Disclaimer: Sigh. None of POTC is mine. I need a drink.

"Katherine, I am so terribly sorry that your mother and I did not do more to defend your name," Mr. Thompson sadly informed his daughter.

Unable to fully forgive what had felt like a total betrayal of her love and affection, Katherine softly said, "I wish that you would have listened to me, father. You know that while I can be rash and impulsive, I rarely do anything completely untoward." Here Katherine had to tamp down a feeling of guilt that she was in fact at this very time planning on entering an illicit love affair. She would wager that most would find that behavior unladylike. But she firmly pushed her pangs of conscience aside. Her reputation was already ruined so why not engage in a discreet liaison?

"Yes, I know. I am not defending my actions but when Mr. Giles and Mr. Sneed added their voices to the fray, the evidence seemed overwhelming. Still, I should have known that you would never lie about such a thing."

Stunned, Katherine remained mute for a moment and considered this information. She had had no idea that other gentlemen had corroborated Sir Huntley's false claims. Of course it had been that horrible Mr. Giles. On more than one occasion, Katherine had felt obliged to deliver him a cutting set down when he had become far too familiar. That she had done so in front of others had probably raised the level of his animosity towards her. As for Mr. Sneed, she could not recall any interaction that she had had with him be it positive or negative. However, he was Mr. Giles' best friend and a fellow of little backbone so she supposed that he had just followed his friend's lead. "What made you change your mind about my guilt?"

Mr. Thompson winced at the directness of her question but was unsurprised that she had asked it. "Well Mr. Sneed came to me and confessed that he had in fact not witnessed the scene that Sir Huntley claimed had happened. Once he did that and I calmly looked at all of the facts, I had to acknowledge that the story was rather preposterous. And by then of course the whispers had started about how Huntley was facing financial ruin. Between your dowry and inheritance, marriage to you must have seemed like the answer to his prayers."

Katherine digested this latest piece of news. At last the whole situation made sense. Sir Huntley had never seemed particularly enamored of her before that night in the garden at the house party; actually she would have sworn that he had disliked her. He had always struck her as the type of man who wanted a biddable wife who would quietly fade into the background and construct her world around him. His sudden declaration of undying love and proposal had caught her unawares and without thought she had laughed. She had not meant to be unkind but the thought of her and Huntley marrying was ludicrous. Unfortunately her laughter had angered him and he had sought to quiet her by force. After several minutes struggle, she had escaped by kneeing him in the groin and running back to the house. Never had she dreamt that he would take revenge by asserting that she had lain in wait for him in his rooms dressed in nothing by her nightgown hoping to entice him into an affair. Never would she have thought that anyone would actually believe such a story. If she had had any inkling that he would do such a thing, she would have immediately told someone of the incident in the garden. Instead she had originally kept her silence regarding his behavior because she had felt remorse concerning her laughter and she had after all handled the situation herself or so she had thought. By the time Sir Huntley had made his accusation, her story had seemed like nothing more than a feeble attempt to evade blame.

"Well I am glad that you did not try to force me to accept his proposal but instead gave me the choice between him, Mr. Stokes, and Port Royal."

"I suppose that it showed at least a shred of common sense on my part that I did so. I must admit that his offer for your hand in the face of his claim regarding your behavior did strike me as rather odd at the time but he played the role of the honorable gentleman so well that I did not see through him. He must have had quite the shock when I did not compel you to marry him." This last was said with the first trace of humor to grace their conversation. Then he sobered, "Your reputation has been cleared with most of those in the know. The gossip has died down and if you wish to return to London I am certain that no longer will you be haunted by malicious whispers."

Katherine smiled warmly at her father. She decided to let go of any further traces of ill will. What had happened was in the past and all of them had been damaged by the lies of Huntley and Giles. Whoever would have thought that Mr. Sneed would develop the gumption to contradict his friend and help clear her name? She would have to send him a note of thanks. "I think that I will stay here. I have grown to like Port Royal."

