Rosaline was seated at the grand dining table in her parent's home. There was a feast prepared to celebrate her return. Her parents, Emily, Thomas, her aunt Penny, who lived with them, her father's cousin George, and herself. Most of the party were chatting away politely. Rosaline picked at her food, but didn't really feel at all hungry. Every time she picked up her fork she was hit with memories of dining on the Black Pearl, Clay's wonderfully prepared meals, the genuine conversation, the teasing, the flirting… she was beginning to think that she had actually made the biggest, stupidest mistake of the entire life. Or maybe the situation was so confusing, that if she'd have stayed on the Pearl, she would be having the same feelings about not coming home.
She found herself wondering what Savannah would be doing right at that moment. Rosaline had been fascinated, and a little overwhelmed by Savannah's life style. Going where she pleased, doing what she wanted, and she could do. She had marvelled at her swordsmanship, at her mind, and her general knowledge of seemingly everything. But she had realised that she and Savannah shared one aspect of their characters. They both hid who they really were. Savannah would be a different person every day, and the only time any of the crew had ever seen the real her was that moment of desperation when she had aimed her pistol. Rosaline could almost understand her, which was an incredible feat in itself, as not many people can do that. For her, being brave, putting on an act, was something she always did when she had to. But Savannah felt like she always had to. Rosaline realised that Savannah's whole life must be like the feeling she got herself, when she feared something dreadful, or she had to fight for her life. The fear, the horror when Jack had been shot, when she had been seemingly kidnapped by a crew of pirates, that must be how Savannah felt all the time.
There was just one problem, that Rosaline could see very clearly. Savannah had pretended for so long, and bottled her feelings for so long, that they had taken control. Rosaline didn't want to get like that. She didn't want to end up like Savannah. Solitary, independent, but alone.
"Rosie?" Her mother's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Rosie?" Rosaline shook herself and looked up,
"Yes? Sorry, I wasn't…"
"My dear, this dreadful experience must have shaken you terribly," Her mother looked sympathetic. Rosaline seized the opportunity,
"Yes, yes it has." She said, hurriedly, "And I'm really quite exhausted. I do hope it wouldn't be too inappropriate for me to excuse myself. I feel I need to rest." Rosaline's mother looked appalled and glared at her husband,
"I told you she would be tired," She scolded, "What did I say? I said she needs rest… all this attention… honestly…"
Rosaline slipped out of the room, and went hurriedly up the stairs to her room where she clicked the lock shut on her door.
It was dark outside, and she couldn't even see where the sky met the horizon. There were several boats in the dock, and she watched them for a while. Her mind wandered, and she began to imagine secretly breaking out of her house, running down to the docks and commandeering one of them, sailing of into the distance, finding Jack and living happily ever after. It was at this point that she actually shook her mind out of such thoughts. It wasn't the thought of stealing a ship, or running away that seemed implausible, it was the thought of Jack Sparrow living happily ever after with anyone. She smiled, as she thought of Jack, her Jack. Then the smile left her face when she was hit by the second thought that followed the first at the heels. He wasn't her Jack anymore. He was out there somewhere, and she was… well, she was here.
She sighed. There was a ball the next day. She was expected to attend, so that her family could announce her safe return to the community. They would probably try and sell her off to yet another military man, they of course having no idea of what had happened to their daughter.
She looked at the gown that had been hung by the wardrobe. It would be what she wore the next night. It was beautiful. She imagined wearing it, and could imagine how good it would look, with her hair done up. It was light pink, a colour which naturally complimented her pale complexion, and made her hair stand out more because the dress was paler than her mousy locks.
She grimaced at the thought of wearing it. Why did she care what she looked like? The only person she wanted to impress was Jack, and he wasn't here. She would have to wear it, she would have to smile, and look great. She would have to pretend there was nothing wrong, and get on with her life. Just like Savannah always had.
Rosaline hadn't lied down in the dining room. She was tired, she was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. She stifled a yawn, and walked slowly over to her four poster bed which she collapsed on, laying on her back, her eyes on the ceiling.
