A/N: You're all amazing and wonderful and I cannot believe the support you have shown for this little story. I'm still having a blast writing it and we're about to get into the drama! THANK YOU so much!


Abigail kept still, Billy's arm still wrapped around her shoulders as they watched the Walrus sail into view. The sun just peeked over the horizon and the mainsails were silhouetted against the sky. Her heart pounded in her chest and a chill settled into her fingers.

This was always going to happen, she told herself. This is a good thing. It's a rescue. It's what you wanted. Remember that, Abigail Grace. This was always going to happen. You were always going to have to let him go.

"How long until they reach us?" she asked, her voice steadier than her nerves.

"The tide's out at the moment," he said even as his fingers flexed on her shoulder. "They'll wait until its coming in before risking the breakers." He sighed. "Fuck. We should get rid of those."

Abigail looked at their makeshift pots that had originally been Spanish armour. "You're not going to tell them about the gold?"

"No," he said firmly and he tugged her so that she faced him. "We're not telling them about it. The last thing I want to do is have more gold brought into the current situation and…" His blue eyes bore into hers. "I want to have some kind of insurance should the worst happen."

"You're taking it with you?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. But you are. Come on."

"Wait," she said as he jumped to his feet and she hurried after him, very aware that she was still clad in just her chemise. "Billy! Shouldn't I get dressed?"

"It'll take them a little while to get here, you're fine," he said as he gathered up the helmet and breastplate, both blackened from use on the fire. "Come with me."

He strode away from the fire and Abigail did her best to keep up with him. He seemed to be a man possessed as he headed to the trees, his feet kicking up sand as he walked, and she felt the chill from earlier spread to her chest. Practically running, Abigail reached his side and tried to catch his eyes, but he resolutely didn't look at her.

"Better put your shoes on later," he said brusquely. "They're decent enough men, but give 'em an inch… And I don't know who's been looking after the decks; don't want a splinter."

"Right, of course," Abigail said, frowning; why on earth was he discussing her shoes? "Billy-"

"And Flint'll want to talk to you," he said shoving a branch out of his way. "Just…tell him what you told me and he'll be polite enough, I think. It was your father he hated, not you."

"Good to know," she muttered and felt a pang at the thought of having to face Captain Flint, for she doubted that much of James McGraw existed anymore. "What—"

"And I'll make sure that none of the others touch you," he carried on. "You're under my protection; they'll keep their distance. Don't know what the fuck to do when we reach Nassau, but I'll figure something out. Fuck knows what they've done to my plans. We were in the midst of getting supply lines organised and if Murphy's right about the Governor throwing his weight around, Christ…" He shook his head. "In any case, I'll make sure you're all right."

"I know you will," she said, "although you don't need to. Billy, why are you—"

"And don't say a thing to Silver," he bit out. "The man'll have you doing his dirty work in a heartbeat. So steer clear of him."

"I don't understand what you're doing," she said breathlessly. "You appear to be…overreacting."

"I'm not overreacting," he said as they reached the water and he slipped around the side of it, edging forward carefully until he found the hole to the cave. "I'm making sure you know what to expect and to make sure that this gold stays a secret."

"You're also running about like a headless chicken," she said. "What aren't you telling me?" She waited for him to say something, but he just pushed the brush aside, revealing the entrance to the cave. "Billy? Billy, please, say something-"

"Marry me."

Abigail lost her voice and her breath as she stared at his back. With a clatter, he tossed the blackened armour into the hole and turned around to face her.

"Marry me," he repeated, his eyes wide and wild. "I know you believe yourself to be ruined in the eyes of society prior to this, but you most certainly are now, despite what we…may or may not have done. Marry me."

"What?" she asked, her voice small and tiny.

"Marry me," he said, his eyes bored into hers and for a blissful, shining moment…Abigail imagined herself saying 'yes'.

But, as tears burned in Abigail's throat and her heart thudded heavily, she said softly, "…no."

He blinked and shook his head, as he stepped close to her and oh, she wished he'd put on a shirt, she couldn't think when he was bared before her.

"Abigail," he said cupping her face. "Marry me."

"Is that an order?" she asked, sucking in a breath.

"You know it isn't."

