-The disclaimer is in chapter 1 if you're looking for it. Please review, I love reviews, I live for reviews, lol.

Chapter 3

"Well, Captain, what do you think?" Ned asked. "You'll do fine, Neddy boy" John said, reaching for the gold rings he and Margo would need to play husband and wife. "Maybe we'll be husband and wife for real one day" he thought to himself "John" Valencia greeted him as they met on the deck. "You look lovely, Valencia" he told her.

"Thank you" she said. "You look amazing" Ned told her. The sky blue dress matched her eyes perfectly, her blonde hair falling down in ringlets. "Thank you Ned, so do you" she replied. Ned's dark green jacket matched his gray pants and black shirt. "Can I see the ring?" she asked. "Of course" he opened the box. "That's beautiful," she said. "May I?" he asked. "Yes" she smiled. The kiss they shared was sweet, speaking of want, promise and a bright future.

"Wow" John's jaw dropped the floor. "Is that all you can say?" Margo asked. "Uhm, well" John stammered. The mauve dress contrasted perfectly against her dark hair, pulled off her face, her breasts rising teasingly out of the camisole. "Shut up and kiss me," she demanded. "As you wish, my captain" his mouth latched demandingly on hers. "How do I look?" he asked as they broke. "You'll do nicely," she told him as Ned knocked on the door.

"If your father lived long enough..." Arthur hugged his nieces. "We know, Uncle" Valencia replied. "Captain" one of her men called out as lifeboats were lowered. "George, if anyone tries anything, shoot them," she told him. "As you wish, captain" he replied. "Why two carriages?" Ned asked. "If we walk in together, we may look suspicious," John said. "If there is any problem we'll meet at Finn's" Valencia said. "Why at Finn's?" Ned asked. "In case we need to blend in, Finn keeps spare clothing for us" Valencia explained.

"Lord and Lady Atwell, Viscount and Viscountess Walingsforth" John and Margo were announced. "Are you ready?" he asked her. "As I'll ever be" they placed on the masks and started on the receiving line. "Milady, your grace, congratulations" Margo forced on a smile. "Thank you Lady Atwell" The duke said. "Atwell, Atwell, I don't believe I've heard of you" Tribune eyed the couple. "My father made several bad investments, my family has been forced to lay low for a while" John said. "Ah, I understand" Tribune replied.

"Valencia and Ned right on schedule" John pointed out the younger couple, making their entrance. "Mr. Fetcher, you are a very lucky man, if I wasn't so in love with Danielle..." the duke trailed off. "Darling, really" Danielle replied. "Thank you, your grace, Andrew and I are very happy" Valencia would have liked to slit Danielle's throat.

"Mr. Fetcher, what exactly do you do?" Tribune sized up them up. "I'm a spice merchant. I've been an apprentice to my uncle for some years now, who have contacts in China and India, were quite wealthy" Ned quickly came up with. "Then you and I should take business," Tribune said. "Yes, we should" Ned replied. "Good job" Valencia told him as they walked away from the receiving line. "Thank you" Ned told her.

"Lord Atwell, may I borrow your wife?" Tribune approached the older couple. "Margo, you're looking as divine as ever, I don't know why I ever let you go," his hands traveling down on her body. "You know perfectly well why we never got married" Margo attempted to keep her cool. "I don't know Margo, the evidence was pretty strong" he replied.

"Why, you" she was itching to smack the smirk off his face. "You know, Margo, I could have you arrested for piracy, especially when your escort is Captain Roxton, the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean. You wouldn't want your sister's pretty face covered in bruises, would you?" he asked.

"You wouldn't want to humiliate yourself when you have all of these genteel guests, would you? I'm sure that they've all heard the reputation of Thomas Miguel Tribune, how would it look that two of the most fearsome pirates in the Caribbean were able to get in past your security, especially when we all know who is really in power." His face paled at her taunt. "I um..." he stammered. "You cross me, Tribune, and you'll see real power" she told him.

Seeing that Margo was getting angry, John excused himself from the conversation. "Dance with me, love?" he possessively wrapped his arms around her waist. "You are a very lucky man, Lord Atwell, your wife is a very unique woman" Tribune noticed Margo cheek's turning red. "I offered Camille my name and fortune in return for her skills, for which she has many. She was in rather dire circumstances when we met" John purposely lowered his voice. "Thank you" Margo said as they danced. "Anytime" he told her.

