Scarlett and her search party began their trek to the address given by the seamstress. Their journey was a long and winding one as the paper in Scarlett's hand led them through various connecting alleyways. The shadows of dusk were now settling in, making the streets ominous and confusing. It felt like they had nearly crossed to the opposite side of the town as they ventured deeper in between buildings. The cobblestones grew dirtier and people were scarce, save for the few women standing on the corners or hidden in the darkened doorways of brothels. They called out to the men with a flurry of giggling as the group walked by. Scarlett held close to her brother protectively and the Captain and Mister Collins ignored the petitions with only an unfazed glance in their direction.

Finally, the moment had arrived. They reached their destination and Scarlett stood upon the doorstep. William shifted nervously off to her side and the Captain, once again, insisted on staying out of sight. He ducked around the corner, staying within earshot as he waited for Scarlett's rap on the door.

She took in a deep breath, her surroundings stirring up anxious feelings in her stomach. How did her sister end up in such a dirty neighborhood? What would she see on the other side of the door? Would her sister be in rags? Only when her thoughts became overwhelming did she hesitate no further and knocked.

They were met with silence for several long, dreadful seconds until suddenly, the door cracked open. Scarlett jumped at the abrupt sound and gazed at part of a face peeking through.

“Hello,” she said. “Is this Grace Humphries’ residence?”

The woman hesitated. “Yes. Why? What do you want?”

“Well, we've been looking for someone by the name of Grace Hamilton.”

The woman opened the door wider, revealing a beautifully clad woman fitting the seamstress’ description. Her dress was a cerulean blue with a simple bodice lined with a thin ribbon of lace. Her dark hair was up in a modest coiffure but the few ringlets close to her neck made the style elegant in the eyes of her beholders. Scarlett was taken aback by the unexpected lady standing in front of them.

“Where did you hear that name?” the woman said. “Who sent you?”

“We found you by way of a seamstress on the other side of the town but we come by our own will. My name is Scarlett Hamilton and this is William, my brother. We believe you may be our sister.”

The woman looked between them, glancing over their attire and scrutinizing their faces. A momentary hint of familiarity passed over her features but then it vanished with skepticism.

“What kind of jest is this? I don't need beggars coming to my door. Please leave.” She stepped back, ready to close the door.

“No, wait,” Scarlett said. “Please let us explain.”

“I have heard quite enough.”

“She's telling the truth, Grace,” came a voice behind them. The Captain emerged reluctantly from around the corner and stood at the end of the steps. He peered at her sheepishly and spread out his hands in a helpless shrug. “Perhaps this convinces you.”

However, Grace's complexion turned white and her hands began to tremble. She grasped the door handle and hid herself behind the door as if almost by fearful instinct. “How dare you show up here!” she said, color rising furiously to her cheeks. “How did you find me? Get away from here--all of you!”

“No, please,” Scarlett exclaimed, putting her hand out in reassurance. “He's okay. He's with us. He helped us to find you.”

“Like hell he did!” Grace said, looking past Scarlett towards the Captain. “I never wanted to see your face again.”

“It wasn't exactly my idea to come here either, Grace,” he replied. “But a lot has happened since then and your sister implored me to help find you.”

Grace turned back to Scarlett. “This is a dangerous man. You shouldn't be with him if you know what's good for you.”

“I trust him with my life.”

“Well, you're greatly mistaken, then.” Grace lifted her nose in the air with strong conviction.

“Please, I know this is all very overwhelming.”

“Yes, it is,” Grace replied with a nod. “My sister, he says.” She paused as she tasted the words on her tongue for the first time and a hint of softness returned to her eyes. “And my brother. But this is absurd. How can this be true?”

“I have more proof,” Scarlett said, reaching for the necklace hidden inside her stays. She pulled it out and showed Grace the silver pendant of a ship. “I believe this used to be yours.”

Grace peered at the necklace, her lips parting in surprise as she recognized it immediately. “Where did you get that?”

“From Alexander. There's so much to explain, please, if you will let us.”

Grace hesitated, flicking her gaze amongst the three standing expectantly before her. “Well, I suppose so. You'd better come inside before the cold gets us all.”

She stood back, holding the door open for them to enter. Scarlett and William approached the threshold but halted when the Captain remained motionless.

“I better stay here,” he said. “I'll wait with Mister Collins.”

“Alex, please, I want you to join me,” Scarlett said. “That is, if Grace will oblige us.”

“Well, I would rather him stay out but I don't want people to see a pirate loitering outside my door. You may come in--but just this once.”

The Captain obeyed Scarlett's pleading eyes and followed them into Grace's home. It was dark inside, except for a humble fire struggling to stay alight. It was a tiny flat with a tiny foyer and two doorways--one leading back to the bedroom and another leading to the small drawing room and kitchen.

“Please sit down,” Grace said as they filtered into the sitting area.

Scarlett and William took their places on a small, plain settee, while the Captain wandered over to the fire and rested his arm on the mantelpiece.

“You got some rum?” he said.

Grace's expression turned cold again as she regarded him sternly. “Yes, I will get it,” she said, before walking to the corner of the room and retrieving a decanter from a cabinet. Pouring the contents into a glass, she handed it to him.

“Thank you,” he said before downing the rum in one swallow.

“So I have a sister,” Grace said, taking a seat across from them. “And William, well, you certainly aren't a baby anymore. Oh, how the time flies. Is this all really true? How has this come to happen?”

“Well, it's a long story,” Scarlett began, “and I apologize for coming uninvited at such an hour but we've traveled so long and far to find you.”

“But why after all this time?”

“Because we just discovered we have a sister. All these years, we never knew. That was until I met Alexander several months ago.”

