In the morning the couple went downstairs as they heard the stir of the kitchen preparing their breakfast. After having stale biscuits and ale on the ship for the past four mornings they were excited to taste eggs and toast once again. The Governor was already seated and reading the latest paper when Will and Elizabeth emerged from the foyer.

"Good morning dearest" He said, standing from his chair and giving his daughter a kiss.

"Good morning father." She replied as she kissed his cheek and walked around the table to sit next to her husband. Weatherby seated himself again and gave a small smile and a nod to Will who sat across from him. Will accepted the gesture, one of the few friendly looks he had received since he arrived, and smiled back.

"I almost forgot to tell you! You two arrived just in time to attend the Mayfield's Ball on Saturday." Weatherby said, his face beaming.

Will immediately looked to Elizabeth next to him at the mention of a public ball. Her spirits fell to the floor but she kept a calm and cool demeanor as she spoke.

"Oh…did we? And it's only Friday. Did you hear that Will? We're going to a ball." She said, her eyes in a pleading stare while her mouth was in a forced smile.

Will decided to reply in mock excitement as well. "Indeed. Well it sounds like a good time."

There was an odd silence at the table until the Governor put his paper beside him and stood up. "Well I had better be going, much to do you know. I'll expect you have much shopping to do for the occasion. They'll all be expecting you now that you're in town."

Elizabeth said nothing as she merely glance up at him with a grin and tilted her head for him to kiss her cheek quickly before he left the room and walked down the corridor to his office. Once he was gone Liz's shoulders slumped as she was trying to keep a sense of mannerisms around her father. "Oh Will…I dread going to these things. How could I forget the Mayfield's' have a fall every October fortnight." She said, her elbows on the table with her head in her hands in frustration.

Will rubbed her back soothingly, wanting to ease all of her worries. It seemed that worry and nerves plagued his wife since the moment they arrived. "I know love, I know…but we'll make an appearance. We don't have to stay long."

"I hope not." She said finally looking at him through her hands holding her head. "If I have to pretend for hours on end at another one of those droll parties I'm afraid I'll do something drastic – like….like…live here again!"

Saturday night came too quickly for Will and Elizabeth. Both were dreading the occasion but for slightly different reasons. Will's hesitation was simple: He had never been to a ball. It wasn't a secret that he was a poor dancer, uncomfortable with fancy clothes, not at his best when it came to discussion politics and foreign policy, and he had never ever drank a champagne or a wine that cost more than any sword he had made. Elizabeth's reasoning was somewhat less unfamiliar. They were the same reservations she had had since she was a little girl: The mask. She was forced to laugh, play ignorant to talk of business around men, dance and converse with a smile on her face and always have a light foot when a gentleman asked for a dance. Now that she was back she knew there would be talk around the ball of their return. She dreaded the snickering and the whispers, most of all she dreaded Will being the brunt of most of it. Elizabeth turned to Will who was attempting to tie his scarf and tuck it in his vest. She smiled at him and touched his hand lightly as to tell him she would help. He put his arms down and sighed in his frustration. When she finished (which was in a matter of seconds) he smiled at her and gently kissed her lips.

"Nervous?" He asked, his hand under her chin.

"A little…you?"

"A lot." He laughed. She put her hand up to his cheek and drew her face nearer. "There's nothing to worry about. We're both being silly to be this uneasy about all this." She said matter-of-factly.

He cleared his throat and took one more look at himself in the mirror to make sure everything was the way it was suppose to be. Liz did the same next to him.

"Ready then?" He asked taking her hand.

"Might as well…" She shrugged as they whisked themselves down the stairs and out the door quickly in to the carriage where the elder Swann was waiting.

The ride was rather stiff much like the breakfast before. The pale evening light was streaming through one of the sides of the curtains not tied down. It didn't allow much vision for the passengers, but by the way things were going they didn't need much of anything other than a quicker pace to the Mayfield's home. Governor Swann would refer to previous subjects and people, which only Elizabeth was familiar with. Will, once again was left out of the loop. Liz tried to talk of things for him to join in but it wouldn't take long for Weatherby to feel left out and begin again with his own subject of conversation. When the carriage finally stopped at the Mayfield Mansion, Will let out a silent sigh of relief to be rid of the stuffy air. He got out and went quickly to the other side to help Elizabeth out, but before he even turned the corner the Governor had his hand extended and Liz was standing next to him with an apologetic look for her husband. Once the threesome reached the large doorway the host and hostesses were there to greet them. Although new guests were arriving every minute, they still made sure to thank the governor for attending their yearly ball. The tall, slender, graceful woman with her aging, plump, short husband swarmed them on the doorstep with smiles and sweet words.

"So nice of you to come Governor Swann! We're always so pleased for you attend our parties." Said Mrs. Mayfield with a high-pitched, excited tone in her voice.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. You know it is the social event of the year!" Replied Weatherby.

Will felt his throat tighten and his palms begin to sweat. Social Event of the Year?

"And praise be to the heavens above…Elizabeth my dear, how have you been?" She asked, taking Liz's hands into her own as if they had been friends for eternity.

