I could bore you all with numerous excuses and tales of my recent crazy life. But I won't. I have however decided that since I now have my own computer, instead of having to share with my entire family, I no longer feel an urgent need to write while I have the chance to do so. I will try to rectify that in the near future.
Starsplash: I do hope you mean the post chapter note, not the last part of the chapter ;) and about the governor? I really have no idea, so I probably will never tell.
AliKernschatten: I agree, I also cannot stand stories that leave you to wonder 'hey whatever happened to so and so with that thing…?' therefore I shall try to wrap it up nicely. If I am forgetting anyone, please let me know, and I shall try to include what happens to them.
AKAFredandGeorge: Girl, you're crazy, that's all I got to say!
AKAfredandgeorge: Yes, she does tend to do that, but can you blame her? I blame the blond roots. And yay! Consciousness!
Drink-Up-Me-Hearties-Yo-Ho: Aw. Your review made my day. I got the beginnings of my very own mob! ; ) the raspberry jam comment was kinda off the wall though… sadly, the evil writer's block flying monkey is still hovering around somewhere, durned bugger.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bell above the shop's door jingled as Elizabeth pushed it open. "Afternoon, Mrs. Turner." Wesley, the shopboy called and Elizabeth nodded in acknowledgment
"Hi Wesley, and before you can ask, yes, I brought you some food as well." Elizabeth smiled at the boy and handed the small basket she was carrying to the beaming boy.
Katrina was once again surprised by the blast of heat when the three women entered the door in the back of the shop. Elizabeth stopped and gazed at her husband. He was covered in sweat from the heat, and, he was shirtless. Lilly and Katrina dropped their eyes, a faint blush covering their faces, though, thankfully, it was hard to tell if it was from the heat or of embarrassment.
"Will!" Elizabeth called over the noise of the hammering. Katrina guessed Will looked up, because the noise stopped and she heard the sizzle of hot metal hitting water.
"You can look now, girls." Will said a moment later, only making them flush a little further, and the couple to laugh.
"You know," Katrina said glancing up. "I think I'll go check on Keeley and Link." She shoved the basket she was carrying at a now shirt covered Will. "Here's your lunch."
"I'll come with you." Lilly said and handed the jug she was carrying to Elizabeth before hurrying after Katrina.
"How embarrassing." Lilly said, pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks once they had reached the street. "I thought the only man I would ever see shirt less would be…" she trailed off.
"No, don't stop." Katrina encouraged. "Who were you going to say."
"Um, my future husband." Lilly said, not meeting Katrina's eyes.
"Lilly Amelia," Katrina stopped and placed her hands on her hips. "you are lying. There was a name there. Now, who is it?"
"Katrina, please, do not ask. And don't tell Thomas… or grandfather!" Lilly was practically begging.
"Fine, keep your secrets." Katrina pouted playfully before breaking into a full grin. "Our little Lilly has a crush!" she stage whispered.
"Katrina!" Lilly clasped a hand over Katrina's mouth and looked around furtively.
Katrina pushed her hand away. "Oh, all right. Spoil my fun. But I am happy for you. Love is a wonderful feeling, is it not?"
Lilly nodded with a sigh as they resumed walking towards the Turner's. "Why, Katrina." Lilly said a gleam suddenly in her eyes. "Does that mean that you are familiar with the feeling?" she shot a sly grin in her companion's direction.
"Wh-what would make you think such a thing?" Katrina dearly hoped that the warmth she felt spreading through her cheeks was not showing. But apparently it did, for Lilly laughed in delight.
"How very naughty of you to tease me about the very same thing that you are also experiencing!"
Katrina sent her a weak grin. "Come, let's check on Link and Keeley."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Katrina and Lilly were almost to the Turner's house when Katrina saw Link passing them out of the corner of her eye, face expressionless. "Link…Link!" she called with no response.
