Thanks for the reviews!!!
************************************************
Amber hummed a cheerful tune as she rolled a barrel across the deck, she was in a good mood. Fred had sent her a letter back, it wasn't to call off the attack, just to delay it due to him being short a few men. He had written that he'd meet her at Port Royal and they'd plan when to attack then. Amber set the barrel up against the wall and brushed some flyway hairs out of her face. Her stomach growled, reminding her that lunchtime had already passed.
"I'm going to get some food!" Called Amber to Tommy, who was steering the ship, he waved his hand to show he had heard her and went back to his work. Amber was still humming softly as she walked into the dining room.
"You sound like a canary." Joked Jack, who was sitting at the table with a full plate in front of him, Amber wrinkled her nose at him.
"You're just tone deaf." Amber shot back as she filled herself a plate. "Did you miss lunch to?"
"No, I'm just hungry agen." Said Jack, Amber took a bite of her bread.
"Oh, I can totally relate to that." Said Amber, she chewed thoughtfully. Their had been a tension between her and Jack since last night. She didn't think he felt it, he was always so at ease.
"When are we going to arrive at Port Royal?" Asked Amber, trying to avoid a silence.
~*~
"In about two hours, I'd say." Said Jack, glancing out the window. Amber eyes widened with shock.
"What! I thought we weren't getting there till sometime tomorrow!" Exclaimed Amber, dropping her bread on her plate in surprise.
"We were, but I didn't expect this good weather." Said Jack, Amber stared at him for a minute in shock, even in the dim light she looked stunning, her hair was coming out of the braid she had put it in and her cheeks were pink from working up on the deck. Jack snapped out of his thoughts, this had to be the tenth time he had caught himself thinking about her, he never dwelled over a woman like this.
"But I'm not ready! Nothing's ready!" Said Amber, she jumped up and started pacing. "Absolutely nothing!"
"Don't worry about it, love. I have everything ready, you're dresses and such are packed in a trunk down below and the fake sails are all ready to go up, and we have all our sailor uniforms ready to put on." Said Jack, not worried at all, Amber stopped her pacing and looked horrified.
"You mean I have to wear dresses again!" Groaned Amber, Jack smiled amusingly.
"Isn't that what woman usually wear?" Said Jack teasingly, Amber glared at him
"Oh that's just easy for you to say, isn't it? You've never had to wear one of the bloody things!" Snapped Amber, she sighed and sunk back into her chair. "What am I getting myself into?"
~*~
"I hate you." Muttered Amber to Jack, as she pulled at the skirt of her dress. It was two hours later and Port Royal was in sight, they had changed the sails and the crew had dressed up as sailors. Amber had to smile at that, they still looked scruffy, but at least they were in pants. Amber was dreadfully uncomfterble in her navy blue dress, if she ever got her hands on the man that invented corsets she'd kill him!
"All in the line of duty, love." Said Jack smiling, Amber glared at him and touched her hair to make sure it was all in place. She had done it up as best as she could, when she lived at home maids had always done her hair. Amber swallowed nervously was Port Royal loomed closer, she was not looking foreword to this at all!
"Are you sure your friend will be ok with this?" Asked Amber, tugging at her skirt agen hoping it was straight.
"Will's a good chap." Said Jack simply, Amber looked at his confident expression, wishing she felt the same. She was surprised, she had never really noticed just how attractive Jack was. She hated the way he looked at her, it made her feel all nervous and out of sorts. And he was always so witty, always one step ahead of her.
What am I thinking? I should be worrying about this stupid con!
Thought Amber, she sighed and checked her hair agen, they were almost there.~*~
Amber looked curiously out the window of the carriage they were in, she had only been to Port Royal once before and had hardly seen anything of the town.
"All right, lets go over this one more time." Said Amber, sitting back in her seat and looking at Jack, who was sitting across from her. Jack was posing as her butler, which Amber found quite amusing. His long hair was tucked up under a hat but he still had the pirates gleam in his eyes. "I'm from London, England, and I'm here to visit my cousin William Turner because his wedding is coming up. My parents had to stay in England due to bad health, but I wanted to come anyway." Reviewed Amber, her eyebrows knit together, trying to remember everything.
"Perfect! See, you have no reason to worry." Said Jack smiling, Amber couldn't help but smile back. Excitement was pooling in her stomach, as risky as this con was she was actually having fun…well…except for the dreadful dress. The carriage stopped in front of a shabby looking blacksmith's shop, Amber frowned, this wasn't what she had been expecting.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Asked Amber doubtfully, Jack hopped out of the carriage.
"You stay here, I'll be back out in a minute." Said Jack, he walked into the shop without an explanation. Amber rolled her eyes and sat back. Ten minutes later there were four people in the carriage and they were moving again.
"So let me get this straight." Said Will, who was sitting across from Amber and Jack. "Amber poses as my cousin who's here for the wedding. And who also needs repairs on her ship. You'll stay till there finished then you'll pay and go."
"Right, bloody brilliant, isn't it? I came up with it myself." Said Jack, looking very pleased with himself. Amber shot him a quick glance, she didn't remember anything in the plan about paying.
"General Walker doesn't usually handle outside ships. He might not want to do this." Warned Elizabeth, Amber had a feeling she wasn't to fond of the plan.
"He'll want to when he meets Amber." Said Jack simply, Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.
"You do have it all planned out." Said Elizabeth, Amber could tell she and Will weren't totally sold on the plan.
"Look, we're not trying to rip anybody off here, the Pearl just needs repairs. And some members of out crew got injured so we can't do them ourselves. We are going to pay and play honest. Please go along with this." Said Amber, looking at the both of them pleadingly. She had, of course, hadn't told the whole truth. But she knew they wouldn't of gone along with it if she had.
"Oh all right!" Sighed Elizabeth, Will smiled.
"You've got a deal." Said Will, Amber grinned, it was all set.
~*~
"Remember, I'm not Amber Smith, I'm Amber Banks." Reminded Amber, as Jack got out of the carriage.
"Yes, yes, I'm not stupid." Said Jack, Amber was going to stay with Elizabeth while she was here, she couldn't very well stay with Will at the blacksmith shop. She ignored Jack's help to get out of the carriage and jumped out. After meeting Elisabeth's father Elizabeth brought her upstairs and showed her the room she'd be staying in. It was a large room with a huge four poster bed and a big window looking over the front grounds.
"It's very nice, thank you." Said Amber, Elizabeth smiled.
"You're welcome. If you need anything just ask." Said Elizabeth, Amber didn't know what to make of Elizabeth just yet, she seemed nice enough but Amber could never be sure of anyone who didn't approve of pirates.
"I'll just send my butler down if I do." Said Amber, her eyes twinkling as Jack dropped two huge suitcases on the floor.
"Be sure you do. Goodnight." Smiled Elizabeth, Jack walked up beside Amber.
"I believe that's all of you're baggage ma'am." Said Jack, Amber grinned at him, he looked so funny dressed up as a butler.
"All right, that's all taken care of. What next?" Asked Amber, Jack smiled and headed towards the door.
"Next you're going to charm General Walker into repairing the Pearl." Said Jack, "That is something I'm looking very forward to watching." Amber rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure you are. Good night, Jack."
"Night, love." Said Jack, before shutting the door, Amber sighed and looked around the room, it had been so long since she had been somewhere like this. She struggled out of her dress and slipped into her nightshirt.
"Mmmmm" Murmered Amber, as she dropped onto the bed and felt the feel of satin sheets on her skin. She slid under the covers and shut her eyes, waiting for sleep to come. She'd need all her energy for charming the General tomorrow!