Chapter 6

They reached Tortuga by nightfall as expected. Elizabeth practically beamed when the dull glow of the city came into view. She never imagined such a derelict port would seem a paradise, but months of torture in a dungeon will do strange things to a person. Thoughts of a down bed and another bath didn't hurt matters either.

She argued rather shabbily against staying in Tortuga for the night, but Jack assured her that they would be well out of Carrington's view while also plying her with promises of fine amenities.

Keeping to his promise, Jack anchored the pearl in a cove far from the town proper. He allowed Nathaniel's ship to sail ahead, and took full advantage of keeping the Pearl's whereabouts unknown to him, and to Carrington as well.

Jack had ordered a small group of men to re-provision the ship, two or three men drew short straws to stay aboard and stand guard while the rest of them disembarked into longboats toward the seedy underbelly that was Tortuga.

Where most ports would have gone to sleep, when the sun went down in Tortuga, the town truly came alive. As Jack often said, the island was a proliferous bouquet of the most very basic human needs.

Torches and lanterns lined the darkened alleyways guiding travelers toward the numerous pubs and brothels, drunkards lay in puddles clutching their precious drink while women, painted an array of colors, advertised their wares to passers by. Elizabeth felt increasingly more at ease among her people: free men and women of enterprise and lowered inhibitions.

Most of the storefronts had long since closed for the evening forcing Elizabeth to wait until morning to retrieve all of the supplies she needed, so she and Jack made their way to the Neptune Inn, a particularly unassuming place of lodging attached to the Faithful Bryde.

"Tess, darling, it's good to see you out and about. Clive told me of your terrible sickness the last I was here," Jack greeted the Innkeeper's wife animatedly as they entered the establishment.

It was one of the nicer buildings on the island, Elizabeth had to admit. All of the wood trimmings and tables were of rich mahogany, carvings of nymphs and sea creatures were expertly laid into the front desk, and a grand chandelier hung in the center of the foyer. She'd never have figured the inn adjacent to one of the wildest taverns in Tortuga could boast such finery.

"For all the hurricanes and miscreants that have passed through these streets, I'd be damned if a sour throat would be my end," the formidable Tess responded. "You have impeccable timing, I just had the girls tend to your room this morning. Any special requests?" she asked looking between Jack and Elizabeth.

"We'll ned two rooms," Elizabeth blurted out, but quickly trained her gaze to the floor. "If you don't mind."

Tess let out a laugh, "No need to be embarrassed, girl. Jack knows very well not to drag those painted guttersnipe in here. If he brought you along with him, it can only mean he wants to protect ye, or impress ye. So you'll have no judgement from me."

Elizabeth blushed from ear to ear as Jack gave Tess a pointed stare. "Thank ye, Tess," he murmured. "If you have two rooms to spare, we'd greatly appreciate it."

"Sorry, Lovey. We're all booked up for this evening. Sailors are running scared these days. Tortuga's been full up for months."

"Carrington," Elizabeth muttered.

"Aye, that name's been tossed about here and there. Seems he's made quite an impression in these waters," Tess added as she made careful note of the way Elizabeth's teeth clenched as she stared off in the distance pretending to ignore the conversation at hand.

"He's certainly no one to trifle with," Jack finished. "The usual room it is, then. Perhaps an extra cot if you have one, and the lady will be wanting a bath."

Elizabeth's head snapped toward him.

"I promised you a hot bath, did I not? Don't worry, I'll be long gone to the tavern. You'll have all the privacy you need," he assured her. She gave a small huff and turned her attention back toward the door. "The works, Tessy, spare no expense," he whispered conspiratorially to the woman.

"Leave it to me, Lovey. I'll take good care of her," she whispered back as she slid him the key to their room.

Jack bowed graciously and gently grabbed Elizabeth by the elbow, who gave a slight jump in surprise. "Come along, love. The boudoir awaits," he said gesturing toward the stairs leading up to the rooms.

"If she hasn't an extra cot, it's the floor for you," Elizabeth grumbled as they climbed the winding staircase.

"Believe me, Love. I had no misgivings about that," Jack laughed heartily at the expense of her flustered state as he followed behind her.

The room was far more spacious than she would have guessed. Fully furnished with a down bed just as Jack had promised, centered in front of a large bay window lined with lace and velvet curtains overlooking the sea. Next to the bed was a mahogany commode intricately carved with reliefs of more sea nymphs; the sitting area was complete with settee, ottoman and desk; a large armoire huddled itself in the far corner of the room; and a table, wash basin, and chamber pot were tucked behind a private curtain beyond the armoire.

