Evangeline McKenna has won Jack Sparrow's heart. Now, as she joins him again on his beloved Pearl, outside forces threaten to tear them-and everyone else-apart. The crew teams up with new and old forces to defeat a wealthy man in London who wants no...
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Shipwreck Cove
July the Fourth, 1745
As the days passed at Shipwreck Cove, and the Lords had voted on and agreed to Daniel's plan, everyone seemed to set into motion. Lizzie had made clear that time was of the essence; the longer the Lords were gone from their respective seas, the easier suspicions would arise, and the more danger they would all find themselves in. Crew members from all ships worked in tandem, night and day, to prepare one of Teague's old commission ships. The choice of which ship to repair had not seemed to matter, as they all had seen better days in the sun. Ultimately, a barque ship had been selected as everyone agreed that, with its unusual sail pattern, it was faster on the water, and required a smaller crew than the other options. Exactly the type of ship Jack had envisioned. It had swiftly been dubbed the Artemis after the goddess of the hunt.
Evangeline and Daniel spent hours together, discussing the details of what her fictitious life in London would consist of. With the suggestion that she become his cousin, it was decided that she would stay with Daniel and his family at their home in Bethnal Green. Her last name would be changed, her clothes discarded for the latest London fashions, and most important of all, her charms and graces would have to be coaxed from deep within. Absolutely no second-guessing of her movements, words, or actions. She must stand out in a crowd of women who had prepared their entire lives to attend a party and gain the interest and love of a rich man. All of this, of course, would be practiced and drilled into her on the journey by Elizabeth, who seemed to utterly dread the idea of returning to her restrictive roots, but she knew Geline's safety relied on it.
Jack busied himself with the ship repairs, overseeing each detail. When Geline finished her talks with Daniel, Jack spoke about all manner of safety measures. He told her that, first and foremost, he would finish their long-abandoned sword fighting practice. He had not changed his feelings about her playing this role in the days since its conception, but he made it clear to her that she would be entering London society with every single safety net available. Hand to hand combat knowledge, daggers in the folds of her skirts, and, most importantly, Jack himself.
Daniel's plan, in part, was to sneak Lizzie and Jack into a furnished home that he kept on rent in the nearby town of Stratford-at-Bow. Elizabeth had balked at the idea of living with Jack for any length of time, but it seemed mostly out of jest. Daniel assured them all it was a secure location, but when Jack pressed for more information, his brother changed the subject.
As for the Lords, they were to leave Shipwreck Cove shortly after the departure of the Artemis. They could not stay in hiding for long but would have to sail, armed to the teeth, and on guarded lookout from sunup to sundown. Everyone knew that Drummond if each ship's log had been properly received, would find himself suspicious if not a single pirate Lord could be found. This included the crews of the Pearl and Cherry Blossom, with Barbossa acting as captain just as Elizabeth's first mate would. _________________________________________
