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Chapter Text

“Miss Elizabeth, you must come quickly.” Alice, one of the household maids at the Hamilton house, cried as she rushed into the series of rooms that Elizabeth Grace, the sole survivor heiress to the Hamilton fortune was in, reading a novel.

“What is it Alice? Is Fredrick here already?”

“No ma’am. It’s your grandfather. He is asking for you.” Lizzie as she preferred to be called stood up quickly, tipping her empty tea cup and book on the ground. There had only been a handful of times that he had sent for her in the middle of the night like this, usually it meant the end was near and she had to prepare herself for the worst.

The worst to come was handling his funeral, and her upcoming wedding to Fredrick Jenkins. A promise that was made by her grandmother Barlow right before she passed away several years prior. With the sense of dread in her stomach, Lizzie pulled on her dressing gown and followed Alice down the hall to where her grandfather’s rooms were.

***
“This is my home.” Lizzie shouted as she stood between the doorway and the entrance to her grandfather’s study that held the bank account notes, and the funds. “And this is my money.” She was the lone surviving Hamilton and she would be goddamned if she was going to let a man like Fredrick come in and take her inheritance.

It was bad enough that she had to give up the Barlow one to him.

Stupid women can’t be land holder laws.

She knew that he would come flocking around like a vulture to a dead body. Her grandfather wasn’t yet cold in his bedchamber and he and his wicked mother showed up wanting what they thought they were owed.

Frustrated, Fredrick went to raise his hand at her and was stopped by the man wearing a blue naval jacket, William, Thomas' valet. “Do not raise your hand at Lady Hamilton.”

“She is refusing me entrance into the study. It’s my study.”

Frederick was hoping that William would take his side with this. But the man didn't. Instead he took his place between Lizzie. “She is the lady of this house and of the Barlow house. She has more power then you do.” “I am her Lord husband.”

Unable to stop the laughter that bubbled up, Lizzie giggled, “ You aren’t my lord husband yet. And the only thing you are ever going to be a lord of is the whore house.”

William’s mouth twitched with a smile. He had known Lizzie since she was born, in fact he stood outside the bedchamber with the elder Lord Hamilton and his son Thomas waiting for the birth. He had been the one that went and picked up the girl after the Lord and Lady had received a letter from her desperate to get out of her maternal grandparents' house. He was the only one that knew what happened to Elizabeth at the Barlow home. And this Lizzie is the one he liked the most. The one that reminded him most of her father.

Frederick darkened at the mention of James McGraw; it was the top of London gossip. James McGraw, posing as a caring naval man, wormed his way to the Hamilton household and started an affair with Miranda, Elizabeth’s mother. There had been rumors of an affair between James and Thomas as well but when asked, Elizabeth kept to herself and excused herself like a well brought up young lady.

“Don’t look at me like that Fredrick.” Elizabeth started as she spun around in a circle going to her grandfather’s- her desk, “It's only going to make you constipated and I am not going to deal with that again.” William took steps in the room, facing Fredrick waiting for him to play his next move and try and hurt Allie. “Mother wants our marriage to happen sooner than later.’ Frederick thought that was a safe subject to press her for. But her answering laughter was another nail in the coffin.

“No,” Lizzie started as she sat at the desk, “My grandfather meant to take a trip to the colonies to set up a homestead in Boston. And I intend to see that happen.” It had been his deathbed wish that the Hamilton's left England and he wanted Allison to live a free life away from the stress and drama that came with London Society. “You want to go on the open ocean with pirates?! My lady you have taken leave of your senses.”

Frederick didn’t like the curve of the Cheshire cat-like smile that Elizabeth’s face formed, “No darling, I think I have gained them. I sent Henry to start making preparations for us to leave after the mourning period is over.”

“Us?” He questioned motioning between the two of them, surprised in his features. He was terrified of pirated and terrified of the open water. He wasn’t as comfortable with open water as Elizabeth was.

“Yes, us. I know I have a chaperone going to Boston. And it will give us a better chance to get to know each other with that homely girl Minnie being around.”

The man took a step back like he had been slapped, he hadn’t meant for her to find out about this. This was an even worse scandal then the one that her family had been involved in.

“See, Thomas,” She nodded her head towards the other man, dressed in finery, “saw you one night and told me about and over heard you promising her this house.”

Frederick glowered at her, his fist clenched tightly against his sides. How did this girl? This stupid girl figure out to put men on him, and destroy everything his family had been planning.

The dimple in her right cheek deepened, she had him then and she knew it, “You have your secrets darling, and I have mine.”

Chapter Text

ii.

“I am sure there are other ways to handle this.” Mary Jenkins commented as she reached across the desk to take the bank ledger book out of Lizzie’s hands. Eager to see how much her son was going to be worth once they were married.

A pale smooth hand slapped it away and she pulled back shocked that Lizzie had struck her. “I don’t remember asking you for your help with this.” The heiress commented, glancing up at her, her dark hair hanging in her eyes, dark circles circling her eyes. It was easy to tell the girl hadn’t slept in almost two days and it was starting to show. Especially with the stained and rumpled, dressing gown and nightgown she had worn the night that her grandfather passed away.

“That’s what we are here for Elizabeth.” Mary smiled, reaching out for the book again. Greedy, she knew the Hamiltons were richer than the Barlows and way more well off than her own families had ever been. And everything was well within her grasp. And they would be set. With or without Lizzie.

This time it was William who stopped it. “Lady Jenkins, I am going to ask you to step outside, and let Lady Hamilton get ready to receive mourners.”

