Harry & the Pirate: Norrington's Choice
Chapter Nine: Alfresco Interlude
Suzanna Jane Holliday was not pretty. She knew it for a fact, for her father had said as much. It was two years ago, when she was about to turn eight, and she had come in with Charles from playing, her dress torn and a smudge on her face.
"Disgraceful!" Father had said, laughing. "Look at her Maggie! What a Long Meg, all legs and eyes and freckles. And dirty as any street urchin!"
Her Mother, seeing how hurt she had been, remonstrated with Father, and he had laughed, insisting it was a jest. But he had not taken back the words, or told her any different, so she knew it was true.
Charles had found her crying over it, several days later. She had been looking in Mother's mirror, the gold-framed one that used to be in her dressing room and was now packed away among their things back on St. Claire Island. The freckles had been all too obvious, sprinkled over the bridge of her nose, giving testament to her love of playing outdoors in the sun and to her dislike of hats. And the eyes. Watery blue, with tears just at that present. And the mouth, twisted in a tragic line.
"What the devil's wrong, Sue?" her brother had demanded, and then laughed (just like father!) when she had told him. Charles had said, "Don't be daft! You look just like mother did-everyone says so!"
"I d-do not. Mother is lovely!"
"Well, so will you be, stupid. Unless your face freezes like that!"
She had wailed then, until Maria had come in with useless words of comfort and only the mildest scold for Charles, for he was ever her favorite.
And he was still the greatest beast in nature, two years later. He had told Michael Owens, "Sue thinks she's ugly. Silly chit!" when they had come across her and Lilian Lightfoot playing in Mother's dressing room at Island House a few weeks ago.
"I think she's very pretty," Owens had said, stoutly. Suzanna loved Owens. He had turned bright red after saying it, of course, and Charles had teased him unmercifully for days (the horrid wretch!), but Owens had endured it with a good grace and continued treating her to his usual civility and shy smile. Yes, she loved Michael Owens.
Not, of course, as much as she loved Captain Sparrow. She had been enthralled, right from the first, with the Captain's eccentric ways and strange beauty. For he was beautiful. An odd thing to say of a man, but it was true for all that. The way he moved. His voice, and the way he spoke. And his face, of course: his smile, and his great dark eyes that were so expressive. And he was so kind, and funny, too. He told them stories, and did magic with coins and cards, and he loved Julietta and made Charles behave, and treated Lilian and herself like young ladies, and Mother with great respect and Lady Harry…well, Lady Harry was truly the most fortunate of women, that's all. She and Lilian had spoken of it, and had agreed. Indeed, sometimes it was hard to remember that the Captain was a pirate. But then one only had to recall the look in his eyes back on the day he and his crew had taken and sunk the Vaillant. Suzanna gave a little shudder, thinking of it.
And now there was Commodore Norrington to love, too.
She had met him a few days ago, the day before the men had left on the Black Pearl to sail 'round the island. He had come up in the late afternoon, rather earlier than on the previous day, not for dinner but to discuss some details of his prospective journey with the men. At least, that was what he had said. Suzanna privately suspected he had come to see her Mother! The ladies-Mother and Lady Harry, and herself-had taken tea at the Turner's cottage, which overlooked the sea and had the most delightful garden, smaller and less formal than the one at the mansion. They had just returned from this outing and were going up the steps to the door when the Commodore had come riding through the gate below, looking quite magnificent on a fine bay horse. Suzanna had glanced at Mother and Lady Harry to comment on this and caught the oddest look passing between them: her Mother was actually blushing, and Lady Harry looked as though she were about to burst out laughing, her eyes bright, and one brow raised in some silent communication. Mother had shaken her head slightly, then noticed her daughter staring and cleared her throat. "My dear, I shall introduce you to my old friend, Commodore Norrington," Mother had said. By the time the Commodore had ridden up the drive and dismounted, Mother had regained her composure and her complexion, though there had been a look about her…she liked the Commodore, Suzanna thought.
Lady Harry had said, "James! What a delightful surprise!"
The Commodore had taken off his hat and bowed. "You must forgive my intrusion. I had some questions about our journey and, as we leave in the morning, I thought it best to ride up and have a short discussion with your husband and the Governor."
As he had spoken his eyes had strayed to Mother's face, and had briefly taken in her own, too.