"May I?" the duke cut in between Margo and John. John stepped back as Margo and the duke whirled around the floor. "Lord Atwell" Danielle approached John. "Miss Tribune" he replied. "Your wife is a very lucky woman," she told him. "I will make sure to tell her so," John said. "This is my absolute favorite, my brother and his grace are busy, would you escort me?" she cooed.

"You dance divinely, Lord Atwell, who is the genius who taught you?" Danielle flirted. "I had excellent tutors," John said. "Have you ever heard of a Captain John Roxton? He was in my brother's jail, awaiting trial, but somehow he escaped, rumor has it that Captain Margo helped him" Danielle attempted to ply the truth from him.

"I have only heard of Captain Roxton by reputation, Miss Tribune, my wife and I have only been in Cuba for a few days" he told her. "And what pray tell, have the English said about Captain Roxton?" Danielle further pried. "They are largely in favor of the Captain's work" John bluffed. "There is no accounting for good taste" Danielle's mouth thinned in disgust.

Margo watched as John and Danielle danced. "Is something wrong, Lady Atwell?" the duke asked. "Its rather warm in here, pardon me, your grace" Margo curtsied and walked away, the image of John and Danielle firmly printed on her mind. "Excuse me, Miss Tribune" John stepped away from Danielle. "What's wrong?" John asked. "Nothing" Margo replied.

"She's trouble, I don't trust her" Margo's graze strayed from his own. "Believe me, love, whatever happens between her and I, it's nothing compared to what you and I have" he forced her to look at him. "There is a lot of things about me that you don't know, I have a whole history...." He silenced her concern with a kiss. "Margo, I don't care about your past, I care about the here and now" he told her. "John, just promise whatever happens, you'll forgive me" she told him. "Of course" he replied.

"Sir?" a servant approached Ned and Valencia. "Thank you" Valencia replied as Ned removed two glasses from the tray. "Lovely party" Ned commented, straining to keep his eyes on the crowd, not on Valencia. "It is" she replied. "Care to dance?" his heart was racing. "Of course" Valencia flashed her beautiful smile.

"Brother dear, how did they get in here?' Danielle politely confronted her brother on the dance floor. "It's a masque, I don't know how they got in" Tribune stammered. "It doesn't matter now, Captain Margo will hang" Danielle said. Tribune nodded in acquiescence. Margo would have made a fine wife, with her connections and abilities, they could have ruled together. But fate chose otherwise. Danielle, his father's favored child, ruled with an iron fist, hiding behind a sweet smile and a womanly charm. Even he had to admit he feared his sister's power.

"Darling, I really must go to bed. Didn't you tell me that you wanted a virgin for a bride?" Danielle had the duke in the palm of her hand and she knew it. He was good for certain things, adding the title of duchess to her name was an added bonus. "Not when you look so delectable in that gown" he reached for the strings that kept her dress on.

"Good night, darling" she allowed him one last kiss before closing the door. "Assai!" she called out. "Here, milady" she native girl appeared. Assai helped her mistress prepare for bed, letting her anger simmer, knowing that one day, the bitch would pay for her crimes. "You may go now" Danielle dismissed her. "As you wish, milady" Assai bowed and exited the room.

"You called, milady" the secret door opened. "Callum, you're looking well" Danielle eyed the assassin brazenly; he might fit well in polite society, if he chose to. "Do not toy with me, milady, Master Xan has become impatient, he demands Captain Margo" Callum was never one to mince words. "What of Captain Roxton and the crew?" Danielle asked. "My master says that he has no use for them, it is only Margo he demands" Callum informed her. "Then he shall have her" Callum disappeared into the wall. "And I shall have Captain Roxton" Danielle thought to herself, licking her lips in eager anticipation.

Outside, Assai listened, not seeing the man behind her grab her shoulders. "Jarl" his lips found hers. "Sh" they ran down the stairs to the servant's quarters. "I miss you" he wrapped his around her, enjoying the feeling of holding her. "And I miss you" she told him. Assai and Jarl, Tribune's manservant, were childhood sweethearts. They wished to wed, but the decree against marriage between servants forced them to love in secret.

"Assai! Assai! Where is that girl?" Danielle was heard screeching. "I must go; you must get a message to Margo that there is an assassin after her, hurry!" Sharing one last kiss, Assai returned to her mistress as Jarl headed in the opposite direction.