Sorry once again for the delay, but due to illness I haven't been up to doing much writing lately…I seem to be on the mend now, so here is your next installment. A big hug to all of you who have taken the time to read and review this story…I appreciate you all so very much!

As always, I do not own POTC or any of its characters, just the plot line and the characters that I make up in my sad, sick widdle brain.

Chapter 11: The Merchant Takes A Wife

A flicker of annoyance crossed Bartholomew Leighton's face as a tap at the door interrupted his perusal of his late uncle's financial statements. "Yes, yes, what is it already?" The nervous young footman entered the library and quickly strode to his new master's side, a sealed note resting on the shaking silver tray. With an impatient look, he snatched the note off the tray, dismissing the servant with a scowl and a wave of his hand before opening it. A pensive look followed by a slow smile crossed his face as he read the elegant script.

Dear Mr. Leighton,

You may or may not be aware that prior to his untimely death, your late uncle had made arrangements to wed the daughter of an acquaintance of his in Sussex, a Miss Miranda Everton. The ship transporting the bride to be and her companion was attacked by pirates and they were presumed dead, but through a miraculous turn of events, they have been brought safe and sound to their destination. Miss Everton and her companion are currently my guests, and they eagerly await an opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience regarding your disposition on this matter.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Turner

"Well, well, well….it seems Uncle Freddie hated the thought of me inheriting so badly that he decided to try and beget an heir himself, the old fool. Good thing he stuck his spoon in the wall when he did….poor girl probably would have died of fright on the wedding night." He tapped the letter against his chin as he leaned back in the stout chair, propping his immaculately polished boots on the corner of the desk. "Methinks it would only be proper to pop around and introduce myself to the distraught groom-less bride…after all, it would be the civil thing to do, seeing how we were almost family." His mind made up, Bartholomew Leighton sprang up from his chair and reached for his topcoat, calling out to his servant to have his hunter brought round…he was going to pay his respects to two of Port Royale's newest residents.

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Linnet barely restrained herself from slamming the door to her room before flinging herself across the wide tester bed, tears of fury sliding down her rosy cheeks. How Dare He! She pounded the bedding furiously. How Dare He say such things to me! He all but accused me of using Miranda to better my own situation, my niece, my own flesh and blood! At least if Miranda married, she would be cared for and safe……and she'd have me. It was different when we were taken off the Goliath…we had no choice but to sail with him; but now it simply isn't proper for two young women to go gallivanting over the Spanish Main with a boatload of pirates…and deep down inside her she began to doubt…wonder….if perhaps maybe Jack was right…maybe she was being selfish? No, Miranda needs a home, and I don't want to have to go back to Uncle Henry……Oh, Gods……what shall I do?… So caught up in her thoughts was she that she didn't hear the rapping of the front door knocker.

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His knock was answered by a timid young maid, who quickly showed him into the front parlor before going in search of her mistress. Bartholomew Leighton was admiring one of the beautiful landscapes adorning the room's walls when he heard the door creak. Turning slightly, he observed a small white kitten with black paws dart into the room, followed by an angel dressed in pale blue silk, who was scrambling after it, completely unaware that she was being observed.

"Mittens, come back here you naughty puss, I…..Oh, hello!" The angel stood up and smiled at him, the sunlight streaming through the parlor windows making her look even more ethereal, and the sight fairly took Bartholomew's breath away. Holding the captured kitten to her chest, she looked at him curiously, before speaking in her sing song voice. "I don't remember meeting you before…are you visiting the Turners too?" At first he thought she was playing coy with him, but her wide blue eyes were too open, too trusting. "Port Royale is so pretty…its so sunny here! Its very different from England" A look of horror crossed her face and she gasped, one hand flying up over her mouth. "oh, I forgot, please forgive my bad manners!" With that, she dipped a brief curtsey and extended one hand to him. "I'm Miranda, and this is Mittens, my new cat, at least he will be when he is fully weaned in a week or so…pleased to make your acquaintance sir….and you are?"

"Bartholomew Leighton, at your service, Miss Everton. I was relieved to hear of your safe arrival." He took her hand and bowed low over it. Bartholomew's mind was racing as he stood observing the young woman before him. Indeed, her physical form was delightful, from the abundance of white-blonde curls to her tiny feet encased in simple black felt slippers, but it was obvious to him that she was still a child mentally. This was the girl that his recently departed uncle had paid 20,000 crowns to wed? She was lovely, and appeared to be very biddable, but weakness of the mind was not something one would want to pass down onto one's heirs.

"Oh, you know about me too? I know about you…..I heard Linnie and Elizabeth mention you during tea the night we arrived. Your uncle was the man I traveled here to marry, but he died."

"Indeed, my Uncle Frederick's passing was….quite sudden."

"Quite sudden and still under investigation if I am correct, Mr. Leighton?" A new voice from the doorway drew his attention, and he turned to find himself being observed by a lovely woman in a floral silk gown. By the simple gold band on her left hand and her gracious manner, he realized that he was being addressed by none other than the lady of the house.

"You are correct, ma'am. The culprit or culprits responsible for his death have not yet been apprehended. You are Mrs. Turner, I presume?" He stepped forward and bowed over her hand as he had done Miranda's. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance finally. I have long admired your husband's skill as both a sword smith and an astute businessman, but have rarely had the opportunity to socialize with him. Now that I have met you, I can see why he stays so close to home." He favored her with a wide smile.

Elizabeth smiled gently and tilted her head, acknowledging the compliment he had paid her. She felt a small trill run down her spine, a most unpleasant sensation that she had come to trust as a warning that something wasn't quite right. But her years as the gracious hostess of her father the Governor had trained her not to make snap judgements, so she decided to take a wait and see approach for the time being. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well, Mr. Leighton, although it would have been pleasant to meet under less, shall we say, awkward circumstances?"

