The faces of Scarlett's audience turned pale. Catherine's hand slipped from the bowl she held, causing it to tumble onto the table. Joseph glanced among them in shock as he sat near the hearth but he didn't speak as he saw tears welling up in his father's eyes.

"Dead?" George said. "How?"

"It happened right before our eyes, Papa," Scarlett said, her voice cracking. "She was killed by the hand of Blackbeard."

Catherine brought a hand up to her gaping mouth before breaking out into a sob. William jumped up and ran to his mother as she leaned against the kitchen table and looked nearly ready to collapse. He took her gently away and brought her to a chair by the fire, placing her in it and grasping her hand at her side.

"Dear God," George shuttered. "What kind of dealings would she be having with such a man?"

"It's a long story, Father. There's much I have not told you."

He swallowed hard, attempting to regain his composure and keep a brave face. "Well, you'd best tell me everything."

"It would be easier if I started from the beginning," Scarlett began. "While I was captive on Captain Jones' ship, we encountered one of his rivals I never told you about--Blackbeard. He had tried to capture me for his own purpose, which I did not know at the time but Alexander rescued me from his hand and brought me back home. Well, when William and I set out on our journey to find Grace, as you know, Commander Hughes took us as passengers but unfortunately, only to Swansea."

"Swansea?" George said. "But that wasn't the deal."

"He had a change of orders and wasn't to sail to Plymouth but we pressed on, figuring with the money he was saving us, we would be able to find passage in Swansea. But it was there that our journey changed. I went into the town, looking for another ship willing to take us aboard and that's when a man was recommended to me. He turned out to be Blackbeard but it was too late for me to escape. Before I knew it, his men captured William and I and took us back to his ship, where they kept us in the brig until we docked in Portsmouth. He intended to sell us in a slave market."

"Oh my Lord," Catherine exclaimed. "My babies! I knew you should have never left home."

"I'm sorry, Mother," Scarlett said, casting her eyes down as she was unable to watch the pain in Catherine's face. "I should have done better."

"What were you thinking searching for passage in such a manner? You should have held the Commander to his original accord. It's only right that a gentleman upholds his word and protects a young lady. Some commander he is!"

"Let her continue, Catherine," George said, his brow furrowed in concern as he awaited Scarlett's story.

"I hold no grudge against the Commander," Scarlett said. "It was my fault alone." She paused in regretful contemplation before turning back to her father. "Well, it was here that things became very serious. Blackbeard took us to a man by the name of Bastian De Leon. He was to sell us to him but Captain Jones rescued us and then took us on the rest of our journey to find Grace. We stayed with her for a few days in her small home on the outskirts of the town. Things were going so well..."

Scarlett's voice trailed off as she struggled to reach the dreadful news of her story but her family's eyes pleaded anxiously for her to continue.

"Slowly, we learned things about her life but William and I could tell she was holding something back. We were quite taken by surprise when Blackbeard paid her a visit. That was when we learned the true nature of Grace's means of living. She had previously worked as a seamstress in the town, who actually was the source of directing us to her. But she left that trade and became a mistress of sorts to women sold into the same trade I nearly faced. At first, she just took care of them but eventually, she began recruiting for Blackbeard as well."

Catherine broke into another sob but this time it fell silent. "We should have never let her go," she said. "We should have never pushed her away."

"Good God," George said, wiping a hand across his forehead. "What a horrific mess."

"That night Blackbeard came, Grace began to stand up to him. I think she knew she finally had a chance at a better life--with us, now that we had found her. But when William began to stand up to him to defend us, he pulled his pistol on him and Captain Jones, who had followed Blackbeard, did the same to him. One thing led to another and Blackbeard took Grace captive in his arms to make his escape. He shot her before he left and Captain Jones ran after him and shot him dead in the street."

"Oh thank the Heavens," George said, "for a little justice."

"That was just two days ago. Captain Jones brought us home immediately afterwards."

"Why didn't you stay--see to it that she had a proper burial?"

