(no subject)
There she is and my hearts jumps into my throat like always. She’s wearing a green brocade gown and a tiny gold butterfly inlaid with diamonds and emeralds sits at her neck - a recent gift I presume, I’ve never seen it before.
She has her fan in her hand and in Jamaica a fan is for more than acting coquettish. Even in the winter, it can get quite warm inside with all these bodies in here. A quartet is striking up a version of the same carol they’ve sung twice before and Elizabeth is rolling her eyes, lost in conversation with two friends.
This is the one time of year I find it a burden to always have to wear the blue and white. Other men can wear whatever suits them, but we Navy men always look the same - at parties, at christenings, at debuts, at dinners, and at Christmas, always the same. I have always approved of the fact that our unchanging uniform makes it easy for people to spot us when they need help, but at this party, it seems so staid. I have put a red rose bud in my lapel in an effort to be at least a bit festive.
I am hoping more than I would like to admit even to myself, to give it to a certain young lady tonight. Along with a promise. I have spoken with her father and he consents, in fact, he seemed quite pleased. The condition is being promoted to Commodore, but that is merely a matter of time.
I suppose I must be proper when I speak with her. I am always proper. I must speak in whispered low tones and no make no overt overtures, lest I frighten a delicate young lady. But when I look at mischievous Elizabeth, I doubt she would be frightened by much.
Elizabeth keeps glancing my way and I keep looking at her, so I don’t miss one of her glances. She waves and smiles. She is with her friends on the opposite side of the room, near the punch bowl. Gillette sees her smile at me, and raises his glass in a silent toast. Inappropriate, I shall have to say something later, but his glass is brimming with brandy for the third time. My own is filled as well. The punch, which probably contains little more than a spoonful of rum, is for the ladies of course.
She is on the opposite side of the room, but I feel both nervous and excited when I spot a bit of mistletoe hanging not far away. This will take quite a bit of maneuvering, but any of my men who saw me pull the Dauntless, hardly a narrow sloop, through the channels of the Straits of Gibraltar would doubt I could pull it off.
One of her friends, a petite blonde, who barely comes up to Elizabeth’s chin is asked to dance. This breaks up the trio and the other friend pats Elizabeth’s hand and walks away.
I walk her way, my legs feeling like lead.
“Miss Swann”, I say with an inclination of my head.
“Captain Norrington, I’m so pleased you could come”, she says. “I’m sure Father is quite pleased.”
She’s sure her father is quite pleased? What am I to do with this piece of information? Is she less pleased than her father then?
I admit with humility that my eyebrows seem to be the part of me I have the least control over and I know they are snapped together in confusion when she bursts into one of her brilliant smiles.
“At ease, Captain”, she says.
I am anything but.
“Miss Swann, would you care to take a turn about the room?” I ask, coughing at the end of the question. There is rum and brandy, is there no bloody water around?
She nods her assent and I hold out my arm. She takes it and when she squeezes my forearm, I take a chance and hold her arm tighter against my body. She does not reject it.
I guide her to the most secluded corner I can find, which is still in appropriate sight of the party. This spot is near a window which is blowing a cold breeze. I immediately take off my coat and put it around her shoulders.
“Is the air too cold for you?” I ask.
“No, it is a relief”, she says. “Father always invites too many people to these things.”
“You look lovely, Elizabeth”, I tell her.
“Thank you”, she says.
Silence.
“You must have had some reason for dragging me over here, Captain, besides a compliment”, she says, breaking into a smile.
She’s taking advantage of my obvious discomfort. Any other man would think her father should have put her over his knee in her youth, but her mischievous quality is the one I like best.
“I have spoken with your father”, I say, clearing my dry throat again. “If you would have me, I would be your husband. We must wait until I am a Commodore; I would take care of you as well as you have been cared for in your father’s house and I need a bigger purse for that. But I promise tonight and swear to you to hold as steady as the North Star. If you would…” I cannot breathe as well as I should. “Will you….?”
“Is that all?” she asks.
I hoped for a “yes”, I tried to be prepared for a “no”, but this enigmatic question loses me. I know my eyebrows are snapped together again and she takes her delicate fingers and caresses between my eyes.
“Stop that. They will stick together if you keep that up”, she says.
Her touch is bliss and I take a deep breath.
