A Commodore

Baby Steps

           
After about a week of intense instruction and practice, Heather had
learned three dances. However they found that each time they removed the
blindfold, the struggle returned, and Pricilla was simply not strong enough to
win out against Heather. So the blindfold was kept on from the beginning of the
lesson until the end.

           
Norrington and Lady Margaret watched from the doorway as Pricilla took
Heather about the room in a waltz. However something was definitely not quite
right as the two watched. Pricilla was a talented teacher, and did her best and
it was not her. It was Heather. Her partner had to be someone with a strong hand
to lead her with; otherwise she was simply to overpowering of a partner.

           
As they neared the doorway, James stepped out and looked at Pricilla who
instantly understood his request. With one swift move, she managed to pass
Heather into his arms and without missing a step James continued to Waltz
Heather around the room. Needless to say, Heather could feel the change
blindfolded or not. It was a somewhat exhilarating feeling to be carried around
the room by such an experienced, strong and graceful hand. She moved with her
new partner until the dance came to an end and they came to a stop. Pricilla,
Lady Margaret and James all applauded when the music stopped looking at Heather.

           
Instantly she reached up and removed her blindfold to see who it was who
had taken over her lesson. At first she looked excited to see who it was, but
when she saw the familiar pair of green eyes she looked somewhat shocked not
sure what to say. Her eyes shifted about slightly suddenly feeling a bit
embarrassed, “What . . . what are you doing here.”

           
“I thought I would call on my fiancé today. I’m delighted to see
that I shall have such a talented dance partner to accompany me to the officers
ball.” He said with a charming smile.

           
Heather’s eyes narrowed feeling a bit more embarrassed, and even a bit
angry that he sounded so presumptuous about her attending the ball with him when
she had rejected him so many times only to have her mother arrange for hours
upon hours worth of dance lessons. Letting it be known that she couldn’t
dance. She clutched the blindfold in her hand and held it up to him, “To be
sure no mistakes are made and that you shall not be embarrassed, Commodore. I
shall see that I have something to cover my ENTIRE face . . . NOT JUST MY
EYES!” She shouted throwing the blindfold at his feet. “We all know how
mistakes are punished by your hand.” She hissed before storming out of the
room past her mother.

           
“Heather!!!” Her mother exclaimed in horror. “Heather come back
this instant!” She said turning calling after her. The Commodore was hardly
expecting such a volatile reaction, but perhaps he had worded what he intended
as a compliment the wrong way. He couldn’t be certain, but letting her storm
off after that without a word wasn’t a wise idea.

           
Quickly he headed out the door holding up his hand to Lady Margaret in a
request to let him have an attempt at sorting it out. Walking into the foyer, a
maid that had nearly been run over by the angry young woman pointed up the
stairs where Heather had disappeared into her room. The Commodore nodded and
made his way up the stairs at a hurried pace.

           
He’d never been on the second level of their home before, so it was a
guess at what door was hers. Slowly and quietly he went from one door to the
next listening trying to hear movement inside. He started to move from one but
stopped hearing something that sounded like an angry groan of frustration.

           
Pausing a moment, he knocked to see what answer he would get. “Not now
mother! I don’t wish to speak!” He’d found the correct door. Turning the
handle he stepped inside, knowing if he asked for permission he would have only
gotten a rejection worse then the one she had given her mother.         

           
Walking in a bit further he saw her pacing a bit in her room back and
forth before sitting down in the chair at her vanity covering her face and
leaning on her elbows with a sigh of utter and complete frustration. “Can you
not even grant me my privacy when I request it?” She said in defeat. “Why on
earth do you insist on invading my room!”

           
“You would have only rejected me if I asked to come in.” Heather
froze in place and slowly her hands parted revealing her face as she starred
into the mirror seeing the Commodore standing in her room. She half laughed and
closed her eyes shaking her head letting her arms drop to the dresser looking
away.

           
“You are quite the Masochist Commodore Norrington.” She commented on
his appearing after she had shouted at him downstairs.

           
“Would you care to explain?” He said crossing his arms still not
understanding was going on.

           
“Why are you doing this.” She said softly.

