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A Marriage To A Fine Woman	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > Het - Male/Female Views: 9674 -:- 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
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Discovered


Having searched the Fort twice over, there was no trace of Aislinn
anywhere. No one had seen her, not even the last few residence who had made
their way into the fort. Lord Beckett quickly pushed his way through several
soldiers as he found James putting on equipment of his own. �James . . . if
you must, send men out to look for her, but you cannot go out yourself. Your
near fatal illness some months ago only proved how invaluable you are to this
post and this fleet and we cannot risk losing you.�


�I see.� James said putting on his coat. �I�m not expendable but
she is. Is that it?� He said with a grim look on his face, crossed with
annoyance. �Just how useful do you think I�ll be when I inform you of my
resignation because my wife was killed on this god forsaken �paradise� you
managed to convince her was so grand?� Beckett quieted for a moment as he
looked at Norrington with just as much annoyance. �Don�t try to convince me
with the argument of �the greater good� Lord Beckett.� James warned.
�The greater good became only what resides under my name, home and hearth a
long time ago.�


�SHE�S FOUND! SHE�S FOUND!� A voice called as a young solider
came running down the hallway through the marines that were preparing to go out
into the storm. Norrington looked up at the boy hurried towards the Admiral.
�Sir, a woman, they brought a woman in the gates a moment ago. They said
it�s Lady Norrington.� He said nearly out of breath. The boy didn�t even
get all his words out before Norrington pushed his way passed the other men and
began to run down the hall, Beckett hard on his heels.


They had taken her into one of the officers quarters and laid her on a
cot. James pushed a bystander out of the way and entered the room to see
Aislinn. Even though she was barely recognizable if one didn�t know her as
well as a husband would. She was covered in a thick layer of mud, her hair
matted to her face with dirt and rain. Her clothes were torn, and there were
several cuts and bruises on her face and hands.


The Admiral moved to her side and cupped her face in his hand. Her skin
was as cold as ice, and there was almost no color except gray. She was shivering
from head to toe muttering something over and over that almost sounded like his
name. �Get a doctor, NOW!� He roared.


Instantly two soldiers thundered down the hall to find a doctor as the
Admiral ordered. �Aislinn, darling. I�m here.� He said taking her hand
wrapping his own around it firmly. �Your safe now.� He said hoping that
perhaps it would help ease her mind. Just then, Martha rounded the corner and
came into the room. James looked up to see her, �Close the door.� He
instructed.


The woman quickly did as she was told and walked over as James pulled his
knife from its sheath. �Help me get her out of these filthy wet rags. She�s
soaked through to the bone.� Martha nodded, as James didn�t even bother with
unlacing the ties or buttons on Aislinn�s dress and simply cut them away. Once
they�d removed the clothing, they made sure she was dry and wrapped her in
blankets laying her back down. Martha washed as much of the dirt and muck away
as she could and frowned as it revealed that Aislinn apparently had taken a blow
to the head that left bruising and a cut just behind her ear.


The Admiral had been called away, needed elsewhere in the fort for
military matters but he instructed Martha not to leave her side for a moment and
to wait for the doctor to come and attend Aislinn. When the doctor finally did
come, he stitched the wound on Aislinn�s head and bandaged it so it would
heal. He was extremely careful to make sure it was clean and properly cared for
knowing she was the Admiral�s wife, and that in this case, apparently had a
violent temper when it came to the health and treatment of patients.


He instructed Martha that she was to be kept warm, and allowed to rest
but would be back to check on her. Since it was a wound to her head and she had
not yet awoken, there was cause for concern about the severity of the injury.

Wounded


James sat next to Aislinn, having turned over duties to his second in
command for a while only to be called if any real emergences arose. He watched
her sleep looking at the bandage on her head with a frown. He hadn�t really
considered that she would have been so frightened by the storm that she would do
something as foolish as to try and get to the fort in the middle of perhaps one
of the worst of the season. It was one of the first real storms that they had
since they arrived in Port Royal. Of course James had seen many like this one,
and many much worse. He�d grown used to them by now, like the other residents
of the island who had lived here for any length of time. There were standard
procedures for what to do concerning safety. Those who didn�t have proper
homes constructed to withstand such storms were given shelter in the Fort until
the storm passed, and then the military rebuilt and repaired the damage done to
the town when it was over. Simple, fact of life, and like clockwork procedures.


