Author's Note: I totally researched the clothing and make up for this . it was freaking hard but I wanted to get the makeup styles correct.
~Beside a Seemingly Perfect Angel~
Chapter 4: Hoodwinked
The sun rose over Port Royal, the birds were chirping and there was one girl who had gotten little to no sleep at all. She had managed to sleep around three hours thanks to some bourbon she had been handed by Celeste who was just as frazzled as herself. They had planned and planned for hours but nothing seemed to work.
"Get up darling" Celeste muttered.
Amour groaned and glared at her.
"What's the point, my life is over" she whined.
"Stop acting like a child!" Celeste reprimanded. "We'll figure out something. Now go shower!"
Amour sighed and got up from her bed. No matter how lovely the day looked, Amour knew it would be a day that she could never smile on.
"I'll go now and shower" Amour moaned.
She sighed and walked towards her washroom. As she slipped off her clothing, she slipped into the tub filled with warm water. She slipped in and had a small relaxed smile on her face. She knew this was as close as she would get near any body of water considering how much she wanted to. She was bound by land, and more importantly she didn't really care. As she rubbed her body with soaps in rose filled water she relaxed, she really lived the good life, ignoring the forced engagement.
"This is heaven" she mumbled and slid under the water. Some water came out of the tub but she didn't care at the moment.
She held her breath and relaxed. She wondered how long she could stay like this, and more importantly if she stayed there long enough would the whole mess going around her disappear. She rose up quickly and gasped as she needed air.
"Damn" she groaned as she needed to get out.
She slipped out of the tub and wrapped a robe around her. She walked barefoot towards her room to see a scene she would rather not. She blinked as a frantic Celeste let in Nellie, Johanna and Lucy. They all seemed excited that she was to be engaged; they just ignored the person she was getting engaged to.
"Oh look at this nice yellow, you have a matching hat for it" Johanna gushed.
"Oh no the pink, the rose color would do lovely with a little hair pin you have" Lucy intercepted.
"No! The sky blue, to match the color of the sea" Nellie said.
"Why not black?" Amour hissed.
The three women frowned.
"But it would look like you were mourning" Celeste commented.
"Exactly" Amour said defiantly.
"Now see here young lady" Celeste began in a frustrated tone "You accepted this deal and it came out of your pretty little lips. Now you deal with it!"
Amour shrunk back at the tone as did the other women. She knew that Celeste was right, as the cliché said; it was time to "man up".
"Hand me the blue" Amour whined.
"Pink" The others said simultaneously.
"I hate pink" she replied.
"Red" they all said.
Amour raised a brow and relented.
"Fine, hand it over" she said.
The women smirked and began to tie on the red corset. She hissed as the strings were tightened and she slipped her nails in her hands. She couldn't believe how tight it was; she had never had it that tight.
"I can't breathe" she gasped out.
"Yes but you look much thinner" Lucy cooed.
Amour glared and patted her waist scratching it to get it off.
"Take short breaths" Nellie suggested.
Amour nodded and began to take in short quick breaths.
"There now the other layers" Celeste said.
The girls slipped on her red bloomers and a red pantaloon. She wiggled around as the heavy dress was slipped on. She took in a sharp breath as it was getting heavier and they helped her slip on her shoes.
"I curse the day I was born a female" she muttered.
"No you don't" Celeste said.
They began to brush her hair and dry it as much as they could. As they dried it as much as they could, they began to pin her hair up.
"Ow watch it!" she exclaimed.
They continued their onslaught on her hair and then they played the bonnet on her head. She smiled tightly as they placed some liquid bloom of roses to redden her cheeks. She hated the red look on her face but as they muted it with some white powder, it wasn't so torturous. They then placed some lip salve and sighed.
"I look like a common whore" she muttered.
They shushed her and helped her get up.
"Go on, head towards the main room, he's been waiting." Nellie said.
She walked out of her room as if she was heading towards the gallows. She walked down the stairs towards and strained Weatherby and an annoyed Lord Beckett. As they noticed her, Weatherby looked at her sadly and Lord Beckett smirked.
"Good morning father" she said and curtsied "Lord Beckett"
He bowed at her as her father looked at the pair with some suspicion.
"Miss Swann you look as lovely as ever" he said.
She smiled tightly and looked at him expectantly.
"Well Miss Swann, I must admit I did not come for business with your father, but to ask your father for your hand in marriage" he said and pulled her hand towards him.
The way he said it, it was obvious, he wasn't asking but really ordering her father. Amour began to glare, but as he held her hand firmly, she winced and let out a fake serene expression.
"This is a surprise" Governor Weatherby said "But it's all up to my daughter"
Amour smiled softly at her father at how much he cared for her.
"Yes, well I would….like…to….accept" she forced herself to say.
Her father noticed this but said nothing. Lord Beckett slipped the engagement ring on her finger and held her hands close.
"Well very well then" He said forcing happiness. "But she cannot marry till Elizabeth is let free and marries first"
Lord Beckett turned to look at him sharply yielding back his anger.
"What?" he rasped out squeezing Amour's hand rougher than before.
"Elizabeth being the eldest has to marry first and then the youngest being little Amour" Weatherby said.
Amour's eyes shine with devotion towards her father; that's why he was a Governor because he was a genius.
"I do not like your proposition" Lord Beckett said. "But I accept it, Mr. Turner will return in a month and-"
"What?" Amour exclaimed.
He stood firmer than before noticing his mistake.
"Nothing dear" he said and kissed her hands.
She wrinkled her nose.
"I ask for some private time with her" Lord Beckett asked.
"It's not proper" Amour said.