"Katrina, don't shout." Lilly warned her. Katrina pursed her lips together in annoyance and hurried ahead of Lilly into the house.
"Keeley," Katrina said, upon entering the kitchen. She sat down next to the young mother to be. "I just passed Link on the street. What on earth happened?"
"H-he asked me to marry him." Keeley said in a faint voice, head bent.
"That's great, Link is a wonderful man." Katrina beamed, gathering Keeley's hands in her own. "I'm sure you'll be very happy."
"I haven't accepted." Keeley informed her in the same far away voice.
"What? Why not?" Katrina asked.
Keeley turned her eyes towards Katrina for the first time. "Keeley, why didn't you say 'yes'?" Katrina asked in a soft tone. "He is all you talked about half the time at Bridgewood."
"Oh, Kitty, can't you see? That was hero worship I really don't know all that much about him." Keeley sighed. "And Link is just trying to do the only thing he can do for me."
"But he has affection for you, and you him… right?"
"But is affection enough?" Keeley asked.
"Marriages have been based on a lot less." Lilly spoke up for the first time, gaining both girls' attention. Lilly blushed lightly and dropped her eyes. "I know, my parents' marriage started like that, but they were very much in love."
"Keeley, look at me." Katrina softly commanded her friend, giving her hands a light shake. "Link is a good man; kind, strong, protective, honorable, able to make a living. He would be a wonderful husband and a great father. And if I know him, he couldn't love your child anymore if it was his own. He is what any woman should want. Besides, even if you don't marry him, he'll establish himself as 'uncle Link'."
Keeley laughed lightly. "No doubt about that one. But what about you? You seemed so close to him when we were all at Bridgewood…" She trailed off.
Katrina shook her head with a smile. "It's not like that. Link is like a brother to me. And trust me, he doesn't see me as anything more than a sister."
"Do you truly think he likes me?" Keeley asked after a moment.
"Ever since you started bossing people around at the race track." Katrina said with a straight face, but was unable to keep her lips from twitching at the corners at Keeley's stunned expression and completely losing it when Keeley started to giggle.
"I'll go see if I can find Link and get him back here." Katrina stood up but Keeley grabbed her hand.
"There is no need."
"But you said 'no'." Katrina protested.
Keeley rolled her eyes. "No, I said I didn't accept, I never said no. I just asked him to give me time to think about it. And that he shouldn't rush, I want him to think about it as well. He's coming back tomorrow."
"I did say he'd be persistent, didn't I?" Katrina lightly teased.
"Yes, you did that." Keeley admitted. "But what will I say to him?"
"The only thing you can tell him. The truth."
"What if he rejects me for it?" Keeley asked fearfully.
"The Link we know would not do such a thing." Katrina said kindly.
"Right." Keeley said looking more confident than Katrina had seen her since running into her on the street. "I am tired. I think I'll go lie down."
"All right." Katrina said. "You can use the room up the stairs, third on the right. That was my room for a while. I'll leave a note for Elizabeth for when she comes back. If you need me, Elizabeth will know how to contact me."
Keeley gave her a hug. "Thank you, for everything." She whispered tearfully before moving towards the stairs.
-----------------------------
"No, I don't have permission from the commodore. We are just here to see Captain Norrington." Katrina reiterated at the stubborn guard. "Now, will you let two ladies pass or not?" she demanded, placing her hands in her hips.
"Sorry, miss. My orders were no civilians."
Katrina looked over to Lilly, who looked ready to cry. "You will allow us to pass. And we will see the captain." She fixed her best stare on the guard and used the voice that she used when Sera was being particularly naughty.
"I truly am sorry, but I cannot disobey orders."
"Well, then go ask the commodore if we might come in."
"I cannot. He is not in."
Katrina stared at him for a moment. "Come along, Lil. Apparently we are not going to see the captain today." She casually took Lilly's arm, turned around and started slowly down the walk. "I guess we'll just have to ask my uncle if we can get an order from him." She shot Lilly a wink. "Play along." She whispered.
