Disclaimer: I tried to lure Jack into my house with rum, but Disney got in my way, so he's not mine.
AN: Sorry, I don't have a picture of Rose's ball outfit. I'll just leave you all to use your imaginations, which, I think, is much more fun. The ball will be in the next chapter. (grins evilly) Anyway, enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 27: Ball Preparations:
The days leading up to the ball were absolutely chaotic, and I wasn't even involved in putting the thing together! My mother was running around everywhere, making sure that there were plenty of flowers, food, drinks, refreshment servers, and decorations that would impress the party attendees. Meanwhile, my father was checking to be sure that all of the most important men in town were attending, just so they could see me, the kidnapped daughter returned to her family.
Thankfully, I was kept out of the fray, my only concern being what costume I would be wearing to the party. I had originally thought to go as a pirate, but Molly said that would only frighten my parents to the point where they would forbid me out of my room in that outfit. Instead, I had decided to go as a sea nymph, which Molly thought was just perfect for me.
"Oh, Miss, you'll be the most beautiful woman at the ball!" she had exclaimed as a dozen other maids and seamstresses sewed and pieced my costume together.
Not surprisingly, my costume was to be made of the finest materials that could be bought. Since the ball was being given in my honor, my parents had spared no expense on my outfit for the night. Molly and I had decided on a blue bodice of shimmering blue, one that was a shade darker than sky-blue and which shimmered with rainbow colors. The skirt was a mixture of numerous shades of blue silk and gauze to make it look like the sea, the hems trimmed with silvery-white silk strips and lace to look like sea foam. My sleeves were strips of blue lace edged with silver, and the entire outfit was so lovely that I grew excited about wearing it, despite my not wanting to attend the ball in the first place.
Molly was given the task of creating my mask, which she took great pride in. It was made of a light wood the color of pale sand, shaped and carved to fit a face. Molly had chosen the best blue silk to cover it, as well as some delicate silver paint to go around the eyes. My hair would be done up into a cascade falling from the top of my head, decorated with silver-and-blue ribbons. It would be one of the few times I would be happy to have my hair decorated.
As time passed, I grew more and more anxious, wondering what Jack was planning, and if William and Elizabeth were going to be involved. I hoped that they would not try anything daring or dangerous, since I would never forgive them if someone from the Horizon's Flame or the Pearl were hurt in my rescue. Between the three of them, though, I was certain that they would be able to think of some way to help me.
'I hope so, at least,' I thought while standing in the middle of my personal sitting room.
It was the day before the ball, and I was being fussed over one final time by the servants and seamstresses putting my costume together. Thankfully, it was made of very light materials, and would not broaden from my waist to floor the way a normal gown would. Instead, it would merely hang loose and flowing, like the outfits worn in ancient Greece. I would not be bogged down by too many yards of fabric, and would not be roasting in my costume, either.
'Which is a blessing, in and of itself,' I thought while several maids helped me onto the wood pedestal so that they could work on the stitching.
I couldn't begin to count how many times I had been miserable and hot at a ball. Despite having the windows open to let the evening air into the room, and all of the water and drinks a person could consume at a party, an aristocrat was always left feeling overheated during an event. Thankfully, I would have a fan to help keep me cool, and since my outfit was mostly of silk, lace, and ribbons, I would probably be one of the few people happy with their choice of dress for the evening.
I felt a pin prick me and yelped. The maid apologized and went back to sewing up a hem of the dress. I sighed as a breeze drifted in through the window, lifting up the light materials and making them float like feathers on the wind. A few of the seamstresses looked at it and sighed in envy, all of them probably wishing that they could attend tonight's ball. Masked balls were rarely held, and when a family announced that it was holding one, all of society grew excited.
'Well, at least everyone had enough time to get a costume, though I have my doubts about some of their tastes,' I thought, inwardly cringing.
The truth was that, in spite of their boasts of having impeccable fashion senses, most of the aristocratic women in town actually lacked what they were so proud of. Some women lacked a good fashion sense in a most severe way, typically causing people to wince politely or laugh outright. Once, at a party I attended several years ago, a young woman wanted to come as a goddess of the forest; however, instead of wearing a dark green the color of tree leaves, she wore a blindingly bright green gown that had everyone staring at her in horror. It was one of the few times Mother had nearly fainted at the sight of her friend in a dress.
'That woman also had stuffed birds stuck in her hair, which only made it look more like an actual bird's nest!' I thought, nearly laughing out loud at the memory. I managed to keep it in, though, since I didn't want to startle the seamstresses and have something rip.
