Chapter Text
The chirping of the seagulls awakened her suddenly: the land was not far away. Above her, the footsteps of sailors were busy approaching the quay. A tap on the door of her cabin woke her from her slumber.
We are almost there, miss,’ said the sailor behind the door.
—Thank you. ‘
She rose from her bed with a quick move and packed her things before taking them up on deck. She crowded in with the few other passengers and tried to get out of the way of the sailors who were preparing to dock.
“We are almost to Port Royal, I am looking forward to going ashore, how about you?’ asked Lady Wishpert.
—Yes, of course,’ lied the young woman.
In fact, the sea did not disgust her, it reminded her nostalgically of her childhood and her family.
‘I hope we meet again soon Madame Alice, Lady Brixton is a family friend, I think we will meet again when our children play together at her house. I know in advance that they will be well educated with you.’
Alice returned a humble smile, hiding her delight. It was useful to build relationships with the friends of her employers. It was fortunate for her that she had arrived on the same ship as Lady Wishpert, so she had been able to get to know her future employer through their discussions and gossips and learn more about her future wards. She took a deep breath as the boat settled on the quay. She disembarked, following Lady Wishpert, anxious to show her respect for the middle-aged woman.
‘Oh, Madame Alice,’ exclaimed Lady Wishpert, ‘I think I recognise John, one of Helena’s valet, sorry Lady Brixton. He must have come to fetch you. I must apologise, I see my coachman waiting for me there. À bientôt Madame Alice’ she finished, trying to imitate a French accent as best she could.
Alice thanked her and walked towards John while examining the tropical landscape of Port Royal around her. While the architecture was certainly more English than in Marie Galante, it did not change too much in terms of climate. Only the English-speaking population tickled her ear, but she had already got used to that on the Acheron, which made the connection between the English and French establishments. Her gaze fell easily on the beautiful Navy ship stationed offshore and on the one stationed not far away, docked at a pier near the fort overlooking the harbour bay. The wind carried to her ears the melody of military drums, a ceremony seemed to be taking place up there. She approached John again, who was staring at her suspiciously, no doubt looking to see if she was French or not. She gave him a frank smile, wanting to let him know that it was indeed her he was looking for.
‘Madame Alice?’ he inquired as she came up to him.
—Yes.
—I am John, Madam, I must take you to the home of Sir and Lady Brixton. They are not here yet, there is a ceremony at Fort Charles, for the promotion of Captain Norrington to Commodore. But the children, Mr. George and Mrs. Isabel are there, they are with Nanny Schmidt.
—Very well John, thank you. I look forward to meeting the children.
—They are nice kids, ma’am.
John’s eyes stared at her a little stupidly and his face flushed, then he turned and motioned for her to follow him to a carriage waiting outside the harbour. Alice smiled awkwardly and let her eyes wander over the harbour as she walked. She noticed the mast of a small boat sticking out of the water. She frowned, had someone left her boat, sunk, at the quay?
She climbed into the carriage as the servant John took his place beside the driver. The journey to the Brixtons’ home was short, they did not live far from the harbour and the fort, no doubt close to the Governor’s house. Alice tried to recall her discussions with Lady Wishpert. Governor Swann and his daughter Miss Elizabeth Swann. She doubted she would ever meet the former, but his daughter seemed to know her employer and perhaps she would bump into her at tea if she were to introduce the children and their progress in their education. Which she would no doubt do, the Brixtons certainly were not going to look for a French governess so as not to show off their children’s careful and foreign education. Alice smiled anxiously: the rest of her life lay ahead of her, and if she did her job well, by the time the Brixton children were grown, she might have earned enough of a reputation in Port Royal, or Jamaica, to stay on the island and establish a stable life here. The young woman clenched her fists with determination. Nothing was going to stop her from achieving this goal.
Suddenly, a ruckus made her look outside, beyond the gate of the small garden of the residence soldiers were rushing along the street that led from the harbour to the more affluent quarters, they seemed to come from Fort Charles. She carefully got out of the carriage and waited for John to collect her things and take her inside. A man in his fifties was waiting for her, as straight as an arrow.
‘Madame, I am Edgar, the Brixtons’ butler,’ the man said as he motioned for John to take her belongings upstairs.
—Nice to meet you, Edgar.
—Mr. and Mrs. are not here yet, but the children are anxious to meet you. I will give you a few moments to adjust to your room, then I will accompany you to the drawing room to see the children.’
Alice followed the butler upstairs and took in her quarters for about ten minutes.