Lizzie shot him a thankful look as Alice came into the room with a black dress draped over her arm and a small chest of jewels in her free hand. The jewels had belonged to Grace, Alfred’s wife and now since they were both gone and Miranda, who knows where, they belonged to Lizzie.

Everything in the house belonged to her, all the property in Boston and the Carolinas belonged to her.

And for a brief moment she was overwhelmed. But Alice’s soft touch to her elbow as she passed to close the curtains centered her again and she rose from her seat. Her eyes going to the stack of books and ribbon-bonded letters, `` Grandfather didn’t exactly keep everything tidy did he?”

“No ma’am.” The maid returned as William shut the door behind him and Mary, “He didn’t, he likes things messy so people wouldn’t find out his deepest darkest secrets.”

“He had deep dark secrets?” Lizzie twisted to look over her shoulder at the girl who grinned, “All good men have secrets milady.” “Do you think some of those are about my parents?” Alice was quiet as tightened the corset that she had just put on Lizzie. “I am going to take that as a yes.” The younger girl muttered as she pressed her hand against the corset. “All I can ma’am is your answers will come with time. “

Alice had been a part of the Hamliton household as long as William had, she had been in the birthing chamber when Elizabeth was born and often over saw her before the Barlows took custody of her. And it pained her to keep what she knew from her.

But the truth, the truth of what happened with Thomas, Miranda and James McGraw was something that she would take to her grave. The less that Lizzie knew the better off she was. “You know I am not blind nor deaf with what happened. I have heard whispers about it. How James swept Mother off of his feet and broke Father’s heart.” Lizzie started, her eyes trained on the dark curtains, “How it was shameful that a man in the King's Royal Navy would break up a man’s family. How they didn’t want children.’

The rumor about her parents not wanting children had been mentioned more than once at the Barlow house.

“Those are only words. miss.” Alice started as Lizzie stepped away from her fully dressed. “Words hurt Alice. Let’s lock this door and only me and the household staff are allowed in.” “Yes ma’am.” She took steps forward to hand her the cape she had to wear. “I don’t want to wear that! I will look like a ninny in that. The black is bad enough.”

They had this same reaction when Grace died and the girl was brought from the Barlow house, in fact she had fled up to the attic and hid behind a huge doll house that collected dust for years. A doll house for daughters that Alfred and Grace never had. A stinging reminder that their family is only ever produced to carry on the family name and not to cement their future. When Lizzie was born, they finally felt hope.

A hope that was short lived thanks to his sole surviving son, Thomas.

“There’s been too much black Alice.” Lizzie frowned, “I just stopped wearing black for that horrible woman.’ The horrible woman was her mother’s mother Ameila.

“I know miss.” Alice started, “But you had a better relationship with Lord Hamilton. That woman is going to burn in the deepest pits of hell for what she put you through.”

“I just regret not being there in person to see her drop dead.”

Usually Lizzie wasn’t mobrid, she was curious and intelligent but never morbid. Never wishing harm on another person. But when it came to the Barlows she would wish for the most gruesome deaths.

Hanged, quartered, inwards ripped out, their dirty laundry being laid out to air in the dirty London air. Dropping dead and being murdered was no where good enough for them.

“Lizzie?” William’s voice asked from the doorway, “They are lining up and they are saying that Queen Anne is coming.” “The Queen?” Both girls looked at him surprised. Sure Lizzie had been in an audience with her before but it was never one on one like this.

“Your grandfather was a very important man and now you are a very important woman.” “I am 17 years old William. What am I supposed to do?” He placed his hands on her shoulders and straightened her up.

“You are going to go out there and be Lady Elizabeth Hamilton. The granddaughter of Alfred and Grace Hamilton.” Lizzie rolled her eyes at that. “And you are Thomas Hamilton’s daughter. He would fake it until he came up with something. I am sure you can do that too.”
***
Frederick watched his future wife whisper her thanks to many of London's High Society for the condolences. That she was okay, and everything was being handled properly. His best friend Henry joined him, his own dark eyes on the girl. “When is the wedding happening?” “I don’t think it is. She has a wild hair about going to the colonies. Saying it was her grandfather’s dying wish.” Henry laughed lowly, “I doubt that. If anything Alfred would want her to stay away from everything that happened.’

“What do you know that I don’t?” Henry lived with his Uncle, Peter Ashe, and had more knowledge of what happened that night when Thomas was taken to the hospital. “Oh there’s a lot but we were all sworn to secrecy about it.” “How about after I have my fun with her.” Their eyes both flick back to Lizzie who was now being embraced by Queen Anne and several of her ladies in waiting.

“You can have her.” It wasn’t untraditional at the time for the lords to share their wives or secrets.

Especially with one like Elizabeth Hamliton. Henry nodded his head in agreement before turning his head so he could talk to him without Lizzie seeing him.
**
“You can’t sit there.” Elizabeth said firmly and out of the blue, she, Henry, Abigail and the Jenkins were gathering in the dining room for dinner. And Fredrick was going to take Alfred’s seat.

“You may be my betrothed but you aren’t the man of this house.”

“Fancy yourself a man now?” He returned.

“Fancies herself better than you.” Abigail added with a laugh, causing Lizzie to laugh for the first time in two days. “William, you can sit there.” Lizzie said after a heartbeat before taking her normal seat to the right of the head of the table.

‘Elizabeth.’ Edward started. “It’s Lady Hamilton.” She returned icely, she knew that she had to treat them as guests and be gratuitous to them. But this whole forced wedding and them being just after dawn after Alfred died was too much. It was too much for her to handle.

“If you want everything to go smoothly after the mourning period is over, you are going to learn to respect me for not only my titles but the standing I have in society.”