"Miss, are you sure you want a simple bodice?" one of the seamstresses was asking me. "It might be easier if you wore a corset either over it or underneath."
"No corset," Molly said, her voice surprisingly authoritative as she put the final touches on my mask, which she had been working tirelessly on. "Miss Nelson is adamant about that, so please do not ask about it again."
It was quite startling to see how Molly had grown over the past few days. I guessed that my taking her as my own personal maid had given her the confidence she had so desperately needed, given how she had blossomed since that first day we had met. Now she boldly let my needs and preferences be known whenever she felt they were being slighted, and she had learned the particularly harsh glare that I used whenever I was unhappy or angry with someone. It was quite amusing to watch the other maids' expressions upon seeing the once-timid Molly standing up to them.
'They probably aren't used to seeing her act so strongly,' I thought in amusement as I watched Molly add one last bit of paint to the mask.
"There, what do you think of this, Miss?" she asked, holding up her finished work.
I couldn't help but smile. It was a half-mask, and wrapped around the entire thing was a layer of shimmering sky-blue silk, both to decorate it and to make it comfortable to wear. On the inside, the silk would keep the mask from irritating my skin, and would be pleasantly cool. On the front, silver paint elegantly trimmed and accented the eye holds, as well as the outer edges of the mask in order to make it sparkle. It would go perfectly with my outfit and my hair.
Oh, dear, I was reverting back to the vain, empty-headed fool I had been as a child! I nearly panicked at the idea of going back to the way I was before I had woken up and seen the cage my parents had built around me. That day, not long after my fifteenth birthday, I had woken up in my bed amidst thoughts that troubled me. I had finally realized that I would soon be thrust into a marriage to a man I didn't love, and live a life I did not want. I had looked at the coming dawn and realized that I did not like the friends my parents wanted me to have, nor did I like the fact that my entire life had been lived according to the schedules, rules, and teachings of my parents and society. Until that very day, I hadn't made a single decision of my own, instead relying on my mother to make sure everything I did was right and proper.
Those memories sent a chill up my spine. 'If I hadn't seen the light when I did, I'd never have been able to gather the courage I needed to sneak out of my room that night. If I hadn't opened my eyes when I did, I'd never have met Jack or run away with him. I would be trapped in another man's home, locked away in another gilded cage as his wife and mother to his children!'
"Alright, Miss, we've finished, and don't you look quite the beauty," quipped a cheerful voice, startling me back to the present.
I looked down and smiled. The last pin was being removed, and the seamstresses were all beaming with pride at their work. They had every right to: the materials felt like both warm liquid and air against my skin, and the light materials seemed to want to dance on each and every breeze that touched them. The bodice was heart-shaped in front, creating a dip between my breasts that I was sure Jack would love when he saw it.
The thought of my husband sent my heart racing. I hoped with all my heart that he would be at the ball, as I wanted to see him so much it ached. My mind raced with all of the costumes he might wear, and my joy at possibly seeing Jack turned to anxiety. What if his disguise was so good that I did not recognize him? What if I actually danced with Jack and did not see his subtle hints that he wanted to rescue me at a certain time during the ball? What if I called another man by Jack's name and ruined everything? I could be stuck here for the rest of my life because I did not recognize my own husband in a crowd of masked partygoers!
"Shall we help you out of your gown, Miss?" a servant asked.
I nodded and was soon back in my normal day dress, a corset-less number of crème-colored silk with lace at the sleeves and neck. The seamstresses and servants left, and I was soon alone with Molly. Once I was sure we were not going to be interrupted, I waved Molly over to me with one hand while I pulled out a sheet of paper and my writing instruments with the other.
"Molly, you must take a message to the docks for me," I whispered.
She nodded and sat down to wait while I hastily scribbled out a quick note to Jack. Once it was signed, sealed, and bore his name on the front, Molly took it in hand and was out the door, telling me she would be back as soon as she could. Taking a deep breath, I sat back to wait, my eyes drifting towards the window that overlooked the docks.
Muttering darkly to himself, Jack again tried to get some sort of plan into his head. Normally, Captain Jack Sparrow didn't need a plan…or, at least, not a full plan. Most of the time, his doings were half plans, half making it up as he went along, all of it coming together with just a touch of his uncanny, never-ending luck. Most of the time, no one got hurt and everything turned up just wonderfully.
