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"Attention, everyone!" Stede called out.
The crew of the revenge looked up from their respective poker game, arts and crafts, and weapon maintenance.
"It is my great pleasure to announce, and my even greater pleasure to introduce to you all..." Stede cleared his throat unobtrusively and tried to rein in his goofy, blissful smile.
The crew seemed to be holding their collective breath. Some of them knew about the event Stede and Ed were attending, but nothing more. Others had no idea what they were about to behold.
Stede straightened his spine and continued his announcement. "My company for the evening, my wife, and my very best friend... the Lady Mary Edwards!"
With a flourish and a bow, Stede stepped aside and gestured to the space under the stairs up to the helm.
Ed didn't move from the shadows.
Stede let out an adoring sigh and held up a gesture requesting momentary patience from the audience. He hastened to Ed's hiding place and offered a hand. "It's okay, love. Do you want me to tell them to clap?"
"I feel... sick," Ed muttered.
"We can always switch," Stede whispered kindly. "I can be Alma Teach. I don't mind."
Ed didn't accept the offer. "Probably just the stays," Ed muttered. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."
Stede smiled fondly. "You look amazing, my love. Do you need another moment?"
Ed stood straighter, pulling shoulders back, lifting a bare, soft chin. "I'm ready." Ed reached out a hand, satin gloves almost disguising the strength of the palm, the thickness of the fingers...
Stede took Ed's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the backs of the knuckles.
"You look ravishing, my love," Stede assured.
"We'll see if the crew agrees," Ed replied.
Stede could tell that Ed was nervous, but also that the amount of bravery that was being displayed was fathomless. Maybe after tonight, they would discuss why dressing this way caused Ed so much stress, and whether that stress was good or bad. Maybe they wouldn't. Either way, Stede couldn't help giving Ed a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Here we go," Stede said. Then he cleared his throat and raised his voice for the crew to hear. "The Lady Mary Edwards!"
Stede carried Ed's gloved hand atop his own, leading her out onto the deck.
Stede took in all the wide eyes, mouths hanging agape, knees shifting to angle toward Ed.
They all wanted a better look at her.
Finally, Black Pete broke the silence. "Holy shit, Captain," he said. "You look... amazing."
"Gorgeous," Frenchie declared.
"Stunning," Jim contributed.
"Beautiful," Wee John agreed.
Lucius, who had seen the outfit pieces on their own, had both hands over his mouth.
Stede beamed. "See?" he muttered so only Ed could hear him. "Didn't I say you looked lovely?"
"Yeah, you also said I looked lovely all trussed up like a Christmas duck," Ed murmured back. "You aren't exactly unbiased."
"True enough," Stede said. "But I also, as I think you can agree... have a keen eye for fine things."
Stede led Ed's hand forward, guiding her into movement, just like the dancing they had practiced. When they reached a clearing, Stede lifted their hands above her head and Ed slowly twirled, the hems of her skirts flaring out slightly and brushing over Stede's polished shoes.
Ed finished her rotation and Stede put his hand on her cinched waist. The whale bone ribbing and silk ribbons combined to give Ed a figure that made Stede dizzy in sympathy whenever he thought too hard about it, but the effect was truly...
"Enrapturing," Stede said aloud.
Ed looked over at him. She was still taller than him, even with the heeled shoes Stede was wearing.
"I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life," Stede muttered. The compliment wasn't for the audience's benefit, but for Ed herself.
Ed's lips twitched into a small smile. She looked at the crew around her, still staring. "How do you all do?" She didn't modify her voice, which still felt wrong to her, Stede could tell, but he had done his best to assure her that establishing a standard for one's normal voice that one could maintain through all emotions allowed for greater diversity of acceptable false voices. A false voice that you claimed as your own was likely to break upon close investigation. Better to save the false voices for storytelling.
Lucius walked up with a hand outstretched, palm up. "May I have this dance, my Lady?"
Stede checked with Ed, then transferred her hand to Lucius's.
