Hawkins Lane, December 13th
It was barely a day later when Edward decided to return to Hawkins Lane, where he knocked on the door to request an audience. Who should answer but Rose?
“Master Kenway,” she said, surprised, and going slightly red. There was a moment of awkwardness, then Edward was being asked to wait, and shortly after that was being led to Emmett Scott’s study, a room dominated by a desk in its centre, wood panelling giving it a dark, serious atmosphere. Emmett stood in front of his desk, and in the gloom, with his dark hair, his cadaverous look and dark, hollowed-out cheeks, he looked like a crow.
“You have thought my offer over, then?” he said.
“I have,” Edward replied, “and felt it best to tell you my decision as soon as possible.”
He folded his arms, and his face cracked into a triumphant smirk. “You come to make your demands, then? How much is my daughter worth?”
“How much were you willing to pay?”
“Were?”
It was Edward's turn to smile though he was careful not to overdo it. He was dangerous, Emmett Scott. He was playing a dangerous game with a dangerous man.
“That’s right. I have decided to go to the West Indies.”
Edward knew where he could reach Dylan Wallace. He had given Caroline the news.
“I see.”
He seemed to think, tapping his fingertips together.
“But you don’t intend to stay away permanently.”
“No.”
“These were not the terms of my offer.”
“Not quite the terms of your offer, no,” Edward said. “In effect, a counteroffer. A measure I hope will find your favour. I am a Kenway, Mr. Scott, I have my pride. That I hope you will understand. Understand too that I love your daughter, however much that fact may ail you, and wish nothing but the best for her. I aim to return from my travels a rich man and with my fortune give Caroline the life she deserves. A life, I’m sure, you would wish for her.”
Emmett was nodding, though the purse of his lips betrayed his utter contempt for the notion.
“And?”
“I give you my word I will not return to these shores until I am a rich man.”
“I see.”
“And I give you my word I will not tell Caroline that you attempted to buy her back.”
He darkened. “I see.”
“I ask only to be given the opportunity to make my fortune-to provide for Caroline in the manner to which she has become accustomed.”
“You will still be her husband - it is not what I wanted.”
“You think me a good-for-nothing, not fit to be her husband. I hope to prove you wrong. While I am away you will no doubt see more of Caroline. Perhaps if your hatred of me runs so deeply you might use the opportunity to poison her against me. The point is, you would have ample opportunity. Moreover, I might die while at sea, in which case she is returned to you forever, a young widow, still at an eligible age. That is my deal. In return I ask only that you allow me to try and make something of myself, unhindered.”
He nodded, considering the idea, perhaps savouring the thought of Edward dying while at sea.
That was fine. This would work out.
[[ nfb, nfi. taken from the Black Flag novelization ]]
“Master Kenway,” she said, surprised, and going slightly red. There was a moment of awkwardness, then Edward was being asked to wait, and shortly after that was being led to Emmett Scott’s study, a room dominated by a desk in its centre, wood panelling giving it a dark, serious atmosphere. Emmett stood in front of his desk, and in the gloom, with his dark hair, his cadaverous look and dark, hollowed-out cheeks, he looked like a crow.
“You have thought my offer over, then?” he said.
“I have,” Edward replied, “and felt it best to tell you my decision as soon as possible.”
He folded his arms, and his face cracked into a triumphant smirk. “You come to make your demands, then? How much is my daughter worth?”
“How much were you willing to pay?”
“Were?”
It was Edward's turn to smile though he was careful not to overdo it. He was dangerous, Emmett Scott. He was playing a dangerous game with a dangerous man.
“That’s right. I have decided to go to the West Indies.”
Edward knew where he could reach Dylan Wallace. He had given Caroline the news.
“I see.”
He seemed to think, tapping his fingertips together.
“But you don’t intend to stay away permanently.”
“No.”
“These were not the terms of my offer.”
“Not quite the terms of your offer, no,” Edward said. “In effect, a counteroffer. A measure I hope will find your favour. I am a Kenway, Mr. Scott, I have my pride. That I hope you will understand. Understand too that I love your daughter, however much that fact may ail you, and wish nothing but the best for her. I aim to return from my travels a rich man and with my fortune give Caroline the life she deserves. A life, I’m sure, you would wish for her.”
Emmett was nodding, though the purse of his lips betrayed his utter contempt for the notion.
“And?”
“I give you my word I will not return to these shores until I am a rich man.”
“I see.”
“And I give you my word I will not tell Caroline that you attempted to buy her back.”
He darkened. “I see.”
“I ask only to be given the opportunity to make my fortune-to provide for Caroline in the manner to which she has become accustomed.”
“You will still be her husband - it is not what I wanted.”
“You think me a good-for-nothing, not fit to be her husband. I hope to prove you wrong. While I am away you will no doubt see more of Caroline. Perhaps if your hatred of me runs so deeply you might use the opportunity to poison her against me. The point is, you would have ample opportunity. Moreover, I might die while at sea, in which case she is returned to you forever, a young widow, still at an eligible age. That is my deal. In return I ask only that you allow me to try and make something of myself, unhindered.”
He nodded, considering the idea, perhaps savouring the thought of Edward dying while at sea.
That was fine. This would work out.
[[ nfb, nfi. taken from the Black Flag novelization ]]