Wish I had an Angel
Title: Wish I had an Angel
Author: Divia
Chapter: 3
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I'm poor, dont sue me, not mine etc. etc.
Pairings: James Norrington/Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner
Summary: Elizabeth is having doubts about her upcoming marriage to Will Turner. Can Miss Swann live as a blacksmith's wife?
Status: incomplete
“This is it! We shall make this home ours. I went ahead and purchased it yesterday. I know I should have asked how you felt about it beforehand, but I couldn’t wait. And when I showed it to you last time you seemed to like it. Please tell me you do, darling.” Will led his future wife into the small home. It was the same one she had seen before, and its conditions had not improved.
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Oh yes, very much. It is a fine home.” With judgmental eyes she looked around the dark room. Her mind was still focused on James and his words. How dare he be so cruel and leave. Didn’t he understand that she needed his companionship?
Will kissed her quickly. “I’m glad you think so. Here.” Will picked up a broom that was leaning against the wall and gave it Elizabeth. “A good cleaning is what this place needs. We can work on it together.”
Elizabeth looked at the broom. Was he serious? She was wearing her new light blue silk from Paris, and had no intention of doing housework. Elizabeth rested the broom against the wall, and inspected her gloves. There were brown stains on them.
“Perhaps we could work on our home another day, my dear.” Elizabeth suggested, as she watched Will firmly take the broom, and begin to work. A large plume of dust drifted towards her skirt, and she waved her handkerchief to keep the dust from settling on her dress.
“Nonsense. The sooner your father sees how we have fixed up this home the sooner we can wed. He told me he wants you to have a proper house, and here it is.”
“Of course I agree with you, but maybe we could have some of my servants come and assist us?” She placed her hand to her mouth, and began to cough. It was unthinkable that Will would demand manual labor out of her. James would never ask her to work like a common maid. “Besides, I am not dressed for the occasion.”
“I told you to wear sensible clothing, and I wouldn’t dare ask your father for his help. We must show him that we can forge our own way.”
Elizabeth’s lips pressed tightly together. She wasn’t opposed to working, but she looked very pretty, and he had not commented on her new dress or the way she had curled her hair. Will seemed oblivious to the little things she did to keep up her appearance.
James would have noticed.
To make matters worse, earlier that morning she had a fight with her father over her engagement. And now her fiancé was questioning her choice of clothing, and rejecting her sound advice.
“I was not informed that I would be working like a maid. You should have given me fair warning. And there is no harm in asking my father for help. He is a very generous man who would be willing to help us.” Elizabeth stuck her chin in the air. “I wish to go home.” She stormed out of their house, and as she turned the corner her dress caught on an old wooden fence. The sound of ripping material was unmistakable, and when Elizabeth looked she saw the back of her dress had a noticeable tear.
“Damn!”
“It isn’t that bad.” Will said, inspecting the damage.
She hit his hands with her fan. “Don’t touch it. And it is quite bad. It can’t be mended because of the location. Now what am I to do?”
“It’s only a dress.” Will offered, but his wisdom was not wanted.
“This was ordered from Paris! The silk is the finest to be found anywhere. How could you say such a thing? You are very insensitive, Will Turner!”
Her temper had been at its worse for the past two days. Will could not understand what was happening in their relationship. He wondered if she was having second thoughts about the marriage. “What is wrong? You’ve been in a horrid mood since we left your father’s house.”
“I do not wish to speak of it. Take me home, Mr. Turner.” With one hand holding her dress closed she began to walk home. Elizabeth was embarrassed, and if she could have taken an unknown path to her home she would have.
******
“What happened to your dress?” Elizabeth’s father asked, as he passed her in the hallway. All he could think of was how expensive it was, and how the money was wasted.
“Will brought me to our home today, and I caught it on an old fence.”
Governor Swann folded the papers he was reading. “Ah, yes the shack.” He took her arm and led her to the garden. “Elizabeth, my dear, have you thought that perhaps Mr. Turner isn’t the right man for you.”
Elizabeth tried to pull away, but her father would not let her go. “Not this again. I do not wish to speak about it.” She was in no mood to discuss Will’s shortcomings.
“I know you do not, but it needs to be said, and while I have said a few words here and there I am going to come out and say what I truly feel. If my words offend you I am sorry, but I must fulfill my duty as a father.”
