Greetings, and thank you again to all the lovely reviewers who left contributions in the little box in the left hand corner, bottom of the screen. It really gave me a boost to get cracking on this story. I appreciate all your feedback more than you can ever know.
Smithy: Thank you for your correction on the spelling of AB...my bad for not taking the time to look it up:)
Also, in my rant I mentioned Mary Jane when I meant to say Mary Sue---I was tired when I wrote that, so my apologies...lol. Anyway, as usual, if you recognize a character from POTC, I don't own it and I'm sure not making any money off of it!
WARNING: MAJOR CLIFF HANGER AHEAD! MUAHAHAHAHAHAH! YE BE WARNED!
Chapter 17: Crisis Part 2
The morning after Elizabeth had informed her husband as to the cause of their guest's distress, the Turners and Linnet made their way to the Governor's mansion to seek his advice. After much discussion, they finally came up with a plan to keep the two women secure from Leighton's wrath until a permanent safe haven could be found. Expressing genuine sympathy for their plight, Governor Swann and Lady Margaret offered them refuge in the Governor's mansion, where they could await Leighton's next move without fear of retribution.
It was with a much lighter spirit that the party returned to the Turner household that afternoon, yet Linnet knew that their ordeal was far from over. She still had the dreaded task of freeing herself from her now unbearable betrothal, and she knew that doing so was going to be unpleasant to say the least. Then there would be the onerous chore of returning the burgeoning pile of wedding gifts along with writing endless notes explaining the situation---thankfully Elizabeth had been assisting her with keeping a gift journal and writing thank you notes, or she would have floundered.
What surprised Linnet the most was Miranda's response, or rather the lack thereof, to their change of plans. When Linnet told her that she had learned that Leighton was not a nice man and that they were going to be moving into the Governor's home instead, her charge had been quietly accepting of the situation, asking only if the Governor would allow her to bring her kitten. Given Miranda's initial reaction to Leighton's courting, Linnet was rather surprised by her lack of reaction to the news, but a knock at the door interrupted her before she could discuss the issue further.
With a slightly apprehensive look on her face, Elizabeth stepped into the room and handed Linnet a sealed envelope. "This just arrived for you."
Taking it from Elizabeth, Linnet broke the wax seal and quickly scanned the note's contents. "It's from Leighton. He commands me to join him for tea today. It seems he wishes to go over the details for the ceremony and reception…in other words, he wishes another opportunity to intimidate me." She expelled her breath in a rush, and straightened her spine. " Well, it looks like my "opportune moment" to end our engagement has arrived. Truth to tell, I'm almost glad he has summoned me---no better time than the present to face the lion in his den. I'm certain I won't be able to rest until I face him down and stop letting my fear of him and what he could do control me, and waiting would only make me more nervous."
Elizabeth nodded, patting her rounded belly absently as she contemplated her friend. "Would you like me to accompany you? Or perhaps we should send for Will…I'm not certain that you should do this alone." After hearing how her friend's fiancée had threatened her, Elizabeth was concerned that should his verbal intimidation fail to convince her to follow through with the wedding, he might turn violent.
"As much as I'd like you with me, I think I had best go alone. Having a witness to his humiliation would only make Bart even more furious, and being exposed to such a stressful situation could possibly bring on your labor." Linnet hugged her friend before continuing. " I can't thank you and your family enough for your hospitality and generosity. I only wish there was some way I could repay you."
Elizabeth returned the hug with a soft laugh, her eyes alight with good humor. "Trust me, you will have ample opportunities—I'm counting on Auntie Linnet and Auntie Miranda to be regular watchers for our little pirate lad or lassie." She walked over to the open armoire where the unfinished wedding gown hung in all its lacy glory. "Speaking of lassies, wasn't Miranda here helping you pack? I had some leftover bridal satin that I saved for her—she wished to fashion a dress for her doll." She softly sighed as she reached out to touch the silken gown that she and Linnet had spent so many hours creating. "It's such a pity, all that lovely fabric going to waste. Ah well, perhaps you'll find another happy occasion to wear it before it goes out of style." She cast a sly glance at Linnet to see if she had caught her hidden meaning, but her friend was bent over her trunk.
"Hmmm? She was here just a moment ago." Looking up, Linnet realized that Miranda had slipped out of the room unnoticed. Linnet shook her head as she secured the last of her belongings into the trunk and fastened the straps. "She's probably off chasing her kitten again. That little minx gets into the strangest predicaments at times, and the kitten is just as precocious." The two women laughed as they left the room together and headed downstairs. " I've no time to look for her now…Leighton is going to be incensed as it is, and its best that I end this farce of an engagement quickly before I lose my courage. When you find Miranda, would you mind overseeing her as she finishes her packing? I think it would be best if we leave as soon as I return." Donning her cloak, Linnet opened the door and smiled once more at her friend. "Wish me luck!"
"Good luck, and good riddance to evil fiancée's" Elizabeth grinned as the door closed behind a determined Linnet. She rested on hand on her belly, another on her aching back as she contemplated the situation, a small smile appearing as the face of a certain person dear to her crossed her mind..
((….I only wish Jack were here to see this….))
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"I don't find your jest the least bit amusing, Linnet."
