PLEASE REVIEW with any advice, criticisms or opinions - more character's in this chapter and I would love to know what you think of them :) We just might see a bit of Jack in the next chapter so stay with me and please please please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy :D

Chapter 2

Lily couldn't understand why her Mother hadn't been more sympathetic, she'd had an encounter with a rogue who cared about the ship? She said as much to her twin brother Will as soon as their Mother had left the room and he'd shrugged, giving her a gentle nudge with a pointy elbow.

"You bring it upon yourself Lil, you know you do." He pointed out, ignoring Lily' outraged shout of denial and returning to his book.

Bring it upon herself indeed, Lily fumed, taking up her embroidery angrily: she figured as long as Will had his nose in some stupid book then she should keep herself busy too. However she was in no mood to sew and after several finger-pricks and consequent squeals of pain which in turn made Will throw a cushion at her she gave it up and simply sat.

Sometimes she couldn't believe Will was even related to her let alone her twin – he was tall and thin with an oval face and a shock of brown hair that was constantly falling into his eyes which were framed with the same dark, heavy lashes that she herself had. He was an avid reader and a poet, quiet and shy, very different to the restless and vivid Lily who was even now bored of sitting in the same place.

"Stop looking at me, it's making me uncomfortable." Will said, looking up from his book. Yet another difference, Lily thought, she just loved people looking at her.

"I was just wondering what on earth you can find of interest in those dull books you insist on perusing day in day out." She sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

"Dull? These are poems! About love and adventure – how can you call them dull?" He asked indignantly, sitting up in his chair and glaring at his sister who still looked unimpressed.

"They're just songs without music." She said, idly examining her fingernails and looking up just in time to dodge the cushion he tossed at her.

"Very mature Monsieur Poete." She said sarcastically and he exhaled sharply.

"You're exhausting Lily." He told her, putting the tips of his slender fingers to his forehead.

"I know." She beamed, smiling her most bright, contagious smile until he smiled back.

Somewhere in the distance a clock struck six and Will jumped.

"Lily! We've got that dinner at the governor's house in half an hour!" He panicked and Lily jumped up from her seat frantically.

"Oh I completely forgot – Will why didn't you remember? Mother's going to be so cross. Come on!" She squealed all in one breath and they dashed to their respective bedrooms to get changed.

Dinner at the Governor's was always a grand affair so Lily quickly slipped on her dark green dress made of luxurious satin that not only showed off her figure but emphasized her coloring as well. She pulled on her ivory, lace gloves that had gone so well with her lost parasol and ran to the mirror to fix her hair.

As she pinned her curls in a complex bun Lily thought about Thomas, the governor's son. He was quite the catch according to the local girls but she had never met him – he'd been studying abroad for the last 3 years and tonight was to be his celebratory return dinner, naturally Lily wanted to look her best.

"Lily!" Elizabeth called from the foot of the stairs and Lily quickly looked at her reflection and smiled, dropping a demure curtsy, she got halfway to the door then darted back to the mirror and pinched her cheeks for color before rushing down the stairs to join her family.

"You look quite stunning Mother." Lily said as they climbed into the carriage – it was true, her Mother had chosen a blue dress with pearl embellishments that made her look like some kind of sea princess, Lily thought. Her Mother was the daughter of a Governor herself and you could tell from the way she held herself and her admirable eloquence, as much as Lily claimed their differences were many she secretly longed to be like her beautiful Mother.

"Thank you darling, so do you as always." Elizabeth replied, taking her daughters hand "And you look very dashing Will – although, oh must you bring a book everywhere?"

"I intend to leave it in the carriage, not lug it into dinner with me if that's what you're worried about." He said dryly earning a giggle from his sister.

In no time at all the carriage pulled up outside Governor Hanley's house and Lily was helped out first by their driver, Stevens. Many other carriages waited in the driveway, it looked as if most of Port Royal was there. They could see someone walking towards them through the mist that had descended that was not Governor Hanley and Lily strained to see who it was – could it be the returned Thomas she was so anxious to meet? She drew back (the better to observe) as a handsome young man with blond, wavy hair and lovely green eyes walked up to them.

"Mrs Turner, I believe?" He said, addressing Elizabeth in a smooth voice.

"And are you the elusive Thomas?" She replied, curtsying. The young man laughed and replied in the affirmative before greeting Will with a firm handshake.

As he turned to her Lily stepped out of the shadows and smiled at him gently, noting his double-take with gratification.

"And who might you be?" He said, automatically stepping closer like a moth to a flame, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I am Lily Turner, Sir." She told him, turning her head as if shy and tucking a ringlet in place, allowing his eyes to observe her profile and her exposed neck.

"Lily," He murmured, taking her hand and raising it to his lips, "A beautiful name. It suits you." He kissed the back of her hand lightly with warm lips and Lily dropped a curtsy.