"Then, no," she said, lips trembling. "And I don't believe that you truly wish for me to say 'yes'."

"Really?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "You believe that?" He pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers. "I want you safe, Abigail. We leave this island without some kind of understanding and you're on your own and –"

"And that was what was always going to happen," she cried, a few tears finally escaping her eyes. "Don't you see? I was always going to be on my own. I was on my own before I washed up on this shore with you. I was always going to be on my own once we were found. You have a war to fight, Billy. The last thing you need is a wife."

"Abigail-"

"Please don't ask me again," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Please, Billy."

He stilled against her and with a ragged sigh, he pressed his lips to her forehead. "Damn it to hell, Abigail. I should force the issue. I should make you marry me."

"But you won't," she said shaking her head. "You have too much honour to force me."

"Honour," he repeated, snorting. "It's honour that should have me marching you to a priest as soon as I can find one."

"No," she said cupping his face and rising up on her tiptoes to meet his eyes. "It's honour for your cause and for your brothers that you must return to. And it's honouring my quest for freedom." She shook her head. "I'll be fine."

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. "I hate this."

"I'll be fine," she repeated, her voice breaking.

"Fuck," he muttered as he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her closer. "I wish you weren't so fucking practical."

"No, you don't," she whispered.

"Don't I?" he said cradling her head in his large hand. "I know that you're right. That'd I'd make the worst sort of husband for you. That my fate is to die with a sword in my hand and I'll not leave you like that—"

"Stop," she said pressing her mouth to his in a desperate kiss. "Don't say that."

"Abigail," he groaned before he swept her into a hard, deep kiss that overwhelmed her thoughts and left her shivering. "Someday, you'll find a man who'll be free to love you."

"Don't," she breathed.

"No, you will," he said smiling a little before his expression hardened. "But I'm enough of a bastard to be grateful that even if he wins your hand, I'll have been the first to touch you, Abigail Ashe."

"Always," she murmured as his mouth descended upon hers once more and as the sun rose behind them, she kissed him with every desperate wish and desire she had.

Eventually, he stopped and set her back on the ground. He smoothed his thumb over her swollen lower lip and nodded, almost to himself.

"I'm going to fetch some of those coins," he said. "Can you find a place to keep them safe on you?"

"Yes," she said nodding. "Aren't you going to—"

He shook his head. "No need. And you're only to use them if you have to. Don't go flashing them around Nassau."

"I honestly hadn't planned on it," she said rolling her eyes.

"Cheeky little thing," he said smiling and chucking her chin before he turned solemn. "Any sign of trouble, you're to come to me, yeah? I'll protect you until my last breath."

"I know," she said pressing her hand atop his chest, his heart thrumming under her palm. "I will. And I'll do the same for you, as well. Should you have need of me… Billy, I…" She closed her eyes. "I wish things weren't as they are."

"Yeah," he said. "For the first time in a long time, I wish the same, love."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. They held one another's gaze for several long, melancholy moments until Billy nodded.

"Let's get ready, yeah?" he said softly.

"Yes," she said. "I'm ready."

Abigail was not ready.

At all.

Every step she took with her bare feet, every single time the soles of her feet sank into the warm sand, she ached with the knowledge that she'd never feel this particular kind of freedom again.

Oh, she wasn't so melodramatic to think that she'd never again experience happiness or pleasure or the satisfaction of fending for herself, but she could admit that, at the moment, it seemed rather unlikely. That wasn't even taking her relationship, such as it was, with Billy into account.

A vicar had once said that only those with souls bound for Hell were truly wretched and that well-bred, gentle young ladies couldn't possibly know what it felt to be truly wretched.

Bearing that in mind, Abigail felt bloody wretched.

But she carried on and went about clothing herself. She managed to stow a handful of the gold coins in various linings of her skirts, which she then put back on. Her stockings were still too much a mess to put on, so she kept them wrapped around her waist. After spending some time adjusting the torn ties of her bodice, she fashioned her stays and the bodice of her dress into remaining on her person. Although, it was obvious that her bodice had been through some tough times, but there wasn't really anything Abigail could do about that.

She tidied up their living space, her eyes glanced at Billy as he pulled his shirt back on and all that lovely skin was covered up once more. He tugged his boots on and laced them up, before he fastened his belt and weapons to his waist.