“Miss Swann, please pardon me, but I do not understand your response. If you tell me what more you wish…I will do my best to provide it.”
She sighs unhappily. “How boring”, she says.
Boring. I suppose to a fresh young beauty with every man in Port Royal at her call a thirty-something Navy man is boring indeed. I sag.
“There is nothing more you have to say?” she asks. “You spoke with my father and you promise to be my husband. Nothing more?”
A part of me wants to strangle her, I feel like a marionette on a string dancing for her amusement.
“I don’t know what to say, Miss Swann. I asked your father for your hand because…you must know how much I love and admire you.” There, I’ve gone and said it. She can stomp on my heart as she chooses.
“Now we’re finally getting somewhere”, she says instead. “Do you truly love and admire me?”
What does the little minx want? Blood? “I would never speak an untruth to you”, I say.
“Why do you love me?” she asks.
Bloody hell!
Then she takes my hands in hers and my breathing goes short again. “Tell me, Captain, it’s all right”, she says and her hands and eyes are warm.
“I have loved you for quite some time.” Cough. “And I have admired you since you were a headstrong girl aboard the Dauntless when I brought you and your father here from London.”
“You thought me foolish”, she says.
“Stubborn, hilarious in your made up song, a tad misguided perhaps, but never foolish”, I respond.
Why would I rather face a horde of pirates than this woman? Facing down twenty fresh cutlasses is less fearful than speaking to Miss Swann.
“And when did you love me?” she asks.
“At your debut”, I say. I am smiling at the memory. It is most undignified. “Heavens, you looked like a goddess.”
Elizabeth glances around and the eyes of Port Royal are certainly upon us.
“Shall we walk?” she asks and I offer my arm again. She takes it and we walk again, but I’m used to having a destination. This carefree stroll seems better suited to the battlements than a crowded party.
She finally comes to a stop and winks at me. She surprises me at every moment and I feel lost yet again. Then I look up. Mistletoe.
Then she stretches up on her tip toes and kisses me right on the lips. I am completely shocked and the kiss lasts but a second as I try to compose myself.
But now I am heartened. I know I am an excellent kisser, as I know I am among the best sailors in the world. That little confusing trifling thing was no kiss. I will not leave her thinking that is the type of kissing that awaits her on our wedding night.
“Care to step into the garden?” I ask, trepidation replaced with well-controlled lust.
“I thought you’d never ask, Captain”, she says. We walk to the doors trying to attract as little attention as possible.
The air is cold indeed but I intend to see to her warmth myself.
I take her in my arms, wrapping myself around her body. She gives a little squeal of surprise and delight, but it only makes me more eager.
My lips come down on hers, softly at first, then more eager, kissing just her lips lightly, then dipping my tongue ever so gently in her mouth and then hers comes to dance with mine. When our lips part, she is breathless and I must admit, I am a bit prideful.
“The truth is in your kiss and your green eyes I’ve long admired”, she says.
Eyes? I never thought on them overlong but I happy they seem to please her. Who has time for eyes now? Unless of course they happen to be as enormous and brown as those of a doe.
“I fear I still do not have an answer”, I say, “And the guests are likely wondering where we are.”
“Let them wait. Besides, I know Father will be happy if he knows I am with you. He trusts you implicitly”, she says.
I am also proud that I made such an impression upon her father. It seems her father is overly glad I am here and trusts me completely. If I had desire to marry Weatherby Swann, all that would be well and good.
“I have tortured you long enough, Captain, but you must understand I had to be sure. There are so many fortune hunters, so many young men wanting to raise themselves up by marrying the Governor’s daughter…you’re frowning again.”
“These men have approached you? Have they hurt you?” I ask, suddenly hot.
“Approached, yes, but never hurt”, she says, caressing my hands.
“Yes, I will be your wife”, she says. I guess I didn’t want to admit how much I wanted this until I had it, but my heart wants to burst in my chest.
“Very well”, I say, trying to maintain composure. Then I turn to face her, unable to control how I feel. “Excellent.”
I know the stupidest grin imaginable is on my face. “We should return before they send a search party”, I say.
She touches my face. A woman has not touched my face since my mother when I was a lad and to feel her touch is beyond bliss.
I take her hand in mine and walk back inside.
