Thank you to those that reviewed!

This chapter would have come sooner but I had an illness which meant I had to write chapters 4 and 5 first but at least that means I'll be able to update sooner if I get around to it.

Also I still don't really have a plot but I do have a couple of ideas I can develop. It doesn't really matter for the next few chapters anyways.

Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2

"Help me do up this corset, Nath."

"I don't know why you wear these things. They look horrible."

"They are, I hate them."

"Then why on earth do you wear them?!"

"To look the part."

Nathan wasn't convinced. To be honest Nina wasn't either, but she wanted to look good and corsets were the fashion these days. She would much prefer some breeches and a loose shirt.

"Tight enough?"

"Not really, but it will do. Men, they're hopeless."

"I think I did a bloody good job of it."

"If you say so. But what would you know of putting on corsets?" Nina baited.

"I have put corsets on before, you know."

"Really? Please, tell me about this."

"Ha ha, very clever." Nathan said as a big smirk appeared on Nina's face.

"It was, wasn't it?"

"We're gonna be late, if you don't hurry up."

"It'll give us a better entrance, make us seem more important."

"I don't care. I'm hungry."

"You don't even like the food they have at these things."

"Food is food. Surely you, of all people, know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"

"Or through wearing as little as possible." Nina added.

"Of course." Replied Nathaniel, too busy to pay attention, "Does my hat look straight to you?"

"Stop wasting time. We have a party to get to."

"Women." Nathan muttered.

"I heard that." Nina called backed as she left through the door of her newly acquired house.

The grounds were enormous and seem to stretch a mile. At one end was a gazebo with all the food and drink laid out on white lace covered tables. This seemed to be where most of the people had gathered but there were one or two stray groups. Everyone had made an effort seeing as it was the Governor's household and everyone with some importance had turned up.

"This is great." Nina murmured to Nathan as they exchanged pleasantries with those around them.

"Yes, Nina. I am having so much fun. Can we please go get a drink?" Nathaniel said as he steered Nina towards the gazebo. He hated parties. Like most sailors he preferred sailing on the sea to chit-chatting with people he had little in common with and would most likely never see again.

Nina was the opposite. She loved talking to everyone, and just had to know everything that was happening. Sometimes this had got her into a lot of trouble, but she had always survived in the past. She had quickly learnt how to use information wisely and was becoming a master at it. True, she preferred people who didn't appear so stuck up, but they tended to not be so wealthy.

As the two were getting drinks, Norrington came and greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Miss Wilding."

"Commodore." Nina gave a small curtsey.

"I almost thought you weren't coming."

"Yes. I wish we could have got here earlier, but my dear Captain Jules had to make sure his hat was on perfect." Nathaniel cringed; he hated being called by his last name.

"You know, I just realised there is someone I have to talk to. All the way over there. If you'll excuse me." Nathaniel said forcedly as he left. Nina turned back to Norrington.

"I don't know what to do with him, sometimes. I really don't." Nina smiled.

"Are you two...?"

"No, not at all. He was a good friend to my late husband."

"My condolences. May I ask what happened, if it's not too painful?"

Nina took a long breath and recited to him her practiced story.

"...And so I decided to honour his memory by fulfilling his dream." Nina concluded.

"What a good idea. Where have you ventured so far?"

"Well..." Nina started, but was interrupted by a blonde girl.

"There you've been hiding, James." She said, "You didn't expect to avoid me for the whole of my engagement party did you?" she teased.

"Of course not Miss Swann." Norrington replied.

"Who is your friend?" Said the blonde turning towards Nina.

"Elizabeth, this is Ms. Nina Wilding. Nina, this is Miss Elizabeth Swann."

"Pleased to meet you." Nina said politely.

"I haven't seen you around before." Elizabeth ventured.

"I only arrived yesterday. Still getting my bearings."

"Elizabeth, I am afraid I have to be leaving, paperwork to be done. It was a splendid party"

"You can't leave yet. At least wait until we announce it properly, it shan't be long now."