But for Aislinn . . . quite a different story. Of course they had odd and
somewhat horrid weather in England. But nothing that would compare to the
treacherous and spectacular storms that were in the Caribbean. There were
perhaps displays and terrors that if one were not used to seeing them, one would
think Armageddon itself was upon them. The most fantastic sights, nothing even
close to that which was mentioned in the bible, could be witnessed by the human
eye.


It would have been much wiser if he had kept her close by. Taken her with
him to the fort at the first sign of a storm of such a magnitude instead of
leaving her at home as if it were nothing more then another day at the docks. It
must have felt like the end of the world to her. Lord Beckett in all his
wonderful tales of how beautiful a place this was, and what a great opportunity
this commission would be for her husband . . . probley never mentioned the
revenge of the weather and sea on the island and Port Royal during the storm
season. It was only something that reminded him what a bad idea it was to take
her away from London in the first place.


�James . . .� Aislinn began to mumble almost incoherently. It was the
first time she�d spoken at all since they�d gotten her dried off and out of
the wet clothes that she was found in. Instantly the Admiral reached for her
hand and laced his fingers with hers wrapping his other hand around it as well.


�Shhhh, it�s alright. Your safe.� He said gently reaching up and
stroking her hair careful not to touch any of the spots on her head that might
be sore. Her hand squeezed his a little and after a moment she rolled over
wrapping her arm around his neck hugging him tightly. James was a little stunned
for a moment, not even sure if she was fully awake but he wrapped his arm around
her and hugged her back. But quickly lay her back down not wanting her to cause
more injury. �Just rest darling, everything�s going to be Alright. Shhhh.�
He tried to comfort her.


�I�m sorry . . . I�m sorry . . .� She mumbled again, her eyes
half open as she laid back down into the pillow. James covered her back up
making sure that she was warm not wanting her to catch a fever or chill.


�I�m not angry. I understand. You were frightened. I should have
brought you with me to the fort. Next time I will, I promise.� He said taking
her hand kissing the back of it. �I promise.� He said with a smile even
though he knew she was quite out of her wits at the moment.


�It wasn�t fair . . .� She whispered as her head turned from left
to right. �I shouldn�t have kept it from you until the world was ending, I
should have told you sooner . . . but I was afraid that . . . the world would
end before I told you . . .�


James half smiled, but felt a little sick to his stomach at the same
time. �The world was ending�. The world wasn�t ending, it was a simple
storm, but of course she didn�t know any better. He didn�t think to tell
her. Instead of dwelling on that he decided to change the subject a little,
�Tell me what darling?� He said gently. �The world isn�t ending you
know. It�s only a storm. So if you don�t wish to tell me you don�t have
to. I�m sure it will keep for another . . .�


�I�m going to have a baby.� She said almost in tears. James stopped
cold as he starred at her his eyes going wide and his smile fading a little bit.
�I was afraid to tell you . . . I didn�t know how to . . . I . . .� Her
words were half mumbled and she didn�t seem very awake at all. James reached
up and cupped her face in his hands trying to get her to look at him.


�Aislinn . . . look at me. Look at me.� He said trying to get her
eyes to focus on his. �What did you just say?� He questioned. �Did you
just . . .� She seemed to be fading quickly, falling back asleep but James
didn�t think he could take that. �No, no wait Aislinn don�t go back to
sleep, not yet. Aislinn!� He said taking her shoulders shaking her a little.
�Aislinn, darling wake up. Don�t fall back asleep . . . you can�t just
mumble something like that and then . . .� He sighed seeing that it was no
use. She was simply to exhausted and he lay her back stroking her hair a bit
before pulling the covers back over her once more. �God hates me.� He said.
�That�s what it is.�


Shaking his head he moved back to where he was sitting before and went
back to his watch. Perhaps she was simply having a dream and nothing more.
She�d been hit in the head rather hard, and who knows.