Mother said, "James, you must let me introduce my daughter, Suzanna. My dear, this is Commodore James Norrington."
She had curtsied demurely, and the Commodore had bowed again, very formally. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Holliday," he had said, and had smiled at her. The smile lit his eyes, as well, and as his gaze met hers, Suzanna thought he was really one of the handsomest men she'd ever seen. And then he had spoken words that quite won her heart, for all they were of dubious veracity: turning to Mother, he had said, "Margaret, what a beauty she is! You will have your hands full, when she makes her debut, just as your parents did!"
Mother had laughed, and agreed, and Lady Harry had said, "And she is just as sweet-natured as her mother: a most delightful houseguest! Her little sister, Julietta, is nearly as pretty, but she is something of a rogue, like her brother."
The Commodore had chuckled, and said, "Ah, yes! The inimitable Charles. I thoroughly enjoyed having him with me yesterday-today seemed quite dull in comparison! Even my men remarked on it."
"I hope he behaved himself!" said Mother, sounding concerned.
But the Commodore had said, "Oh certainly. He was full of bounce and endless questions, but his behavior was exemplary."
Lady Harry said, "James, can you stay for dinner? We eat at six tonight, for Jack wants to leave with the tide in the morning, which means boarding the Pearl before first light. Perhaps after you meet with the men you can walk in the garden with Maggie and discuss old times." The Commodore and Mother had both given Lady Harry the oddest look at this, and Mother had blushed again! But Lady Harry had only smiled, and had added, "Anatole is making braised capon-one of his specialties! Not to be missed, give you my word!"
The Commodore had made some slight protest about imposing on the Governor's hospitality, but Lady Harry had advised him not to be absurd, that of course Weatherby would want him to stay, and that she would not consider a refusal.
So he had stayed, and, after meeting with the men in the library, all the grown-ups had repaired to the back garden for refreshments and talk before dinner.
Maria had been requested to bring Julietta outside to be introduced to the Commodore, and Suzanna had accompanied her. She knew her little sister would draw everyone's attention, which suited her just now, for she wanted to observe her mother and the Commodore further.
Maria put Julietta down and the little girl immediately went to Captain Sparrow, who greeted her and set her on his knee. Lady Harry pretended to be jealous, and called Julietta a 'little hussy' and 'a shameless flirt', and then laughed in delight when Julietta cocked an eyebrow at her, sucking her thumb disinterestedly. And the Captain had said to Lady Harry, "Don't worry, you'll have your chance later. She just loves me hair," which made everyone laugh (and was manifestly untrue).
Her Mother and the Commodore had exchanged some amused glances during this interlude, the sort that passed between old and dear friends. But when conversation became more general again, the occasional meetings of eyes had held a hint of shyness on her mother's part, and of awkwardness on the Commodore's. It was all most intriguing.
And then there was The Kiss.
This had occurred after she and Lilian were supposed to have been tucked up and asleep. As was their wont, they had crept from their bed after Maria had shut their door and had gone out onto the balcony to sit at its edge, legs dangling through the railings, looking out at the formal gardens and up at the bright moon, and the stars. The night air was delightfully soft and cool, and it was the best time of day really, just the two of them and the freedom to speak of anything and everything. She was telling Lilian about the Commodore and Mother (for her friend had had to go off fishing with her brother that day, contending with worms and wriggling, slimy, dying creatures, and had not returned until dinner time, thus missing all the excitement) when they had caught sight of two people emerging onto the lawn from the house.
"It's Mother!" Suzanna had whispered sharply, poking Lilian with an elbow. The two quickly drew their legs up and moved back, out of the moonlight.
"And the Commodore!" Lilian turned her face and Suzanna could see her friend's teeth and eyes glinting as she grinned in the dim light. "Just as you thought!"
The two girls had looked out at the couple crossing the lawn to where the chairs were still grouped. Mother sat down in one, and the Commodore pulled another one over, at a close angle, and sat down, his knees nearly touching Mother's.
Suzanna whispered excitedly, "See? What did I tell you?"
Lilian nodded, vigorously.
They settled down to watch.
