Elizabeth nestled her head on her pillows, and looked out her window to the vast landscape before her. The sea was sparkling, holding her dear fiance´s magnificent ship. The sun was beating down on the hardworking townspeople, and the town drunkards as well. She pushed her blankets back and stood up, sliding her feet into her slippers. She stumbled onto the widow´s walk, and then scanned the harbor for the Black Pearl. She found it bobbing off by the H.M.S. Dauntless and Courage. She felt like yelling down, "I´m in love!" to everyone, but decided not to, for fear of her father stomping in all cross. Elizabeth took hold of the walk's railing, and closed her eyes.
Governor Swann accepted Jack´s proposal to Elizabeth only because. . . why did he? He never approved of Will´s and her relationship, why would he let his little girl go off and marry a pirate?! Just any pirate either, but one who had evaded the Royal Navy not once, not twice, but three times.
No matter. Elizabeth took her left hand in her right and examined her golden band on her finger. The tiny black pearl was shiny and smooth, and simply beautiful. She kissed it and went back into her room. She opened her armoire to reveal her wedding dress. Every time she looked at it, she wanted to cry with joy. It was layers and layers of silk, with a beaded bodice and sleeves down to her elbows, with a hint of lace ruffle. It was truly hers, even if she inherited it from her mother.
Her mother. Elizabeth leaned against the armoire, taken aback at how sad she was. Victoria Swann had died long ago, of a disease with a long, complicated name. Too long and too sad for little Elizabeth to bear. Elizabeth pursed her lips. Something in her gut told her Victoria was alive somewhere, but she couldn´t find out now. She had a wedding to plan!
Jack Sparrow was in his cabin, naked except for his britches and his various hair accessories. It was a long, empty night, with dreams full of Elizabeth teasing at him, dressed up like a Tortuga whore. It was almost too much for him to bear, since he loved her so and wanted to shag her as soon as possible. Hey, he was only human. But it´d have to wait at least for another week, the wedding night. Jack sighed with anticipation and pleasure. He almost got her once. . .
"Jack, hey Jack!" It was Will. William Turner, son of Bootstrap. What a reliable, honorable man he became. He was almost too righteous to be a member of Jack´s crew.
"Yes´m, Willie?" Jack quickly pulled on a shirt and opened the door to meet Will.
"It´s nearly noon- shall we head to shore to meet with Elizabeth?" Will´s clean face shone with excitement. "Oh, Jack, you´re the luckiest man in the world."
"I know," Jack said, and smiled. "Annamaria´s a damn lucky girl, too, ya know."
"Yes I am," Annamaria said, coming up behind Will and kissing his neck. Will grinned giddily, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I s´pose we should star´ heading up," Jack said. He pulled on his boots. "Where is everyone else?" Not waiting for a response, he barreled down the staircase to the deck, and started pulling a rowboat over the side.
Annamaria hopped up on the side next to the rowboat and said, "Jacky, I still can´t believe you´re getting married to Elizabeth. . ."
"Well, thank you," Jack replied, grinning cockily.
"That wasn´ a compliment, Cap´n," said Annamaria, looking at Jack with her liquid brown eyes. They weren´t alight, rather, they were quite foreboding. Jack got a shiver just looking at her.
He laughed uneasily. "Well, no thank you, then. Um, Will, shall we be off?"
"Guess so. Kiss me, Anna." Will got a quick peck on the mouth, and they climbed into the boat and rappelled down.
As they took turns rowing, Jack finally voiced what they were both thinking. "Wha´ the hell was THAT about, Will?"
"I don´t know." Will looked away.
"Somethin´ tells me you DO know, William. Don´ lie to ME." They hit the sand and Jack moseyed up to shore. "Spill."
"I think she´s jealous," Will confessed. "And don´t try to pull any wool over my eyes," he insisted when Jack protested. "I know all about the little shenanigans that happened between you two after you left Port Royal last year."
"Yes, Will, that´s entirely probable EXCEPT THE FACT THAT WE BOTH HAVE DIFFERENT GIRLS, SAVVY?!" shouted Jack. Angry that Will could even think such a thing, he stomped onto the main road and headed toward the governor´s mansion.
Wrenching open the gate, Jack stormed up the drive and knocked furiously on the big doors. The governor´s butler answered. "Ah, Captain Sparrow. The lady of the house will be with you in a moment."
Jack marveled at how good a reception he was getting around people of such high esteem in the Caribbean. He saw Elizabeth gliding down the stairs in her nightgown, and his rage completely dissipated. He swept her up in a passionate kiss and whispered, "Hello, my love." "Well, hello to you too, m´dear!" Elizabeth giggled, pushing him off. She yawned, and then quickly covered her mouth. "Where´s Will?"
"Don´t know." Jack strode away from Elizabeth abruptly and opened the door. There stood Will. "There he is." Leaving the door open, Jack went over and sat on the foot of the steps, his chin in his hand.
"Will," Elizabeth beamed, and took his hand. "What took you?"
"Jack and I had an argument," Will said haughtily. "I think Annamaria is jealous of you and Jack, and when I simply voiced this theory Jack came on all shirty and left me." He shut the doors and leaned on a table.
"Jack, is this true?" Elizabeth said, feeling both concerned and uncomfortable.
"Yeah, but only because I know fer a fact Annamaria would never have feelings fer me ever again. . . not after what happened in th´ past months," Jack said, his rage washing over him for the second time. He told himself to cool down.
Will rolled his eyes. "I know she cares for you two, and maybe I was wrong, but what other explanation could there be?" He shifted slightly and folded his arms.
"Annamaria doesn´t want to see Jack hurt," Elizabeth said, balling her fists. "She doesn't think our marriage will work!" She felt hot tears sting her eyes and then she wiped them away furiously. "Well, that´s too damn bad for her- I´m going to set her straight." She smashed open the doors and then whipped around to face her two favorite men. "Let´s plan on the Pearl."