Chapter 4: Leaving for Love

Elizabeth awoke the next morning half-naked, in hay and in the arms of a man who was not her husband. Redressing herself with as much dignity as she had left, she awoke Will and kissed him goodbye sweetly. "I'll be back," she promised in a murmur against his lips.

It was no easy feat, sneaking back into the Commodore's estate. The lady of the house had to resort to climbing through a window leading to the kitchens before she could sneak upstairs.

She found her husband waiting for them in her chambers. "Elizabeth!" he cried with relief, folding her into his arms. "Where in God's name have you been? The servants have been worried sick!"

Elizabeth drew back to peer up into her husband's face. James couldn't be aware of how his choice of words had been intentional: the servants had been worried about her. Had he been? Elizabeth thought not – after all, he was gone half the night most evenings, working late at the garrison!

Will would have been concerned for her if she went missing. Will would have been worried if she was unsafe.

Bearing that in mind, she made her decision.

"I was with the blacksmith," she told him.

"The blacksmith?" James's jaw dropped. "At what hour?"

"Late, for a last minute repair to my mother's ring. He was repairing it and I…. I fell asleep. I lost track of time." She stopped just short of coming out with the whole of it – that she had spent much of the night making love to the handsome blacksmith – for fear of what James might do to Will if he knew that he was a Commodore cuckolded.

"I see. Were you safe with him?"

More than you will ever know, she thought. She nodded, and turned to exit the bedchambers with her head held high. At the door, she turned back:

"Oh, and James? I shall inform my Father that I should like for him to petition on my behalf for a divorce."

With that, she left her husband flabbergasted and spluttering, whereas she had never felt freer in a long, long time.

Once she stole away to the blacksmith's shop, she met with Will in secret and told him what she planned to do. He seemed stunned.

"You mustn't!" he implored her. "Everyone will learn of what we have done! You will be labeled an adultress, and made to go through the streets with a red A attached to your bosom!"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I can't be labeled an adulteress if I am faithful to my husband." Will's eyes expanded as he realized in that moment, she was not referring to Commodore Norrington. Elizabeth ducked her head shyly, then thought better of it, holding her head high and proudly to look the man she loved in the face as she proposed marriage to him.

"Will you marry me, William Turner, Jr.? Will you have me, as your wife?"

He clasped her hands, mesmerized by her. "Yes!" he breathed. "But…. but Elizabeth…. Think about what you are saying! You would relish being a poor blacksmith's wife?"

"I would," she stated solemnly. "Because I would relish being your wife. And I know you can provide for me, for us both."

Will smiled radiantly, exhilarated. "Very well, Mrs. Norrington. I accept your proposal."

She leaned in close, placing a finger on his lips. "Elizabeth," she crooned, before drawing him close and kissing him deeply.

They were married in secret on a beach near the docks, just out of view of Port Royal.

Elizabeth's divorce had been finalized after some reluctance from her father, who bemoaned the death of such a match and such a son-in-law as Commodore James Norrington. Elizabeth did not care. She wanted to spend her life with a man she loved, no matter his status, no matter how little advantage the marriage would bring her. None of that mattered to her. It had been with great reluctance that she had told her father the truth and asked for his blessing. She had feared he would disown her, and it might have left her freer to pursue her choice of husband if he had. Upset as he was, Weatherby Swann warily gave his daughter his blessing; the Governor was now the only witness here on the beach to watch his only daughter become a wedded wife to a poor blacksmith.

By the light of the setting sun on the horizon, the holy man blessed Elizabeth and Will. Once they were pronounced husband and wife, Will leaned forward. Elizabeth happily swayed into him with a giddy smile on her face and their lips met in a kiss.

And with their wedding kiss, with her new marriage, Mrs. Elizabeth Norrington became Mrs. William Turner, Jr.

Her father looked on with a bemused smile. "I wish you godspeed, my dear – after all, he is a blacksmith."

Elizabeth just smiled, softly caressing Will's hair. "No," she murmured. "He's my husband."

Weatherby Swann smiled and stepped away so the newlyweds could be alone. And when Will kissed her again, Elizabeth melted into his arms.

"And I love my husband!" she whispered into his lips.

Two Years Later

Elizabeth entered her husband's workshop from the back stairs that led into their adjoining homestead, an apron over her simple sundress and with her infant son – William Turner III – at her breast.

Her husband, William, was at his forge, carefully crafting an order of broadswords. He had completed his apprenticeship under Brown the year prior, finally released from his indentures to begin practicing his trade so that he might provide for his young bride, who by that time had been great with child.

When his master, Brown, had passed away from the drink not long after, Will had suddenly found himself inundated with more orders than ever before. After all, Port Royal needed a blacksmith.

Smiling softly at her husband, Elizabeth crossed to him until she was in his line of sight. Glancing up, Will stopped clanging with his sledgehammer and set his work aside, smiling at his wife as she presented with a cool glass of water. When he had gulped his fill, Elizabeth stepped into him and kissed him sweetly, their baby nestled between them.

"Supper's almost ready, my love," she trilled.

Will stroked their son's tiny head, then kissed his wife again. "I'll be inside in a minute," he promised.

"Don't be too long," Elizabeth smiled softly before gliding towards the back door. Glancing back, she murmured to him:

"I love you."

Will sent that tousled grin at her, the one that had made her – the Governor's daughter - fall in love with him, a simple blacksmith.

"I love you too."

Elizabeth swept into their home with their son in her arms. Chuckling to himself, Will Turner resumed work on crafting his latest order.