The Second Swann ---///--------

Chapter 3//Revise

       Once corseted and dressed, both Charlotte and Elizabeth stood before their chamber room mirror, admiring each other's reflections. It suddenly struck Charlotte that they looked even more identical, now with matching bonnets, and fans. Elizabeth noticed the same thing and they two looked at each other.

"You think father would be able to distinguish between us, Elizabeth?" Charlotte asked with a smile. 

"Honestly at this point, I can hardly distinguish who's who right now," Elizabeth replied laughing. Then, she looked past her shoulder, leaning back to see if anyone was coming in. "Are you still wearing it?" she asked in a low whisper. 

Charlotte glanced down at the front of her dress, the medallion was thankfully hidden beneath the lace cut, "yes," she whispered, "it's not right...but I won't be able to get it out, not when there are others in here." 

Elizabeth nodded, "so long as it's hidden, it shouldn't be a problem. Are you alright?" 

"Besides the feeling of something cold and harsh grating at my chest...I'm fine." 

Elizabeth looked at her with concern then nodded, "alright, let's head down then." 

The two grabbed their fans and linked arms together as they exited the room and made their way down the staircase. 

"Oh, both of you look absolutely stunning!" their father called to them with admiration and love in his voice. The two grinned at each other.  

Then, they noticed someone standing just beside their father. Suddenly Charlotte felt her heart hiccup and fall into a steady quick pace against the medallion. 

"Will!" It was Elizabeth who verbally acknowledged him first, "oh, it's so good to see you!" 

Charlotte did not stop her as she unlinked her arm from her, she hurried down the steps and Charlotte calmly followed. There he stood, William, the blacksmith and, the boy whom they found on the driftwood. Now he was a well built young man who had looks that could honestly fool anyone into thinking he was a prince if one were to disacknowledge his attire. 

As Charlotte joined them downstairs she greeted them with a polite smile, then gazed up at Will and admired how gentlemanly he looked. It never did matter what he wore, whether prim and presentable or sweaty and sooty while training in the smithy, to Charlotte, Will was always 

She glanced down to see a case opened on the table before them. Inside its velvety cushion laid a beautifully handcrafted sword. She looked back up at Will and gave him a small, congratulatory smile and he returned it with a secretive nod. 

It was the one thing he wanted to make perfect as a way to not only prove himself of his admirable skill and knowledge but as a way to show deep respect for both men who had saved his life and who had given him a new one.  

"Oh, Will!" Elizabeth said in exclamation, "I had a dream about your last night!" 

Charlotte's smile froze as Will turned back to look at her sister with wide, bright eyes. 

"Really? About me?" he smiled sheepishly, a boyish grin that could make Charlotte melt into the tiles beneath her heeled feet if she didn't have to practice decorum. 

"Elizabeth," their father cut in, "this is hardly appropriate for--" 

"About the day we met, do you remember?" Elizabeth continued, ignoring her father, making him shut his mouth sharply. 

"How could I forget, Miss Swann?" 

"Will, how many times must I ask you to call me 'Elizabeth'?" 

There was the flirtatious and charming smile her sister usually made to win hearts over. However, Charlotte could see the rouge in her cheeks, and the way her sister's eyes crinkled as they shrunk to smile, the way the corners of her smile stretched naturally. She was not the one charming Will, at least, not intentionally. She was the charmed by him. 

Charlotte bit her tongue then snuck a glance to her father. He clearly disapproved this oddly private and exchange between his daughter and the blacksmith and in the way he stood indicated he was ready to step in front of her. 

Will seemed to have felt their father's glare for he looked his way and immediately straightened up, "at least once more, Miss Swann, as always." 

Their father's expression relaxed into a pleased smile, "very well said. See, here's a boy who understands propriety. Now," he stepped between them to pick up the case on the table. He shut the case with a sharp snap. " please pay my compliments to the craftsman, I am sure Commodore Norrington will be absolutely pleased with this work." 

Will paused, the polite smile on his lips stuck in a solid line, "I shall, sir." 

"Now," their father turned to them,  "we really must be going."

Both Charlotte and Elizabeth nodded. Elizabeth gave Will a tight smile and said with a voice laced with ice, "well, good day Mister Turner." 

They stepped out from their home and into the Caribbean afternoon sunlight, where their carriage waited to take them to the ceremony.