I arched a brow in her direction, hoping that the expression was not lost in the dark. "Yes, Miss Beckett?" I ventured.

She grinned and strode toward me. No shrinking violet, this one. "You were so captivating during dinner, Captain, that I just had to talk to you alone."

"Are you certain that it is in your best interests? Most young women do not see men unchaperoned, especially when said man is a well-known pirate."

She scoffed. "One, you are not so 'well-know' as you seem to believe, Captain. I have never heard of you until this evening. And two, I am no ordinary young woman." She tossed her blonde head, as if that served as proof.

I suppressed a grin and turned on my heel. I heard her stamp her foot behind me and I smirked.

"How dare you turn away from me," she whined, impertinently. I shrugged and continued to the hall and on to my suite.

Finally alone behind the closed door, I sagged into a tapestried arm chair. I rubbed my face and stared unblinking into the fire, wholly dazed by the evenings proceedings. With the slightest glance at the overbearing opulence surrounding me, I knew I was out of place. Yet, I couldn't help but feel strangely at home.

Perhaps working for Beckett was something to consider. Perhaps the storied life of Captain Jack Sparrow was at a close and Jaques Sperrit needed to be reborn. I pondered as I peeled off my clothes and fell into the goose down mattress, reveling in its luxurious quality, as well as in the fine linens. I fell asleep thinking I could get used to such a bed.

And so it was that I found myself accepting Beckett's offer the following morning over a hearty breakfast, the likes of which I hadn't afforded myself in too many years. The decision came rather unexpectedly to me upon waking, and in the bright morning sun, it felt like the obvious choice. Beckett was elated.

"Good choice, Sparrow. I am most pleased. My superiors will want to meet with you, of course, but with my recommendation and the proper, er," he paused and gave me a cursory glance before tucking back into the feast, "Grooming, we'll have you admiral of a fleet before long. Ah, Regina, darling, you're just in time for the good news!" The last, of course, was directed at his daughter.

Regina flopped down into a chair near her father and speared me with a withering glance before taking the bait, "What news father? Is our guest leaving?"

I quirked an eyebrow, but held my tongue.

Beckett ignored his daughter's remark, preferring to answer her question. "No, the Captain has agreed to take a commission with the Company. Isn't that splendid?"

"Absolutely," the girl deadpanned. I raised my gaze to her and saw that she was glaring at me. I smiled, serenely, knowing exactly what her 'absolutely' meant.

Beckett rose, suddenly, "Well, I must be off. I'm sorry to run out like this, Sparrow, but I have matters that require my immediate attention. Being at sea for so long has set me back, I'm afraid. You can entertain yourself today, I trust? I'm sure you'll want to see the port." Without waiting for my reply, her patted Regina's arm and hurried out the door, leaving me alone with his daughter.

And, the young blonde was throwing daggers in my direction.

I decided to break the tension, "So, Regina, what is that you wanted to talk about last night?"

She seethed for a moment before returning my smile, though hers did not quite reach her eyes. She obviously not used to being spurned. That revelation made me smile even wider. "I just wanted to hear more about the Caribbean, Captain Sparrow. You know, a girl like me is very lonely in a place where no one except the servants and her father's business acquaintances speak my language. And, a man of the world such as yourself must have a few interesting stories." I noted that when she said 'man of the world,' it sounded little like she was referring to that fact that I was well-traveled. If she expected me to bluster, she was disappointed.

"Of course, Miss Beckett," I stood. And, while I had been expected her to start a little at my intimidating height, it was my turn for disappointment. I forged on, however. "Men like myself have seen a great deal. Perhaps there is something in particular you'd like to know," I said, walking around the table to help her out of her chair. As I slid it back, I leaned close to her ear and nearly growled, "Or learn?" From my vantage point, I could see quite a bit of her ample bosom. And, since she did not shy away, I looked my fill as I helped her to stand.

She laughed, "Oh, Captain, you must have me confused with some poor farmer's daughter." At this, she tapped my chest in the spot where my borrowed shirt just opened to exposed my chest. Her light touch sent a jolt coursing through my veins. "There is a lot that I could teach you." She made to move past me, but I caught her by her wrist. She looked up at me, equal measures expectant and flippant.

"One should not play with fire if one does not wish to be burnt," I warned, my voice coming out low and gravelly, despite my best efforts. I cursed my body for betraying me.

A smile lit across her lips and she stood on her toes and kissed me.

It was chaste, but when she didn't turn away, I took the opportunity to return the favor. I captured her face in my hands and brushed my lips over hers gently. I didn't let go and when I heard a little mewling sound come from her throat, I plied her kiss once more. She caught me around the neck, effectively pressing her body into mine and furthering the kiss.