Edward went to speak but Elizabeth held up her hand. “No, I am the lady of this household and of the Barlow household, and what I say goes.” William nodded his head in approval. All Elizabeth ever needed was a push in the right direction.

And this was it.

Chapter Text

iii

New Providence.

“What is it?” Miranda asked James McGraw, now known as James Flint. He had been staring moodily at the painting of her daughter Elizabeth for quite some time and was curious where his mind was at. “I don’t think.’ He started, “That Lizzie is dead.”

Tears pricked at the back of Miranda’s eyes, he had brought this once before right after they arrived and it turned into a ugly fight. In her heart of hearts, she knew that Elizabeth was dead along with her father. “James.”

He held up his hand to cover up her protest, “It doesn’t make sense. A healthy young girl like her just dropping dead with no illness or previous heart flutters. It doesn’t add up.” He didn’t want to mention the letter he had seen on Eleanor Gutherie’s desk. The handwriting was familiar to him, the letters had the same slant to them that Thomas had. He didn’t want to get her hopes up and just dash them like he had years ago.

“What if, what if they lied to us? To try and save face?” He was talking more to himself then Miranda. In the short year and half he had been around the Hamiltons, he had come to love Elizabeth like his own. He had these thoughts over the years and never thought to voice them in front of Miranda. That wound was still too fresh.

Looking at her now, he could still see the terror in her eyes of her daughter being ripped away from James’ arms hours before Thomas was taken to the hospital. His forearms still bore the scars from where her fingernails dug into the flesh trying to fight to stay with them.

“Why didn’t we try harder James? To keep her with us?” Miranda asked, finally looking at him, “We just let her go because we were scared of what people may have thought of us. Of how people would take to you raising Thomas’ daughter.”

For the first time in a long time, James had no words.
***
Eleanor Gutherie’s office
***
“Dearest El,

I know it's been awhile since our last letter exchanges and I am sorry. Things have just been rough here. I have gone from The Barlow’s house to the Hamiltons. And its been quite a change from there to here. I have alot more freedom, I am able to wear what I want, and go to tea when I want. Go on carriage rides with Alice and learn sword fighting again with William.

I even went with Grandmother Hamilton to tea with the Queen. The Queen!

Little mousey me! At tea with the Queen.

It was an experience for sure.

And eye opener.

The more I learn and experience London Society, the more I yearn for the life you have in New Providence. I wish I were as free as you, especially with the experiences I have had. I have included several news clippings of my sudden reappearance. I am sure you, Mr. Scott and Max will have a good laugh over them.

Hoping to see you,

All of my love,

Lizzie.
**
“What are you reading?” Abigail asked slipping into Lizzie’s room, just after Jenkins had left. She and her brother had been left to stay with Lizzie until the burial the next day. “The journal from the day that I was taken from my parents.”

“Why did the Barlows take you?” the younger girl asked as she climbed on the soft bed next to her to peer at the plotched and slanted words. Curious, they all heard the stories but no one alive knew the truth of what happened

“I don’t know. All I remember was being at home playing with the doll that James brought home for me from Boston and the next thing I knew I was locked into a room like I was Beauty.”

She was referring to the one fairytale that her father told her repeatedly. Beauty and the Beast. He always told her that men are beasts and there were only two of them that she could trust were her father and James.

“I am the only one left.” Lizzie said softly, the tears that welled up in her eyes splashed onto her hands and the yellowing pages of the journal. “Father died. Mother, heaven knows where she is. And James.” Abigail hushed her and pulled her into her arms to let her cry and mourn. Something Abigail thought she hadn’t been able to do since that night.

“Maybe going to the colonies will be the best for you.” Abigail said, “now that they are all dead. A prim proper British lady taking the new world by storm.” The older girl through her tears dissolved into laughter, “me? Prim and proper? That’s funny.”

The last thing that Lizzie Hamilton, according to her grandmother Barlow, was prim and proper. She was too much of a hooligan and spent too much time with her father and that James McGraw. “Maybe I can go with you.” “You want to go to the colonies?” Lizzie had put the book full down on her lap, her finger holding her place. “Why not? Nothing is ever going to happen for me here. It would be kind of entraining. And we could see pirates.” “Abigail was terrified of pirates and both girls knew that. “How about I go get settled first then you can come out and stay with me. And not worry about Henry and your father.”

Abigail pulled a face, as much as she loved her father, there was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life bowing down to him like Henry did. That wasn’t her and she knew if Lizzie had been raised by Thomas and Miranda she would have been the same way. This Lizzie that was next to her, was different. She was beaten down, depressed. She wondered if things would change now that Alfred was gone and Lizzie was able to change things.
***
The next morning was rainy and deery more so than any other morning and for the first time in ages, Lizzie was thankful for it, she could hide her face behind the veil without any extra questions being asked.

After Abigail had fallen asleep, she had taken the journal and her candle to the armchair and started reading the journal. The more she could understand what happened, the more she could try to deal with it.

The more she was going to be seen the more questions were going to be asked about her family and what really happened that night. Between pages there was a yellowed envelope with her name on it, her father’s penmanship on the front of it.

She had been told by the Barlows and by Alfred that her father never contacted her after he went to the hospital, but that was a lie. If that was a lie then what else could they have been lying about?

Chapter Text

iv.

Lizzie was alone in her grandfather’s office, the letter from her father was sitting face down, the red wax seal staring up mockingly at her. “You can do this Lizzie, it’s just a letter.” She muttered as she picked it up before dropping it quickly like it burnt her fingers. “You want to know the truth about what happened that night. Why were you ripped from James’ arms and taken into the country? Now that they are all gone, you can finally find out the truth. And maybe have some hope in locating Mother.”

