"I can't believe it." Amber said, staring at the large black gates looming in front of her. "Jessie was…right."
Amber had followed the main street, and sure enough, just as Jessie had said it would, it had dead-ended right in front of the Governor's house.
Now, Amber was debating whether or not she should just up to the door and knock, or if she should wait for someone to open the door and notice her. She'd only been in the Governor's home once, and it had only been for a short while. She assumed that, technically speaking, she was still the Governor's guest, and should be able to go in. Or to at least ask to go in.
She knocked twice on the door, and only had to wait a moment until the butler opened it before her. Amber felt a moment's sympathy for the poor man, who would inevitably be shot tonight. It was strange; you never know when death will claim you. All this guy did was answer the door.
"Is there something I can help you with, my lady?" The butler asked in a plain, boring tone that sounded as if he was talking through his nose.
"Umm…" Amber said, "I'm here to see the-"
"Ah, Miss Reece!" She heard the Governor's voice from behind the old man. A moment later, he could be seen standing next to his butler. "I'm pleased to see you've arrived back here safely. Do come in."
At the Governor's word, the butler that Amber couldn't help but refer to as "Chum," stepped aside and allowed her to enter. He bowed silently, and Amber curtseyed in response.
I wish they would stop with the curtseying and the bowing. Amber grumbled. It was growing tiresome, and her knees were beginning to hurt.
"Come with me, Miss Reece." The Governor told her, walking towards the sitting room of the large mansion. "Elizabeth is in here, resting after her earlier ordeal."
"It must have been terribly frightening." Amber said, following Governor Swann into the sitting where she saw Elizabeth sitting in a chair, wrapped in blankets and sipping tea. Amber smiled at her, before taking a seat in the chair opposite.
"My lord, a messenger is here to speak with you." The butler Amber called Chum announced, speaking in the same nasally voice he had addressed Amber with.
The Governor nodded, and told Amber and Elizabeth, "Excuse me, just a moment."
Amber failed to hear the words being said between the messenger and the Governor, but it didn't matter. Only a few minutes after being called out, the Governor reentered the room, almost dancing in his excitement.
"They caught him!" He celebrated. "They caught that pirate!"
"Wow." Amber muttered so no one but herself could hear. "It took them awhile to inform Governor Swann. I thought word was supposed to travel fast in small towns."
"That's quite a relief." Elizabeth said, her smile looking force. Amber understood; Jack didn't deserve jail, despite his rather long list of crimes.
"You're absolutely right, my dear." Governor Swann said, looking flat-out giddy over the news, not picking up on his daughter's lack of happiness. "Now, we can sit down to a meal in peace."
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At dinner, Amber sat across from Elizabeth, who had changed into drier clothes more appropriate for dining. The Governor sat at the head of the table, directing the conversation.
"Miss Reece, I'm happy to see that you found your way here without coming to any harm. I was concerned for your safety when no one had seen you."
"Mm." Amber said, distractedly. There were so many different pieces of silverware. She'd never figure out which one was used for what course of the meal.
Elizabeth saw Amber's confusion, and clearing her throat loudly -somehow managing not to appear rude- caught Amber's attention. Picking up the fork on the left, she made it clear it was the one used for the first part of the meal. Amber flashed Elizabeth a genuinely grateful smile and picked up her own fork.
Throughout the entire meal, conversation dwindled along, and Amber spent it watching and mimicking Elizabeth's every move; picking up the fork she picked up, holding it the exact same way, and using it to eat whatever it was Elizabeth used it to eat.
"Miss Reece," Governor Swann's voice brought Amber back to the conversation at hand. "I don't mean to sound forward, but may I inquire as to how you came to be in Port Royal?"
"Oh." Amber lowered her fork slowly. She should've known that the Governor was going to ask questions sometime. "I was on a ship, sailing from St. John to…" Amber trailed off, needing to name another place quickly. "…Florida."
"Florida?" The Governor raised one eyebrow. "Why ever in the world would you wish to go there? From what my acquaintances have told me, it isn't much."
"My uncle is my sole guardian," Amber explained. "We were going to go to Florida to start anew."
