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A Commodore	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > Het - Male/Female Views: 3615 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
Uninvited

Heather lay against a tree in the garden reading a book that she had
brought from the Library. It was a beautiful day and for some reason being in
the house just made her feel so completely enclosed and trapped. Being outside
was much more preferable today. Her ankles were crossed and she sat on a blanket
that had been laid out on the grass so she would be more comfortable and the
grass wouldn�t stain her dress.

At some point, she must have gotten tired because she lay her head back
against the tree and drifted off to sleep. The warm Caribbean breeze was so
comfortable and inviting how could one not slip in a small nap.

Her eyes opened slowly when she could feel something. The unmistakable
feeling of eyes upon her. Someone was watching her; she recognized the prickles
at the back of her neck. Raising her head she looked up and saw just who it was.

�You look absolutely radiant Miss Heather. I thought perhaps I had come
upon a sleeping angel who took a moment to rest in your garden.� Becket said
with his usual charming way.

�I have a front door you know.� She said picking up her book finding
her page she had left off at. �It would have been the polite way to come to my
home, and be announced rather then lurking around the grounds.�

�The lush and beautiful grandeur of your garden caught my eye. I
couldn�t resist taking a quick turn on such a lovely day.� He complimented.
Heather�s eyes looked up at him.

Sighing she closed her book placing it on her lap. �Shall we forgo the
waltz of good manners and get down to brass tacks Lord Beckett.� Heather said
bluntly. He looked at her innocently. �I�m not interested in you or anything
you have to offer me. I do not find you attractive by any means. You are a
slimily, murdering, immoral, soulless, greedy, cowardly, contemptible,
irritating, and annoying individual . . .and you�re short.� Perhaps the very
last was petty, but it was still something that she couldn�t help but notice
from the first time they had met and it never did escape her attention.

Beckett arched a brow at her bold words and straightforward approach.
�Anything else?� He said a bit stunned by the way she had suddenly decided
to change the rules of the game that had been being played.

�I don�t like you.� She said if he truly wanted more.

�Really?� he said mockingly as he had quite gotten that impression
already, but for some reason that had just made her more desirable a conquest.

�I assume you know the way already, but if you truly need an escort I
shall call for one of the servants to show you out.� She said indicating that
she wanted him to leave.

�When I have just gotten here? I can�t imagine why I would want to
leave already, Miss Heather.� He said regaining that smug charming smile.
Heather looked at him in disbelief. She had no idea how to be clearer then she
had already been.

�Must I have the hunting dogs released so that you may understand that
I don�t wish for your company, Lord Beckett? You are well aware that my
husband is away at sea and shall not return for quite sometime. There is no
reason for you to be here.� She said starting to get frustrated.

�I believe there is.�

Heather sighed and shook her head placing her hand on the trunk of the
tree using it to help her get to her feet. Picking up her book she started to
walk past him to go to the house, however Beckett reached out and caught her
wrist halting her retreat, turning her back towards him. �Take your hand off
me!� She demanded.

�Answer me something, Miss Heather.� He said looking into her eyes.
�Just how important is James to you? Hmm?� He asked looking at her. Heather
paused looking at him when he spoke. �Just how precious is your husbands
station and name to you really?�

�Excuse me?� She said not even sure she had heard correctly.

�You haven�t been married for that long a time. From what I
understand . . . it wasn�t exactly a marriage that you were at all
enthusiastic about in the first place. An arrangement made completely between
James Norrington and your mother, was it not?� He answered looking seriously
into her eyes.

�How . . .� she started to say a bit taken back by his even saying
such things. �That is none of your business.� She said pulling her hand away
quickly, feeling completely embarrassed, turning from him. However Beckett
quickly stepped closer to her once more.

�It�s not right you know . . . forcing a young woman to do something
she didn�t wish to do . . . something her heart didn�t choose for itself. I
can�t imagine how devastating that must have been for you.�

Heather�s eyes narrowed as she clinched her jaw and spun about starring
into his eyes. �And you Lord Beckett . . . would your marriage be any
different?� She demanded to know. Beckett looked at her a moment not quiet
seeing where she was going with this. �If you saw a woman that you desired to
be yours, you wouldn�t hesitate to enter into a contract to take her as your
wife regardless of her feelings on the matter. You would go above her head, to
her parents and see that her hand was given into yours . . . . and not waste
your time with her opinion . . . that would be the efficient way to handle such
a matter. It�s simply, �good business� to see everything is done with the
least resistance possible, isn�t it.� She said forcefully in a definite tone
throwing back his own favorite phrase back into his face.

