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Lots of dialogue but I needed a transitional chapter...

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Chapter 13

James mentally practiced his request as he ran down the lane to the naval headquarters. He knew he would have to keep his emotions checked and hidden if he was to get his petition approved. The admiral was a man who was about practicality not recklessness. He would have to make it about Lord Gold and keep his mention of Elise to a minimum.

"Admiral! So glad I caught you." James panted as he came to a skidding halt in front of his superior.

"Commodore. Back from England are you? Nice journey then? No problems I trust." Admiral Taylor said as he closed the door to his office.

"Not exactly." James replied, catching his breath.

"What's happened?" Taylor asked, noticing the urgency surrounding the normally calm Commodore.

James glanced over his shoulder before indicating they should enter the office. The admiral went in and sat behind his desk and motioned for James to have a seat as well.

"There is much to tell but I fear I do not have that much time to explain it all." Norrington said.

"The abridged version then." Taylor replied.

"In the last week of our journey we happened upon a woman lost at sea. The ship she was on had been attacked and destroyed. She had escaped relatively unscathed, she had amnesia but regained her memory a few days later." James rushed.

"There were no other survivors?" Taylor asked is disbelief.

"That was unknown at the time sir. She was found a great distance from the wreckage." James said.

"Pirates?" Taylor asked as he pressed his fingertips together.

"Yes. It was only when we reached land that we found out her father had been kidnapped at the time of the attack." James replied.

"That is indeed regrettable. How did you find out this information?"

"The woman is engaged to Lord Andrew Devereaux. We called on him this evening to see if he had heard anything. Her father sent him a letter." James answered as casually as possible as he tried not to spit the words out and show his detest for the man.

"Lord Devereaux? The son of the wealthiest man in Port Royal? Commodore, exactly who is this woman? She must be someone of great importance if she is engaged to a Devereaux." Admiral Taylor asked as he leaned forward in his chair.

"Aye sir. Her name is Elise Gold of the..." He began.

"Elise Gold? The eldest daughter of Lord Charles Gold of London?" Taylor interrupted, standing quickly.

"Yes but..." James began with raised eyebrows.

"Commodore, why did you not say so? This is grave news. What is your plan of action?" Admiral Taylor demanded as he began pacing.

"The letter from Lord Gold stated that he was being held for a ransom of fifty thousand pounds and the trade is to take place in six days. I would like permission to take a crew on the Mercenary to Tortuga." James said and stood also.

"Granted. Nice thinking Commodore, choosing the Mercenary. It is certainly the most heavily armed ship in Caribbean." Taylor replied.

"Thank you sir." James said, breathing a silent sigh of relief. "Admiral? Do you know the Gold's?"

"I do indeed. Lord Gold and I used to be good friends until I took my command in Port Royal. Not only that, he is one of the largest contributors to royal navy. The funds he donates to the crown is what keeps us thriving. His return is going to be the utmost of importance. And secrecy."

"I understand." James answered, straightening.

A knock at the door put both men on edge and had them drawing their swords. Taylor flicked his sword indicating that Norrington should move to the opposite side of the room so the door was completely covered and he quickly did as instructed.

"Come in." The admiral called and readied himself.

When the door opened and Gibson came in James felt himself marginally relax until he noticed the prepossession in the man's face.

"It's alright Admiral. It's my steward. What is it Gibson?" James asked as he sheathed his sword once more.

"It's Lady Elise. I'm afraid something is wrong. She ran in the house screaming for you, she was dressed in regimentals."

"Elise Gold? In a naval uniform?" Taylor asked in disbelief.

James just looked at the admiral. Obviously he wasn't acquainted with his friend's eldest daughter.

"Where had she gone?" He asked Gibson.

"I don't know sir. I did not even hear her leave. Must have snuck out. She needs to speak with you immediately, says it's urgent." Gibson said apologetically.

James cursed under his breath and hoped she hadn't done anything too impetuous.

"Admiral, I have to go. Could you possibly get a crew together? I want to leave first thing in the morning." James asked.

"Of course Commodore. They'll be ready by daybreak."

"Thank you. I'm sorry about this but I have to go." He said and spun on his heel with Gibson close behind.

"Out alone? In regimentals? What has she gone and done?" James wondered aloud as they rushed down the corridor.

When he was seated in the carriage he ordered Gibson to drive as fast as he could back to Netherfield. He leaned back to chastise himself. He shouldn't have left her without telling her where he was going. He probably drove her to whatever rash action she had taken.

Less than ten minutes later they pulled up the drive and James was out of the carriage before it had even stopped moving. He half expected Elise to be waiting impatiently outside for him but she was not.

Her trunk however was laying on the front stoop and the door was wide open. A bad feeling crept in as he stepped over it.

"Gibson." He shouted.

"Yes sir?" Gibson said as he jogged up the walkway.

"Did you carry her trunk down?" James asked. He was fairly sure Elise hadn't brought it down. It was quite heavy.

"No. I thought she was upstairs packing it when she came bursting through the front door."

"And did you leave the front door open when you left?" He asked, knowing the answer already.

"Of course not." Gibson said.

James nodded and pulled his sword again as he stepped deftly over the trunk. "Something isn't right."

While James walked the first level checking for intruders Gibson pulled the trunk inside and had kneeled down to open it. He sifted through the dresses and pushed a bag out of the way until he noticed a clinking sound coming from it. He opened the satchel and gasped loudly.

"What is it Gibson?" James asked quietly as he passed the door.

"Sir, I think you better look at this." He said.

James walked over to peer down and sucked in his own gasp. "Where in the hell did she get all that?"

He felt sick to his stomach as anger tore through him, he was relatively sure where she had gotten it.

"Elise?" He shouted, forgetting to be quiet.

"Elise? Come here at once." He ordered again. The silence pressing in on them turned his anger to fear.

James turned to Gibson and cocked his head toward the stairs and dashed up with Gibson close on his heels. He ran in to Elise's room, the door was open but she was no where to be seen. He circled the room with his hands clasped behind his back as he willed himself to breathe normally.

He moved to stand at the window staring unseeingly into the night when parchment on the desk caught his attention. He picked up the one on top first and saw that it was her father's will but the word lies was written all over it. James moved onto the next one and noticed this was a letter to him.

James,

I hope that you don't even see this letter but if you do then you mustn't be angry with me. I've gone back to Andrew's for help. He's the only one I know with what is required to rescue my father. I hope to be back before you return but if I'm not then I didn't want you to worry.

Yours with all my heart,

Elise

James fought the hurt stabbing at him as he folded the letter and carefully pocketed it as realization set in. Elise thought that James couldn't help her. She didn't believe in him. And she had turned to her scamp of a fiancé instead.

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Damn misunderstandings :(