This time, however, was different. Rose herself hung in the balance, and Jack was not about to risk his wife's life on a bit of uncanny luck and a half-cooked idea. He would ask the Turners for help, but if he did, he'd be putting them in danger. Not to mention that if Rose found out that he had endangered the lives of their friends, she would never forgive him.
'On the other hand, you've been planning for days now, and still haven't even come up with a costume to wear to the ball!' Jack thought to himself as he paced around the main cabin. Thankfully, the Turners weren't onboard, so he was free to do what he wanted until they got back.
So he needed a costume and a good rescue plan before tomorrow night. Perfect. Why not just ask the gods of the sea to come up and dance a jig for him as well? He couldn't come up with a way to rescue Rose by tomorrow night, and he didn't have the materials needed to create a fancy costume before nightfall tomorrow, either. Even though he certainly had the funds to buy a costume, Jack highly doubted that there was one to spare anywhere in town, nor was there anyone to piece one together for him on such short notice!
'Probably because all of the town's seamstresses have been hired up by the rich to work on their outfits,' Jack silently grumbled to himself, picking up a bottle of rum as he collapsed into a chair.
Pulling the cork out with his teeth, Jack put the bottle to his lips and took a deep drink. Without Rose there, rum became the only solace from life he had, and he indulged more than he probably should have. No doubt Rose would have some choice words with him if (or when) she found out! Sighing, Jack was about to take another pull from the bottle when the door of the cabin burst open. Choking on his rum, Jack sat up in his chair, trying to cough the rum from his throat as Will and Elizabeth rushed into the room, their arms full of parcels and packages.
"Jack, you won't believe what we found out!" Elizabeth said, breathless with excitement.
"While we were in town, Elizabeth discovered that the Nelson family is having a masked ball tomorrow night," Will said as he and his wife set their packages on the table.
Jack, after having cleared his throat of liquid, managed to straighten himself out in his chair and catch his breath. "So, what, you two managed to buy the entire town out of-," he waved his hand at the goods on the desk, "whatever it is you've got there?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Costume pieces, Jack," she retorted. "These are bits and pieces of costumes that people from Rose's social circle rejected, mostly because they didn't like the styles or changed their minds on what they were going to wear."
"From these, all three of us can come up with at least one costume that would be convincing enough to fool the aristocrats at that ball," Will said, beaming like mad. "What do you think?"
For a moment, all Jack could do was blink at them. Finally, when he could speak, he said, "you know, Mrs. Turner, you have the uncanny ability to see exactly what a man needs, and somehow manage to get it just when he needs it most."
Elizabeth eyed him with suspicion. "You don't seem at all surprised at the news we brought you, Jack," she said, her tone accusing. "Why is that?"
The pirate captain sighed and rolled his brown eyes at her. "That's because I've known about the ball for two days now, savvy?" he retorted. "Rose told me."
Elizabeth immediately pounced on that bit of news. "You saw Rose again and didn't tell us?" she cried. "What did she say? More importantly, what did you say to her?"
Hurriedly waving his hands to try and calm her, Jack stood from his chair and gave her his most charming smile. "No worries, luv, she's fine," he said. "She sent me a note a couple days ago through a friend, namely through a maid named Molly. Timid little thing she was, but she seemed eager to help Rose, so I sent her back with a reply, asking to meet Rose at a certain time and place."
"A maid?" Will asked, amazed at Jack and Rose's ability to trust someone they barely knew. "Was that really wise to trust a maid with that sort of thing, Jack?"
The pirate shrugged. However, he didn't get the chance to say anything more because at that moment, the Flame's crewmember known as Pole opened the door, a smile on his face. "Excuse me, sirs and ma'am, but that little maid is here again. She says she's got a message for Captain Sparrow."
Jack beamed as he waved for Pole to show the girl in. Away Pole went, and a moment later, Molly entered the room. "Ah, Molly!" Jack said, holding out his arms in welcome. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes? What has my lovely wife sent you here with tonight?"
Molly smiled and curtseyed. "She sent me with this message, sir," she replied, pulling out a note as she rose from her curtsey. "I think it's important, she was in such a rush to write it."
Suddenly growing worried, Jack snatched the envelope from her and ripped it open. Inside was a simple line of text: I will be the sea nymph dancing through the storm.
Scratching his head, Jack reread the message three times before looking up at his wife's maid. "Is this it?" he asked, amazed at the vagueness of it. "A message about dancing sea nymphs in a storm?"
