Usual disclaimers, I own nothing that you recognize from the film.
Chapter 6: A Wedding
The sun shone brightly in the garden that afternoon. An hour earlier Elizabeth had recited her vows in a strong, clear voice; becoming Mistress William Turner. Adelaide had watched with tears in her eyes. She wasn't sure why but she felt like she was loosing a sister. She knew Will would treat Elizabeth like a rare treasure but she also realized that things would never be the same. Elizabeth would no longer be able to do the carefree things they had done as girls. The probability of an adventure that she could share with her friend was less then realistic. Even though Will had pirates blood flowing through his veins, he was a stable man at heart. He wanted a home, a life where he did not have to worry about the possibility of a hangman's noose. Adelaide knew that he was the perfect match for her cousin. He would ground Elizabeth so that she didn't spin off into a harebrained adventure and end up hurt. Adelaide had a feeling that Elizabeth would keep Will from becoming to sedate and boring.
They balance each other, she thought as she watched them dance to the soft sting music that floated over the reception. Adelaide was dressed in the dress that Elizabeth had chosen for her as the maid-of-honor. Around her neck she wore the same pendent she had worn at The Bride in Tortuga. Now instead of hanging on a simple gold chain, it was on a thin choker that was encrusted with diamonds.
She stood beneath a palm tree, taking advantage of the shade and trying desperately to ignore the brainless chatter of the young fop next to her. He was the son of one of the island's plantation owners and had illusions of grandeur. He actually was dropping hints that it would be advantageous for her to marry him. She had almost laughed out loud when he had begun talking about how he could introduce her to the best societal circles in the Caribbean. She didn't think that he grasped that her rank could open more doors then his could even knock on. His sister was chirping away in her other ear, trying to get information on the newest fashions in London. She had a feeling that either or both were hoping to wrangle a reference out of her for their impending trip to England. She was watching for a chance to excuse herself from both conversations. Annoyed, she fanned herself with a delicate lace and ivory fan.
The champagne in her glass sat ignored on the bench behind her. She preferred to have her head clear for this night. Something had her on alert. She couldn't figure it out but Adelaide sensed more than a wedding would take place this afternoon. Will's eyes kept scanning the crowd as though he were watching for someone to arrive. She caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow. He just grinned and leaned his head against Elizabeth's which was on his shoulder. Adelaide felt like she was waiting for the next shoe to drop. She reached absently for her glass of champagne while scanning the crowd herself. Her eyes stopped on Commodore Norrington. He was making his way toward her with another officer, a captain by his uniform, and what looked like an American at his side. She fixed a warm smile on her face and waited for them to reach her.
Over the last two weeks she had, through no choice of her own, been placed in situations that required her to get to know the Commodore. Upon closer inspection Adelaide had to admit that he was a gentleman. She would have enjoyed spending time with him if he wasn't a naval officer. It was a too complicated situation for her to become involved even in a friendship with the highest ranked officer in the Caribbean. It gave her to high of a profile. She wanted Norrington to write her off as nobility and believe that she had returned to London when she and her men left Port Royal. She would rather avoid a direct feud with any semblance of His Majesty's Navy. That would make her life entirely too complicated. She knew he was uneasy with her presence in Port Royal. She intended to make use of that while she was there. She found that she enjoyed confusing him, almost as much as she enjoyed baiting Sparrow.
"Commodore," pitching her voice into a soft purr she inclined her head as he gave her the required bow. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your attention this afternoon? Shouldn't you be congratulating the bride and groom rather then bothering with me? I am just a bridesmaid, after all, hardly significant."
"Lady Adelaide, you could never be insignificant." Norrington's lips curved into a small smile. He knew that the duchess was teasing him and he acknowledged that he was coming to appreciate matching wits with her. Their discussions always seemed to circle around a topic he was unsure off. He continually got the feeling that she was silently laughing at his confusion. He was determined to uncover what her secret was. He was glad that she did not have plans for an extended stay at Port Royal. It was better that she be someone else's problem. "I would like to introduce two gentlemen who happen to be very curious about you. First, is Captain Gabriel Kennedy, one of my finest officers and an adamant fan of yours, milady."
"Fan? What have I done to warrant a fan, Commodore, let alone an adamant one?" Adelaide laughed softly as she held out her hand to the young man. He bowed over it placing a light kiss on her fingers. His gaze met hers warmly. He grinned looking even more like a boy than before. His face was unmarked and very attractive. His shoulders filled out his uniform nicely, making him look very distinguished. His hair fell in golden locks around his face. The longer part was pulled into a short ponytail in the back secured by a leather strand.
"You put the fear of God into Lieutenant Robert Gillette, madam. That alone will put me in your debt for an eternity."