Beckett could hardly argue with her straight forwardness. She wasn�t
foolish, or blind, and extremely intelligent and clever. After a moment he
smiled a bit, �Is that what you truly believe?� He said, �That I would
want nothing more then to make you a subservient trophy, a . . . conduit for my
family line to be locked away in my house and hidden away from the world?� He
shook his head and chuckled a little, �You are far to intelligent a young
woman, far to valuable to simply let waste away like that.�

A chill went up her spine at his words that made her very uneasy. She
grit her teeth a bit as she starred into his eyes, �The only difference
between you and James . . . is that he got here first.� She said not believing
a word he said, not letting herself. �And the only thing that makes me
attractive to you . . . is that he did.� Beckett smiled a bit more seeing the
way her entire body seemed rigged. That he had made her uncomfortable. Reaching
out he moved a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. Heather quickly turned her
face away not wanting him to touch her.

�Believe what you will, Miss Heather. But you put far to little value
on yourself.� He said looking at her another moment. �Good Day.� Then he
turned and disappeared.

Torments


Heather sat at her vanity with her head buried in her arms crying. Next
to her was an opened letter from James explaining how his patrol was going to
take longer then expected and he wouldn�t be home by the time he was
originally supposed to be. This was the third extension of his patrol, and what
was supposed to be no more then six weeks had now turned into three months. Some
gifts arrived with the letter from the ports of call that had been visited to
take on supplies, but they did little to soften the blow.

It seemed like he wasn�t paying attention to anything she had written
in her letters to him, and it was quite unnerving and disheartening to say the
least. He wrote of his wanting to be home, and how he prayed that she was doing
well, and not to worry he would return as quickly as he could manage. He wrote
of the exploits of the ships, the ports that he visited. Of course he included
how he missed her and how he was excited about the coming arrival of their first
child, giving her reassurance that everything would be all right. Even with all
of this, it seemed like anything she had written in her letters went unanswered
and unaddressed. It seemed harsh that he hadn�t answered her letters, for the
fifth time in a row, and by now he would have gotten several of them. It was
obvious he was simply ignoring them, if he was reading them at all.

She was finding herself falling ill frequently and crying when there
didn�t seem to be a reason to do so and it made her angry. Her belly continued
to swell, and each time she looked in the mirror she found herself even more
unhappy to see her body�s new shape and tears seemed to flow at the sight. So
she started to avoid looking in the mirror as much as possible.

For some reason, even though she had slammed the door rather abruptly and
as clearly as one could do on Lord Beckett in the Garden that day, his words
started to haunt her more and more. Who knew the reason. Perhaps the most
obvious of reasons was because her emotions were completely out of control and
she felt alone and somewhat helpless in her situation. It was something that
frustrated and angered her even more as she simply tried to push it out of her
mind.

Sitting up she dried her tears and picked up James letter folding it back
to the way it had been and slipping it into the drawer where she had kept his
other letters. Looking into the mirror she took her handkerchief and dried her
tears again making sure that she looked sufficiently decent before standing and
leaving the room to go downstairs. She had better things to do to sit around and
cry all day. Although sometimes, she didn�t know what those things were.

Vanity


Heather sat at James desk in his study writing a letter, hardly able to
sit up but refusing to let her body try to out match her will. A knock came at
the door and she closed her eyes a moment before calling out, �I said I
didn�t want to be disturbed!�

Reaching out she dipped the quill in the ink again before continuing on
in her letter. The door of the office opened as a figure entered the room and
closed the door behind. Captain Williams walked over to her slowly and looked at
her seeing how pale she was, the dark circles around her eyes, and the unsteady
way her hands moved. Yet he wasn�t going to rush at her as it seemed people
had already been doing. �Hmm. I had heard of it, but I didn�t believe it
until I had seen it with my own eyes.�

�I thought you were on patrol with James, Captain Williams.� She said
keeping her eyes on the parchment before dipping her quill in the ink again.

�No. I was ordered to remain back, to ensure Port Royals safety. James
left me in command in his absence.� William�s answered. He looked at her for
another moment glancing towards the letter she wrote. �I didn�t know ghosts
wrote letters. Or is that your last will and testament?� He asked casually.

