The Gift
Chapter 19: A cappella
Setting: Post POTC 3
Characters: Norrington/ OFC
Author's Note: Please note that this story has been update to M rating. Again, reviews are appreciated.
Norrington felt cold, and opened his eyes to find a fuzzy outlined form on the chair beside him.
"Lucy?" He called out tentatively. Doctor Ingram shut his book.
"Good, you're awake...I sent Lucy home." James tried to sit up.
"I think I owe you a great deal of thanks."
The thin Dutchman just smiled and reached for James wrist.
"You are welcome, sir. But I think it was your fiancée, Miss Gagliano, who shot Barbossa and his thug." After a moment of quiet, he looked up and said, "Your pulse is strong."
James clasped his hand.
"Then I owe both of you my thanks…. I clearly remember being stabbed….I've had quiet a few flesh wounds, but this one was different."
Ingram helped him sit up in the bed and rearranged a pillow behind him when Norrington winced.
"It was deep, sir, and a piece of the blade broke off in your back. Not to worry, though. It was a clean removal, and I sewed up the wound quite neatly, if I may say so myself. Please turn over, sir, and let's have another look."
Lifting the admiral's nightshirt and carefully removing the bandages, he examined the wound and smiled.
"You shall live, Admiral. Congratulations."
James sighed and rolled back over.
"I shall call your footman to help you dress. And I beg you to eat a light diet today -- fish, porridge. No rum or tobacco." Then collecting his surgical kit, he added, "And no physical activity, including the nocturnal kind."
James blushed and looked away.
"Oh, yes. Duly noted, doctor."
Then the man donned his black tricorn, looking every bit a follower of Rousseau, and casually saluted his patient.
"Happy Christmas, Admiral Norrington."
"Likewise, Ingram. Uhm...Vrolijk Kerstfeest."
Ingram laughed.
"Very good, sir," he said before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
James rubbed at his eyes, remembering last night. And he smiled. Was it a dream? He pulled back the sheet and found that his nightshirt bore the evidence of their coupling.
Knock. Knock.
"Sir, Dr. Ingram says I should help you dress," his footman called from behind the door.
"No need, Forbes. I can take care of it."
"Very good, sir."
James stood carefully and edged his way to the wash basin. The water was chilly despite the nearby roaring fire, and it refreshed him body and mind. Had he and Lucy made love? More appropriately, had she drugged him and made love to him? It was so much like a dream -- a beautiful dream, and he was anxious to see her today.
James had just managed to dress himself when another knock sounded at the door.
"Sir, Captains Grove and Gillette to see you."
"Send them in."
"James!"
"Happy Christmas, Norrington!"
"Right, ho! You look most excellent!"
They shook hands vigorously.
"Please, sit and tell me everything!" Norrington exclaimed.
He was grinning ear to ear, and the pair of captains eagerly took a seat by the fire. Groves recounted every detail of the battle, while Gillette filed in his and Lucy's roles.
"Right good Miss you have there, James," Gillette concluded.
Groves raised an eyebrow at William.
"I hope your wife doesn't mind you talking about Miss G in such flattering tones."
Norrington looked up abruptly with keen eyes.
"Your wife, Gillette?"
"Aye, Miss Germaine...Lizette." Gillette was beaming. "She's now Lizette Gillette! Finally conceded to marriage, seeing that she almost lost me to a pirate."
Theodore laughed.
"I married them at sea aboard The Falcon as soon as Doctor Ingram let us know you'd live."
Norrington nodded
"Very good, but you say she finally conceded?"
He had never seen it, but Gillette actually blushed.
"Yes, well……I've been asking her for about three years now and have been denied at each request."
Norrington looked at him sadly, personally knowing the pain of rejection.
"But you persisted?"
"Yes," his warm eyes looked up. "Lizette believed she was unable to give me children due to a fever she had as a child, and….well, we tested this several times. It is probably so, but I never cared."
Groves stifled a laugh and muttered, "Was that a new scientific method, Andrew?" But Gillette ignored Theodore's comment.
"I know she isn't of high rank, James, being the baker's daughter; but she is an honest girl and fair. Her family is good and kind." Then looking aside, he added, "But most importantly, I love her. She is so dear to me." James understood.
"Andrew, you needn't offer me any other reason than the last."
And Groves feigned surprise.
"Could it be true that our Admiral has deferred to his heart instead of his head?"
Norrington smiled and looked down at the cup in his hand.
"Yes, 'tis fair what you say. I should have listened to my heart long ago. I probably could have saved myself a great deal of inconvenience and heartache..."
Then reaching for a decanter, he refilled his friends' goblets.
"But it is of no matter now. We have all found happiness in three very lovely and very patient women."