"Oh," Molly said, realization dawning on her face. "That just means that her costume will be that of a sea nymph. I would know, since I helped make the mask for it myself."
'A sea nymph, aye?' Jack thought to himself with a smirk. 'Rose would certainly make the most beautiful sea nymph the world has ever seen.'
"Jack, will you please focus?" Will snapped, pulling his friend back to reality. "First, why didn't you tell us about the masquerade? Second, why didn't you tell us you had a plan to carry out in order to rescue Rose from the party?"
Sighing, Jack wiped a heavily-ringed hand rubbed over his eyes. "For one thing, dear William, I didn't tell you because if you had gotten hurt in the venture, Rose would have had my head on a silver platter," Jack replied as he pulled his hand pulled away from his face.
"Second, I don't exactly have a-" Jack curved the fore- and middle fingers of both his hands and held them in the air, "'plan,' per say. It's just a vague idea of me getting her out of there before that damned engagement to Hastings can be announced…or at least before the wedding itself, but who knows when or where that'll take place!"
Elizabeth frowned. "Well, we're here to help out now, so don't think for one moment that you're going to do this on your own! Now help us put together costumes for the three of us!"
Molly immediately perked up. "Oh, please let me help!" she begged, grey eyes wide as she pleaded with them. "I'd like to help free Miss Rose!"
The three pirates exchanged glances, wondering if it would be such a good idea to involve the girl in their plans. Jack, however, knew that Rose would want to take the poor maid with them, so he would let her get involved, if she wanted to help so badly. Jack turned his head and nodded to her. Molly clapped her hands and began opening packages at once. Soon the room was filled with sparkling clothes and odds-and-ends the likes of which Jack had never seen or worn before in his life.
Elizabeth had been right; most of what she and Will had bought were pieces of costumes halfway finished, or things tossed aside because the owner didn't think it complimented their outfit. It took all four of them a while to open all of the boxes and paper packages, but when they were done, Jack found himself not liking much of what he saw.
The first box held items meant to accessorize and enhance a costume, such as a fan made of long green feathers, or a wand with a knot of ribbons on the top, the ends of which dangled or wrapped around the length of the wood before going past the end of the handle. There was also a length of copper chain with a glass jewel at the end, obviously meant to use as a hairpiece or to add bit of sparkle to a costume. A few extra costume bracelets and necklaces completed the tiny hoard.
Next, there was a pile of dresses cut in various lengths, all of which had only half of their elegant embroidery finished. Another box held several dress shirts, vests, and pants in a variety of dazzling colors that could not possibly be found in nature. In the final package were six or seven masks, all of them close to completion but tossed aside because someone no longer required them.
Molly quickly picked up a pale purple dress and put it against Elizabeth's slight frame. The hem of the dress ended just above the floor, revealing Elizabeth's feet, but nothing more. The embroidery on the square-cut bodice was only partially done, but it wasn't that visible unless someone looked very closely at it. Molly then picked up a bird-type mask with purple feathers attached to it.
"What do you think, Mrs. Turner? I think you'll look lovely in this one, don't you?" she asked, knowing that Elizabeth Turner now had her costume.
Molly then helped Will pick out a costume to compliment his wife. The tiny blonde maid picked up a bright blue vest and equally blue trousers, then asked Will if he had a new white shirt to wear. When he nodded, she told him that he could be a blue bird to go with Elizabeth's purple one. The Turners rather liked that, thinking it was funny that they would be birds instead of Jack. Jack had merely rolled his eyes and ignored them in order to search for his own costume.
There was a clown mask that Jack thought rather disturbing, so he tossed it aside and picked up one that he found rather interesting. It was merely a length of black-and-silver silk with two eyeholes cut into it, meant to be tied in the back and secured in a knot. Putting it on, Jack found a long strip of gold cloth, a few feathers, a gold clip, and a white outfit cut in a foreign style with gold embroidery along the edges. For a bit of color, he added a red sash. Putting them all together, Jack grinned.
'Perfect,' he thought. Hopefully, Rose would recognize him in the crowd. Even if she didn't, Jack would make sure that she knew he was there to help her.
"So, what are you going to be, Jack?" Elizabeth asked as she looked at his pile of outfit choices.
Jack merely grinned. "It's a surprise," he said. "In the mean time, what say we put our little plan together? I'd hate to get all dressed up and not ruin a perfectly good party, savvy?"
AN: Next chapter is the ball, where Jack and the Turners will put their secret plan into action! I promise it'll be lots of fun for everyone! Well, except for Hastings. Review!