So sorry for the lack of update! I've been tremendously busy!

I don't think I mentioned this in my last chapter, but DMC and AWE don't exist in this. And also, if anyone is interested in reading the Norrington/OC that this is sort of a sequel to, here is the link: Yes, that's some shameless self promotion right there lol.

Oh, and here's to Flame Rising: I'm sorry you don't like my story… even though it's kind of silly to place such a judgment on it after only one chapter. But whatever. It's sad that you have nothing better to do than be mean to other people who have done absolutely nothing to you. And by the way, cursing is all well and good I guess. I do it myself at times. But when every other word you use is profanity, well it just shows your lack of intelligence and vocabulary skills.

Please people, no flames. If you don't like my story or if you have some criticism, by all means tell me, but please don't be mean about it. I have enough respect for you not to be hateful and insulting, so please do the same for me. Many thanks to my reviewers who have been kind and helpful : ) .

Chapter Two

Eleanor sat on the edge of her bed, looking at her suitcases. She was all packed. Now, she was just waiting for the carriage that would take her to the docks to arrive. She wondered what it would be like in Port Royal. Yes, she had grown up there, but it seemed like it had been so long since she had actually lived there, and it was hard to remember what life there was like. Also, she worried about Lorraine. She hadn't seen her in years. She knew that she must be a good, kind woman for James to have married her, but what if she didn't like her? Lorraine was the first woman in her brother's life now, and Eleanor worried that she would disapprove of her. She wanted her sister-in-law to like her.

"You're being silly," she berated herself, "James wrote about how much she wanted to see you. You are worrying over nothing at all. Of course the two of you will get along."

"Talking to yourself, Elle?" Jane said playfully as she entered the room, "Your brother might reconsider taking you into his home if he learns that you are a loon."

Eleanor rolled her eyes, but she could not suppress a small giggle. "I believe I've caught you talking to yourself more than once before, Miss Martin," she replied, still laughing softly, "And I'm sure you do not have the right to be calling anyone a loon. I think…." But Eleanor couldn't tell Jane what she thought, for just then a white feather pillow came sailing through the air and smacked her in the face.

"Hey!" she exclaimed to Jane who was now doubled over laughing. Eleanor picked up a pillow of her own and sent it flying towards the culprit. She didn't miss her mark.

Both of the women collapsed onto the bed, giggling. Eleanor was overcome with the sadness of not being able to see her best friend again for a long while. "You will write to me, won't you, Jane?" she asked solemnly.

Jane offered her a sad smile. "Of course, I'll write," she replied, "How could you imagine I would do differently?"

Eleanor smiled back. "I didn't really. I just wanted to make sure." She sighed, once again contemplating the change she was about to make.

"You can still change your mind, you know," Jane said, breaking the silence that had descended upon them momentarily, "You don't have to leave."

Eleanor sighed again. "You know I have to, Jane. And you know why."

Jane sighed too. "Yes, I suppose I do." She paused and took Eleanor's hand comfortingly. "But you know I believe you, right?"

"Yes, I know," she replied with a small smile. But then her mood suddenly darkened again. "But you're the only one. Did you see the look of relief on your father's face when I announced that I would be going? And your mother hid it better, but I knew she was happy about it also."

Jane shrugged. "Grandmother believes you."

Eleanor allowed herself a small smile. "Your grandmother is a smart woman," she said, "At least you two can see the truth of things, but I didn't really expect many people to believe my side of the whole ordeal. I had just hoped…." She trailed off sadly. Shaking her head, she continued, "Edmund Taylor is an influential man. All of society seems to love him." She scoffed. "They were sure to take his word over mine."

Edmund Taylor was the man that for a long while everyone had thought she would marry. She had never been in love with him, but he was a wealthy man who lived comfortably, and she had thought he was kind. God, was she ever wrong. Things had been going well for a while. She was relatively happy, thinking that her future was stable and secured. Then at a dinner party two weeks ago, she and Edmund were walking in the garden, talking idly. She hadn't thought anything was out of the ordinary. It was just any other normal evening. She smiled and tried to seem interested when everything that he said seemed dull and plain to her. How could she complain? She was an unmarried woman well past marriageable age. A spinster! She would take whatever husband she could get even if he was about as interesting as a rock.

Then he had invited her to sit down with him on a bench. She did, and they continued their talk, but she noted that his mind seemed to be somewhere else. There was an awkward pause in their conversation, and after a few moments, her dark green eyes sought out his. There was a look in his hazel eyes that she couldn't really name. "What is it?" she had asked, "Why…?" But she hadn't been able to get out anymore than that.

His lips had crushed down on hers as he pulled her body tightly against his. She was taken by surprise, but she recovered quickly enough to try and fight him off. Unfortunately although she was not a very helpless or weak woman, he was far stronger than her. Fighting him in the end proved to be useless.

There in the garden, with no one else around, he forced her to the ground and robbed her of her innocence. His mouth on hers muffled her screams of protest and pain, and he was able to keep her flailing arms and legs at bay with his own body. When he had finished his business, he stood and righted his clothes. She sobbed in the dirt.

"Get up," he had told her, voice devoid of emotion, "There is no reason to cry about this. We are practically betrothed. It would have happened sooner or later."

She gained enough control over herself to pull her skirts down so that she was once again properly covered. Then she stood from the dirt. "You still expect me to marry you after this?!" she demanded, still crying. She slapped him hard across the face. "Never! I would never marry you now." She had turned and ran out of the garden's back exit and headed back towards the Martin family's home even though the party was not yet over.

No more than a few days after the incident, rumors began to circulate. The story was the Eleanor had thrown herself at Edmund while they were in the garden at the party, and that now they were not getting married because he did not want a wanton woman to be his wife. Eleanor was enraged. She then tried to tell her story. The truth. But by then it was too late. Almost everyone had already been convinced of Edmund's story. Her reputation was ruined.

"Elle," Jane murmured, calling Eleanor back from the painful memory. Jane put her arm around her waist. "Don't cry. Everything will be alright."

It was only then that she realized that tears had began to stream down her cheeks. She quickly dashed them away. "Yes, I'm sure you're right," she said quickly, "Things will be different in Port Royal. James will take care of me. I'll be happy there."

Jane nodded and placed a sisterly kiss on her forehead. "I will miss you."

"You will have to come visit me," Eleanor said, "Letters will not be enough."

"Of course," Jane replied with a smile, "We will arrange something as soon as you get settled in."

Before either of the young women had a chance to say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Mary, a young maid in the Martin household, poked her head in. "Miss Norrington, your carriage has arrived to take you to the docks."

Eleanor bade the Martins farewell tearfully. As she ascended into the carriage, she knew her life was about to change. But she did not know just how much.

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Sorry it was rather short. I hope for the next one to be longer. I also apologize for any typos. It is rather late here. Remember to review! I'll give you a cookie: )