Inquisition


The storm finally passed and the Admiral was over seeing the Fort
evacuation, going over what was left of the supplies with the quartermaster. Of
course everything that was used would have to be replaced, adjustments to the
rations would have to be made for the amount of people in Port Royal and other
changes. The East India Trading Company had the contract to see to such things,
and since it was a military matter, his Majesties Royal Navy would be paying the
bill.


James was looking over the lists and inquiries when Martha was making her
away through the halls. The Admiral glanced up just in time to catch a glimpse
of her walking by and frowned. �Why aren�t you watching over Lady
Norrington? She�s not to be alone, she�s to have a constant watch until she
wakes.� He demanded reminding her of what the doctor had said. Martha seemed a
little surpsised that no one had told him.


�Oh . . . of course Admiral Norrington. I�m just going to get her
some broth. She woke hours ago, and she�s feeling a bit hungry.� James
arched a brow at this and instantly shoved the papers to his second in command.


�Take over.� He ordered as he quickly pushed his way passed the
others and nearly knocked Martha over on his way by flying down the hallway.
Everyone looked a little confused at the Admiral�s lack of decorum but then
shook their heads and went back to work.


The Admiral sought out the room that she had been occupying and nearly
burst through the door. Aislinn was sitting up in the bed and jumped a little
when she saw him come in the door. James could see that she was quite awake,
even if there were dark circles around her eyes. A clean bandage had been put on
her wound and her hair had been combed and put into a braid.


Aislinn frowned and looked nervous when she saw James. Biting her lip a
little she looked down and swallowed a lump in her throat. The Admiral entered
the room further closing the door behind him, just happy to see she was awake
and as far as he could tell back to her old self. �James . . . I�m sorry.�
She said quickly. �I know I should have stayed at the house. I don�t know
what came over me.� The apology seemed to flow almost faster then her tongue
could keep up with. �One moment I was in your study listening to the sound of
the sky coming down around us, the next moment I found myself outside of the
safety of our walls . . . with all sorts of things flying about me unable to
find my way . . . I�m sorry . . . I knew better, but I disobeyed you and could
have gotten killed . . . I�m so sorry . . .�


�Aislinn . . . we�ve been over this.� He said taking her hand as he
sat down beside her. �I�m not angry with you. I�m just glad that your
alright. Next time, you will come to the fort with me, and I shall not leave you
to stay at our home by yourself. It was foolish of me to do so this time.�


She looked a little confused. �We . . . we�ve discussed this?�


�Yes. But you were a little out of your wits at the time, so I�m not
to terribly surprised that you don�t remember.� Aislinn nodded some as she
tipped her head looking to one side trying to think back to when they might have
had that conversation. James thought it might have been as good of time as any
to slip his question in, it was driving him mad since he�d heard her mumble it
days ago. �A lot of things are said when one takes a bump to the head like
that. Or is left out in the cold for a bit to long. You said all kinds of things
when they brought you in. Silly things.�


�Really?� She said curiously. �What did I say?�


�Oh, well you called for me several times. Of course you did your usual
apologizing countless times. Said something about the world coming to and end .
. .� Aislinn blushed a little.


�Well, I guess that is silly now. But I did feel like the world was
coming to an end when I heard that storm. It was so loud and terrible. There was
lightening everywhere.� He smiled and nodded patting her leg. If only she
didn�t cut him off he could have kept going but it seemed that the moment had
passed. �What else did I say?� She said with a smile very curious now. James
looked at her, feeling as though he had lucked out on this second chance.


�Hmmm, well lets see.� He said trying not to rush right to it even
though he wanted to blurt it out. �You said so many things. Ah, I remember.
Something about . . .� He laughed a little. �It�s silly.� He said.


She grinned and put her hand on his arm. �Tell me.� She said trying
to coax it out of him. �What did I say?� He laughed a bit more and she
laughed a little too.


