-This disclaimer is in the first chapter.

Chapter 2

"Here, put these on" Valencia gave Ned and John clothes the next morning. "Why these?" Ned asked. "So we don't stand out" Margo said. "Captain Margo...."John started to say. "Close your mouth Captain Roxton, I am not wearing this for you pleasure" she told him saucily. Her dark curls, normally pulled off her face, hung loose, the dark brown dress contrasted with her green eyes, her chest rising teasingly out of her dress. "Easy old boy" he told himself. "Valencia, you look lovely" Ned swallowed uneasily. "Thank you Ned" her beautiful smile was instantly imprinted in his mind.

"Where are we going?" Ned asked as they disembarked. "To see Finn" Valencia told him. "Who is Finn?" Ned asked. "Lets just call her a friend" Valencia replied. "George, you're in charge. Fire two warning shots if there is trouble, we'll be back before sundown" Margo said as the four rode off. "Tell me about this Finn" John asked. "Her full name is Maria Finnegan, half Irish, half Spanish; she prefers to be called Finn. Her uncle, Luis Santiago, should have been lieutenant governor; instead her family was forced into hiding due to military coup led by Tribune. They all died from Influenza, somehow Finn survived. She lives in Cuidad de la Diablo" Valencia explained.

"City of The Devil?" Ned asked. "The Indians believed it was sacred ground and the Spanish believed them. It's where you hide where you don't want to be found" Margo informed them. "It definitely looks like it" John observed the prostitutes, pirates and other vagrants around them. "Join me, love?" A blonde cooed, wrapping her arms around Ned's waist. "Maybe, later" Ned told her. "I'm in the Alms, right there" she pointed toward the hotel. "Alright" Ned replied, blushing, looking Valencia's way.

"This way" Margo led them to a small wooden shack. "Whose there?" a female voice asked as Valencia knocked. "Valencia and Margo" Valencia said. "How do I know that your really who you say you are" Finn asked. "Finn, we don't have all day, open up" Margo pounded on the door. "Sorry, force of habit" Finn opened the door. "Val, Margo, you two are looking good" Finn greeted her guests. "Miss Finnegan" John and Ned cordially greeted her.

"Who are these fine looking gents?" Finn's eye's sparkled. "Captain John Roxton and my first mate, Edward Mefius" John introduced them. "You've done better than I thought you might have, especially you, Margo" Finn teased. "Captain Roxton and Mr. Melfius are doing us a favor, nothing more" Margo informed them as her cheeks slightly colored.

"What news do you have?" Valencia asked. "They say that it is Danielle, not Tribune who is controlling the island. She has become very powerful, even her brother fears her power" Finn explained. "Does the royal court know?" John asked. "No, they believe that Tribune is in command" Finn stated. "We've heard rumors about a secret alliance with the Duke of Somerset" Valencia said. "The duke is reputed to be Danielle's suitor" Finn said. "A match that would allow her to gain control of the Island and access to the English court" Ned surmised. "And the duke is third in line to the throne" John finished. "My contact within the palace tells me that Danielle has aspirations of ascending to the throne," Finn said. "Treason and murder" Valencia replied.

"Finn, where the bloody hell are you? I told you no guests" a male voice pounded on the door. "Here are your invitations, hurry" she pushed them out the back. "Should I send any messages to our beloved leaders?" Valencia called out. "Tell them to rot in hell" Finn called back gleefully.

"So we are to be married?" John asked, imagining the possibility of marriage to Margo. "Only for one night, captain. I suggest you keep your senses in check, most men who thought I was wife material learned that I am far from it" she told him. "Maybe I could help you change your mind," he suggested slyly. "In your dreams" she replied. "You have no idea," he said to himself.

"So, um, the invitation says were betrothed" Ned said uneasily. "Yea" Valencia replied with the same uneasiness. "Have you ever been, uh, betrothed before?" he asked. "No, you?" she replied. "Back in England, but I went to sea with Captain Roxton and she married somebody else" he told her. "I'm sorry," she said. "So was I" Ned said, letting Grace slip out of his mind.