"No need to do any fishing," he said with a small glance at her. "If the tide's in, they may just pick us up and head straight back out."

"Of course," she said nodding and with a pang, she took apart her net and then eyed her shoes.

They were in decent enough shape, but everything in her rebelled at the idea of putting them on her feet. She picked one up and stared at it.

You're being ridiculous she told herself. You're letting a simple pair of shoes have far too much power. And you know that the moment you get yourself a horrible splinter, you'll be wishing for them, so put them on your feet, Abigail.

She put them on her feet and did her best to ignore the pinch against her toes and the rasp of the sand against her ankles.

Instead, she watched Billy watch the horizon. The sun beat down upon the sea and glinted off the sweat beaded along his forehead and temples. She knew how those places tasted, she thought. She knew how his skin felt against hers. She knew how his hands held her steady while she practiced with a sword, how they held her shoulders as she tried to throw a punch, how they cradled her close while she shivered in ecstasy.

And now she was to turn her back on all of that and carry on towards whatever her future held for her. Alone once more.

Something on the horizon caught her eye. She got to her feet and shaded her eyes as she walked towards the shoreline.

"Is that-?" she asked.

He nodded.

"They're trying the reef," he said.

In silence, they watched as a longboat approached the crashing waves and both held their breath when the longboat went up, up and then…down, into the bay. They'd made it.

"You were wrong about one thing earlier," she said as they watched the boat row closer.

"Yeah?" he said wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "What about?"

"I think you'd make the best sort of husband," she said.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his head whip to look at her, but she just nodded and then walked back to the shelter to gather up the rest of her meagre possessions, making sure that the comb Murphy carved for her was tucked into her skirts.

She'd survived Ned Lowe; she'd survived Charles Vane; she'd survived the mocking sneers of society matrons and their grasping sons. She'd survived the death of her beloved mother and the murder of her shamed father. She'd even survived being stranded on an island with only her wits and a pirate.

Surely, next to all of that, surviving a broken heart would be simple?

"Oh, God," she whispered quietly. "Give me the strength to survive this."


Billy watched her go and swallowed back whatever fool thing he'd almost said. Instead, he looked back out at the bay and the approaching longboat.

He could pick out Joji and Ben Gunn's silhouettes against the harsh midday sun and he suspected that was Jacob Garrett rowing alongside someone else. He'd figured that neither Flint nor Silver would venture to the island. For all they knew, it was a fool's errand to see if he was alive.

His spine straightened and he raised a hand when Ben Gunn hailed him. Something like relief washed over him. These were his brothers, his crew, his friends. He was glad to see them.

He very resolutely ignored the part of himself that still reeled from Abigail's words.

I think you'd make the best sort of husband.

Why the fuck would she say something like that? She wasn't one for false compliments, so she must have meant it and Jesus Christ, he couldn't, he wouldn't think on it any further. His men would know that something had happened between himself and Abigail, but he wasn't about to let them think it was anything more than it was.

As if you know what it is any more than they do, he thought bitterly. I think you've missed a good thing here, Billy Bones. And you're only going to have yourself to blame at the end of all this.

"You've got the Devil's own luck, Billy Bones!" Ben Gunn called from the boat when it was close to the shore and Billy chuckled when the others shouted at him.

"Certainly seems that way," Billy called back. "How much of a mess have you lot created for me to deal with?"

"In Nassau or with the sails?" Jacob shouted grinning. "You're a fucking charmed man, you arse."

Billy laughed out loud and despite the churning in his gut that stemmed from the knowledge that Abigail was only a few steps away, he felt relief at seeing his crewmates. They'd been to hell and back and there wasn't much he wouldn't do for them.

There's not much you won't do for her, either, a voice whispered in his mind; but he ignored it in favour of helping land the boat onto the shore. Ben, Jacob Garrett, Joji and one of the riggers, Jones, jumped out of the boat, all grinning.

"You stupid bastard," Jacob said slapping his back. "Only you would have the bad luck to fall into the sea twice, and the good luck to survive it. Twice."

"It's not something I plan on doing ever-fucking again," Billy replied shaking his head.