He took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, be sensible. We both know you were not meant to be the wife of a blacksmith. Are you honestly ready to cook and do the housework? Instead of your mindless needlepoint you will have to mend clothes, which you know nothing about. You shall have to prepare every meal. Do you remember the incident when you saw the chicken being plucked and then gutted? That will happen every day. Is that what you really want?”
“I love Will. He’s a good, decent man.”
“I do not question his decency. I question his means to provide for my daughter as she is accustomed. Life outside these walls is going to be far different. The world you know will cease to exist. Are you prepared to give up your friends, your dresses, and your freedom?”
Elizabeth sat down on a stone bench. “My life will not be so very different.” She held onto hope that her life with Will would not be too bad. “My friends won’t abandon me. Anne promised.”
Weatherby sat next to his daughter, and took her hand. “My dear, how many aristocrats do you know whom call upon blacksmith’s wives? None come to my mind. You will not be able to attend any of our balls, you cannot wear your fine dresses, and I daresay you shall never have silks again. I hope these are all things you have thought of.”
It had not occurred to Elizabeth until today how different her life would be. When she heard Will had bought the house her heart sunk. She could never live in such conditions.
Her father was right, but that did not mean that she couldn’t be happy with Will. He was the love of her life, her first love, the man she longed to spend the rest of her days with. True, life would be difficult at first, but Will would be a great blacksmith and they would make enough money to live comfortably, and move into suitable home.
At least, that’s what she hoped.
“But I love Will.”
“I know my dear, but he is not from your station. It saddens me to see you marry below your class. Have you thought that the Commodore isn’t such a bad match?”
“But I love Will.”
“Be reasonable, girl. Passion fades, but a good marriage will carry you throughout your years. James Norrington is a good man with an outstanding career before him. Every other lady in Port Royal desires to marry him. Why can’t you see what a fine young man he is?”
Elizabeth pulled her hand free and stood. “I know he is a good man. I know he is a decent man with a good career. He will make a fine husband for another woman. I cannot marry James Norrington because I do not love him as I love Will.”
“I do not want to see my only daughter die slowly from a miserable life. Elizabeth,” He drew her towards him. “I promised your mother to raise you properly. I think I may have failed, but she would never forgive me if I allowed this marriage.”
Confused, and wishing for simpler days, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her father and held onto him tightly.
Author: Divia
Chapter: 3
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I'm poor, dont sue me, not mine etc. etc.
Pairings: James Norrington/Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner
Summary: Elizabeth is having doubts about her upcoming marriage to Will Turner. Can Miss Swann live as a blacksmith's wife?
Status: incomplete
“This is it! We shall make this home ours. I went ahead and purchased it yesterday. I know I should have asked how you felt about it beforehand, but I couldn’t wait. And when I showed it to you last time you seemed to like it. Please tell me you do, darling.” Will led his future wife into the small home. It was the same one she had seen before, and its conditions had not improved.
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Oh yes, very much. It is a fine home.” With judgmental eyes she looked around the dark room. Her mind was still focused on James and his words. How dare he be so cruel and leave. Didn’t he understand that she needed his companionship?
Will kissed her quickly. “I’m glad you think so. Here.” Will picked up a broom that was leaning against the wall and gave it Elizabeth. “A good cleaning is what this place needs. We can work on it together.”
Elizabeth looked at the broom. Was he serious? She was wearing her new light blue silk from Paris, and had no intention of doing housework. Elizabeth rested the broom against the wall, and inspected her gloves. There were brown stains on them.
“Perhaps we could work on our home another day, my dear.” Elizabeth suggested, as she watched Will firmly take the broom, and begin to work. A large plume of dust drifted towards her skirt, and she waved her handkerchief to keep the dust from settling on her dress.
“Nonsense. The sooner your father sees how we have fixed up this home the sooner we can wed. He told me he wants you to have a proper house, and here it is.”
“Of course I agree with you, but maybe we could have some of my servants come and assist us?” She placed her hand to her mouth, and began to cough. It was unthinkable that Will would demand manual labor out of her. James would never ask her to work like a common maid. “Besides, I am not dressed for the occasion.”
“I told you to wear sensible clothing, and I wouldn’t dare ask your father for his help. We must show him that we can forge our own way.”
Elizabeth’s lips pressed tightly together. She wasn’t opposed to working, but she looked very pretty, and he had not commented on her new dress or the way she had curled her hair. Will seemed oblivious to the little things she did to keep up her appearance.
James would have noticed.