"Not fear of God, I think. It is more likely a fear of loosing his commission. And he has good reason. When I return to London I will be speaking to the admiralty. Hopefully, he will be knocked back down to midshipman." Adelaide's voice was cold. "His incompetence cost me two men from my crew. If I may be so bold as to ask, why do you take such joy in a fellow officer's misfortune, Mr. Kennedy?"
"It is not bold at all, your grace. I am simply returning the favor. Lt. Gillette took great pleasure in causing me as many problems as he could in the last year. Even if he is only reassigned to a new region, I will be a happy man."
Adelaide smiled again. "I have always believed that one's luck will run out if it is tested too often."
"Really, your grace?" Adelaide's attention was drawn to the other man standing in their circle. His voice was obviously American. His dress showed him to be wealthy, or at least to have the illusion of wealth. Of all people, Adelaide knew that one could live like a king on credit for quite a long time. She sensed sarcasm in his voice when he drawled her title. She turned her gaze toward him and froze. His deep brown eyes glittered behind tiny spectacles as he flashed a grin. Adelaide almost let her mouth drop open in astonishment. The man that the Commodore himself was introducing to her was none other than Jack Sparrow. She was speechless. He, on the other hand, was not. "I have come to believe that luck only runs out when it is not tested enough."
"How did you determine that, Mr…?" Adelaide waited expectantly for an introduction.
"Mr. Henry Milford, your grace." When he held out his hand for hers she just raised an eyebrow. To avoid embarrassment he turned that action into a flourishing bow. Adelaide kept her eyes on his as she lowered her head in an acknowledgement. Will and Elizabeth were making their way across the garden. Elizabeth was grinning wildly. Adelaide decided to have a little fun at Jack's expense.
Jack had been enjoying Adelaide's reaction but he began to worry when Adelaide's eyes began to sparkle with mischief. He had a feeling she was going to put him through as much awkwardness as she could manage. Suddenly the high collar of his ridiculous outfit felt extremely tight. He didn't loosen his neck cloth only because he didn't want to give Adelaide the satisfaction of knowing he was uncomfortable. "While I have met the Lt. Gillette, and have no great affection for the man, how is it that a gentle woman, such as yourself, can hold a grudge against any man?"
"Very easily, Mr. Milford." Adelaide lifted her head slightly at his tone of voice. "That man's incompetence cost the lives of two of my loyal crew men. He had the stupidity to mistake my ship for that of the Black Pearl. Maybe you have heard of this ship, sir. It is captained by the most bizarre little man, according to rumors. Supposedly he can't keep control of his ship. You see he gained control of this ship years ago, then there was a mutiny and he lost control of it for more then ten years. He just recently got ownership of it back, by the good graces of his crew as I heard it. He always seems to find himself in the most absurd situations. If half of the rumors I have heard are true, I believe the man is just too ignorant to die like any intelligent scoundrel."
Adelaide bit her lip to hold in the laughter while Jack fought to control his reaction to her statement. His mouth formed a thin line and his eyes burned with anger at her. He quickly schooled his features into a lazy grin. "Your grace, I must point out that he must be a some what talented pirate due to the fact that you have heard of him."
"Ineptitude always catches someone's attention and creates intriguing gossip, Mr. Milford." Adelaide smiled at his wince at her choice of words. "Not to mention, even my uncle can attest to the fact, that I have always had an obsession with piracy. As a child I found it a romantic lifestyle. Now as an adult, I find it better to know who it is that may attack my shipping lines. It makes it easier to battle them, I find. What are your views on the pirate scourge, Mr. Milford?"
By this point, Elizabeth and Will had made their way through the sea of well-wishers in time to overhear Adelaide's comment. Adelaide heard Will choke back his laughter. She nearly broke her calm façade when she heard Elizabeth's stifled giggles as she practically buried her face in Will's shoulder. Adelaide simply turned her look toward Jack waiting to see how he took her bait. He would be forced to denounce piracy to keep his cover as an American merchant. She hoped his words burned his throat. At least the boredom of the afternoon would be interrupted by the pleasure of Jack's discomfort.
Jack cleared his throat, throwing Will a glare at his swallowed chuckles. "I, like any well educated man, condemn the actions of those that would violate the rights of others. Pirates violate all rights of good citizens and all laws of an ordered society." Jack readjusted his spectacles and looked at the Commodore. "I believe that Commodore Norrington agrees with me, do you not sir?"
"Quite right, Milford." Norrington agreed,
"Does that mean you believe that people have certain roles in life, Mr. Milford?" Adelaide asked. "Is that not a rather unusual view for an American? All men are born equal and such?"
"In theory, yes, but in life men have to have a sense of order. Otherwise wouldn't slaves be able to argue their freedom? Surely, your grace sees the ridiculousness of this idea."
"Of course," Adelaide said dryly. "It would entirely inappropriate for a man or woman to protest the ripping apart of their family, the pressing into service of men who are not citizens of that nation, or the taking of the ancestral lands of people because of their religion. Completely inappropriate."