           
James wanted to tread carefully, this was the first small window of
vulnerability that he had ever seen her show and he didn’t want her to slam it
closed on him. “You seemed very upset downstairs. I didn’t want to simply
leave you that way.”

           
“That’s not what I mean!” She exclaimed dropping her head to the
dresser. Norrington was becoming more confused by the moment. Standing suddenly
she turned and looked at him, “You and my mother have already decided that we
are to be married. The contract is signed and sealed and apparently cannot be
reversed. My mother would never forgive me if I did something to mess up her
hard work to find someone who would take a . . . spinster of my age. What’s
done is done, we’re to be wed come hell or high water, so why are you making
me jump through these hoops for you?”

           
“I’m not making you jump through any hoops, Heather.” James said
starring at her surprised that this was her feeling on the matter.

           
“Then why must we see each other constantly? Would it not be better if
we did not meet again until the day of our wedding? Would not that simply be
easier for both of us? You are a busy man as I understand it and I doubt very
much that you truly have time to come here and ‘call’ on me as often as you
do. As for me, I would dearly love to spend the last few days of my freedom,
just that. Free.” James starred at her in speechless disbelief.

           
“Heather . . . for Gods sake. You speak as though marriage is an
imprisonment or a death sentence.” He said still shocked unable to gather
another thought for a moment. “I am attempting to give you a normal courtship
so that we may get to know each other before the . . . ‘blessed’ event.”
Now he was starting to refer to it with as much distaste as she was.

           
“Courtship? There is no point to it. A courtship is before you ask
someone’s father for their hand in marriage, but you already have my hand and
I HAVE NO FATHER SO WHAT IS THE POINT!!!” She closed her eyes and raised her
hands as though she had accidentally said much more then she meant to.
Norrington paused hearing that slip and looked at her. It was a small insight
that might perhaps give him a clue to why she was acting this way. Collecting
her thoughts, regaining her composure she looked at James again, “There is no
point to a courtship and I think it would be better if we simply . . . meet at
the church on our wedding day and not have to spend any more time in each others
company then absolutely necessary until then.”

           
“Did you ever think that perhaps I would like to get to know you a bit
before we marry? It seems to be obvious that you have no particular interest in
getting to know me, but I may have a vested interest in being someone familiar
with my future wife.”

           
“I know all I need to know about you, Commodore Norrington.” Heather
said immediately. “And all you need to know about me is, that I will marry you
as agreed, and honor whatever my mother has promised that I will give you in the
contract that the two of you consigned. I have never broken my word in my life,
and I will keep it. I’m true to my word Commodore.”

           
“Everything in the contract?” He asked. Heather nodded. “Even
children?”

           
Heather paused for a moment starring at the wall, “If it calls for
it.” James looked at her in silence. Reaching up he touched her chin and
turned her face towards him looking into her eyes.

           
“But you won’t love me will you. You’ll resent me for making you
marry me.” Heather looked into his eyes.

           
“You can ask me for honesty, I am more then capable of that and will
more then give it freely. I’ll give it to you even when you don’t wish for
it. You can ask me for love, but I cannot give you something I’m not capable
of Commodore. You or anyone else.” James could hardly believe that she was so
straightforward and honest with him. Especially knowing how much her mother
would have preferred her to lie to him to gain his approval. Looking into her
eyes, he wondered what in her life could have hurt her so badly. “You still
have time to tear up the contract you made with my mother if I am not a suitable
choice. No one has been informed of our engagement. No one would hold it against
you.”

           
“Did you ever consider that perhaps marriage is not anything like what
you imagine it to be? That the negative image in your mind of the event itself
and . . . well of me as a husband is completely wrong?” He questioned. “Your
not even giving yourself a chance to find something pleasant in the
experience.”

           
Heather crossed her arms, “Please don’t try and convince me of that,
Commodore. I have been around my mother’s friends long enough to rarely see a
happy bride. Especially those who have been wed to a man that they did not
choose themselves. If Elizabeth Swann is any indication I have my doubts that
you’re going to improve my mind on the subject, or be a pleasantry for the
marriage itself.”

           
James was absolutely stunned that she had said such a horrible thing. To
dredge up the worst and most humiliating experience of his entire life and smack
him across the face with it like that.