For a moment, Elizabeth's breath was stolen from her lungs as she admired the extravagantly detailed furnishings. It reminded her greatly of her old life in the Governor's mansion.

"I thought you could use an evening befit a Lady," Jack interrupted her reverie, relishing in the moment of speechlessness he coaxed out of her.

"It's quite lovely," she managed to breathe out at last.

"I'll leave you to it, then," he said quickly, making his way for the door.

She turned to him abruptly, "You're leaving already?"

"Tess should have your bath brought in shortly, I thought you wanted your privacy?"

"Yes, I mean no, well, that is…you don't have to scurry off immediately. We only just got here. Don't you want to rest…or sit?" she stammered, her feeble questions only barely concealing her intent.

The truth was, she didn't want to be alone, at least not yet. Privacy on a ship was one thing in that one was never truly alone, on land was another matter entirely and Elizabeth began to feel panicked at the thought of Jack not being near.

"At least stay until my bath arrives," she amended and Jack returned an understanding smile at her request and made his way to the commode. With a few sly maneuvers, clicks and clanks, a secret compartment revealed itself as did a fine bottle of rum and a couple of glasses.

"That's handy," Elizabeth remarked, impressed at the level of craftsmanship on display.

"You've got to hand it to the French, they do manage to get a few things right every now and again," Jack replied as he poured them each a glass of the aged brown liquid.

When he turned back to her, Jack found Elizabeth staring out of the large window, scrutinizing the blackened horizon. Jack nudged her shoulder and handed her the glass. "Not a devil's chance you'll be able to see sails at this time of night. You can put yourself at ease for one evening, can't you?"

Elizabeth took a long sip from her glass. The liquid didn't burn like other rums she'd imbibed. This was smooth, buttery, almost like a warm tea. In what seemed like an instant, her head was buzzing and her face grew flushed. She continued her long stare into the darkness. "I don't think I've ever been at ease."

"That can't be true. When I plucked you from Shipwreck Cove all those years ago, you seemed fairly ecstatic join me on the Pearl. I daresay we had quite a bit of fun, you and me, before…you left," he coughed as he finished his sentence.

"I wonder if I'll ever feel that joyous again," she whispered, inadvertently voicing her fears, forgetting momentarily that she wasn't alone.

"That's awfully grim, darling. I know you've been through more than most at your age, but Lizzie, there is much in this world to bring one happiness."

"You have no bloody idea what I've been through," she turned to him, her gaze as serious as he'd ever seen it.

Jack quickly put his hands up, "You're right, I don't, and I'm certainly not a mind reader. However; if you want to unburden yourself, I can be a rather good listener…when I want to be."

Elizabeth gave a small chuckle and Jack responded instantaneously. "See, you remember how to laugh. Have a bit more rum, and you'll let yourself go in no time. You need not worry so much; leave that to me."

"Is that supposed to make me feel more at ease?" She teased.

"Well, yes."

Elizabeth gave an earnest laugh at his befuddled expression, earning an exasperated glare in return. "We'll be fitted for the noose by month's end," she teased.

"You know, I think I'll take the bed this evening and you can have the floor," Jack exclaimed with a finger in the air before making his way to the mattress and jumping rather gracefully upon its pillowy surface. Hands behind his head and legs crossed out in front, he lay back with a satisfied smirk.

"Oh no, I was promised a down bed and I'm going to have it…to myself. Move your filthy pirate arse," Elizabeth marched to the side of the bed, gently slamming her glass on the commode before crossing her arms and fixing Jack a menacing glare.

"You can have the pillows, they're down as well," Jack offered, tossing the pillows onto the floor at her feet.

"You're making a grave mistake," she warned.

"Is that right?" he challenged.

"Indeed," Elizabeth sang as she picked up a pillow and clobbered Jack in the face a few times.

"Ow! You sure are an oppressive monarch," he managed to sputter in between her well placed hits. "Are you quite finished?" he asked when she hit him one last time.

"Are you going to get up?" she battled back.

"No."

"Well, then I'm sorry, Jack." As she reared back to hit him again, he stopped the pillow mid-flight. Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her down to the bed, pinning her wrists above her head and her body beneath him with such surprising quickness she barely had a chance to struggle.

Breathless, the two stared at each other, waiting for the other to do or say…anything. Elizabeth had nearly lost all reason when a loud knock sounded on the door.

"That'll be Tess with your bath," Jack exhaled, still taking focused breaths as he held Elizabeth in place.

