Milady heard the creaking of wooden floorboards gliding across sea waves. Then, she heard footsteps around her: heavy boots. Wait a minute, she thought. Where am I? She tried to pry her eyes open.
"In case you're wondering, this isn't the afterlife." A grim, velvety voice grumbled. Milady blinked to bring the owner into focus. It was Buckingham! He stood over her with his hands behind his back, glowering down at her. "I'm not dead! And neither are you.
Milady frowned, taking in her surroundings. The room was dark, save for the lantern light. She tried to brush her wet trodden hair out of her face, but found that...she couldn't move her hands! She tried to lift them, but hard the sound of shackles. Her wrists were cuffed behind her!
"How did you-" She began to splutter.
"Followed Athos. We fished you out of the channel." Buckingham cut her off, and began walking back and forth. "A very shrewd act on your part. It took a near death alarm for me to realize that you had cleverly set me up. The Gascony lad was telling the truth after all, as much as I loathe to give the brassy fellow the satisfaction!" He glared at Milady.
"You stole her majesty Queen Anne' jewels. With the intention of incriminating me, disgracing dear Anne, and knowing he'd follow the trail, you indirectly sent Athos to kill me. Very shrewd. An extremely clever strategy, my dear. But..as you can very well see, I am very much alive and as robust as ever. Even more so, actually."
Milady puckered her lips. "Where are we going?" She asked, rolling her eyes.
"Back to England, of course. I am to hand you over to the hands of a very old friend of yours. I hope your reunion is one of ecstasy." With that, he spun on his heel and marched out.
"My lord? My lord!" Milady called. "Could we not discuss a par-" She heard the door close. "Damn." She hissed. She struggled against her bonds, trying to wriggle free, but they were clasped too closely to her skin.
"Fighting against them will only mar those oh-so-pretty wrists of yours." A deep voice spoke to her. Her heart lurched with fear.
Athos! He's come to finish me off! She panicked.
"You are quite difficult to track down, dear sister. But this time, you will pay the price for the devious and unscrupulous crimes you've committed."
Wait, wha-oh my g-d! No, no! It can't be! This is a dream! There's no way! Her green eyes burned with fury as a tall, handsome, but dominating figure in a luscious black coat stood in front of her.
"You're coming with me, dear sister, to atone for the sins you've committed." The Count De Winter said calmly.
The actor I picture as the count is Jack Davenport (Commodore James Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean).