Greetings, friends! Just a quick note...I want to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions for Elizabeth's baby name...I hope you will enjoy how that turned out. Also, I know I said that the trial would appear in this chapter, but it is going to be so interesting it needed to stand on its own, so watch for it next time.
As always, I do not own anyting belonging to Disney or POTC, and am not making a profit from this writing.
P.S. Has anyone reading this story seen Mr. Depp's performance in the Libertine? If not, it is excellent, although not for those who are easily offended. If you have, I hope you agree with me that the opening monologue was magnificent! Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter 20: Old Friends and New Arrivals
Seeing her cousin lying limply in the young Navy officer's arms spurred Linnet into action. She fairly flew down the stairs, only to be met by the same bristling bayonets that had sent Miranda into a swooning fit.
"Let me pass!" she snarled, attempting to shove her way between two soldiers, only to be caught up short by rough hands on either side.
"Stand down, men" Lieutenant Groves ordered briskly, and Linnet jerked free as the men reluctantly released her and stepped back. Adjusting the unconscious Miranda to a more comfortable position, he met her cousin's gaze levelly as he spoke. "Calm yourself, Miss Bryce…your relative is unharmed. She's merely fainted…a common occurrence among genteel young ladies in stressful situations, I'm told."
Linnet favored him with a glare as she replied sharply, incensed at his nonchalant attitude. "I'd hardly say she is unharmed, sir. Being frightened half to death by a score of redcoats come to drag you away to goal for a murder you didn't commit in the middle of the night would be enough to unnerve an ordinary man, much less an innocent like Miranda. We'll be lucky if she emerges from this situation with her sanity intact!"
Matthew sighed as he once again looked down into Miranda's face. "I…I apologize if I sounded flippant, Miss Bryce. Please believe me when I say that I wish that there was some other way to straighten out this obvious misunderstanding without putting undue stress on you and your loved ones…."
"Miss?" Just then Rose, the Turner's young maid servant, emerged from the hallway with her mob cap askew, tying her apron as she entered the hall with the matronly, rotund cook right behind her. Her voice was high with fright as she took in the sea of red-coated soldiers surrounding her mistress's guests. "What be happenin'? Is Miss Miranda hurt?"
Linnet was relieved to see help arrive, and sighed with relief. Falling back on her early training, she took charge of the situation and began delegating. "All will be well, never fear. Rose, it's your mistress's time, and I need you to fetch the midwife from her cottage on Cocknell Lane. If Mistress Beyers isn't at home, go to the Harbormaster's cottage, his wife knows what to do. Cook, we'll need you to lay in a store of towels and all the clean rags you can muster…we'll need hot water and soap for washing, and coffee, strong as you can make it— as this is Elizabeth's first, 'tis bound to be a long labor. Now," she said, turning her attention back to the officer before her. "At the moment, Lieutenant, I am needed here, yet I cannot in good conscience allow Miranda to wake up in a prison cell without someone she knows by her side. I suggest you and your men remove yourselves from this household at once with the understanding that we will present ourselves at the fort at the earliest opportunity, unless, of course, you would prefer to wait?" An agonizing groan from above stairs sounded through the hall, and the men began to shuffle nervously, looking to their commander for instruction.
Lieutenant Groves ground his teeth together in frustration. He was under orders to fetch the girl back, but he could not in good conscience condone an action which might possibly cause her irreparable harm. He thought rapidly and came up with a compromise that hopefully would preserve both his honor and his commission.
"Very well. It appears that there is just cause to allow the accused to remain here temporarily until other arrangements can be made. It is hardly likely that you would make an attempt to flee under the circumstances. However, I'll be posting guards at both front and back entrances.."
He would have said more, but was interrupted by Will's reappearance at the landing at the top of the stairs. "Linnet, we need the midwife NOW! Elizabeth says the contractions are getting much stronger---she's in enormous pain and I don't know how to help her!" The desperation on his face was plain, and his face bore a look of surprise as he took in the scene below him. "What's happened?"
Linnet quickly spoke up to reassure the nervous expectant father. "I've sent Rose for the midwife…all we can do for now is try to keep Elizabeth calm. Try and see if you can get her on her feet and walking around a bit." A look of uncertainty crossed Will's face, and Linnet gave an exasperated sigh. "Trust me, Will, it will speed up the labor, and take her mind off the pain. And Miranda will be fine…the kindly Lieutenant…pardon me, but I'm afraid I don't recall your name, sir."
"Groves, Ma'am"
"Ah, yes…well, Lieutenant Groves and I have just reached an accord—we will remain here until the babe is born, and then go to the fort to see what can be done to rectify this matter. Lieutenant, since you already have her well in hand, would you please follow me so that I may put my cousin to bed?"
