When love interferes

Chapter two: The promotion

Later that night James sat in his office, looking over some papers that lay on his desk. He sighed as he put the forms back on his desk and buried his head in his hands. He had not had the courage to inquire Elizabeth about his proposal as any other day. He was a coward!.

'' I guess she will be married before I can speak my mind!'' James mumbled to himself, frustrated for being such a coward. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

'' Please enter.'' Norrington said as Gordon, his servant walked in.

'' I'm sorry to disturb you sir, how was your walk?.''

Norrington smiled. '' Fine thank you. Did anyone come while I was away?''

'' Yes, as a matter of fact one did. He said his name was Gillette.'' The servant replied.

'' Did he say why he needed to talk to me? '' Norrington inquired.

'' No sir, but he told me he would come back tomorrow to speak to you.''

'' Thank you Gordon.'' The servant bowed and closed the door.

'' What could he possibly want from me?…'' Norrington wondered. '' I have a bad feeling about this.''

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Christine sat inside her shabby hut by the sea. The hut contained a small cot, a closet, one shelf that sat above the old stove, a water bucket, one table and a chair. She always wanted to get a bigger house, but with her salaries she couldn't afford it. She worked with sewing dresses and other clothes. Her superior was a mean old woman named Josephine Barker, who made her work over time with out paying her anything for it. She was on the verge of starving, and if the kind and handsome James hadn't offered to buy her bread, she might not have anything to eat all week.

Christine stood up from her chair and walked over to the window. The ocean view from that window was the only good thing about this house. She loved the sea and had always dreamt of finding a man that would take her to foreign countries on his ship. But these last years her dream had faded, her hope of finding that man had nearly disappeared. She sighed as she sat down again.

'' I'm bound to be alone until I die…'' She mumbled as she buried her head in her hands. '' Nobody wants a girl like me…I have nothing to offer! '' She stood up again. '' Just look at this house…and my clothes! '' She dropped herself onto her bed. '' I'm finished…I will never experience love, well at least not between both parties.'' She buried her head in her pillow, and in a minute she was fast asleep.

The morning after Christine woke up to the sun beaming through her window. She rubbed her eyes and lazily got up. Another day of work awaited her, oh what an agony! She brushed her hair and smoothened out her dress to try to look a bit more decent. She walked over to the water bucket in the corner and washed her face. Walking towards the table she took the loaf of bread from the shelf over the stove, and sat down, tearing a piece of the bread to eat. She had a long walk ahead of her to work, so she put the bread back to her shelf and prepared herself to leave the house.

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James was sitting in his office when his servant knocked on the door.

'' Come in.'' He yelled as the servant opened the door.

'' Sir, the Governor and his daughter are here. ''

'' Thank you Gordon, show them in.'' Norrington ordered.

The Governor and his daughter entered the room and Norrington’s heartbeat quickened when he laid his eyes on Elizabeth. She was stunning, wearing a lilac dress with laces on the front and a fan to match.

'' Please take a seat.'' James offered as he sat down again. '' What can I do for you? ''

'' Well I have been thinking about all the great things you've done for the navy and all the devotion you've put in your work. I'm grateful for all the things you've done for me and your people. That's why I've decided to promote you to commodore.'' The Governor said with a smile.

James didn't know how to react to this. '' Really?…sir, that's an great honor you're giving me. I don't know what to say…Thank you.''

The Governor laughed.'' You deserve it. Now a new status inquires a new outfit. I will send one of my men to take you to the tailor to get you measured out.''

'' Thank you again sir, I won't let you down.'' James replied happily.

The Governor laughed. '' I know you won't. '' He stood up from the chair.'' The ceremony will be tomorrow, I'll let you know the exact time when I know it.'' Then he walked out of the door, leaving James and Elizabeth alone.

'' So James, this is quite a change isn't it? Becoming a commodore…many would kill for that status.'' Elizabeth smiled.

'' Yes…I guess they would. This is all so sudden, I never thought that this day would come, that I would be promoted to commodore.'' Norrington replied stunned.
'' My father knows good character when he sees it, he has always thought so high of you. I knew one day you were bound to become a commodore.'' Elizabeth said with a smile. '' Well I better go to my father, lets not keep him waiting. Good day Mr. Norrington.'' She said with a slight bow.

'' Good day Ms. Swann.'' Norrington replied with a bow.

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The store had been packed all morning with people buying new clothes for the grand promotion ceremony that was due to be held the day after. Christine had had her hands full with fixing dresses, breeches and coats to fit their new owners, sewing matching ordinates on hats, dresses and hand bags and of course there were some people with special needs that seemed to be impossible to fulfil. She was exhausted and grunted when she heard the owner yell at her that she had to measure the new commodore's breeches.

'' Why do they need new breeches for their promotion ceremony, it’s not like they wear the others out! '' She mumbled to herself as she walked through the curtain that separated the store from the work space. When she saw who stood there she dropped her measuring tape.

'' James! '' He turned around surprised.

'' Christine! Do you work here? I had no idea…''

'' Are you the new commodore? '' She asked but quickly noticed how rude it sounded. '' I’m sorry, that sounded rude, congratulation with that.'' She blushed in shame and felt Josephine's icy glare on her back.

'' I'm so sorry Mr. Norrington, I will deal with her later.'' Mrs. Barker apologized.

'' There's nothing to apologize for, I'm not offended.'' Christine looked up surprised. '' And please don't punish her, she's done nothing wrong.''

Mrs. Barker didn't believe her ears. '' Well if you insist Mr. Norrington.'' She replied with a icy tone. Christine was sure to be punished later, if not for this incident, then just something else.

'' You!, don't just stand there, Mr. Norrington is a busy man, he doesn't have all day! '' Mrs. Barker commanded.

Christine picked her measuring tape up from the floor and walked over to him.

'' I'll start on the outside.'' She managed to mumble. James smiled at her, which made her breath easier. Another customer came in and Josephine went to attend to him.

'' The owner is a handful isn't she? '' James tried to ease the air between them.

Christine looked up at him. '' Yes she is…please don't tell her I said that! '' She said with a worried frown.

James laughed. '' No of course I won't, you seem in enough trouble as it is.''

Christine smiled. '' I guess you're right.'' She finished measuring the outside and then hesitate when she realized she had to measure the inside. She swallowed hard as she looked up at him.

'' Uhm…you have to separate your legs so I can measure the inside.'' She blushed like mad. James did what he was asked and she hesitantly moved her measuring tape towards his inner thigh. When James felt the tape touch his groin and her fingers run down his thigh, following the measuring tape his cheeks started to flush. He swallowed hard and tried to remain still, but one part of him didn't agree with him. Christine finished measuring and rolled her tape up, but accidentally brushed his crotch with the back of her hand. His member twitched, wanting to break out from his breeches. Christine jumped away, so ashamed that she didn't dare to look him in the eye.

'' I'm so sorry!….It was an accident, I didn't mean to…'' She tried to apologize.

James got his composure back. '' It's alright, not a big deal. Things like that happen.'' His member was still uncomfortably hard inside his breeches. '' Are we done here? ''

Christine ashamedly looked at him. '' Yes, I'm done. The breeches should be ready tonight.''

'' Splendid. Thanks for all, it was nice seeing you again.'' James took her hand and kissed t lightly. '' Good day Christine.'' And he was off. Christine stood there dumbfounded. Had he kissed her hand. Yes he did. Why? She was only a sewer. She was in the middle of her contemplation when Mrs. Barker yelled.

'' Christine! Stop this idleness and come here! Mr. Hass needs a new suit! ''

'' I'm coming Mrs. Barker.'' Christine yelled back. '' One day I will get back at her.''