Billy shook Joji's outstretched hand who nodded at him as he said, "Good to see you, Billy. Ship's never quite the same."

"Neither is Nassau," Ben said. "It's not bad, but we could really use…some…"

He trailed off and Billy knew instantly that he'd spotted Abigail. The others fell silent and stared over his shoulder. He noticed Joji's eyes narrow and then widen in recognition before he glanced at Billy. Billy just nodded slightly.

"Murphy mentioned a mermaid," Jacob said eyeing Abigail. "But I thought he was drunk."

"He probably was," Billy said. "But he was also right." He looked over his shoulder at Abigail and she stared at him. He beckoned her over. "It's all right. Gents, this is Abigail Ashe. You, uh, might remember her."

"Hello," she said softly as she approached them and he winced at the sight of her feet covered once again with her shoes. "I suppose Mr Murphy made his way back to Nassau?"

"Ah, yes, he did, miss," Ben said nodding slightly. "Last we saw him, he was waving us off with a tankard in hand. We believed him when he said he'd seen Billy, but I'll confess I thought he was wrong about the mermaid."

Abigail smiled. "It was a rather fanciful notion and we should have disabused him of it, but he persisted. I'm most grateful that you're here now."

"Miss Ashe," Joji said, inclining his head.

"Mr Joji, isn't it?" she said curtseying shallowly. "I remember you from the warship." She looked at the other men. "I'm sorry, I don't recall your names."

The men stared at her and then at Billy, who rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, Ben's new to the crew. He's the skinny Irish fellow. That's Jacob Garrett with the beard and Jones with…the other beard."

"I'm also the one with manners," Jones said grinning and winking at her as he bowed a little.

Abigail smiled. "So I see."

"If you don't mind me asking," Ben said smiling and glancing between Billy and Abigail. "How'd you wind up here, miss?"

"That ship during the storm," Billy said. "Off the port side. It was headed south from Virginia and Miss Ashe was on it."

"You fell overboard?" Jones asked wincing. "Christ, that's bad luck, miss."

"It wasn't something I'd care to repeat," Abigail said. "Do you know what happened to the Hadley? The other ship?"

Billy looked at the men, curious about the ship's fate as well.

Jacob frowned. "It's not in port, if that's what you're asking. I think it was, but I'm fairly sure it's moved on, miss."

"Mr DeGroot will know," Ben added. "You can check with him when we..." He jerked his chin towards the Walrus.

"Speaking of," Billy said. "Flint just decided that it was worth coming this way on the word of a drunk man?"

"We're headed to the Maroon Island," Joji said. "Enough of the crew wanted to take the chance that you'd be here, so the captain figured an hour to look wasn't too much of a detour."

"Mr Silver thought the same," Ben added.

"Fair enough, I suppose," Billy said, although he wondered if they hadn't been headed towards the Maroon Island, would they have even bothered. "Any ideas on how to get back over the reef?"

"How'd Mad Murphy do it?" Jones asked.

"He was in a basket," Billy replied shaking his head. "I don't think we should use him as an example."

Abigail covered up a laugh with her hand and Billy winked at her. He caught Joji arching an eyebrow and cleared his throat before he said, "It may just need the right wave and a hard row."

"We'll manage it," Jacob said. "Better get back on it. Don't want the tide to desert us." He looked around the island. "Don't suppose you need to pack; is there anything on the sandbar?" He grinned at Abigail. "Aside from pretty mermaids?"

She flushed and looked down and Billy shot a glare at Jacob who just chuckled while Billy replied, "Nah, just more sand. There's a small rock that collects rainwater, but you'd be dead during the dry months."

"Fuck," Jones said looking around. "Better you than me, Bones. At least you had company. Lovely company, eh?"

"Right, I'll say this once and only once," Billy said stepping towards them. "Miss Ashe is not to be teased or touched. Anyone comes near her with ill intent will face me and I will not hesitate to tear them apart, yeah?" He looked at the others and they nodded, Joji still giving him a considering look. "She's been through hell and back and I'll not have the rest of her journey be more of the same. Let the others know."

"No worries, Billy," Jacob said nodding. "No one'll lay a hand on your mermaid."

Abigail sighed. "I really should have dissuaded Mr Murphy from calling me that."

