the other.

'Treating Miss Swann so coolly…I cannot imagine what she has done to offend you. It is of no real concern, truly, that she has taken it upon herself to plan the wedding and so on…'

Groves raised his eyebrows in disbelief, but said nothing, merely sipping his champagne with a skeptical look on his normally genial face.

'Now, come, Theodore,' the Commodore said insistently. 'I must know what has vexed you about Miss Swann. Remember, she is a great friend of mine, and I will not tolerate rudeness towards her.'

At this, Groves laughed mirthlessly. 'Yes, your friend. I had forgotten that. A fine friend, indeed.' He looked out on the gathered company, a bitter smile twisting his mouth.

Norrington wheeled him about by the arm, hissing furiously at him, 'This is too much, Mr Groves…explain your meaning, sir, and your evident reluctance for me to marry your sister, or our friendship must end!'

Groves turned white, and began to splutter a stumbling apology, shocked by the anger in the Commodore's usually measured countenance.

'I only meant…sir…might I be frank?' He shook his arm free from the Commodore's grasp.

Norrington nodded curtly.

'Well, James,' began the other, 'I suppose…if I am reluctant for you to marry Alicia, it is simply because I…question your judgement.'

'Excuse me?'

'Your choice in women has thus far been…poor, you must own it yourself. And yet you continue to torture yourself by consorting with the very woman who was responsible for inflicting great wounds on your heart. I…I neither know nor care if you are in love with Alicia, for that is no prerequisite in any marriage, but…I will not be civil to a woman who keeps an honourable gentleman and a valued friend emotionally tied. She is too cruel to you. You are a good man, Commodore…but I fear you do not know how easily you may be tempted.'

Norrington actually gasped in shock at Groves' words. 'You believe…you think…you think I am in love with Elizabeth?' he asked in amazement. 'With Miss Swann? I tell you, Theodore Groves, no matter what my feelings for her may once have been, I asked her to marry me because I felt it was right for my career. I asked Alicia to marry me because I love her. And,' he added as he struggled to keep his tone civil, 'I would hope you would not question my fidelity to your sister, which will ever be absolute and unswerving, I assure you.'

Groves looked thoroughly ashamed of himself, and hastily pressed another glass of champagne on the ruffled Commodore. 'I apologise profusely,' he said sincerely. 'I merely thought…well…I must have misunderstood the level of your regard for Miss Swann when you proposed to her…'

Norrington, upon seeing that his former Lieutenant was truly contrite, softened a little, though his eyes still flashed dangerously, conveniently repelling any loitering guests. 'Well…I cannot say…' he mused. 'I…yes, I was in love with Miss Swann months ago…the empty, foolish love that comes with sight, not with deep understanding of another human being. Infatuation, if you will…a lust easily removed and surpassed by the feelings I came to know upon making your sister's acquaintance. And furthermore, my friendship with Miss Swann has been greatly improved by the platonic link between us…in fact, I am quite convinced we would have made a dreadful match. No…I am no longer attached to that young woman in any way…oh, don't look like that, Theodore! It is quite all right, you know…I'm sure half of the Port thought I was in love with her too…I suppose I shall just have to prove them wrong.' He smiled brightly for the first time that evening, and sipped the champagne.

Groves smiled hesitantly in reply, and nodded in agreement with the Commodore's heated words, not trusting himself to make a satisfactory response.

'And…and when do you intend to marry Alicia?' he asked as though the argument had not taken place.

Norrington paused a moment, and dropped his voice. 'The Governor has advised me that increased smuggling activity in the region may see me dispatched on lengthy operations in the next month…and therefore…before my departure would be prudent…were anything to happen to me…it is, you understand, vital that Alicia is provided for…you see…' he looked intently at his fiancée's brother, who nodded seriously.

'Yes, of course…it would be easier for you to leave a legacy to your wife…but, really, James,' he said in concern, 'these missions…what has the Governor told you? Surely they can send others…a newly-married man…that is cruelty indeed…a lengthy separation, possibly even death? Is Gillette not experienced enough to head such an operation?'

'I would trust Captain Gillette with my life,' Norrington said in agreement. 'However, it seems that these…these smugglers, including, I believe, those responsible for the attacks on your plantation…an organized troupe, as we know…and I am, of course, an officer of the British Navy, with a duty to His Majesty…' he straightened up suddenly, hitting Groves jovially on the back. 'But never fear, eh? This is an engagement party, after all! The Governor said nothing explicit, and it would not do to overshadow my forthcoming nuptials with thoughts of legacies and violent smugglers, would it?'

'No, indeed,' replied Groves, who was nevertheless looking most perturbed.

AN: moving swiftly on, clicky clicky…dd xx