Governor Swann nodded, satisfied with the answer. He was still curious though. "How did you end up here? And –dare I ask- what became of your uncle?"
"In all honesty, I'm not sure." Amber told him. "A storm hit while we were out and sea, and the captain tried to sail through it. I don't remember much more." She paused, wondering what else she could say to sell her story. "I must've lost consciousness, because when the next I thing I remember, I was here, in your home."
"Alone." The Governor said bluntly. "I shudder to think at what became of the others on your ship." Amber nodded, hoping she looked like she cared about the death of her non-existent uncle. "You're more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. I'm not one to turn away an orphan girl."
Amber flashed him a smile. "Thank you, Governor Swann."
The conversation turned away from Amber and headed off in the general direction of the happenings at the docks. No matter how loudly or fiercely Elizabeth insisted she was fine, the Governor was would hear none of it.
Amber lost interest in it, and instead watched in despair as Elizabeth placed her silverware on to the table, so she could use her hands to enforce her words. Amber suppressed a groan. Now who was going to show her what fork to use through the remaining courses of the meal?
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That evening, Estrella informed Amber that she was to be staying the in the guestroom she had woken up in, directly across the hall from Elizabeth. Estrella left to go help Elizabeth undress –after all, she was her maid- but she sent another maid to assist Amber.
Oh, how wonderful it feels to get out of thisAmber thought in delight, as the maid untied the last string of the corset.
"There you go, Miss." She said, putting the corset away. "You must be tired. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Amber shook her head. "No, thank you."
"Then I'll be on my way. Tonight's the night I get to visit the family back in town." The maid curtseyed quickly and left Amber in her shift and gown for the night.
So that's the reason that only one maid is present when the pirates attack. Amber said, realization dawning on her. Perhaps her being here hadn't changed things after all.
As she fell backwards onto the bed, Amber could hear the conversation across the hall.
"There you go, Miss." Estrella said. "It was a difficult day for you, I'm sure."
"I suspected Commodore Norrington would propose, but I must admit, I wasn't entirely prepared for it." Elizabeth answered, sounding bored and uninterested.
"I meant you being threatened by that pirate." Estrella informed her. "Must have been terrifying!"
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "Yes, it was terrifying."
"Liar." Amber chuckled slightly.
"But, the Commodore proposed! Fancy that." Estrella's voice suggested she was determined to find some good in the day. If she was, she was looking in the right place.
"That's a smart match, if it's not too bold to say." Estrella continued.
"It is a smart match." Elizabeth didn't sound too convinced. "He's fine man. What any woman should dream of marrying."
Should, but don't. Amber decided as Estrella answered her.
"Well that Will Turner," Estrella seemed to fancy playing matchmaker with her mistress. "He's a fine man, too."
"That is too bold." Elizabeth's voice had taken on a sharper tone.
"Begging your pardon, Miss." Estrella apologized. "It was not my place."
Amber heard the door close a moment later, and Estrella appeared in her own doorway. "Anything else you need, Miss, before bed?"
Amber shook her head. Maybe it was the maid's job to tend to and care for, but Amber wasn't used to being waited on. "I'm fine, thank you."
"I'll see you in the morning, then." Estrella turned and left, off to do some more late night chores before retiring to her own bed.
Amber fought off waves of sleepiness. To keep herself awake, she thought back to the events of day. Had it really only been this morning that she'd pushed Jessie of the side of their parents' rented ship and into the water?
Fighting a sudden feeling of homesickness, Amber crawled out of bed and over to the window. Her eyes studied each building and tavern in turn. She wondered which one held Jack and Jessie. After a moment more of studying, she finally decided it was the stone building that stood tall and looked out of place next to its neighbors.
Amber's gaze went out to the harbor, and beyond it, the ocean. It was a foggy night and the ocean appeared to be calm and serene. No one would ever guess that, in just a short while, a ship would appear through the shadows, born of the night and just as dark…
The sound of canon fire startled Amber out of her trance. When the Black Pearl appeared a moment later, black as night and just as mysteriously beautiful, her heart leaped into her throat.
The pirates had arrived, and were attacking the port.