"Think it's here to stay, miss," Ben said smiling.

"It's no matter," Abigail said. "I've been called worse. Now, how can I help with the rowing?"

Billy caught the men's surprised glances, but he just said, "You can't. In fact, once we reach the reef, I want you down on the bottom. Better to stay low while we try to get us up and over."

She frowned and he recognized that look, but she simply said, "As you suggest."

"Right." Billy looked at the island, taking in the shelter and the still burning fire. "Better put that out."

Between the men, the fire was soon extinguished and he spotted Abigail watching them with bright eyes. When she noticed him looking at her, she blinked rapidly. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, which she wiped away, turning her back to him.

His guts churned and his chest tightened; but he followed the men to the boat, away from the dying fire.

The others got into the boat, while Jacob and Billy took up position on the sand at the rear, ready to shove off.

"Where-?" Abigail asked, standing close to the boat, waves rippling and soaking her shoes.

"Here," Billy said and he lifted her into the boat. Her hands grasped his arms as he set her down. "In the middle. And hang on."

She nodded, her hands grabbing onto the thin seat beneath her. Billy and Jacob pushed hard and the boat slid into the water. They leapt into the boat and took up their positions. The oars fitted into Billy's palms as he rowed hard.

Ah, God, he'd missed this. The feel of his muscles burning as he worked hard; the way he and his men just moved in the right way together. They approached the breakers quickly with everyone pulling hard on the oars. Abigail stared at the island and Billy fought the urge to look behind him at the place that he'd felt so at peace for the first time in so long. But he kept his eyes forward and his arms moving.

"Gonna have to go hard on my go," Ben shouted from the prow.

"Time it on the swell," Joji shouted back.

Billy nodded and glanced at Abigail, who stared back at him.

"Get down and stay there, yeah?" he said, nodding at the bottom of the boat.

She nodded and slipped off the bench, sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest. She kept her eyes open and fixed on the oars as they rowed.

Billy tore his eyes from her and focussed on the upcoming reef. Christ, how they managed to make it over the first time without breaking something, he didn't know. The surf broke over the reef underneath and he could almost see the rocks and coral below.

"Big swell coming," Ben warned. "Ready, lads?"

They all shouted 'aye' and then when the wave just crested over the reef, Ben shouted, "Row!"

They rowed.

The boat struggled up the wave, and salt spray doused their faces and arms as they rowed hard in unison. There was a sharp scrape as they passed over the reef, but a quick glance down confirmed the lack of a breach.

"Row!" Ben called again and again, they rowed, muscles burning and eyes squinted in concentration as they crested over another large wave.

But then…they were clear.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they moved away from the breakers. They still rowed with intensity, but the waves were calmer under their oars.

Billy blinked back saltwater and sweat from his eyes as he looked down at Abigail. She stared up at him as she slowly moved back onto the bench.

"All right?" he shouted.

"Fine," she shouted back. "Although I think I preferred my first journey over it."

"You were probably unconscious then," he said.

"Exactly my point!" she said grinning.

He chuckled and the others grinned, while Jones barked out a laugh behind Abigail.

"She's a clever one, isn't she, Bones?" he called.

"Too clever by half," Billy called back. "Don't underestimate this one, lads."

Abigail laughed as she looked about. Her smile dropped from her face at the sight of the Walrus coming ever nearer and Billy felt his own apprehension swell. He may have been going home, but she was, once again, heading into the unknown. Billy honestly doubted that Flint would do anything to harm her, but he wasn't about to predict what the man's reaction would be.

What's done is done, he told himself. You couldn't leave her on the island and Flint's unpredictable, but he's not mad. Mostly.

A cheer burst out on the deck as they drew near and Billy grinned up at the crew where they shouted and waved over the sides.

"Get back to work, you bastards!" he shouted up at them.

Another round of cheers spilled over and he chuckled.

They rowed the boat flush alongside the ship and Ben quickly tied it up and headed up the ladder; Jones and Joji after him.

"I'll go first," Billy said to Abigail. "Then you."

"All right," she said suddenly pale as she eyed the wet ladder.

