Entry 7

Wance Mattie had returned to help me change intae me goonie we hadn't picked up th' conversation where it had left aff previously, me mainly listenin' when she said a few bemoanin' comments aboot Elizabeth 'n' William's imprisonment (unaware o' th' fact that William had been released almost immediately). Wonderin' would they be awright 'n' whether they would be saved from th' rope by Governor Swann. Me seein' it best to stay silent aboot it, as I had no answers to 'er questions. 'Em makin' me even mair anxious from what I awready was, me replyin' somethin' evasive to offer me input in oor chat 'til it had come time to wish each other guid night. Lik' I'd done daily wi' Elizabeth, Mattie gettin' rid o' th' bathwater afore slippin' a brazier under th' sheets. Me sendin' 'er aff wi' a brisk smile, third 'n' maist deep sigh leavin' me lips th' minute th' door closed.

Lik' two nights afore I found sleepin' to be oot o' th' question, th' proposal 'n' th' events precedin' it keepin' oan botherin' me 'n' makin' me restless, efter shortly dozin' aff a couple o' times me endin' up starin' at th' canopy 'n' th' ring in turns completely awake for an hour or two 'til had enough. Throwin' th' sheets aside 'n' got up, marchin' to th' cabinet to tak' oot a dressin' gown to shelter me from th' chill o' th' room, neist daunerin' ower to th' balcony 'n' openin' th doors. Allowin' th' as cool air to flow inside as I ambled to th' railin', leanin' against it. For th' foremaist time thinkin' nothin' while gazed to th' pitch black horizon which was illuminated only by th' rays o' th' moon glitterin' in th' water, th' whole scenery appearin' but lifeless at night-time. No movement, hardly any lights that lit th' nocturnal streets for those returnin' home from a long evenin' at a local pub. Me findin' meself thankin' th' lord that Peter no longer was one o' 'em, havin' made a remarkable effort o' stayin' oot o' all manner o' trouble efter uncle Cutler's arrival.

I quivered even I wasn't particularly cold, rubbin' me arms as directed me eyes towards th' garden that spread below me. Me however then noticin' how an unexpected speck o' light appeared from th' darkness, me leanin' closer in interest wance I identified it as a lit candle o' a oil lamp. Neist witnessin' how someone slipped ootside usin' th' servants' entrance (which I found odd as th' door was always locked for th' night), glancin' aboot. Wi' careful walk stairtin' to stride awa' from th'manor 'n' headin' towards th' gates under th' shelterin' branches o' th' trees, clearly nae wantin' to be seen by th' looks o' his furtive wey o' skulkin' past th' premises. Me tryin' to mak' oot a face o' this person 'til had to hide when th' figure abruptly stiffened 'n' turned to gaze towards th' manor. Me crouchin' behind th' railin', juist as th' person lifted th' lamp in his haun to have a keek aroond th' vicinity afore directin' a scourin' keek towards th' mansion's blackened windows as if to mak' sure he wasn't spied oan from within. Nae even noo me bein' able to see who he was as his figure was shrouded by a shrub, me neist only seein' how th' shaft o' light continued to recede from th' hoose in hurry behind th' bush 'til it vanished completely. Me comin' oot o' me hidin' slowly, also afraid to have been seen by this mystery man.

Discombobulated by what I'd juist seen I returned inside, closin' th' doors afore it then hit me, me glancin' at th' clock oan me left which informed me it to be ower midnight. By which time everyone had awready retired, leavin' me free to do some inquiries in peace wi'oot fearin' anyone to walk in oan me while wance mair tryin' to find some answer by meself, an idea swiftly formin' in me heid as I close to ran to th' bedroom door. Peekin' ootside, findin' th' corridor as expected dark 'n' empty. It was time for me to mak' somethin' o' this situation wi' me ain efforts, juist lik' maw had done.

I sneaked doonstairs wi' soundless steps (havin' abandoned th' slippers voluntarily) 'n' efter glancin' aroond lik' that person in th' garden to mak' sure I was alone I made me wey towards th' Governor's study which he'd given to me uncle to use. This sudden whim I'd gotten upstairs takin' me all th' wey to th' door, me creepin' to it 'n' placin' me ear against th' wood to hear was there someone inside. Me pickin' up nothin' but silence, wance again th' clock at th' lobby offerin' th' only sound in th' silent night as I sighed for relief. Encouraged me neist turnin' th' handle 'n' steppin' within th' office, all o' a sudden recallin' that I hadn't brought a candle wi' me when I what else but crashed against th' bar table that had been moved close to th' entrance unbeknownst to me. Me holdin' back a moan as dashed to prevent th' carafes 'n' glasses from fallin', me hert skippin' a beat due to what it sounded lik' a terrible racket caused by th' clinkin' o' crystals. Me waitin' a few nervous moments 'til dared to move again, me fumblin' me wey to th' fireplace. Successfully locatin' a candelabra 'n' took it doon from th' rim, lightin' th' candles. Me blinkin' me unaccustomed eyes due to th' sudden light afore keeked aroond, me gaze movin' atween two different desks (th' other had been brought in by uncle Cutler, who though mainly worked at th' Governor's office in town had said to prefer to bring some o' it back wi' 'im for some late night sessions he found soothin').

I had no clue what I was lookin' for. Somethin' that would've proved that th' made questions 'n' speculations aboot me uncle's doings in th' name o' th' king 'n' EITC were either true, that there was a lot o' undisclosed activities goin' oan in th' sidelines that only he was aware o', or that he was exactly what he'd told us 'im to be. Nae but an ordinary man who'd come to owersee that English legislation wasn't further misinterpreted 'n' that it would befall as prescribed by th' highest court o' law o' th' Great Britain. But if I wouldn't come across anythin' that could clear my ain suspicions, at least I had to tak' a keek at those arrest warrants wi' me in eyes, see th' charges that were hold against nae only Elizabeth 'n' William, but th' former Commodore as weel.