Deep down, that’s all she wanted, was to see her mother one final time and to be able to understand why it happened. And why she was left behind. That was always going to be the biggest question she was going to have. Why didn’t they try to fight for her even if they didn’t live for much longer

. Shaking her head she slid the letter opener underneath the flap and pulled out the yellowing pages. She was more like Thomas then she had thought, just by seeing the slanted letters and the smudges of ink. “Dear Sunshine.” The letter started, just like all of the other ones and the ones from James that she had hidden in her journal. “Oh Papa, what happened?”

** New Providence **

“Do you know Elizabeth Hamilton?” James asked before he could stop himself, ever since last night, the youngest Hamilton had been on his mind and now sitting in front of Eleanor Gurthie and seeing the letter, he had to know. “Yes.” Eleanor started as she pulled the letter along with the press clippings out, “Her father knew my parents. How do you know her?” “I knew her father a long time ago.” He returned.

Eleanor made a humming voice, curious, but there was no way that she was going to try and get him to tell him anything other than what she wanted to hear. “For years, she was locked up in her mother’s parents house and there were some rumors going around about the younger brother touching Lizzie.” Eleanor started. “He what?” James asked, taking the letter and the clippings from her.

The all too familiar feeling of anger coursing through him and he wanted to grasp his sword. There was a secretive smile on her face as she sat back against the chair. “What?” He demanded, his daughter could be in danger and she was acting like this wasn’t a big deal.

“She killed him, Captain.” James was absolutely floored, Lizzie was innocent in all of this, she should have never have to kill someone.

“Poisoned him. The girl is smart.’ Eleanor grinned, she had just received that letter as well and was reading it when he came in the office. “She knew they would never really look into it if it was sudden and his health had been bad before hand. You should be proud of her Captain.” “I am. I am.”

“There is more.” She started, “ Lord Hamilton is dead or should be.” James didn’t know if he should be proud that Lizzie had something to do with Alfred’s death or terrified that she could go to those lengths if need be. “What do you mean?” “Let’s just say Lizzie is tired of being bossed around having everything ruled for her.”

*** London 6 weeks later **

“We aren’t doing this.” Frederick ordered, once he had walked into the Hamilton house, there was a flurry of activity, dresses and Lizzie’s belongings were being packed up in trunks. ‘Yes we are.” Lizzie returned, she had stopped wearing the mourning colors a few days before and was wearing pastel colored dresses. “I am to be your husband and I am saying no.”

“Fun thing about that.” Lizzie said as she sat down in the wingback office chair that had belonged to Alfred. “Now that all of my grandparents are gone, I really don't have to marry you. That was their deal. Not mine.”

Over the last few weeks she had been feeling the urge to leave England. And try and find her mother, or James. And find out if what her father had said in the letter was true. In the deepest pits of

her mind, she wondered if her father was really dead or not. She hadn’t been allowed to go to the funeral. Her grandparents thought it would upset her and kept at home with her uncle. “Elizabeth, you have a duty to not only your family but to me.” Frederick went on, ignoring the fact that she was nearing tears again.

“And for once, Frederick, I am going to put myself first. I am going to the colonies whether you like it or not.” “And you are supporting this?” He directed at William who was standing in the room by the bookcases. “Aye, she is right. And besides, it's in Alfred’s will that she goes.”

That was an elaborate lie that they had come up with so she could go. It was stated within the will that she would have to marry Fredrick to inherit the money and the estate. But Fredrick didn’t need to know that.

They were going to do their best to protect Lizzie from a future that she shouldn’t be getting. She deserved to be free. At least for a little while. “I see it like this, my lord.” Lizzie started, “Either you can come with me and I will marry you when we get back or you can stay here and continue your relationship with that tart and we can pretend like this trip to the colonies never happened.”

Frederick glowered at her, she had no idea what she was talking about and she was forgetting her place as a high society woman, she was to be seen and not heard. Just like every other woman. “I am not letting you go without me. You need someone other than William and Alice.” A grin broke out on Lizzie’s face. “Thank you.” “Don't thank me yet. A lot of things are going to be changing Elizabeth.’ “If you wish, my lord.” There was almost a mocking tone in her voice. Something he had never heard from her before. “You are going to have several months alone with her on the open water. That is plenty of time to bend her to your will.” Frederick thought, “and you will have access to both of the inheritance and you can send her wherever you want.” Finally focusing back on Lizzie, “Fine we will go and we won’t talk about this ever again.”

Chapter Text

V

Amelia Jenkins wasn’t pleased when she found out that her son was being carted off to the new world because he couldn’t control his soon-to-be wife. “You can’t be seriously entraining this idea of going to the colonies will change Elizabeth. She is too much like her father to ever change.”

Fredrick shrugged his shoulders helplessly, he wasn’t going to admit to his mother that Lizzie knew of his transgressions with the whores from the brothel not far from their home.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Jenkins.” Henry Ashe started where he was standing, twirling his walking stick around; he had decided at the last minute with his father’s blessing that he was going to accompany the two to the colonies then go onto the Carolinas without them to oversee the building of their new home there.

“By the time they get back. Lady Hamilton's wild side will be trampled.” William who had been standing in the doorway swallowed his laughter; there was no taming of Elizabeth Hamilton. Just like there was no taming her mother Miranda. The lads were going to learn that the hard way. Especially now since she didn’t have anyone to reel her back in like her grandparents.

Lizzie came down the stairs, finally out of her mourning clothes, and a smile playing on her lips. She was ready to get out of London and go to the colonies. She pointedly ignored Frederick and the others and turned to William, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes ma’am, it’s already at the shipyard and loaded onto the ship.” The man answered, “The captain wanted us to warn once again that there is a chance of running into pirates and the stories about them.”