Back on the ship, the crew was getting restless. "She is just a woman, like any other woman, we can take her and her sister too" several of the crew moved toward Arthur and George, their rifles raised. "Get back" George fired into the crowd. "Or what?" one of the men moved forward. "Or you'll have to deal with me" Margo stepped onto the ship, killing the man. "What was that you said about taking me?" Valencia's knife slowly ran down a second man's chest. "Nothing Miss Krusix" the man stammered as red drops appeared on his skin

"You have a choice. You may leave now, quietly or you will stay, under my direction without complaints or problems. If there are any problems, you will be cut up, piece by piece thrown to the sharks, your manhood the first to go. Am I understood?" Margo's voice became ice cold as she casually aimed her pistol on the leader's private part. "Yes, captain" he stuttered. "Take them down to the brig, they'll be let out tomorrow morning, if they behave" the men were dragged away. "Margo, I..." George started to stay. "George, just be glad we returned when we did" Margo told him.

"That was quite a performance out there" John commented. "I am captain of this ship, I made that perfectly clear," she told him. "And I would have done the same" he replied. "So, who are we to be tomorrow night?" Margo asked. "Lord James and Lady Camille Atwell, Viscount and Viscountess Walingsforth" John read the invitation. "I've always wanted to be a lady" Margo said quietly.

"Captain Margo, I know I asked you before, but if we are to pretend we are married, we should know something of each other" each word was tentative and soft. "It's very simple, captain. Tribune and I were pledged to one another as children. When it came time to announce our formal betrothal, Danielle accused my father of raping her. My father was sick, barely able to move from his bed, but he made the party that night, just for me. He was thrown in jail and hung, without a trial. Our house, our possessions, taken away, our family name was destroyed, Valencia and I barely escaped with the clothes on our backs and a few precious possessions" Tears stung her eyes as John wrapped his arms round her.

Her body racked with sobs as he held her. "Captain Roxton?" she asked, lifting her tear filled eyes to his. "Call me John," he told her, their lips gently touching. He expected to feel pain, but instead she deepened the kiss, wrapping her fingers on his neck, his hands burning through her clothes.

"I think you and I have more in common," he said as they broke apart. She remained silent as they both sat down, his arms still wrapped around her. "My brother, William and I were raised by relatives after our parent's death. When he was sixteen, he joined the royal navy as a deckhand. Two years later, I joined him. Pierson Rice, a controversial captain whose support within the navy and court was waning, commanded the ship we were assigned to. I accidentally shot Will during a mutiny. The only person who would take me in after that was Captain Rice, who became a pirate. Captain Rice was killed years later during a battle and I took over his crew and his ship" John narrated his life story.

"I'm sorry," she told him. "Yes, well, that's life" she said. "Yes, it is" they both smiled. "Good night, Margo, sleep well" he tipped his hat and walked out. "You too, John" she replied. Outside, Valencia was practicing throwing her knives. "Nice evening" Ned said. "Beautiful" she replied.

"Nice throwing" he commented. "Thanks" she replied. "Where did you learn to throw like that?" he asked. "My father. He insisted that Margo and I know how to defend ourselves in case something should happen to him," she told him. "He was right" Ned replied. "He certainly was" Valencia pulled the knives out of the makeshift target. "Your friend Finn is interesting," he said. "She certainly is" Valencia replied.

"Did you look at the invitation?" Ned asked uneasily. "Yes, did you?" Valencia replied with the same uneasiness. "Mr. Andrew Fetcher and his betrothed, Miss Christina Evers are cordially invited to the twenty-first birthday party of Miss Danielle Tribune" Valencia remembered what was written on the invitation. "Neddy boy, time for bed, tomorrow is a big day" John approached the younger couple. "Good night, Valencia" Ned said. "Good night, John, Ned" Valencia picked up her knives.

Inside the palace, Danielle was preparing for bed with the aid of her maidservant, Assai. Assai hated the Spanish, but she hated Danielle and Tribune even more. "Pardon me, milady" a servant girl handed Assai a note. Quickly scanning the note, Danielle dismissed Assai.

"You called, Milady?" the dark figure stepped out of the secret entrance. "Captain Margo has returned and she has Captain John Roxton with her" she said. "Should I kill them?" the figure asked. "No, not yet, Xan will want her alive" the dark figure bowed and disappeared back into the wall.