I chose th' desk placed towards th' windows, presumably me uncle's as I noticed some documents bearin' EITC's logo to have been abandoned oan top o' it. Efter givin' 'em a fleetin' keek ower 'n' findin' 'em to be juist some ootlines for a report concernin' th' Company's successful settlin' to its freish base o' operation that were insignificant to me. Me landin' th' candelabra oan th' table as stairted to delve thro' th' drawers, at first findin' nothin' but several other documents handlin' accounts o' th' Company's different ventures 'n' bookkeepin' aboot made profits 'n' losses. In addition to mair than a dozen received 'n' unfinished letters carryin' th' names o' other Court o' Directors 'n' other dignitaries involved wi' th' business. 'Em neither holdin' anythin' demonstrative.

I sighed, placin' 'em back in th' same order 'n' makin' sure that nothin' would later inform uncle Cutler that someone had keeked thro' his papers, me continuin' me search resiliently. Kneelin' doon to open th' lowest drawer, takin' oot th' bunch o' papers that had been neatly folded intae their ain files. Me spreadin' 'em in front o' me oan th' table, listenin' for a few seconds for possible footsteps, afore immersed meself to readin' thro' every single form. Findin' some mair tedious clearances atween th' company 'n' its clients, wi' a heavy breath liftin' up a freish file. How could me brother find all this workin' wi' numbers fascinatin'? I for one bore no savor in this line o' occupation, so for wance I was gey contended to have been born as a woman for nae havin' to express tendencies to such interests.

Somethin' then fell from th' file I was holdin', startlin' me when th' papers o' coorse spread across th' carpet. Me lettin' oot another frustrated sigh as put th' folder back doon to fetch th' stray documents. But as I took th' first one intae me haun it caught me attention unlik' anythin' I'd so far read, me settin' back oan me knees as I first took notice o' th' prominently formal wey it had been compiled, written wi' especially neat handwriting. Me irises skimmin' thro' th' lines o' text 'til wi' a triumphant smile me gaze soon fixated oanto a certain signature that stood oot at th' end o' th' document neist to th' name o' th' person it addressed under several others includin' me uncle's. Th' name o' th' king o' England authorizin' th' immediate arrest 'n' execution o' William Turner, accused o' associatin' 'n' bein' implicit in th' escape o' th' notorious pirate 'n' ootlaw Jack Sparrow.

I noo took th' two other papers 'n' found 'em to be similar kind o' warrants for both Elizabeth 'n' former Commodore James Norrington. Nae suddenly somewhat nervous that I was actually holdin' their very lives in me hauns by th' fortunate findin' o' these papers, me glancin' at th' folder they'd fallen from 'n' noticed there to be a hidden pocket they'd been hidden within (wi' amusement thinkin' that he 'n' maw might've nae been that different efter all regardless o' some personality traits), afore read 'em thro' one mair time. Th' feelin' o' distress causin' me then to sink oan th' chair, as I could noo see th' danger that threatened 'em right in front o' me doon to th' last detail. Understandin' maybe for th' first time how serious th' situation was, me experiencin' a moment o' hopelessness when me thoughts o' coorse flew to William who was somewhere oot there. Doin' his best to earn a pardon for 'imself 'n' Elizabeth 'n' to mak' these warrants disabled.

Why had this happened? They'd been pardoned awready by th' local authorities, so th' matter shouldn't have gone further than that. So how could it be that th' true version o' th' happenings at th' failed execution o' Sparrow's had reached as far as th' kings lugs, yet alone me uncle's whom he'd sent 'ere wi' his blessing 'n' jurisdiction to mak' th' correct arrests?

Th' answer to that maist vital question wasn't obviously written oanto th' warrants 'n' it wasn't goin' to surface naw matter how I thought aboot it, me soon lettin' it go. Cleanin' th' table 'n' puttin' th' unnecessary documents back to their place, ultimately droppin' th' warrants oan th' table in turn as took their folder again. Comin' across nothin' interestin 'til I keeked within th' secret pocket, for me surprise seein' a few other articles to have been placed there to safety in apparent case o' some too curious pairs o' eyes (lik' it had sheltered 'em from mine in th' end). Me takin' em' oot one at a time, what I'd found neist utterly shockin' me.

Amongst some puzzlin' 'n' nae to mention mindless in advance prepared requisition orders (taken by th' fact that they'd been left blank wi'oot names revealin' to whom they were directed at 'n' lacked th' needed authorizin' signature o' Governor Swann) there were many documents that hold several type o' ootlines for what I understood to refer to a state o' a martial law. Supported by some personal notes I discovered to have been attached to these papers, this carefully premeditated act servin' as a foundation to me uncle's plan he'd mentioned at dinner wance initiated… under th' pretext o' this law bereavin' th' citizens o' Port Royal 'n' other cities (singly highlighted in th' document) from close to all o' th' rights that guaranteed 'em juridical protection against allegations that also were very specifically mentioned in th' paper. This described 'n' yet unfulfilled state o' emergency if granted 'n' acknowledged hereafter sustainin' th' very same corruption that me uncle had asserted to have come to obliterate, resultin intae dozens if nae hundreds o' innocent people to lose their lives wi'oot an ability to petition for a fair trial or an entitled right for a solicitor. Efter leafin' thro' th' stack wi' disbelievin' fingers me then stumblin' upoan a list o' names consistin' o' locals, both lower 'n' higher class citizens ('n' for me distress a few which I recognized, some o' 'em bein' only wee children), for me at this point nae so great surprise dated precisely efter East India Tradin' Company had arrived, as its attachment some drafts o' execution orders. If nae only that terrible discovery that spoke no guid for me uncle's intentions 'n' told me o' th' true nature o' th' affairs he'd ben tied in lately by gatherin' names o' th' suspected criminals among other things, th' detailed differentiation o' th' said crimes they were accused for 'n' th' slightest affiliations to 'em (that were considered aggravatin' by th' decrees defined 'n' approved within this document nae only by th' Governor o' Port Royal but also th' actin' representative o' George th' II Lord Cutler Beckett) turnin' me but distraught.

