Author's Note: I know Norrington seems very out of character, but that's kind of the point. His experiences with her change him. You'll have to find out what I mean later in the story. I just wanted to clarify that for you guys. I also want to say sorry for anybody reading this who doesn't like all the lovey-dovey kissing stuff, but I'm an extreme romantic and I love all of that. I put this in the romance category for a reason.
Chapter Four
James lay in his bed that night thinking about the day's events. How could she be a pirate? It was unbelievable. She was supposed to be his enemy, and yet he loved her more than anything in the world. Now he was going to help her steal a ship. If he ever came back to Port Royal he would be hanged. There was no way around it. But oddly, he didn't care. All he cared about was that he would get to be with Isobel. That was all that was important. He would be the happiest man alive as long as she was at his side. He recalled with pleasure the way she melted in his arms when he kissed her. Her lips were so soft and so sweet. He pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He was never going to get any sleep like this.
Early the next morning he went to Isobel's inn with some dresses that had belonged to his mother. He knew that she wouldn't want to wear dresses, but it was to avoid notice until they could leave. He went up to her room and knocked on the door. It opened a crack and she looked out.
"You're here early," she said as she opened the door all the way and turned to walk inside. She was wearing the same clothes that she had been wearing since she came aboard the ship. Maybe she would appreciate the change.
"I brought some things for you," he said closing the door behind him as he walked in. He decided to ignore the looks she was giving him. Obviously, she wasn't very happy with him right now. He pulled out the three dresses and laid them on her bed. One was pale yellow embroidered with light pink flowers. Another was dark red with silver embroidery on the collar and up the sleeves. The last, plain green that he was sure would match her eyes, was his favorite. "They were my mother's. I know you like to wear men's clothes, but it would be better to wear these to avoid notice while we are here."
"Oh, no, they are beautiful, James," she exclaimed picking up the green dress and holding it up to her, "Thank you." She got up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly. She turned away and went and looked out of the window. She sighed. "I suppose you haven't changed your mind about going with me."
"No," he said. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She only resisted a moment before leaning back into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head softly. "I love you, Isobel."
She took his hand and laced her fingers through his. "I love you too," she said as she looked up at him with a sad smile. The look in her eyes pained him. She still did not think that it would work between them. He didn't understand why. After he helped her, he was not going to be able to go back to the Navy. He would be as good as a pirate himself.
"Why are you so sad?" he asked running the backs of his fingers across her cheek.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. Tears leaked out from beneath her long lashes. "I just don't want you to throw away your life on me," she said after a moment, "If you help me steal a ship, there's no way you can return to Port Royal without going straight to the hangman's noose."
He wiped away her tears. "Don't cry," he said soothingly, "I've thought about all of that, and I haven't changed my mind. I know the consequences of what I have decided to do." He turned her around to face him. "I'm not throwing away my life. I'm starting a new one, with you."
She pulled his face down to hers and kissed his lips. He returned the kiss and held her tightly against him. She pulled away and cleared her throat. "Now," she began breathlessly. She cleared her throat again. "You had better leave. You don't want people to talk about you leaving my room in the early hours of the morning. I'll get dressed and meet you in the common room. We can talk there."
He grinned at her not wanting people to start rumors about their romance when they were about to go steal a ship together, but he obeyed anyway. Down in the common room he sat at a table and waited for her to come down. Today while he was working at the docks, he would try to find out anything he could that might aid them. If they were in luck a ship would be leaving soon, and they could steal it after a crew had gotten it prepared for voyage. Then they would sail to Tortuga to hire a crew. He had heard of Tortuga, although he had never been there. He thought that that would be interesting.
He looked up, and what he saw took his breath away. Isobel was walking down the stairs wearing the green dress. He was right it did match her eyes. It made them sparkle like emeralds. The dress was a little long and a little tight across her bosom, but other than that it fit perfectly. When she saw him she grinned and quickened her steps. When she reached his table she curtsied. She tipped her chin up in the air and looked down her nose at him. "Does this make me look like a respectable lady," she asked.
