A Line In The Sand: Deleted Scenes
Scene 4: The Night Before James Sailed
The following night, he found her at the quayside again. She was not as still as the night before, there was a restlessness about her in the way she tossed her breeze-blown hair back from her face, scraping it out of her eyes with quick jerks of her fingers.
She hadn't heard him coming and was startled to find him at her side. She looked away, but he caught the suddenly darkening of her face and knew she was blushing.
"I thought you would be planning strategy," she said, but though her comment was light, her voice was strangled.
"You begin to sound like Gillette."
"Heaven forbid…" she glanced at him, then away, and then seemed to force herself to look at him. "Will told me you withdrew your commissions from Brown and placed them with him."
"I had Lieutenant Groves deal with it."
Tonight, it was he who began walking and Victoria who had to dart after him to catch up.
"But it was your doing?"
"There is little point commissioning Mr Brown for anything when your brother does all the work. I hear Mr Brown was rather put out."
"Yes. He was packing his things when I returned home. Will offered to let him stay, but Brown said he wouldn't. I heard from Mr Lennon in the marketplace that he went up to Widow Norton's house."
James's expression tightened into one of disapproval.
"I think you and your brother will be much happier without Mr Brown. And your brother will make a success of himself."
Victoria caught the note of bitterness and felt her heart twist as it did on the fort when she stood watching James walk away from her brother and Elizabeth. She had felt an odd pull then - a desire to follow and comfort James struggled against the wish to be happy that her brother had found the woman he loved. In the end she had neither followed James nor congratulated Will, choosing a walk through the marketplace instead.
But now, without Will on her other side, her choice was easy.
"James, I am sorry."
"For aiding your brother in Sparrow's escape?" he arched an eyebrow at her and to her astonishment, sounded vaguely amused.
"Yes. And for what happened with Elizabeth."
"I was a fool to expect anything else," the amusement vanished and he frowned down at his feet.
"Why? She made you a promise and she fully intended to keep it, of that I am certain. You are a man worthy of a good wife – it is not foolish to expect it," she could not help her indignation. It burst from her before she had a chance to temper it.
"You have always thought too highly of me."
"Never," she replied fiercely and the loyalty in her warmed him. "I was very proud of you today, James, when you turned from Sparrow – any other man would have gone after him then and there, in vengeance. But you did not."
"One must consider one's actions."
"Please, James, do not philosophise with me. You are not a malicious man, that is the truth. Deep down you knew hanging Jack was wrong."
"We have no laws that say a scallywag ought to hang," he smiled at her and she wished she could return it.
"Perhaps not. But our laws do state that traitors should."
"You consider yourself a traitor? You shouldn't. Governor Swann pardoned you."
"I did what I believed to be right," she said, waving her hand to brush aside the small matter of a pardon. "It is not treachery to the crown that troubles me. I have let you down, James."
"You did nothing less than what I expected. Perhaps, if I am honest, I would have been disappointed had you done anything else."
"Nevertheless, one day I shall make it up to you."
"There is no need, Victoria," he sighed and suddenly looked exhausted. She wondered if he had rested at all or eaten and cursed the zealous Gillette, who no doubt had tired him out with questions. James rubbed his temples before continuing. "You acted as it is in your nature to act. I must go; there are things that need tending too. Groves found a new cabin boy; I must speak to him to be certain he is acceptable."
"He is a new cabin boy, then?"
"Yes. Edward Smith."
"I know him."
"And you think he will make a good sailor?" there was a hopeful note in James's voice and as the moon passed from behind a cloud, she saw the desperate need for sleep on his face and she took ruthless advantage of it.
"Yes," she nodded firmly. "He has an adventurous spirit, but he is used to doing precisely what he is told. No doubt he would flourish under your command."
"Ah. Well, in that case, perhaps I will return to my maps."
"Perhaps you should rest," she said gently, grabbing his hand and drawing him to a halt. "There is plenty of time in the morning to make final decisions and I don't doubt you have everything decided already. You will wear yourself out, James."
"What would I do without you to command me, Miss Turner?"
"Neither sleep nor eat. Go. I wish you luck on your voyage, James. I look forward to your safe return."
"Good night, Victoria," he replied, giving the hand she had slipped into his a gentle squeeze.
She stood and watched him until he disappeared into the darkness, then she hurried home.
Her brother was asleep and had been since before she had gone out. She peeked into his room and felt her heart throb warmly at the little smile on his face. She left his door half open, not daring to close it lest it creaked and gave her away.
She packed her clothes quickly, throwing the cast-offs Will had given her into a plain sack. She changed quickly, into the neatest breeches she could find, tucking her shirt smoothly into the waistband and throwing a thin coat on top. She had a hat, a battered sort of thing that Will gave her to tuck her hair under when she was working and she put it on now, pulling it as low as she could so her face was thrown into shadow.
She couldn't help but hesitate again at Will's door and after a moment of indecision, decided to leave him a note.
Will Turner was still asleep when his sister caught hold of Edward Smith on his way to the Dauntless and bribed him with a small bag of coins to allow her to take his place on the ship.
When Will finally awoke, it was to find a note on the floor by his bed.
Do not worry for me.
Victoria.