Hey,

Okay so this is like the tipping chapter, things have been kinda building up and coming along slowly, after this stuff starts happening, and I'll tell you now instead of ending this completely, I will end this part and then have like another sequel to completely wrap things up just because the way I plan to end this part I can't just leave it like that...also a special thanks to trigemni (I probably messed your name up), I love your reviews, I think I something only keep this up just because I'm just so interested in reading what you have to say, I'm not kidding about that, I usually post in the morning and go to work or school and on my way home that night I'm on my cell trying to check my e-mail to see what you've had to say in the reviews, so thank you

Enjoy,

Justine

The day of the Hodgson's Ball had arrived and Ruby sat that morning with her father in the library. A book sat absently on her lap as she tried to read, since she had woken up she was filled with feelings of anxiousness, excitement, wonder and a dreading feeling that nagged at her. She knew that going to the ball tonight was going to be a bad idea, but she couldn't tell why and as much as she knew she shouldn't go, she did want to go to see if her feeling was right.

Ruby looked over at her father who was quietly looking fiddling with a chest board, a game she had noticed back in Port Charlotte he had become quite fond of. Annoyed with her lack of patience Ruby slammed the book shut and tossed it on the ground before she turned to her father.

"Are you going to sit there and play with that stupid game all day?" demanded Ruby. Robert looked over at her with amusement, his daughter's impatience had not gone unnoticed by him.

"I may," replied Robert. Ruby huffed loudly in annoyance as she got out of the chair and started pacing around the library.

"Little one, sit down I actually have something to discuss with you," said Robert. Ruby looked over in interest and walked over to her father and the chest table and sat down across from him. She looked over in expectancy, waiting for him to tell her what he wanted to talk to her about.

"Are you and James attempting to have a child?" Ruby creased her brow as she looked over at her father, a child? Her and James had already discussed the issue of children, but that had been before she had decided to accept him as her husband.

"I have publicly declared that I am barren," said Ruby, "I was asked that question several times when we first arrived and I gave that as an excuse." Robert nodded thoughtfully.

"But things are different now," said Robert knowingly. Ruby nodded as she looked away, things were different. So far their methods of not conceiving had worked but Ruby knew that if she became pregnant with James' child that she would be sealing her fate and part of her was not ready to take that step. Having James' child would cut her from Jack forever.

Robert had an inkling as to what his daughter was thinking, he felt for her but he wanted her to choose James, he would keep her safe and Robert would not have to worry about his only daughter. Though he knew Ruby loved Jack, if she hadn't she wouldn't have been so hurt. It also drew at Robert that he was partly responsible for Ruby's pain, Robert had kept it a secret as to where his daughter was and left without a word to anyone but the crew that was accompanying him and they had all been paid handsomely to remain in England without return to the Caribbean.

"Ya've got lots of time to decide what you want to do," said Robert reassuringly.

"Of course," said Ruby, "Well I know it is early but I cannot sit here anymore, I am going to start readying myself for the ball tonight." Robert watched as his daughter got up from the chair and left the room without another word. Once she was gone he sat back in the chair and stared at the wall covered in shelved books. 'She's not happy' that's all his mind could say.

"Her happiness could kill her," muttered Robert to himself.

Elizabeth and Will stood next to each other as they watched the ports of London come into view. Both were filled with uncertainty, they both knew that once they were docked anything could happen.

"What if she is happy here?" asked Elizabeth softly. Will looked down at his wife and for the first time seen doubt and worry in her face.

"It's not our question to ask," said Will, "From here it is Ruby and Jack's situation to bear. We cannot make decisions for them." Elizabeth nodded, Will knew that it was more than just having Ruby back with Jack, Elizabeth wanted her cousin back too.

"I still do not understand how she can do it, I could never imagine pretending to be married to another man," said Elizabeth.

"She doesn't love them, she uses them for survival," said Will, "Maybe that is why her and Jack were attracted to each other, they're both resourceful in surviving." Elizabeth nodded.

"I really hope things go well," said Elizabeth. Will looked back down at her then over his shoulder at Jack who was at the wheel of the ship.

"I don't think you are alone in that hope," said Will.