           
His attempt at niceties were over, if she couldn’t see fit to be a lady
and tactful about something such as that, then he truthfully couldn’t see why
he had to be patient with her either.

           
“Well.” He said not wanting to shout at her, wanting to remain a
gentlemen even though his eyes grew dark as he looked at her, “I suppose that
you will learn to accept your duties as a proper wife. There are more important
things in life then happiness or ‘pleasant experiences’.” He turned
heading toward her door. “Continue with your dance lessons Heather. I’ll not
have my future wife’s clumsy feet trampling all over mine.” He said as he
slammed the door behind him.

           

Dance Preparations

           
“Oh for heaven’s sake!” Heather hollered finally as her mother
instructed the maid for the 12 time to tighten her dress further. “If she
tightens it again my heart will be set firmly in the back of my throat for the
entire night!” She protested trying to gain a breath.

           
“Good. Perhaps it will press your tongue into place so that it will not
speak rudely to anyone and offend the Commodore.” She said motioning to the
two maids to make sure they couldn’t tighten it another inch. Heather cried
out when the maid put her knee against her rump and pulled back harder then
quickly tied it in place 

           
“MOTHER!” Heather yelled.

           
“Heather stop your fussing. You look lovely.” Looking down at herself
Heather sighed putting her hands on her hips seeing the way her breasts seem to
be on display as though she was meat in a butchers shop window. She glared at
her mother a moment. “Now, the dress.”

           
One of the maids brought in the dress. A beautiful velvet crimson dress
with gold and white trim that would complement the Commodore’s uniform, long
sleeves but a low cut neck line that would show off her cleavage rather nicely.
With a sigh, Heather cooperated with the Maid’s as they put the dress on her
and began to button the buttons and tie the ties. Heather thought she was going
to die at the weight of it. Once again, she found that this dress also had ties
that could be tightened which the maids of course took great pains to insure
that they were tightened as much as possible.

           
“WHY on EARTH did you choose this dress!” Heather protested. “It
must weigh a good 50 pounds!” She exclaimed trying to take a breath. When she
did she reached up covering her chest seeing the way her breasts would draw the
eye. They did anyway, but if she were to take a large breath, they truly would.

           
“When the Commodore left last week, he seemed very out of sorts. I
don’t know what you said to him Heather, but you will certainly make it up to
him tonight. I want you to look absolutely perfect in everyway.”

           
“By putting me on display like some sort of . . . . woman of purpose is
going to make up for whatever wrongs you feel I might have done!” She
exclaimed.

           
“Nonsense! This is a rather flattering dress! You’ve never looked so
elegant and proper. Now when you dance, be sure to pick up your train otherwise
you’ll trip or you may trip someone else and we certainly don’t want
that.” Her mother instructed. “There’s a loop to go over your wrist. Like
we practiced just there.” She said showing her.

           
“Dance?” Heather said putting her hands on her hips again. “Are you
mad? I’ll be lucky if I’m able to walk from the door to a chair.” She said
with a sigh pulling her gloves on.

           
“Oh no dear. You’ll not be able to sit in this dress. There isn’t
enough room.” Her mother said.

           
Heather looked at her and frowned looking towards the chair in her room.
Walking over to it quickly she turned around and was going to sit down but it
was no use. Her undergarments were far to tight and the dress only made it
worse. If she tried to move in that direction she felt light headed, and dizzy
as all of her air was completely cut off. Instantly she stood up straight and
looked at her mother in frustration. “It’s the price we pay for elegance
dear.”

           
“This is insane!” Heather said.

           
“Not at all!” Walking over her mother picked up the tiara that
matched the rest of her dress and placed it on her head pinning it in place.
“You look beautiful, you have learned how to dance gracefully, and you will be
the envy of every young woman at the ball as you will be on the Commodore’s
arm.”

           
“And I can’t breathe, sit down, or feel my feet!” Heather said
looking at her mother feeling as though she had lost her mind.

           
“That’s perfect darling! Then you can dance even more and not have to
worry about getting tired!” She said with a smile. Heather just starred at her
wide-eyed.

           
“Madam?” The housekeeper said at the door. “The Commodore has
arrived.”