�Don�t be so dramatic.� She said dipping her hand shakily in the
ink before bringing it back to the paper. Williams put his hat down before
walking closer to her.

�Heather, this is absolutely ludicrous . . . you are ill, you must see
a doctor. You are gambling with both your life and the life of your child.� He
said looking at her seriously.

�No.� She said in the same definite stern tone she had given
countless times to her mother, her servants and anyone else that had approached
her about this already. �I�ll not do any such thing. There is nothing wrong
with me . . . and no one shall see me in this state.� She said trying to write
her letter but finding it very hard to concentrate.

�This is pure and utter foolishness Heather. You need to set your pride
and stubbornness aside for once and seek the help that you need. You are
obviously not getting better you are getting worse.� He said, �It�s quite
apparent if you�d simply look in a mirror, you are white as a sheet and have
such deeply sunken black circles around your eyes you look as though death has
already passed over you.�

�Why are you here, Captain Williams?� She demanded finally, as it was
hard enough to concentrate on what she was doing without his constant talking.
�I have already given you, my mother, and everyone else my answer on this
matter. If there isn�t anything else you wish to discuss please go.�

�With you attempting slow suicide? How could I possibly leave you in
good conscience?� He asked. Heather didn�t answer him and simply continued
to write. �Heather . . . James will be home in just a week or so. But I
don�t believe that you will be able to last that long without getting some
proper care.�

She sighed dropping the quill and putting her hand over her eyes resting
her elbow on the desk. �You don�t know he will be home. He could be gone for
weeks, or months more.� Then her eyes narrowed as she dropped her hand looking
up at him, �Besides, there are plenty of women to be had in Port Royal or
indeed the Caribbean. I�m quite replaceable I assure you.�

William�s had hardly expected such a response from her. There was
something going on here, but there wasn�t time to try and find out what it was
much less sort it out. �So that�s what this is? That�s what this is all
about?� He said with a smirk. �You are feeling sorry for yourself.�
Heather dropped her hand to the desk looking up at him. �That is the most
petty, ridiculous thing I have ever heard of in my life. My God, you must be
joking . . . all this time I thought that pride was the problem . . . it seems
you don�t have an ounce of it!� He said with a laugh, hoping to make her
made enough to make her spring to action.

�Get out.� Heather said through tired exhausted eyes hardly in the
mood for this.

Williams walked around to stand next to her looking down where she sat,
�I should have known. Knowing all that I know about you and your history,
pride should never have even been a thought in my mind.� He said shaking his
head and rolling his eyes.

Heather was starting to feel dizzy and nauseous, but decided if he
wasn�t going to leave then she was. Putting her hands on the desk she pushed
herself to her feet. However, she wasn�t standing two seconds before her eyes
rolled back in her head and her entire body went limp. William�s frowned and
caught her before she fell.

Medical Care


Her skin was as cold as ice, and she was unresponsive when he touched her
face and called her name. When he had come to her home, he had brought a Doctor
and nurse with him, having no intention of leaving that evening until she had
been seen and cared for after her mother had come to town and explained what bad
condition she was in. James had been concerned about leaving her there and had
written asking that Williams look in on her whenever possible.

Margaret and Williams waited in the parlor while the doctor and his nurse
saw to Heather upstairs. It had already been quite a while and needless to say
Margaret was already very upset.

�She�s been so ill.� She said breaking the silence. �And so upset
each time news came that James� patrol was extended.� She said pacing a
little bit holding her handkerchief in her hand. �I just don�t understand
how any of this could have happened. Everything was going so well.�

�I just wish she would have consented to treatment before now. She�s
terribly ill.� Williams sighed.

�Why has James been ignoring her?� She continued to speak her
thoughts. �He seemed so anxious to put her mind at rest before he left.
Anxious to make her feel safe and secure when he discovered she was with child.
Letting her know that he would be there for her, why would he suddenly ignore
her letters?� She said remembering how many times Heather would read James
letter and be so angry out of hurt that he had once again failed to answer
anything from her correspondence.

Williams looked up at Margaret. �Letters?� He said. �What
letters?� He asked.