“Would you care to dance Miss Swann?” I ask her. “Elizabeth”, I correct myself and smile.
“I would”, she says.
Getting lost in the crowd seems like the best idea as I lead her out in a waltz-style version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” I cannot linger on the thought that the Governor should insist on having his coin back from these musicians.
I have never been an accomplished dancer. My footing is sure and steady even when seasoned sailors lose the contents of their stomach as the deck climbs a wave and crashes down the other side during a violent storm. But dancing is another matter. I suppose I am too big. Other men reach my chin at best and most of my dancing partners have been eye to eye with my chest. It’s a relief to not have to stoop with Elizabeth.
The song is over and I’ve never been so glad. I take the opportunity to pluck the red rose from my lapel as I hoped to do all night and hand it to her.
She smiles and holds it to her nose, inhaling.
“Sweet”, she says. Intoxicating is more like it.
“I suppose I should depart”, I say. “Gillette and Groves are not much for these kinds of affairs.”
“And neither are you”, she adds. “But I cannot let you slip away yet. Dare to brave the cold with me again?”
I offer my arm and we walk outdoors again, gasping as the cold air hits us. I settle my coat around her shoulders again. The little devil takes my hand in hers and leads me deeper in the garden.
She stops, her gaze strong. “I do so admire your eyes”, she says. I pull her into my arms, crushing her against me. I’m wearing nothing but a Navy issue thin white linen shirt, and she rubs my arms with her hands.
“I would love nothing better than to hold you all night, but I must have a care both for my own self-control and your reputation. I would not have you whispered about”, I tell her.
She buries herself in my chest and I hold her tightly. Then curious fingers enter the back of the waistband of my breeches and she pulls the tail of my shirt out. Then her hands reach up my back, with no barrier between flesh and flesh.
“Elizabeth…” I am shocked and aroused more than I would like to admit. Walking back through the party may no longer be an option.
She whispers hot words in my ear. “How I wish we were already married and alone. How I wish I could see all of you. Every inch. I want you to claim me for your own, James.”
My name on her lips is heaven and her words would cause any man to come undone.
“God’s nightgown, you speak boldly”, I say torn between wanting to protect her and wanting to tear that gown to shreds right here and now.
“Will you love me well when we are together as man and wife?” she asks.
Yep, that’s it. She will need to tell Gillette and Groves to meet me out front and I shall have to have my coat back. Even so, I doubt I’ll escape their teasing.
“Quite well”, I murmur against her ear and take a juicy earlobe in my mouth. We are so close together I know she feels my arousal but only holds me closer.
“Is there any point in telling you that you do not need a larger purse and that I am most anxious to marry you now?” she asks.
I merely shake my head. If I were to speak, I would find a preacher tonight.
This night has certainly held the most delightful surprises.
“Now we must go, Elizabeth”, I insist. “Can you ask Gillette and Groves to meet me out front?”
She giggles. “Of course”, she says and blows me a kiss. “Good-night, Captain.”
“Good-night…”
She’s gone.
“Elizabeth.”
Gillette and Groves meet me in front of the mansion, and Gillette has my coat draped over his arm.
“Good God, man. I never thought I’d see the day Norrington had a dent put in his demeanor”, Gillette says, but his voice is warm. “You would certainly have terrified the ladies inside…”
“Enough”, I insist.
“Not all”, Groves says with a wink, “Miss Wilcox was all hands during that dreadful waltz.”
“Miss Wilcox was smiling at me!” Gillette fumes.
I can’t help but smile at the pair of them.
“You can’t marry her soon?” Groves asks.
“No”, I say and I sound downtrodden even to my own ears. “I must be worthy of her.”
“James”, Groves begins and I allow it when we are socializing together, “There is no worthier man than you. You deserve your happiness.”
“I could not be happy if Elizabeth did not have everything she deserves. I’ll just have to work harder.”
They say nothing, but their brows reveal worry.
I’m going back to a cold camp bed in the drafty fort. My mind focuses on holding Elizabeth in my arms in a big bedroom in a big house, with a fire crackling in a fireplace. She stands naked before me and I put my hand at the nape of her neck, pulling her into a deep kiss. Then I carry her to the bed.
“Um, James…” Gillette laughs.
“Shut up.”