"We had to leave in a hurry, Father," William said.

"Yes, there's more complications to the story," Scarlett said. "Bastian De Leon is after us. When the Captain rescued us, Blackbeard had already sold us to Bastian. We are like stolen property in his eyes and word has spread quickly."

"What does that mean?" Catherine said, the color draining from her red tear-stained complexion.

"One of Bastian's men gave Captain Jones a warning after he had stolen us away. They have been on our trail this whole journey and even followed Blackbeard to Plymouth, perhaps working together. Captain Jones was certain of this when he saw a man standing over Blackbeard's dead body in the street. That's why we had to leave in a hurry. Now, he has done something worse than stealing and made himself even more of an enemy to Bastian."

"What dealings does Jones have with this Bastian De Leon?" George said. "You said he was there when you were being sold. Why?"

Scarlett swallowed, the scrutinizing glint in her father's eye making her nervous. "He worked for Bastian as well in the same trade as Blackbeard."

Catherine looked up at her daughter suddenly, her tears silent as they trickled down her cheeks steadily. Scarlett caught a knowing gaze in her eyes as if she could read the hesitancy in her tone.

"I see," George said. "So that is what has become of the man my daughter once loved."

Scarlett's heart fluttered as she heard his words and she couldn't help but blurt out the one, singular thought in her mind. "And now I as well, Father."

"What?" he said, abruptly.

"I am in love with Captain Jones," she said, fumbling with her hands in her lap. Yet, her words came out steady with conviction against the anger building in her father's countenance.

"Do you jest with me?" George said. "Don't be ridiculous! A silly notion of a naive girl! You don't know what you speak of when it comes to love, anyhow. How could you? A dance here and there with a boy at the dance hall but nothing more than that." He paused and upon seeing the serious expression on his daughter's face, he sunk in his chair and added, "When did this begin?"

"Not long before he brought me home the first time I was on his ship."

"And you never thought to tell us?"

"I did but I never thought it would be necessary. I thought he was gone forever."

"Well, this certainly takes them all. I will not have a daughter being in love with a pirate who sells people as slaves for God knows what! This isn't a tale anymore, Scarlett. This is real life and real pirates are a menace to society!"

"Father, he doesn't do it anymore. Trust me when I say I was angry when I learned of his past but he is a changed man now. He can't go back to Bastian if he wanted to."

"It doesn't matter. You will find a respectable beau. It's a good thing you are home safe and removed from such influences and out of harm's way."

"But Father, I am not. I have to leave."

"What do you mean 'leave?'" George said, grasping the arm rests of his chair in a vain attempt to control his emotions.

"Bastian is after me. I have to flee with Captain Jones."

"No, Bastian is after Captain Jones, not you. This is merely a battle amongst pirates and nothing more. There is no need for you to leave. I can't bear such nonsense."

"But you don't understand, Papa. We have had so many close calls already. I believe that this man is after us and I can't bring that upon all of you. It would be putting you in danger if I stayed here. I want to protect you and the best way is for me to leave."

"And where would you go?" her father demanded.

"Alexander is sailing for the West Indies."

"The West Indies! Absolutely not. We will figure something else out but you are certainly not leaving England and certainly not leaving with a pirate!"

"George," Catherine said, quietly. "Please, don't be harsh."

"I'm not being harsh, Catherine. I'm being practical and realistic. There is no way I'm going to allow my daughter to go live some exotic life with a pirate she hardly knows but claims to love! The same pirate, who, it seems I need to remind you, has brought calamity upon this family. It's utter nonsense!"

"George, this is the same attitude that drove Grace away," Catherine spoke up, firm in her voice. "I won't see you make that same mistake again with Scarlett."

George fell silent and his movements, once motivated by his boiling anger, became rigid as if frozen in place. Then it faded completely from his demeanor and he sat back in his chair, defeated. He didn't speak a word but stared absentmindedly into the fire.

"Father," Scarlett began, "I'm not asking for your blessing but after much deliberation, I have decided to do this. My mind is made up."