"Your friend is likely eagerly awaiting your arrival," she whispered back.

"Right." Reluctantly, Jack released his grip and hopped off of the bed with equal swiftness as when he'd hopped onto it, and opened the door to allow Tess and the other handmaids inside. "She's all yours," said Jack before turning back to Elizabeth. "I'll see you downstairs," he spoke softly as he gave her one last longing glance before disappearing into the hall.

Elizabeth remained in her state of distress upon the bed, thoroughly exhausted, as if she just ran around the entirety of the island. It took every ounce of her strength not to devour Jack in that instant. She was in far less control than she'd prefer which was usually the case when Jack Sparrow was involved.

As she lay there, staring at the ceiling catching her breath, Tess and four other girls entered her room. Two girls carried the clawfoot tub into the middle of the room followed by the other two who were lugging in buckets of hot water while Tess brought up the rear with a basket of what she could only assume were salts and oils as well as a few linens.

"A few moments more, Lovey. Takes the girls nearly three trips to get the tub filled proper," Tess mused, paying Elizabeth little attention as she fussed with the salts and oils, aligning them in a single line on the commode.

"That's quite all right. I'm in no particular hurry. In fact, I've been ordered to be leisurely," Elizabeth answered as she sat up near the edge of the bed.

"I imagine that's a difficult chore for you, aye?" Tess asked, her focus trained on the task at hand.

"Exceedingly. "

"Drink a few more glasses of this rum and leisurely will seem a leopard's pace." Tess teased, noticing Jack had already broke into the superior liquors.

"Jack has a taste for the finer things, doesn't he?" Elizabeth noted, staring about the room.

"So it would seem," Tess remarked with a meaningful glance in Elizabeth's direction that went completely unnoticed. Elizabeth had retreated deep into her mind, replaying the moment just before Tess arrived. "Forgive me, dear. Jack failed to mention your name," Tess interrupted.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I too have lost my manners over the years. It's Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth? Ah," Tess answered as it seemed some sort of realization crossed her features. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you." Finally went unsaid in the air between them, Tess recalling the frequency with which Jack spoke of her.

"Likewise. You have quite the establishment."

"Thank ye, dear. We wouldn't have nary a brick if it wasn't for Jack."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked intrigued.

"We owe him greatly," she answered.

It so happened that Tess McHenry and her husband, Clive, were expatriates from Ireland who "stumbled" upon a fortune when they escaped the Royal Navy aboard a merchant ship sailing out of London. Captained by a precocious, cocksure bloke who was probably too young to have been commissioned his own vessel, the merchant ship sailed straight to Tortuga and the Captain sent them off with nary a worry and a rather generous bit of coin without a second thought; and because of that, Captain Jack Sparrow always had a room whenever one was needed.

Elizabeth was speechless. That Jack had risked his commission for complete strangers, asking for nothing in return, was unthinkable. She never imagined him as the altruistic sort. A good man? Yes. But a selfless man? Not entirely.

A few more moments passed in silence. The girls finished filling the tub with steaming water and Tess began to toss in a mixture of salts, flowers, and oils. Elizabeth had made her way to the commode and poured herself a glass of rum, and then another while she waited for the ladies to clear out.

"Alright, dear. Get in," Tess ordered simply.

Elizabeth looked at the women, unsure of her meaning.

"Well, don't stand there gawking. The water's getting cold. Undress, so I can have your clothes washed and pressed, and let these girls get to work."

"Oh, I can manage on my own, really," Elizabeth assured her.

"Tut, tut. I have my orders too. Jack said the works, and I'm not about to refuse his wishes. Now, strip." Tess ordered more forcefully, but still kind. She had a very motherly demeanor, or close to what Elizabeth could imagine was motherly. So, Elizabeth did as she was bid, undressing before them. Standing awkwardly just outside of the tub, she instantaneously grew self conscious of the scars adorning near every inch of her body. Wounds that were still healing, wounds that had healed poorly, she was riddled with marks and burns.

The handmaids said nothing upon noticing the state of Elizabeth's skin, but Tess clucked disapprovingly as she examined her, circling her as if appraising her worth.

"Better add sandalwood oil to that bath for you, poor dear. Get in, I'll be just a minute."

Elizabeth slowly climbed in, dipping her toe in first and letting the rest of her foot and leg follow. The water was almost too hot, but she found she more or less relished the sting upon her skin.