"Goodnight Jack," She whispered, hugging her pillow to her chest, her eyes dry, simply because there were no more tears to shed. "And goodbye."
The next day passed quickly for Rosaline. Much quicker than she would have liked. She didn't wake until midday, and still didn't dress for another hour. She was stood at her window, watching the sea, the ships, and the people in the streets below her, when Emily knocked softly and entered,
"How are you feeling?" She asked her friend, not liking seeing her at all upset.
"Fine," Rosaline lied, "I was tired, a good night's sleep did me good."
"You know perfectly well that wasn't what I mean Rosie." Emily's arms were folded across her chest. Rosaline looked at her,
"I'm fine." She said again, "Just thinking about the ball tonight, is all." She indicated her dress, "What are you wearing?"
"I'm wearing a dress that I got while you were away. Thomas bought it for me from France. It really is lovely, it's light blue, with white lace. Ever so expensive though." Rosaline smiled slightly, and couldn't actually believe how much her priorities had changed in the small space of time she had spent at sea. She didn't care what Emily was wearing, where it was from, how much it cost… There was a time when she would have been able to hold an entire conversation on the lace on the corset.
"It sounds nice." She said, distantly, "I can't wait to see it." Emily frowned,
"Listen, Rosie, I know that maybe the last month or so has been hard for you, but that's even more of a reason to enjoy yourself tonight. Just go and have fun!" Easy for you to say. Rosaline loved her friend, but couldn't stop thinking how much Marti would hate this woman. "Look, Thomas and I are getting a carriage down to the hall later this evening, at about six o clock, why don't you join us?"
"I will travel with my parents, thank you," Rosaline didn't appreciate being in the same carriage as the two love birds. "I'm sure they will want to show off that I'm back."
Show off they did. Rosaline was pulled to and fro between her mother's friends, and her father's, both parties seemingly delighted that she was safe. She just wanted to go home. She didn't want all this attention. And the music was dull, the dancing boring, the wine… well, it was wine. Nothing more to be said.
Rosaline was sat on the very edge of a row of chairs, sipping at her glass of wine, and rejecting yet another request for a dance. She was thinking about leaving, when she heard something that made her heart miss a beat,
"Oh yes, Port Royale is very busy this time of year…" That voice! It couldn't be though, "…a lovely place here though, not to busy… with my husband William, he's on business here you see…" Elizabeth! What was she doing…
"May I have this dance?" Rosaline was just about to reject this man too, but when she looked up to speak, her almost slipped off her chair,
"Will!" She managed to keep her voice down, though when she stood up, her legs felt like jelly, "What's going on?" Will took her glass of wine and set it down before she spilt it,
"I can't say," He said, in a hushed voice, "But just know that we're here Rosaline, and tell me to bugger off," Rosaline cocked her head in confusion, and then followed Will's hint of a gesture in Emily's direction, who was trying to hide the fact that she had been staring.
"I'm sorry," She said, ever so slightly louder than she needed to, so her friend could hear, "I was thinking of returning home, it's been a long day." Will nodded politely, and went over to his wife, who was enjoying mingling far too much.
Rosaline's eyes searched the room, and she caught site of Conch, dressed as a page boy, Ana, dressed in what seemed to be one of Elizabeth's dresses, and not looking particularly comfortable.
Where was Jack? And why were they even here? She shook herself mentally. Jack wouldn't be seen here, he would be recognised, just like Gibbs, or Mort, or Clay or even Marti who could not hide the fact that they were pirates, unless each had an industrial bath, a change of wardrobe, and a haircut.
Will hadn't said anything when she had mentioned leaving. In fact, he had smiled, as if he had no problem with it. Should she go? It would arouse suspicion if she went over to speak to Ana, or the page boy. Especially from Emily, who knew perfectly well Rosaline didn't know either of them.
She glanced around for her mother, and told her quietly that she had had enough and was going to go back to get some rest. Instantly her mother agreed and launched into a terrifically embellished tale of her daughters last few weeks at sea. Rosaline rolled her eyes, and headed outside where there were carriages waiting.
