"How?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"By helping Elizabeth with her wedding."
"Well, I was a bride once meself, guv'ner," Marcella replied.
Weatherby drooped slightly. "Your husband is very lucky."
"Ah no, guv'ner- he's long dead. Boating mishap, I'm told."
"A widow, Marcie. A widow," said Weatherby thoughtfully.
"Yes, guv'ner," Marcella said, not being able to deny the feeling of desire growing inside her. She stopped walking and faced him. She moved closer. "I'm all alone," she breathed. "And so are you."
"No, actually, I'm not," the governor tried to say but Marcella lunged at him with puckered lips. "AAH!" he bleated. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Weatherby, I'm in love with you," Marcella said.
"What?!" he said loudly.
"Ssh," Marcella said, anger showing in her face for the first time. "Look, guv'ner, ya should be very flattered."
"But Captain Castilla," Weatherby said coolly, pushing her off, "a worthy woman would not demand a kiss from a gentleman so forcefully as thee." Marcella glared at him.
From a few scrubby bushes a few feet away, Elizabeth, Victoria, Will, Jack, and Annamaria watched.
"What just happened?" Will hissed to Jack.
"Looks like Marcella tried to seduce th' guv'ner."
Annamaria grimaced. Elizabeth and Victoria clapped hands over their mouths.
"Daddy!" Elizabeth hissed.
"Weatherby!" Victoria hissed.
"Mama," Annamaria hissed.
The women stood up to fling themselves at their respective family members but Jack and Will stopped them. "Let's see how this plays out," Will said quietly.
The women acquiesced grudgingly.
Marcella said finally, "Well, shall we go to your house? Our wedding party awaits."
The five in the bushes exchanged stricken glances. As the couple departed, they fled the beach, heading in the opposite direction to the mansion.
"Quick, how fast does yer father walk?" Jack panted to Elizabeth.
"Jacky, he's like a corpse- so not very," she replied, as they galloped up the main road. But then they saw two tiny figures, advancing from where they were three minutes ago, power-walking.
"Dammit!" Will said and finally they arrived at the house and slammed themselves in. Victoria admired the grandness of it all.
"Yer daddy's made quite a name fer himself, hasn' he?" Victoria breathed, awed.
"Shall we take a tour, Mummy?" Elizabeth asked, snatching her mother's wrist. Without waiting for a response, she plowed on with, "See that chandelier?" She pointed to a magnificent candelabra, suspended overhead. "That's the one we replaced- the other one fell during the attack on Port Royal- I was kidnapped by undead pirates!"
"Led by Barbossa," Victoria said. "They stopped by Isla Vache a few times."
"But then Jack shot him, saving me," Elizabeth cooed.
Victoria turned to Jack. "This true?"
"Anythin' fer a lady," Jack replied.
Victoria stared off into space. "Men like you are a dying breed," she said. Then she snapped back to reality. "Come, dear show me your bedroom."
Marcella and Governor Swann stormed inside. "We're here," Swann snapped. Will whipped around. "So, Governor Swann, may we trouble Lizzie to see her in her dress?" "Heavens yes," Governor Swann said.
"Hell no," Elizabeth murmured, halfway up the staircase.
"Elizabeth, would you like to display your beautiful gown for our guests?"
"Daddy, it's bad luck for a groom to see a bride before the wedding in her dress. Everyone knows that," Elizabeth replied.
"I'll cover me eyes," Jack offered.
"Fine," Elizabeth sighed. "C'mon, Mummy, I'm wearing your old dress!" She ran up the stairs and threw upon the doors to her armoire to reveal the frock.
"Oh, that takes me back," Victoria smiled. "Come, I'll put on your corset."
"Um, Mum, I had a bad experience with corsets. I don't wear them anymore."
"All right, no corset then." Elizabeth attempted to put up her hair but found she needed Lily. After a brief introduction, Lily put up Elizabeth's hair and got Lizzie into her petticoat.
"For the grand finale," Victoria said, and gave Elizabeth her dress. Elizabeth slipped it on. Victoria, still in her mangy clothes and matted hair, had tears in her eyes. "Lizzie, you're so beautiful."
"Oh Mummy," Elizabeth cried, and hugged her mother.
Back downstairs, they had moved to the parlor.
"What's taking 'em so bloody long?" Jack growled.
"Dun, dun, da-dun. . . dun, dun, da-duunnn!" Victoria sang. "Presenting Elizabeth Rosalyn Swann, the fair daughter of Weatherby Jameson Swann and Victoria Marie Swann." And with a flourish she revealed Elizabeth.
Jack shut his eyes. Everyone oohed.
"Baby, you look wonderful," Swann said.
Elizabeth blushed. "Thank you, Daddy. But may I change back- and get Mummy some clothes?"
"Certainly." Governor Swann checked his pocket watch. "And your little friends can use our guest rooms until your wedding. Ask Allistair to get some food cooking.
He smiled at everyone except Marcella. She rolled her eyes. "I'm-a get me some grub," she said bluntly, and headed to the kitchen.
"So tootles," Victoria said and ushered Elizabeth out.
Jack opened his eyes. "Mates, was she gorgeous?"
"Naturally," Will sighed. "Jack, she's an angel."
"No foolin'," Jack replied. "All right, me bed is callin'." He started upstairs. "Weathy, where's a bedroom?"
"First left," Weatherby said, massaging his temples. Weathy?