Lady Hamilton gave a pointed look at Henry and Fredrick then turned her attention back to him, “Let them come. I know what they do to women but I also know what they do to men.” William had to hand it to her, she was not scared of anything. Not after what she lived through before both sets of her grandparents' death. “Yes ma’am.” He agreed before the girl slipped out of the room, “Don’t look too happy chaps, that is Thomas Hamilton’s daughter, not Alfred’s granddaughter. And she isn’t to be messed with.”
**
4 weeks later
**

James had been right, when he said that Lizzie belonged on the sea, she had a sailor's heart. She was her father's daughter. Being on the open water like she was made her miss her father and James even more. She couldn't even openly admit that she missed her grandparents and she had never had an actual chance to mourn the loss of her mother.

She didn't know if she was dead or alive. And when she asked her grandparents about it, she got shut down and she hated that more than she hated the fact that James and Miranda didn't come for her like they had both promised.

"Heart of sailor that one." The bosun Alexander commented watching Fredrick lean over the side of the boat and empty his stomach again.

"Aye," She returned her gaze following the bosun's. "He even fainted at the sight of blood."

The men that were working around them laughed, they had all been around blood at one point or another. She wanted to bring up the fact that he would be the one taking her virginity and that from what she heard it always left blood. But she was too embarrassed and too ladylike to mention it.

"Too bad we just can't push him overboard and let the sharks get him." She muttered. "Fool can't even swim." "Say the word Lady Hamilton and we will do it for you." Lizzie had found out early on in the journey that these men had known her father and worked with him and James and in turn, they were loyal to her. "I will." She tilted her head at them before squinting, "Are those sails?"

"Aye. Lady Hamilton, why don't you and Lord Jenkins go into your staterooms." Frank said, "Until we know it's safe."

"Do you think it's Pirates?" A rush of fear and excitement coursed through her. Both her father and James taught her about pirates and how they should be feared and admired. "Possibly, please my Lady." Heaving a deep breath, Lizzie grasped Fredrick but the hem of his jacket and pulled him upright. "We are never doing this again." "Do you expect us to get back to England darling?" She asked, "Your mother would never let us live in Boston by ourselves and there are also those harlots at the whore house that will be missing you if you don't come back."

Henry, who had emerged from the staterooms in time to help her with Fredrick, laughed, "She has a point mate, they will be missing you something fierce if you don't return."

"Quiet both of you." He returned, causing the two for the first since they had been on board to laugh.

"What's going on?" The young Lord Ashe asked, directing his question to Lizzie. "They see sails, it could be nothing but they wanted us to be inside just in case."

"Pirates?" Henry groaned, "Oh lord, my father warned us about pirates.'

"Oh, it's rather exciting if you ask me. Granted I only know what I know about pirates because of my father and James. But still." She shrugged.

"You are your father's daughter." He complained, causing her to grin almost proudly. It wasn't the first time that she had heard that but it meant a lot coming from one of his father's friend's nephews.

"I got him, go into the sitting room." Lizzie was eager to go into the sitting room and peek out of the windows that overlooked the water to see if she could see the sails on the ship that was coming up on them.
**
She quickly discarded the shawl and the gloves she had been wearing and went to the windows quickly to look out of the windows eager, but she wasn't able to see anything yet. Still not willing to give up the chance to see the ship coming up to them, she sat down on the window seat angling to look out of the windows. "You know the chances of it being pirates are slim right?" Henry had returned from putting Fredrick to bed and was standing in the doorway watching her.

"I know but still doesn't stop me from hoping. It was my father's dream to get them the same rights. And he was shut down." She paused, she was still trying to work through everything that she had read in the letters from her father and the ones that James wrote to her that weren't burned.

Things that didn't make sense. It had led to a lot of confusion and she wasn't sure that Henry Ashe would be the best person to talk to about it. He was liable to repeat things to his uncle and she had a feeling that Lord Ashe had something to do with what happened with her father going to the hospital and her separation from her mother.

"Are you okay Lizzie?" He asked actually concerned for her. As much as he and Fredrick both talked down on her, she was still someone he was raised with and he wanted to care about her.

The windows darkened and she was turned quickly, and that rush she had felt before she came into the staterooms came rushing back, sure enough, there was a black flag with a skeleton holding a sword in its hand flapping back and forth in the wind. Then there was a series of loud bangs like cannons being fired followed by loud chanting. Henry rushed across the room to help steady her and to protect her.

Fredrick had pulled himself out of bed and stumbled into the room, "We are seriously under attack?" Lizzie nodded her head, her excitement turning to fear. He wanted to throw in her face that this was her fault and that this could have been avoided by not leaving England and sending someone in her stead to set up the homestead but he could not when the look of fear clear on her face stopped him.
As much as she angered him, she was still at the end of the day a girl.

To be married or not.

She was still just a girl.
**
The men on this boat looked familiar, the name was familiar. It screamed the Hamilton family and James tried to tamper down the hope that Lizzie was on board, She could have just sent people instead.

That wasn't Lizzie though, she would want to leave England she would want to be on the open water. She had begged him so many times to go out with him. He shook his head and swung his sword cutting through the sailors, pausing briefly when he realized that one of the men were Thomas' men, one was William and the other was Alexander, two of the men that Thomas trusted his daughter above all else. Even above James.

"Stop! Stop!" He ordered, 'Is Lizzie," He shook his head to correct himself, "Is Lady Hamilton on board?"