‘Thank you, Edgar. Who makes up the household staff?
—I head a team consisting of John McDonald, the footman, Henri Smith, His Lordship’s valet, Miss Harietta McIntosh, Her Ladyship’s lady’s maid, Madame Chriss, the cook, and Catie and Rosie, the maids, and Nicole, the assistant cook. We also welcome Miss Schmidt, the nanny.
—A large house I see.
—Yes,’ he said without hiding his pride. Mr. is a successful businessman, we must represent his house with honour and respect and…’
The sound of the knocker on the front door cut him off in his praise, much to the relief of Alice who always felt uncomfortable with servants who put the family they served on a pedestal. Only wealth and titles separated them from the others, without anything, they were just ordinary humans. The butler beckoned her downstairs and pointed to a room.
‘The children are here with Nanny Schmidt. I will be right back.’
She stepped elegantly into the room and found two little blonde heads, presumably of the same age, beautifully dressed and stamping around a young redheaded woman.
‘Ah, Mrs. Alice, “exclaimed the redhead. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I am Miss Schmidt. Allow me to introduce Mr. George and Miss Isabel.’
Alice put on her most welcoming smile.
‘Bonjour les enfants” she said slowly, so that the children could already pick out the syllables. I am Madame Alice, I will be your governess.
—Hello ma’am, “the little boy replied in perfect English.
—Good afternoon,” said the eight-year-old girl.
—Bonjour,’ she corrected.
She had been asked to teach the children French, among other things. This was going to be no mean feat alongside mathematics, literature, history, geography and music.
‘Children, from now on we will spend several hours a day speaking français. We are also going to study a lot, and we are going to try to do that while having fun. Do you like going out?’
The children did not answer and Madame Schmidt answered for them.
‘They like to watch the boats in the harbour.
—Excellent. Nous irons nous promener là-bas.
The children looked at her blankly. She would have to take it slowly, they had obviously never had French lessons. The door to the living room opened and a pallid Edgar walked through, followed by two richly dressed people. Most certainly the Brixton couple.
“Nanny Schmidt, can you look after the children, and do not leave the house,’ asked Mr. Brixton curtly. Mrs. Alice, I presume?
She replied with a small bow.
‘Sir, Madam, I am delighted to make your acquaintance.
—So are we, dear,’ exclaimed Lady Brixton. What a joy to see you on this dreadful day! What a fright, indeed, what a fright!
—Come, come, my friend, do not burden Mrs. Alice in such a way.
—Do not worry, sir,’ she smiled, reassuring him. What is it that troubles you, my lady?
—A pirate! A dreadful pirate has made an attempt on Miss Elizabeth Swann’s life.
—A pirate?’ said Alice.
—Yes, thank God Commodore Norrington put him behind bars, thanks to good Mr. Brown, the blacksmith.
—Ah, yes, well, that is settled then. I send all my sympathy to Miss Swann, I hope she will soon recover from this sad story.
—So do I, my dear, poor child! She must have been terrorised. By a pirate captain, no less!
—Was she? Fortunately, the officers of the Navy are efficient,’ she smiled.
—Yes,’ muttered Mr. Brixton, ‘they have finally caught the “famous” Captain Jack Sparrow.’
Alice felt the blood leave her face and a wave of coldness seized her heart.
‘Are you all right, ma’am?’ asked Edgar the butler.
The young governess came to her senses slightly and looked up at him with dark, empty eyes.
‘Yes, “she breathed. It is just that… Well, we have heard a lot in the French West Indies about this Captain Ja… Jack Spa… Sparrow,” she let out in a strangled breath.
—You look very pale, my poor friend,’ Lady Brixton worried. I cannot imagine what that ruffian could have done in the West Indies! My God, my God! Go and get her a glass of water, Edgar!
The butler slipped away and quickly returned with the request. To Lady Brixton’s dismay, Alice remained shocked for the rest of the afternoon, although she tried to turn her attention back to the topic of child rearing. The afternoon passed peacefully. Alice shared supper with her employers, to mark her arrival in the family as a governess. They drew up the educational plan for the children and then she retired. She closed the door to her room on the servants’ floor, which was probably better furnished than the others just for her, and sat shivering on her bed. A lump was clutching her stomach. Jack… She prepared herself for the night in a dull sadness, her heart throbbing, still in shock at the news. Ten years they had not seen each other. Ten years since he had abandoned her.
She blew out her candle and closed her eyes, certain she would not sleep tonight.