"Oh, but will he not be upset at being disturbed from more important, governmental business?" Lilly nearly gasped.
"Oh, no doubt he will be. But I'm afraid we have no choice. But do not worry. I am sure that my governor uncle will not be upset at us." Katrina bit back a smile and patted Lilly's hand in a reassuring gesture.
"Governor? You're the niece of the governor?" the guard asked from behind them.
"Why, yes, I am." Katrina turned around, trying to look innocent.
The guard bit his lip in thought. "I guess a short visit would not hurt." He allowed them to pass and directed them to Daniel's room.
At the door to his room Katrina stopped, she had forgotten how pale he had looked and it was alarming how still and white he looked. Lilly, however, rushed forward, sinking to her knees beside the bed. She studied Daniel's face and took his hand. "You poor, poor man." She crooned, pushing some stray hair off of the young captain's forehead. She stopped, resting her hand on his brow, quickly moving it to each cheek. "Katrina!" She turned towards her friend, worry written on her face. "He is burning up!"
Katrina stepped forward and felt his face, confirming Lilly's worry, also noticing a fine sheen of sweat on his face.
"What do we do?" Lilly asked, wringing her hands.
"Wait here." Katrina said after a minute. She left the room, quickly finding a basin, she filled it with water and returned to the room, placing it on a stand next to the bed, and grabbing the cravat that was part of his military uniform that was hanging on the back of a chair. She threw the cravat into the bowl and wrung it out, handing it to Lilly. "Here, keep his face cool, I'll go see what else I can find." Katrina headed straight for the kitchen where she looked around in dismay. The two men apparently took all their meals at the fort, judging by the layer of dust covering everything.
The tea, which was a staple in any English home, and teakettle was easy enough to find, clean out and fill with water. Katrina found a spare apron and tied her hair back, deciding to at least wipe down the counters and sweep the kitchen floor while she was waiting for the water to heat.
-----------------------------
Dropping the cloth back into the basin, Lilly looked at the man lying on the bed, as she wrung out the excess water. She bathed his face in the cool water then placed the cloth on his forehead. "Now I know why you never seemed to notice me." she sighed and took his clammy hand. "I'm not a great beauty or very courageous like some of the other ladies. Goodness knows you can have your pick of half of the ladies in Port Royal. I couldn't even do a simple thing like get a basin of water." She felt tears starting to fill her eyes. "I'm a useless wreck." She swiped ineffectively at her eyes with a self-pitying laugh.
The hand she was holding tightened around hers. "You discredit yourself, lady." A thin whisper of a voice reached her ears. Her head shot up, startled watery eyes meeting with dull cobalt blue.
"Daniel! I-I mean Captain Norrington!" she jumped out of her seat near the bed. "How long have you been awake? I mean, how do you feel?"
He shrugged with a weak smile. I feel like I've been keelhauled five times over, but otherwise, great." He gave a weak chuckle that quickly turned into a coughing fit, after it subsided he settled back down with a slight groan and grimace.
"Here, drink." Lilly gently commanded, holding a cup of water to his lips and lifting his head so he could he could swallow. He greedily gulped down a few mouthfuls before Lilly pulled back the cup. "Slowly." She admonished gently, pushing some stray locks out of his eyes as he gazed at her. She blushed and looked away, her gaze landing on the nightstand next to the bed. "Oh!" she exclaimed, here eyes landing on a brown glass bottle. "You need to take some of this." She picked it up.
"No." he said, lifting the hand on his uninjured arm to stay her.
"You need to rest to heal, this will help." Lilly insisted.
"I will rest better if I know I will see your beautiful face when I awake again."
Lilly's blush deepened. "Daniel Norrington. Still a charmer, even when ill. Though it is not nice to tease."
"'Twas not teasing." For an unusual moment roughish grin lit his face. Though Lilly could see that their short conversation had exhausted his energy and he was fighting to keep his eyes open.