I pressed a haun oan me geggy as stared at th' Beckett family crest that had been pressed under me uncle's name, in utmaist dismay, nae believin' what I'd juist read. So this was th' wey uncle Cutler was goin' to mak' sure that all form o' illegalities lik' piracy would come to an ultimate end? By usin' his newly found power to practically allow this submission to become th' cause o' death o' British citizens charged wi' somethin' so petty as presumed abetment thro' simple family bonds wi' an accused. By arrestin' 'n' murderin' these people in th' gallows for crimes they hadn't committed, juist ik' he'd done wi' Elizabeth. Naw, this…this was wrong. Wrong 'n' cruel. How could somethin' lik' this be permitted in th' eyes o' th' law that everyone should've been able to indemnify regardless o' station 'n' fortune?

Efter me ootrage had subsided a bit I examined th' paper mair, wrinklin' me brows for distaste 'til finally placed th' despicable document back where I'd found it. I couldn't understand how me uncle could be plottin' somethin' so vile, taken that this plan for a martial law would be still long in th' makin' 'n' far from actualizin' as long as Governor Swann would hold th' highest quorum concernin' th' matters o' Port Royal. Which was why I didn't fathom how could his purported assent to such an act to be awready written doon intae th' document, when he definitely wouldn't allow people under his jurisdiction to face such injustice, yet alone th' innocent that would be dragged intae this bloodlettin' persecution along wi' th' truly quilty parties. Which soon brought me to th' horrifyin' realization that stilled me ain blood, me lettin' oot a desperate sigh as I then fully understood that William had been right all along. Uncle Cutler wasn't goin' to honor their agreement, but as soon as William would return he would drop all promises o' pardon 'n' rearraign both im' 'n' Elizabeth for th' presented crimes, hangin' 'em. Their names also enumerated within th' list along wi' th' rest o' th' people o' this town who had any kind o' unfavorable mark oan their record. If they had.

Slight panic took ower me then, me sittin' doon for th' second time momentarily upset again, tryin' to think. But it was then, efter mullin' ower all th' lies 'n' deception that me uncle had put up juist to appear innocent 'n' equitable in me 'n' me brother's eyes (arrivin' to th' conclusion that he was everythin' William had accused 'im to be, nothin' but a vicious man wi' no hert who was prepared to do anythin' to have his wey, perhaps even hangin' me 'n' Peter should we refuse to sit by 'n' watch his scheme to unfold) that I had another idea. Jack Sparrow had been offered a pardon as weel, in a form o' those letters o' marque William had told me aboot afore leavin', which sheltered 'im from sufferin' th' fate that awaited all th' rest o' his kind should me uncle be successful in his intent. (I hadn't found these documents from 'ere, so I deduced me uncle to have left 'em in th' main office in town for safekeepin'.) But even if William or Elizabeth couldn't benefit from th' letters to earn their freedom, what would happen if th' charges against 'em would vanish by other means? What if th' documents demandin' for their arrest 'n' death would also vanish?

That in mind I noo turned to eye at th' arrest warrants, contemplative for a second or two afore made a decision. Removin' th' layout for th' martial law petition 'n' th' list o' names from th' folder 'til replaced 'em wi' some clean sheets I'd previously found from th' upper drawer, placin' th' real ones on th' same stack wi' th' warrants afore was aboot to close th' hidden pocket o' th' folder. Only to notice I'd missed somethin', me fingers noo pullin' oot freish letters. Older ones however, a couple o' 'em from Mr. Ian Mercer, th' kind o' guileful lik' man wi' th' eyes o' a bloodhound whom I kenned to work as a personal assistant o' uncle Cutler, where th' rest o' 'em where haphazardous samples o' months o' correspondence atween 'im 'n' Taran. Me nae believin' to discover anythin' new from 'em at first, but efter wonderin' aboot th' reason why they'd been concealed wi' th' other secret documents th' famous but at times troublesome curiosity drove me to check their contents.

Me eyes widened as from several letters sent to me uncle I instantly found some mentions to unreported transactions made in th' Company's name, which involved some notable sums o' money to have been arranged for his personal use from different sources thro' Taran under th' guise o' various Company business (as I didn't remember to have seen such payments to have been marked within th' accounting), in exchange to some services uncle Cutler had rendered 'n' vice versa. To someone as ignorant o' politics 'n' trade business as me this easily appearin' as some form o' bribery 'n' tax evasion o' some o' th' Company's newest clients (acquired by Taran) that uncle Cutler had disregarded for a right price or return service, me quickly realizin' that this was truly somethin' me uncle wouldn't have appreciated to see th' light wi'oot riskin' an inquest o' th' Company's affairs. However while findin' oot aboot me uncle's all th' while mair dishonest provin' nature, me neist findin' a line from a certain letter that proved 'im to have also done some gratifyin' favors for Taran's clan, includin'…

"Slavery?" I breathed, aghast, nae bein' able to accept it. Nae only me uncle but Taran as weel? Aye, he'd lied to me 'n' went along wi' uncle Cutler's charade, but noo he was revealed to be wey mair involved intae his undertakings than I'd originally thought. This was juist too unbelievable to be true…

Bypassin' that yet another distressin' nugget o' information I moved oan to Mercer's letters, 'em containin' nothin' o' importance. But there was one thing that caught me eye again, a streenge reference to a certain item that me uncle had apparently sent his maist reliable agent to locate close to a year ago. Aroond th' same time Sparrow had escaped 'n' this whole flood o' events had stairted, me to no avail tryin' to find a clarification from th' other letters Mr. Mercer had sent efter th' arrival o' th' one mentionin' this surreptitious object.

Dead Man's Chest? What's that?

I hit me hip oan th' corner o' th' desk as I abruptly heard a noise comin' from ootside th' office, it what else but startlin' me as I froze to listen to th' sound to approach. Someone comin' doon th' stairs, headin' for th' room I was in, th' fear o' gettin' caught snoopin' wi' th' smokin' gun settin' me intae another panic as I neist reacted instinctively. Foldin' th' papers in me haun 'n' shovin' 'em under me bodice, thrustin' th' letters 'n' th' remainin' papers back intae th' folder afore dropped it intae th' drawer. Th' alarmin' footsteps closin' in oan th' door as I kicked th' drawer shut afore rushin'to return th' candelabra back to its place, blowin' oot th' candles juist in time 'til I heard th' comer to stop behin' th' door. Me hert jumpin' when I saw th' handle stairt to turn, me blindly runnin' behind th' writing desk. Wi' no other better hiding place in mind me divin' under it exactly th' same time as th' door swung open, warm candlelight littin' th' room again as I took in a deep breath o' fright. Hearin' th' arrived person to halt for a moment, possibly turned thoughtful by th' noise o' me scramblin' steps that they might've heard from within afore enterin'.

