She lifted her pink ball gown and faux-waltzed up the porch steps.
"Too bad you didn't 'borrow' Claymore's body again to show me how the strongest man in New England bids good evening to his ball dates!"
"Madame, I shall summons him back immediately."
"Not now, Captain, he'll be all sweaty from running down the hill to the 'village,' as you so quaintly call it."
"I couldn't bear the thought of another man, even for . . .I take it you liked the way I waltz?"
"You dance beautifully, Captain Gregg. For a moment, I almost forgot whose hand encircled my waist. But it does leave me wondering, with more than a passing curiosity, I suppose, as to how you bid Abigail-Kathleen-Prudence –green-ball-gown-girl –"
"Good morning, my dear? There, there now, don't cry. I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. That 'twasn't at all amusing or very gentlemanly of me. Why that was over 75 years before you were even born. It wasn't a very good morning, I mean, evening…though God knows I waited for you…"
"I'm here, now."
"Aye."
"There is a way, you know, to celebrate Claymore's victory while honoring your unparalleled athletic performance of 100 years ago!"
"I am open to any suggestions, m'dear, although I make no promises as to where they might lead."
"I'm sorry, Captain. Perhaps I underestimate your once-physical prowess? Why don't you meet me in the master cabin, say, in 15 minutes?"
He didn't rematerialize in their bedroom. He tapped apprehensively on the door.
"Come."
"Oh, Carolyn."
"It's red, the color of your cheeks! Oh, now you're making me blush. It's really no different than my swimming suit –"
"How did you – where did you?"
"Jonathan told me you a girl you knew wore it into battle! He wanted to know how that worked. I didn't think Abigail or Prudence would mind if we used it for a little competition of our own? Daniel? What are you -?"
"I am removing the blasted wedding ring from your finger so I may properly kiss the hand of the woman I inadvisably dispatched to the Centennial Ball with Claymore! The game is over, Mrs. Muir."
"I surrender. How, I mean, why . . . if you can, why did you wait so long, why borrow Claymore when you –"
"The look in your eyes this afternoon, at the fair, then again tonight, when I held you in Claymore's arms . . .I had to know, that you, and I . . ."
"You have much apologizing to do in the morning. Right now, you have a whole year to make up for. Captain, Daniel. Why are you looking at me like that? Please tell me this isn't a dream!"
"I'm sorry, Carolyn. Very, very sorry. That's all I shall ever have to say and the only apology I shall offer about the matter. Certainly, it's a dream, a dream come true. I'm not certain what you had in mind but this is more in the spirit of the day's events. Now, if you come closer, we shall dispense with all formalities . . . Madame, those aren't the rules! Why in my day . . ."