"Hush now and rest." She smiled lightly as he drifted back to dreamland. Soon his chest was rising and falling gently in the rhythm of sleep. Lilly placed her hand on his cheek and her brow knitted together in a frown. His fever had not as of yet let go, he was far too pale and he was obviously talking in fever induced delirium.
-----------------------------
Katrina had poured the tea into a teapot on a tray arranged with a pair of cups. She picked up the tray and brought it into Daniel's room. "How is he doing?" she asked Lilly placing the tray on a dresser on the far side of the room.
"He woke up for a little while, but he's sleeping again." Lilly placed the cool cloth on his forehead and turned in her chair to look at Katrina.
"Lil!" Katrina exclaimed, seeing her friend's green and brown eyes rimmed in fading red. "What ever happened?"
"Oh." Lilly gave a watery laugh. "It's nothing. Just… worried I suppose."
"You, Lilly Amelia Hawthorn, are a terrible liar." Katrina told her. "But I won't press you." She continued at Lilly's startled expression. "How many sugars?" she asked, closing the topic and pouring a cup of tea for Lilly.
"Two." Lilly smiled at her and excepted the proffered cup from Katrina.
-----------------------------
The commodore sighed and resisted the urge to scratch at his wig. To be called to the fort with such a trivial matter when his charge was lying near death at home. At least the situation had been defused and he was almost back in his own home.
The guard looked nervous as James Norrington approached. The commodore just gave him an odd look and entered the house. He heard a noise from Daniel's room, with a frown made his way towards the sound. He felt his frown dissipate as he got closer and recognized the sound, one which he thought might never be heard in his own home; soft, female chatter and gentle laughter.
-----------------------------
Katrina had found another chair and had brought it into the room and now sat next to Lilly, both slowly working their way through the small pot of tea. Trying to fill their time with light conversation.
"How do you think he's doing?" Lilly asked as Katrina wrung out and replaced the cloth.
"Well…" Katrina let out a sigh. "he still has a fever and he is extremely pale. But at least he's resting, thanks to the laudanum."
"Oh, but he didn't have any." Lilly informed her.
"No laudanum?" Katrina felt his forehead and cheeks. "But he is sleeping so soundly."
"And, that's good… is it not? Should I have made him take the laudanum? Oh, I knew that I should have got you as soon as he woke up-"
"Lilly, Lilly!" Katrina placed a hand over Lily's mouth. "Stop. I'm not very well versed in these matters, but, yes, as far as I know, it is a good thing."
"I'm compelled to agree with Miss Ellis." A voice from the doorway said.
"Commodore!" both the girls jumped up from their seats, Katrina spilling a splash of tea onto the floor.
"Sir!" Lilly started. "Oh, I know we are not supposed to be in here, but please, do not blame the guard. If you are to lay blame anywhere, it should be on us. You see we tricked him into letting us see the captain, well, trick is the wrong word-"
The commodore held up his hand to stop her tirade. "Peace." He said. "I blame no one. I am, in fact glad that someone was here to keep an eye on him."
Katrina noticed his usually straight shoulders were slumped and there were faint circles under his eyes. "Here, sir." Katrina motioned to her recently vacated seat. "Sit down, you appear wearied. There is still hot tea in the pot, I shall fetch you a cup, and a rag for the spill, it is lucky it missed the rug."
"No." the commodore said tiredly. "Please, I will not deprive a lady of her seat and I'll not let a guest serve me in my own home. I can get my own cup."
The commodore fetched a teacup from the cupboard but paused and turned back at the doorway to the kitchen. It looked different somehow; it was clean! He shook his head with a weary smile, yes his home was definitely in need of a woman's touch.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I know. It is unforgivably short after such a long absence. And for that I do apologize.
Poor Lilly! So sure that she is an invisible wallflower. Girl needs a bit more confidence if you ask me.