For the second time that day, Will was standing at the gates of the governor's mansion.
It was just after lunch time. Will had refused to go until at least then so that Elizabeth had the time to settle down. After the morning she'd had, she both needed and deserved that much.
That did mean that Miss Harpin had dragged him to a restaurant to have their own lunch, though.
It had been pleasant enough until she'd asked him to do something that only made him even more nervous.
…
"Elizabeth has something in her possession; something dangerous," Miss Harpin told him.
"What?" Will got whiplash from the sudden change of topic away from their favorite sword bevels. "Is she in danger?!"
"Not any immediate danger, I don't think," Miss Harpin said. "Although the timing is a bit suspicious, personally I blame her fainting spell on unrealistic beauty standards. That doesn't mean she won't be at risk in the future."
"What is it?" Will worried.
"I don't know," Miss Harpin shrugged. "That's what I want you to find out. It'll be small enough to hide on her person, and might be an odd thing for a lady of her standing to carry around with her. Just keep your eyes open, maybe sneak off with her for a little undressed fun-"
"I can't do that!" Will denied with a hiss.
"Why not?" Miss Harpin's eyes flicked down and back up. "It doesn't work or something?"
"It works just fine!" Will's cheeks burned hot with embarrassment. "That's just… inappropriate."
"I suppose that would be a bit fast paced," Miss Harpin admitted. "In any case, do not try to take the object from her. Until I know more about it, I cannot be certain that parting it from her wouldn't place her at more risk than leaving it be."
…
So here Will was, desperately trying to find his spine so he could open his heart to Elizabeth.
Unfortunately, he hadn't quite found it by the time he was knocking on the door, and the butler was quick to answer.
"Mr. Turner," the butler said. What was his name again? Jimson? "Might I ask the purpose of your visit?"
"Yes, Mr. Jimson," Will was relieved to see his guess to the man's name was correct. "I thought I would inform Miss Swann that I had personally captured the pirate who had threatened her."
That was the best excuse he could think up, even though it rankled his pride to speak the half-truth. He hadn't been the one to incapacitate Jack in the end, after all. Both Miss Harpin and Miss Nico had said it was fine, though.
"Ah, yes. I believe Commodore Norrington sent word of that earlier. Very valiant of you, Mr. Turner," Jimson smiled. "I shall inquire with Miss Swann about your visit. I'm sure you understand that she may not be up for it today."
"Yes, of course," Will accepted without complaint. Honestly, being turned away would probably be the best case scenario, were it not for whatever cursed object in Elizabeth's possession.
His thoughts wandered to what Jimson had said before retreating back into the manor.
Why had Norrington told them about Will's contribution to Jack's capture? It would have been easy to simply leave it out, to simply state that the pirate had been caught and nothing more. It would have been the honest truth too.
Will had heard plenty of good things about Commodore Norrington, of course. It was the main reason Will had been mostly resigned to the man's pursuit of Elizabeth.
But was he really so honest that even withholding a minor detail was a step too far?
Perhaps Elizabeth would really be better off with-
Will's downward spiral was interrupted by the door opening once more, revealing Jimson. "Miss Swann has agreed to meet with you, Mr. Turner. She'll be ready shortly, so if you'll follow me to the parlor?"
"Of course," Will agreed, his heart soared even as he cursed his luck.
…
The parlor was tastefully opulent, as was the rest of the manor. Neither too much nor too little of the Swann fortune on display for any visitors to gawk at. Just enough to impress, but not so much as to offend.
At least that's what Will had been told the first time that Mr. Brown had sent him here for a delivery. Will wasn't sure if that description was accurate or not, because it just looked expensive to his eyes.
His idle thoughts were brought to a halt when a boisterous greeting was given to him upon sitting down on a sofa that he hoped was actually meant to be sat on.
"William!" Governor Swann Weatherby swooped into the room. "Good to see you again so soon! I've been told we have you to thank for capturing that Sparrow fellow!"
"Ah, yes," Will said, trying to ignore the sweat beading on his back.
Governor Swann of Port Royal seemed to be a jolly man full of life at a glance, but anyone who knew him for long could tell you that he has a vicious streak in him. He was particularly bloodthirsty when it came to pirates, whom he insisted be hanged without exception.
Jack was the most recent example of this predilection, since the pirate had saved his own daughter's life and yet he planned to hang him regardless.
Governor Swann's hidden cutthroat nature did not come out often, but Will knew he was going to be toeing the line today. He had no clue how the Governor would react to his proposal of marriage.
"Jimson, bring us some tea would you? The good stuff!" Governor Swann ordered, carelessly plopping himself down on an armchair worth more than a year of Will's wages. "Tell me the story, my boy! I wish to hear how you caught that pirate filth!"
Will adjusted his collar. He hadn't thought he would need to fabricate such a story, so this had put him on the spot.
…
Will was here to see her!
It had been a… bit of a disappointment that it hadn't been him that saved Elizabeth from the water; and more than a bit annoying that the man who had saved her turned out to be such a scoundrel.
However, the fact that Will had captured said scoundrel made for a good story too, didn't it? At least she thought so.
Elizabeth pushed through the doors of the parlor, finding Will and… her father chattering away like old friends.
"Then I kicked him in the groin," Will said. "It was rather easy to get him into the right hands after that."
"HA! I should expect so!" Father barked. "Serves him right! Pirates show no mercy, so they should be shown none in turn! Good lad!"
"Ahem!" Elizabeth announced her presence, carefully schooling her expression to that of a proper lady meeting a guest.
"Elizabeth, my daughter!" Father stood to welcome her inside. "William was just regaling me of how he caught Sparrow Jack."
"You have my thanks," Elizabeth curtsied.
Damn it, why did Father have to be here? She'd probably be kissing Will by now if he wasn't.
"Miss Swann," Will stood and stole away all her attention as easily as he breathed. "Will you marry me?"
"What?" Father whirled with the most perplexed expression she'd ever seen him wear.
"YES," Elizabeth tried her best to answer politely, but it came out at her maximum volume.
"What?" Father whirled back, somehow looking even more confused.