Soon, after a number of stops, you are ready. Captain and crew admire your new look, gushing over your fancy dress like the sweet, young maidens they now looked like. The gown feels huge on your slender frame, with its billowy skirt and more ruffles and bows than you can count. Your expertly styled hair now sits atop your head in a shining up-do. Jewelry adorns your neck, ears, and hands, making you resemble a rich heiress rather than a pirate. With all these things in place, you are brought to the ship where the ball is being held, and Scarlett hands you the invitation.
Before leaving, you ask, "What are the rest of you going to do?"
Scarlett gets a mischievous smile on her pretty face. "We be handling our side of things out here. But worry not, lass. Some of the girls will be close by, ready to help when the job be done. Now go."
"Aye, aye," you reply before heading to your goal.
At the gangplank, a guard stops you and asks for an invitation. Smiling brightly, you hand yours to him. He blushes at your smile, which you actually find rather cute, before waving you through.
Inside, you join the guests in milling around the deck of the vast frigate. Somewhere, a live chamber orchestra is playing soft music, and servants flit about, offering refreshments. The spectacle is quite the contrast to your usual rowdy company. Everyone here looks noble and dignified, the men in their uniforms and the women in their fancy gowns. You carefully wind your way through, making sure not to let the wide skirt of your dress brush against those of the other ladies.
At last, you spot him. Even in the waning evening light, his distinctive red hair, a prominent trait of Scarlett's family, shines like a beacon. Walking up to him, you greet, "Charles Carmine, I presume?"