AvianJen
Member
Alec didn't know what to say. It wasn't fair, but life never was. He didn't know how he could fix this or if it was even within his power to fix. He settled for keeping his arms tightly around her, stroking her hair soothingly and rocking from side to side. Josephine hardly ever cried. She had always been the less emotional of the two sisters, and that was one of the reasons Alec had been more drawn to her in the first place. He wasn't incredibly emotional himself, but the recent turn of events had him verging on tears as well.
"I know," he sighed. "I know. I'm sorry." He didn't think it was wise to tell Josephine now, but he understood her father's point of view. He hadn't called Alec's character into question, or even his love for Josephine. The problem was that Alec couldn't provide for her, and they all knew it. He had nothing. He lived in the loft above the stables- Josephine couldn't move in with him there. What father would allow his daughter, a high-class young lady with multiple wealthy suitors, to marry a man like him? Alec could scarcely believe he'd ever actually thought it might turn out differently. He was willing to work to become who he needed to be, but would he have the time?
"Of course not," he promised when she begged him not to give up on them. "Of course not. You're all I want in this world, Josie. We're not giving up, we just...might not see each other for a little while." He had nothing else to fight for, and even if he did there was nothing else he wanted. "But it's okay, you'll see. You've got Ella to keep out of trouble, and I'll work nonstop until I can buy that house. If I can prove that I can give you a good life, maybe he'll reconsider."
Ella was glad that Peter went along with her little half-truth. It was all he needed to know for now, as far as Ella was concerned, and after what had just happened with Alec and Father saying that he wanted "justice," it was probably best to keep it this way.
"No, I insist," their father said to Peter, allowing a smile to come across his stern face in response to his humility. "There must be something that I can help you with."
"Peter needs a fresh start," Ella spoke up again, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on her elbows. It was tiring, but it was important. "He doesn't have anywhere to live. Can he come with us? Maybe you can help him find a job, or an apprenticeship. He had to work on the ship, so he knows a lot about sailing and fishing and navigating, and carpentry, I think." Things always needed repairing on that ship, and Ella had seen more than one pirate with a hammer and nails. She looked towards Peter with bright eyes, hopeful that he would like her suggestion. Whatever he thought, her father seemed to like it.
"Yes, I think that could be arranged," he agreed. "I have several connections, friends I could recommend you to, and we could put you up for a bit until you get on your feet. Shouldn't be more than a month, I'd say. How does that sound?" Ella nodded at Peter, willing him to accept the offer. Father could get him a good job, one that would pay well and lead to better things on down the road. He was a good connection to have, and the job market was all about who had the best connections. There was a reason the pirates had known their family name.
"I know," he sighed. "I know. I'm sorry." He didn't think it was wise to tell Josephine now, but he understood her father's point of view. He hadn't called Alec's character into question, or even his love for Josephine. The problem was that Alec couldn't provide for her, and they all knew it. He had nothing. He lived in the loft above the stables- Josephine couldn't move in with him there. What father would allow his daughter, a high-class young lady with multiple wealthy suitors, to marry a man like him? Alec could scarcely believe he'd ever actually thought it might turn out differently. He was willing to work to become who he needed to be, but would he have the time?
"Of course not," he promised when she begged him not to give up on them. "Of course not. You're all I want in this world, Josie. We're not giving up, we just...might not see each other for a little while." He had nothing else to fight for, and even if he did there was nothing else he wanted. "But it's okay, you'll see. You've got Ella to keep out of trouble, and I'll work nonstop until I can buy that house. If I can prove that I can give you a good life, maybe he'll reconsider."
Ella was glad that Peter went along with her little half-truth. It was all he needed to know for now, as far as Ella was concerned, and after what had just happened with Alec and Father saying that he wanted "justice," it was probably best to keep it this way.
"No, I insist," their father said to Peter, allowing a smile to come across his stern face in response to his humility. "There must be something that I can help you with."
"Peter needs a fresh start," Ella spoke up again, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on her elbows. It was tiring, but it was important. "He doesn't have anywhere to live. Can he come with us? Maybe you can help him find a job, or an apprenticeship. He had to work on the ship, so he knows a lot about sailing and fishing and navigating, and carpentry, I think." Things always needed repairing on that ship, and Ella had seen more than one pirate with a hammer and nails. She looked towards Peter with bright eyes, hopeful that he would like her suggestion. Whatever he thought, her father seemed to like it.
"Yes, I think that could be arranged," he agreed. "I have several connections, friends I could recommend you to, and we could put you up for a bit until you get on your feet. Shouldn't be more than a month, I'd say. How does that sound?" Ella nodded at Peter, willing him to accept the offer. Father could get him a good job, one that would pay well and lead to better things on down the road. He was a good connection to have, and the job market was all about who had the best connections. There was a reason the pirates had known their family name.
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