Greetings, friends! A big thanks to all of you who read and review this story…you are wonderful, and I really do appreciate your kind words! There are a lot of twists and turns still to come in this story, so I hope you'll bear with me for just a while as I work some plot magic! As always, I don't own anything from Disney's POTC and am making no profit from writing this little story. Enjoy!
Chapter 19: Misconceptions
It was a very unhappy man who led a group of soldiers through the quiet streets of Port Royal in the middle of the night. Lieutenant Matthew Groves was the epitome of a Junior Officer in the Royal British Navy, but beneath his calm exterior he was livid at being dragged from his warm bed in the wee hours to perform a task that could easily have waited until dawn.
…Bloody Norrington…..can't wait until a decent hour to arrest someone for murder. Hmmmph… he still hasn't managed to evade all the gossip floating about after the Sparrow incident. He's probably afraid of losing his career should he let another criminal slip through his fingers, especially a female….
His thoughts turned toward the woman whose name graced the warrant he was about to execute. It seemed vaguely familiar, and he was absolutely certain he had seen or heard it somewhere before. Then it came to him; he had seen her name and that of her travelling companion on a report that had crossed his desk some time ago. The two women had been "liberated" unwillingly from the ship bringing them from England several months past, and they had been brought to Port Royal by the captain of the Black Pearl himself after almost two weeks aboard the famous ship.
...Well, can't say that this news surprises me….any woman who has spent time in the company of such a notorious pirate would be prone to criminal behavior, possibly even murder as this supposed lady was being accused of. Though what motive such a newcomer to the island would have is beyond my comprehension….
Further dialogue with himself was curtailed by the group's arrival at his destination. He quietly gave orders for half of his men to surround the house, in case the accused should unwisely try to flee from justice. The rest of his troops remained in formation, looking decidedly menacing in the darkness with their muskets at the ready.
The house was dark and silent, as one would expect in the middle of the night, and although Matthew was reluctant to disturb such a peaceful scene, he had no choice. He expressed his irritation at the situation by foregoing the use of the delicate wrought-metal knocker, and instead used his gloved fist upon the heavy painted door.
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
"Open in the name of His Majesty King George II"
He could hear exclamations, and a glow appeared in several of the windows of the solidly built two story home as its inhabitants were roused from sleep. A few moments later a tired looking Will Turner flung open the door, dressed in hastily donned breeches, an unlaced shirt and shoes without the customary accompanying hosiery. He bore a single candle, which he used to light an oil lamp on the table by the door.
"It's a bit late for a social call, isn't it, Lieutenant?" Will's voice was quiet, but Matthew could hear the anger lingering just below the surface. He was well aware of the blacksmith's disdain for the Royal Navy as well as his close connection with Governor Swann, and knew he had to handle this situation delicately. He suddenly gained a bit of insight as to why he had been sent on this mission rather than Commodore Norrington. Turner had married the Commodore's former fiancée, who was now far gone with child….while he had loved her enough to let her go, the wound was still fresh and he wisely avoided contact with the Turners if at all possible.
"It is not my preference to disturb a man at such a late hour, Mr. Turner, and I would not be here if it weren't a matter of grave importance. Usually only drunkards and those following strict orders are away from their beds at this late hour, and unfortunately I am one of the latter." He opened the folder he had tucked under his arm and handed the official document to Will, signaling his men to enter the home as the owner stepped over to the light to read it.. "This...you can't be serious!" Will uttered an exclamation of disbelief upon reading it, followed by a few choice oaths. "There's been a mistake…"
"Will…what is it? What's happening?" Looking up, the group gathered in the hall spotted Elizabeth standing at the top of the stairs in her diaphanous nightgown and robe, a candle in one hand and the other pressing against the mound of her pregnant belly. Will glared at the soldiers, who immediately cast their glances everywhere else but at the beautiful mother to be.
"There's been a murder, Elizabeth…..Leighton is dead."
"Oh, my sainted aunt….Linnet just saw him this afternoon! I knew he was involved in some possibly shady business transactions, but to be murdered? Especially so soon after his uncle died under mysterious circumstances as well. Have they found the party responsible? Oh, Will, how are we going to tell her?" Elizabeth's voice had a desperate edge to it as she clutched the banister.
"Tell who what? Something wrong, Liz?" While she was certain that someone official would be coming to notify her of her former fiancée's death, she was quite unsettled by the fact that there were so many officers and that they had come in the middle of the night. What if Will had been seen? A multitude of scenarios was running through her head, and none of them were pleasant.
"Linnet, you must be strong. We've just been informed that Bart was found murdered! It seems that someone out there must have a vendetta against the family." She laid a comforting arm across her friend before turning back to her husband and the officer who was standing at his side. "Really, Lieutenant, while the news is devastating, it would hardly require calling out half the guard to inform us of this tragedy. At in the middle of the night, no less!—I declare, I find it hard enough to sleep comfortably as it is in my condition, and…"
"Elizabeth, there's more. Before he died, Leighton named his murderer. Lieutenant Groves is here to make an arrest." His hand holding the documents fell to his side as Elizabeth went pale and slipped down to sit at the top step, clutching her robe to her chest.
Linnet couldn't breath as she stood frozen in place, not registering the fact that another figure had stepped up behind her.