Leighton's voice was cold as he gazed at her contemptuously from his position behind the desk in his study. He was the epitome of an English gentleman of some means, dressed in tailored buff colored pantaloons, fine linen shirt, brocade waistcoat and starched cravat, his golden hair smooth and tidy and his silver-buckled heeled shoes perfectly shined. She freely admitted that his favorable appearance had taken her in completely. Indeed, had she not known the evil that lurked beneath that polished exterior, she would be hard pressed to find any imperfection in the man.
" I assure you, Bart, this is not a joking matter and as you can see, I am not laughing." She began pacing around the bookshelf-lined room, refusing to look directly at him for fear that she would lose her nerve. "Do you think this is easy for me? I was fully prepared to be noble and sacrifice myself on the altar of matrimony to ensure Miranda's welfare…..even after I learned just what kind of controlling, manipulative monster I was committing myself too. But even with that knowledge I've forced myself to remain silent, trying to reconcile myself to a marriage with a man I abhor."
At this point, Linnet stopped pacing and faced him directly, her hands clasped behind her back as she gazed at him steadily. "In the last few months I've let myself be ruled by fear….I've been an utter coward, letting you control me through your threats and my own cravenness. It took me until now to come to my senses, but now that I have I realize that this situation is intolerable. Seek reparation through the courts or from my Uncle Henry if you so desire, it matters not to me. I am telling you now that I will not marry you, nor will I allow you to use Miranda as a.. a brood mare!"
Leighton's response was a hearty laugh and slow applause that echoed like gunshots in the high-ceilinged room. "Bravo, my dear—you've managed to surprise me once more! After the timid behavior you've been displaying since the holidays, I was almost certain that you had no fire left, but I am glad to see I was wrong." He rose from his seat and slowly walked around the desk to stand behind her, and it took every bit of her courage not to turn and run as far and as fast as she could. "Now tell me, brave one, do you think I am a man who would let a mere woman, and an untitled one at that, humiliate me in front of my peers by practically leaving me at the altar? If you do, you're a fool." Linnet wasn't looking at him as he spoke….if she had, she would have seen his amusement fade into a darker emotion.
Grasping her harshly by the arms, he roughly spun her around and pushed her backwards over the desk, knocking several items off it in the process. When she cried out in protest at his bruising grip, he shook her roughly and slammed her head against the polished wood surface, his face white with rage. "Now, I've listened patiently to your little speech, and you will do me the honor of returning the courtesy." Linnet only gasped as he tightened his grip, his voice low and furious.
"You will put aside any thoughts you have of calling off this wedding immediately, and you will be the epitome of the happy bride during the ceremony. You can weep until your eyes bleed after our esteemed guests have departed, but the only tears you will shed before that time will be tears of joy. Should you embarrass me or try to run, I swear to you now that I will not rest until both you and your precious niece are brought before me in chains." He smiled as he continued, and Linnet shuddered at his words. "I was planning on allowing Miranda to stay with us after the wedding, but after this display of temper, I think I'll have to send her away to ensure your good behavior, pet. Perhaps a convent in Spain would be willing to take her in, with an appropriate dowry of course. What do you think, my dear?"
Linnet had been afraid, but she had had enough of his threats. Pinned as she was to his desk, there was only one response that seemed appropriate. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, so glaring at him in utter fury, she spit in his face and pushed against him with all her might. Roaring with laughter, he released one of her arms and backhanded her viciously, sending her sprawling off the desk and onto the floor.
"Oh, my sweet Linnet, I do believe you've made me change my mind about the convent. People disappear around these islands all the time—and that little prank of yours just earned sweet Miranda a place in one of Tortuga's infamous brothels. I'm sure a sweet, innocent lamb like her will soon be a favorite among the pirates like your old friend Jack Sparrow." Leighton grinned wickedly as he pulled her back to her feet, holding her by the wrists. "Or perhaps I'll open a house of ill repute right here in Port Royal, with our angel as the feature attraction. Just think, precious, the two of you can exchange letters! She can tell you about how many men she's lifted her skirts for that week, and you can keep her up to date on the family gossip while your belly swells with my heirs. Just out of curiosity, my dear, just how high can Miranda count, hmmm?"
Linnet jerked hard to free herself, and when that didn't work she resorted to biting. Letting out a bellow, he shoved her down beside his desk before examining his bleeding hand. "Oh, you'll pay for that, sweet." He spat, fixing her with a deadly glare. "Perhaps you'd rather join Miranda once I've beaten the spirit out of you. Given time, you might even earn back the twenty thousand you cost me…indeed, I'd wager that you'd bring in a nice income, you little.." He never finished his thought, and his face suddenly took on a confused look as his hand reached up to touch the point of the cutlass which was sticking out through the front of his chest, blood slowly staining the shirt dark crimson. He fell to his knees, looking over his shoulder with eyes wide with disbelief at the figure standing there. "How?" was all he got out before he slumped forward, unconscious, and Linnet learned the identity of the person who had skewered Leighton, a beast would threaten her no more.
"My God…..wh.. what have you done!"
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DUM-DUM-DUMMMMMM (I've always wanted to do that!) Well, I warned you there would be a cliff hanger, so far be it from me to disappoint you! So, who do you think is the murderer? You'll find out at the beginning of the next chappie, which will be coming shortly (I hope!)