Tears formed in Grace's eyes but her lips were firm. “So they never told you? My sister and my brother had to learn about me from a pirate!” She spat her words out as she glared up at the Captain.

“I'm afraid so,” Scarlett replied, calmly. “I was upset as well but I knew I needed to correct it. I had to find you and reunite our family.”

Grace let out a scoff. “There will be no reuniting of this family. Father and Mother made their choice and this just proves it. They were too ashamed to even tell their children about me. But that's alright. I've managed just fine on my own. Now tell me--how does he fit into the picture?” She gestured to the Captain.

“Well, it's probably best if I start from the beginning,” Scarlett said, glancing nervously at the Captain. “It all began when I delivered goods to a ship--Alexander's ship. William and I help out with Father's bakery, you see.”

Grace nodded. “Yes, I remember it. I used to work there as well.”

“Yes, William is a fine baker now and I help out with the customers,” Scarlett said with a small smile. “Anyway, it was after this that Alexander captured me and took me away with them without any word as to why. I look back now and think if I had escaped, as I had attempted, I wouldn't have learned about you. And eventually, Alexander revealed why he captured me. He had watched me back at home from a distance, thinking that I was you. Of course, upon closer inspection, he realized that wasn't the case and that I didn't even know who you were. So he told me everything.”

Grace sat upright, tense and uncomfortable, as Scarlett spoke, her fingers playing subconsciously with the lace on her dress. Her uneasiness exuded the same discomfort Scarlett felt while giving her quick account, especially with the Captain standing in the room. He shifted nervously as well, keeping his gaze on the fire.

“So he was trying to find me,” Grace said. “After everything that has happened, did you really think you could come back to me?”

“Grace, I was desperate then,” Alexander replied. “I didn't know what overcame me but it was too much to bear. I only thought if I could find you, I could explain everything.”

“There is nothing that needs to be explained.”

“You never knew how much I really loved you, did you? Do you know how much it hurt when I heard you had left me?”

“Enough to kill a man?” she said, rising from her seat.

“You don't know what you speak of. It was an accident.”

“Oh, was it, now? You were angry and intoxicated, Alexander. Your intentions seemed clear enough.”

“And so did yours. I was a fool for thinking you loved me. That man wasn't going to give you anything.”

“I think you'd better leave.”

“So do I,” the Captain said, striding across the room. “Scarlett, I'm sorry. Forgive me.” Then he vanished out the door, closing it with a rush of cold air.

The room fell silent and Grace sat back down rigidly, composing herself by brushing out the fabric of her skirts. “I apologize,” she said, quietly. “You shouldn't have had to see that. I pity that you ever had to meet that man. Oh, Scarlett, I am sorry you had to endure his captivity and God knows what horrible barbarians he has employed as his crew. I can't imagine what a tragic experience it must have been. I do worry, though, about you having traveled with him this whole time in order to find me. Surely, a wiser accord could have been made elsewhere.”

“Well, yes, we did,” Scarlett began. “It was many months ago, actually, that I was a captive and then he returned me home safely. But after finding out about you, William and I set out on our own by the aid of an acquaintance of mine, a master and commander of the Royal Navy. He took us on part of our journey at no cost.”

Grace lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Well, that is quite an acquaintance.”

“Yes, I was very grateful to him. For the remainder of our travels, we planned to pay for passage aboard a merchant ship. But it didn't quite go like that. When searching on the docks in Swansea, I was directed to speak to a prospective man, who turned out to be the pirate captain, Blackbeard.”

Grace's complexion blanched at the mention of the name belonging to such a notorious pirate. It almost looked as if fear hovered in her glazed eyes but she didn't speak as Scarlett continued further.

“This wasn't the first time I have encountered him, actually,” she said. “He has been a rival of Alexander's for some time and it was during my captivity on his ship that I first ran into him. It's because of this that he recognized me again and captured William and I and took us to Portsmouth to be sold into slavery. It was all so horrifying. I don't dare think what would have happened if Alexander hadn't been there to rescue us.”

“Oh, dear God,” Grace said, releasing a heavy breath. “And what was Alexander doing in a place like that?”

“Unfortunately, he's been involved in the same trade as well. But when he saw me in the bartering room, he snuck William and I out and we escaped to his ship. Blackbeard and Bastian have been after us ever since but we think we have lost them. Alexander has been keeping watch and we are safe here now.”

“I do hope that is the case,” Grace said, swallowing hard. “What a long, tumultuous journey you have had. But you are here now, like you said, and that's all that matters. Please, I want you both to stay with me as long as you like. Perhaps we may be able to catch up after all these years.”

For the first time since their arrival, a slight smile appeared on her face. Scarlett and William reflected their sister's warm expression. “We would love to. Mother and Father would be so happy to see you.”

“I am uncertain of that.”

“No, it's true,” William said. “They gave us their blessing to leave on our journey and find you.”

“Father wasn't too happy at first,” Scarlett admitted. “But only because they were fearful of us getting into danger and well, for good reason. Then, he came to realize that this is important, no matter how difficult the journey could be. He wanted me to tell you he loves you and that he's sorry. They want to see you, Grace.”

Their sister nodded contemplatively but avoided their gaze. “Perhaps someday,” she said, rising from her seat. “I shall make us some tea. You must be famished.”

Without another word, Grace departed for the kitchen. Scarlett couldn't help but catch a glimpse of sorrow on her face as she walked away. She smiled sadly at her brother sitting beside her. She knew by his gaze that they both knew it would take time to convince their sister of her family's love and to heal her wounds of the past. But Scarlett was determined to do so and as she felt the warmth of the fire glowing in the hearth, she knew they could melt her sister's heart as well. Everything was finally coming together nearly perfectly, except for one important thing. Animosity still raged between Grace and the Captain and now, Scarlett found herself in the middle of it all.