The next morning Agatha woke up feeling unusually rested. She attributed that to the gentle rocking motion of the ship. She got up and dressed herself and was just putting up her hair when there was a knock at the door.
It was the same boy who had come to get her the night before. "Good morning!" he greeted cheerfully. "I've come to take you to breakfast!"
"Oh, thank you, young man," Agatha replied, a little startled at the change in his accent. Last night he had sounded, well, like a sailor, and this morning he sounded quite upper crust and educated.
The lad took off his hat and smiled at her. "I wondered if my disguise was good enough, but I guess it was. It's so good to see you, Aunt Agatha!"
Agatha gasped, finally recognizing the youth. "Elizabeth!" she cried. She enfolded the young woman in her arms. "Oh, my dear, I had no idea it was you! Are you all right? The captain said you'd been ill!"
"I was extremely ill for a while, but I'm getting stronger now," Elizabeth said, hugging her tightly. Tears of joy shone in her eyes, but she smiled as her aunt held her at arms' length. "You look wonderful, Aunt!"
It was true. In England, Agatha had looked elderly, washed-out, stuffy, and proper. Now with a light tan, a colorful dress and a big smile, she looked years younger.
"Eliza dear, let me look at you! What on earth are you wearing? Oh, my, yes, you do look a little thin. Let's get you some breakfast right away! How did you become so ill?"
"I think it was Influenza," Elizabeth said, leading her across the deck. "And it was very bad, but Captain Sparrow is a good friend of my husband's and mine, and he came to my rescue, as it were. Oh, aunt, I don't know if you even knew I was married! We have so much to talk about!"
"Yes, of course, my dear. That's why I came! Would you like to start with why Weatherby Swann's only daughter is a wanted pirate?" Agatha asked innocently.
Elizabeth shook her head. "We'll get to that later, but first you have to meet my son! And Captain Sparrow, of course. I gather you've already met Mr Gibbs?" She asked this as she was opening the door to the captain's cabin, where Mr Gibbs himself sat at a table laid out for four. He was dandling a brown-eyed, giggling baby on his knee, and he looked up with a smile.
"Good morning, Mrs Ainsley-Swann, Mrs Turner," he greeted them both. "Come and sit down. Jack will be right along—he's checking our heading," he added, in answer to Elizabeth's inquiring glance. "But this young man's been keeping me company." He handed the baby to Elizabeth.
She smiled, taking Jacob in her arms. "And was Mr Gibbs telling you scary stories, then, Jacob?" she asked playfully. "He always has. I've known him since I was a child myself, you see. Come and meet your Great-aunt Agatha, hmm?"
"Oh, isn't he a darling!" Agatha cooed. "Just look at those gorgeous eyes, so dark and expressive! Elizabeth, he looks exactly like you did when you were that age!"
"And a good thing, too, as his father's an ugly git," came a new voice from the doorway.
Agatha looked up and let out a little shriek, eyes wide. "YOU!" she gasped. It was the long-haired man from the boat last night, but this was the first time she'd seen him in the light.
Please review!