Elizabeth sat with her back ramrod straight in the jollyboat, parasol poised perfectly behind her so that no direct sunlight fell on her face. She gave all outward appearance of being calm and demure, as every young woman should be, though – had any of them stopped to look in her eyes – they would have noticed the joy and muted excitement captured within.

Will was silent, brown eyes intent on the ship before them. It was large, magnificent, and – he could not help noting – like a beacon used to attract pirates. Swiftly his gaze sought out cannon ports and found none. The ship itself was large and elaborate, paint and gold leaf, impressive, but not impressive enough to weaken the knees of any pirate worth his salt. Even under full sail, the Redemption would be slower and less agile than ships such as the Pearl.

Trying to tear such thoughts from his head now would be like asking himself not to breathe. Will had avoided even going down to the harbor since the day Captain Jack Sparrow went over the wall, preferring not to tempt fate, blood, or what have you. Many times Will had wondered if he might have followed Jack, if he could have grabbed Elizabeth's hand and pulled her from her life as a governor's daughter into the life of a pirate's wife. Most times he came to the conclusion that Elizabeth was not meant for such a life, so his sacrifice in staying with her was the best choice he could make.

"The captain is pleased that you could come." That was the second mate, standing in the stern and overseeing the men at the oars. Will had forgotten his name completely.

"Then we are pleased to honor his request," Elizabeth said smoothly to cover up for her husband's lack of response. She smiled, taking his hand, hers in a delicate white glove. Everything about her this day was delicate from her hat to her dress; even her shoes were not meant for walking, but for merely peeking out from under the hem of her skirt and looking fine.

The second mate had no reply ready for her. In all reality, the invitation stated to the governor had been for Mr. Turner only, though there was no gracious way of refusing the lady once she had accepted for them both. Nodding once, deeply, he busied himself with the approach to the ship and getting them aboard.

Elizabeth curtsied slightly to the silver-haired man who met them. "Captain Torrington."

"He's not even the first mate," one of the deck hands said, though he received an elbow in the ribs for this fact.

"Yeh weren't supposed t' bring the girl," the man growled, eyes sliding past Will to the second mate.

The other man sputtered. "But – but the captain said –"

Elizabeth looked slightly confused. "I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood the invitation." Will put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from going any further, eyes darting around the deck.

"There's nothing t' be done now," the man she had mistaken as the captain proclaimed grimly. "You know what to do."

* * * * *

Jack's hands were lifted above him, the sores on his wrist in danger of being reopened if he relaxed his legs and let himself dangle. Mina did not have the key for these chains, or else she might have been able to let him down for at least a few moments of respite. As it was, she was able to give him water from a ladle and take his mind off the pain with idle – and witty – talk that had to do with the first time they had known each other, though only certain, safe aspects thereof.

Now, though, there was a problem. Both of them could taste the tension in the air and the cloth she had been using to cool his forehead dropped by his feet. "He's here," she whispered, as though speaking out loud would reach the men on the other side of the thick door and up on deck.

Ears straining to catch even the smallest sound, Jack refrained from shaking his head lest that give the slightest clinking of chain. "Something's wrong."

Her eyes swiveled in their sockets, though she need not have worried about chains. "What?"

His amber orbs traced the ceiling above them as though they could pierce the wood and witness the drama overhead. "That's not all for him, love. Unless he's his trademark self and done something incredibly . . . stupid."

Mina was moved strongly enough by this to shake her head. "He's not to know, not until we're far out of the harbor and there's no chance of him reacting."

He gave her a look that was easy to interpret.

"I couldn't tell you before, all right? It wasn't the opportune moment." There was no mocking in her voice; that saying he had gotten from her.

"So tell me now."

She took a deep breath. "The boy – Will, sorry – was to be brought aboard and introduced to Smithy, with Smithy playing the captain. We were to set sail and they'd seize him once we were out in safety, and then maybe you'd have someone else to talk gibberish to." The past tense was natural; they both knew something had gone wrong with the plan.

Jack snorted, arching his back slightly to ease some aching muscles, some that were so tight as to be knots that would take hours to massage away. "Well, we're moving now."

"Yes, thank you, I realized that." Her eyes flashed as she stooped to pick up the cloth and toss it into a corner. "And someone's coming."

"Get in the doorway," Jack instructed as though this had not happened so many times before. "Hurry, love."

The door was flung open as she stood before it, blocking the view from either side. It was a small doorway.

"Move aside," Smithy grunted, shoving his way past and reaching for the keys. He usually held the whip.

"This isn't part of the plan," Mina said stiffly, still in the doorway but turned around.

"Plans change, poppet," Smithy grunted. Jack really debated punching the man with the hand that had just been freed but decided against it, especially when the other arm was also released. Being chained to the vertical beam was really not all that bad; he could even lie down as he wished.

"Don't do anything stupid," Jack mouthed in her direction, but she was either not looking at him or ignoring him completely; both were distinct possibilities.

"Mr. Smith." Mina's eyes were flashing in a dangerous way, something Jack had seen a lot in the past eight months but not when she was still a child. "This was not part of the plan, and I will not stand for it."

His smirk was sickening. "Well, it's not your call, now, is it? Bring them in."

Jack's head snapped up at the use of the plural. Bound and gagged, Will was dragged in as Mina was shoved aside, his wrists occupying the happy space Jack's had just left. When he caught sight of Jack, Will stopped struggling monetarily out of shock, allowing them to catch his wrists more easily.

Mina grabbed Smithy's arm but he shoved her away, sending her stumbling backward. "Enjoy the company, poppet." But he was not speaking to Mina.

Before the door was shut and locked, Elizabeth was shoved in, gagged, missing her hat, and with her hands tied behind her back.

Jack, stretched out comfortably on his side, took them all in: Will strung up by his wrists, Elizabeth struggling against her skirts to sit up, and Mina looking at him with something akin to the face she usually wore when wondering what sort of joke fate was playing on her.

He smiled. "I thought you knew it wouldn't work out between us, Elizabeth, but it seems you just can't stay away from me for long."