They raised their drinks and all offered a toast.
"To friendship," offered Groves.
"To wives," offered Gillette.
"To love!" Norrington added with a large grin; and with that their glasses clinked in camaraderie, fraternity, and love.
On the other side of the door, Lucy smoothed her skirts and worried about seeing James this Christmas morning. What was it about daylight that made sin seem so harsh? Would he cast her aside for her behavior or welcome her with loving arms in spite of her lascivious behavior the night before.
She didn't feel any different, not being an innocent, and surely James was no novice to the lover's bed. Sailors had a reputation for being lusty, although she did not much see this side of his character. But could a man tell something was different in a woman? Did it show in her eyes or her complexion? Breathing deeply, a small gift in her trembling hand, she knocked on the door.
"Come in," said a strong voice. She did so and instantly feigned amazement.
"James! You're awake!"
But she did not allow herself to run to him, seeing the captains in the room. They both immediately stood immediately and bowed.
"Miss Gagliano," they both said.
She curtsied formally.
"Captains."
"Perhaps you will excuse us, sir." Theodore said, turning to James as they both readied to leave.
James smiled, eager to be alone with Lucy.
"Yes, I'm sure you both wish to be with your families on Christmas day."
"Good day, Admiral. Miss." Groves said as they both saluted and left the room.
The door closed with a heavy thud, and Lucy, gripped by fear of judgment, didn't move. Norrington's face held a tender expression.
"Lucy, come."
He reached out for her hand, and she immediately came to him, taking his fingers in her own. He pulled her into lap and held her close to his chest.
"My dearest, I should have held you like this last night. Are you alright this morning? No physical pain, no guilt."
She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his cheek before dropping her head.
"I am not in pain. Yet I am worried that you think poorly of what I did, James."
He wrapped his arms around her tighter.
"No, love, no. My beautiful angel…that is what you are to me."
He rocked her slightly and for her reassurance, he added, "There is no sin what we did -- we are affianced. I've heard that many couples these days do not wait until the marriage night to consummate their relationship."
Lucy's cheeks burned a bright red.
"You do something to me that I cannot understand, James…..Your scent, your figure, your scratchy jaw," she said, touching his face. "They arise in me a passion that I had only heard talked about before. And now it makes me do such things-- very wanton things that I had never considered."
James laughed and kissed her.
"That's lust, Lucy."
"But is that wrong in a wife?"
His green eyes pierced her, and he suddenly looked all of his thirty-four years.
"Men who don't find a warm marriage bed find comfort elsewhere. I shall never be that kind of man, as you shall never be that kind of woman. I think we shall make each other immensely happy acting on what we feel, not on what we've been told by some old vicar."
He kissed her fingers and continued.
"Doesn't the bible say that marriage was created to deliver man from sin, and we are soon to be married."
"Yes, yes…" She snuggled close and whispered in his ear, asking tentatively, "Did I please you last night?"
"Oh god, yes!" He answered easily, resting his hands against her waist. "You surprised me, I shall say, but I'm clay in your hands, Lucy." He kissed her neck and added, "Never have I given another so much control over me."
"I'd say that was made easier by the laudanum."
"Perhaps, but I trusted you." Then he added lowly, "I wished to submit to you."
"Truly?" She asked, eyes bright as she realized how much power she held over Port Royal's Admiral.
"Truly. But be warned Miss Gagliano, next time it shall be you that does the submitting."
"Oh!" Her brows raised.
"Fair is fair, my love," he laughed.
"As long as you treat me kindly, James. All of this... this pillow talk is new to me. Be gentle."
"I shall," he said, smiling fondly. But Lucy suddenly jumped from his lap.
"But it must wait until our wedding night!" She added quickly.
And his face suddenly turned to disappointment.
"But Lucy!" He begged and reached out for her, "Just once more..."
"No, James. We are only three weeks away. Make all the plans you wish for our marriage bed, but you must wait until then. Only kisses." She kissed him swiftly.
"You are a cruel mistress!"
He grabbed her wrist, his voice rough.
"But know, my love, that I will be making plans, and there will be no wine or laudanum to keep me restrained."
Lucy smiled deviously.
"Admiral Norrington, I believe you may be rather wicked."
And he nodded, releasing her.
"You're right, my dear. I may well be."
Suddenly, she turned to the side table.
"I almost forgot your Christmas gift!" She tossed it in his lap and ran to the door. "I must get home to papa."
"Will you and your father come here for Christmas dinner at two o'clock?" Asked James.
"That's the plan," she smiled. "Good morning to you, Mister Norrington."
"Good morning, Lucy."
And when she was gone, he opened the box to find...