"Will, please tell me you didn't…" Elizabeth words sounded as if she were on the edge of tears, fearing for her husband's life. She gritted her teeth against the backache that had been plaguing her all afternoon and evening that defied all attempts to ease, even lying down.
"No….the warrant isn't for me….it's for Miranda."
The sudden gasp and cry from behind Linnet caught all their attention, and Matthew found himself looking up at the most beautiful girl he had ever remembered seeing. She looked like an angel standing there in a white lace edged nightgown that had been part of her intended trousseau, her hair tousled from sleep and her eyes wide with shock.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooo!" the young woman wailed, and flung herself into Linnet's arms in absolute terror. "I didn't….kill anyone…Linnie, I promise…..don't let them take me to jail." Miranda was barely able to gasp out the halting words between her disconsolate sobs.
"This is utter nonsense!" Linnet spat, stroking Miranda's hair as the girl continued to squall and protest her innocence. "Miranda is innocent of these charges! Someone with her condition…..doesn't have the ability to commit such a crime, and even if she could have, she could not be held liable for her actions."
Lieutenant Groves turned his attention toward the speaker, and held his men back when they started forward to make the arrest. "No one has mentioned to me anything of a disability, Miss?"
"Bryce, Linnet Bryce. I was to be married to Bartholomew Leighton until very recently. I'm a distant cousin of Miranda's and traveled from England to remain her companion and confidant." She met Matthew's gaze steadily and without any noticeable emotion at the knowledge of her fiancee's untimely demise. "I've been with her constantly since she was 9 years old, Lieutenant. While Miranda's physical form is that of an adult, tragically a vicious fever suffered in childhood has left her somewhat behind her peers developmentally. She knows right from wrong, and I tell you now that her gentle nature wouldn't allow her to harm any creature, much less murder someone in cold blood." Miranda lifted her head and nodded earnestly. "I didn't like him 'cause he was mean and hit Linnie, but I didn't hurt him." Miranda seemed to realize that she had said too much, and buried her face once again against Linnet's bosom.
Linnet sighed and met Lieutenant Groves thoughtful gaze. "It's probably best that I inform you that I went to see Bartholomew Leighton yesterday with the sole purpose of breaking our engagement, which I did." She took a deep breath before continuing. "He had been holding the dowry his uncle had paid for Miranda over our heads for months, threatening to seek recompense through the courts via indenture for the two of us if I did not comply with his demand. I realized that I couldn't condemn myself to living in fear, so I ended the betrothal. Neither Miranda or I were involved in his murder."
He studied the two women intently, before sighing and shaking his head sadly. "I believe what you say is true, Miss Bryce, and I am beginning to suspect that Leighton may have had an ulterior motive for naming your young cousin as his killer. However, it is not my place to act as judge and jury in affairs such as this. As an officer in the King's Navy, I have to perform my duty, no matter how distasteful such matters may be. I must insist that Miss Everton accompany us to the fort stockade, where she will remain until her trial."
"Please, at least let me accompany her, Lieutenant. I truly don't think she could handle being locked up alone. And would it be possible for us to dress…I'd rather not give the neighbors the shock of seeing us in our nightclothes, if it is all the same to you." Linnet entreated, wincing as Miranda began to howl as she tried to pull out of her cousin's grasp.
Seeing the younger girl becoming hysterical, Matthew readily agreed. "Sergeant, escort these two ladies to their room and allow them to dress and gather some belongings. I believe we can forgo the irons under these circumstances."
Before he could say anything more, Elizabeth, who had been silently weeping at the top of the stair, gave a sudden cry as she clutched her belly. "Elizabeth!" Will shouted, rushing up the stairs to her side and pulling her to her feet. As he did so, she gasped and a gush of clear fluid trickled down from between her legs, puddling on the varnished wood floor. "Oh dear, I think he's coming early." She looked at her husband with dismay as he grimaced, swung her off her feet and hurried down the hall to their bedroom.
Miranda, instantly forgetting the gravity of the situation, went immediately into action and hurried down the stairs, intending to fetch the midwife which had been her assigned task during the delivery…that and fetching the swaddling cloths. The sergeant, taken off guard by her sudden actions, dropped his gun and grasped the young woman about the waist, thinking she was trying to escape. Linnet was furious as his laying hands on her niece, and began trying to remove his hands. His actions also got an immediate response from the girl, who erupted into a screaming, thrashing wildcat at being touched by a stranger. She finally managed to free herself by biting the officer fiercely, taking flight down the stairs when he released her, clutching his bleeding hand and swearing fiercely. At the foot of the stairs, Miranda was suddenly startled to find herself surrounded by a circle of red coated soldiers pointing bayonet-tipped rifles at her. Matthew barely managed to step forward before she gave a terrified shriek, her wide blue eyes rolling back in her head as she collapsed in his arms.
Looking up at the courageous Miss Bryce and then down at the delicate features of the swooning girl in his arms, he realized that his preconceived notions about women who consorted with pirates couldn't have been further from the truth.
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(A/N I know this chapter is a bit shorter than usual and I know that you're probably disappointed that our favorite captain hasn't shown up yet, but he will definitely make his presence known in the next installment. I need opinions….should Elizabeth's baby be a boy or a girl, and anyone have any name suggestions? Speak up!)))
