Elizabeth closed the door to her chambers, ordering everyone to stay outside. She kept up a stern and cold front since she left the counsel and her father, but as soon as that door shut, a flood of emotions hit her like a tsunami. She was worn out, exhausted, but kept on. She wanted to collapse into her bed and stay there forever. This feeling was quite uncomfortable and she struggled to regain her composure. "I am sure you waited, sir, and I am sorry for it." Elizabeth addressed Jack, who in light of the current circumstances, decided to come to her this night rather than wait for her at the old oak. Jack was sitting in the shadows of her room, near the long purple velvet drapes that hung on the stately windows. He stood and came towards her. She resisted and was somewhat cold to him, Against her will. She stood with her back to him, looking out the window onto the moor, realizing that she was living in the moments that would inevitably change her life.. "I will be Queen, Jack." She said solemnly. And although she wanted nothing more than to scream at him, hate him for his deception, how could she? If she criticized his impending marriage, she was nothing more than a hypocrite. He owes her nothing, and it was her own fault for thinking otherwise. So, she kept her composure with him and continued to act quite dignified.
"Yes, you will." The church bells rang in the distance and set a heavy tone in the air.
"George is missing, presumed dead or in the hands of Scotland. The Act of Succession, passed by the counsel, has removed my cousin the Duke of Norfolk as the King's heir in this most sad and unlikely event, and looks to place me upon the throne."
"Is it what you want?"
"What I want," she turned to look over her shoulder at Jack, "is irrevalent." She fought hard not to cry out. "England needs me. My mother has taken to her bed, ill from the news of my brother, Catherine has been shipped off to Hatfield with her governesses, and my father's health is failing. The only solace they have is in the thought that I will be Queen."
"And your marriage? That must give them solace as well?" Jack asked as if to try to find out some piece of information, and he tried not to say it with sarcasm, but he could not help himself. It was high time they had this conversation.
Elizabeth was hurt by his bluntness and his candor, but understood where it was coming from. "I should ask you that question sir?" She returned fire. She was losing her grip.
Jack, somewhat surprised, sighed to himself and thought quickly on who would have brought this to her – Beckett, no doubt. "I can see how you could be bound to your duty in your life to be Queen, but your love should be your own."
"Nothing is my own anymore." She said softly, under her breath.
"You do not love him."
"Love has nothing to do with the marriage of a Queen. My father has selected Lord Beckett's son as a perfect political and diplomatic match." She stopped, looked at Jack hard, "And what is it to you anyway?" That's it. She lost it. She took the parchment from the pocket of her dress and began to waive it at him. "Love? You want to lecture me about love?"
Jack recognized the document and hated that she had to see it. Elizabeth began to cry through her anger, fighting every tear from her soul, "WHY?" she paused, "WHY?" He leaned as if to go towards her, she moved back glaring at him. "You have left me no choice…not even a choice, Jack. It is you that have done this - !"
Jack walked closer to her, and she could feel him nearing her, and she fought harder to keep her distance, at least emotionally. "Many things I have known you to be, Elizabeth, but never a villain to your own conscience. You love me…" Elizabeth's eyes closed in acknowledgement and pain. Jack leaned in to touch her. Elizabeth moved away.
"I do not love her, …I don't even know her..no..it wasn't about her…" Jack came close to her face. "I love you, I have only ever loved you…."
Elizabeth became sarcastic with Jack, hating the fact that she felt so trapped by her life, "Hahh. Easy to say now……" He could see she was hurt, and that was never his intention – he planned to be gone long before this marriage ever took place. "I am done with this. So very done with all of this…"
"So, she gives up." Jack exclaimed as if to deliver a grand speech. He rarely got so angry, but this was unbearable.
"You coward! You come here and pretend to be so in love with me that you would have me give up my crown, my family and my duty, and you hadn't the courage to tell me the truth?! If it is so trivial, this marriage, then why hide it?!" She began to walk to him, looking at his eyes. He broke the stare, and looked at the floor feeling guilty for mot being honest with her to begin with. But not about Eleanor. Elizabeth continued to pace around him she noticed something very odd. Jack was not protesting? That could mean only one thing. "You're hiding something.." she exclaimed. "This isn't it. There is something else, isn't there..?" He couldn't look up at her right away. He needed to find a way to tell her about his plans to sail to the Caribbean – and his plan not to return….and how that all changed because of her…
Finally he found the strength. As he opened his mouth, Elizabeth interrupted. "Don't bother."
"Elizabeth,…" Jack began.
"Get out. Show me one honorable deed done solely for me." She whispered. He took two steps towards her. "GET OUT!" She yelled.
He turned away from her and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Jack poured another drink, this time missing the glass altogether. Not that he could be expected to pour anything after an entire bottle of rum disappeared down his throat in the last few hours. He sat at his grandfather's desk with charts and artifacts strewn about. He looked right natural there. He blended into the scene as if he were born for it. A regal, life strained crusty sailor, rum soaked and dreaming of adventure. A creek at the door startled him, then he notices who it is. "What do you want?"
"You." The tall, beautiful, dark haired woman dressed in her long white nightgown, a burgundy robe hanging just off her shoulder, said plainly, standing before him in the moonlight.
"Great." Jack thought. "Just what I need – another woman." He thought to himself.