A Commodore

Concerns and Confusion

           
“Margaret, your over reacting.” James said pouring himself a late
night drink as she followed him around his study. “Beckett has no scruples
whatsoever apparently when it comes to women, spoken for, married or otherwise.
But you yourself can testify to how many suitors that Heather was able to gun
down before she and I were wed, and even then she was nearly forced to the alter
at blade point.” He said stating facts. “Were she a solider she would have
been made the sole commander of navel tactics for exterminating opponents
quickly and leaving not even a splinter behind.”

           
“Perhaps James, and yes all that is true . . . but she was speechless
today . . .actually left not knowing what to say. The gift itself was completely
inappropriate for the occasion he ‘claimed’ it was in honor of, you know
that.” She protested, quite insulted how blatant his attempt at seducing
Heather was.  “I’ve never seen her left so at a loss for
words or what to do.”

           
“I saw the pendant, and I realize exactly what it is and what the
intention was behind it. I’m not a fool, Margaret.” James said to clarify.
“but neither is Heather. The worth of that trinket is enough to purchase a
decent sized vessel . . . of course she was struck dumb. I have a good mind to
take it and ram it down his arrogant presumptuous throat . . .” He started to
say in an irritated tone but quickly regained his cool head and composure.
“Yet I’m afraid the pleasure that would grant me for a few moments
wouldn’t benefit any of us in the long term . . . or even in the short
term.”

           
“So what then? He is to continue to give your wife expensive gifts,
making a mockery of your marriage vows . . . attempting to make you look bad at
every turn.” Margaret inquired.

           
“Heather can handle him rather well . . . if we simply let her do so
instead of trying to stop her perhaps he will learn to leave her be. Usually it
only takes one getting bit once to learn that you ought not to fool with a
dangerous creature.” He suggested.

 

Sleeping

           
Heather was on her side when she felt someone shaking her rather roughly
by the shoulder. Her eyes opened slowly at first and she was groggy as she
looked around moving the hand away from her shoulder. “Heather. Heather wake
up this instant.” James demanded.

           
She turned back looking at James a little puzzled seeing the annoyed
expression on his face. “What is it?” She asked reaching up and rubbing the
sleep out of her eyes. He sighed.

           
“Cutler Beckett? An interesting name to be mumbling in your sleep.”
He said disapprovingly. Heather leaned against the pillows starring at him.

           
“What on earth are you talking about.” She said sitting up a bit more
trying to come to her senses. James sighed realizing he might have been over
reacting, considering she hadn’t exactly been saying his name in ecstasy or a
passionate way, nor calling out for him or beckoning him. Holding a conversation
with him perhaps, and the expression on her face could easily be identified as a
scowl. But still, the sound of his name on her lips in her sleep sent chills of
irritation down his spine.

           
“I don’t know what I’m talking about.” He said straightening out
the covers untangling them from about his feet so they were more comfortable.

           
Heather sighed, “You didn’t have to stop me.” She said reminding
him of the day the Admiral saved Beckett’s life in their very own parlor.
“If you hadn’t then you wouldn’t be suffering a sleepless night now,
needlessly.”

           
“You’re telling me you aren’t bothered by this at all?” He
inquired. “Not in the least bit?”

           
“Give me back my riffle and I promise you that he won’t set foot on
the pathway leading to the house again.” He gave her a look at the comment.

           
“You shouldn’t even know how to handle such weapons much less own
them. Of course you can’t have them back. Certainly not to go game hunting for
prominate business men appointed by the king to be his representatives.”

           
“Then please James, go back to sleep.” She said looking at him
seriously. “If you won’t let me put your mind to rest one way, let me put
your mind to rest another and tell you that you have no reason to suspect that I
am harboring any feelings towards Lord Beckett other then wishing you would
allow me to add his head to the others that adorn your wall in your trophy
room.”

           
Norrington smirked giving her a sly look. “Honestly, you are a wonder
aren’t you. Not like any other woman I have known in the course of my life I
can think of.” He said referring to the way she spoke of ending Beckett’s
life and mounting his remains on a placard is if he were nothing more then a
wild boar or some such creature.

           
“I wouldn’t fall for you, and you are far more fetching and charming
then he could ever hope to be.” She said honestly. He grinned at this and
turned over wrapping his arm around her looking down into her eyes.

           
“Is that so?” He said gleefully at her remark rather flattered and
enthralled by the revelation. “You really think so?”

           
“It’s not a matter of my thinking so or not James, it’s a matter of
fact. How any one could ever hope to compete with you is a mystery to me in and
of itself.” His grin grew that much wider as he leaned down and kissed her
deeply letting his hand draw down along her side before wrapping around her
embracing her tightly. Heather arched a brow as his lips moved to her neck and
he began to caress her skin with hungry kisses. “I thought you were angry with
me?” She said puzzled.

           
He chuckled a bit as his hands began to caress her body further and he
leaned up looking down into her eyes laying over her further. “Darling, at
some point in our marriage you will learn when words are better left for more
appropriate times . . . this isn’t one of them.” He whispered against her
lips cupping her face in his hands as he kissed her deeply.

 

Unpleasant Turn of Events

           
Heather sat in silence in the drawing room looking towards the window
where she could see the bay off in the far distance. You could even see the
white sails in the ships putting into port and putting back to sea. The view was
beautiful.

           
“This is completely absurd. The timing is completely faulty, Lord
Beckett knows of your condition . . .there isn’t a soul in the whole of the
fleet who isn’t aware of it . . . how can he be so bold as to send James off
at a time like this . . . how can he DO this!” She ranted stomping her foot in
aggravation.

           
“James said it would be a short patrol mother. A month, not more then
six weeks at the most, then he would be back. You mustn’t get so upset.” She
said keeping her eyes glued to the window. Perhaps she was talking more to
herself then to her mother. When the orders came it was quite a shock, an
unexpected and rather nasty one at that. “The pirate raids have gotten worse,
and he is the Admiral of the fleet . . . he has to go with his men . . . it is
his duty.” She said repeating the words that he said to her.

           
“Heather, I can’t believe you are taking this so calmly.” Her
mother said coming to a halt behind her. “You know as well as I do what sort
of nonsense this is. How can you be so incredibly sedate about this whole
affair.”

           
“I’m not!” Heather exclaimed getting up from where she sat turning
and looking at her mother. “It’s difficult trying to be, but James asked
that I be understanding. That I wait and he promised that he would return as
quickly as he could and no later then six weeks. He has kept his word thus far,
why should there be any reason to doubt him now?!” Her voice was raised
frustrated that her mother hadn’t just let her keep pretenses that she was
doing fine and pushed her to the brink like she had done. Shaking her head she
walked around her mother and left the room slamming the door behind her.

*TO BE CONTINUED*