I practically hold me breath as I then listened to th' footsteps to advance to me direction, pressin' me lips together 'n' blinkin' me eyes nervously, though then noticin' that th' drawer I'd rummaged thro' last had been left slightly open. Me leanin' forth in panic 'n' inchin' it shut as silently as could in that tiny bit o' a second I had afore I was seen retreatin' back intae me lousy hiding. (Givin' me flashbacks from th' time Barbossa's pirates had invaded th' manor 'n' I'd hid intae th' dish cabinet). Efter but one hertbeat later me seein' uncle Cutler dauner ower to th' desk, me recognizin' th' buckles o' his shoes as they stopped nae but a couple o' inches awa' from me ain toes. Me huggin' me legs to fit intae th' smallest space possible as gouped at th' desk from below, watchin' me uncle's movements as he leant doon to open one o' th' middle drawers. Me closin' me eyes 'n' leanin' against th' wood as far as could, thankin' god that I remained undiscovered as I then heard th' rustle o' paper when uncle Cutler exchanged some documents intae freish ones. Me prayin' that he wouldn't stay for long 'n' sit doon. Because then I'd be definitely busted, th' wee legroom hardly sufficin' for me grown up torso (where in th' past it had offered th' perfect spot to hide from oor parents to Elizabeth 'n' me).

I counted th' minutes that passed, observin' me uncle to shift his weight from one feet to another, afore he took me aback by pushin' a haun under his shirt. Quite low, me at first grimacin' for shock 'n' turnin' me eyes awa' in disgust 'til me wild imagination was proven wrong, me seein' me uncle to rub his lower abdomen in obvious pain. Me hearin' 'im let oot a low groan as his shirt's hem moved high enough for me to see th' ragged scar oan th' spot that afflicted 'im. Me lettin' oot a breath o' wonder 'til was startled again by his leg that bend forth as he leant against th' desk, so close that it almost touched me knee. Th' air flow intae me lungs ceasin' again as I tried to be as wheest as possible, while me mind pondered th' source o' me uncle's injury for a passin' moment. Even if very dislikable person, he was still human.

Efter five mair minutes uncle Cutler was fortunately ready wi' whatever he'd come in so late to do, th' pressure in me chest easin' when th' significant rustle o' papers soon informed me that he was puttin' th' documents awa' 'n' preparin' to leave. Th' muscles o' me limbs achin' intolerably due to their continuous tension 'n' th' long time o' remainin' in th' same position, me noo darin' to move when th' highest drawer slammed shut 'n' uncle Cutler's feet carried 'im oot o' me sight. Th' lower ping o' metal 'n' th' movin' shadows oan th' ceilin' tellin' me that he'd lifted th' candle from th' table to head back to th' door, me releasin' a sigh o' relief wance I heard it open.

But kennin' me tendencies to carelessness in tough spots I mistakenly estimated th' space atween me heid 'n' th' table, noo notably relaxed due to th' comfortin' thought that I hadn't been found oot by me uncle, therefore me bumpin' me heid against it by accident while straightenin' meself. Th' footsteps stoppin' again, me instantly stiffenin' 'n' as a response refrainin' even from breathin' wance mair, but I was saved by similar kind o' bump that came from th' direction o' th' scullery. Me placin' a haun over me lips as th' door neist efter all shut efter me uncle, me closin' me eyes as wi' a long breath stretched me legs forward. Me hert thumpin' lik' crazed. That had been too close…

I crawled oot carefully, standin' in slow motion as listened for th' followin' minutes. Detectin' some low bumps 'n' distant footsteps that bode no ill for me thankfully. Th' coast wance mair clear, me darin' to dauner to th' center o' th' room, rebukin' meself. Why did I have to be so clumsy when th' situation least required it? It hadn't ended all that weel last time (precisely resultin' in me gettin' abducted by that duo o' oafs from Barbossa's crew), 'n' one would think that I'd learnt me lesson thro' th' rueful wey. Because should uncle Cutler have found me hidin' under his writin' desk while posessin' documents o' controversial nature (o' which existence I shouldn't have been even aware o'), th' situation would've undoubtedly taken as regrettable turn as one year ago. 'N' wi'oot a doubt as perilous, knowin' uncle Cutler's revealed ruthless nature when it came to dealin' wi' lawbreakers. Because what I was doin' could've probably interpreted as equally serious crime as William's if nae greater, truly earnin' meself a place in th' noose.

I waited another minute afore goin' to th' door, allowin' meself to calm doon 'n' make' sure I could get back to upstairs undetected, me nose pickin' up th' pungent odor o' th' put oot candles that flew in th' air. (Wonderin' had not uncle Cutler noticed it 'imself to inform 'im o' an intruder) as I then realized nae to indeed hear any sounds, whole hoose bein' as silent as a grave wance mair as all I could hear was th' clock in th' foyer strikin' half past midnight. Me however nae getting' prepared for th' followin' scare as I opened th' door silently 'n' stepped oot, only to crash against someone for me utmaist horror, me nae helpin' but lettin' oot a shocked scream as due to th' force o' th' impact I slipped. An arm wrappin' aroond me to prevent me from fallin', th' voice which called oot to me chillin' me blood, me finchin'.

"Miranda?"

~Earlier that night~

Stray dog ran past me towards the harbor after I'd chased it away from rubbing itself against my breeches, me letting out a snort after discovering the dirt the animal had left onto the white fabric. Sweeping it in frustration with my hand until directed my gaze back to my right and peered at the Governor, who for the past ten minutes had been talking with a man I recognized as Ackerley Hanshaw, one of the captains of the city's merchant ships that were responsible of delivering the imported products forward all the way to England and numerous other destinations. Watching their interaction carefully from the shadows of the street that fell from the wall I leant against, spot I'd specifically chosen to remain unseen to the pair of men who were discussing something urgent by the looks of their body language. Me taking notice the rather nervous and not to mention paranoid bearing of the Governor's, him keeping on glancing over his shoulder while the conversation went on intensely, as if he'd sensed my presence trailing after him ever since he'd departed from the manor.

