(no subject)
Captain Norrington stood in the foyer of the Governor’s Mansion as Nyla, the native housekeeper, excused herself to notify the Governor of the Captain’s arrival. He waited patiently in full dress uniform, his sword hanging from his belt and lying flat against his outer thigh. A Lord’s son or not, he always felt a bit overwhelmed in the Governor’s Mansion. Above, a chandelier twinkled in the candle light and James cast his eye overhead. He began counting the crystal teardrops, a habit born of many hours counting the ceiling cracks in his father’s study.
He saw Weatherby Swann walking his way and visibly straightened. “Governor”, James said.
“Captain Norrington, forgive my tardiness, I had to dismiss the butler this week and have been behind schedule ever since. I trust you have not been waiting long?” the Governor asked.
“Not long at all”, James answered with a short bow and a smile. “I was honored to receive your dinner invitation.”
Weatherby waved him off. “Not at all, not at all. Please come into the parlor and have a drink. My daughter will be with us soon”, he said.
James was flattered by the invitation but had to wonder about the timing. He had received a handful of invitations over the four years the Governor had been in Port Royal, but it had been nearly a year since the last one. And he knew Miss Swann’s debut was in one week, as he had already received an invitation to that as well. He found it hard to picture the precocious 12 year old he had met on the passage from England as a young lady ready for her first season.
In the parlor, the Governor waved him into a plush chair and a full glass was put his hands. “Cook found some lovely fish at the market today. I believe we’re being treated to snapper”, the Governor said with a smile.
“It sounds wonderful”, James said, picturing the young fisherman cursing over their fish pots as they sat in their dinghies all day waiting for a catch.
Both men looked up expectantly when they heard footsteps on the stairs. Elizabeth walked down them with grace; her gown was a soft pink that made her cheeks and lips look rosier. Her long golden hair was piled on her head. Her plump lips split into a warm smile.
James looked up at her, mouth slightly agape. This was not the little girl he knew who made up songs about pirates. This was a young lady on the cusp of womanhood; where a slim green reed had been planted, now a voluptuous tropical flower grew in its place. She had grown up while he wasn’t looking.
“Elizabeth, you look stunning”, her father said, taking both her hands in his.
“Thank you”, she said, looking at James. “Captain Norrington, a pleasure to see you again.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Swann”, he said and meant it.
“Let’s go in to dinner; Cook has a special treat for us”, the Governor said, offering Elizabeth his arm. James trailed behind the pair of them.
The rosewood dining table was polished to such a high shine, James could see his reflection quite clearly. And the snapper had been as good as promised.
A large wooden fan built into the ceiling created a breeze as two valets stood to the side of the dining room, alternately pulling ropes which caused the fan to move back and forth.
“That’s why we have to be most cautious”, the Governor was saying, “Slave revolts have happened here before. They shall undoubtedly happen again.”
“I think slave owners get what they deserve”, Elizabeth pronounced.
The Governor laughed uncomfortably. “I appreciate your fervor, my dear, but that’s not proper with the Captain present.”
Elizabeth shot James a pout that indicated she did not appreciate being gagged in his presence.
“On the contrary, Governor Swann, Miss Swann’s freedom with her opinions is refreshing, and though the garrison is charged, among other things, with putting down slave rebellions, I cannot disagree with her sentiment”, he said. Elizabeth smiled ear to ear.
“I’m afraid we often discuss such things together. My only child”, the Governor said, gazing wistfully at Elizabeth, “But she should still know better than to repeat our discussions in front of guests. All our staff are paid of course, and I find slavery personally distasteful, but Jamaica would be a poor nation without the sugar cane crop the slaves harvest.”
“That is no excuse…” she began, but a quick look from her father cut her off.
“Now, Captain Norrington, you will be in attendance at Elizabeth’s debut?”
“Certainly”, James said, inclining his head in her direction, and suddenly feeling shy. By now, James was well aware of why he had been invited to dinner. In truth, he had received many such invitations for years, the latest just this morning from Mrs. Hutchins, a woman who went on at great length about her daughter’s attributes. But he found young Hester Hutchins to be quiet as a mouse, and to bear a striking resemblance to one.
He had certainly reached, and even passed, the proper age for a man to start looking for a wife. Perhaps it was time he considered marrying, he thought. But Elizabeth was so far beyond his station….and she was still a child.
He smiled to himself as dessert was brought in.
