By popular demand, and the return of my muse for this story, I have finally gotten to the point where I have enough material to update again. I could make excuses, but that would hardly get me any further, and so here it is, the next chapter, coming right up!
Elizabeth Turner stood in the door of her new home, absolutely outraged. The head of the contingent of soldiers who had appeared at her door looked extremely uncomfortable, faced with the irate governor's daughter.
"You overstep yourself, Sergeant!" she protested.
"We're under orders, Miss," the sergeant said apologetically. "Captain Gillette – "
"Has no authority to order anyone to search the home of the governor's daughter," Elizabeth cut him off.
"You'll have to take that up with Captain Gillette, Miss," the sergeant replied uncomfortably. "The sooner this search is over the sooner we can leave you in peace," he added quietly. "Please, m' Lady." Will, standing behind his wife, nodded; Elizabeth stepped aside slowly. The soldiers entered the house; there were sounds of things being picked up and put aside again, of doors opening and closing, and of rifle butts banging on the floor. The sergeant came back through the door after about ten minutes.
"Are you satisfied?" Elizabeth asked testily. The soldier bowed.
"Entirely, m' Lady. Sorry to have troubled you." Elizabeth nodded; the soldiers went on their way. Will came up behind her.
"That was too close, Will," Elizabeth whispered. "They're too close. They've almost figured it out."
"The question is: who are 'they'?" Will said. "Gillette isn't behind this, but whoever is is moving fast. Too fast." He shook his head. "Can't your father do anything?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "He won't listen. He refuses to consider the idea that James was set up, and Frederick Buffington hovers over him. He has refused to leave until Commodore Norrington has been found and hanged." Will frowned.
"Lord Buffington…wasn't he the one who found…?" Elizabeth nodded and grimaced.
"They're accusing James of that crime as well; though I'm sure he had nothing to do with it." Will sighed in frustration. He did not know that, back at Fort Charles, Frederick Buffington was doing the same thing.
Philip Norrington arrived in Port Royal the next day.
"What is he doing here!" Frederick Buffington almost snarled when Charles entered the guest room and reported the other lord's arrival. "He can't have heard so soon! Who told him?" Charles shrugged helplessly. Frederick looked out the window. He cursed when he saw another man in Philip's company. The situation was quickly going from bad to worse.
"Arthur Huntingdon's here as well," Frederick said, disgust and a little panic in his voice.
"What?" The question came from Sir Philip Norrington. He could hardly believe his ears. James, arrested for murder? The younger Norrington had written only two months ago and now Philip arrived to find that his brother had apparently killed a fellow Lord and awaited execution upon his capture.
"I think you had better explain a bit further, Governor," Arthur Huntingdon said, a shade more calmly. It was not, after all, his brother who was in such trouble. Governor Swann looked at him strangely for a moment.
"Have we met…?"
"Lord Huntingdon, and no, I don't believe we have," Arthur answered with a frown.
"Strange; you seem familiar somehow." Arthur gave the Governor a pointed look; Swann cleared his throat embarrassedly. "Ahem, yes, you see…" Governor Swann launched into a description of the circumstances surrounding James Norrington's arrest and subsequent escape and disappearance. Philip listened with stony face and a sinking feeling in his stomach. That James had run did not help matters; indeed it made him look even more guilty. But run to where?
"My daughter and son-in-law believe that he is innocent, but I am afraid that the evidence contradicts them," Weatherby Swann finished.
"Then perhaps you should look closer at the evidence, Governor Swann," Philip said coldly. "Don't you think this is all a little too pat to be believable? Why would James do such a thing?"
"Because your brother is, I am afraid, quite deranged," a voice said from behind them. Philip stiffened; Arthur glared outright. He knew and hated that voice.
"Gentlemen, I presume you know Lord Buffington?" the Governor asked self-importantly. Philip recognized that tone; it was perfectly obvious whose camp Swann was in. He shared a look with Arthur; the younger man nodded and grimaced.
"Indeed," Philip replied, turning away. "Governor Swann, I wonder if I might speak to you privately on the subject later; the journey has been long and it would appear I have much to consider." His tone was strained.
"Of course, of course; I will have the guest chambers prepared." Arthur privately wondered how many guest chambers Swann had that he could house four noblemen at once. He did not protest though, as they were led toward the Governor's house and away from the potential argument. They could not afford to afford to have Buffington become concerned enough about their presence to act at this early stage; they had to be able to move freely if they were to clear James's name.
Sorry about the lack of Jack and company but this chapter had to deal with what was going on back home so to speak. I promise next chapter will be almost all the Pearl and crew.