Ruby walked into the Hodgson's Ball with her arm linked with James. She could barely breathe, her dress hugged her curves tighter than a glove with her breasts pressing firmly along the hem line and her hips feeling relief from where her dress flowed out. The soft flowered mauve satin glowed against her skin which still bore a tan of evidence from her time at sea with James. Her was pulled up in immaculate curls piled on top of her head with stray strands of curls cascading down, nestled into the crown of her curls were diamond studded hair pins that sparkled and matched the delicate diamond necklace she wore around her neck.

Everyone was dressed to the nines as the couple stepped into the ball room, it was their last chance to impress of the season. A smile danced on Ruby's lips, the room was decorated with a Grecian theme, right down to posed human statues. Couples danced gaily on the dance floor to the up tempo music while others chatted lively with each other while indulging in the flowing wine and champagne that were quickly being served.

"It's spectacular," whispered Ruby in awe.

"And it is exactly where you belong," James whispered back patting her arm reassuringly. Ruby smiled even brighter, 'this is where I belong' thought Ruby happily.

"How are we going to find her?" asked Elizabeth as she followed Will and Jack down the gangplank to the dock. Jack stopped in his foot steps as he reached the dock before her turned to Will and Elizabeth who both consequently had to stop.

"Ya mean ta be tellin' me ya don't know where she lives?" asked Jack, "Do ya understand how big this country is?"

"Well," said Elizabeth looking for some words to tell him.

"This may take a while," muttered Will.

"I canna believe this," said Jack, "Someone, get me some rum." Elizabeth rolled her eyes as Jack who was starting to get upset.

"Just wait I have an idea," snapped Elizabeth before she turned and headed back up the gangplank to the ship.

Ruby held onto James' shoulders tightly as they twirled around the large dance floor. Her mind was clouded by the numerous glass of champagne but she didn't care, she was having the time of her life. Her cheeks flushed as James swung her around in time to the music.

With her inhibitions faded she moved closer into James' hold not caring who seen or what they thought, 'I'm a married woman, it's not scandalous' thought Ruby as she felt her breast brush against James' chest.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," said James softly into her ear. Ruby giggled like a young girl as she felt his warm breathe against her ear.

"It's a splendid time," smiled Ruby.

"I clearly am the envy of every man tonight," said James. Ruby blushed as she looked away.

"You do look gorgeous."

"You have told me that already," said Ruby.

"It clearly was not enough just once," said James as the song ended, "come with me." Ruby took his hand as they left the dance floor, they walked through the chatting crowds that were full of laughter and cheer. In a slight drunken haze Ruby looked around and found that others were in a similar or farther state than she was.

"Where are we going?" Ruby found herself being lead into a less crowded part of the house. James ignored her and continued leading her until she found herself alone with him in a grand sitting room. On the far side of the room the walls were covered with floor to ceiling windows looking out over the lush green grounds and were covered with thick green velvet curtains. Ruby dropped James' hand as she slowly walked around the room observing its grandeur. 'This is where I belong' Ruby repeated to herself in her mind. Turning she found James behind her, she smiled up at him, she almost laughed herself as she realized her situation, when she was younger and attending balls in India, had she have been caught in a room alone with a man her reputation would have been destroyed and only saved by a marriage to the man, now as a married woman she was safe to be in any room alone with her husband, 'oh if they only knew' thought Ruby her smile creeping into one that would rival that of the Cheshire cat's.

Silently James ran his hand over her smooth cheek tilting her face upwards. Ruby parted her lips expectantly as she stared up at him, her eyes closed as she felt his lips crush down upon hers. Ruby wrapped her arms around James' neck pulling herself closer to him as she felt her blood rush through her body.

Reluctantly James pulled back and looked down at the woman in front of him, her wide rum colored eyes stared at him glazed over with amusement.

"Come sit down," urged James led Ruby over to the hunter green divan in front of the large unlit fireplace. Ruby carefully sat down letting her skirts pool around her on the divan as she curiously watched James kneel in front of her.

"James what are you doing?" asked Ruby. James just smiled in response as he took her hands from her lap and held them in his own.

"Ruby, I have been thinking about us, and we have been together for some time now," said James slowly, "I have to admit you have made me happier than I thought you would but you have proven yourself to be a bright light in my life." Ruby cocked her head slightly to the side not quite sure of James' words or what he was getting at.