I'd spotted him sneaking outside through the servant's exit in the dead of the night, and remembering how oddly he'd been acting since Elizabeth's arrest I'd decided to follow him. To make sure he wouldn't do anything stupid, them however standing too far for me to make out the words that were exchanged between them, me frowning in confusion as couldn't infer the fundamental reason for this meeting which was to say the least, suspicious. As I was sure as hell that they weren't discussing about the next shipment of goods that was to depart the following day.

I was aware that during these past weeks he'd relentlessly tried to get Elizabeth freed from the charges or at least get her out of the dungeon, just like my sister had on numerous occasions. So taken into consideration how understandably driven he was to save his daughter from the gallows, a wish we both shared, I could very much guess what was going through that man's head when days elapsed and there was no sign of his courageous son-in-law. Me sensing that perhaps specifically for this reason he was planning something, proven by this arcane middle night excursion to the docks, which instead raised an alarming question about the Governor's following intentions. It would be dangerous business to plot something against my uncle. I'd come to understand that much during the time I'd known him so far, it only being outlined by my observations of the past weeks, made after getting invited to join the Company's business. Me earning a chance to follow uncle Cutler's actions at close quarters and learn to anticipate his way of thinking. And in my experience I knew for a fact that he wasn't only a smart businessman, but a perilous one too if crossed in any way. One who wouldn't tolerate disobedience of any degree, which was why I was there. To make sure Governor Swann wasn't going to cross that line for his own good, as much as Elizabeth's. He couldn't help her if he would be caught doing something defiant and end up sharing a cell with her.

After ten more minutes of following the events from hiding I still didn't succeed in finding out the reason for Governor's bizarre behavior, me watching the captain to start to shake his head in denial at something Governor had said, him responding with a incredulous frown and his expression seemed desperate. Governor placing (what it appeared) persuasive hand on the man's shoulder, resulting in some more vehement phrases being exchanged as their discussion obtained even some traits of a starting quarrel, me crossing my arms across my chest impatiently. Starting to tap my fingers in a beat of a tune that suddenly popped into my mind, a song our mother used to sing for me and Miranda when we'd been little...

I now experienced the all too familiar sting of remorse immediately after that recollection had surfaced, driving me to force it back into oblivion. I had no need for such wistful reminiscence, yet alone to feel guilty over it. Maw wasn't coming back, and we had now a new family to worry about rather than a dead one. Returning my attention back to the debating Governor and the merchant, getting momentarily surprised when among the overflowing stream of words I could've sworn to have been finally able to spot a certain revealing one that left Governor's lips, before I saw Hanshaw to let out a submissive sigh and appease the upset Governor by a couple of calming taps on the man's arm. Nodding his head in consent, my relaxed posture straightening when I behold Governor Swann's reaction which was eminently relieved, him breaking into a grateful smile as he handed a leathery pouch to Hanshaw. My puzzlement only increasing when I followed how the men next shook hands after Hanshaw had slipped the presumed money into the inside breast pocket of his coat, them then parting ways. Hanshaw vanishing into the mist that surrounded the pier area where the Governor checked the premises before heading for the same street he'd used to arrive to the rendezvous point. Because of the dominating darkness him however missing me, walking straight past me, my eyes following him until after waiting long enough stepped back into the light. Staring after him contemplatively as pushed the hat deeper into my head to shadow my features, once more stalking after him all the way back to the mansion, slipping out of sight again whenever he twirled around to direct anxious glances behind himself to locate the source of my following footsteps that he deemed to imagine to hear trail him around every corner he took. While managing to stay invisible to his eyes a single question spinning in my mind all the way back; why had they been talking about Elizabeth?

I was sure that I'd seen the Governor to say her name to the captain in middle of the conversation, for what reason I at first didn't understand. But it didn't take me long to figure that out after letting all that I'd witnessed back at the harbor and the random thoughts my own trek in the outside air had wakened to brood in my mind, nae long after arriving to a conclusion that made very much sense. Elizabeth's involvement in her father's nightly meeting explaining everything I hadn't come to understand while watching it go down, me frowning in worry while pushed the door open that led to the kitchen of the mansion. Me halting for a moment to snatch an pastry that had been apparently left over from that evening's dinner and which had been forgotten onto the table, me biting into it in deep ponders concerning Elizabeth and her father, leaning against a chair as licked some powdered sugar from my fingers.

Did Governor Swann know something about Elizabeth's situation that I didn't? It sure would've seemed so taken the way I'd caught him meeting with someone to whom he'd apparently paid for some unnamed favor. The whole setting of the situation bothering me, especially when I now believed to know what was it that he'd been doing in the harbor in such a late hour. Me hesitating for a while what to do with this knowledge until swallowed a last piece of the pastry, making a decicion. With resolute steps going over to the door and directing my walk towards the study, making it to the door and stretching my arm forward to turn the handle, only to be surprised when it abruptly opened and I was bumped into. Me recognizing the frightened voice that screamed for equal surprise, as I reacted by catching my falling sister. Frowning again for even greater confusion, not fathoming why she was coming from our uncle's study, my voice indeed questionable when I called her name in wonder.

I relaxed when I realized th' arm that grasped me to belong to Peter instead o' oor uncle I'd at first feared to have caught me in th' act while returnin' to fetch somethin', me lettin' oot th' deepest breath yet afore separatin' from 'im. Buryin' me coupon intae me palms as evened me breathin', me canterin' hert calmin' doon as me brother stepped back in astonishment. Eyein' at me suspiciously.

"What the heck are you doing? It's past midnight", he queried in disbelief.

"'N' what are ye doin' sneakin' upoan me lik' that?" I replied in frustration, spinnin' aroond wi' a dismayed sigh 'n' returnin' back inside th' study, takin' th' same candelabra 'n' lightin' it again, tiltin' me heid at Peter who followed me. "I thought I was goin' to have a hert attack…Why are ye 'ere?"