"You are too kind." She said softly and he let go of her hand with obvious regret.

Behind him Will rolled his eyes at his mother and Elizabeth stifled a laugh.

Thomas cleared his throat and turned around, blinking rapidly as if waking from a dream.

"Um, shall we?" He asked, gesturing towards the house. Elizabeth took Will's arm and they began to walk to the house and Thomas offered his arm to Lily.

"Miss Turner?" He asked when she didn't move and Lily snapped back to the present – she'd been admiring his impressive arm muscles beneath his well tailored shirt.

Smiling, she took his arm and they started towards the house.

"You seemed distracted, a penny for your thoughts?" Thomas asked lightly and she laughed softly,

"Oh they are not worth as much. I was merely contemplating the beauty of the sky." She replied, waving her free hand dismissively.

"It pales in comparison with another beauty tonight." He said quietly as they reached the house and parted ways.

Lily made her way through the throng of sumptuously dressed people until she saw her Mother talking to Governor Hanley himself.

"Ah, Lily." The jovial man said, beaming at her.

"Governor." She said, curtsying.

"You look lovely my dear, stunning what?" He told her, looking round to whoever was nearest to back him up. He found Thomas and grabbed by boy's shoulder, bringing him over.

"Have you met my son, Thomas? This is Lily Turner my boy, the talk of every party she attends. I've been meaning for you two to meet." He all but thrust the two together and took her Mother off to speak to a group of doctors.

"The talk of every party, hmm?" Thomas teased and she felt her face grow hot.

"I would respectfully disagree." She smiled, adjusting her gloves delicately.

"On the contrary Miss Lily, I am without a doubt that it is true." He said, inclining his head slightly. Lily knew she was still blushing – he was much more charming than the other boys in Port Royal.

He was soon swept away by an old school friend and Lily turned to find Nina Carteret barring her way.

"Nina." Lily greeted her warily, the courtesy was returned and the two sized each other up, each internally judging the others choice of hairstyle, dress and manner.

Nina was considered the next along in beauty to Lily and that provoked a distinct and vehement rivalry between the girls, she was blond with big, light blue eyes and a mouth that puckered of it's own accord.

"So what do you make of Thomas?" Nina asked, her voice high and sugary. Lily tilted her head.

"He is quite charming and very handsome." She evaluated cautiously, "His father was very eager for us to meet and I am glad of it."

Nina's pale skin went even whiter, leaving patches of pink on either cheek as her eyes flashed,

"His father? So he wants the two of you to marry, is that it?" She asked furiously and Lily laughed contemptuously.

"How should I know?" She asked, spreading her hands.

"Lily Turner. It is a known and accepted fact that he is mine. My parents have been wanting us to marry for years – I've known him since I was seven for Goodness' s sake." She whispered angrily. "And anyway," She continued, leaning closer "He prefers blondes; he told me himself."

Lily stepped back from the venom in her girlish voice and tutted disdainfully.

"Goodness Nina, sheath your claws!" She said.

"Only if you get yours out of Thomas." She countered with a simpering smile for the benefit of anyone watching.

Lily composed herself and went to find Will just as dinner was announced. She wasn't scared of Nina but her Father was Commodore and responsible for keeping pirates out of Port Royal, an influential position that he took very seriously; even being accused of associating with a pirate was a crime punishable by death for the poor and disgrace for the rich. Nina was not past lying if it meant that she got Thomas and left Lily with her reputation in tatters.

Dinner passed quickly with many laughs and even more heated debates and then just as the dessert was served talk turned to Thomas and his studies abroad – in Paris, as she learned.

"Yes I've learned a good many things there." He said and the gentlemen began to laugh.

"I'll bet, my boy!" Said an old banker and the laughter increased. Lily assumed they were talking about women, she recognized the laughs.

"Yes." Thomas said smiling and got to his feet, making his way round the table and saying a french poem about love as he went, joking around. Lily felt Will tense on her left and could sense his anger at a poem being thus made light of and mistreated.

Thomas reached her and dropped to his knee, taking her arm and pressing his lips to the underside of her wrist and murmuring the last line into her skin. Everyone applauded and he stood up and bowed, letting a folded piece of paper fall into her lap surreptitiously as he did so.

Everyone began to eat, the mood light and Lily quietly unfolded the note and read it, intrigued.

His writing was italic and beautiful;

Lily,

Excuse yourself after dessert and meet with me in the library.

I find myself quite entranced by you.

Thomas.

Lily's breath caught in her throat – was this how things were done in Paris? She lifted her eyes, seeking his and he was already looking at her and smiling slightly. She nodded once, slowly and looked up at him through her lashes before returning to her desert.

But not before she'd noticed the imaginary daggers Nina was throwing straight at her.