AN: and here is more…

36

It became habit for Norrington to ride daily to the Groves' plantation to see Alicia, arriving late in the evening after finishing his affairs at the fort. Frequently they simply sat and drank cooling drinks in the well-lit sitting-room, discussing the day or holding hands in contented silence.

At times, watching her mouth move as she spoke softly, or seeing the way the candlelight highlighted the glossy surface of her hair, Norrington would crave the right to simply hold her for endless hours in his arms…relaxed and informal, as a married couple would be.

However, fearing intrusion from Groves, who would certainly look with displeasure upon any overly passionate displays of affection, he allowed himself only to kiss his fiancée swiftly on the mouth upon taking his leave, although he was convinced he saw a similar desire in her to return the gesture ardently.

One typically fine day found him finishing work in the early afternoon for once, and he took it upon himself to ride leisurely to the plantation to see the woman he loved.

The butler, accustomed to the Commodore's regular visits to the house, let him in through the front door without question, and Norrington stepped into the cool hall, removing his hat. Everything was silent in the cavernous chamber, and, calling out, he heard his voice echo eerily.

He wandered slowly through the house, peering cautiously into each empty room, relishing the cold air after the dry heat outside. It seemed that the entire household was enjoying the sunshine.

Then he caught the whisper of a distant echo, a magical, ethereal tinkle. It took some moments before he realized that the sound was, in fact, no otherworldly enchanted song, but a piano being played. He crept nearer, listening closely as the player continued her practice.

Norrington finally reached the end of a long, gloomy passageway lined with landscapes and gleaming busts, and found himself at the source of the beautiful noise.

Alicia was seated demurely at the pianoforte in a room he had never before seen, peering intently at a book of Scarlatti sonatas while she played. Her fiancé was transfixed, watching her lovely shoulders rise and fall as she navigated the tricky fugal scalic passages, seeing how she bit her lip as she executed long trills. He realized he was holding his breath, but declined to exhale for fear of breaking the spell.

He had somehow forgotten about the pianoforte Armitage had sent, and the music he himself had given, such an inadequate gift in comparison, and chastised himself for not imploring to hear her play before. Unconsciously, he sighed for her beauty and her hidden talent.

Alicia started in alarm at this, and caught sight of Norrington leaning against the doorpost, idly observing her practice. She blushed and closed the lid hurriedly, tidying the sheaf of music on the stand.

'No, don't stop,' Norrington beseeched, walking briskly into the room and standing by the shiny instrument. 'Please…carry on…I have never had the joy of hearing you play before…'

'For good reason,' replied his fiancée, continuing to tidy up. 'As you hear, I am lacking in any ability or talent.'

'No! Truly, I have never heard anything of such rare beauty before. I beg you, play again.'

Alicia looked dubiously at him over the music stand. She raised one eyebrow. 'Has Elizabeth been coaching you in the art of complimenting a lady, James?' she asked teasingly. 'I confess, you are improving…better than comparing my dress to a parrot, I declare…'

'Well, if you will not play for me,' Norrington said smilingly, 'at least come and sit with me a while. It is not often we see each other in the afternoon.' He held out his hand to guide her to an armchair.

'You should have warned me you were coming,' she said softly as they sat side by side. 'Look at me, look at this dress…and my hair…I don't always look like this, you know…I would have made an effort had I known you were coming…'

To his surprise and consternation, Norrington suddenly felt tears well up in his eyes at her words, and he blinked furiously to clear his vision, cursing himself for being so sentimental.

'You…I…Alicia, you know it doesn't matter what you look like…and besides,' he heard his voice crack with emotion and laughed inwardly at his boyish emotionality, '…you look lovely today. Very…free, somehow.' He blushed and looked away.

Alicia laughed nervously and touched his hand.

'So…' Norrington said, swiftly changing the subject to mask his sudden awkwardness. 'I…wanted to ask you about our wedding. The date, I mean…you see…I…I spoke to Governor Swann this morning…and…I may have to go away.'

'Away?' she asked quietly, looking intently at him.

'Some…some useless pursuit of smugglers in the outlying islands,' he said, trying to trivialize the facts, waving his hand impatiently. 'It…it may last some months, I am afraid. And…well, to be frank, it would be a great comfort to me during this voyage to know my wife is waiting in Port Royal for me.'

My wife. It sounded wonderful on his tongue.

'You mean…' Alicia said thoughtfully. 'if you were to…to die, it would not be without having…'

Norrington looked at her in alarm. 'I said nothing about death,' he said hastily. 'I merely…I would like to enjoy a few precious weeks with you before I am thrown to the ends of the earth with only Captain Gillette for company.' (AN: Gillington fans…you may have a point, but this is a K fic! No! No! NO! No subtext…)

She smiled gently, though her eyes still betrayed some worry. 'So…you would have us marry soon?'

'If that is acceptable to you.'

'I would marry you today, if I could.'

Norrington smiled, unable to answer her verbally. Looking at her shining eyes and gently parted lips, he wondered again what he had done to deserve her love. But there was no time to consider this, for she was suddenly in his arms, her mouth on his, and he could not stop himself from pulling her closer to him, exulting in the feel of her splayed fingers on the skin of his neck.

'Your…your brother…' he gasped finally. Alicia did not look wholly repentant, and Norrington was forced to admit that neither was he. He laughed sheepishly, brushing her hair out of her eyes for her. 'You will ruin me, Alicia Groves,' he said in mock despair.

'All the more reason to marry me sooner, then, Commodore,' she whispered, still very close to him. He nodded mutely.

'I…I will talk to the parson tomorrow, then,' he said, trying to edge away from the temptation of the milky skin of her collarbones. 'The sooner we marry…the less time Miss Swann has to plan celebrations for all the town…goodness knows what she may be plotting. Fireworks, I don't doubt…jugglers and sword-swallowers…I do wish Mr Turner would marry the girl and distract her from her mission of ruining my life.'

Alicia laughed at his mock severity.

'Ah!' the Commodore said suddenly, fumbling in his pocket. 'I have a gift for you…I almost forgot, I picked it up when the traders came from the Americas three days ago.' He handed over a small package to her small hands, stuttering an apology for the size of it.

She deftly untied the ribbons around the box, and opened the clasp to reveal a small silver locket with etchings of ivy and wild roses curling around the edge. 'Oh!' she gasped in delight, tracing the intricate pattern with one finger. 'Oh, James, how beautiful!' she exclaimed. 'Thank you, thank you, my James…you are so kind to me always…I…'

Norrington blushed at her extravagant praise. 'Well…it is a very inadequate token of my love for you…it is not a pianoforte, after all…'

Alicia frowned. 'I…I could live quite easily without the pianoforte,' she said quietly. 'But I could not live at all without you. So stop being foolish and let me cut a lock of your hair to put in this lovely locket.'

Norrington sat quite still while she fetched her embroidery scissors, and carefully teased a tendril of dark hair from beneath his stiff wig, slicing through it cautiously. She pressed it to her lips and looked at him with heavy eyes before coiling it into the small hidden compartment of the locket.

AN: that's all folks! Until tomorrow, or until my father locks himself accidentally in the cellar, raaaa. Muchos love, dd xx