Finally, I pulled away and let her go. She stared at me, her eyes glossy and filled with lust. I knew I was not dealing with an innocent woman. The thought gnawed at my belly, but the desire pooling lower in my loins won and I took her by the arm and hurried her through the hall. I couldn't see her, but I knew she was smiling.

Once more in my suite of rooms, as yet touched by the household staff, she toppled me to that luxe bedding without even bothering to shed her clothing. Her eyes were full of the Devil and delight as she freed me from my borrowed breeches and rode me. Shocked, I did little more than reciprocate.

Breathless and exhausted, she climbed off of me and made for the door. Her cheeks were pink and her mouth swollen from kisses. She threw a smile over her shoulder and stole out of my room. I took a moment to recollect myself before dressing.

Sitting up on the edge of my bed, I rubbed my face with my hands. I knew I shouldn't have let it happen, but, I reasoned, it wasn't as if he girl was naive. On the other hand, however, she wasn't the sort of girl that I could leave at port. She was the daughter of my future employer. And, she was a lady, no matter how much she dallied in things she did not understand.

I took myself out of the house and wandered the grounds, aimlessly. Part of me was searching for her and part of me did not want to find her.

However, I stumbled upon Regina in the stables. She was talking in a low voice, but I did not see anyone with her. I assumed she was talking to a horse and was about to call to her, when I saw a young Indian gentleman step out of the stall. I took a step back and flattened myself on the other side of the door, straining to hear their conversation.

"I did it, Sohan and soon we will be free of this place," came Regina's voice. She continued, but it was muffled and I couldn't make out what she said next. But, the young man's voice rang loud and clear.

"How long before your father runs him off, then?" his accent was as clipped and British as that of Regina's father. The boy was obviously well-educated and most likely wealthy. I almost snorted at the girl's little speech about being lonely and without anyone to talk to.

"It'll only be a matter of time. I wait for him to do the honorable thing, which he won't, and then I tell my father that I was taken against my will." My eyes widened at that little confession. It seemed that I was the topic of conversation.

They didn't say anything for a few moments, and when I was about to give up and walk back to the manor, Regina laughed. "It will be a pleasure to take the Captain down a peg or two." I smirked. A peg or two, indeed.

XxXxXxX

Regina found her father and I in the study just before the dinner bell. Her skin was flushed and her knot was slightly askew. But, given what I'd just asked Admiral Beckett, he didn't seem to notice.

"Regina, lovely of you to join us. I rather thought you'd have wanted to be here for Jack's request, but then, you never do anything I expect."

Regina cocked her eyebrows and turned to me, looking equal parts quizzical and suspicious. I smiled back at her, doing my best imitation of sincerity. "Yes, darling, I had hoped to have you by my side when I told your father of our imminent engagement. After all, we discussed it earlier. But, I simply could not wait for you."

The Admiral paled considerably when I repeated the word engagement. As far as he knew, I had fallen madly in love with his daughter, irrevocably so, and she shared my sentiments. And, we both wished for a hasty wedding.

I expected Regina to balk and to give up the charade, perhaps even to claim her young Indian, but she surprised me once more with a beaming smile. She crossed the room in a flurry of skirts and grasped my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "Oh, Jack! You are a wicked thing, aren't you? Spilling the beans so early. I thought we were going to wait until after supper." She smiled at her father, dazzling him into reciprocating.

"Well, Regina, I must say I'm surprised," Beckett began. "But pleased. Your chosen fiancé has quite a future before him and will be a rich man soon."

I did my better not to sputter, choosing instead to smile at my future father-in-law. I had been duped, some how, and I was as yet unsure how to get out of it. Fortunately, I had a little more time to think on it, as Marcus appeared to announce supper.

XxXxXxX

And so it was that I found myself outfitted in a naval uniform six weeks hence. I stared into a looking glass, almost overcome by my changed appearance. My hair remained long, but gone were the locks and braids and my precious Remembrances (they had been sequestered to a gaudily bejeweled box). Instead, it was secured at the nape of my neck by, of all things, a blue ribbon. My coat had more buttons and baubles than I could have unearthed in Tia Dalma's hut, and I felt suffocated in the high-necked linen shirt. I shook my head and cleared my throat, feeling more like I was on the hangman's noose than to the alter.

I had thought on just leaving the country on one of the ships I was shown during my indoctrination into the East India Trading Company. Any fine vessel would have done me. But, alas, I couldn't find it in me to run. Not again.

And, Regina, had acted every bit as enamored of me as I pretended to be of her. I was almost convinced that whatever I heard in the stable that day had been misinterpreted. Perhaps she really did want to marry me. That thought was floating through my mind as the door to my suite banged open.