Norrington kept up the rouse making sure that he had a good view of her
face and eyes so he could gauge her reaction. �Well, you said that you were
afraid that the world was going to end before you could tell me you were going
to have a baby . . .� Instantly the laughter stopped as Aislinn seemed to
almost swallow her tongue and her eyes shifted downward and she pulled her arm
back.


James was deadly serious too realizing that it was as he had suspected
she would react if what she had said when she was delirious was true and caught
her arm before she pulled it away. Aislinn wasn�t breathing, her breath was
frozen in her chest as she just stared downcast her eyes wide unable to move.


Norrington realized that it was something she had been successfully
keeping from him for a while. A little to successfully since he had absolutely
no idea. He hadn�t even suspected the possibility. �How long have you
known.� He asked in a solemn tone, not quite understanding why she didn�t
share this news with him. Aislinn seemed like she started to say something but
nothing would come out. James felt a sharp pain in his chest that she had kept
it from him, but even worse that she seemed scared to tell him, almost terrified
out of her wits. �Why didn�t you tell me?� He questioned trying to keep
the hurt he felt hidden.


�I was coming to tell you.� She whispered unable to raise her eyes.


�Because you thought we were going to die!� He exclaimed. �As a
last rite, not as a . . .� He paused a moment lowering his voice so he could
talk in a gentler more civilized manner. �I don�t understand why you would
be afraid to tell me this.� He looked at her. �I want children with you
Aislinn. Why wouldn�t you tell me that you are carrying my child?� He
questioned.


Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head and covered her face with her
hand. �Because . . .� She wept. �Because I was afraid that if you knew . .
.� She said hardly able to breathe.


�What?� He said really wanting to know now.


�That you would think I would kill this one too.� Her lip quivered as
she shook her head covering her face with both hands.


Norrington could hardly believe this. He couldn�t even be sure he heard
her say those words. Reaching up he pulled her hands away from her face and
grasped her chin firmly looking into her eyes. �No.� He said sternly. �How
could you ever . . . EVER imagine such a thing Aislinn? You didn�t kill our
baby. It wasn�t your fault. I don�t blame you for what happened, and I
never, NEVER will.� Cupping her head firmly in his hands, he felt tears coming
to his own eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. That pain in his chest
as getting sharper by the minute.


�This . . . is something to be thankful for Aislinn. Not to fear. Not
to be ashamed of.� He was hardly able to speak, as tears started to escape his
own eyes. �Be happy darling. This is our time to be happy together.� He
whispered.

Munching


Norrington came up the stairs of their home late one evening, after a
full day of meetings. He�d been kept late and was unable to attend supper so
Aislinn had to dine alone. By now she was no doubt asleep and he was careful not
to make any noise that might wake her.


When he opened the door of their bedchamber he arched a brow to find the
candles still lit and Aislinn lying on their bed without the covers turned down,
dressed in her nightgown and lying on her tummy reading a book. Her ankles
crossed and her legs shifting back and forth in the air over her back as she
snacked on some small morsels brought up for her from the kitchen.


Stepping inside he shut the door behind him looking at the hour before
looking back at her. �Aislinn . . . it�s nearly midnight. Why aren�t you
asleep?� He questioned removing his hat and his cloak putting them aside. The
young woman looked up at him a little surprised that she hadn�t heard him come
in.


�James . . . your home.� She said swallowing the food that she had in
her mouth knowing it was impolite to talk with anything in ones mouth.


�Yes, it happens I live here.� He said taking off his coat and
removing his weapons and vest. �What are you doing?� Norrington motioned
towards the food and book. �It�s a little late for this sort of thing
don�t you think?�


Aislinn looked at the food and the book and closed her reading material
before sitting up. �I was . . . hungry.� She said looking a bit sheepish.


�Didn�t you get enough to eat at dinner?� He questioned removing
his boots and then his cufflinks as he spoke. Aislinn nodded.


�Oh yes, Martha prepared a very large dinner. I thought I would burst
from all the wonderful food she cooked.� The young woman answered quickly.
That only made James look at her another moment wanting her to give more of an
explanation as to how she had room for the food she was eating now. Aislinn
looked at the plate a moment before looking at him. �I was hungry again.�


Norrington arched a brow at this before shaking his head deciding that it
was strange, but stranger things had occurred in this marriage then such a small
creature having developed the appetite of a bear. �As terribly ill as you�ve
been lately, I�ve asked the doctor to come by tomorrow and see you.� James
said as he stood from where he sat.