Still moving at a ginger pace, she submerged the rest of herself into the tub, the water pricking her sores and scabs. She sat there unmoving as she acclimated to the temperature, the aroma of the oils provided a coolness as she breathed them in deeply, and the effervescence cause by the salts gave off a unique sensation upon her skin that she'd never experienced before. It was almost tantalizing.

Tess brought over the bowl of oil and a rag and set it on a stool next to one of the other girls. "My girls will take good care of you, try not to resist too much." Tess suggested sweetly with a wink before picking up Elizabeth's clothes and leaving the room. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Tess," Elizabeth called out before she could exit completely. "Do you by chance have something I can wear in the meantime? I don't have any other clothes," Elizabeth asked bashfully. The woman had already done so much for her.

"I think I may have a couple of things lying around."

"Thank you."

"Don't you think anything of it, dear." Tess left with Elizabeth's borrowed garments tucked beneath her arm and Elizabeth was left with the very silent handmaidens who were set to bathe her.

As soon as Tess had left, the girls wasted no time getting to work. One of the girls gently urged Elizabeth forward with a hand to her back and Elizabeth recoiled slightly at the contact. She had to remind herself over and over that these girls meant her no harm. Jack trusted them, and she Jack, so, with great effort, she allowed herself to relax slightly as the girl lay her other hand upon Elizabeth's forehead and gently pushed her head back so only her face was still above the water's surface.

The girl held her neck in place with both hands, gently massaging the muscles from the base of her skull to where her shoulders met the base of her neck. While the young lady was doing this, another began to gently wash the remaining grime from Elizabeth's hair with soap and lavender oils. It didn't take long for Elizabeth to relax at that point. With closed eyes, she was basically putty in their hands, so when the other two girls began to attend the rest of her body, she put up no fight.

With seemingly silken sponges, they gently scrubbed her arms and legs with a combination of soap and oil. Each girl working on one side of her, she became a marionette as they continued their work, the movement of each appendage dictated by their hand. When her hair was finished to their specifications, she was propped up into a sitting position and pulled toward the back of the tub by her underarms. Every manipulation of her person had her feeling as if she weighed no more than a feather with the effortlessness of their actions.

The girl who had been massaging her neck continued down to the tops of her shoulders and shoulder blades, firmly working out the tension and knots that had made themselves a permanent home. The girl who had been tending to her hair began to sponge the sandalwood oil over her back, rubbing in gentle circles so as not to irritate the wounds any further.

Eventually they leaned her back against the tub, the girl behind her continued massaging her back, another had begun to massage her legs and feet, the third massaged her forearms and hands, while the last took a smaller more delicate sponge and started to wash Elizabeth's front. She started washing at her neck and made her way slowly, delicately down her chest and to her stomach. She was positively euphoric having her entire body touched at once, it was almost too much for her to stand. She squirmed ever so slightly as the sponge found it's way across the peaks of her chest, but she eventually relaxed into it. That is, until the maid trailed the sponge between her legs.

Elizabeth flopped about the water at the unexpected contact.

"Relax miss," the girl behind her whispered. "We're here to take care of you," she continued softly moving her hands from Elizabeth's shoulders to massage the muscles just above her breasts.

Elizabeth's head began to buzz, the heat from the bath was radiating to her face, and her insides began to flutter as the girl continued to wash her most private areas. The rum was starting to make its presence known, and Elizabeth was slowly letting herself go, as Jack suggested. Suddenly, the sponge disappeared, and the young woman began to massage Elizabeth with her hand, softly thrumming her fingers across Elizabeth's center.

As Elizabeth was about to voice her protest, the girl behind her had begun to slowly massage Elizabeth's breasts, gently squeezing the tips, and Elizabeth breathed a moan of pleasure as her back arched slightly.

"That's it, Love. Enjoy it," the girl whispered to her again, her breath hot in Elizabeth's ear. She placed her lips to Elizabeth's neck and trailed her mouth up to her earlobe. Elizabeth gasped again as she accepted her fate.

With her eyes still closed, it wasn't the girls' voice or hands Elizabeth envisioned, but a considerably more calloused hand and a much deeper, brusque voice guiding her to heights of pleasure, and she was suddenly thrust back onto the Pearl to a night spent long ago. A night that would invariably change Elizabeth and Jack forever.