"Maestro?" Stede called. "Some dancing music, if you please!"
Frenchie fumbled for his lute and checked the tuning briefly.
"Lighthouse ho, starboard bow," Frenchie sang as he strummed the strings. "Almost home, any minute now."
Lucius led Ed into a simple waltz, and for all Stede could tell, with all the skirts and petticoats and whatnot, Ed followed perfectly.
Stede's chest swelled with pride while more of the crew joined in the melancholy, hopeful song. "Winds that have carried us, we thank thee well, for bringing us home somehow."
Ed looked at Stede as Lucius led her through a slow turn, and Stede smiled more.
"Well done, Captain," Oluwande said from nearby. Stede hadn't noticed his approach. "He looks... really good."
"She prefers to be referred to in a more typically feminine manner while the gloves are on," Stede mentioned. "And yes... She does."
"Shall I pass that information around?" Oluwande asked. "Or is this a one-night thing?"
Stede nodded. "Not all gloves, but the fine ones... She and I discussed it, and as soon as the gloves come off..."
Oluwande chuckled. "Understood. I'll inform anyone who needs it."
Oluwande stood by him until Jim came up to them. "Come on," Jim said to Oluwande, shoving a hand out like they were demanding payment. "I know you want to dance."
"Oh, yes, thank you!" Oluwande followed Jim onto the impromptu dance floor, grinning.
Stede was just fine watching Ed dance, but after five rotations and two more twirls, during which Ed's eyes remained trained on Stede like a target, he sighed and walked to her and Lucius.
"May I?" Stede inquired formally, holding his hand out for Lucius to transfer partnership over to him.
Lucius gave Ed a little curtsy and passed her off to Stede.
"You look absolutely killer, darling, and you have your knives?" Lucius smirked before sauntering away.
Ed gave Lucius a look, then returned her focus to Stede.
Stede swept her into a closed hold, his free hand finding the structured curve of her waist like he was a compass needle and she was the north pole.
"I couldn't pass up the chance to dance with you," Stede said. "You're..." He tried to think of a compliment that hadn't already been given. "...A right knockout."
Ed laughed briefly before regathering her composure. "Thank you," she said. "You're too kind."
"No such thing," Stede said. "Not for you. There's no amount of kindness beyond that which you deserve, Ed."
Ed smiled fondly, and Stede would have fallen in love with her eyes right then, if not for the fact that he had already fallen in love with each part of her, ages ago.
Ed opened her mouth, then paused and chuckled. "My name is Mary," she said with a teasing glimmer in those preternaturally expressive eyes.
Stede smiled more. "Of course. Mary." Stede could not be more glad that Ed had chosen his wife's name. He was sure the mother of his children would have been happy to hear it as well.
They waltzed around the deck, avoiding obstacles, as Frenchie continued playing.
"Lighthouse ho, starboard bow," the crew sang in deeply emotive harmony, "back with my love any minute now. Lady, fine Lady, the love of my life, I have returned somehow."
Stede joined in the final chorus, and Ed did as well.
"Oh, North Star, I look to you, constant and bright and bold. Show me the way to return to my Lady, the one my arms long to hold."
Frenchie finished the song with a few slow strums and an ultimate echo. "The one... my arms long... to... hoooooohl-duh!"
Stede moved in and pressed his lips to Ed's.
The crew broke out into raucous cheering, stamping their feet, clapping, and generally reminding Stede where they were and whom they were with: home, with his love in his arms, and his family all around.
"Ready for the real thing?" Stede asked as he pulled back enough to look into Ed's eyes.
"This... is real," Ed said. "You... and me. Nothing else matters one whit."
Stede grinned. "I couldn't agree more. But we do have some unpaid workers to liberate from the..."
"Yes, yes, of course," Ed said. He cleared his throat and raised his chin. "All right, everyone! Let's go kick some slavers' asses!"
The crew cheered, and Stede was sure the moon's smile was less than half as bright as his own.