"Back up straight, Elizabella," an older woman piped as she jabbed her cane into an ebony haired girl's back that was clothed by a clean and perfectly straight, blue dress.
"But grandmother… her posture has nothing to do with her personality… shouldn't Beckett court her for her, not the way she stands?" another girl said, coming from the other room with a handful of hair pins to tie back her little sister's hair. She started stabbing them through her hair hurriedly after studying the clock. "And anyway, I don't think Beckett will like Elizabella as much as you think… they're just not very compatible people."
"Why do you say that!" The old woman gasped while straightening thirteen year old Elizabella's shoulders as she stood in front of a standing mirror with a pained expression in her eye.
Elizabella's sister chuckled a bit, then said, with a few pins held between her lips, "Elizabella was always the tomboy between the two of us… While I was off having tea parties she was eating bugs in the back yard." Elizabella giggled, rather proud of this accusation, but stopped when her grandmother gave her a stern glare. "She's not the type to marry a military man… and besides," Her sister stabbed another pin into Elizabella's head, "as I said before, Beckett probably won't even have her… we're putting too much hope into this one thing. I say, if we want money, we earn it respectfully. Not by selling Elizabella off to the first rich man we see… what if some other stranger comes along who's got more money than Beckett, eh? Elizabella's the prize of the family when it comes to looks… I mean, we can only marry her off to one man-"
"Doesn't anyone care about what I want?" Elizabella mumbled, looking down at the floor. "Isabella… all you talk of is how Beckett won't like me… but what if I don't like him!"
"Well then that's too bad, kiddo." Isabella said, finishing her sister's hair and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Now, get out there and knock 'em dead."
"Literally?" Elizabella asked sarcastically as she pulled a shawl over her blue dress and trudged out the door. Isabella laughed and waved as their grandmother shouted out the door for Lizzie to keep her back erect. Once she'd gotten down the street and away from her lunatic family, she slumped over and started pulling her hair down.
"Good evening, Elizabella," A male voice came from behind her. She rolled her eyes and turned to see Beckett staring at her with a broad grin plastered on his face.
"Hello," She retorted blandly.
"You look stunning," Beckett replied, not missing a beat. He offered his arm to her and she took it in disgust. "So what are we to do tonight? I was thinking perhaps going for a long stroll in the park. Then back to my home for some tea and cake."
"Fine," Elizabella said, still as unenthused about the plan as before. Beckett led her through their date doing all the talking and very little listening.
When there was finally a small gap of silence Elizabella took the opportunity to say, "My feet are aching." In reality she was saying "I'd like to go home now…"
But Beckett didn't look into the meaning of the sentence at all and replied only with, "I'm dreadfully sorry, dear." And they continued walking.
By the time their date was over, Elizabella was as tired as could be and retired to her room, listening to Beckett and her Grandmother talking on the floor below her.
"I'm so very glad Elizabella behaved herself tonight," She could hear her grandmother say through the thick, wooden floor and the ceiling.
"Oh, yes, she was a delight. A very intent listener as well… If you'd be so kind as to allow me to wed your daughter-"
"Oh, she's my granddaughter. Her mother has long since passed."
"Ah, I see… she failed to mention it,"
Perhaps because you never shut your trap long enough for me to get a word in edge wise. Elizabella thought.
"I'll provide her with only the finest things… she'll be treated very kindly while she's in my care… I can assure you."
"What do we get out of it?" Elizabella heard Isabella say impatiently.
"Of course, I'll take care of my bride's family as well," Beckett replied quickly.
"Deal."
And that was that… Elizabella had just been sold to the highest bidder. They continued to talk about when the proposal would take place and about the wedding until Beckett bid the family adieu and ventured into the chilly spring night. Elizabella forced herself to sleep shortly after.
She woke up to the sounds of her sister calling for her to get out of bed and her grandmother rushing about, gathering items to dress her with. "Elizabella! This is the last time I will tell you! Get up!"
"Alright! Alright!" Her feet hit the hardwood and she walked into the washroom in her knickers.
"Get dressed now! We've not got time for this!"
"I am dressed!" Elizabella said, combing through her hair.
"Not hardly!" Her grandmother said. Before she knew it, Elizabella found herself sitting in a golden colored dress with long hair all tied back in a tidy bun. She was sitting in a carriage soon afterward; silently riding beside Beckett who had attempted to kiss her on the cheek many times.
