A Dream Broken

At the house, Elizabeth didn't receive a lot of reproaching, mainly because there were servants scurrying about the house carrying armfuls of flowers, drapes and other various decorations. Elizabeth recognized them as being party decorations, and her heart plummeted.

Again, her father was holding a party in their house that she wouldn't be attending.

She dropped her head and headed up the stairs in the direction of her father's study, hoping to find him there. At the door she could hear voices, but couldn't determine whether or not they were voices of important people.

Quickly glancing down at her attire, she judged herself to be decent enough. She rapped on the door and waited for a response.

"Who is it?" Her father's voice sounded.

"Elizabeth."

"Ah yes, come in child."

Elizabeth placed her hand on the door knob and entered, to find inside the room her father, brothers, Arthur with a smile on his face, and Thomas trying to hide a scowl. With them was Captain Norrington, who bowed and smiled as Elizabeth entered further into the room.

"Elizabeth, your brother Thomas has come to me, requesting that you be presented into society." At the sound of his words, Elizabeth became gleeful. "I am sorry dearest, that I have not done this sooner, but the time has come for me to see reason. We are holding a party here tonight and you are to be presented."

Elizabeth in that moment forgot propriety and rushed to her father taking him in a large hug.

"Now, now, now, now, child, don't get too excited." Her father smiled at her exuberance. "When the Captain here heard of my plans, he instantly came here and requested to be by your side during the proceedings." Her father turned his head in the direction of the Naval Captain, and immediately Elizabeth understood why Thomas was hiding a scowl. But, by the order of politeness, she faced Norrington, bowed her head and thanked him for offering.

"But surely, father." She continued. "It would be better to be presented with my brother." She waved her hand towards her eldest brother.

Thomas looked surprised at her. "Lizbeth, surely you must understand that when a man of Captain Norrington's standing makes such a request, it should not be stopped." He voiced.

Elizabeth dropped her head. "Certainly it is, I do not know what I was thinking." She apologized.

"It is no matter." Norrington spoke. "And please, Miss Elizabeth, call me James." He smiled at her.

Elizabeth returned his smile, though not with as much excitement as he had shown her. She turned back to her father and addressed the one question that had been on her mind since she'd discovered she was to be presented.

"Shall William Turner be attending tonight, father?" She didn't notice James' face go sour, or her eldest brother's turn to interest.

Weatherby Swann looked up at his youngest daughter from his seated position behind his desk. "Why do you ask?" He smiled at her.

"Because I have come to recently think of him as a friend, and thus when I am presented tonight, I should like for him to be there to see it." She reasoned.

Thomas smirked to himself, knowing full well that his baby sister liked Mr. Turner. It was as he was looking away from his sister that he glanced James Norrington's look of utter disgust.

"I don't see why he shouldn't be." The Governor finally spoke. "And I don't see why he won't be as his mother always makes sure to send him to all the parties and events." He went on.

Elizabeth, full of glee, turned to each of her brothers, smiling at them brightly. Arthur had a weak smile on his face as she faced him, but Thomas was bright.

"Well if you'll excuse me, I must return to my wife." Thomas bowed and exited the room, and shortly after, Elizabeth and Arthur did as well, leaving the Naval Captain and their father alone.

The brother and sister walked along the corridor until they reached the only parlor on the second floor.

"Lizbeth, do you know anything about William Turner?" He asked her as she was sitting down.

Elizabeth looked at him confused. "I know he is a woman of ranks son; that he spends his time making swords; that his father left him and his family when he was young."

Arthur smiled to himself. "Yeah, I thought not."

Elizabeth, again looked at her brother confused. "What do I not know, brother? Tell me."

Arthur looked to his feet for a moment as he sighed. "The senior William Turner, or Bill Turner, left Port Royal almost twenty years ago to go pirating." Elizabeth was stunned. "He married above his station when he was wed to Adelaide Price. Why she chose a man of such little standing is unknown. Together they had three children, but three months after their youngest son, Anthony, was born, Port Royal was attacked by pirates. Bill was so intrigued by them, that he began reading about the life of a pirate, and less than three months later, he was gone. Mrs. Turner has been unable to show her head in polite society since then, more for the shame of her mistake at marrying below her station. She sends William out to every party she hears of.

"But Elizabeth, you have to understand something. Bill Turner's disappearance has affected his sons more than you realize. No father of daughters is going to allow a Turner to marry into their family, which is why father will not have your friendship with William turn into anything more."

Elizabeth was crushed, dropping her head away to hide a tear. "Is what you're trying to tell me, that there is no hope for Will and me, and that I would be better to fall in love with James Norrington?" It was harsher than she meant it to be, but all she could hope for, was that Arthur saw her frustration.

Arthur in return, dropped his head. "Yes."

Elizabeth had heard enough. She stood and walked out of the room, ignoring her brother's pleas for her to return. Once she was in the hallway she sprinted along the long hallway to her bedroom. There she locked her door, and flung herself atop her bed sobbing.

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