Chapter 23:  The Last Time

 

It had been nearly a week since Norrington had last seen Jacqueline.  Lord Beckett had immediately taken her to his home in Port Royal and apparently never allowed her to leave the manor.  From what Norrington had heard, no one had seen Jacqueline, and it would be a great understatement to say that Norrington was concerned.  He was sure that Beckett was somehow abusing her, most likely using her as his own personal whore.  Norrington’s fists clenched each time his mind ventured into that likely possibility.

Admiral Norrington leaned against the stone wall of the fort, gazing out onto the sea.  He was standing quite near where he had been when Elizabeth had revealed whom she truly loved.  Remembering that moment did not help lift his spirits.

Norrington was required to attend a hanging at the fort, which was to take place quite soon.  He neither knew nor cared who was being hung.  Some pirates, he had been told.  There had been a time when he would have looked forward to watching such men face justice, but since arriving in Port Royal (by jolly boat, seeing as the Dutchman could not make port), Norrington had done little but worry about Jacqueline.

“It’s all right, go on with your business deal.  You can leave me alone for a moment, my lord.”  Norrington almost refused to believe his ears as he heard Jacqueline’s voice floating toward him from somewhere nearby.

“I shan’t be long, my love.”

Norrington’s eyes narrowed as he heard Lord Beckett speak.  “His love” indeed.  Beckett did not love Jacqueline.  He did not even care about her.  She was nothing more than a prize to him, just another business deal Beckett had gotten the better side of by using underhanded means.

Jacqueline appeared suddenly, walking through the stone archway leading to the battlements.  She wore a dark green dress inlaid with golden designs accentuating her curves, and her black tresses gently waved in the wind.  James believed that she was the image of beauty.  Perhaps more lovely than Aphrodite herself he mused.

Jacqueline did not seem to notice Norrington as she gazed longingly out at the ocean.  Norrington dared not go to her for fear that someone would see him, but he still attempted to get her attention.

“Jacqueline,” he whispered.  Jacqueline continued looking out at the sea as she paced closer to Norrington, still not acknowledging him.  As soon as she was out of sight of those waiting to watch the hanging, she turned and smiled at him.

Jacqueline gasped in surprised as Norrington grabbed hold of her and embraced her, holding her tightly to his chest as though he would never let go.  He had been too long since he had last held her.  Though briefly flustered, Jacqueline returned the hug, closing her eyes and sighing as she wrapped her arms around him, appearing to have also missed his company.

Norrington took a deep breath and slowly pulled away.  Jacqueline blushed prettily and smiled.  “It’s good to see you too, James.”

“It’s been days since anyone has seen you…”  James trailed off.  From what he could see of her, Jacqueline was not physically hurt.  “Staying in Beckett’s home for a week…did he…?”

Jacqueline bit her lip.  “If you’re trying to ask if he’s had me yet, then no.”  She sighed and leaned against the stone wall where Norrington had just been.  “Not that he hasn’t tried,” she said, flushing angrily.  “But I have managed to…”  She sighed.  “It doesn’t matter.  He knows he has me,” she said bitterly.  “All he has to do is bide his time.  And not for much longer.”  This comment brutally reminded Norrington that the wedding was to take place the very next day.  And the wedding night…  As though reading his thoughts, Jacqueline shuddered and said, “I plan to drink so much at the wedding I won’t remember a thing.”  Jacqueline rubbed her neck with her left hand, and the sleeve of that arm fell slightly to reveal a series of cuts along her wrist.  Norrington’s eyes widened.

“Jacqueline…”  She looked at him questioning, then seemed to realize that her wounds were showing and quickly made to cover them, but Norrington grabbed her arm.  “What has he done to you?” Norrington asked in horror.  Jacqueline refused to look at him, and comprehension dawned on Norrington.  “What were you…what the hell did you think you were doing?”

Jacqueline’s eyes remained downcast.  “Nothing.  It was…an accident.”

“This was no accident, Jacqueline,” Norrington contradicted, gently tracing one of the cuts with his finger.

Jacqueline winced and looked up at him.  “It was…well, that’s all it started as…but I was angry…Beckett…he had…”  A tear rolled down her cheek.  “Death is the only way out of this marriage,” Jacqueline said darkly.  “But believe me, if I had meant to take my own life, I would not be standing here talking to you now.”