           
“Excellent. We will down presently.” Lady Margaret looked at Heather
one more time and smiled. “You’re beautiful. Now smile, remember everything
we’ve taught you, be well behaved, . . .and try to make an entrance.”

 

An Officers Ball

           
The maids announcement was somewhat misleading, since it was the
Commodore’s coach that had arrived for Heather since an urgent matter that
required his attention had kept him overdue and would bring her to him at the
ball. It was a small relief for Heather since there was absolutely no lady like
way to sit in the coach with the torturous dress that she had been strapped
into.

           
She was nearly laid down in the coach so she could breathe with her feet
straight out and her head laid back as she took one breath at a time feeling as
though this was the longest coach ride she had ever had to take in her entire
life. When the coach came to a stop, she quickly straightened out her dress and
took a breath, wrapping her cloak about her and making sure that her tiara was
straight before the coachmen opened the door for her.

           
Taking the hand that was offered and stepping down she looked up seeing
the steps that lead into the massively large house that the ball was being held
at. She felt faint just looking to the top of the stairs. Of course it could
have been the lack of air, but she was forgetting to breathe at the moment.

           
“Lady Heather.” She looked over to see the Commodore standing nearby
apparently having just arrived himself. The look on his face told her that he
didn’t seem to be to keen about having to attend this ball himself. There was
a rather evenly annoyed look on both their faces with each other.

           
“Commodore Norrington.” She answered matching his tone letting him
know that she was up for any sort of battle he wished. James stepped closer and
offered her his arm. The two locked their gaze on one another’s as Heather
took his arm and they began to ascend the stairs.

           
When they entered, the servants took their outer vestments. James handed
them his overcoat and hat. Heather removed her hood before taking her cloak from
her shoulders and handing it to a maid making sure that she kept her fan. When
she turned back towards James, Norrington got his first glimpse of her in her
full elegant formal crimson velvet glory.

           
Needless to say, the Commodore was stunned at her breathtaking
appearance. The way her milky white skin seemed to be beautifully set against
the crimson velvet dress that showed her rather attractive and blessed form was
complimentary in every way. The gold brass buttons on her dress matched the ones
on his uniform almost exactly, more then likely to let people know that they
were together. A touch, no doubt, added by the request of her mother to the
dressmaker, as she wanted to please the commodore in whatever way possible.

           
Straightening her dress out once more, and not even taking notice that
the dumbstruck Commodore was starring at her unable to look away, Heather took
one last deep breath of air causing her breasts to press against her bodice and
the line of her dress. Norrington’s eyes went wide as he quickly turned them
away and looked about to make sure no one else was looking at her either.

           
When it seemed she had stopped fussing about, James cleared his throat.
“Ready?” He questioned. She nodded standing up a little straighter hoping to
find a stray inch of room somewhere in the dress. Offering her his arm once
more, she took it and they entered the room to be announced.

           
Standing at the top of the landing, they waited a moment before attention
of the room was called and their names were said allowed. Heather’s eyes were
as wide as cannonballs as all the eyes of the room were on her. Without her even
realizing it, her feet began to move backwards. Yet it was futile since the
Commodore reached over holding her arm around his so she couldn’t retreat even
if she was doing it purposely.

           
She wasn’t used to this, having so many looking at her. Or even being
around so many people at once. It was a strange feeling and she wasn’t at all
comfortable. James could feel the way she was reacting to her surroundings, the
way her body tensed and the way her breathing was changing. As shallow as it had
been since she’d exited the carriage, it changed even more now.

           
“Calm yourself, Heather. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He said
as he began to lead her down the steps into the crowd.

           
Holding her head high she tried to look as though nothing was wrong,
“Don’t be absurd. I’m not afraid of anything. I simply don’t see what
the point was in that little display. That’s all.” She said looking about
seeing that all the eyes in the room still didn’t seem to have moved on from
them.

           
James half smiled, “They all know who I am, they wanted to see who you
were. Don’t begrudge them their moment of gossip dear. It shall only be a
moment, I assure you.” He said.

           
Heather looked at James, “What do you mean, ‘It shall only be a
moment’.” She inquired suspiciously.

           
He just chuckled, “You’ll see.”