His eyes sparkled with tears. "I don't want to lose another daughter. You just got home safe and now you want to leave again because a horrible man might be chasing after you. What cruelties does this world want for me?"

Scarlett stood and rushed to her father's side, collapsing at his feet and taking his hands in hers. "Oh, Papa, I know. I wish it didn't have to be this way but I would rather leave than put you all at risk. After what happened to Grace, I couldn't bear the thought of it. Besides, I want a life with Alexander."

George paused, at first avoiding his daughter's gaze but then he turned to her. "He treats you well?"

"Yes. We have had our differences but I know when I am without him, there is a void in my heart."

"What say you, William?"

"Well," William began, stumbled by the unexpected question. "At first I didn't trust him but then I came to know him. I saw the love between them and the things he did for us to rescue us and take us to Grace even when he wasn't obligated to. He wanted to protect Scarlett and he still does."

"I had always hoped that boy would still have a heart," Catherine said. "Remember, George? He was a perfect boy for Grace, if only he hadn't made some wrong choices."

"Yes, indeed," George said, nodding thoughtfully. "You know, I've always wanted to blame that boy for what he did to us and our Grace, but in the end, it wasn't his fault what happened to her. We're the ones that abandoned her for the sake of our mere reputation--and all for what? Oh, how I wish I could turn back time and bring her home. We didn't even have a chance to say goodbye."

"I know, Father, but Grace forgave you. I gave her your love and William and I were there for her in her last moments. She wanted to come home."

He patted her hand in his lap, tears still glinting in his eyes. "That's good. I am glad you were finally able to meet her. At least, we may have some peace there. Oh, but to think I may not have had my youngest daughter and my son returned to me, either. Yes, I am grateful to Captain Jones for that. My dear, this has made me realize something very important, I think."

"Yes, Papa?"

He peered into her eyes for a moment but his gaze was soft and kind. "I should have not ever let go of my Grace but now I realize I should not make you stay. You must live the life that you want--the life that makes you happy. And if this man gives you a life of happiness, then you'd best follow after it."

"Thank you, Papa," Scarlett said, tears choking her words as she embraced him. "It makes me incredibly happy."

"Good, but I will miss you dearly, my daughter."

"I will miss you, too. All of you."

"If you are to go," Joseph spoke up, "what about William?"

"I have chosen to stay," he answered. "I promised Grace I would stay to take care of all of you and the bakery when the time comes. I know how proud you are of the business, Father."

George smiled warmly. "My boy, you have waited long enough to take over the bakery. I think you've well proven yourself by now. How would you like to begin taking charge now--say tomorrow?"

William's face lit up. "Really? I would be honored, Father."

"Good. I will be your assistant now." An old, weary smirk appeared on George's face before he turned back to Scarlett. "When do you have to leave?"

"Alexander wants to leave in the morning."

"Oh, so soon?" Catherine said. "That's hardly enough time to say goodbye."

"I know but we can't risk staying longer."

Catherine rose to her feet, wiping away her remaining tears. "I must finish preparing supper, then. You've both had a long journey and need much rest before the morning comes."

With that, the rest of the evening was spent enjoying supper at the table and then rejoining around the hearth, all while Scarlett and William retold details of their adventure and answered the curiosities of their family. They told of the good and the bad--their encounters with pirates, how it felt being nearly separated from each other in the bartering room and most of all, finding Grace. They told of how she looked and what she was like, what they talked about and how they became close like family before her untimely death.

Then, the conversation turned to the future and what prospects awaited Scarlett in the West Indies. It was the first time she really thought about it as the reality of it all began to sink in with her mother's countless questions. Yet, she didn't know how to answer. She only knew it was a land of opportunity or, at least, that's what the Captain promised. What that meant for her as a mere baker's daughter, she didn't know. Now that she was facing a life of piracy, uncertainties of whether it actually suited her or not weighed on her mind. However, she knew she had to go and though she would miss her family, the anticipation of being able to spend her life with the man she loved sent a thrill through her veins.