A/N - wow! I'd just like to start off by thanking all my reviewers! Without you I would never have got this far! This is one of my favourite stories, and I'm really enjoying writing it! So thank you so much. Please continue to read, and enjoy.

Oh and some of you may recognise a famous quote within this chapter, I don't own that! ^_^

Chapter Eighteen.

There are certain points in our life that shall remain with us until we die. Certain titbits that plant themselves securely in our memories and refuse to leave. Finding Jack on the beach, and waking up in the fire are two such examples. But for some reason Roberto's proposal, which at the time seemed void of any real feeling, seemed to be as forgettable as. . .

His words were empty, his voice had no passion, and at the time I compared him to Jack. Jack would do nothing by half, not like Roberto.

I didn't answer him, and he took my silence as a yes. He smiled softly, and ran his fingers through my knotted, unbrushed hair.

"I knew I'd find you, and bring you home." He said, soothingly.

"It has taken you a while, Roberto." I said, reproachfully.

He shook his head, in regret. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Or so I am told." I replied.

He left the room with a promise to return later in the day, when I was feeling more rested and up to seeing visitors. But his proposal had been of such pressing urgency he could not contain it for a second longer. Any other woman would have been delighted to have such sentiments expressed, such an attentful and loving husband, but not I. I looked into my future and I saw a prison, every day similar to the previous, where I had no voice to speak, and no ears to judge for myself. I saw a passing flight of parties, and banquets in the summer, helping in church feats like an over bearing spinster, I saw myself stood in front of a mirror examining dress after dress, which I would only wear for one night before it was rightly cast aside.

And for some reason a desperate desire was kindled within me to change this future, but my mind said no. What I was fantasising of could never come about, and there comes a point in life when the dreaming is over, and one must settle on earth rather then reaching for the stars. And that is why I accepted Roberto's proposal, maybe not as graciously, or as gratefully as I should have done. But I accepted.

After I had recovered, and was able to hobble around the room without the aid of the doctor or the maid, Roberto left. He said that it was high time he was reinstated in the sea. He would be gone two months, and when he returned we should be wed. So during his absence the preparations were made, my dress was produced, the invitations sent. Those days were just a haze, a gentle breeze in my memory, not the fierce winds I had experienced whilst in Jack's company.

I held long, and often meaningless conversations with the maid, Bonny, about whether or not I had done the right thing. She was such a flighty creature, not eager to please as some of the others, and unwilling to commit herself to an opinion, that I would have been better talking to myself.

"What do you think of Roberto, Bonny?" I asked her once.

She was carefully folding one of my dresses and placing it in the drawer. "The master's been very kind to me, Miss."

"I didn't mean it like that, Bonny. I mean as a person, a man, a husband?" I said, looking down at the last word.

"Like I said, Miss, he's very kind."

I grabbed her arm, and stared into her eyes. "What are you keeping from me, Bonny?"

"Nought, Miss." She said, not even attempting to pull her arm away.

"Then answer the question."

She brushed the creases from her apron and returned to the wardrobe.

I sighed in frustration. The servants in Roberto's house were unwilling to speak against him, naturally, but was it that that had absolutely no opinions concerning the man? I stood up, picked up the corners of my dress to stop it running along the floor, and walked from the room.

I slowly descended the stairs, and stopped as I heard the front door opening.

The butler bowed and stepped aside. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw who it was.

"Cousin Rudolph." I said, running down the stairs, my dress running mercilessly along the wood panelling.

I flung my arms around me, and he swirled me round like I was six years old once more.

"Why you have grown, Theodora."

I laughed. "And what would you expect, me to stay a child for the rest of my life?"

He stroked my hair, in a calm fashion. "It is lovely to see you my child. When I heard about your poor parents, and then your dear self. . ."

"Shush. Do not dampen my spirits!" I chided him. "Roger take Cousin Rudolph's bags up to the. . .blue room, I think."

"Roberto not back yet?" He asked, as the porter took his bags.

I shook my head, causing my curls to spring around my shoulders. "No. He is not." I said, my voice just as void of any emotion as his proposal had been.

I led Rudolph through to the drawing room, and sat him down on a chair, before ringing for tea. It was nice being back in a comfortable home, with servants and good meals. But having survived without them, I was not dependent on such comforts as others in the family were.

"Thank you for coming."

"You don't think I'd miss my grandson's wedding, especially as you're the bride."

"Why should such a trifle make a difference?" I asked.

"Oh do not pass yourself off as a trifle." He advised, as the maid entered and poured the tea.

He smiled, knowingly. "You know the greatest thing you will ever learn in this life?"

"Whose high in society, and who has been disgraced." I said, with a laugh. It was hard to stay sombre with the presence of Rudolph. Just seeing him again brought back a whole life which I had forgotten.

He shook his head. "No. The greatest thing you will ever learn Theodora is to love, and be loved in return."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I am very pleased, elated even, that you are marrying Roberto. He could not have wanted for a better wife." He sighed. "But a marriage of convenience, is no marriage at all."

"Cousin Rudolph. . ."

"I know you think it out of my place to be saying these things, but they must be said."

"Then be rest assured, I do not enter into marriage lightly."

"I know, I'm just grieving over the terrible experience you have suffered these last few weeks."

"Then let me put your mind at rest. I wish everyone would stop pitying me, or offering their condolences. My parents died. . ."

"I was talking about being kidnapped by the pirates."

"Indeed." I said, taking a sip from my tea. "Do you remember Jack Sparrow, cousin?" I asked, as casually as I could.

"How could I forget." He grumbled. "I cannot believe what that man did to you, after all we did for him."

I sighed. And so it would be. No one would understand what I felt inside, not even my husband to be. Why must everyone hate Jack? It hurt me to think of my dearest family reproaching him like a naughty dog. He wasn't. I knew it, but it seemed no one else did.

And so cousin Rudolph had come to stay. It was of great assurance to me to have him by my side, and he revelled in the attention and precision needed to plan a high society wedding. Roberto's parents were, of course, coming out to the Caribbean to attend, as were friends from England.

Roberto returned from the sea in a blaze of glory. I wasn't sure at first why the navy celebrated his return. I joined in with the frivolities and almost got caught up in everything.

Roberto was pleased to see his grandfather, and by that time his parents had also arrived. The stage was set, and everything was in it's place.

Just a week after his return, and only a matter of twenty words having passed between us, we were married in the church, official in the eyes of God.

A/N - So it appears Dora does marry Roberto! *gasp* This can't be the end, can it? Is Jack coming back?