Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

Ayisha giggled. “That was clever, Esmeralda. As well as sage.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” The Spanish pirate giggled in her turn.
The princess looked over at her companion. “But you’re in love
with him, Esmeralda. Aren’t you?”
“How could I not be? Jack charms every woman he encounters.
He can’t seem to help it. He does care for me in return, I know he
does.” She sipped her wine. “But I know pirates, so I don’t expect more
than he can give. True pirates aren’t like other men.”
“But Jack isn’t a pirate.”
“He was.”
“I had figured that out,” Ayisha said. “But he’s not anymore.”
“Don’t you believe that for a second, Ayisha. Jack will always be a
pirate. When he says he’s not one, it’s like…” Esmeralda thought for a
moment. “It’s like someone who makes a dress out of muslin, and then
convinces herself that it’s silk. From a sufficient distance, you might not
be able to tell, but the moment you got up close, you’d realize the truth.
And all the while she’d be telling you the dress is silk.”
“I see what you mean,” Ayisha said. “I haven’t known Jack as long
as you, Esmeralda. And I acknowledge that you are right in many
things, but someone I respect said that Jack is a good man. I think he
was right. Even Jack may not know it, but I believe he is.”
“My grandfather, who raised me, said something similar,”
Esmeralda murmured, thoughtfully. “Perhaps I’ve become a bit
cynical.” She sipped her wine. “We’ve been talking about Jack’s faults,
but he does have some good qualities.”
“Aside from being a good man to have at your back in a fight,
what are they?”
“He’s a good captain. Knows ships. Knows the sea.” Esmeralda
thought for a moment. “He’s funny. He always makes me laugh. That’s
probably what has saved him from getting shot.” She poured more
wine for both of them. “And, last but not least, Jack certainly knows how
to show a woman a good time. A really good time.”
Ayisha frowned, puzzled. “What do you mean? I’ve never heard
that phrase before.”
Esmeralda looked away, and cleared her throat. She didn’t reply,
then Ayisha saw color rising in her cheeks.