"Of course, but then you will have to excuse me. I really shouldn't delay much longer."

"Alright." Elizabeth answered.

"So, who is the lucky man?" Nina asked.

Will Turner," This was met by a blank look from Nina; "You haven't met him yet? Come on, I'll introduce you." And she walked off with Nina in tow.

Unbeknownst to Nina, she and Will had met before, back when they were living in sunny ol' England. It was a long time ago whilst Nina was nothing but a petty thief and Will was still a boy. Will was accompanying his mother to get their savings when Nina took upon the opportunity to take those savings from them. She simply ran into them, knocking Will's mother over in the process, took the money, gave a quick faux thanks to Will and ran off again while he helped his mother to her feet. Will was too busy tending to his mother to give chase, but he never forgot Nina's face because his mother died three weeks later and he held Nina partially responsible.

They found Will talking with one of the plantation owners.

"Will, darling. I'd like you to meet someone. Nina, this is Will – my fiancé."

"Pleased to meet you." Nina said.

Will was about to say the same, when he noticed her face. The friendly smile vanished.

"Is everything alright, Will?" Elizabeth asked.

"Er...Yes," Will composed himself, "How do you do, Miss...?"

"Wilding," Nina offered, "Have I seen you before?"

"No." Will answered shortly.

"Oh." Nina was slightly taken aback. Luckily the Governor chose this time to come over and loosen the tension slightly.

"There you two are. Do you perhaps think it may be time to make the announcement now? I know that the Commodore really ought to be going."

"Certainly, father." Elizabeth replied, "Come on, Will." She led him off hand in hand.

Nina spent the rest of the party making sure that everyone knew who she was, and made sure to tell them about her dead husband's wish in an effort to get donations towards her cause. Overall it was pretty successful and she even managed to get an invite to the upcoming wedding.

"That was a good party, don't you think Nath?" She asked at the tavern.

Nathan didn't bother giving her an answer and just took a gulp of his beer instead.

"Aw, come on. It weren't that bad."

"For you maybe. You weren't getting pestered by old women looking for a toy boy."

"They were just teasing."

"I don't care. I still don't like wrinkly people trying to feel my arse."

Nina spat out her grog in laughter.

"You're joking?"

"No." Nathan said vehemently, "I'm going to be mentally damaged forever. Just promise me you won't ever take me to another garden party again."

Nina chuckled. "Alright, I promise. So, looks like I'm gonna be here another three weeks or so. When are you leaving?"

"I was gonna stay another week, but after today I don't think so. I might go at dawn, if the crew's ready. Are you gonna be alright though?"

"Me? Sure. You know I can look after meself. Are you?"

"Ooh, I dunno. Life will be so hard without you; I've no idea how I'll manage." Nathan mocked.

"Drink, and lots of it!" Nina replied.

"Hear hear." Nathan heartily agreed as they down their tankards.

The next morning Nina joined Nathan at the harbour to say goodbye and settle for their trip. After that was done, Nathan took his newly acquired gold and set sail, and Nina returned home to start settling in. She missed the company immediately, and as soon as she had sorted her things out, she made a job of visiting everyone she had met during the party.

The next two weeks were spent squeezing as much money out of people as possible and spending as little of it as possible. This meant joining those who she befriended for every meal she could and accompanying them whenever they went on shopping sprees.

She particularly got friendly with the Commodore; after all it always helped to have friends in high places, although she did find a soft spot for him starting to grow. He wasn't a bad looking man and she did find him very admirable in his actions. She couldn't help falling for him almost and had to keep telling herself from time to time that she couldn't possibly get involved with him.

She also felt sorry for Norrington as he was getting a lot of trouble from his superiors when he explained to them the nature of the incident involving the ship that was supposedly cursed.

"You're being ridiculous man." They told him, "The work is going to your head. If you don't shape up, we will have to reconsider that promotion."

TBC