In the doorway, Beckett stood, wielding a hot poker in his left fist and brandishing a pistol in his right. "Sparrow!" he roared.

Rather than answer his rhetorical bellow, I pulled my own sword, a finely worked shortsword. Of course, it was little more than a decoration and I only hoped that it would serve to hold Beckett off enough for me not to have to use it.

"Is this any way to talk to your soon-to-be son?" I asked from behind what little protection the blade offered.

He sneered at me, thrusting the poker into the blazing fire. "On your knees, Sparrow. This is best done quickly."

"Care to inform me of what is going on, Admiral?" I ventured, making no move to obey.

He gestured to the floor with his pistol, "Defile my daughter? You? A bleeding pirate?"

I raised my eyebrows, questioningly. "Defile her? I intend to marry her. And last I checked, you were all for it."

"That was before she told me what you did! Taking her innocence and then pressuring her to marry you so that you could take her away and sell her into slavery in the Caribbean!"

A laugh bubbled over my lips before I could hold it in check. As I suspected, this only served to enrage the short man. "Come on now, Beckett. Surely this is some joke. That is absolutely ludicrous!"

He kept the pistol trained on me, and from the sweat beading on his brow and the trembling way with which is finger kept nearing the trigger, I knew that it was no joke indeed. Regina had gone to him on the day we were to be married so that she could have me killed and have Sohan to herself. More than a month had passed and she waited for this day. I suppose she had expected me to run out before the wedding. It was a damnably poor time to choose to be honorable.

And those words resounded through me brain as Beckett reached for the poker he'd cast into the fire. He turned it to me and it could see that it wasn't a poker at all, but a brand. The initial 'P' burned, hot and orangey-red. The smell of my smoldering flesh already burning into my nostrils, and the implement was still a good three feet from me. I cringed, but did not lower my poor excuse for a weapon.

Beckett smiled cruelly at me, his blue eyes glossing over with the same sadistic glee I'd seen in Barbossa's eyes when he killed. Still, I did not sink to my knees. But, I was backed into a corner, so I awaited my fate as stoically as I could.

"Roll up your sleeve, you dog," he demanded, gesturing now with the smoking brand. He stuck it back into the red-hot embers, keeping the firearm aimed at my face. I sheathed my sword and shrugged out of my coat, rolling up the crisp white sleeve of my linen shirt.

"A hundred wedding guests will be witness to you shame and shall hear your screams. I should castrate you for all you've put my daughter through," he rambled. His roar had dulled when his eyes took on that delirious sheen and I knew at once that Cutler Beckett was going to enjoy this.

"Do you know someone named Sohan?" I asked. I knew it was foolish, but I couldn't help but sow my own seeds when I knew I had not escape. If I was going to go down, I wanted this man with me. When Beckett did not answer, I continued. "Because he's tupping your daughter, as sure as I have. She was no innocent when she climbed all over me." Beckett seethed before me, his color rising quickly until I was sure steam would billow from his ears and mouth. Foolhardy though it was, I couldn't resist adding," There's no telling who else might have fallen victim to your daughter's wiles," I finished, showing Beckett the tattoo of the sparrow flying in front of a setting sun on my forearm.

And with one last, visceral shout, he grasped the brand with both hands and struck it down on the sensitive flesh just above my right wrist. Unable to contain it, I joined him with a bloodcurdling scream of my own as the hot metal seared my flesh.

XxXxXxX

I'll never know why Cutler Beckett didn't kill me.

I just woke up on the floor of that suite some hours later, my arm bound in a scrap of linen. I don't know if I had wrapped it before passing out or Beckett had. Or someone else. I remembered little of the moments after the metal had touched my skin. I was too scared to remove the cloth and too scared not to. I left it go, clenching my teeth at the pain that wracked through me as I stood.

The room reeled around me and I stumbled to the bed. There, on the bedside table was a ewer of water from the night before and I gulped it down hastily. It was a mistake on an empty stomach and world of hurt, and just as soon as I set the pitcher down, I retched the water back up.

I staggered out into the hallway. It was curiously silent. As I descended the grand stairway, I could see remnants of what was supposed to be our wedding celebration. Baskets and sprays of flowers littered the glossy hardwood floor. Shards of broken pottery lay amongst the mess of magnolia, carnation, and lotus. And, there on the floor in the middle of the mess, lay Regina. She was dressed in an elaborately embroidered gold gown, but it was torn and stained. With dried black blood. She was hunched into a ball, clutching at a blue jacket. Shaking, but not crying. Staring but not seeing. Alive but no longer living.

I walked straight past her and out the door.