He laughed at the way she was looking at him and pulled her down into the chair beside him. "Of course," he said with a grin. Then he suddenly became serious, "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She blushed and looked away. "Thank you," she said with a shy grin. "Well, your mother was taller than me." She hiked up the hem of her skirt. "And thinner." Her hands went up to her abdomen and she let out a breath. "I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to fit into it."
He smiled and took her hands away. "It looks beautiful." As he spoke he couldn't stop his eyes from traveling up her body. She was truly gorgeous. A man couldn't help but notice. His eyes must have lingered a little too long on the rather low cut neck line because Isobel cleared her throat loudly.
"James Norrington!" she exclaimed, "I'll not have you gawking at me like I'm some tavern hussy! Keep your eyes on my face or I'll go change back into my other clothes no matter what you say." Despite her words, he was sure he saw a flash of a satisfied smile cross her face. He took her scolding light-heartedly.
"That's fine with me," he said as he brushed a strand of hair away from her eye, "Your face is just as pleasant to stare at as… any other part of you."
She rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "You know I really should slap you," she said playfully, "I would be quite justified. You are not a gentleman. No matter what anyone else thinks."
He leaned closer to her and whispered, "If I kissed you, you wouldn't be so mad at me."
Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she pushed him away. "You are intolerable," she said after a moment a little nervously. Her cheeks were still red. "Now what do you have to do today?"
He grinned at her being so flustered then answered, "I have to work at the docks." He paused and looked around. "I will listen and find out what is going on. You know, like if any ships are leaving and when."
She nodded. "That's good. What should I do?"
James shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't really thought about that. "I don't know. I suppose you can just go about the town. Get to know some of the people if you can. If they think you are a respectable young lady they will be less likely to expect that you stole a ship."
"Okay," she said giving him an unreadable look, "But who else will they expect when they wake up one morning and find that a ship is missing?"
"I have already thought that over," he said after a moment, "If something goes wrong and we are caught, I will say that it was all my idea and I kidnapped you. They will arrest me, and you will be free to go and start a new life back in Ireland."
Isobel stared at him with her mouth hanging open for an instant. Then her mouth clicked shut, and she shook her head. "No," she said grasping his hand tightly in hers, "If we are caught, I will not let you take the blame. I don't think they will believe that I kidnapped you, but I won't let them believe that I was innocent. Besides, I couldn't go back to Ireland and start a new life without you."
"But, Isobel," he protested, "I could die happily knowing that you were safe."
"Do you think that I could live happily knowing that you went to the hangman because of me?" she asked, grasping his hand so tightly that he thought her nails might bring blood. Her tone was pleading, and tears filled her eyes. "I couldn't bear to live."
He sighed. "Alright," he said loosening her hand and stroking her palm, "If we go down we go down together."
She nodded and brushed a few tears away. "Good." She looked around to see if anyone was watching them. The room was little more than empty. "Well," she sighed after a moment, "You had better go. I don't want you to get in trouble for being late." They both stood, and Isobel took his arm and put it around her waist as they walked out of the inn. When they got outside, the street was virtually empty so they didn't let go of each other as they stood outside of the doors and talked.
"When will I get to see you again?" she asked as she kissed him softly on the cheek.
"I don't know," he replied with a smile, "Do you want to see me again?"
She pushed him away from her and crossed her arms under her breast. "On second thought," she said, placing a finger to her lips as if in thought, "Maybe I don't. Well, bye." She turned and began to walk away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back around and against him.
"Now wait just a minute," he began, but she cut him off when she put her arms around his neck and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.
"See," she said after they finished, "I can do that too. Now, answer my question."
He smiled circled her small waist with his arms. "I'll meet you back here when it gets dark," he said, "And we can talk about what I find out and…" He raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. She punched him in the ribs, and he grunted.
"I am not that kind of girl, James Norrington," she exclaimed then she winced and looked down at her hand. She continued as she flexed her fingers, "If you think that I'm going to…to crawl into bed with you." Her face reddened all the way to her ears. "Then you have another think coming!" She sniffed and nodded.