There had been a storm, a mighty tempest that raged on for days. There wasn't much they could do, but get themselves to shallower seas and wait it out. What was one to do when it was unsuitable to be out on deck and there was no work to be done? So, Elizabeth joined Jack in his cabin, and they drank. Four bottles of rum consumed between the two of them. Stories and jokes were shared among friends who had spent a considerable amount of time with each other as they searched for a map, at the time, Elizabeth was certain didn't exist. Inhibitions were dashed upon the planking of his cabin, any walls or boundaries set between them were toppled that night. The two found themselves upon his bunk, merely laying in the other's embrace. Harmless, innocent, until Elizabeth opened her mouth. Three words that were her own little secret, one she planned to take to the grave at the expense of her own happiness and to spare the life of her cursed husband. But she'd said them aloud. She said them aloud and she couldn't take it back, and in her drunken state, she found it was the last thing she wanted. He deserved to know, did he not?

Everything else happened in a blur. His mouth upon hers, calloused hands snaking beneath her blouse, ripping the garment off of her in one passionate movement, her hands desperately reaching out to him, grasping at the linen of his own shirt. Garments were strewn about the floor, her mouth found the base of his neck, suckling at the skin that tasted of sweat and salt. She ran her hands over his tanned, muscular frame, tracing every contour with eager fingers. He hovered above her. His own hands explored her unmarred skin, the perfect porcelain yet to be tarnished by monsters and misadventures, before eventually tracing them at a turtle's pace to her center. Elizabeth elicited a gratified gasp as he finally plunged his fingers inside of her. His mouth was on her ear, hot, wanting, whispering back the words she had only dreamed he'd kept secret for himself. His lips slithered down her neck to her breasts while continuing his exploration of her folds. His mouth trailed lower still, her breathing quickened as she felt herself losing all control. Something was building within her that was nearing a point of explosion. His tongue laved the sensitive spot she'd barely explored during nights of her own temptable curiosity and was brought to a molten liquid as his fingers still danced within her. A moan, a whimper, and, shortly after, a scream as a million lights danced behind her eyes, a heavenly energy filled her every crevice, and a great release that she hadn't a proper word for sprung forth in a single name. "Jack!"

Elizabeth came hard in the hands of the women tending to her. Completely breathless, her heart pounding, she opened her eyes to find the handmaidens smiling at her cheekily with knowing gazes. She'd completely lost herself in her memory and she wondered if she may have called out his name in her rapture.

"Feel better, Miss?" she was asked with no amount of sarcasm.

"Yes, thank you," Elizabeth answered back with a bashful smile. The girls finished her bath, ensuring they'd rinsed the majority of the soap from her person, and soon instructed her to stand. She was wrapped with linen and escorted from the tub. Her knees buckled as she first made to move, still affected by their thorough ministrations, but she quickly regained her footing before stepping out onto the floor.

They presented her with a beautiful, brilliant blue, silken robe decorated in Japanese blossoms which she accepted gratefully. After she put it on, one of the girls grabbed Elizabeth by the hand and led her to the desk chair, sat her down, and began combing out the tangles in her hair. No easy feat, but it was handled with the utmost care. As she sat there, memories began swirling more rapidly, replaying the aftermath of her evening in the storm.

Oh how she wished it ended with her pampering, but no. Elizabeth's childish notions of honor and loyalty came screaming into the forefront of her conscience as she screamed Jack's name into the night. Still in a fever dream, she pulled him onto the bed and pushed him onto his back so she could climb atop him. They were mere inches from sharing in one of the oldest, most sacred acts of love, and as she stared down at his face, losing herself into his fathomless eyes, she realized that if it were to go any further, there was no way she would ever be able to leave him. It made her heart ache at the mere thought. The truth of the matter was that Will would inevitably return and she made a vow, a promise; not to Jack, but to Will.

She had to leave.

She ran as fast and as far as she could from him, as much as the ship would allow. Barely clothed, she burst from the cabin onto the deck. The rain was coming down in sheets, one could hardly see two feet in front of their nose, but she hurried for the steps below deck. He'd run after her, confused, heartbroken, catching her on the steps. She tried to explain her reasoning, but it made little sense to him. If she loved him as she said, then to hell with Will, he argued. But she made a vow and that was all there was to it. Eventually, reluctantly, he let her leave. The look of utter betrayal in his eyes as she disembarked the Pearl was more heart wrenching than anything she'd seen in all of the time she'd known him. And yet, he still went out of his way to come for her, to make her feel safe and cared for. She didn't deserve any of this, she didn't deserve him.

She wiped a stray tear from her cheek as the maid finally finished detangling her hair and plaited it into a long braid that draped down her back. It was by that time Tess returned.

"And how are we feeling?" Tess questioned sweetly. "Refreshed, I hope."

"Invigorated," Elizabeth muttered softly to herself.