"Indeed" Weatherby said reluctantly and left them alone.
Amour frowned at being left alone with him and was very uncomfortable.
"What, has your boldness of two night before disappear?" he asked with a glint.
Amour blushed at his comment insulted by his insinuation of her.
" Do not misinterpret that night, I did it out of desperation" she said tugging her hands back.
"What a shame" he said holding her hand. "Would it be too bold to ask for a small peck?"
"Yes it would be too bold" she said turning to him. "Lord, would you be so kind as to give me permission to visit my sister?"
He smiled at her in a way that made her uncomfortable.
"Depends on what I get in return Miss Swann" he replied.
"You'll get something once I talk to my sister" she commented.
"I'll be sure to tame you , you shrew" He said tugging her arm roughly.
"Is that a yes?" she replied with a smile.
He glared and let her go.
"Very well, I will give you that small meeting" he said. "I must head down to business, good day Miss Swann" he said kissing her hand.
She made a face of disgust only for him to touch her cheek roughly. He turned around and walked his pompous frame away. She hated him so much and glared at the back of his head; he felt it and smiled knowing everything was according to plan, even with his slip up.
As he closed the door behind him Amour began to think, and fast. Just where had he sent Will, it was obvious that she wasn't suppose to know, but maybe Elizabeth knew. Elizabeth always knew. She ran towards the carriage and smiled at her ride.
"Please take me to the cells?" she asked one of the drivers.
He smiled and tipped his hat opening the door for her. He was a kind old man, who had seem her and even her mother grow up. As the carriage went down the Port Royal road she looked out towards the town. She frowned at the sights; the men and women walked with fear as the EITC soldiers stood all around the city. The car stopped and Amour slipped out with some aid. She tugged her corset in annoyance and pain and walked towards the cells.
She wasn't scared; it wasn't her first time there as much as she hated to admit. She was lucky she wasn't imprisoned like her sister. She walked in and with some looked went down the stairs towards her cell.
"Elizabeth" Amour called out.
"Love!" Elizabeth cried out gripping the cell.
Amour walked as fast as she could and got straight down to her knees wrapping her arms around her sister. They held each other as much as they could, eyes watery.
"You look so beautiful" Elizabeth said.
"So do you, in spite of it all" Amour said back.
They grasped their hands tightly and sniffled.
"How's father?" Elizabeth asked.
"Worried over you" Amour replied "But I figured out a way to get you out of here"
"But-" Elizabeth began.
"Here me out!" Amour said excited "I accepted Lord Beckett's marriage proposal and then-"
"What?" Elizabeth cried out "No wait just-"
"Let me finish" Amour whined "And in agreement he will let you and Will free in exchange for marriage. I admit I hate it, but you two are free to marry"
She finished with a slight frown but forced a smile to be strong.
"No, no but Will" Elizabeth said frantic.
"What about Will?" Amour asked.
"He left" Elizabeth began. Before Amour could say anything , her mouth was covered by Elizabeth as she continued "He went to get Jack's compass, that's what Lord Beckett wants to set us free, he even has our letters"
Amour paled and her eyes began to show her anger. They had been tricked, she had been tricked and she herself had walked into it.
"I loathe him" she hissed.
Elizabeth looked at her worried.
"Oh Love, it's all my fault" Elizabeth said sorrowfully.
"Don't" Amour said and forced another smile "I'll get you out of here, I promise, just give me time"
"That is what we don't have" Elizabeth said softly looking at the guard who had just arrived.
"Right" Amour said softly. They intertwined their fingers and kissed each other's hands.
"I love you" Amour said softly.
"I love you too" Elizabeth replied.
They smiled at each other sadly and Amour was escorted out. Amour wiped some tears from her eyes and climbed the stairs. As she saw her carriage driver he smiled at her sympathetically.
"Anywhere else Miss?" he asked.
"Lord Beckett's office" Amour hissed.
The man nodded surprised by her sharp voice and helped her in the carriage. She was absolutely fuming at his trickery, but it was her fault; she underestimated him. He was cunning and sadly she fell for his trap in her very desperation. Her mind pondered this over as the carriage road on. Suddenly it stopped and the door opened.
"He's expecting you Miss" the old man said.
"Thank you Charles" she said and slipped out of the carriage.
She walked towards the office determined to make that man suffer. As she forced the door opened, she couldn't believe the scene. Lord Cutler Beckett stared straight at her with a cup of whiskey and a knowing smile on his face.
"Hello Miss Swann, missed me I suppose?" He said with a chuckle.
"You tricked me" she said and slammed the door close. "You told me that you would free them if I agreed!"
He smirked and tsked walking towards her.
"No Miss Swann, our engagement is to save you from going towards the gallows" He purred wrapping his arms around her waist.
She pulled back and glared.
"Oh but you cannot back down" He said with a smirk.
"I loathe you so much" she said.
"You'll learn to love me like a good little bride" he said and unwrapped his arms from her waist.
She lifted her hand to slap him only to be pushed onto a chair.
"I will not lift a hand on you and neither shall you one me Miss Swann" he ordered. "Act like a lady and accept the consequences, well actually, the fruits of my labor."
She glared and walked out of the office in a huff. She would have to get out of it, she just had to. She would be damned to be trapped in a loveless marriage with that pompous ass. Will would return and things will turn out alright…..right? She just hoped he would hurry so they would have a plan. She couldn't do it alone…..she couldn't.
Author's note: I know filler Chapter D: Sorry but I needed to develop this subplot a little more. I surmise that it will take Will around a month or two to find Jack on that blasted island. Oh well review!