"It'll be all right," he said as he moved past her, his hand resting for a moment, broad and warm on her shoulder and when she looked up at him with her eyes wide and nervous, but her spine and shoulders straight, he fought the urge to untie the boat and row them back to the island. He repeated, softly, "It'll be all right. I'll make sure of it."

"So will I," she said, showing her usual determination.

He smiled a little and helped her over to the ladder, then he headed up, while Jacob held it still. The weight shifted and he knew that she'd started to climb. Billy hauled himself over the side to a cheerful crew. They pulled him in and slapped his shoulder, teasing and shouting. He laughed and shook hands and when he remembered to turn to help Abigail, Ben was already there.

The crew fell silent as they watched Ben assist Abigail over the side of the ship. She smiled her thanks at him and then looked towards Billy and the rest of the crew.

"Christ, Bones," someone shouted. "You mean there really was a mermaid?"

Abigail blushed and looked down, before raising her eyes to Billy as if to say, 'Right, this is your ship; your move.'

"Well, lads-," he started to say, but the men clustered near the quarterdeck parted as Flint, Silver and Madi came their way.

"You know, if anyone was going to survive falling into the ocean and getting washed up on an island, only to be discovered by a drunk Irishman, it'd be you, Billy," Silver called out in that teasing, yet serious way of his. He started to say something else, but Flint had come to an abrupt stop.

Billy tensed when he saw Flint eye Abigail as though she were a ghost. The captain's gaze flickered to Billy and Billy could only nod.

"Miss Ashe?" Flint said at long last.

"Captain," she said giving him an unsteady curtsey. "I…" She cleared her throat and drew herself up straight. "Permission to be aboard, captain?"

Billy glanced back at Flint and noticed the small tick at the corner of his eyes; Billy straightened slowly, ready to fight if he needed to. But Flint eased and nodded.

"Permission granted, Miss Ashe," he said inclining his head. "Now, if you'll pardon my language, how the hell did you end up here?"

"I was journeying to the South Americas when our ship, the Hadley, ran into the same inclement weather that you did," she said calmly, although Billy could see the way her fingers curled into her skirts. "I was washed overboard and awoke on the island with Mr Bones."

Flint stared at her. "The South Americas?"

"Yes, sir," she said. "I was accompanying a nature expedition."

"Is that so?" Flint asked, his brow furrowing as he studied her.

Billy had to give Abigail credit, she stood completely still and calm as the captain stared at her and the rest of the crew eyed them both. Silver kept his gaze on Flint, while Madi seemed to serenely assess Abigail from head to toe.

"If I may ask," Abigail said, breaking the silence. "I was told that someone may know what became of the Hadley following the storm. I don't suppose it is still in Nassau."

Flint merely called over his shoulder, "Mr DeGroot?"

DeGroot stepped forward, throwing a sharp nod at Billy in welcome, and then said, "If it's the one I'm thinking of, it docked in Nassau for some repairs and supplies. It headed on its way over a week ago."

"I see," she said as she tried to smile.

"They said that they lost two bodies," DeGroot said. "One was crew, the other a female passenger. Begging your pardon, miss, but I didn't see 'Ashe' on the manifest."

"You wouldn't have," she said clasping her hands together. "After my…previous sea voyages, I thought it prudent to use a name that wasn't my own. Was the name of the lost passenger 'Avery'?"

"It was," DeGroot said smiling a bit.

"My mother's maiden name," Abigail said. "I don't suppose any of my belongings were turned in?"

"Couldn't say, miss," DeGroot said. "But check with the tavern when you reach Nassau. They may know."

"Thank you," Abigail said nodding her head before she looked at Billy and then over at Flint. "Would it be possible to trespass on your kindness and request passage to Nassau? I'm afraid I don't have any money, but I'm more than willing to earn my way."

Billy started. Christ, she'd never mentioned trying to pay her way to Nassau. Why did she have to be so damned independent? He looked to Flint who just nodded.

"You may accompany us, Miss Ashe. I'm hardly going to throw you overboard for not having money after being swept out to sea. We can discuss terms later." His eyes narrowed suddenly as something occurred to him, and he looked sharply at Billy, then Abigail, before he said, "Come with me. I'm sure you have need of refreshment. Billy, welcome back and come with us. Everyone, make ready to cast off. Mr DeGroot, get us underway."