There wasn't much to see, at first, only the two of them talking. But then, after a while, the Commodore reached out and picked up Mother's hand from where it had lain on her knee. She did not draw it away, either, but let him hold it, continuing the conversation, until, finally, she lay her other hand over his, briefly, then stood up. The Commodore stood, as well, and as he had kept hold of the hand it seemed most natural when he bowed over it and placed a farewell kiss on the unresisting fingertips. After he straightened, there was a breathless pause as they looked at each other, and then the Commodore drew Mother toward him and she raised her face to his, and he kissed her. Briefly. Chastely. They parted, and there was another long look. And then the Commodore tucked Mother's hand under his arm and they walked together, back toward the house.
Suzanna and Lilian both gasped (for they'd been holding their breaths) and then closed their mouths against startled laughter, communicating their astonishment with soundless smiles and bright eyes.
When the couple had disappeared into the house again, Lilian said, "Oh, Sue! You will have a new father soon!"
"Oh, oh! I can't believe it! Mother and the Commodore!" Suzanna shook her head. "Oh, he is lovely! So very kind and polite, and…Oh, I can't believe it!" And she had thrown her arms around her friend and they had hugged each other, the moment demanding it.
And the next morning, when it was still dark, and there were soft booted footsteps to be heard on the landing, Suzanna had slipped from her bed and her room, and had run down the carpeted hall to the stairs. Captain Sparrow had just started down them and she called to him, soft and imperative, "Captain!" He had heard and come back up to her.
"What are you doing up, Missy? You should be asleep yet!" he whispered, but with a smile.
"I wanted to ask you…the Commodore…he likes my Mother, doesn't he?"
"Well, of course. Why?"
"I mean…particularly likes her. Does he not?"
"And what makes you say that?"
"He…he kissed her! Last night. After dinner. Out on the lawn. Lily and I saw."
He cocked an eyebrow. "Is that right? That's mighty interesting."
"Do you think he will offer for her?"
The Captain chuckled, but said only, "I think if he does you'd better watch yourself. He's not like to take kindly to a daughter who consorts with pirate captains in the hour before dawn wearin' only a nightdress."
She'd reddened, only then realizing she'd forgotten her robe and slippers in her haste to catch him before he descended the stairs. He pinched her cheek.
He said, "Off to bed with ye, now, Missy. We'll bring the Commodore back in a few days. You take care of your Mother 'til then, savvy?"
She had nodded, and smiled, and obeyed, waving goodbye as she'd skipped back down the hall to the bedroom.
That was four days ago. The Black Pearl was due to return to Port Royal tomorrow night. Unless they decided to extend their stay at the plantation by a day, as Lady Harry thought they might.
"I do hope they come home tomorrow, though," Suzanna said to Lilian. They were both lying on their backs in the shade of a beautiful, big tree that grew at the lower edge of the forested slope by the beach where they'd come for the afternoon. Cook had packed a simple, but sustaining picnic lunch (for Anatole had gone on the Pearl with the men) and the ladies had brought it down to the shore where they were spending the warm afternoon eating and talking and laughing while the children played.
"Yes, but then we are to go back to St. Claire," said Lilian, "and I like it here. I think I shall marry a rich plantation owner and live here when I grow up."
"I shall marry a pirate," Suzanna said. "A nice one though. Owens, perhaps."
"Owens!" laughed Lilian, then considered this more seriously. "He might be a good choice. He is very nice, and could very well grow to be quite handsome, eventually."
"He is handsome!" Suzanna objected.
"Little boys are not handsome. Even your brother, who is very good-looking in his way."
Suzanna scowled. "My brother is a plague and a bother, and a rude, heathenish boor!" She had still not forgiven him for bringing a lizard into the nursery the previous morning, causing all the kittens (who were now growing quite large and difficult to control) to chase it 'round the room for an hour, and Julietta to have terrified hysterics. Not to mention herself, for Maria had insisted that she help with the catching of the lizard and she did hate the things!
"Where is he? And Owens too?" Lilian asked, half sitting up.
Suzanna sat up too, and looked around. Mother, Lady Harry, Mrs. Turner, and Maria were sitting a hundred yards up the beach, on a nice wide quilt they'd spread under another tree, and Julietta was with them, napping. But the boys were nowhere to be seen, and Suzanna wondered at this for Mother had told them not to go out of sight. "Maybe we had better find them," Suzanna said. "What a nuisance Charles is!"