Margaret looked a little frustrated with such a daft question,
�Heather�s letters to James of course.�

The Captain looked a little dumbfounded, �All officers correspondence
comes through my hands, Lady Margaret. There�s not been one letter from
Heather to James since he left to his Patrol. He�s written me and expressed
extreme disappointment that he hasn�t heard from her.�

She gave him a look, �What? Don�t be absurd. She writes him pages and
pages, nearly every day . . . sometimes twice and I send them by courier for her
to town personally to the military offices to be sent with the post.� Williams
looked at her blankly. Margaret shook her head, �They can�t simply all be
lost, there have been dozens upon dozens of letters addressed to Admiral James
Norrington. Everyone in the fleet knows both James and Heather, it�s not as
though such correspondence could be so easily misplaced without finding it�s
way again.�

Just then the doctor appeared at the door of the parlor. �She�s
resting now.�

Williams and Margaret walked closer to him. �How is she? Will she be
alright?� Margaret asked anxiously.

�She�s very ill. Rest is what�s best for her now. I�ve given her
a tonic with vitamins and minerals to help restore her strength. My nurse will
remain here, she�s going to require plenty of care, and bed rest.� He
explained.

�What is it?� Williams inquired. �What caused this?�

The doctor looked somewhat reluctant to answer. �Her pregnancy is
causing some difficulty. I don�t know if she�ll be able to carry to term.
Both she and the baby�s lives are at risk.� Margaret could hardly breathe
when she heard this news. �She needs rest, and a proper diet.� The doctor
said looking at her mother, assuring her that it was only because of her current
condition, but his diagnoses would improve with her health.

�She will have it.� Williams said, looking at Margaret. �The best
care that can be provided and whatever she needs. She will have it.� He looked
back at the doctor. �Thank you.�

Home Again


It was just before dawn that James came ashore in a long boat, his ship
having arrived in the bay during the night. Williams was waiting for him on
shore and met him at the end of the dock as they walked together up the narrow
pathway towards his office. �It�s good to see you home in one piece James.
We were beginning to wonder.�

�How is she?� He asked.

�Better. Her color has returned, her appetite is healthy again, and she
is well enough that keeping her confined to her bed has become quite the
task.� He reported.

They entered James office as several objects were carried in after them
set about the room brought back from the ship. �And her letters? What of
them?� He asked wanting to know what had become of them.

�I�ve looked everywhere James. I�ve had the whole of Port Royal
searched. It�s as though they�ve simply vanished or disappeared. Margaret
wasn�t lying, several curriers admitted to having brought them to the post
master. The postmaster himself said he had received them. Who knows what
happened to them after that.� James was irritated at this news. Learning of
how upset she had been because it was thought he had been ignoring her, and how
disappointed he had been because he had assumed she hadn�t been interested in
writing him in the least bit.

�I want all of this squared away immediately. I should like to be home
before noon.� He said feeling as though he should be home already.

Unwelcome Visits


Lord Beckett arrived in James office just as the Admiral was preparing to
leave and make his way home to see Heather. He was anxious to see her and had
torn through all his work in record time so that he would be able to do so.
Seeing Lord Beckett walk through the door was perhaps the most unwelcome sight
in the world.

�It�s good to see you made it back to Port alive and well Admiral,
you seem to be in good health.� He said casually strolling towards him.

�Yes . . . my reports will give you details on our patrols and our
findings over the past months.� James said not really wanting to be drawn into
any sort of lengthy discussion.

�I sent for you, Admiral. Some hours ago.� Beckett said clutching his
hands behind his back. James was well aware of this, but he had intended to
simply ignore the request at least until tomorrow. He was almost desperate to
get home at this point. �Perhaps the messenger I sent did not properly deliver
his message.�

�As many reports that needed to be filed and other such details that
must be seen to when the patrol returned only today, I would think that you
would want them seen to first before anything else Lord Beckett. Considering how
much you are concerned with efficiency.� James answered directly.

�I expect you to answer when you are summoned, Admiral Norrington. I
don�t consider insubordination a desirable trait in commanding officers.�
James was very annoyed at this man right at this particular moment. For various
reasons, the main one being that it was his order that continually extended his
patrol keeping him away from Port Royal each time he was due to return, breaking
his promise once more to Heather.

He paused a moment before turning to Lord Beckett, �I have been
anxiously trying to get everything done that needs to be seen to so that I may
speed my return home. I�m sure that my wife�s condition is no secret to you.
Which is why I request that whatever the reason you summoned me could please
wait until after I�ve seen her.�

Beckett looked at James a moment before half smiling, �I�m not a
callous man, James. I can imagine how concerned you are for Lady Norrington and
are anxious to visit her. However, you could have simply come to me and stated
your reasoning for not wishing to stay longer then necessary other then ignoring
your duties.� He said narrowing his eyes.