"Why does that not surprise me? However, now you know that there is no longer any reason for you worry about the past overshadowing your future. There is no fault for any future husband to find with your behavior," Mr. Thompson assured her with a small smile.

"Father, I have not changed my mind on that score. While I am glad that the truth has come out, I am no more interested in marriage than I ever was. I am quite content as I am. You will have to rely on Violet to make you a grandfather."

With a puzzled look on his face he said, "But I thought… I assumed that… Never mind, Kat, I was mistaken." He made a mental note to speak to Commodore Norrington as soon as possible. From the letter that he had received from the Commodore and the conversations that he had had with Mrs. Norrington during the crossing, he had believed that the matter of marriage was a forgone conclusion and that it was merely the formality of an official proposal that he had given his blessing to. Evidently either he or Commodore Norrington was operating under a serious bit of misinformation and he would bet that it was the later.

Katherine, overjoyed at hearing her father once again addressing her by his pet name for her, did not register his confusion.

"Have you not the sense that God gave a flea? Really, James, I swear you take after your father more than is good for you," Mrs. Norrington exasperatedly berated her son.

An offended James drawled, "Mother, I hardly see how this is any of your concern. I believe that I am of age and capable of handling my own affairs."

"Well you are not handling them very well. What were you thinking? I barely know the young woman and even I could tell you that she will not take kindly to having you map out her future without first consulting her."

"I did not map out her future. I simply asked permission from her father before broaching the topic with her. It is the accepted manner of dealing with these matters." James' tone was a little less assured than it had been moments earlier. Come to think of it, Katherine probably would have preferred to have discussed the topic of marriage before her father was consulted. She could be so infuriatingly independent. "Damn it, mother, all I did was seek his blessing. I repeat- that it is the proper way to handle the situation."

Mrs. Norrington smiled at James' belligerent tone. Just like his father had always done, James often reverted to acting the recalcitrant child when his plans were questioned or thwarted. Sighing she queried, "Have you two discussed the topic in general terms?" and seeing her son's abashed expression added, "Have you even exchanged declarations of affection?"

James' countenance grew more uncertain. He mumbled, "I thought that I would wait until the Christmas Ball to declare myself. It seemed more romantic that way."

It took all of her considerable dissembling skills to keep from showing her amusement at witnessing her usually so self-contained son finding himself in a situation that left him floundering. James must truly love this young woman for him to be attempting romantic gestures. Unfortunately, he was such a novice in that arena that he was in danger of making a complete mess of it. "You are correct, James, a Christmas proposal would indeed be very romantic. However, if Mr. Thompson is the first to broach the topic with Katherine, then I am afraid that your suit will be rejected before it is even heard." At her son's frustrated sigh she soothingly added, "Do not worry. I shall approach Mr. Thompson and request that he refrain from mentioning anything to Katherine. I am certain that he will see the wisdom in this."

"That would be most helpful. Thank you, Mother."

With that potential crisis averted she tackled the next problem, "Now, what were you planning on dressing as? And do not tell me that you plan to forego donning a disguise."

A faint blush suffused his cheekbones. He had thought the costume a good idea but perhaps he was wrong? Perhaps it was merely silly? It certainly would be unexpected of him and he rather enjoyed the irony of his choice. Having no doubt that his mother would voice her true opinion, he offered, "I was planning on dressing as a pirate." At Mrs. Norrington's nonplussed expression he hastily sought to explain, "On our journey from England we had a run in with Captain Sparrow. Katherine seemed rather fascinated by the whole encounter."

Clarice Norrington was delighted beyond words. There was hope for her son after all. Maybe just maybe he had inherited more of her sensibilities that she had credited him with. "That is an excellent choice, James! Romantic and considering that it will be you who is wearing it lighthearted as well."

James' usual expression of smugness returned, "Thank you. I believe that Katherine will find it amusing."

"Now we need to work on what you will say to her."

For the reminder of teatime, James and his mother plotted out how best to woo Katherine on the night of the masquerade. When they were finished, James was certain that he could not be anything but successful in his pursuit and that Katherine would soon be his wife.