My try at a POTC/Pride & Prejudice crossover. Might be subject to change.

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man of trade surely cannot be as accomplished as a man of means with landownership. Mrs. Norrington had been abnormally vocal about this point, and was so again during the afternoon tea, much to Mr. Norrington's discontent.

"Mr. Norrington, have you heard who is moving to Netherfield Park come season?"

Mr. Norrington sank a little deeper into his chair as he was unwilling to answer, but it seemed Mrs. Norrington did not need an answer in order to continue her story.

"Why, a Mr. Turner is coming to Netherfield Park. Rumour has it that he is a man of trade! A man of trade living at so grand a house as Netherfield Park! Can you imagine it?"

"A man of trade, you say?"

"Yes indeed. It is not even clear what kind of trade he is involved in! Certainly something sinister from far away countries, I have no doubt. How else could a man of trade earn enough to let Netherfield Park?"

Mr. Norrington grunted quietly. "You judge before you even get to know the man. Men of trade may well be as well settled and agreeable as landowners might be, my dear."

"Oh surely indeed," said Mrs. Norrington quickly. "But you must admit that a man that works for his own fortune cannot aspire to the manners of a man of society. He simply does not have the time! Mrs. Fidget says that this Mr. Turner earns at least ten thousand a year!"

Mr. Norrington felt his wife's impatient gaze bore into him but chose to ignore it.

"And apparently he is unmarried," she mentioned. "Perhaps our Charlotte might catch his eye."

Mr. Norrington stayed silent once more, knowing that his wife's true intentions would become clear in just a moment.

"Mr. Norrington, you must go make introductions once he arrives!" Mrs. Norrington demanded. "Charlotte and Miss Swann must become acquainted with him before the other ladies of the neighbourhood claim him as their own!"

Mr. Norrington frowned a little. "I understand your need to play matchmaker for Charlotte for she is your daughter, but why should Miss Swann become acquainted with said Mr. Turner? Had you not preferred her for James?"

"Why, of course I prefer her for James, do not be silly," his wife squeaked. "Since she lost her mother she hardly has any acquaintances left, poor girl. No, a ball might do her connections and her mood some good."

"You dote on that girl like she is one of our own," Mr. Norrington noted with a smile, for he too was fond of Miss Swann.

"Well, she's so very fond of our Charlotte and she only has Sir Weatherby for family.. Poor girl is alone so often I'm surprised people still know her in the neighbourhood! Which is why you must visit Mr. Turner the moment he enters Netherfield Park."

"I see no reason why I should visit this Mr. Turner. Send for him yourself and surely he'll invite the whole neighbourhood for a ball at Netherfield if you demand it of him. You can be very persuasive," Mr. Norrington noted as his wife's voice reached new heights of shrillness.

"Think of our Charlotte, Mr. Norrington! Surely you would not have her end up an old spinster? No, that just won't do. She and Miss Swann must get acquainted with this Mr. Turner. Even though he is a man of trade, he might have important connections in London. Mrs. Fidget said that Mr. Fidget's cousin met Mr. Turner once in London and that the young ladies were quite taken by him. Of course, Mr. Fidget tends to overexaggerate, and we mustn't forget that this Mr. Turner is a man of trade."

"It does not matter that he is a man of trade if your venture to make him wed Charlotte falls to pieces before it has even started," Mr. Norrington replied. "My dear, I do hope you see that if both Charlotte and Miss Swann are introduced to this Mr. Turner, he won't pay much attention to our Charlotte? Miss Swann surpasses her both in beauty and manners, and Charlotte has little else that sets her apart."

Mrs. Norrington eyed him with clear dismay. "Mr. Norrington, how you abuse your own child baffles me! If only you'd use the time you spend agitating me more wisely, like finding a proper match for our only daughter!"

"My dear, agitating you is one of my favourite pastimes and I shall not give it up no matter how many young men with fortune move into the neighbourhood."

To his dismay, his wife would not be distracted from the conversation at hand. "It's no problem for Miss Swann to join Charlotte to Mr. Turner's because she is so smitten with our James that she will have no eye for this Mr. Turner," she spoke confidently. "No matter how handsome Mr. Fidget's cousin says this Mr. Turner is, he is no match for our James in his captain uniform."

Mr. Norrington sighed and kept his thoughts to himself. His wife's reluctance to see the truth was both amusing and tiring. He doubted that Miss Swann had any affection for his son, only good manners that had allowed James and Mrs. Norrington to believe she might actually accept his wedding proposal one day. He looked up at his wife who was peering at him with clear impatience.

"Sir Weatherby has assured me that he will allow Miss Swann some freedom in picking her husband. I do suspect that he promised her mother to do so, as it is rather unheard of, don't you think? I remember I didn't have much choice in picking my husband."

"Nor did I in picking my wife," Mr. Norrington muttered quietly.

"Mr. Norrington, have you no affection for our only daughter? Would you not see her settled comfortably at Netherfield Park with more servants and rooms than we shall ever own? And what about me? I try and try to find a suitable match for our Charlotte, but none of it will result in anything if you will not make the proper introductions!"

"Trust me, my dear, I hold very much affection for both you and our Charlotte."

"And yet you will not visit him! He might be a man of trade, but surely he might provide a very comfortable life for our Charlotte. I have my reservations because of his occupation, but at least I won't let them stand in the way of a good chance for Charlotte."

"I have other reservations against this venture," Mr. Norrington sighed. "And don't pretend that his occupation matters to you. You'd visit a simple blacksmith if he was new in the neighbourhood and might provide a decent source of gossip."

With those words Mr. Norrington timed his escape to his personal library, although he did hear the beginnings of his wife's high-pitched tirade before he managed to close the door behind him.