"You first, sis. Shouldn't you be asleep?" he asked back, foldin' his arms as gave me bare feet a significant glance. Me holdin' meself together even th' papers still stuffed atween me breasts felt lik' burnin' me, keekin' awa' in search o' an credible explanation. Me irises passin' th' bookshelf.

"I couldn't sleep so I thought o' borrowin' a book from th' Governor's collection."

Peter lifted an eyebrow. "There's plenty in the lounge. But since when have you become interested in books?"

"Just recently. Elizabeth's copies managed to spark an interest in me", I lied, but then found it but stupid. He was me brother 'n' as entitled to hear o' me findings, so why was I dishonest to 'im? Maybe I hadn't gotten ower th' near miss situation wi' oor uncle…

"Elizabeth sure has an unusual taste in literature", Peter answered in amusement, smirkin' as shifted his weight oan his left leg, about to leave. Inclinin' his ain heid toward the exit as I smiled at 'im. "Well I see that our uncle isn't here, so I'm just gonna head to my room."

"Did ye have somethin' to discuss wi' 'im?" I asked, Peter shruggin'..

"Just something I wanted to ask him about tomorrow's shipment."

It was me turn to be skeptical. "So late?"

"He likes to work late, you know that."

I nodded slowly, directin' a keek doon at me bodice 'til sighed. Puttin' awa' th' candles as went to me brother, starin' at 'im in utmaist seriousness. Decidin' to tell th' truth.

"Peter, ye should be cautious wi' yer dealings wi' th' Company. Wi' oor uncle", I warned 'im, only bafflin' Peter who blinked in surprise, also noddin' leisurely.

"Alright…what is it that you're saying to me?"

"I discovered somethin' terrible amongst his files", I told 'im, Peter this time flinchin' for plain shock as he turned to glance at th' desk afore goupin' at me in grave incredulity.

"You… You went through our uncle's papers? Where the hell did you get the bloody idea for that?!"

"Shhh, don't yell! 'N' don't tell me that ye haven't noticed anythin' weird aboot 'im 'n' his behavior these past weeks", I replied wi' a frown efter signalin' 'im to be wheest wi' th' wave o' me haun. "He's nae what he seems, Peter. He says he's come 'ere to correct th' justice system, but in truth he's plannin' th' exact opposite. I found some documents that prove 'im to be plannin' oan launchin' an martial law by usin' Governor Swann's authority, condemnin' dozens o' citizens to hang!"

"That's exactly what he said to have been sent here to do", Peter stated, turnin' serious as weel. "Do you have any idea what our uncle will do when he finds out about this?"

"What, are ye goin' to tell 'im?" I accosted, Peter's nonchalant reaction to me revelations stairtin' to vex me lik' always. Peter inclinin' his heid remarkably.

"Should I?"

"Listen to me for wance!" I exclaimed, shakin' 'im slightly. "Uncle Cutler has made a list o' people who he's goin' to deprive o' all juridical rights afore havin''em killed by th' decrees o' this law, innocent people Peter! People who have done nothin' to break th' law, people lik' Elizabeth, people we know! That's criminal, ye must see that!"

I deemed to see a flicker o' emotion in me brother's eyes due to th' mention o' Elizabeth, me hopin' 'im to understand th' seriousness o' th' situation but for me disappointment he simply brushed me aff wi' a sigh. Closin' his eyes as shook his heid at me lik' I was a delusional fool.

"Miranda, that's enough. He's our uncle, not a murderer. All he does is for the sake of the law."

"Th' famous excuse!" I breathed. "Can't ye understand what he's doin'? He plans to kill people, children even, 'n' that makes 'im nothin' but a cold blooded killer. I refuse to see that as justice prevailin', but as corruption takin' place right in front o' oor eyes in th' guise o' righteousness."

"Enough of that crap Miranda!" Peter snapped at me, his gaze hard when it met mine. "If this is about Will, then you're going way too far for him with these speculations he obviously has made you believe. For christ's sake, he's our uncle and you can't make such allegations about him."

"So because he's oor uncle we should juist let 'im execute innocent civilians for the sake o' his ain ego? Let 'im treat us lik' children 'n' keep us in th' dark aboot what's truly happenin' in this town? Let 'im marry me aff to a clan o' his business associate for th' sake o' nae me, but because it's somethin' he set as a guarantee in a transaction? Ye used to suspect 'im 'n' his motives too nae too long ago", I retorted.

"Just stop pouring water under the bridge, Miranda. He's family. And quicker you realize that and stop defending Will's actions by making up unfounded accusations about a man who's just performing his duties as the representative of the king, the faster you can focus on your upcoming wedding with Taran."

That remark shut me up. For incredulity, me returnin' Peter's strict 'n' th' least empathic gaze stupefied, lik' so many times afore in a similar situation while nae believin' that it was me brother standin' there. This time however his voice bein' filled wi' complete disregard to both me forced marriage 'n' th' iniquities I'd brought to his attention, nae carin' aboot either o' 'em. Soundin' almost as if he'd awready kenned aboot both o' these facts 'n' therefore told me to leave 'em be, lik' me uncle juist turnin' a blind eye to 'em. Somethin' shrinkin' in me chest then 'n' I sighed dejectedly, his coldness truly leavin' a mark, me directin' a disappointed keek straight intae his eyes.

"I can't believe ye to be defendin' a man who's goin' to kill th' woman ye luv. Even if he's oor uncle", I said, let slip intentionally, actually takin' Peter aback by th' look o' that frown that me words created. His expression blank. "He's goin' to hang Elizabeth, among wi' th' rest o' th' accused. I found 'er name written oan th' list o' th' condemned. So ye should think aboot that 'n' modify yer views o' oor uncle 'n' his justified actions."

Wi' no word mair I then left th' study, so infuriated by Peter that I didn't even notice to have returned to th' bedroom. Tellin' meself that things couldn't be left lik' this, that somethin' should've been done to prevent this from happenin'. Then 'n' there makin' another decision, an important one that I didn't yet anticipate in th' long run to mold th' course o' me entire life to its final end.