“I do not doubt it,” Norrington whispered, wiping a tear from her face.  “But don’t even think of it, Jacqueline.”  He kissed her forehead.  “I do not know what I would do without you.”  This admission caused a sudden flow of silent tears from Jacqueline.  “I know this isn’t much comfort, but we will see each other…the wedding does not have to end our relationship.”

“You don’t know?”

Norrington blinked.  “Know…what?”

Jacqueline took a deep breath and averted her eyes, apparently preparing to tell him something unpleasant.  “After the wedding, Beckett and I are going to his home.”  Norrington shifted awkwardly, hoping that this was not headed in the direction that it sounded.

“Isn’t that to be expected?” he said when Jacqueline paused.

Jacqueline nodded.  “Yes…but we are going to his ‘main’ home.”  Norrington did not understand what Jacqueline was trying to tell him, and this confusion apparently showed.  Jacqueline took another deep breath and added, “In England.”

Norrington felt his heart sink.  “But I have been assigned to…”

“To remain in Port Royal, yes.  Who do you think gave that order?”

Norrington could not believe it.  Beckett had not even been to England for years, and now he was not remaining in the New World for even a short time after his wedding.  Beckett was dragging Jacqueline away with him across the ocean…and very far away from Norrington.  “Not because of…” Norrington began, motioning towards himself.  Jacqueline arched an eyebrow and nodded slightly.  “That is the most paranoid man I have ever met.”

Jacqueline laughed quietly.  “Apparently he should be,” she said quietly, her breath on his face suddenly causing Norrington to become acutely aware of the very small distance between him and Jacqueline.

“But that means that this…this is the last time…”  Jacqueline eyes fell again, indicating that Norrington was correct.  “This is the last time we will be together and actually be…”

“Friends,” Jacqueline finished.

“Is that what we are?” Norrington asked quickly.

Jacqueline gave a little laugh, and Norrington swore that she sounded almost nervous.  “What else can we be?  Obviously we aren’t a couple, or enemies…what else is there?”

“Lovers,” Norrington breathed so quietly that he was surprised Jacqueline heard it, but he knew she had when her cheeks became tinged pink.  “I was just giving a general answer, not saying that we would be—are—.”  Norrington coughed and took a small step back.

Jacqueline laughed, entertained by Norrington’s reaction to his own remark.  “That may be the closest description, actually.  We did share a bed, after all.”  Norrington felt his face flush and found his mind straying into the more common connotation of the phrase.  It was not as though his mind had not gone there before—he had suppressed such thoughts with great difficulty while holding Jacqueline on board the Flying Dutchman in the night.  “And we did to quite a lot of sneaking around behind my fiancé’s back.”

“Lovers who shall never be,” Norrington muttered.

A tear was making its way down Jacqueline’s face again.  As Norrington gently wiped it away, Jacqueline suddenly turned to look at the archway.  “Has anyone seen my fiancé?”  Norrington heard Lord Beckett’s voice ask from somewhere in the fort.

Jacqueline made to leave, but Norrington caught her arm.  She gasped in pain as his fingers wrapped around her cuts.  Norrington loosened his grip, but did not let go.  “Perhaps,” he began.  “Those few months of freedom a year Beckett will provide…”  Jacqueline stepped closer to him to hear what he was saying.  “Perhaps, somehow…we can meet.”  Jacqueline brushed away the remaining streaks of her tears.

“You have no idea how much I would like that,” Jacqueline said softly.

“I will find a way to send word of a place, and there I will meet you,” Norrington breathed.  “I swear it.”  He leaned closer to her.  “Remember me,” he requested softly.

“I could never forget you, James.”  Norrington smiled slightly and let go of her arm.  Jacqueline turned to go, but then looked back at him.  She moved closer to him again, uncertainty reflected in her eyes.  “You won’t…”

Norrington put a hand near her lips to silence her, understand what she feared.  “I promise.  I would never do anything to hurt you, Jacqueline.  I cannot live without you.”  He swallowed hard.  “I love you.”

Jacqueline inhaled sharply, her eyes shining with tears.  He made a small movement to indicate for her to go to Beckett, but she instead moved closer to him.  Norrington gasped as she put a hand on his neck and pressed her lips to his.  Norrington closed his eyes, responding passionately despite his surprise.

“Robin?”

And then suddenly her soft lips were gone.  Norrington had not even had a chance to open his eyes before Jacqueline responded to her fiancé’s call.  Norrington leaned back against the stone wall again, trying to keep his feelings hidden inside, but a tear managed to escape his eye.  He quickly brushed it away, straightened his coat, and headed into the fort.