The needle bit in to my skin and I inhaled sharply to stop myself saying anything regrettable. I lifted my thumb to my face to look at the tiny, bleeding hole. The blood was a reminder to stay focused on the task at hand. This was not something I was very good at. The world just seemed a lot more interesting in my head.

"Isabel?" I turned as James entered, shaking my hand to dry the blood. He looked a bit nervous, but I suppose he had every right to be.

"Yes, Commodore?" I grinned and relished his sigh.

"Oh, stop it Izzy!" He moaned and I gave him my most angelic smile. "I've had to put up with you all week! And I'm not even a Commodore yet!"

"I'm sorry, James, but 'Commodore Norrington' sounds so odd!" I laughed. He, quite predictably, got on his high horse about that.

"Well, I think it has a certain ring to it," he said haughtily.

I tutted slightly and looked at him in mock disapproval. "Don't let your promotion go to your head James; you know my teasing is the only thing that keeps you sane!" He rolled his eyes and said nothing more. I assumed the conversation was over and went back to sewing. It was stupid and tiresome work and I hated it, but James was insistent I did it. I hate him sometimes. He has such stupid ideas. It was his fault I had had to look after myself when he was at sea and so was not yet completely ready for being a lady. There had been people there to make sure I was clothed and fed, but they always seemed to be more watchful and more concerned with my manners when James was home. When he was away I noted that they let things slide. Another almost mishap with the needle reminded me to concentrate. It took me a couple of minutes to notice that James was still standing there, looking nervous and uncharacteristically serious. I put down my needle and thread, giving him my full attention. "James, what did you really come here to say?"

There was a silence. I waited and James stared at the floor and shuffled his feet, before looking up suddenly into my eyes, "Izzy, would you mind awfully if I asked for Elizabeth's hand in marriage?"

I think my heart stopped for a second to give my brain a chance to digest this. "Mind?" I cried, "Of course I would mind! She is my best friend and you are my BROTHER. And anyway I'm pretty sure she-" I broke off as James looked at the floor again and realization slapped me. "That was not one of those questions where my opinion actually counts is it? You have already decided. You just asked to be polite."

"Pretty much, yes." he nodded.

"Do I have a say in the matter?" I raised an eyebrow.

"No. You don't and I don't really see how it concerns you." True enough, I suppose, but it feels like it should concern me. James is my brother and Elizabeth's the sister I never had. It just feels wrong.

"Well, at least tell me when you are planning on proposing!"

He pause, wrestling with whether to tell me or not. "Today, after the ceremony," James said eventually. I sighed, that didn't give me much time at all.

"You could have told me earlier!" I huffed, avoiding his plea for me not to tell Elizabeth.

"No, you cannot keep a secret." He said. I turned back around and smiled to myself as I felt the medallion cold against my skin. How wrong he was. It was years since we'd seen the pirate ship, but we still had the medallion. Nobody knew about it. Not even Will. He should have changed it to 'You cannot keep a secret from Elizabeth'. That would have been slightly truer. "I will see you at the ceremony, Isabel, I am leaving now."

I said nothing and kept up a haughty silence. His statement seemed to hang in the air. I heard him sigh sadly. I turned around and stood up. "Good luck James." I said giving him a quick hug.

"Thank you." He called over his shoulder as he left. The door shut behind him and I sank into my chair. What was I going to do? I was almost certain Elizabeth did not feel the same way about James as he did about her. Unless I had seriously misjudged my best friend's signals. I had to warn her… I had to, it was my role as a good friend. But what about my role as a good sister? It could break James's heart. And although he annoyed me sometimes, I did love him. More than anything in this world, so telling Elizabeth may be wrong... Or it may do nothing but stop Elizabeth from panicking... If she knew beforehand it may not change her answer, but then again...

Bang.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts with a rather rude jolt. I stood up and went to see who it was.

"Morning, Izzy!" a ginger haired man grinned as my jaw dropped open, his green eyes sparkled at me.

"George!" I cried, fighting the temptation to fling myself into his arms and give him a hug. I hadn't seen him in over two years, but embracing someone who was not a relative was not exactly smiled upon. He lived next door and we'd met a while after James and I had moved in. He joined the Navy as soon as he was old enough and had been away for two years after the awkward few months he had spend working with my brother. His laugh was familiar and kind of homely.

"Good to see you!" he sounded sincere.

"You too," I smiled, feeling like a child all over again. "When did you get back?" I asked.

"Not long ago. How are you, Will, Elizabeth and James?"

"Elizabeth!" I shrieked as something pinged on in my brain at the mention of her name. George stumbled out of the way as I charged past him and out into the street, slamming the door behind me as I went. The slam made my stomach twist. I may be in a fair bit of trouble for that. I pelted down the streets of Port Royal towards Elizabeth's house with my mind made up. I ran up the long driveway and hammered on her door. George caught up with me a few moments later.

"Would you… like to … explain what… is going… on?" he demanded, panting after chasing me for so long. I was spared having to answer by one of Elizabeth's servants opening the door, rather alarmed by all my loud hammering. Since I visit Elizabeth almost every day most of her maids and man servants are sick of the sight of me (and do a very good job of hiding it).