Elizabeth would retire upstairs after dinner, while the men would sit in the parlor and enjoy a brandy.
“It was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Swann”, James said, stumbling over his words. “You will save a dance for me next week?”
“I shall save the first and last”, she said with a smile. As his green eyes looked into her golden ones, he had an odd sensation, as if his heart had fallen out of his chest and he desperately wanted this lovely creature to catch it.
“Good-night, Captain Norrington”, she said.
“Good-night, Miss Swann”, James said softly and watched her go. The Governor had not missed the look on his face and was pleased to see it.
“Brandy, Captain?”
“Indeed”, James said, following the Governor into the parlor. He was handed a snifter and swished the amber liquid around in the glass, warming it.
“I know it is immodest of me to say about my own child, but I am as proud of her mind as I am of her beauty”, the Governor said.
“You have every reason to be”, James answered.
“I have lately cast an eye toward my daughter’s future”, the Governor said.
“Understandably”, James answered, taking another sip so he wouldn’t have to speak.
The Governor merely looked at him however so silence was not an option. “You are thinking of one of the plantation owner’s sons for her?” he asked, hoping desperately he was wrong.
“I had, yes”, the Governor said, “Such a young man could certainly take care of her, but I’ve found these young men to be little more than dilettantes. I doubt my daughter could marry happily with any of them.”
“Indeed?” James asked, drinking again.
“She is still so much of a child, I thought a slightly older man might be helpful”, the Governor said. “A man who has done more with his life than order servants about and drink rum. Life is certainly different in the islands”, he said, unable to hide a note of distaste.
“A man born in England, then?” James asked. He despised the falsity of this game of cat and mouse, but had little choice but to play along until the Governor showed his hand. He was happy Elizabeth spoke plainly.
“I would prefer that, yes. But society is so sparse here. Most of the ton’s sons go back to England, there’s little for them here”, the Governor said. “If I were a better father, I would send her back to England so she could have a proper season, but I’m afraid I would miss her too much, and she has no desire to go. Besides, it is a frightfully long and dangerous voyage, and more so, with all these pirates about.”
James never thought he’d be thankful to a pirate. “Therefore”, the Governor began again, “I have begun to consider a wider range of options….She really is quite lovely, isn’t she?”
“I’ve never seen a more beautiful young woman”, James said and meant it.
The Governor smiled happily. “You should know she is still very much a child and it would take a handful of years before she could be a proper wife for you.”
And so the negotiations had begun. “She still collects seashells and runs around on the beach with the Turner lad”, the Governor said.
James raised a thick eyebrow. “I saw no harm in the friendship when they were younger, but it is becoming improper, I know”, the Governor said, “I should forbid her, but…”
“It is difficult to deny Elizabeth anything”, James said, pleasing Weatherby Swann again.
“Indeed”, the Governor answered, “Though I imagine her affection for running around like a child will fade swiftly in the face of all the gentleman callers I expect at my door”, he added proudly.
“There may be one small obstacle”, the Governor said, seemingly trying to make the point while not insulting his guest. “A military man is an acceptable choice in my view, however…”
“Marriage to a Captain is impossible”, James said, and the Governor breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn’t needed to say it. “In a few years, I expect to be…closer to her height”, James finished.
The Governor sighed again, relieved. “I’m very happy we spoke, Captain. I have felt for some time now that you may be the right man for Elizabeth. We both look forward to seeing you at her debut.”
“Thank you, sir”, James said, bowed, and walked out the front door. He smiled to himself. A Commodore’s rank and salary were the bare minimum, he imagined, he would need to propose to Elizabeth.
He stopped and looked back, then up at the windows behind which that enchanting creature was hidden. To his surprise, she stood at the window, staring down at him. She waved with a brilliant smile. He waved back, that odd sensation in his stomach again.
He was excited to remember that she would be in his arms just next week, for she had promised him the first and last. Surely that meant something. Surely he had her favor to some degree. He realized that if they were officially courting with her father’s permission, it would be acceptable to bring her a gift next week. But what adornment did a swan need?
It would be a long few years of hard work for them both, for he imagined, growing up would be the hardest work of all for Elizabeth Swann. He walked on with a purpose and with a spring in his step. Truly it would be a difficult wait for her, but James was carved of patience, hard work, and duty. For once, there was a purpose to his work, other than protecting Port Royal; now he had something, no, he had someone, to devote his life to.
And he could barely wait to make her his own.