Really, James knew that was true, but he wasn�t unaware of what Beckett
was up to. He knew of his multiple visits out to his home when he was out on
patrol. His attempts to seduce Heather quite openly, and even flirting with her
right in front of his face, not even bothering until his back was turned. There
was no desire to see him right at this point. Especially since James had the
feeling that his patrol had been extended that much longer because Heather
refused to give into Beckett�s constant wooing. The only reason he had really
been allowed to return was because she fell ill and there was no chance of her
falling prey to him now. Yet it seemed like a paranoid thought that he tried to
push out of his mind. It was nothing more than jealousy running a muck, and even
Heather said it was a foolish thought since she had no interest in Beckett
whatsoever and found his attempts not only annoying but pathetic.

�Finish your work James, before you leave your offices today.�
Beckett demanded turning and leaving the room.

The Worst Part


When James finally arrived home, he found the doctors carriage stopped
outside the front door. Knowing of Heather�s poor health, he didn�t even
wait for his own carriage to stop as he threw the door open and flew out,
rushing up the steps and flinging the door open. Once inside, he was greeted by
the most horrid shrill scream that sent chills down his spine. �Heather?�

Within an instant he was on his way up the stairs, his hand on the hilt
of his weapon ready to come to her aid of need be. However, when he came to the
door of their bedchamber, he found the scene to be quite different then what he
had first imagined.

The maids were quickly moving about the room carrying blankets and cloths
with them, carrying hot water, and assisting the doctor who knelt at the foot of
the bed at Heather�s feet giving instructions to everyone in the room
coordinating the chaos. Margaret sat beside Heather holding onto her hand and
dabbing her face with a cool cloth trying to keep her calm and focused.

Lady Norrington had gone into labor, and it seemed she was very close to
giving birth to their child. James was dumbstruck not certain what to do, or if
he should do anything. At that moment, Margaret looked up seeing that he had
come home. �James!� She said, letting go of Heather�s hand. �You
shouldn�t be here! Go.� She walked over and turned him around marching him
out of the room.

�Heather . . . is she alright?� He said still a bit in shock not
knowing what to do. His mind racing almost as fast as his heart.

�Yes dear, she�ll be fine we have her.� Pushing him outside the
bedchamber Margaret started to close the door. James spun around realizing that
he had just been ejected from the room.

�If you require anything I�ll be . . . .� The door was then slammed
close in his face leaving him in mid sentence. � . . . . in my study.�

Nerves


James paced in his study as he had done many times in the course of his
life, like a wolf on a riverbank wanting to cross but unable to because the
current was far to strong. He wrung his hands together feeling as though he
would burst if he didn�t soon get some news of just what was going on up
there.

�Ah . . . I thought you might need some company.� A familiar voice
said. James looked up to see Williams standing in the door. He stepped in a bit
further and closed it behind him removing his hat and coat tossing it aside onto
a chair.

�It has been hours since I was banished from our rooms! What on earth
could be taking so long!!� He half shouted. Realizing his voice was raised he
paused and took a breath his eyes looking upwards towards the second story once
again.

�It took my wife 27 hours to bring our first child into this world
James. Patients is a virtue you know.� He offered walking over to
Norrington�s spirits cabinet and making a selection. �You might as well get
nice and comfortable.� Pouring two glasses of James he picked them up and
walked over handing one to James. �How long has it been?�

Norrington sighed taking the glass from his friend, �I have no idea. It
seems they had already been at it for a while when I arrived. Which begs the
question of why no one sent word when it began.�

�Most likely because the most useless person there is the day your
child is born is you.� William�s said with a chuckle.

�Jest all you want about it, William. But as well as Heather has risen
to the occasion since our marriage . . . I feel as though I should be there with
her. Her reaction to finding out that she was with child . . . well joy wasn�t
the first reaction she had.�

�Age aside, James. She�s young. Very young as far as marriage goes,
and many new brides have fears when it comes to children.� James took a deep
drink draining the glass, putting it down and starting to pace again slightly.

�This is ridiculous, I should be up there, helping . . . . somehow.�
James ranted slightly his eyes looking upward a moment.

�And what is it you would do? Pace upstairs instead of downstairs?
Don�t worry, they�ll call for you if you�re needed.� William assured
him. James rolled his eyes slightly as William chuckled at him again.

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A Commodore