"Fine Ma'am, thank you. This is my husband William Turner, I don't think you've been properly introduced." She said, turning inwards to let Will into the conversation.

Will bowed and kissed the back of her hand, just as he had always known to do when he met respectable women. The lady was flattered with the gesture; although she knew exactly who he was…he was that blacksmith. But nonetheless he was the governor's son-in-law and a guest at her party she knew better than to ask the obvious questions that were prickling her mind. "Yes Mr. Turner. So glad you could come as well. This is your first time I know, but we'll have you introduced with everyone before the night is over!" She said cheerfully.

Will smiled politely as she led Elizabeth and Will into the large double doors and into the lavish mansion. The guests who had already arrived were dancing and laughing along to the music while the orchestra played in the balcony above them. A waiter in a powder white wig met them when they entered and offered them a glass of wine, which the couple accepted with some hesitation. Will looked around with a slight awe and wonder written on his features, while Elizabeth had the same forced smile on her lips. Quickly and with out any delay the eccentric Mrs. Mayfield lead Will around the room like a puppy, introducing him to this person and that person – the names all of which he forgot in a matter of seconds before another guest came into view for the hostess to draw in. Elizabeth scanned the room and realized she knew many of the people standing around and dancing. She would give them a polite nod of her head when they made eye contact, their smiles would tell her that they held a slight contempt for her – but a curiosity and likeness as well. One face jumped out of the crowed of people. It was George Mayfield. His black hair was slicked back and his gray eyes burned like a fire when they rested on Elizabeth. He casually walked over to her and bowed, which she in turn curtsied – for him the cat and mouse game had just begun.

"Elizabeth you grow lovelier by the day." He spoke in a low voice, with his hand resting on his coat lapel.

Elizabeth gave him a flash of a polite grin as she thanked him, not truly wanting to get into a conversation with the man.

"I heard you were married…. and moved to America?" He asked with a pretentious laugh.

His vague mockery slightly angered Liz as she kept a cool countenance. "Indeed." She replied shortly.

"To who was it…" He said, pretending to forget the name of the man who wedded his former love. "Tenneson…Thomas…?"

"Turner." She snapped slightly. "I married William Turner."

"Ah. That's right…the blacksmith." His tone was condescending and he had a look of pity for her on his face. "Well I hope that it's all working out for you two. You were wed in such a hurry."

Elizabeth's back straightened and her lips locked into a pursed defiance of his rudeness. "Really? I thought it was put off far to long as it was - Excuse me." She turned from him and went quickly to where Will and Mrs. Mayfield were standing, talking to a few of the other guests.

George kept the same smug grin on his face as he watched her walk away. One of his friends, a tall man of his same age and slightly older gentlemen than the rest came over to him.

"Well?" one of them inquired.

"Well what?" George said, taking a large drink of his wine.

"What did she have to say? …About Turner and all of it."

He glanced back over to her, his eyes shining. "Nothing. She was tight lipped about it all."

The other man snickered. "I would be to if I were involved in a scandal such as that."

"It isn't that bad…she ran away to be married – to a blacksmith none the less – but it still doesn't deserve as much attention as it seems to be getting this evening." George concluded with a shrug of his shoulders.

His friend gave him a quizzical look. "You mean you didn't know… She had a baby."

George looked slightly surprised but quickly let it go. "That's nothing new to married women."

"Do the figuring in your head! Governor Swann said the child was premature by a month and a half. She was only married a month before she says she became pregnant. I say that they told her old man the baby was premature…and in reality the bastard got her pregnant and left her with no other option but marriage!"

George stood there with a growing realization of what his friend was explaining. "Yes…Yes that must be it! Why else would she stoop so low as to marry him."? His mind began to turn as the gears in his head started to stir. "She's probably the most miserable woman, stuck with that whelp…. Well she needn't worry – I'll save her from that ill-fated marriage." His eyes bore into Elizabeth's back, as he smiled at his newly found hope of regaining her.

Liz was tired of all the mindless chatter and fake charades. Her thoughts were in another place as she watched Will. He was trying so hard to impress the people there; he made every attempt to do the right thing while still managing to be attentive to her. The conversation with George had got her in a small state of alarm. When she was sixteen she had courted him for a short time. When George proposed after only knowing her for a month she immediately turned him down and told him not to come and call after her any more. There was something about the man that made her uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the way his hand would always find its way to her neck – controlling her. Or it might be the way his smile made her shiver, as if he could see through her. Everything about that man had made her uneasy around him…she never trusted him. She wandered over to the piano, which a few of the guests were previously playing, and sat down. It had been ages since she had attempted to play a song but thought she could do one from memory. It was almost too loud in the great hall to even hear the notes in the air but the tune caught Will's attention and drew his eyes from the empty conversation to his wife sitting at the bench in front of the long, black, grand piano. Her fingers moved swiftly across the keys as her head slightly tilted, trying so hard not to make a mistake. Will smiled fondly as he walked towards her from behind. He lightly put on his hands to her waist, which made Elizabeth jump and turn in surprise. She instinctively slapped his hand away, which confused Will to see her refuse his touch like that.