"I take it by the volume and urgency of your consistent banging that this is an urgent call Miss Norrington and not simply a pleasurable visit?" the butler asked coldly.

"All my visits are pleasurable you should find, Mr Barrymore." I smiled. I knew he was one of those ones who found me rather irritating.

"Of course Miss," sneered Barrymore, sounding as if he wished nothing more than to throttle me. "Come in."

George and I stepped through the big black doors. It was much cooler inside compared to the heat and humidity of the Caribbean weather outside. The floor was cold marble stone. Exquisite artwork hung around the walls of the entrance hall, not that I had much time to admire them. We were lead by a very disapproving butler into the entrance hall. Will was there, which wasn't really any great surprise. He'd jump at any excuse to see Elizabeth. He had a long box under his arm and was leaning on one of the lights on the wall. I turned to George and pressed a finger to my lips, pointing at Will. Mr Barrymore rolled his eyes and left. I sneaked over to where he stood. He didn't hear me coming; his eyes were fixed intently on the sweeping marble staircase, waiting for Elizabeth and her father to descend. I reached up on tiptoe until my mouth was by his ear.

"Surprise!" I whispered. He got such a fright his knees buckled. The light came off in his hand. George and I fell about laughing. Once Will had recovered he rounded on us frowning. That's the thing about Will, he's always frowning.

"Look what you made me do!" he shook the broken light at us. We stopped laughing. "What's Governor Swann going to say?"

"Nothing if he doesn't know." I replied. I could see him thinking it through. The he shrugged and hid the evidence behind a chair.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked.

"I need to speak to Elizabeth." I replied and was careful not to mention why. "And then we're going to the ceremony. Why are you here?"

He didn't have time to answer because just then Governor Swann voice rand out across the entrance hall. "Ahh, William." he greeted. Will put on his best smile; his only smile. It was odd seeing him smile rather than frown. It made a change. Governor Swann greeted George and I before he and Will became absorbed in a sword Will pulled out of a box. George was interested, but I wasn't paying too much attention to the conversation, so they had to ask the same thing three times before I realised they were talking to me.

"Isabel." George said loudly and slowly. "What do you think."

Will was frowning at me. Maybe it was only me he frowned at. "It's lovely." I said, glancing at it. It was quite nice, I had to admit, "But why are you asking me?"

"It is for your brother." Governor Swann explained patiently.

"Oh."

"Do you think he will like it?" Governor Swann asked. I stared at the sword again. How was I supposed to know? I wasn't allowed near any of James's swords. If you ask me he was just afraid I'd beat him. It looked sharp and it looked fancy.

"He will love it." I concluded out loud.

Will half-smiled.

"Yes," agreed Governor Swann, "I think he will be very pleased with that." Will started to show it off and show off his own skills. I stepped back encase he took my eye out with it. Governor Swann laughed. "Send my thanks to your master."

Will put the sword away and I saw him blush. He smiled again. Blimey! Two and a half times in one day! "I shall," he said, "A master always likes to know his word is appreciated."

"Will!" Elizabeth's voice floated down to us. She appeared in a beautiful new dress, he hair piled elegantly on top of her head. Will's eyes were fixed on her as she descended the stairs. He had a dreamy look on his face and she was smiling at him.

"Elizabeth!" he father exclaimed, "you look stunning."

Will gave a slight nod of agreement. George glanced at me. I looked away and bit back my laughter. Will looked like he'd been hit on the head and stunned.

Elizabeth carried on, not acknowledging the presence of George and I, "I had a dream about you last night."

"Now, I'm not sure that's entirely proper…" Governor Swann began, but they seemed to have forgotten that even he was there.

About me?" Will inquired.

"Yes, about the day we met, do you remember?" she said eagerly.

"How could I forget, Miss Swann." He said.

She sighed. "Will, how many times must I ask you to call me Elizabeth?"

He seemed to become more aware of everyone staring at them. "Just once more, Miss Swann, as always." He replied. Their happy secluded little bubble burst.

"Well, at least the boy has a sense of proprietary." Governor Swann scolded her. Her eyes hardened. "Now come on, we haven't got all day."

Elizabeth gave Will a curt nod, her voice was icy, "Good day, Mr Turner."

She stalked off after her father. I bade a quick goodbye to Will and George, and ran after her. We stepped back into the warmth of the Jamaican sun. We climbed into the awaiting carriage.

"Elizabeth." I kept my voice low as the carriage sped away. "I think you deserve warning that James is planning to propose, to you."

She stared at me. "What…?"

"I just thought you should know." I said. Now it was up to her what she did. Her face was pale and she became a bit shakey.

"I-I don't want to… no offense." she said, hastily.

"None taken. Nobody wants to." I smiled.

"I'm sure lots of women do, he's a fine man, but…"

"He's not Will." I finished. She turned to me. "What! What … no I don't. That wouldn't be proper at all! I… I… I just don't want to make the decision right now."

"I could buy you some time." I suggested. She stared at me intently and I began to voice out loud the plan which had been forming in my mind. Men may be the stronger sex, but they have no idea how we women can scheme.