The girls rose and walked along the beach to where the rocky outcrops started, with caves and tidepools, and all kinds of fascinating things designed to lure boys away from their mothers. The boys were not supposed to have gone beyond this point, but had obviously done so, for there were their footprints in the sand, leading toward the rocks.
"Perhaps we should go back and tell mother," Suzanna suggested, having no wish to bring wrath upon herself for the likes of Charles.
"No, for they've likely just forgotten themselves in playing at pirates or something. You wouldn't want Owens to get in trouble for it."
Suzanna nodded. "All right. But they'd better be close by. Stupid Charles! It is just like him to be so thoughtless."
The girls were able to get around the outcropping of rocks by making their way through a tunnel-like sea cave, which was only accessible at low tide. On the other side of this there was a great deal more rocky shore than sandy beach, with the forest coming right down to the water in some places. It was difficult terrain, and their sandals were rather inadequate footwear for negotiating it. Still, the boys were not in sight.
"If they have gone into the forest they shall just have to face Mother's wrath," said Suzanna. "There are spiders, and I have had enough of lizards!"
"Let us look round the next outcrop. It's not too far."
Suzanna reluctantly agreed to this, and the girls carefully walked and climbed over the rocks, following the curve of the shore to the next outcropping. Rounding this with some difficulty, they came out onto a sandy area behind some boulders and were just about to leave their shelter when strange voices met their ears. Cautiously they peeked round and froze at the sight and sound that met their eyes.
The sand and boulders sloped down abruptly to another little sandy bay. In the middle, at its edge, a small boat was drawn up. And directly below them were two men, coarse-looking fellows with dirty shirts, one with longish yellow hair and a snub nose, the other big and dark-skinned and handsome in a rather oily way. And these men were bending over the struggling forms of Michael Owens and Suzanna's brother Charles.
"Bloody hell, hold still!" came the voice of the yellow-haired man and Suzanna nearly cried out as he cuffed Charles hard on the side of the head, then swiftly tied the boy's wrists in the resulting lull.
The dark man, being bigger, was having less trouble holding and tying Owens, though the girls could hear him protest, "You'll not get away with this! Captain Sparrow will hunt you down and you'll be dead men!"
"Captain Sparrow!" the dark man said derisively, stuffing a large handkerchief in Owens's mouth with thick, dirty fingers and considerable relish, laughing as he avoided being bitten. "An' how's the daft bugger gonna know, eh? 'E won't get notice 'til we're long gone!"
"Shuddup, Ace," said the yellow-haired man, "That Frenchie just better be in Tortuga Bay waitin' for us, that's all. Don't hold with kidnappin' brats."
"If 'e's not, it's the market at Port-au-Prince for these two. Nice white meat like these'll fetch a tidy sum."
"They better. Sparrow looks a joke, but 'e ain't, I tell ye."
"Well, 'e could've fooled me!"
Ace, having finished tying Owens, now dragged him to his feet and slung him over a broad shoulder, where the boy hung, struggling feebly. The yellow-haired man had more difficulty with Charles, as he seemed still to be half stunned from the blow, but he finally managed it. Together the ruffians started the walk back to their boat.
Suzanna and Lilian had been crouched, shivering, behind the rocks not ten feet away, clinging to each other while this horrible scene was enacted. But now Suzanna shook off her friend and stood, waving her arms, hoping against hope that Owens would raise his head and see her. The yellow-haired man whirled around suddenly, and she dropped to the ground, her heart thudding. And then Lilian said, "He's going!" and Suzanna got up, more cautiously this time. The two of them watched as the boys were dumped unceremoniously into the little boat. The yellow-haired man got in after them, and the man named Ace shoved the boat out into the water and got in as well. And it was then that the girls noticed, quite a way off shore, a disreputable-looking sloop lying at anchor, riding the swells.
There was nothing to be done. The girls, with a last glance at the little boat, silently and carefully made their way back around the outcrop, across the rocky middle area, and through the sea cave (though the tide had risen enough in that time to give them a scare and get their dresses soaked in the process). And then, the sandy beach before them, the girls broke into a run, shrieking and sobbing as they rushed toward the ladies and Julietta, still resting in the shade of the tree.
On to Chapter Ten