Sorry for the delay. Thank you all for your reviews! I appreciate them! Keep them coming!

Chapter 11

James tried very hard to keep his face expressionless as he summed up the other man. He was much shorter than he anticipated, not even two inches taller than Elise herself. He had blonde hair that was coiffed into a perfect tie back lending him an air of weakness. His blue eyes were glacial and calculating as he sized up the rooms occupants. James knew instantly that he did not like him.

"I was under the impression that you were dead." Lord Andrew Devereaux said coldly as he fixed Elise with an icy stare.

The first words out her fiance's mouth solidified Norrington's opinion. No sign of relief or worry just pure contempt. He bristled at the audacity but heeded her warnings and bit his tongue.

"I very well might have been had it not been for my rescuer. Lord Andrew Devereaux this is Commodore James Norrington of the British Royal Navy." She replied cordially as if she hadn't noticed his biting tone.

"It's a great comfort to find my fiancee alive. I'm much indebted to you I'm sure." Lord Devereaux said but made no move to acknowledge him.

James knew that nothing was further from the truth and couldn't help but notice a disappointment masked in his face.

"May we sit?" Elise asked, hiding her exasperation. She'd never seen Andrew be such a poor host before. He lived to show off his wealth and upbringing.

"Of course." He asked as his manners kicked in.

Andrew watched her sharply with his eyebrows raised and it was only after she had already sat that she realized she should have sat next to Andrew not James.

"Shall I call for some tea, Commodore was it?" He continued in a challenging tone.

"Commodore yes. And no thank you I'm fine. Miss Gold?" James asked Elise politely, ignoring Devereaux's rudeness.

"Nothing for me." She replied uncomfortably as she watched the two men eyeing each other. "Andrew, have you heard any news on my father?"

James watched as Devereaux shifted awkwardly and flicked his eyes uncomfortably a moment before answering in a strained tone.

"He sent a letter here. So how did Commodore Norrington rescue you darling?" He asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject, catching James's attention even further.

Not that he knew anything about Lord Andrew Devereaux, nor being engaged for that matter but Devereaux seemed to show no sign of solace that Elise was alive. In fact, unless he was much mistaken he detected mortification behind his carefully controlled looks and his tone and manners appeared forced.

"What did the letter say?" She asked excitedly.

"I don't recall at the moment." Devereaux said distractedly.

"How long ago did you receive it?" She asked as she jumped up.

"Eight days ago." He replied.

"I want to see that letter Andrew." She said.

"Now? It's locked up in my library." He grumbled.

James felt his distaste shoot even higher if that was possible and he quickly understood why Elise had fought her father so hard on marrying him. He couldn't imagine her loving free spirit being stuck for eternity to this unfeeling contemptible dolt.

"Please Andrew. It's very important to me." She begged.

"It's late dearest. What do you say I call on you first thing in the morning and I'll bring it to you?" He offered.

James stood, unable to hold his tongue any longer. "I assure you we will not stay long, just get the letter and we'll be on our way. She would like to see the letter now, not in the morning. Miss Gold has been agonizing and worrying about her father's safety for over a week. Surely you will not deny her. "

"I'm not leaving until I see it." She told Andrew, grateful for James's presence. He was standing next to her and she could feel his warmth seeping into her as he strong-armed Andrew.

"Of course darling." He replied all but biting it out as he glared daggers at James. "Excuse me a few moments while I fetch that for you."

"Thank you." She said to his retreating back.

She turned to roll her eyes at James but he had moved to the window and was staring out silently with his hands clasped behind his back.

"That's your thinking pose." She said quietly, making sure Andrew was out of ear shot.

"It doesn't feel right. Do you feel it?" He asked.

"What do you mean? I told you he was very condescending." She replied.

"It's not that. It's just...if he thought you were dead why didn't Bright say anything about it? He was surprised to see you here, not surprised you were alive. Surely a man with Devereaux's money and power would have told the servants that his fiancee, who would soon be mistress of his house, had died." James said.

"Well maybe he..." She trailed off, unable to come up with an explanation to that.

"And why does he show no relief that you are, in fact, alive?" James pointed out.

"Disappointed probably. He doesn't like me any better than I like him." She answered with a dry laugh.

"It's not even that love. It's not disappointment. It's...dismay, like he's unable to believe it. Like it's wrong." He concluded.

"What are you getting at?" She asked with her hands on her hips.

"I'm not sure. Do you find him to be acting out of sorts?" He inquired.

"Well, a bit. Quite a bit actually." She admitted.

"How?"

"He's not being as difficult as normal." She said.