He turned to his troops. "Brooks, Dobson, you two take up watch round the back, Giles, Wilkes, the front. The rest of you may return to your duties. Blackstone, inform Corporal Gillette that I will be returning to make my report forthwith. That will be all, gentlemen." The men left with all haste, a mixture of relief and amusement at their Lieutenant's predicament on their faces as they slipped out into the cool night air. Matthew shook his head and grumbled silently to himself as he turned to follow Linnet up the stairs. ..Bloody hell…don't know which will be worse….getting my arse ripped to shreds by my higher ups for not obeying strict orders, or getting ribbed by the men for allowing myself to be overruled by a pretty woman…>>>
He shifted Miranda slightly as they climbed the steep stairs, and realized his burden was awake when he heard her gasp. He looked down and found himself a willing prisoner once again to the sky blue eyes of the trembling young woman in his arms. He could sense her fright, and smiled gently to try and reassure her. "Rest easy, Miss Everton…no one is taking you anywhere against your will this night. I'm certain it will all come out right as rain in the end, your cousin will see to that." She said nothing, but he felt her relax, and to his surprise he saw her focus on and then run a dainty finger over the polished gold buttons of his uniform.
…Light as a feather…she fits so well in my arms…damn me, I shouldn't…I can't be thinking of her this way…she's a child, regardless of her age…>>>Giving himself a stern mental shake, he said nothing as hurried down the hall after Linnet and into a small, nicely appointed bedchamber. He hastily laid the young woman on the single bed, and bidding the ladies good evening, he hurried from the room. As he was closing the door, he couldn't help but over hear a bit of conversation between the two….
"His eyes were pretty and kind, don't you think, Linnie?"
correction….I believe I've been overruled by a pair of pretty women…but bugger me, it was worth it!>>
10:00 pm the following evening…..
After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, he rose from his bed to go in search of something to ease his troubled mind. Lighting a candle from the lowered oil lamp in the hall, he headed downstairs to his study and the one thing he could think of that might help him to rest. Normally Will Turner was not a man who cared much for strong drink, but after the trying day he had had he found himself in dire need of some libation in order to relax. With this in mind, he poured himself a couple of fingers of brandy and settled back in a wing chair before the fire to contemplate his fortune, both good and bad.
,…This has been both the best and the worst day of my life….well, at least in recent history. Many more like today and I'll welcome retirement to Bedlam with open arms…>>..Sighing, he regarded the dark amber liquid in the firelight with distaste…he much preferred a hearty ale or the sweet bite of hard cider to the fire of hard liquor, but fortunately for him in this situation, it was the brandy that was handy. He grinned at his own clever rhyme before raising the glass and taking a deep swallow, wincing as the harsh burn of the unaccustomed alcohol hit the back of his throat. He had scarcely lowered the glass before a voice out of the darkness nearly startled him into dropping it.
"Will, m'boy, I seem to recall I've told you on more than one occasion that well aged brandy, like a good woman, should be savored slowly to gain the fullest appreciation of said commodity." Will looked up to find Jack closing the tall windows he had just climbed through and closing the long drapes against any prying eyes before turning back around. "It's a wonder Elizabeth puts up with you, you know…if I hadn't been such a gentleman back on that island…." At this point, his sharp eyes took in the air of tense exhaustion that seemed to permeate Will's spirit and the dark circles beneath his friend's eyes, and his manner grew grim. "Hate to say this, mate, but you look like the hounds of hell've been nipping at your heels. Trouble with the missus, or have those two virtuous maidens I deposited on your doorstep been causing you no end of trouble?" Stepping over to the sideboard, he grabbed the bottle of brandy and another glass before joining Will in front of the fire.
Despite his tiredness, Will favored his friend with a tired smile. "Would it surprise you if I said both?"
Jack, surprisingly enough, didn't make a witty comeback, but only snorted softly as he leaned over to refill Will's glass and then filled his own. Setting the bottle down, he began speaking in a low tone. "I got here as soon as I got your letter, lad….bloody hurricane blew us off course, damn our luck. So tell me the best and the worst……am I too late, or is the lass still planning on marrying the bastard?"
Will, who had been in the process of taking a sip of brandy, nearly choked, but managed to swallow before meeting Jack's gaze briefly before looking back at the fire. "You're not too late, Jack….the wedding has been called off….on account of the groom is dead."
Jack took a small sip of his brandy, his eyes narrowing as his mind observed and processed Will's demeanor and voice.. ..Aaaah…something tells me dear William has much more knowledge of the decease'd manner of departing this world than he has disclosed as yet…>> Resting his arm holding the glass back on the arm of the chair, he sat back, staring at the fire through half open eyes, trying to look only mildly interested. "You don't say. And being that you are a fine upstanding citizen of Port Royal, you wouldn't happen to have learned the nature or cause of said groom's death?"