"Oh God." She said with her hand to her chest, calming her quick heart. "Will it's you… I'm sorry –"

"Of course its me." He laughed. "Who were you expecting?"

She shook her head and diverted her eyes. "I don't know… That George Mayfield has been watching me all evening. It sends chills down my spine to have his gaze on me like that."

Will was alarmed at how she spoke of his man. "Why Liz? Why does he frighten you?" He said, sitting on the bench next to her.

"I don't know. We courted long ago – I think he may still feel the same." She looked up at him. "But it doesn't matter. None of that matters anymore." Liz kissed him softly on the lips, and quickly – for they were in public.

Will wasn't as accustom to keeping such decorum about his affections. His hand slipped around her waist as kissed her again, this time with a growing passion. She sighed and released the breath she had been holding all night. Her fingers wandered to the nape of his neck were they found his loose curls. Will's lips managed to move their way down to her ear and even further to her neck. Someone's sharp laugh from the other side of the room shook them from their own little world.

Will parted from her "Do you want to leave?" He whispered low in her ear.

"Please." She said, her fingers toying with his collar.

He quickly stood up and offered a hand to her. She took it and slipped her arm through the crook of his elbow. Elizabeth found her father talking to a group of people and she discreetly pulled him from the conversation to tell him that she wasn't feeling well and that she and Will were going to retire to their home. He nodded and waved her away quickly for he didn't care once he was dealing with business. With a kiss on her cheek the governor let the couple take the carriage back home. On the ride there, Elizabeth made sure the curtains were securely tied down to their pegs. Will could hold himself back no longer as Elizabeth's hands wandered down his chest and to his waist. He sunk himself lower in his seat as the carriage made the bumpy ride even that more exciting for the lovers. Elizabeth's dress was slightly loosened in the front, allowing Will to slip in his hand and caress her milk sore breasts, the mixture of pleasure, the kisses he placed, and the twinge of pain was more than she could bare, for the ride home was taking far too long. When it began to slow they knew they had reached the Swann mansion. Will took his jacket off and wrapped it around Liz quickly to cover her unlaced dress. Will also made an attempt to hide his excitement by getting out with haste and making it to the door before the butler could answer.

When they walked up the stairs and down the hall to the bedroom they shared, their only contact was by holding hands. Once the door was open, Elizabeth had made it only a foot inside, Will shut the door hurriedly behind him and caught her against the wall. Her hands were deftly moving across his body as his vest was removed, then his shirt unbuttoned. Both of his hands were on either side of her, trapping her against the wall. She enjoyed this furious passion they had been holding back for so long. Liz wrapped one leg around his waist, then two as her dress fell to the floor below her. Her gown was removed soon after and disguarded somewhere in the dark room. Will was holding her by her backside, his head tilted back, for she was above him, holding her self up by his hands and waist. She could feel his pressing member in the place she most wanted it. The only hindrance was his pants. She moved her hands down his chest and stomach to his belt, which she ripped from the loops and tossed it aside. His mouth devoured hers and her tongue invaded him as they kissed, her back arched against the wall. Will's trousers were soon lost in the pile of clothes and in one long thrust he put himself into her – quenching the desire both of them had held for the past three weeks, building up to this moment. Elizabeth sunk herself into him, allowing him to move her back and forth; feeling is hardness deep inside of her, feeling his tongue trace the contours of her neck. Her face contorted in a fit of intense, increasing pleasure and the sighs and moans could be heard from both of them. Just before Will had reached his climax he grabbed her from the wall and took her the few remaining feet to the bed where he laid her down on her back. He stood above her and continued the furious lovemaking. The last few seconds were ones of fingernails digging into skin as both the man and the woman were fulfilled in their lustful desires.

Will held Elizabeth close to his chest as the rays of sunlight began to stream through the open bay window in the bedroom. The couple hadn't slept one minute the entire night. Between checking on Katie three times and making love numerous times through out the evening, sleep was not a luxury, which they had, nor did they want at this moment. Both were completely content in each other's arms. Liz ran her hand across his hand that rested on her breast. Will kissed her neck and buried his head in her shoulder. His eyes wandered from her shoulder down across her body, then stopped abruptly. He took his finger and tried to brush away a smudge on her hip.

"Ow! What was that?" She asked

"I – I thought it was a mark I could rub away. I think it's a bruise."

"Oh." Was all she said as she lay her head back down on the pillow next to him.

"Liz! I did that to you." He said, raising his head up and taking a better look at the blue mark on her hipbone. Will bent his head and kissed the bruise, rubbing his hand over it. "I'm sorry."

"Will." She chided, "Will look at me."

He sat back up and leaned on one elbow, facing his beautiful wife. She put her hand on his cheek. "You see that bruise? I like it…no I love it. You gave that bruise to me in the passion that we shared last night. I deserve it….alright?"

Elizabeth kissed him and ran her hand down his stomach below the sheets. Her aggressiveness caught Will off guard as he allowed her to continue. She rolled on top of him and kissed his ear then his neck before biting him.

"Ow!"

She raised her head from him and smiled coyly. "Now we're even."