"That's him not being difficult?" James asked in disbelief.

"Hard to believe right?" She laughed ruefully.

"It's deplorable and he should be embarrassed about his lack of manners. But that's not it either. There is insidiousness lurking in gaze. He's not to be trusted Elise." He said, crossing to her.

"James..." She began.

Norrington heard a noise in the hall and pressed his hand to her mouth to stop her. "He's coming back. Believe me Elise. Get the letter and let us linger here no more. You can read it in the carriage." He whispered before resuming his spot on the couch.

Andrew entered silently holding a rolled piece of parchment. Elise looked at James out of the corner of her eye before she ran across the room and all but snatched it out of his hand.

"Thank you Andrew. We'll be on our way then." She said as she edged her way to the door.

"You're not going to read it?" Devereaux asked eyeing the Commodore with derision when he followed Elise.

"I'd like to read it in private. You understand." She said with a smile, knowing he didn't understand but also knowing he wouldn't admit it.

"Of course darling. This must be very hard on you, you must be emotionally exhausted. I'll call on you first thing tomorrow morning. Then we'll get this all sorted out." Andrew replied kindly and brought her hand to his lips to press a gallant kiss to the back.

Elise looked at him warily. She hadn't really believed James, thinking him just jealous and over suspicious, but that one out of character phrase and gesture was enough to shoot a tingle of realization down her spine. Emotionally exhausted indeed. He knew nothing of emotions, let alone hers.

"I appreciate it. Good evening." She replied and tugged her hand back, appalled at false tenderness. She chanced a glance at James's reaction and found him gazing murderously at Andrew. She cleared her throat meaningfully to draw his attention to the inappropriateness of his countenance and he quickly replaced his savage look with a stoic one.

"Are you staying at the inn?" Andrew asked, leading them to the front door.

"Yes. The Royal Inn, same as normal." She said in an innocent tone, wanting nothing more than to get away from him.

"I'll see you tomorrow then. Say nine o'clock?" He asked.

"Fine. Till tomorrow."

"Commodore, it was a pleasure." Devereaux said magnanimously.

"It was all mine." Norrington replied just as fictiously as he stepped onto the moonlit path.

"Don't say anything until we get into the carriage." Elise said in a low tone as she followed James down the drive and didn't elaborate until they were safely inside and driving away. "You're right. He's not to be trusted, he was not himself. It feels wrong."

"I studied him carefully and his actions are those of an unscrupulous man." James agreed and watched as she unrolled the letter from her father.

"You think he's planning something." She said astutely. "What do you believe it is?"

"I hardly know." He said and fell into a silence, pondering Devereaux's motives as Elise read her letter by the light of the full moon that was pouring in through the windows.

He heard her gasp as she reached for his hand and he focused his attention on her, watching her eyes widen as she read.

"Oh James!" She cried in a tone crossed with elation and terror. "My father is alive!"

"That's wonderful. But..." He prompted, feeling it coming and bracing himself.

"He's been captured by the pirates and they are demanding a ransom of fifty thousand pounds." She said as her eyes welled up.

"Now now, calm yourself. May I see the letter?" He asked. She handed it to him numbly and tried to quiet her sobs.

James skimmed through it, certain phrases catching his attention. Captured, ransom, fifty thousand pounds, meet in Tortuga for the exchange, two weeks time or Lord Gold would be killed.

It solidified his fear and he spoke without thinking. "I knew it."

"You suspected this?" She asked angrily and dropped his hand as if it had burned her.

"I did." He replied and mentally kicked himself.

"How long have you thought this?" She ranted.

"Since the day found the wreckage." He admitted.

"Why did you not say anything to me about it?" She demanded.

"You were under enough stress. I did not wish to burden you further." He said apologetically.

"Hmpf." Was her only reply as she stared out the window.

"I know you're very scared love but lashing out at me is not going to help matters." He added gently.

"You're right. I'm sorry." She said.

"Me too. When did Devereaux say he got this letter?" He questioned.

"Eight days ago." Elise answered.

"We have six days to get to Tortuga." He said urgently as plans started forming in his well trained mind.

Elise jumped as James suddenly hit the top of the carriage and came to a stop. "Gibson, see Miss Gold home. I'll continue on foot." He said as he jumped out.

"I want you to pack up all your things when you get there. Be ready to leave by the time I return." James continued in a softer tone to Elise.

"Where are you going? Where are we going?" She asked.

"I'll explain later." He said and sprinted off.

Her whole life was crashing down on her and this is how he chose to deal with it? Elise watched him with confusion and wondered what he could be planning.