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Chapter 14

Gibson watched as Norrington stood in the middle of Lady Elise's bedroom. He was unsure with what to say or do as he'd never been in this position before. The calm, collected and in control Commodore was staring at a piece of parchment as if he'd like nothing more than to set it on fire and happily watch in burn. Gibson couldn't help but wonder what was written on it.

"Sir?" He asked. "Can I get you anything?"

Norrington shook himself from his reverie.

"No." He replied bitingly then caught himself. "Thank you."

"Is there anything I can do?" Gibson asked, desperate for a sense of normalcy to return.

"Miss Gold has gone to Lord Devereaux's. There is not much that can be done." He said bitterly.

A loud knock at the front door had Gibson almost giddy as he left the room anxiously. When he opened the door he found a man in a butler uniform standing on the other side. He raised his eyebrows in surprise but smiled politely.

"Good evening." Gibson said.

"Good evening. I'm sorry to call so late. Is the Commodore in?" The man asked timidly.

"He is. May I announce you?"

"Jeffrey Bright. I'm Lord Devereux's butler. We met earlier this evening." Bright said.

"Please have a seat. I'll fetch him directly." Gibson replied managing to hide his curiosity.

Norrington was right where Gibson had left him, glaring daggers at the parchment yet looking utterly lost.

"Sir? Pardon me but there is a Jeffrey Bright here to see you. Says he's Devereaux's butler and you met earlier." He interrupted.

James looked at him with raised eyebrows and pocketed the letter as he followed Gibson down the stairs. He couldn't imagine what Bright could be doing here.

"Good evening Mr. Bright." James said cordially.

"I'm very sorry to disturb you so late Commodore but I fear this could not wait until morning. I have dreadful news." Bright replied nervously.

"Not at all. How may I help?" He asked.

"Let me just admit that this is very difficult for me. I have been in service to the Devereaux's for over thirty years and have always been devoted to the family but there is a point when a man has to decide between loyalty and his own principles." Bright answered as he shifted.

"I understand." James replied, not really understanding but anxious to get to the point.

"I fear that Lord Andrew has a foul plot brewing." Bright said.

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen and heard things he had planned and they most definitely didn't go as he had hoped. He was surprised and very angry when Lady Elise showed up at the door tonight. I must admit I was quite shocked myself. By this time I believed her to be dead." Bright admitted.

"But you showed no surprise when she turned up at the door." James observed, forcing a calm tone to his voice though his blood was pounding in anger. This was the man she chose to help her, he wondered in vexation.

"I must say that my master is not as clever as he thinks himself, but one cannot show how much they know in the Devereaux household." Bright admitted with apparent remorse.

"Do you know his plan?" James asked, leaning forward intently.

"He's left enough of his parchments and correspondences out that I've worked out most of it. He found out the Lady Elise was on her way to Port Royal to break their engagement. Though he most certainly does not love her, he couldn't stand the thought of losing all the wealth she would have brought to the marriage. He hired the captain of her father's ship to arrange a meeting with a pirate ship, captained by a chap named Jack Sparrow."

"Sparrow?" Norrington asked sharply, his blood now heating.

"You know him?"

"I've had the misfortune of meeting him on several occasions." Norrington said, stiffening.

"Sparrow and Captain Little were in collaboration. Apparently Lord Gold was expanding his market and had began dealing with foreign currency..."

"Yes, I remember Eli...Miss Gold saying that."

"Well Little pilfered and plundered the ship before capturing Lord Gold, keeping him as a bargaining tool with the Gold family, and joining Captain Sparrow's crew. They left the ship with considerable damage and what crew they hadn't already murdered then blew it to bits, leaving no survivors. Little wrote a letter to Master Devereaux assuring him that Lady Elise was on that ship. I was never so relieved to see her. And with a Commodore in the Royal Navy no less. I had no where to turn before tonight. Local authorities would never believe me. Lord Andrew has far too much pull in this society. I knew instantly that you would believe it as Lord Andrew has no influence over you." Bright said looking near tears.

"He's made a false will showing himself as the beneficiary of the business in the event of Lady Elise's death. His greed consumes him to the point that he would take a life to have more wealth and power." He finished sardonically.

"I appreciate you coming to me with this. I understand you have certain loyalties to your master that makes this difficult."

"Lady Elise is a dear woman who does not deserve that life nor condemnation." Bright said with fondness shining from his brown eyes. "You'll see to her safety then?"

"You have my word." James said, feeling his respect for the man growing. "What is she doing there now?"

"She is not there, sir." Bright replied apologetically.

"Not there? She went to him for help. She left me a note telling..." He began.

"Aye, indeed she was there but not for help from him. She went to loot then returned here with the money."

"She stole all that from Devereaux?" James asked in disbelief.

"Yes and he saw her." Bright said.

James felt his skin prickle with dread at that news. "Mr. Bright. Where is Miss Gold?"

"I followed him as he followed her here. He's taken her. They've left in his boat. For Tortuga. Less than an hour ago. She was slumped over his shoulder." Bright answered miserably.

James jumped up so quickly he knocked the chair he had been sitting in backwards but he hardly noticed or cared.

"Gibson, the carriage."

But his steward had anticipated him and already moved to the front door before he had even been ordered.

"You're certain they've gone to Tortuga." James clarified.

"I could hear him muttering about Tortuga, Sparrow and Little. I'm assuming he's returning her to the pirates to have them finish the job they were paid for. I do not think him capable of murdering her himself." Bright said as he stood as well.

James felt his heated blood chill as thoughts about exacting revenge over her captor filled his head until the thought of Elise dead pushed its way to the front of his mind. He shuddered and pushed that horrific sight away.

"I'm going after her. I have to leave immediately. Thank you very much for this." James said and led him to the front door.

"Commodore Norrington, you won't mention me will you? Though I do not agree with Lord Andrew and feel nothing but deep hatred for him at the moment, I depend on this job and could not afford to lose it."

"I will not say anything. But you should be working for a better family." James assured him.

"Aye. That's why I care about Lady Elise's safety. There is no better family than the Gold's. That was surely to be the only good to come of their marriage. Can't blame her for coming to her senses though." He replied. "Just a hint sir, while Lord Andrew is not the most cunning of men you should by no means underestimate him. His weakness lies in his doubt of others. Best of luck to you Commodore." Bright said and bid him good night.

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I have to say, I am loving this story. How about some reviews for my conceited self? Please? It's been a crappy week and I need an ego boost. Look at me, I'm begging. Kind of pathetic actually!