Jack approached the Duchess and gave her a sweeping bow. "Allow me to present myself, Your Grace," he said in a passable high-class accent.

Will and Elizabeth looked at each other in astonishment, and paused nearby where they could overhear.

The Duchess turned and looked at her guest, trying to hide her surprise at his appearance. Jack wore elegant and expensive clothes, but he had removed neither braids nor beads from his beard and hair.

"I am Charles FitzWilliam, newly arrived in Barbados, and I thank you for your kind invitation to attend you. It can be so difficult to meet society in a new place, don't you agree?"

"Oh, I . . . " the Duchess said, blinking. "You . . . are very welcome, Mr. FitzWilliam? I hope your journey was not too difficult."

A passing group of laughing guests separated the Turners from the other two, and when the gap had cleared, Jack and the Duchess had moved away. By Jack's gestures, Elizabeth guessed he was complimenting the house and grounds.

She looked at Will, and saw him struggling not to laugh. It was a good look on him.

Before she could say anything, a young woman was at her elbow, tugging her arm.

"Miss Swann, pray excuse me, but may we have a word?"

Elizabeth turned to see Charlotte Collins, a woman she knew slightly from Port Royal, but had never liked much.

"Of course, but Mr. Turner shall hear us, too. What is it?"

The woman's haughty gaze slid over Will and then returned to Elizabeth, dismissing him. With her were three young women whom Elizabeth did not know.

"Who is that man - the man with the Duchess? You were talking to him, and it seemed that you knew him."

Elizabeth glanced at Will. "He is . . . Charles Fitz . . . "

"FitzWilliam," Will supplied.

"And is he married?" asked one of the other ladies.

"No," Elizabeth answered without much thought, but in some surprise.

The women smiled and giggled. Elizabeth recognized their avaricious expressions, and a wicked idea occurred to her. **No, she told herself sternly, you are not going to do this.**

"He is very handsome, don't you think?" asked Charlotte.

"Beautiful, really," said one of the others, as the rest nodded enthusiastic agreement. "Is he landed?"

**Yes, I am going to do this, Elizabeth decided.** She gave Will her best evil look and answered, "Oh, yes. He has vast plantations in Barbados, and a fortune of five thousand a year."

"Better looking all the time," said Charlotte, giggling with the others. "Will you introduce us?"

Will, wide-eyed, looked toward Jack and then back at Elizabeth.

"I think it would be more advantageous if you asked the Duchess to present you, don't you agree?"

"Very well," said Charlotte, with a conspiratorial lift of her perfect eyebrow, and the entire crowd of them swarmed toward Jack.

Will moved to her side. "How is he going to steal anything with every woman in the place pursuing him?"

"I didn't think of that," she admitted. "At least they all have jewels."

Will gave her a shocked look. "I hate to think what he'd have to do in order to relieve them of their jewelry."

"And he'd have to do it to all of them," she agreed.

Will sighed. "I see a lot of slapping in his future."

Chapter 11 by Tigger16

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