"Yes." Following Alexander's trembling point and his heart dropping hearing Lizzie's scream, it took him back to the night when she was ripped from his arms, this time it was higher pitched and more terrified than before. "Mr. Gates!" He shouted and the heavy-set man appeared next to him.

"Captain?"

"These men aren't to be harmed." He ordered, before taking off towards the state room swearing he was going to kill Singleton if he laid a hand on her.

James and Billy Bones rushed to the room and sure enough, there was Lizzie trying to fight away from Singleton who had a death grip on her forearm.

"LET ME GO!" She screamed, twisting and pulling to try and get away from him. Instead, he tightened his grip on it and pulled her to him; the two men that were with her were either dead or on the verge of dying. "Nah, I think I will keep you for a while. And then when I am done with ya, I will give you to the others. They will pay a pretty pence for a high-classwhore." Before James could cross the room to save her, she spit in his face.

“Fuck you. I am not a whore' Singleton wiped the spit off with a menacing laugh before he raised his hand and brought the back of it down hard against her face causing her to cry out and James to fly forward, rage in his eyes.

"Let go of her now!' He ordered. "Captain. She is just a whore."

"No, she isn't." He hissed, "She is my daughter!" He pulled the bottom part of his face covering down so she could fully see his face.

"JAMES! What? How?" She asked, her breaths were coming out in short spurts and she sounded panicked.

"It's me Sunshine." He slipped the sword back into the holder before turning to face her fully while Gates started to talk Singleton to calm him down.

"I don't understand." She muttered, "Grandfather told me you and Mother were." Her breaths were coming out in quicker spurts and her face flushed red. And her hand came up to cover her racing heart. As if it would slow it down a little bit.

"Lizzie." He started grasping her bruised forearms in his hands gently, "It's okay." "I don't understand. He told me you and Mother ran off." She was unable to finish her sentence before she fainted into his arms.

Chapter Text

James was pacing back and forth in the captain's quarters on the Walrus, his blue eyes on his daughter who had yet to come too. Billy, who had taken her to their ship, had cut the corset off of her to help her breathe.

"Why didn't you tell us you had a daughter?" Gates asked from where he was sitting at the desk.

"Never came up. And I haven't seen her in a long time."

The memory of her being ripped out of his screaming was replaying in his head. He had wanted to go back for her and take her from Miranda's parents' house to bring her with them but Miranda had a point, living the life of a pirate or even the daughter of a single woman wasn't
what Lizzie was made out to do. She was meant to be more, she was meant to be Lady Hamilton and Lady Barlow.

"I thought she was safe in England."

"JAMES!" Lizzie screamed as she sat straight up on the seat, her terror radiating off of her body.

"Hey sunshine, I am right here," James said moving to where she could see him.

"I don't understand." She started as she swung her legs over the side of the seat to sit fully up. "They told me you were dead like my father."

Sensing that the girl was going to get more upset, Gates stood up and made Billy follow him out of the quarters, they didn't the rest of the reunion publicized.

"I wrote the navy several times trying to find you." She said as he sat next to her on the window seat, "The letters were sent back." At least that's what she was told, now she wasn't sure what to believe.

"I even tried to go down to the naval yard but Grandfather Hamilton stopped saying it wasn't ladylike to go flouncing down to the yard and looking for the man that ruined my parents' marriage and killed my father."

James fought back the anger that was rising in him, Alfred had not only ruined his son's life but the life of his wife and grandchild and his career.

"I don't think you know the whole truth Lizzie." He finally said.

"Then tell me!! Tell me why you destroyed our family. Why did you leave me to be raised by people who hated me." Lizzie returned, her anger flourishing as she stood up from her seat. She knew that she should ask about the two men that she had been with but right now all she cared about was finding out the truth, finding out if her parents were actually well and truly dead, and if she was truly alone in this world.

"I didn't destroy your family sunshine." James started, he remained seated, if Lizzie was anything like her mother with her temper she would be throwing stuff at him.

"All I ever did was fall in love with your parents."

"What?' She had started to pace in front of him and she froze at his comment.

"I fell in love with your parents." He repeated, "Mostly your father but still. I am sure you heard the rumors that I was going to steal your mother from your father."

"They were the
most hurtful after the one that said my mother abandoned me because she didn't want me." Lizzie answered as she put her shaking hand on her stomach to try and settle the twisting of it. "Is, is my mother still alive?"

"Yes." He answered
after a heartbeat, "She is. She is in Nassau." Seeing how quickly she was losing her coloring again he stood up and caught her arms helping her stay upright, "We didn't want to leave you. I went to the Barlow house to get you but they claimed you were sick. And a few weeks later, we received a letter saying you died."

The confusion was clear on her face and her knees buckled, "What?"

The former Navy man nodded his head and tightened his grip on her elbow to keep her upright.

"I didn't know you were alive if I did, I would have cut through every single one of those bastards to get to you."

The girl was silent for several long minutes before nodding her head. She knew that James would have done that in a heartbeat and would have done it with her in one arm and his sword being held with the other. In the short amount of time he was with her family, it was made very
clear that he loved all of them and would do anything for them. Even losing his career that meant the most to him.

"I am so sorry for what you had to go through without us being there to protect you." "William?" she guessed, knowing the man would have explained everything.

"And Eleanor Guthrie." Lizzie's dark eyes lit up at the mention of her friend, "You know Eleanor?"

James nodded his head and led her back over to the window seat. "She runs the import business on the island. She did say a few interesting things though. About your mother's brother and Alfred."

Lizzie's fingers curled into the ripped skirt, "I did what I had to do, and I don't regret it. Alfred, I just nudged him in the right direction. The Barlows deserved everything they got and more. I could never understand why Mother wanted to me to be with them."