"I am only thirteen years old… you're aware?"
"Ah, Yes, but a wonderfully mature thirteen year old woman, you are."
There was a long pause then Elizabella said, rather snobbishly, "You're twenty five."
"You'll warm up to the idea, Elizabella… I just know it."
"I don't think so." There was another gap of awkward silence.
"Ah, Elizabella… I'm going to make all your dreams come true."
"Really? And how will you go about doing that when you've no idea what they are!" Elizabella retorted, looking out the carriage window angrily. The carriage ride ended moments later and soon Elizabella was back home… only this time with a ring tightly gripping her fingers like shackles on a prison inmate.
"How was tonight!" Isabella piped, coming from the back of the house and rushing toward her little sister.
"What happened?" Her grandmother echoed, standing from her reading chair in the foyer.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me! You filthy hags got what you wanted. I'm marrying him, alright? Glad I can be pawned off so easily. At least it will make you miserable wretches happy!" Elizabella said with an angry tear rolling down her pale cheek. She rushed into her room and lay on her bed, hoping to fall asleep soon and leave the nightmare she'd began to call a life behind.
After what seemed like only minutes, Elizabella woke up to the sound of busy feet and shouting women in her house. She stood and got dressed in the same manner as the day before. She went out with Beckett once again only this time, engaging in a bit more conversation seeing as how he was going to show her around a few of the military bases and introduce her to his job. Even though she was with Beckett, Elizabella found herself growing excited as their carriage rolled up to the ports. She stepped out of the carriage and meandered around, looking in awe at her surroundings. "A cannon!" She heard herself exclaim upon seeing a large barreled cannon being rolled across the docks and onto one of the ships. She heard Beckett chuckle from behind her.
"Yes dear, a cannon indeed."
"I've never seen one before… are they loud?"
"Well of course they can be heard acro-"
"Across oceans," a rough voice interrupted. She turned to see a man with dark, tied back hair eyeing her from a few feet away.
Beckett seemed to tense up upon seeing him and said, in a rather harsh tone, "Sparrow… get to your ship."
"Ah, but Beckett… you've not introduced me to your lovely…" He took Elizabella's hand and brought it to his lips, pecking it gently and looking in her eyes for a moment, searching for an answer as to how she and Beckett were related.
"Fiancée'" Beckett snorted, pulling her close. Elizabella didn't object… she was too busy staring into the black eyes of the stranger.
"Damn," The man said, dropping Elizabella's hand, still staring at her. "Mind if I show her something?"
"What on earth could YOU have to show her?"
"I'd like to take her upon the Wicked Wench if you don't mind, sir… I can tell the little lady's never been on a real ship before."
"I don't thin-"
"I'd like that very much, Mr. Sparrow."
"It's Captain, dear… come with me." He held out his hand and Beckett reluctantly let go of Elizabella so that she may take it and walk aboard his ship with him. He started to show her around immediately.
"What's this room here?"
"That, my dear, is my cabin…Would you like to come inside?"
"I'm not sure my fia-"
"Ah, Beckett won't mind a bit," Jack muttered, pulling a key from his coat pocket and thrusting it into the brass knob. He opened the door and led her inside.
"It's awfully damp in here," Elizabella muttered looking at the Captain.
"Aye," Jack replied, looking around himself with his hands on his waist. "Dreadful place to sleep alone…" He mumbled, not really paying attention to Elizabella who was looking at a map on his desk.
"Why is your ship named the wicked wench?" She asked, standing up from her hunched over position.
"Company name," Jack said plainly, "If I'd had my way she'd be sailing under something a bit more… mysterious."
"I see… Li-"
"Elizabella!" Beckett shouted. His heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the cabin.
"Oh dear… he's come to take me back with him," She sighed, rolling her eyes a bit. "It was nice to meet you Miste-… I mean… Captain Sparrow."
She started to float to the door when Jack said to her quietly, "Come back tonight, and we'll talk again, eh?... You're very… interesting." Elizabella looked back at him and smiled. After nodding in agreement, she walked out of the cabin. As she left his ship, Jack could hear Beckett scolding her for being aboard the ship for too long although he didn't hear exactly what he said. He smiled to himself, knowing he'd see Elizabella later that night to ask her.