"It is always a pleasure to be in the company of such beauty and grace, regardless of the circumstances, Mrs. Turner." Bartholomew was pleased to note the gentle flush that graced Elizabeth's cheeks as she moved to seat herself on the settee, gesturing for Miranda to join her.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that you've been taking lessons on how to flatter a lady from Captain Sparrow, Mr. Leighton." An amused voice from behind him drew his attention, and he turned to see yet another vision of loveliness in the doorway. To his surprise and consternation, his breath was taken away for the second time in less than a quarter hour.

If Miranda had appeared to be an angel in blue, then the woman in cranberry silk approaching him now was nothing less than a goddess. The red of her gown brought out the highlights in her hair and enhanced the peachiness of her clear complexion, and the modest cut of the gown did nothing to hide her ample curves. But it was her wide green eyes that caught his attention, and he found he couldn't look away from them as he bowed low, barely brushing his lips to the back of her hand. He caught the brief wounded look that passed through her eyes at the gesture, and it made him wonder what man could have caused such sorrow to such a lovely creature.

"Charmed, Miss?"

"Bryce, Linnet Bryce, and you, of course, are Mr. Bartholomew Leighton, nephew and heir to my cousin's late fiance. I apologize that we are not in mourning; we were not expecting the untimely demise of Miranda's husband to be and have not had time to prepare…"

"Please, Miss Bryce, there is no need to be concerned. You'll find that the rules that society strictly adhere to are a bit more…relaxed..here in the Caribbean. You and your cousin were not acquainted with my uncle except by name, and in truth, I believe he would not wish for two such lovely creatures to clothe themselves in sack cloth and ashes as society elsewhere demands."

"You are most kind, Mr. Leighton, and thank you for seeing us on such short notice." She moved past him, and he caught a whiff of lavender and vanilla as she gracefully sat down in one of the arm chairs across from the settee while he seated himself in the other. " I believe that Elizabeth wrote to you regarding recent events?"

"Yes, I received her note this morning and came as soon as I could. It is my understanding that your ship was attacked by pirates on the crossing from England and that you were taken captive?"

"Not precisely taken captive, Mr. Leighton…..we were offered...alternative transportation to Port Royale due to circumstances beyond our control…"

Before she could continue, Miranda could no longer resist piping up. "Linnie got shot!"

Linnet sighed wearily and turned back to meet Bartholomew's astounded face. "It's really not the way it sounds, Mr. Leighton….I was not the intended target and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The captain of the Black Pearl felt he owed it to me to make sure that Miranda and I arrived in Port Royale safely, that is all. I am quite recovered now, and it is of little consequence. Miranda, dear, would you go and ask Mary to fetch some tea and cakes, please?"

Bartholomew watched the young woman leave before turning his attention back to Linnet, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "So, that's how you became acquainted with the infamous Jack Sparrow. Not that I care for gossip, mind, but I have heard epic tales of his pursuits both at sea and on land. So, as far as his ability to charm the fairer sex, does he live up to his reputation, Miss Bryce?"

He almost chuckled when he saw the gleam of fury in her flashing green eyes as she responded cooly. "Captain Jack Sparrow's charms failed to impress me, Mr. Leighton, nor is the topic one that I care to discuss further, if you don't mind."

Sooo, the imfamous Captain Jack Sparrow finally found a lass whose bed he couldn't wile his way into, though I bet he gave it his best try. There must be more to this temptress than meets the eye…most interesting……A plan was forming in his head, and Bartholomew had to resist the urge to smile as he turned his attention back to the lovely speaker.

"What I would like to discuss, however, is what action should be taken regarding Miranda and myself. It is my understanding that a substantial dowry was paid by your uncle to my family, and to be perfectly frank with you, it is doubtful that our relations in England would be willing or able to part with the funds. Even were I to seek employment, it would take years for us to ever repay the debt we owe you. That leaves us with very few options. You could choose to take your uncle's place and marry Miranda as he intended to. Another option would be to seek a legal judgement and try to recoup your losses through the courts."

"You've given me the courtesy of being honest with me, Miss Bryce….it behooves me to do you the same courtesy. Let me be quite frank with you. My uncle was a dottering old fool who cared for little more than puttering in his garden and playing the benevolent benefactor for many of the island's charities. Your young companion, young not just in chronological years if I am correct, is a very charming girl. She would have suited Frederick admirably, as he was a meek, kind, patient and gentle soul. She and I, however, I am positive, would not suit." The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mary with the tea service, and did not resume until each of them was settled with a cup of the steaming bew.

He had seen the fleeting look of disappointment on Linnet's face, followed by a worried glance she exchanged with Elizabeth, and settling back, he chose his next words very carefully. "There is one other option that you failed to mention, Miss Bryce, one that you probably would not consider if any other viable alternatives were available." He paused to take a sip his tea. "Due to my uncle's recent demise, I find myself a wealthy man in my mid 30's. Society dictates that it is high time that I found myself a bride, but none of the ladies hereabouts have caught my eye, before today that is." He set his cup down and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and fingers interlaced as he stared at Linnet intently. "I would be willing to forgive the debt and take both you and Miranda into my care if you would consider becoming my wife, Miss Bryce."

Linnet couldn't think as she sat blinking dazedly at the man who had just proposed to her. A wailing from the doorway startled her into action, and she leaped to her feet, dropping and shattering her second fragile china set in a week. "Miranda!" But the girl had fled, leaving the front door wide open in her wake.