To make matters worse, earlier that morning she had a fight with her father over her engagement. And now her fiancé was questioning her choice of clothing, and rejecting her sound advice.
“I was not informed that I would be working like a maid. You should have given me fair warning. And there is no harm in asking my father for help. He is a very generous man who would be willing to help us.” Elizabeth stuck her chin in the air. “I wish to go home.” She stormed out of their house, and as she turned the corner her dress caught on an old wooden fence. The sound of ripping material was unmistakable, and when Elizabeth looked she saw the back of her dress had a noticeable tear.
“Damn!”
“It isn’t that bad.” Will said, inspecting the damage.
She hit his hands with her fan. “Don’t touch it. And it is quite bad. It can’t be mended because of the location. Now what am I to do?”
“It’s only a dress.” Will offered, but his wisdom was not wanted.
“This was ordered from Paris! The silk is the finest to be found anywhere. How could you say such a thing? You are very insensitive, Will Turner!”
Her temper had been at its worse for the past two days. Will could not understand what was happening in their relationship. He wondered if she was having second thoughts about the marriage. “What is wrong? You’ve been in a horrid mood since we left your father’s house.”
“I do not wish to speak of it. Take me home, Mr. Turner.” With one hand holding her dress closed she began to walk home. Elizabeth was embarrassed, and if she could have taken an unknown path to her home she would have.
******
“What happened to your dress?” Elizabeth’s father asked, as he passed her in the hallway. All he could think of was how expensive it was, and how the money was wasted.
“Will brought me to our home today, and I caught it on an old fence.”
Governor Swann folded the papers he was reading. “Ah, yes the shack.” He took her arm and led her to the garden. “Elizabeth, my dear, have you thought that perhaps Mr. Turner isn’t the right man for you.”
Elizabeth tried to pull away, but her father would not let her go. “Not this again. I do not wish to speak about it.” She was in no mood to discuss Will’s shortcomings.
“I know you do not, but it needs to be said, and while I have said a few words here and there I am going to come out and say what I truly feel. If my words offend you I am sorry, but I must fulfill my duty as a father.”
He took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, be sensible. We both know you were not meant to be the wife of a blacksmith. Are you honestly ready to cook and do the housework? Instead of your mindless needlepoint you will have to mend clothes, which you know nothing about. You shall have to prepare every meal. Do you remember the incident when you saw the chicken being plucked and then gutted? That will happen every day. Is that what you really want?”
“I love Will. He’s a good, decent man.”
“I do not question his decency. I question his means to provide for my daughter as she is accustomed. Life outside these walls is going to be far different. The world you know will cease to exist. Are you prepared to give up your friends, your dresses, and your freedom?”
Elizabeth sat down on a stone bench. “My life will not be so very different.” She held onto hope that her life with Will would not be too bad. “My friends won’t abandon me. Anne promised.”
Weatherby sat next to his daughter, and took her hand. “My dear, how many aristocrats do you know whom call upon blacksmith’s wives? None come to my mind. You will not be able to attend any of our balls, you cannot wear your fine dresses, and I daresay you shall never have silks again. I hope these are all things you have thought of.”
It had not occurred to Elizabeth until today how different her life would be. When she heard Will had bought the house her heart sunk. She could never live in such conditions.
Her father was right, but that did not mean that she couldn’t be happy with Will. He was the love of her life, her first love, the man she longed to spend the rest of her days with. True, life would be difficult at first, but Will would be a great blacksmith and they would make enough money to live comfortably, and move into suitable home.
At least, that’s what she hoped.
“But I love Will.”
“I know my dear, but he is not from your station. It saddens me to see you marry below your class. Have you thought that the Commodore isn’t such a bad match?”
“But I love Will.”
“Be reasonable, girl. Passion fades, but a good marriage will carry you throughout your years. James Norrington is a good man with an outstanding career before him. Every other lady in Port Royal desires to marry him. Why can’t you see what a fine young man he is?”
Elizabeth pulled her hand free and stood. “I know he is a good man. I know he is a decent man with a good career. He will make a fine husband for another woman. I cannot marry James Norrington because I do not love him as I love Will.”
“I do not want to see my only daughter die slowly from a miserable life. Elizabeth,” He drew her towards him. “I promised your mother to raise you properly. I think I may have failed, but she would never forgive me if I allowed this marriage.”
Confused, and wishing for simpler days, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her father and held onto him tightly.