"I do. Leighton was run through from behind with a cutlass, and died a few hours later, most likely in great pain. I am pretty positive I caught his lung, which is unfortunate because I was aiming for his heart. I wish now that I had slit his throat at the same time…it would have saved us all a great deal of trouble." Will refused to look at a stunned Jack as he rose to his feet, leaving his glass on the small side table. He ran one hand through his hair in frustration, a growl of pent-up rage escaping him before he walked forward a few steps, leaning his head on his crossed hands against the marble fireplace mantle before continuing. "I never intended to kill him….Miranda came to me in a tizzy saying Linnet needed my help. I knew he had been blackmailing her, but we had managed to dissuade her from going through with the wedding. She went there with the sole intention of breaking it off with him for good. It's a good thing Miranda came to me because when I got there he was beating her, Jack. He was livid, and the filth that came out of his mouth...I won't repeat them, but needless to say what I heard made my stomach turn. I couldn't….I got so angry that I saw red, Jack…all I could think of was how I couldn't stand to let that monster live for another minute. So I killed him….and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Here Will paused, looking upwards as if to gain the strength to continue. "That's where it all went wrong, Jack. Leighton survived the initial attack, and that beast managed to get his revenge. On his deathbed, the bastard named Miranda as his killer. He's probably sitting down there having himself a good laugh while his miserable soul burns for all eternity. So now, Merry and Linnet are in custody at the fort, and it's all my fault. And on top of that, the stress of the arrest sent Elizabeth into labor early…"
A firm hand on his shoulder jerked him around, and he saw both banked fury and concern in the pirate's eyes. "Lizbeth…the babe?"
Will gave him the first true smile of genuine happiness, showing a first time father's pride. "I'm a father, Jack. Elizabeth gave birth to twin girls at around 9 this morning. We've named them Abigail Elizabeth and Rachel Emmaline…two of the sweetest, tiniest angels you've ever seen…they're not much bigger than my hands, Jack, but perfect. The birth was long and painful, and Elizabeth is exhausted, but the doctor says she should make a full recovery. She said it was worth every second."
Relaxing at the piece of good news, Jack grinned widely and slapped Will on the back. "Not bad, whelp, not bad at'all…..just keep in mind that that means you've got to provide not one but two wardrobes and two dowries when the time comes. You'd better plan on working some long hours at that forge of yours, lad…gonna have to sell quite a few swords to dress those birds of yours in fine feathers. Unless of course I could persuade you to join me crew and I on a few discreet…"
"Not a chance, Jack…"
Jack shrugged and sipped his brandy again before retaking his seat. "Can't blame a bloke for trying. Now then, we have much to discuss. Now, Miranda's being in custody I understand, but what's my pet chicken done to earn her a spot in the Commodore's fine accommodations, eh? Knowing her, she probably attempted to peck some sense into those louts at the fort, which most likely did not sit well with dear James."
At Will's nod, he smirked, and sat back in the chair with a deep sigh.
"And this took place just this morning?"
Will nodded. "The ladies were escorted to the fort this afternoon under guard. Miranda will go on trial on Monday, while Linnet has been remanded without bail until after the trial for disturbing the peace. Seems she called Norrington a few choice names and threatened his chances of ever continuing his family name should she get close enough to him."
Jack chuckled and raised his glass for another delicate sip. "Well, they're safe as houses then. No sense in working ourselves into a fair tizzy." He glanced down at his glass and sniffed it before taking another sip. "Not bad stuff this is, but all and all I still prefer rum. But beggars can't be choosers, or so I've heard."
Will looked at Jack in amazement. "I may be exhausted, Jack, but am I missing something vital? I would think that you would be a bit more, this situation."
Jack hesitated, eyeing him over the glass for a moment before taking another sip. His tone was stone sober as he replied, no trace of an accent in his voice as he spoke. "Will, I asked you this question once, and you didn't answer me then, so I'll ask it again---have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?" When Will dropped his eyes with a shake of his head, Jack's demeanor changed once again and he was back to his normal jolly self.
"Well then, m'lad….you had best get yourself off to bed…trust me, you'll need as much sleep as you can get while you can still get it."
"What about you Jack? What's the plan….how are we going to free them?"
"Simple, lad…..they say money may not buy happiness, but I'm betting that it just might buy us some honest justice, savvy?"
Jack grinned as he slipped silently out the way he came, giving Will a jaunty salute as he dropped out of sight.
(A/N---up next…….the trial and a reunion!)
