In the predawn light, the merchant ship pulled into the Port Royal harbor. The weather had been fair throughout the voyage but this day the sky was thick with roiling black clouds. Normally not a superstitious person, Rachel hoped the ominous sky wasn't an omen. After the ship had docked she collected her share of the voyage's earnings. Thankful that she had been able to earn her passage and a few wages, she intended to buy a dress before arriving at the Admiral's home. What would they think if she arrived in her sailor's garb? She didn't know how she would explain her disappearance but she wouldn't further implicate Jack if she could help it.

Rachel spent all of her meager earnings on a cheap dress of thin, scratchy fabric. She retreated to the tiny shop's alley to change and as she removed her shirt she held it close, for it was the shirt Jack had given her and she found herself not wanting to part with it. Reluctantly she left it behind with the other articles of clothing, reminding herself that she would most likely never see Jack again and would have to forget him, for both of their sakes. As she hurridly made her way to Katherine, the sky rent open dropping torrents of rain. Though Port Royal's streets quickly turned to mud and emptied save for the occasional carriage, she walked on unheeded, letting the rain cleanse her of the filth from living on a ship.

...

Rachel had arrived at the Admiral's home as an apparition in the rain. James was not home at the time and she had been admitted and attended to by the amazed servants. Katherine was dying and the doctor's prognosis was grim. She had slipped into a feverish state and was not expected to wake up. Presently Rachel was by her bedside, looking more like her former self, the servants having had her change from her soaked garment into a dress of Katherine's. Alone with her sister she had finally given into her anguish—afraid to resign herself to a life as Lady Beckett, she found herself missing Jack, but most of all she was wracked with guilt over Katherine's demise. She knew she would never be able to forgive herself for leaving Katherine in Tortuga. Finally, consumed by her exhaustion, she had fallen asleep.

"Rachel?"

She awoke with a start as someone gently called her name. Surprised to find that night had fallen, the room was aglow with soft candlelight, and rain still pattered against the windowpane. Katherine still slept on and Rachel silently prayed that she felt no pain in this state. The voice that had woken her called her name again. "James?" He stood in the doorway, a mixture of relief and confusion shown clearly on his face. "James, I'm so sorry..." her voice quavered as she indicated Katherine and he crossed the room to them.

"How did you...? Where have you been?" Before she could answer he continued, "No matter, we can discuss the specifics later, I am just glad you are returned safely to us. I know Katherine would be happy to know that you are here." Rachel's heart sank at the pain in his voice. Pain that she had caused them all. "Does your father know you have returned? And Lord Beckett, I suppose he doesn't know for I have just come from his office. I will send a messenger for him right away."

"I came straight here," she replied quietly. "I... had recieved word of Katherine's illness, she is of the utmost importance to me."

James failed to miss her negligence of Lord Beckett. "Of course," he escorted her from the bedroom. "It is late and you are weary. Please stay here tonight and I will return you safely to your father tomorrow." She allowed him to usher her to a room adjoining Katherine's. When he left she sank wearily into the luxurious bed and slipped back into an exhausted sleep.

...

Rachel awoke suddenly as thunder shook the house. Her eyes scanned the still dimly lit room and alighted upon the figure asleep next to her bed. She stiffened when she recognized the face of Cutler Beckett. How long had he been here, watching her sleep? Though he had never given her any cause to fear him, that thought disconcerted her. Thunder quaked again and rattled the windows. Cutler awoke with a start but a smile instantly lit up his face when he saw she was awake. He reached for her hand and she reluctantly acquiesced. He kissed her hand gently and she resisted the urge to snatch it away. Though she had tried to desert this life, Cutler Beckett had only ever shown her kindness and she had no reason to be disgusted by him. But it suddenly occured to her that after her encounter with Jack that she didn't want another man touching her. "My dear Rachel, how is it that you've returned to me?" He tenderly stroked her hand and she was a little taken aback at the emotion on his face. Before either of them could say anything more, they were interrupted by an anguished cry from the adjoining room. Together they rushed to the room to find James slumped over Katherine. She was gone. The agony in his cries was too much for Rachel to bear. She felt as if the room was spinning and the next thing she knew she had collapsed in a heap in Cutler's arms.

...

The Faithful Bride was buzzing with activity this night. Jack tucked himself into a corner of the tavern, away from the crowd, and inebriated himself on rum. A few wenches fawned over him, trying to win his affections, but this night he paid them no heed. Word had quickly spread throughout the Caribbean of the recall of the Royal Navy. Only a few ships remained on patrol at this time and rumors were running rampant about the death of the Admiral's wife—Rachel's sister Katherine, whom he'd unwittingly kidnapped. He frowned into his mug at the thought of Rachel. Was that what had brought him back to Tortuga? After she had disappeared in New Providence he was faced with the choice to continue to Shipwreck Cove or to try to go after her. She had said that "now he could get back to his former life" but what life was that? Surely she hadn't meant the life he had deserted as a captain for the East India Trading Company. But with the latent Royal Navy he was safe to pursue piracy for the time being. And what better port to make a profit in than Tortuga? Surely that's why he had returned. But with word of Katherine's death he wondered what Rachel would do now. Surely she would not marry Beckett. Her sister had been the only thing holding her back from her new life... a life with Jack. In a drunken haze, Jack snorted at the thought. His only love was the sea, so why was he letting this woman consume his thoughts? But part of him couldn't help but admit that he hoped she would return to Tortuga... in search of him.