"Lovely, dear, just lovely," Tess offered her approval proudly to the handmaid beside her as she circled Elizabeth in final appraisal. "Hurry, now, and tidy up this mess," she ordered them and the girls scurried off to clean up the sponges, rags, oils and all other remnants from the bath.

"Is that a standard service offered here?" Elizabeth asked with piqued curiosity.

"I don't know what you mean, Lovey," Tess played coy as she placed Elizabeth's long braid over her shoulder so it draped down her front.

"The works? Is that what Jack called it? The thoroughness of the offered bath. Or is that something reserved only for Captain Jack Sparrow?" Elizabeth was unsure what she was actually asking. Was she the first girl Jack had brought here for such a treatment? Did Jack regularly receive the same service? Or was she merely the recipient of unbridled generosity? Not that any of the these things would necessarily bother her, or would they?

"Listen to a shriveled up old lady and don't look a gift horse in the mouth, eh?" Tess had bent low to look Elizabeth in the face.

Elizabeth laughed at the absurdity of it all and buried her head in her hands. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be ungrateful. I'm just…" Jealous? Confused? Aroused? Exhausted.

"It's all right, dear. I know you've been through quite the ordeal," she put a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, making her feel instantly at ease.

"Jack told you that, did he?" Elizabeth presumed, how else would Tess know?

"No, Jack has never been one to tell another's story. I guessed from the way the venom dripped from your mouth at the barest mention of Commodore Carrington, and when I saw the marks on your body, I put two and two together. How long were you his prisoner?" Tess asked sympathetically

"Long enough. Thank the gods Jack came for me when he did. He saved my life… again." Elizabeth paid particular attention to her hands, grimacing at the blood stained upon them.

"He must care for you a great deal." Tess watched Elizabeth's reaction with curiosity, ready to read any subtle body language to confirm what she figured she already knew.

"He does." Elizabeth answered with a half smile, somewhere between full blown giddiness and sorrow. She was starting to question how it was even possible he could care about her in the slightest.

"Do you love him?" Tess dared to ask.

"I can't," was the simplest of answers Elizabeth could give.

"You can't?" Tess asked, confusion painting her features.

"I'm married." Cursed was more like it.

"Ah." Tess nodded her head in some understanding.

"Well, it's more complicated than that…" Elizabeth was going to attempt to defend herself, but Tess interrupted her quickly.

"The course of true love never did run smooth, but your reasons are your own, I'm sure. Now, I was able to find a frock to fit that slender frame of yours. It's nothing fancy, but it's a slight better than the rags you came in," She finished changing the subject as she could tell Elizabeth had grown increasingly uncomfortable with the previous topic of conversation.

It was a simple gown, light blue, high waisted, with sleeves that barely reached her elbows, and a bodice that tied down the front. It seemed as though it was meant for someone a few inches shorter than she, but it fit perfectly around her waist. She put it on without a fuss, and faced Tess with moderate apprehension.

"Presentable?" Elizabeth asked nervously. It had been some time since she sported any kind of dress.

"No one would suspect you a pirate, much less the Pirate King. Your identity should be fairly well concealed." Tess replied with a wink and Elizabeth wondered if perhaps Tess could read her mind. "A few finishing touches…" she trailed off as she pulled from her apron a small vile of jasmine oil and dabbed it behind Elizabeth's ears. "And one last thing," she chirped and pinched each of Elizabeth's cheeks causing them to redden ever so slightly. "You were in desperate need of color, dear. Looking a bit gaunt, you were." Tess cupped her cheek for just a second before making her way to the door. "I'll make sure the girls have the rest of this cleaned up before you return."

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered, still feeling a bit odd after being fussed over, however welcome it was.

"I know it's not my place, but do you mind if I give you some advice?" Tess asked from the doorway, having delayed her exit.

Elizabeth nodded. What harm ever came from a little wisdom?

"Life is only complicated because we make it so. Love, however…love isn't complicated in the least. Your heart always knows the truth, you just have to take the time to listen," Tess finished and shut the door behind her once she made her way into the hall.

Elizabeth took a few centering breaths as she stared intensely at the shut door. Tess was right, her feelings for Jack were very simple, but it was life that was getting in the way. Though, she could hardly be blamed for matters being as complicated as they were. It was the curse that did them in, was it not? Will's freedom depended on her loyalty, on her love for him. What would happen to him if she listened to her heart?

Elizabeth straightened herself at once. There was no time to be pondering such things. She'd made her choice, her heart be damned…and it certainly was, there was no doubt about that.