"Just leave her to me." Jack winked and swaggered back into the main room.
"I really don't like the sound of that." said Will.
"Nor do I." agreed Elizabeth.
"I'll follow him." said Will, striding to go catch up with Jack.
"Mr.Fitzwilliam! There you are!" said Miss Collins ceremoniously.
Looking as suave as a pirate with dreadlocks could, he gave his most pompous smile as he ambled towards the frigid young woman who smiled smugly at her friends for catching the attention of a man who was thought to be the catch of the ball. She had seen Mr. Will Turner following Charles Fitzwilliam, and had sent Anna to sidetrack him from his pursuit. She had also sent Georgina to prevent Miss Elizabeth from making an untimely interruption of her time with Mr. Fitzwilliam.
Her smug smile quickly changed to a look of pious innocence, as she batted her eyelashes and said, "Oh I'm so glad that you're back. You wouldn't believe how terribly boring these other guests are compared to *you*."
She looked away sheepishly before continuing.
"I must confess something."
"Please, continue, milady." said Jack, quite enjoying this attention.
"Oh but it would be improper of me to say." she said, not facing him, but obviously looking at him from the corner of her eye.
"I find you fascinating." she said fervidly.
Well *this* was definitely way out of left field! This isn't the booty Jack had originally planned on, but he was more than open to bonuses.
He opened his mouth to say something, but paused upon thinking of Will and Elizabeth. Cursing himself and his conscience, he gave his assent to the job at hand. But… this situation could be helpful…
"Perhaps you could tell me more, in a more… private setting." he said roguishly.
"I'd like that very much." she said innocently.
Jack then began to lead Charlotte to find an abandoned room in the house. Will, seeing Jack and Charlotte leaving, quickly excused himself from Anna's company and rushed over.
"Miss Collins, do go ahead without me and I'll find you. I must regretfully satisfy Mr. Turner's sudden desire to speak with me." said Jack.
Charlotte nodded seductively at Jack. Before she turned away, she shot a disgusted and icy look at Will.
When she left, Will scolded, "What do you think you're doing, Jack??!"
"Having a good time, mate!" Jack smirked.
Rolling his eyes at Will's unamused glare, he continued, "I'm making my exit."
"And what of Miss Collins? You know she's only using you, because she thinks you're rich." persisted Will.
"I know that and she won't cause any trouble, mate. Have I ever steered you wrong?" asked Jack, slightly insulted at Will's doubt of his motives.
Will opened his mouth to say something, but Jack cut him off.
"Wait, don't answer that one."
There was a pause.
"Now I'm gonna go have me some fun and you and Lizzie are gonna go make your excuses of how you have to leave. Wait for me below the window of the parlour." said Jack, shooing Will in the direction where Elizabeth was trying to escape the twittering Georgina.
* * *
Jack entered the parlor where Charlotte, lounging seductively on a chaise, greeted him. With a mischievous grin, Jack shut the door behind him.
* * *
Charlotte cried out but it was pointless. No one could hear her. She had been bound to the chaise minutes after "Mr. Fitzwilliam" had entered. She had also been gagged.
"Not the evening you had hoped for, eh, luv?" he smirked. "You're a pretty girl, but… let's just say, "I'm not your type"."
He looked up as the sound of a few pebbles hitting the window could be heard. He went to the window and opened it.
On the ground were Elizabeth and Will.
"Where's Charlotte?" Elizabeth called as quietly as one could.
"She tied up at the moment, savvy?" Jack replied.
Turning back to the helpless Charlotte, he said, "Well, love, I'm sure you'll remember this as the day that you almost boarded Captain Jack Sparrow. Better luck next time."
With that, he climbed out the window, leaving a shocked and horrified Charlotte tied on the chaise.