"Tell me what happened.' It was a gentle demand, he wanted to know the whole story so that he could help explain to Miranda what happened to their daughter and help elevate the guilt.

**
"Where is Lizzie?!" William demanded when he saw the older man and the taller blonde man coming below deck. "She is with the Captain." Gates answered, "He wanted time to talk to his daughter." The fear that he had settled, he knew that James loved Lizzie and that Thomas had paperwork drawn up saying that if anything happened to him or Miranda she should go to James. Instead of their parents, people who didn't know how to handle the high-spirited brilliant girl.

"And the two men that were with her?"

"One is dead and another is being patched up."

"Should have let him die too." Alexander added, "If we hadn't been there, she would have been killed."

"We will talk to the Captain once he comes out of his quarters." Gates wanted to know what exactly was going on and why he felt the need to keep the fact that he had a daughter and if Mrs. Barlow was her mother. It seemed the more that they talked to the men on the ship
the more questions came up.

**

Billy knocked on the door that led to the Captain's quarters, he was balancing a tray of food for the Captain and the girl who he couldn't get out of his head. The confusion and terror in her eyes before she fainted dead away. Or how he examined the bruises that lined her body after he removed the corset to help ease her breathing. "Enter." Came Flint's voice and he pushed open the door. The girl was sitting on the window seat with her leg tucked under her, the fancy dress she had been in had been changed for a spare tunic and pants, and Flint was sitting in the high back chair looking at her.

"Mr. Gates thought that you might like to eat in here instead of with the men."

"Thank you," Lizzie said as she unfurled herself from her perch.

"Billy." He informed seeing that she was searching for a name.

"Thank you, Billy." Flint looked between the two with a raised eyebrow. "Manners, Captain." She teased as Billy put the tray down, "Mother instilled them in me." "I remember." The Captain returned, she had gotten on him for not.

"Mr. Gates would like to talk to you as well." Flint looked at Lizzie who inclined her head, she knew that he had a job to do and she couldn't hold his attention the whole time. "Billy can stay too."

"Lizzie." James groaned rubbing his hand across his face, a part of him had been glad that he had missed the start of her teenage years but it was clear to him that she was entering the phase where she found men attractive. "You do realize those men that I was, one I was supposed to marry. Fredrick Jenkins." "That little shit?" James asked as Mr. Gates joined them, he had met Fredrick Jenkins at the last birthday party that Miranda and Thomas were able to throw Lizzie and wasn't a fan at all of Fredrick or his family. Lizzie nodded her head as she took a sip of the tea that James put in front of him.

"He is the one that is still alive." Mr. Gates commented looking first at the girl and then at Flint. "You should have let him die. He deserves it. My grandfather wanted the alliance between our two families, it's bad enough that they already have the Barlow money. The wedding was supposed to happen right away." Billy sat down next to the girl while Mr. Gates stood, his eyes on the Captain trying to gauge his reaction.

"But Edward got sick and died, then Grandfather and Grandmother. I was in mourning for over a year." She went on, "Then I went to,' "To my parents.' James started, they had agreed that they would tell a story to tell the crew until they could get Nassau and for her to be with Miranda. Then they would go from there. Lizzie nodded her head, "Before we could really react to what happened, Fredrick's father got his hand on the money and property. Idiotic laws about women not being able to be land owners. Before we could fight to get it back Grandmother died. And the courts wouldn't hear me out and Grandfather wouldn't think about defending it." "But the inheritance?" "All mine, I told him I would marry him after we set up a homestead in Boston." She smirked, "That is what Alfred wanted."

James felt a swell of pride well up in him, how quickly this girl had twisted the truth to get herself out of a miserable position to try and have things come out in her favor. "And if he wants to screw every whore in Boston and on that is up to him. I don't care." Personally she would rather not ever see him again, "He is absolutely a ninny too. Got seasick more often than not. Doesn't even know how to swim. I told Alexander and William to throw him overboard and let him drown."

The memories of taking Lizzie to the small pound and teaching her how to swim one long weekend after his affair with Thomas hit James hard, it was the first real-time that he and James were alone with Lizzie and it felt like he had the family he truly wanted, finally. Lizzie glanced over at him and offered him a crooked smile, before turning her attention back to Billy. "I want to talk to Fredrick. And I don't want her anywhere near us while I do." James ordered lowly to Gates. "I think Billy is more than happy to sit with her." He saw the sparks flying between the two and figured that he would give them a push in the right direction.

Chapter Text

James looked at the man sitting opposite him and then at Lizzie, who nodded her head, showing him that she was okay with being with the man. If her adopted father trusted the men, then she could, too. But everything was stopped when the door swung open and Fredrick stood in the doorway, bloody and furious. Billy stood up quickly, his hand going to the pistol that he was still wearing. “Elizabeth! Do you have any idea what they did to me?”

The girl looked from him to her adopted father and back, “I can take a wild guess.” She had always had an active imagination and could paint vivid pictures, and from the stories James had told her before he left. That did everything but scare her; in fact, it made her want to take the open seas and have adventures like James did.

"I don't think Papa is taking very kindly to what you have done to me." She started as she sat back against the chair, her dark eyes on him. She knew that this was going to be the one chance that she had to really and truly be rid of Fredrick Jenkins and be free, which is what she wanted.

"This man isn't your father. Your father is dead." Fredrick spat, "So is your whore of a mother." James swore angrily under his breath as he stood up and pulled his sword from it was laying but Lizzie had beaten him to the punch; she had risen to her feet and slapped the man across his face.