"Your grace," Jack said patronizingly. "You sound like a revolutionary. Surely you of all people would realize the danger of such beliefs after the unpleasantness in France these last few years."
"I am not a revolutionary, Mr. Milford." Adelaide shut her fan with a decisive snap. She almost snapped it in half, she was so angry. She was more angry with herself for allowing Jack to turn the conversation around on her then with Sparrow. Well she could make his evening just as hard by just ignoring him. She turned to Captain Kennedy and smiled. "Captain, I do believe this discussion is boring me. Would you indulge me by escorting me to the refreshment table? I do believe some fruit would be divine."
"It would be my pleasure, your grace." Kennedy was surprised at the change in the duchess. She had gone from obviously baiting the American to dismissing him mid-conversation. He held his arm out for hers.
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If he didn't know better Kennedy would have guessed that Adelaide had met the American before. As he had talked to Elizabeth before the duchess's arrival, he knew that she had not left England since her childhood. It was unlikely that she would have met Milford in London. Merchants did not socialize with the same groups that high ranking nobles did. Kennedy knew this from personal experience. He was the second son of the Marquis of Montclife. Since it had long been accepted that he would not inherit his title, Gabriel's father had chosen the navy as his son's profession. At the age of seventeen, he had been put on a ship as a midshipman. His father had wanted him to earn his position however high he rose would be by his own merit. While this was an unusual action for a nobleman, now twenty-eight Gabriel appreciated it. He had the respect of the men he commanded and his contemporaries.
Duchess Adelaide probably didn't remember him but they had met on one occasion before Gabriel had been assigned to the Caribbean in command of the Resolute. Nearly three years before she had attended a weekend party at his father's summer home. Gabriel had been home for one of his rare visits. They had not spoken save for a short discussion in the stables over the quality of his father's horses. She had left quite an impression on him though. He had even questioned his mother about her wondering how she managed to remain unmarried at the age of twenty-four. Lady Anne Montclife had laughed while she explained that Adelaide was one of the rare lucky women that had control over her life because there were no men in her family to give her orders. He had commented that he didn't think that was a lucky fact. His mother had just laughed, saying that he couldn't understand that because he was a man and had never had to deal with having another person decide every decision in his life. At the time he hadn't understood her at all. Now, three years later, he was yet again enthralled with Adelaide. He watched her whisper with Elizabeth and the idea hit him that maybe the reason she was so appealing compared to the other women at the reception was the fact she was independent. As he looked at the two women he realized that the common factor between them was their independent spirits.
He shook himself out of his contemplations, shifting away from the tree he was leaning on. Well, Elizabeth was now taken but Adelaide was still on the market. For lack of anything else, it would be an interesting chase. He reached her side and extended an arm. "Lady Adelaide, would you do me the honor of accompanying me onto the dance floor?"
Adelaide smiled warmly. "I'd love to."
Kennedy swung her smoothly into the throng of dancing couples. Adelaide was surprised how quickly he matched his steps to hers. Not many naval men danced very well. She eyed him warily. "You dance very well Mr. Kennedy. How did you come by this talent?"
"My mother required it of both my brother and me. My sisters dance decently as well." He eased them in to a gentle turn circling them around the edge of the dance floor. He smiled down at her as she frowned slightly. "Can I ask you a question, your grace?"
"Fire away, captain."
"Do you still prefer to ride horses astride opposed to side saddle?"
Adelaide's step faltered as she jerked her gaze back to his. "What?"
"You don't remember me do you? Three years ago, Montclife estates. My sister's engagement reception…" he waited for her memory to catch on.
"Montclife…" her voice trailed off. "You were that arrogant young twit in the stables. Now I remember. As I recall you were rather snobbish about the fact you thought I was a bad influence on your youngest sister Becky."
"Twit?" Kennedy choked on the word.
"Well, you were acting like one. If I remember correctly, you used some weak metaphor comparing spirited horses to women. Something about how they are only happy once they submit to the guidance of a man. Do you still believe that load of…hogwash?"
Kennedy cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Let's just say that I have been …educated over the last three years."
"I was surprised you had managed to survive past adolescence with those ideas when you have sisters like Abby and Caroline."
"Well they were really innovative at hiding their adventures, At least from me."
"I'll wager that your mother knows every detail. Mothers are like that. I would also wager your mother knows the truth behind every lie you told her. Mine always knew when I was trying to get away with something." Adelaide smiled at Kennedy's uneasiness. As the music ended, Kennedy led her back toward the table were Elizabeth and Will sat talking quietly. Adelaide caught Jack glaring at Kennedy. His glare intensified when Kennedy placed his hand on her elbow to lead her through the crowd. The thought hit her like a ton of bricks, Jack was jealous! Well, let's see where that can take us, Adelaide thought gleefully.