Two
"What about your dress, Miss Swann?" said Jack. "Me thought that you'd be dressin' all upmarket as well."
"No," sighed Elizabeth. "I will wear my best dress and that is all. I don't want to wear an expensive wedding dress."
"We had best be going," urged Will, shooing Elizabeth and Jack to the door.
"Oh," he continued, "and one more thing. Jack, you will have to go by another name. Hmm…."
"How about Captain Higgins, a retired British naval officer?" suggested Jack.
"Uh, no," said Will, opening the latch. "What about Austin Miles, the wealthy merchant, visiting from London?"
"I want a name that begins with 'captain'," stated Jack.
"I don't think anyone would buy it," put in Elizabeth as they stepped out into the street. "They would wonder what ship you had served on, and such. This could lead to revealing questions. Best go with Austin Miles."
"Blast," grumbled Jack. He affected his best proper English accent. "My name is Austin Miles. I'm a blasted merchant sailor all the bloody way from London. I'm also very wealthy. Even richer than that famous pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow—"
Elizabeth gave him the look.
"A thousand pardons, Miss Swann," said Jack. "I'll shut me big mouth," he added with a whisper, "before it gets me hanged."
Will smiled good-naturedly. Jack was trying to act cultured, but having an awful time of it. He continued to practice quietly as the threesome strolled the busy street.
"Oh!" said Elizabeth, stopping suddenly. "I'd almost forgotten." She pulled out a pair of glasses. "I've had these lenses in my dress where I put them when I borrowed them from the butler. He will probably wonder where they've gotten to, but I'll return them later."
Jack looked over them with scrutiny. "Do I have to?" he asked. "I already look like an old bigwig—excuse me, a distinguished gentleman."
"Yes," said Elizabeth. "I didn't concoct an elaborate plan to lure the butler away from his lenses for nothing."
Jack put them on. "How do I look?" he asked. "Nice?"
"They're up-side down," Elizabeth pointed out.
Will noticed they were getting looks from some of the passer-bys so he urged the others on. "You look fine, Jack," he said. "But we must keep going. I don't want to burst in at the last probable moment. It's not very courteous."
"Where is this wedding, anyway?" inquired Jack as they went.
"It will be held in the small chapel by the bay," replied Will. "It's not far from here. Governor Swann suggested that we hold it in the larger church a ways inland, but we decided to keep it small."
The town was placid that evening, except for a few shopkeepers just closing up for the day and some other common people mulling about on the street. The sun wasn't visible at that moment. It was hovering over the sea to their right, and only a faint golden glow was seen above the top of the harbor. The weather was temperate, the wind was warm, the scent in the air, lovely as ever. Not at all like some other port cities in which the air stank of fish.
Jack's eyes wandered back and forth. "Funny," he commented, "I don't think I've ever been through here when I wasn't bein' run after by bloody Norrington's guards. It's a bizarre feeling."
Will noticed the pleased look of his features and wandered if Jack was regretting being a pirate, having to be hunted everywhere he went. He decided against this idea. Jack loved being a scallywag too much to ever regret it. Perhaps he was simply pondering the "what if's and the why for's".
At length, they came to the small archaic building and Will bid Jack pause. "Before we go in," he whispered just loud enough so that both could hear, "I need to remind you not to forget yourself, Jack. Don't forget, your name is Austin Miles. Not Captain Jack Sparrow."
"It is?" asked Jack.
"Please," said Will, "be serious. I don't want them to find out who you really are. And mind that you don't go around Commodore Norrington. He can smell a disguise a mile away. Just keep in character. Pretend you are performing in the Royal British Theatre and if the performance is bad, you die. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, I'm certain you'll do well. I just don't want you to get caught."
"I shall do the best in my power to see that that does not occur," said Austin Miles.
"Very good," said Will, impressed. The change in voice that Jack had effected was exemplary. Will could scarcely tell that it was the same person.
"Good voice work," Will complemented as Jack turned to leave. "Oh, Austin Miles," called Will, lowering his voice to a slight whisper. "Try not to do that thing you do with your hands."
Jack turned and gave him a 'What thing I do with my hands'? look.
"And when you are speaking with someone," continued Will, "please don't invade their space. I mean, don't let your face get closer than three inches from theirs. Understand?" Jack nodded, giving himself away with his identifying grin.
The three made their way past a few wedding-goers who were just arriving and entered the building. To both Will and Elizabeth's surprise, the place was packed. There wasn't a seat open.
"Who are all these people?" Will whispered discreetly in Elizabeth's ear as they made their way past the staring congregation.
"I don't know," replied Elizabeth. "My father must have invited them." Will scarcely recognized anyone. A few faces seemed familiar. He had seen them around Port Royal at some point in the past. The blacksmith cringed at feeling all the unfamiliar eyes on him. He could sense that Jack was uneasy about it as well. He searched the faces…ah, at last someone he knew. It was Commodore Norrington. The Commodore smiled at Elizabeth and nodded encouragingly at Will. There were two soldiers in full uniform sitting beside him, their expressions solemn. They knew little mirth.
This wasn't at all what Will had expected. He had thought that this wedding would be casual, but all of these important people were quickly squelching that mood. The three made it past the uncomfortable silence and up to the front where a minister was waiting patiently. He was carrying a small black book in which he had sermon notes and such. He smiled welcomingly and indicated that the pair should stand before him. Jack seemed out of place for a moment, but Will quickly grasped his arm and pulled him behind him.
"This is my best man," said Will, hoping that Jack wouldn't perform his little feminine wave. He didn't. Will inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled in spite of himself.