Flint was met by a chorus of 'Aye, captain's and the crew headed off to their respective posts, some taking a moment to slap Billy's back as they went.

As for Billy, he found himself caught in Flint's narrow eyed stare, before the other man jerked his head in the direction of his quarters. Billy looked at Abigail who, with her head held high, walked after the captain; despite her bedraggled appearance, her comportment was every inch the well-bred lady he knew her to be.

He followed and Silver fell in beside him, Madi nearby, observing everything.

"We're not diverting from our original course, so clearly the captain believes Miss Ashe to be trusted with the knowledge of the island," Silver said lowly. "But what do you think? Is she trustworthy? And do try to stem whatever sentimentality which may have arisen from your time together when answering."

"Yes," Billy said through clenched teeth. "She's trustworthy. She's the last person to run to the authorities or tell any of our secrets."

"Is that so?" Silver asked, arching an eyebrow.

"The death of her father didn't exactly pave a smooth path for her," Billy said as they approached the captain's quarter and he kept his eyes on Abigail's plait as it swayed gently as she walked. "She's not precisely had an easy life after we left her. She'll keep our secrets."

"If she doesn't," Silver said. "May we hold you responsible?"

Billy paused and looked at Silver and then at Madi who also gazed back, her eyes not missing a thing. Eventually, Billy nodded.

"Yes," he said. "If any harm comes to anyone on the island as a direct result of Miss Ashe betraying a confidence, hold me to account. Not her."

Silver's eyebrows rose and Billy cursed himself internally.

Well, that had been quick. He'd managed to completely reveal his partiality for Abigail to the one person he'd wanted to hide it from. Damn John Silver to hell.

Billy turned away and walked into the room where Flint was pointing at a small chest.

"There are some of Miranda's, Lady Hamilton's, things in there," he was saying and Billy blinked. "Should you wish to…change."

"That's incredibly generous, captain, I thank you," Abigail said frowning. "But I couldn't possibly-"

"Miranda liked you, Miss Ashe," Flint said. "She'd have my head if I didn't treat you with every courtesy."

"All the same," Abigail said, looking disconcerted. "Please don't think that I'm content to be idle whilst everyone else is occupied. I'm more than willing to provide any assistance where I can. Billy, Mr Bones, can attest to my determination."

"Can he?" Flint asked, looking at Billy once again with not a small amount of sharpness.

"Yeah," Billy said uncomfortable. "She's not afraid of hard work. Held her own on the island well."

"Did she?" Flint asked, cocking his head to the side and Billy felt sweat bead on the back of his neck. "I'll keep that in mind. In the meantime, please make yourself at home, Miss Ashe. Billy, with me. There's much to discuss."

Abigail looked at Billy quickly, and Billy managed a nod to her, hoping his expression was reassuring, but feared it fell short of the mark.

Flint, Silver and Madi moved into the hallway and Billy joined them. The door to the captain's quarters had barely clicked shut before Billy found himself shoved bodily against the wall, Flint's forearm pressed to Billy's throat.

"The fuck!" Billy grated out.

"You'll marry that girl," Flint said through bared teeth. "Do you hear me? As soon as we make landfall, you will marry that girl."

"Jesus," Billy said baring his own teeth. "How the hell is this any of your business?"

"We all came into this life with our eyes open," Flint said. "We've lied and killed and fought our way through it. Our hands, your hands, are drenched with blood. We can call it valour all we want, but it's not, nor has it ever been. And that girl in there fell into this fucking mess utterly innocent and blind. I'll not have her suffer for it. And I don't give a fuck if you tell me that nothing happened on that island between you, because it doesn't matter. You'll marry her."

"Go to hell," Billy shot back. "As if you cared about her innocence when you killed her father." Flint pressed his forearm against Billy's throat and Billy sucked in a breath, but still managed to say, "Don't force her hand, Flint. Don't you dare."

"Don't make me force it," Flint said leaning in. "And just fucking marry her."

"She won't have me!" Billy bit out.

Flint blinked and his arm slackened some. "What?"

"She won't fucking have me," Billy said shoving Flint's arm away from him. "I asked her already. She said no, and don't you dare think about forcing her hand. Don't you fucking dare. She's already suffered for things she hasn't done, I'm not about to make her suffer for it all over again."