Aislinn frowned as she put the plate of food and book on the table by the
bed. �It passes . . . I�m better by nightfall.� She said quickly hoping
that perhaps he would cancel this visit. �There is no need for him to come,
really . . .�


�Don�t argue Aislinn.� James said cutting her off. �I�m not
blind, nor am I going to turn a blind eye to how you have been. Your illness has
been becoming worse as each day passes. As skilled as you may be in certain
medical areas, you know nothing when it comes to child baring.�


The young lady frowned as she looked down. It was almost as if she had
been slapped in the face with his words. The Admiral realized that perhaps he
had been a bit harsh and removed his belt putting it with his other things
before walking over to the bed sitting down beside her turning her chin so she
would look at him. �Aislinn. I promise that I will be here to supervise. I
know you�re frightened but even to those as inexperienced in these matters as
us, it�s obvious that you shouldn�t be so ill.�


The Admiral put his hand over her belly that had a small swell starting
to show, hardly one at all but it was there nonetheless. Then he kissed her
cheek rubbing her back a little. �Just as a precaution darling. I don�t want
anything to happen to either of you.�


Aislinn sighed a little placing her hands over his that rested on her
abdomen and looked up at him. He smiled a little as they kissed softly, and then
kissed once more before she leaned into his embrace and he rubbed her shoulder
before holding her tight against him.

Unexpected Surprises


Lord Beckett sat in the parlor of James and Aislinn�s house while the
young woman attended a wound that he had received in an accident, being assisted
by Mr. Mercer at Lord Beckett�s instruction. Norrington stood by and watched
trying not to smirk at the situation.


�Are you sure that this isn�t going to insult your physician Lord
Beckett?� James said walking around to the other side of the parlor as Aislinn
worked. �We wouldn�t want to do anything that might hinder his agreement to
attend Aislinn�s care while she�s with child.� He said not trying to keep
the taunting tone from his voice.


Beckett wasn�t exactly happy with the situation either and kept his
eyes straightforward as they narrowed. �It was he who suggested that I ask
your young bride for assistance. He was rather impressed with her skill, even if
her methods of being heard were somewhat violent and uncouth.� When Aislinn
heard him say that she �unintentionally� pressed down on a tender part of
the wound causing him to flinch.


�Oh . . . I�m sorry.� She apologized quickly. Beckett sighed
knowing that she did it on purpose and decided that perhaps he should keep such
comments to himself. �That was clumsy of me.� She said as she continued on
with her task. James had to stifle a laugh and keep a straight face well aware
that she had done it on purpose as well.


The young woman was very attentive, and when she had treated the wound
and Mercer had helped her set the bone back into place, she made doubly sure it
was clean before treating it once more and then sewing it up with small delicate
stitches that would leave hardly any scar, if it left one at all. Then she took
a clean bandage and wrapped it up neatly before having Mr. Mercer help her tie
Beckett�s arm in place.


�What sort of contraption . .� Becket said arching a brow.


�If you want your arm to heal correctly Lord Beckett, then please do as
I ask you to.� She frowned and sighed as she picked up the things that she had
used. �I will talk to your physician so that you don�t have to deal with a
woman from now on.� She said as she left the room with quick steps before
Beckett could get a word in.


Norrington just watched her leave suppressing the smile that he could
feel on the inside watching her actions. Beckett was a bit frustrated himself.
�Is she always so . . . insubordinate?� He said looking at the Admiral.


�Perceptive.� James corrected. �Good day Lord Beckett. As she said,
you should probley go and rest. You look quite exhausted from your ordeal.�
Beckett just shot James a look before putting on his hat and leaving with Mercer
close behind. James chuckled before walking out of the parlor himself.
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A Marriage To A Fine Woman

Discovered

Wounded

Inquisition

Munching

Unexpected Surprises