It had only been a year after Will left that Elizabeth came to her senses. She did not love him, and she knew that since the day she met Captain Jack Sparrow. And yet she allowed herself to live a lie. But not she knew the truth.
Ten years for one day? Hardly seemed fair.
And so she left a note explaining why she could not stay and wait for him, and that they were not legally married (that was her excuse), and hopped on the next ship to Port Royal.
She was going to his all of her past with corsets and smiles. And she was going to forget about Will (already done!) and Jack (impossible) and live a normal life.
Being the Governor's daughter, Elizabeth had a fair bit of fortune, and was quickly in a large house with maids and other servants.
There were still, of course, talks around the town about her past life, how she'd ran off with a blacksmith and a pirate, and how she'd been set to marry one, then he disappears, and more talks of how she fell for the notorious pirate.
Which was, naturally, true. She had fallen for Jack Sparrow. But he could never love her in return – he was a pirate, and what sort of pirate falls in love with the Governor's daughter? Not Jack for sure. But she still allowed hope.
"Morning, Miss," said Elizabeth's personal maid, Maria.
"Good morning," she replied, her old perfect voice back in place.
"What dress today, Miss?"
"Oh… the blue one, if you please," Elizabeth said, pointing to said dress.
It was a midnight blue, with off the shoulder short sleeves, silver lining and a deep plunge neck. Elizabeth had matching shoes and a matching fan and earrings. She chose to wear her favourite necklace; a ring on a chain. But it was no ordinary ring. It was Jack's green sapphire ring. He had given it to her not long after they had brought him back.
"If it's not too bold to say Miss, where did you get that ring?" asked Maria while the other maids pulled Elizabeth's corset tight.
"It's… from an… old friend," she managed through gasps.
"You look lovely Miss, if I may say so."
"Thank you Maria. You may all leave now, I will not be requiring any breakfast today, thank you," Elizabeth told her maids as she settled to do her hair.
She pulled it up in a loose bun, with a few ringlets falling over her shoulders. She left her fan on the table when she picked up her sunshade and left her house.
She had not walked very far when a voice spoke to her.
"Miss Swann," it said.
"Mr Harding," she replied, not rudely.
"Please, call me John. Lovely day, don't you think?"
"Slightly hot for my liking, Mr Harding."
"Where, might I ask, are you going today?" he inquired.
"To the docks, I rather like the breeze there. And I would rather go alone," she said flatly, hoping he would get the point.
"Oh no, Miss Swann, a lady like you deserves guard all the time," he smiled at her and offered his arm. She rejected.
Upon walking down the dock, Elizabeth gazed at the ships. She gasped when she saw a familiar one in the distance. Then she froze when a gruff voice behind her sounded.
"Lizzie?"