I knocked on the door of uncle Cutler's room briskly, seeing light shimmering under it to ensure me that he was still awake. He was after all an insomniac and tended to stay awake half of the nights in most cases, night like this one apparently.

"Enter."

As granted I stepped within uncle Cutler's quarters, as expected finding him sitting in an armchair still fully dressed, reading through some documents before approved them by signing them. Me walking closer and accidentally knocking over a cane, my uncle finally looking up to me surprised as I caught the object and placed it back to lean against the headboard. Lifting my eyebrows at the brand mark at the end of it, the notorious one I'd heard to have branded the blasted picaroon Jack Sparrow himself.

"By the looks of your expression I assume you have an urgent issue to discuss", uncle Cutler remarked, beckoning to the other chair placed across from him but I shook my head curtly. Tensely, thinking back about the row I'd just had with Miranda downstairs. However prioritizing the matters that I'd come to report.

"I followed Governor Swann to the docks", I informed, thoughtful looking uncle Cutler nodding as placed the papers to the table to offer me his whole attention.

"And?"

"He'd arranged a meeting. With Ackerley Hanshaw, one of the captains of the ships that are responsible of exporting products from here to other countries, such as England."

"And did you learn the reason behind this meeting?" uncle Cutler queried, looking up to me while smoothed his jaw in ponders.

"Not directly from them, but nevertheless I believe to know what it was about. I saw the Governor to give some money to Hanshaw, undoubtedly as a down payment for some sort of favor that is to be put into effect shortly."

My uncle was quiet for awhile before answering. "I wonder what kind of service was at issue…"

"Elizabeth", I specified, uncle Cutler meeting my eyes with a lift of astonished eyebrows, demanding for an explanation which I was more than happy to deliver. "As he's failed to free her regardless of all his means and usage of power, I believe he's planning on saving her from the death sentence by smuggling her out of Port Royal as soon as possible. Tomorrow a certain number of merchant vessels are setting sail to transport cargo to Britain, among them a ship that is captained by Hanshaw."

"And you know this how?"

"I've lived here all my life. I know the names and faces of all the employed merchants, as well as the ships that are used to deliver the cargo to the byers monthly. I'm sure the Governor paid Hanshaw to take Elizabeth aboard his ship as a stowaway and help her flee to England."

"You would count on that theory?" uncle Cutler questioned, measuring me while I smiled at him confidently.

"I've been keeping an eye on him for weeks and known him to be plotting something that had something to do with Elizabeth. So I see no other reason why he would've gone through the touble of paying real money to a man who conveniently captains a vessel that is to leave Port Royal tomorrow, if he wasn't intending to free his daughter from the dungeons and have her safely escorted into hiding."

"But surely he wouldn't dare to go executing such a move without an insurance", uncle Cutler mused, thinking a moment until nodded contendedly. "He must've contacted to his friends in England, ones with notable power to aid in disposing of the charges laid against his daughter, perhaps even desperate enough to contact the king himself and directly ask for a pardon?"

"I'm confident of that, uncle. By my years of growing up in this household I deem to be quite familiar with his way of thinking."

Uncle Cutler let out an amused breath, smiling as rose from his seat to go to a case that rested on the table, taking something from it. "It is more than gratifying to have an agent within the enemy lines, but I'm honestly surprised to find that since I bid you to monitor Governor Swann's movements two weeks ago, how exceptionally you've repaid my trust with such plentiful results. You've done well. And not only in this instance, but before as well…Bringing Turner and Norrington's involvement in Sparrow's escape to my attention and continuing to offer the Company information that has made my current commission in Port Royal possible."

I smiled thankfully. "I did my duty for the Crown."

"And for yourself, no doubt… Not many would've dared to behold the justice to prevail on the expense of one's superior and closest friend", uncle Cutler reminded, me tilting my head in rigorous consent.

"Will broke the law. It is but justified that both his traitorous arse and Norrington's get to pay the piper as self-imposedly appropriate, and it sure as hell doesn't put me into any kind of dither whatsoever."

"Indeed."

I gave my uncle a questionable look as I watched him walk to me then, me though instantly filling with understanding as I followed him offer me a ring. Me brushing my fingertips over the Beckett family crest after accepting it, as he beckoned to it remarkably.

"As promised. You've earned it nephew, manyfold. I'm glad to see you finally claim your official seat in the East India Trading Company by my side."

"What about my position in the Navy?" I reminded in turn, now thinking back to the faraway time when I'd first sat down with me uncle after meeting him long before he'd come to Port Royal and we'd discussed about the terms of me employment to his company's service as a dormant agent. "Mercer as well as you guaranteed that I would be reinstated and granted a promotion for my notable efforts for the Company. For you."

"That along with many other matters is to be dealt with before long", uncle Cutler replied. "I ask a little more of your patience, Peter. My hands remain tied as long as Governor Swann remains loyal to his principles and refuses to grant me his influence both here and in the British Court. But due to these developments you've successfully brought to daylight I'm sure also that is soon to change in our indisputable benefit."

There was a short silence as I thought about the succession of our plan we'd devised not long after my uncle's right-hand man Ian Mercer had tracked me down to that rundown bar in the Caribbean, in place of uncle Cutler offering me a chance to join EITC. The letter I'd received from him informing me of the true lineage of Miranda and me, consisting of the very same detailed account of our mother's past that uncle Cutler had told again two weeks ago in the Governor's office during the moment of the supposed reunion (with a few additions concerning the commission I'd been endowed, including the order to make sure that my sister would become associated and ultimately come to trust the McTavish fellow once he'd arrived to Port Royal, by hiring some thugs to intimidate her with money received from her gallant rescuer). Me of course being fully aware of our uncle's identity at the time, as we'd agreed however playing along and pretending to be as shocked as my sister to be all so suddenly confronted with the brother of our deceased mother, where this whole ordeal had been carefully outlined close to a year prior. Me starting to smile now as I realized everything to go just according to plan, until I soon recalled Miranda and the things she'd "revealed" to me earlier. My uptight turned demeanor causing my uncle next to direct another inquiring look to my direction.

"Is there something else worth knowing I should be aware of?"

