Weatherby gave a soft click of his tongue, an automatic disapproval – less for her choice and more for her apparent opinion toward where his objections lay. “It is not a question of his character Elizabeth. Were it so simple as that I would have no argument in this quarter.” Indeed, young Turner had grown up to be a perfectly respectable young man – and even if he hadn’t, Weatherby supposed it would hardly matter once his daughter locked herself on to him.
“I will not press you to change your mind,” He assured, having no desire for such an argument and knowing full well Theodosia would never have stood for him trying to dissuade their daughter from pursuing her happiness, were she here beside him now.
“But a word of caution, my dear. Your choice will not be well received by our peers in London – and it will not behoove you to argue too heavily the merits of a blacksmith among politicians and their daughters. We may have certain freedoms here in the new world, but our obligations to the old one still stand. The time will come when we will be bid to entertain them, and if we wish to maintain our positions which afford us such liberties as these, we will need to remain beyond reproach. Scandals come and scandals go, but no politician I have ever met, has ever forgotten an insult.”
The smile that crossed Weatherby’s features was a patient one, even if he felt anything but at present. Hands folded behind his back spoke more to his posture than to what he was hiding, which was just as well considering his grip was so tense it announced only too clearly his displeasure with their present discourse.
“You have, perhaps, become quite accustomed to the Hamiltons and their view of the world,” He observed mildly, neither condemning nor condoning said worldview, “But you were not always so understanding of their ideas. Perhaps it would behoove you to think back on your own stances, to the way you viewed the world before, and consider both how and why you shifted your position. If you wish for people to – as you say – know better – then perhaps you should start by considering how information is being introduced or withheld. Not all of us can be so lucky in our enlightenment as to have friends like the Hamiltons, after all.”
Goodness, what an expression! It was actually quite the challenge to maintain something of a neutral one himself in the wake of it. Weatherby would never forgive himself for laughing outright at a misfortunate fellow, but it was a very near thing when he found himself fixed a look that for all the world declared more confusion than a noblewoman’s lapdog tilting its head just so.
“I appear to have lost you, lieutenant,” His amusement was carefully refrained, which was just as well considering the topic of their discussion. “The Hamiltons are attending as well – I thought perhaps you would appreciate being extended an invitation from me, personally.” Otherwise, doubtless, he would get one from Thomas and feel stuck between his duty to the admiralty and politeness toward that idealistic young man, or sticking to propriety and declining on account of the fact the host had not invited him!
The stones crunched
underfoot as James approached the Governor’s house, part of him
wanted to stay away… the wound.. the humiliation was still fresh in
his mind and heart.
But he only had one day
before he left to pursue Jack Sparrow and there were questions that
needed to be asked—whether or not James would want to hear the
answers was another matter entirely.
He prayed he did not
see Elizabeth there, nor Turner and that thought alone caused him to
stop in his path.
What was he doing? He
had an expedition to plan and a notorious pirate to capture he should
be back in his office pouring over maps instead of standing stone
still in the cooling evening air on the path to the Swann
residence torn between personal matters of the heart and his duty.
Weatherby had always
been good to him and James did not think he’d purposely set him up
for humiliation by the hands of his daughter.
Just the thought of her
was like a blade to the heart—an almost physical pain that caused
him to tense and clench his jaw so hard his teeth hurt.
No.. he needed
answers..and he needed them before he left.
He forced himself to
move, a controlled pace as he strode up to the door and knocked,
waiting to be received by a member of staff.
“I’m here to speak to
Governor Swann.” James said, and then added as a polite
afterthought. “If he is available to speak to me.”
@oceanfoamed // james norrington for weatherby swann
Against all the odds in the wake of such scandalous affairs, matters in the Swann household had managed to return themselves to something resembling normalcy. In spite of Elizabeth’s adventures with pirates and her decision to marry a blacksmith over a celebrated commodore, the staff seemed content to keep rumors from spreading beyond the home itself with little prompting from Weatherby.
Thankfully with the sheer fantastical nature of matters and the way of sailors and their sea tales, there tended to be a great deal more to focus on than the governor’s daughter and her peculiar taste in men. While Weatherby held nothing against young Turner, he would be lying to claim that he particularly trusted the boy or truly believed him the right choice.
However, it was as beyond him now to deny Elizabeth what she truly desired as it had been when he had pointed out to her that a good decision made for the wrong reasons – could still be wrong. Though it had ultimately been the end of his hopes for Elizabeth and James – if nothing else it also assured that the two would not end up miserable in their marriages, which was not a fate he desired toward those he disliked, let alone two of the most important elements of his life.
Indeed, Weatherby’s high opinion of James had not been altered by these events in the slightest – if anything his esteem had only grown. So when the man himself came calling, the maid who answered was quick to invite him in and have him wait in the hall while the head of the house was informed he had a visitor and the study was made up to receive them – for there was no doubt that this visitor would be welcomed, despite the governor turning away most visitors of late in favor of focusing on arranging his daughter’s wedding.
Sure enough, Weatherby had been delighted enough to abandon his project with the event coordinators ( leaving them to do work in peace for a time ) in order to make his way to the study and greet James warmly. As soon as he saw the young man, it was difficult not to feel regret once again that things simply hadn’t worked out in his favor, but it was no matter. Weatherby smiled and welcomed James as he would a son, regardless.
“It’s been some time since you’ve been by,” He observed, after initial pleasantries had been exchanged. Of course, he understood why, so he did not press that and simply inquired, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
This is a permanent starter call for Weatherby Swann, of Pirates of the Caribbean explicitly.
These calls give me a heads up on who is open to interacting with whom (which is handy for those who have exclusives among my crew! ) and gives me an excuse to kick you starters whenever something crosses the mind, or blow up your inbox knowing who would be most wanted.
These calls also serve as a final tag dump – when this call is posted it indicates a character has been fully moved into the blog and is ready for action!
Ocean Archive 