"Ruby I want you to be my wife." Ruby laughed slightly, 'clearly the champagne has gotten to him more than me' thought Ruby.

"James, we are already man and wife," whispered Ruby leaning over her lap to him like she was telling him a scandalous piece of gossip.

"No Ruby, I want to you really become my wife, we can leave for a trip to Scotland and elope, no one will ever be the wiser of what we have done," said James, "I want you to truly to be Missus James Norrington." Ruby sat back up speechless, she didn't know what to say, when Devon proposed she had said yes out of spite and Jack, well he didn't bother to propose, for once in her life Ruby didn't know what to say. She looked at James who sat there waiting patiently for an answer.

"Ruby?" Ruby felt her heart almost beating out of her chest as her mind raced looking for an answer. She looked back at James, his expression so hopeful. She knew she could continue on as the way things were if she said no, but James was the man in her life now and she had grown fond of him but never actually considered actually marrying him. But she knew that by marrying him she would cement her future in high society.

"Yes."

"That's yer idea?" Jack and Will both watched as Elizabeth walked back down the gangplank dressed in one of Anamarie's old dresses, she looked no more than a common maid.

"Yes," said Elizabeth crisply as she stepped on the dock.

"Dressin' like a commoner?" asked Jack.

"Dressing like a maid of the Norrington Estate, one who had come home from her ailing mother's bedside," said Elizabeth giving her accent a slightly cockney tone. Jack raised an eyebrow at her.

"And if the maid of the Norrington Estate would be followed, those following her would discover were a certain Lady lives," said Elizabeth, "now Jack give me a couple of coins."

"Why?"

"Because I won't be able to be a carriage any other way," explained Elizabeth. Jack rolled his eye as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out three coins for her. Elizabeth took the coins knowing she wouldn't have to use them all as she would arouse suspicion if a maid was found to have that much coin on her.

"Be careful," said Will.

"I will, now you two follow closely, but not to close," said Elizabeth as she walked from the dock towards the busy streets ahead.

James and Ruby sat in the carriage on their way home from the ball. Ruby had her legs tucked up under her skirt on the carriage bench as she sat next to James, leaning into him resting her on his shoulder. Both were relatively quiet on the ride home, each engaged in their own thoughts. Ruby's mind was consumed with the idea that she had accepted James' proposal, it felt surreal to her of how many steps she was taking towards her new life with James. She also had to admit that she never actually thought James would ask for marriage seeing as how she would be entering into a marriage with him illegally as she did with Devon, the crime James had arrested for her. Of course she knew that there was the possibility that they could both claim it was legal because of the divorce decree she had signed for James to secure Jack's safe release but she had never considered the divorce. She herself never considered the divorce valid because Jack had never signed it and she had signed it against her will, though she had never mentioned it to James. In fact she never mentioned Jack to James, she was afraid to, she didn't want James thinking she was still pinning after him and ultimately she didn't want to admit to herself that she still loved him.

Suddenly Ruby was broken from her thoughts as the carriage lurched forward then slumped to the side. James automatically wrapped his arm around Ruby holding her to him to keep her from falling from the bench.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," said Ruby swinging her legs out from under herself, "What was that?"

"I do not know," said James reaching over for the coach door, "careful." James swung the door open and carefully slid off the bench holding Ruby's hand to steady her.

"Hold the door frame," said James as he descended from the carriage. Ruby did as he said and held the door frame until James as on the ground and offering his hand to help her out. Once they were both out they found their driver inspecting the broken wheel of the carriage.

"What has happened?" asked James.

"I'm sorry your Lord, the wheel hit a sharp cobble and has broken," said their driver looking up at them.

"Damn," muttered James as he inhaled deeply, "it will take forever at this hour to have it repaired."

"I can get it home your Lord, unfortunately I would not deem it safe for passengers," said the driver.

"You're right," said James turning to Ruby, "Well it would appear the easiest route at this point would be a walk. It is quite a beautiful evening" Ruby looked over at the broken carriage wheel then back at James, 'some fresh air might clear my thoughts'.

"Lead the way my Lord," said Ruby nestling her arm in his.

"I am dreadfully sorry my Lady," apologized the driver.