"Miranda knows. About our plans for the remanagement of Port Royal, the petition for a martial law and the circumstances surrounding it, possibly a lot more. On my way to see you I walked in on her when she was leaving the office after evidently ransacking the paperwork of the Company and finding the documents."

Uncle Cutler was seemingly taken aback for the second time at first, until his expression told me him to have a realization of some kind. Me simply wrinkling my eyebrows at him, not getting his least bit concerned reaction to this unplanned development.

"You don't seem surprised", I noted, uncle Cutler's brows as well rising.

"Because I'm not. I knew someone had been in the study as the candles were giving off smoke when I entered, and yet I found no one inside."

"She couldn't have left the study before I arrived. Nor she could've escaped before you came, so she must've hidden herself somewhere until you were gone."

Uncle Cutler was silent for a while, then looking to me indeed curiously after measuring my previous words. "Then it wasn't my imagination when I felt someone to be lurking nearby...Granted, she was there. Did she confront you with these discoveries then?"

"Yes. She accused you of breaking the law, telling me to me wary with my connections to the Company. Uncle, this is not just a petty disregardable bump in the road but a fricking dell. She wasn't supposed to learn about this, any of it."

"And yet she somehow did by some indeterminate means. Although as I previously suspected it is highly likely that Turner is the perpetrator responsible of setting the seed of distrust in her mind which finally drove her into determining the truth by herself."

I frowned. "I had a feeling something like that happened. Heck, she's been hell bent in defending him, so her behavior's but reasonable then if he did say something to her before leaving town. She went to see him after all."

Something then popped into my mind, something else Miranda had said about Elizabeth that then urged me to turn to direct a slightly measuring stare at me uncle, him returning it collectedly as I voiced out the question that was in my mind.

"What are you going to do now? Will broke the accord by sharing details about his mission to Miranda …And now that the master plan has been compromised are you going to sort it out by executing Elizabeth once she and her father have been caught in middle of conducting an escape? Miranda told me to have seen her name in the list of criminals doomed to hang. One I helped you to make with a promise that hers would be wiped from it."

"I very well remember your beyond enraged reaction from two weeks ago when you learned of her arrest", uncle Cutler said, causing me to glance away in curt discomfort due to the memory of me losing my cool outright right after Miranda and Will had cleared out of the office and left me alone with uncle Cutler, angered by the turn of events that in our previous discussions hadn't included Elizabeth taking the blame with Will. My eyes now flickering back to him to watch him lean back in his chair as my stern irises pierced his stoic ones when he continued.

"So your opinion about Miss Swann's safety more than clearly betoken, rest assured nephew. Should you come to appeal me with your labour as you commendably have, I also remember that as part of our agreement I promised you to let her live. But the same cannot be said about Turner, as even if he has yet failed to show where his loyalties truly lie, once he returns either with or without the compass I'm afraid that his fate has been sealed since the day he aided in the escape of a many times convicted criminal…" Uncle Cutler looked to me questionably. "Have you come to develop any objections concerning him?"

I let out a laugh, shaking my head and finally taking a seat. Crossing my legs and tapping my fingers on my knee before slipped the ring on my index finger. Finding it to fit perfectly, clearly always meant to have been worn by me. "As I've already fully indicated by siding with you, none whatsoever. As long as Elizabeth lives and doesn't get any further involved in his cockups I'm downright swell with Will's death. It was after all him and his goddarn self-righteous heroisms that caused her to get dragged in the dirt with him in the first place, so I say he's simply getting what's coming for him."

"Good. Then we understand one another."

"Suppose so... And Miranda?" I asked after a pause, death serious, stopping to roll the ring on my finger as directed a strict gaze at uncle Cutler. "The way she spoke of you regardless of what I told her makes me think that she hardly will sit on her arse and let us proceed with the plan. I know her, and that she's come to despise you for what you did to Will."

"Woman's scorn is not something I consider hazardous enough factor to let it affect the outcome", uncle Cutler remarked indifferently, his tone nothing but assuring as he next started to smile rather victoriously, it soon transmitting to me when I came to realize the convincing reason in his words as often I did. "You need not worry about your sister. Now that we've successfully had her promised to Mr. McTavish as intended, whatever she intends to do with her information she soon isn't a problem to concern ourselves with. Everything she supposedly knows is something she cannot prove, so I think we owe her some entitlement for resentment after deceiving her for so long and thus continue as planned. I'll have a word with her in the morning. "

I nodded in consent, grin on my lips as I cast my eyes back down to the ring. Relaxed, twisting the crest side up, after what it seemed like an eternity of keeping up the appearances of a heartbroken, gambling and boozy loafer feeling myself contended for the first time. For that everything was going exactly according to our expectations, except the single surfaced and unheralded aspect that was my at times too meddlesome snoop of a sister, it however soon not disconcerting me at all.

Because just like uncle Cutler had expressed it…ironically we both had been endowed a ring, but only mine enabled access to power that put me and only me exclusively in charge of my affairs. Unlike my sister's whose life would be tied to that rock for the rest of her constrained life as a wife of that egomaniac McTavish, her not being able to lift a finger to stop the reckoning that was only days away from befalling over Port Royal. Right on schedule.

Scottish vocabulary:

Pronouns etc:

o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him, me = my, nae = not

Recurrent & other words:

7th chap:

goonie = nightgown, ne'er = never, oan = on, wey = way, noo = now, efter = after, oot = out, freish = new, weel = well, maw = mother, afore = before, almaist = almost, lik' = like, upoan = upon, thro' = though, wi' = with, juist = just, aboot = about, mair = more, ower = over, meself = myself, gey = very, keek = a look/to look, o' coorse = of course = of course, hoose = house, heid = head, haun = hand, doon = down, wance = once (wance mair = once more), coupon = face, face = expression, aroond = around, stairt = start, geggy = mouth, aff = off, awright = alright, awa' = away, guid = good, foremaist = first, neist = next, atween = between, hert = heart, 'imself = himself, dauner = walk, ken = to know, goup= stare, meself = myself, ain = own, wee = little/small, utmaist = utmost, wi'oot = without, likelie = probably, naw = no, arweady = already, luv = to love, awready = already, mak' = make, tak' = take, streenge = weird/odd, wheest = quiet/silent