"They believe it was the hurricane. There was nothing left after it but debris and dead bodies…but you're husbands was not among them. Some say that he was swept away by the hurricane and others believe him to have drowned. Whatever the case, there is no more Commodore James Norrington." Governor Swann explained.

I starred out the window, my tear stained cheeks glowing in the sunlight. My black dress swayed in the breeze from the open doors of a terrace, refreshing my legs. "Thank you, Governor Swann...for figuring out what happened to James..."

Governor Swann starred at me. "Anything you need, I am at your service. But I must be going, Countess."

The new name struck me hard. I was now Countess, given to me by the King out of pity. Apparently the King felt guilt for James's death and decided to bestow upon me his good graces by giving me a new title. Anger swelled within my breast at the thought of his guilt. He felt guilt? I felt worse guilt for not stopping him, for not locking him in a jail cell until he came to his senses!

In the past four months, my marriage had plummeted. The moment we came back from saving Will and other escapades, his obsession with catching Jack Sparrow worsened with each day he didn't find him. James stopped talking to me, stopped sleeping with me, and stopped all communication because of his obsession. I was out of his mind for four months and he was always on mine.

His death had hit me harder than I thought was ever imaginable, yet all I could think of was Lord Beckett. I was an open target now. I was sitting like bait on his hook. There was absolutely no doubt now. Beckett was going to find me. I was certain. The only problem was…when?

"Will you be strong enough to accompany me to my daughter's wedding?" The Governor glanced at the clock, looking at the time.

I turned around, my face pale and serine. "Yes, Governor Swann. I think, today, I shall venture outside."

For the first time in three weeks, I left the mansion. At first, I had been reluctant to do so. When I was home, I could still feel him, could still touch his things and his sheets, knowing he was still with me. I forbid the maids to clean his office or touch his room, afraid that he might be lost forever if his things were messed with. It was almost as if he was alive…but…he wasn't alive anymore. No matter how badly things had gotten between us, I still liked to know that he had been there in my life…that he was a part of me.

I clicked down the steps of the entrance and climbed into the carriage with the Governor. His daughter's wedding day would be extravagant, no doubt, and well put together. But the objection to the Groom was most unbearable for the young woman. People were expecting for her to marry someone like Mr. Watson, a man with a good amount of wealth and a kind nature. He was also handsome and well educated, the next most promising man Miss. Swann could have married in her status. But no, Mr. Turner had proposed and she had accepted.

Once we arrived at the church which was situated by the sea, I was able to view the beauty of her wedding. An outside orchestra played where the guests would sit upon finely crafted wooden chairs. The front row chairs, which Governor Swann and I would be sitting, were lavishly dressed in a silk fabric of cream and a mint green. Guests all dressed splendidly for the gathering all milled about, greeting one another and talking. Once they saw me walking through the shaded area of the outside wedding, they all clung to me.

Many spoke kind praises at my health, and many were inviting me to tea parties and balls. My absence had put a tremendous strain on the fun of the wealthy women, and the moment I was seen outside was the moment I was available. I thanked them for their kind graces and held back my tears. The last time I had seen these people, I was happily married…well, not happily married, but married nonetheless.

We gathered onto the chairs and waited. We waited…and waited. Something was amiss. The clouds rolled in and thunder clapped above us. Thumping of marching could be heard throughout the city as if we were being invaded. Governor Swann had not returned from visiting with his daughter before her marriage and the groom had not appeared. Something terrible had happened. I could feel it, deep down inside. For a moment I thought the Lord Beckett had finally come to claim me, but that couldn't be possible. He was too busy with the East India Trading Company and taking over…or so I had heard. He may have wanted me, but his career was more important.


Lord Beckett trampled off of the boat with his white horse, his eyes scanning the soldiers he had so easily gained control of. He took a smell of the fresh air, almost smelling her scent. She was on the island, of that he had made sure. But where, he didn't know, but he could easily find out. There as no place for her to hide now, no man she could run to and be free of him. He was going to find the woman he still owned and take her, make her his wife, and finish the job he set out to do.

News of her beauty had raged throughout the Caribbean, and her popularity as well. This only made Lord Beckett want her more because of how valuable she was…and her title as well. Her "deceased" husband wouldn't know what hit him and when he did, it would be too late for him to win her back. Though Lord Beckett had come onto the island to capture the perpetrators of the realm, he had mainly come to win back his long lost treasure, the Countess Norrington.