"You have no idea what you are talking about." She hissed as Gates also rose to his feet, looking between the trio, leery of having to jump and stop their captain from traumatizing his daughter any more than what was. "If anyone is a whore, it's your sister."

Fredrick, who had been shaking his head, trying to get the ringing in his ear stopped and glared at his future wife. "We have all heard the rumors about your dear sweet sister, Annie." She started as James moved to stand next to her, sword in hand, just in case. He wanted to swoop in and save her, but he had a sinking feeling in his gut that this had been building for too long, and she needed to let it all out so she could move on and enjoy her new life in Nassau.

"I heard all about her from the Queen herself." Fredrick turned a nasty shade of red as he went to grab her, but was stopped quickly by Billy stepping in front of her with his pistol aimed at his chest.

"Really?! Really?! You are going to protect her over a lord?"

"A lord, you wouldn't be without my inheritance!" Lizzie shouted as she stood up on her tip toes to be seen over Billy's bulky shoulder, her face pinched red with anger, much like how her mother's would get when she got upset. If the situation weren't dire, James would have found Lizzie's anger amusing. "And that is only after we marry that you will get the titles. At this point, we aren't married yet."

"Thank fuck for that," James muttered. Things would be a lot messier if she indeed had been married to him.

"Thank god, I am quick on my feet for thinking, Papa.' She said, not caring that she was going to blow everything up, but she knew that James wouldn't let Fredrick live once she told him the whole truth about what happened after Alfred insisted that she and Fredrick marry.

"What do you mean? Quick thinking?" Fredrick asked, his anger slowly changing into confusion. He and his mother had been under the impression that Lizzie was just stupid and couldn't form the thoughts needed to be the head of two noble households. But now he could tell that she was smarter than they realized.

"Meaning, my grandfather never wanted me to go to Boston to set up house, he was okay with me wasting away in London, miserable and being your wife."

'You little bitch." Fredrick swore and moved to go towards her again, but this time was stopped with the pistol pressing against his belly.

"Lizzie, come on, we can talk about this."

"No, we can't." She returned as she turned her head and started whispering in detail what had happened to her to James and his right-hand man.

Even Billy who had pressed his pistol into Fredrick's belly, leaned back to hear the low whisper. The anger that appeared in the pirates' eyes sent more fear into the pit of his stomach. Like many other Londoners, he had heard stories about the fierce love that James McGraw had for Lizzie's mother, Miranda, and how it would have transferred to her daughter if James McGraw had stayed in London. It seemed like the love had already formed between the two.

"Billy, take Lizzie out to the deck." Gates ordered, 'She doesn't need to see any more death."

Billy slowly lowered his pistol and took hold of the girl's trembling hand to lead her out of the captain's quarters. "Elizabeth, please." Fredrick pleaded, but the girl squared her shoulders and paused just short of the doorway, "Don't worry, Fredrick, I will make sure that your mother gets the sweetest letter. How her precious son saved and gave his life protecting me from the infamous Captain Flint." She said, her dark eyes going from him to James, then back before following Billy out onto the deck.
**
"Lady Hamilton." Billy started wanting to offer his apologies to her, but she laid a trembling hand on his arm. "Billy, please don't start with the apologies. No one knew." Lizzie said as he led her towards the starboard side of the Walrus. "It's what well-brought-up girls are meant to do, hide their husbands' secrets, even if it kills them in the end."

He shook his head, wanting to protest. No woman should have to live like that. "

I think I always knew that Papa would find me one way or another."

"How long has it been since you have seen him?"

"7 years, I was just 9 years old when he left."

"Lady Hamilton, I am,' Billy started, knowing that the apology must have sounded even more hollow to her.

"Elizabeth or Lizzie, please. Lady Hamilton is still my grandmother to me." She said, waving her hand again, and if she was being honest, she didn't even want the title to begin with; she never wanted to be a lady. She blamed her father and James for her wanting to chase after adventures, to be anything but the proper lady. The bosun nodded his head and leaned his elbows against the railing next to hers, his tan skin a rough comparison to Lizzie's creamy white skin.

"I suppose it's a good thing that we ran into your ship then, you are reunited with your father."

"And saved from a loveless marriage. A win-win situation if you ask me."

James appeared, a few minutes later, stopping the conversation from going forward. "Sunshine.' Lizzie turned to look at him, her small smile fading when she saw how war-torn he looked in the setting sun.

"Come. Thank you, Billy." He grunted. "See you later, Billy." She said, raising herself up on her toes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek before going to her adopted father's side. Billy was thankful that he was facing forward and his captain couldn't see the red flush that was covering his cheek.
**
That was the last time for the rest of the return journey back to Nassau, that the men saw Lizzie or the Captain. Flint had insisted that he spend time with her catching up on what they had missed in the 7 years that they had been apart. Only Gates had been allowed in and out of the private quarters, bringing food and drink to the father and daughter. And it only made them more curious about the girl, especially when they heard the peals of laughter coming from within. They had been surprised at first when they first heard Flint's laughter as well.
Maybe having Lizzie around was going to be a good thing; she was bringing out the softer side of the normal stoic captain. It was good to know that he had did have a human side to him and not just the jerk he seemed to be.

And Nassau was on the horizon, and Lizzie's life was going to change.

Again.

Billy knocked on the door and was surprised when Lizzie's voice called for them to come in. It was just a grunt of go away from Flint. He shook it off quickly and opened the door. "We are home." The girl's eyes lit up as she pushed herself off the chair that was in front of Flint's desk before she peeked around the bosun. Already, it was much brighter and more peaceful than rainy, dreary London.

She felt a wave of peace washing over her. This is what she needed.

James rose to his feet behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Welcome home, Lizzie."