"No need to apologize, you could not have predicted the circumstances," said Ruby calmly. The driver nodded and bowed before they turned to walk towards the street.

"Are you cold?" asked James, "You can have my jacket if you are."

"No I am perfectly fine," smiled Ruby, "you are right it is quite a nice night."

Jack and Will jumped from the back of the carriage as it came to a stop, they both distanced themselves into the shadows and watched carefully as Elizabeth descended the carriage on her own. She greeted the driver a good night and watched as he drove off. Immediately Elizabeth looked around trying to spot her companions both of who came out from the shadows once the carriage was gone.

"This would be the Norrington Estate," said Elizabeth pointing to a large house that stood back from the street.

"Well what would the plan be now?" asked Will.

"What plan, I go up knock on the door and get me wife back," said Jack.

"She's might not be there," snapped Elizabeth, "and you just can't go up and knock on the door and demand her back."

"And why not?" asked Jack.

"Well first there is no carriage in front of the house, so clearly Norrington is not there and two, do you not think the staff would alert the magistrate immediately if you showed up at the door?" replied Elizabeth.

"Well if Norrington ain't there, then there'd be no problem," argued Jack not liking the need for patience that Elizabeth had.

"Maybe Elizabeth should go," said Will.

"and say what?" asked Elizabeth, "they know I'm not a maid there and I can't claim to be her cousin showing up dressed like this at this hour and unescorted." Will nodded, they had no good excuse to get into that house.

"Well Liz, you're full of the ideas, how do ya suppose we get in short of barging in guns drawn?" asked Jack.

"I don't know," said Elizabeth trying to figure a way, "it's even too late to be inquiring about work." Will couldn't figure out a way either, the estate was large for a city one, there were large black iron gates surrounding the property and he assumed guards they couldn't see protecting it.

"Look Liz, if Ruby's home she'll be lettin' ya in, no maid'll stop her," said Jack.

"Shhh, quiet," said Will hearing voices other than theirs coming towards them. He grabbed Elizabeth's arm and pulled her back into the shadows followed by Jack. The three of them watched in silence as the couple approached, clearly it was a man and a woman as feminine laughter could be heard in the crisp night air.

"Oh my god," whispered Elizabeth as she seen who the couple was, "it's them." Across the street from them walked Ruby who clung tightly to James' arm as she rested her head on his bicep, laughing a something he had told her. The three of them watched silently as Ruby's laughter ceased and the couple stopped walking, they couldn't hear what words were being exchanged but Ruby had let go of James' arm as he pulled close to his chest.

Elizabeth looked over at Jack whose eyes were glued to scene in front of them, she turned back to Ruby and James whose embrace had turned from linked arms to a passionate kiss bathed in moonlight. Both her and Will looked back at Jack who they expected to fully reveal himself now but rather found him almost mesmerized by what he was seeing.

"I'm so sorry," muttered Elizabeth. Jack didn't show any notice to her words as he got up and walked away from them towards the couple who were parting. Ruby's girlish laughter rang out softly again as they parted, Ruby leaned her forehead into James' chest as she let the champagne from the ball re-cloud her mind. As she stepped back slightly from her a pair of familiar eyes met hers from the shadows. Like a deer caught in headlights Ruby froze, but as quickly as she froze she darted around James heading towards the shadows that now appeared empty.

"Ruby," said James as she grabbed her arm before she could step off the street, "what is the world are you doing?"

"He's there," said Ruby wiggling her arm from James' hold. She ran over to the opposite side of the street and looked around frantically.

"Ruby, what are you doing?" asked James as he approached her from behind. With a gaping mouth she looked around confused.

"He," muttered Ruby like her favorite childhood toy had just been violently ripped from her hands. She looked back at James who stared at her in confusion.

"I'm sorry, the champagne must have been playing tricks with my eyes," whispered Ruby.

"Did you see something?"asked James.

"I thought I did," said Ruby, "I'm sorry, we should go in now." James looked at her strangely again but quickly decided she had been right, it was the alcohol taking its affects on her.

"Come now, we shall get you to bed," said James as he took her arm and lead her away from the street back to the gates. Ruby looked over her shoulder back at the street as they walked away hoping that she hadn't been wrong, but all she found was the dark empty

street.