Flint backed off a little and eyed Billy. "You asked her?"

"Yeah," Billy said mockingly. "I asked her. But she doesn't want to be bound to a man destined for war and I can't fucking blame her." He shrugged and determined to ensure that Flint dropped the subject, he said, "And I hardly need to be tied down to a wife right about now. The last thing I need is a commitment beyond the ones I've already made to these men and this cause. A wife would be a weakness and a burden."

The door behind them creaked open and Billy felt lightheaded. He turned his head and hoped like hell that Abigail hadn't heard him. But one look at her pale and still face said otherwise. The Barlow woman had been taller than Abigail, but she'd managed to fashion some of the other woman's clothes to fit her, although they were loose on her body. Her plait was gone and instead she'd piled her hair atop her head in a tidy knot. Her skin had burned and tanned during their time on the island, but she'd clearly done her best to wash her face, neck and hands.

She looked…older, somehow. Wiser, even, and more than ready to take on the lot of them should they stand in between her and her independence. Billy had never felt more attracted to her or more in awe. Or as much like an ass.

You fucking cock, he thought angrily. You absolute bastard. You've lost her.

"Pardon the interruption, but I presumed you were discussing me," she said, with her head held up. "As you are well aware of my history, I'm sure you can understand that I no longer wish to leave my future in the hands of others. And as I have reached my majority, I am no longer under anyone's protection apart from my own."

"Miss Ashe," Flint said, but he stopped when she looked at him. If Billy wasn't more concerned about the fact that his lungs had ceased to function, he'd be impressed.

"I appreciate your concern, captain," she said quietly. "But I have no desire to inconvenience Mr Bones by saddling him with a wife at this point in your venture." Billy made a sound low in his throat. "He's been very kind and has taken very good care of me, but I'm more than able to look after myself. As for my reputation, as I said previously, I travelled under another name, so Abigail Ashe's reputation remains as it ever was – damaged, far prior to this experience."

If it wasn't for the tremble in her fingers where they grasped her skirts, he would have thought she was simply discussing the weather. Her tone was measured and calm, her expression revealed nothing whatsoever.

"The fact remains that prior to our confinement on the island, I had proven to be quite capable of forging my own path in this world and I see no reason to ignore that," Abigail said smoothing her hands over her skirts. "Now, this is a large ship, surely something needs doing?"

The hall rang with silence as they stared at her, only to be broken by Madi as she said, "Do you like tea, Miss Ashe?"

Everyone looked at her, and naturally, Abigail was the first to recover. "Yes. Yes, I do like tea."

"Would you care to take tea with me?" Madi asked. "I rarely get the opportunity to speak with another woman aboard the ship and I would like to hear more of your experiences in the Americas. As well as how a woman, such as yourself, was invited on an expedition."

Billy squared his jaw and glanced at Silver, who just looked amused as he watched the proceedings and Billy felt frustrated beyond reason.

"I would be honoured and delighted, ma'am," Abigail said. "Oh, I'm sorry, is it 'miss'?"

"It is Madi," Madi replied inclining her head. "My mother is the Maroon Queen and I am her emissary."

"I'm Abigail Ashe," she said smiling a little. "I'm very pleased to meet you."

Madi tilted her head towards the deck in invitation and Abigail joined her. With a brief, blank glance at Billy, Abigail followed Madi into the ship, her usual guards falling into step behind them.

Billy watched them go and honestly wondered how the hell did he go from where he'd been that morning, to where he was now.

"You know," Silver said coming to stand beside Billy. "When I discovered that you had used my name without my approval to start a revolution, I seriously considered some kind of retaliation. Not revenge, necessarily," he assured Billy, "but something that would deter any future appropriation. But now?" He clapped a hand on Billy's shoulder. "The entertainment that I will derive from your present situation will prove to be a more than sufficient balm to my soul."

Billy drew in a deep breath and tried to find some inner calm and failed.

"This isn't over," Flint said to him. "But we do have much to discuss. Come."

Billy stared down the hall where Abigail had departed, spared a moment to wish he was still on the island, and then squared his shoulders and followed Flint and Silver.