At Last
An After "Wedding Day" Story
This is a work of fanfiction. I do not own the characters in this story, with the exception of Annabelle Gregg. I make no money from this, it's strictly for my own, and hopefully a few others' amusement.
Chapter 1
Carolyn Muir stifled a sigh as she read through yet another of Captain Gregg's letters. How could a man who claimed to dislike women express such deep sentiments? She wondered who the intended recipient was. The letter was simply addressed to "My Darling." She was about to go look for him to ask, when she noticed the watermark in the stationery. She had often used paper with this exact mark. She opened a drawer in her desk, and pulled out a box of the stationery with the company's brand on the lid. Below the logo, were the words "established in 1903." This couldn't be Captain Gregg's original letter. He had died in 1869. Carolyn replaced the stationery and closed the drawer.
"Captain, are you here?" she called. He materialized next to her desk.
"At your service, Madam," he said humorously, bowing at the waist. His blue eyes sparkled.
"I was curious about the intended recipient of this letter. There isn't a name on it."
"Hmm, I'm afraid I can't tell you. I have written to so many women, you can't expect me to remember them all, especially after a hundred years," he replied touching his ear, then stroking his nose.
He was lying. That mannerism betrayed him just as reliably as the barometer in the stairway revealed his mood. He did it when he was up to mischief, lying, or uneasy about something.
"Where did you find it? Was it with any other letters?" she asked suspiciously.
"It was buried under a stack of old sea charts. That's the only one."
"It seems so well preserved. It is crisp, clean, and the ink is black," she observed.
"Oh, I suppose the sea charts protected it."
"So this is an original?"
"Of course," he replied.
"Interesting! I have something I would like to show you. Do you see this watermark in the paper?"
"Yes, is that something significant?"
"I think it is", she replied, pulling the drawer open and retrieving the box of stationery . She showed him the watermark, then the date on the cover.
"What a coincidence," he said cagily. "Perhaps the new company purchased their paper-making machine from an older firm that had gone out of business."
"Or perhaps this letter was written posthumously," she countered.
"Perhaps," he replied, again touching his ear.
"To whom?"
"That is a very good question," he replied evasively.
"Captain, you're being difficult! I need to know if this is a relic from your life. Remember, I'm writing a book about your life, not your afterlife."
"Very well, it was written quite recently. Last night, as a matter of fact."
"Why?"
"You seem to enjoy reading my letters. I hear you sighing and sniffling over letters I have written to other women. I thought it only fitting that you should have your own letters."
"There are others?"
"Of course. You are quite inspirational, you know," he said with twinkling eyes.
"So you've been leading me on a wild goose chase, thinking I've been reading historical letters, and now I discover they were fakes!" she said exasperatedly. His expression became pained.
"The letters are not fake," he said gently, his clear blue eyes gazing into hers. "I meant every word." He disappeared.
"Captain, you come back here! Captain! Captain!" Carolyn growled in frustration. Why did he constantly do this to her? Was he afraid to face his feelings? Was he toying with her heart? Just last night, he had thwarted her mother's plans to throw a surprise wedding for her and Claymore, her mother believing Claymore was Captain Gregg. At the Captain's suggestion, the would-be wedding was converted to a renewal of vows for Carolyn's parents.
"I do, Carolyn," Captain Gregg had said after her parents had renewed their vows. What did he mean? He had never called her by her first name, and had, in the past, vociferously opposed marriage. Why did he say what he said? The look in his eyes matched the look he had just given her when he told her that he meant every word in the letters he had fabricated for her. She re-read his latest letter, now with the knowledge that it was meant for her.
"My Darling,
"My heart is filled with joy from the pleasure of your companionship this evening. You captivated my heart, and my eyes saw only you. I basked in the glow of your beauty, and thrilled when you returned my gaze. No dream could compare to the ecstasy of being in your presence on such a romantic occasion.
"My one wish is that you will understand my words spoken to you were sincere, and could only be said to you. You are my one true love, the only woman who has ever had my heart. I offer it willingly, knowing it can never be sufficiently worthy of you. If I owned the world, I would gladly give it to you, hoping only that you would allow me to love you forever.
"Yours eternally,
"Daniel"
"Daniel," she whispered, holding the letter over her heart. It all made sense now. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt a ping against her cheek, and knew at once that Daniel had kissed her. He materialized next to her.
"It thrills me to hear you whisper my name," he said softly. "I hope you will continue to use it."
"Only if you promise to keep calling me Carolyn," she replied, gazing once again into his blue eyes. When he looked at her that way, it made her go weak in the knees. He really was magnificent. She longed to reach out for him, for him to hold her in his arms. As if reading her mind, he levitated a throw from the sofa and gently wrapped it around her shoulders. It was the closest to a hug he could manage.
"Of course I will, Carolyn," he said without breaking their gaze.
"Daniel, if it's not too much to ask, would you please meet me in my dreams tonight? I would really like to hug and kiss you."
"What a delightful idea! I would be honored," he replied. "Perhaps you would also do me the honor of sharing a waltz?"
"That would be wonderful!"