He could barely contain his laughter. "Well, I sure wouldn't try anything now," he said as he rubbed his stomach and pretended to be hurt, "I might get injured."
"You might," she agreed. He chuckled, and she glared at him.
"I'm sorry, Isobel," he said through his laughter, "I didn't want to offend you. I was only joking. Well, sort of." He didn't want to lie to her. He had had his hopes, but he was not going to pressure her into anything.
She stared at him blankly for a moment. Then she nodded. "Well, just so you know." Her look softened and she smiled a mischievous smile of her own. "Maybe," she said slowly, "When we get on the boat… who knows what might happen?" He raised his eyebrows, and she continued, "But not until I'm ready."
"Alright," he said smiling, "As much as I would like to stay here talking to you, I have to go work."
"Goodbye," she said, and he turned to walk away. "Wait!" She grabbed his arm and smiled up at him. "Just because I'm not ready for some things doesn't mean that I don't want a goodbye kiss." He gathered her up in his arms almost as the words were coming out of her mouth.
Isobel stood trying to catch her breath staring after James. If her mind had not been so clouded right then, the smug look on his face would have annoyed her. He had no right to be smug. It was not like no other man could make her knees turn to jelly with his kisses. She shook her head and began walking away. What was she to do all day while he was away? She didn't know anyone in Port Royal, and she didn't really want to get to know any of them. She wished that he had given her some task to see to, anything to keep her occupied. What was she thinking? It was not like he was giving the orders. She was the one in charge of this. She decided she would go to the smithy and see about getting some knives. She had lost all of hers when she was in the ocean. But as she was about to ask someone for directions, she had a thought. Wouldn't it seem odd for a woman to go into a smithy alone and ask to have some knives made? She growled. She was just going to have to bloody walk around all day!
Suddenly she heard someone yelling, "Izzy! Izzy!" She spun around in confusion. Only two people had ever called her Izzy, her father and…
"Jon!" Isobel exclaimed as she ran to the man who had been calling her name. "Oh, Jon, it's so wonderful to see you! What are you doing here?"
"I should ask the same of ye, lass," said the tall, lanky man as he pulled her into a big bear hug, "I feared the worst. No one in Tortuga had heard anything from you for a while, so I decided to come out lookin' myself. Me and my crew ran into some trouble with another group of pirates a few days ago. Me and a few others managed to kill some of them and then get away on a life boat. Port Royal was the closest place."
"Those pirates!" she exclaimed, "I'll bet that those are the same ones that got me!" She shook her head. "You're being careful, aren't you?" she asked with concern, "You know Port Royal's navy is infamous for catching us. And you know what they will do if they catch you."
"Aye, that I do, lass," he said sadly, nodding. Then his face brightened again and a wide grin spread across his face. "It's so good to see you, Izzy girl. Now, how did you get here?"
"Like I said," she began, "I was attacked by other pirates, too. All I remember is being thrown overboard, and then I was rescued." She paused. "By Port Royal's navy."
"It's you who do need to be careful it seems, lass," Jon replied shaking his head, "How did you keep them from finding out who you are?"
She grinned. "It seems," she said mischievously, "That Port Royal's navy men would rather look at a pretty woman than find out if she needs to be sent to the hangman." The comment made her think of James and she wondered what he was doing.
Jon roared with laughter. "Well, I sure am glad you're alright, Missy." He looked at her up and down with a look of surprise on his face. When he got back to her eyes he said, "Can it be that you are turning into a lady?"
"Not a chance," she retorted, "You're lucky I lost my knives."
He laughed again. "Yes. I haven't forgotten that scar you gave me when I was teaching you to use those. You were little more than a girl."
She laughed, delighted at having run into an old friend. "Here," she said taking his arm and leading him back to her inn, "Come with me to the inn I am staying at. I have quite a bit to tell you. And I wouldn't want it to be heard by the wrong ears."