As they travelled past the dock, she looked out, half expecting to see the Pearl moored there. A stupid thought, but then, maybe the rest was too. Did she really see Will, and hear Elizabeth? Was that Ana, or just a black woman she had not seen before? And the page? Could have been anyone… Rosaline needed sleep. Her mind was confusing itself.
She thanked the coach driver when she reached her house, and told the maid in the hall way that she just wanted to go to sleep, and didn't want to be disturbed.
Rosaline left her door open slightly, not wanting to be woken in the morning when the maid came in. She went over to her dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked tired, she would admit, but she looked like she fitted in with the image staring back at her. It was a shame she didn't fee like it.
She felt something, and her eyes froze. It was in her hair, what on earth? She felt it again, and realised some one was brushing her hair. She rolled her eyes. Kate, the maid, always brushed her hair at night, and when she woke. Lorna mustn't have told her Rosaline didn't want to be disturbed.
She turned around, expecting to see the small round face of Kate Smith, but was instead met with the stained, crumpled fabric of a shirt. Her heart actually stopped, and her whole body felt like it had gone numb.
Her eyes followed her shirt upwards, and was met by the gaze of Jack. Her Jack. She couldn't move, and it looked like he couldn't either. They both stood staring for what seemed like an eternity. Rosaline managed to stutter something,
"W-w-why?" She couldn't understand why he was here. Why he wasn't half way to Tortuga by now… Why was he here?"
"I'm not actually sure luv," Jack's deep voice answered her, "But I'm hopin' it were the right thing t' do." He was silenced instantly when Rosaline stood up and wrapped her arms around him. He smiled, and held her tightly. "Tha's good then."
"Jack, I have to say it now, I have to…" Rosaline whispered, "This was wrong. Me coming back. Ever since I got back I've not stopped wishing I could have made a different decision."
"Then I'd say it's a good job I listened to Ana then," Jack murmured, stroking her hair, and savouring every moment he had her in his arms.
"Let's go. Right now, let's go." Rosaline said desperately.
"Rosie, no," Rosaline stopped, and turned her head to see Emily in the doorway,
"Emmy," She started, but seeing her friend's face, she didn't know what else to say.
"This is him, isn't it? This is that pirate you've been carrying on with? I knew there was something wrong at the ball, and now I find this? Rosie, what are you thinking?"
"Roz luv, you don't seem like the 'Rosie' type," Jack commented, as he felt her arms tighten around his waist,
"Roz? You hate that! What is wrong with you?" Emily demanded, "He's a pirate. The navy would be in here in three seconds if they knew… and I can smell him from over here!"
"You won't tell the navy," Rosaline sounded desperate, now thinking that she would. Emily really thought Rosaline had lost her mind,
"Won't I? If it's the only thing that make you see…"
"No!" Rosaline yelled, stepping back from Jack, and toward Emily, "Emily, I will not have Jack taken from me, not my you, the navy… or anyone!" Emily glared,
"You can't leave with him!" She protested, "You can't! You live here, with us!"
"No I don't…" Rosaline said quietly, "I can't… not any more…" Emily stepped back, shaking her head,
"You can't… I can't… Rosie…" Rosaline didn't speak, but looked into her friend's eyes, with tears in her own. She really didn't understand how she felt. How much she loved Jack. She never could.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, meaning every bit of it. Emily backed away, then ran down the stairs and out of the house. Rosaline turned to Jack, "We have to go," She said hurriedly, "What if she goes and gets her husband, he's an officer, Jack come on we have to…" She broke down in sobs, partly at the thought of leaving, partly at the thought of Jack being caught, at the thought of the look on Emily's face, the betrayal. Jack wrapped his strong arms around her again, and felt her bury her face in his chest.
"The navy has tried, and failed on many occasions to capture me luv," He said, planting a kiss on her head, "And if the worst comes to the worst, I'll use you as a hostage."