She'd been told stories about the most recent expedition given the Jones brothers and the promotion the younger would receive upon their return. Nor did she miss the not so subtle hints and comments made by her mother and aunt about how dashing and gentlemanly and unattached the young soon-to-be lieutenant was. Words that only made Emma roll her eyes at their antics.

And then the day of the promotion came and she discovered just how true Snow and Ruby's words were. She watched him and his captain-brother meet with her parents and on and off throughout the afternoon, always staying out of sight. He was every bit the gentleman they said he was, reacting with all the proper manners expected of a prince. At one point, she was certain she heard the words "good form" mumbled from him to his brother.

At the ceremony, it took every ounce of her self control not to stare so openly at him. Though she did allow herself to beam down at him when their gazes met for a heartbeat, matching the Captain's expression. And oh that light tint to his cheeks in response made her giggle quietly behind her hand.

The first flower- a daisy- rendered her speechless. There was no name given, Princess she was told by the maid, bringing round a sense of curiosity to mix with her pleasant state at the gift.

She took to the market that afternoon, daisy twirling between her fingers as she wandered and used the excursion to consider who might've sent it to her. Perhaps the lieutenant? Who was she kidding, that was merely a wish on her part. He worked for her father. His only interest in her would be to protect her as the Crown Princess, nothing more. Not with his good form.

To say she was expecting even more flowers from this unknown source surprised her was an understatement. The second one made her smile and blush, the third to realise she'd something akin to a secret admirer. The idea made her entire form flush, never having as such before. Most princes and dukes only cared for her title, nothing more.

Her mind returned to the lieutenant; the gentleman with good form and better smile. This seemed like something he might allow himself to do, wouldn't it? Let a young woman know someone thought of her without pushing himself at her. Not to mention the timing of the first flower; the morning after Lieutenant Jones' promotion.

His handwriting was beautiful. The perfect scrawl and sweep of his letters alone were enough to awe the princess. The words themselves were only a bonus that made her heart flutter and brighten her day just as much as he hoped they did.

She wasn't sure when she found herself falling in love with her secret admirer. The simplicity of his notes accompanying a single flower touched her heart and secured themselves in place. Despite the lack of identity of this hidden man, she was certain it was her lieutenant- ha! Her lieutenant. She'd even come to already claim him as her own even though they've never shared a word; only the single glance at his promotion. She was helplessly in love and had not a care in the world about it.

When she learned he was to leave in three days' time for a commission lasting half the year, she panicked. He was to leave for six months, leave her in her palace while he sailed with his brother and captain. She feared he wasn't the one to send her the flowers and notes; what if she'd been wrong the entire time? That she was falling in love with the wrong man. Her heart couldn't handle the thought.

She hid in her chambers, refusing any sort of audience other than to receive the expected flower and note; her maid managed to leave a tray of food for her in the process. Food she only accepted after reading the familiar writing, unable to hold in the smile that always appeared despite her mood.

Lieutenant Killian Jones.

She was right! Oh she laughed and cheered in the confines of her chambers as she danced about the room, relief flooding through her. She'd fallen in love with the right man. With the gentlemanly lieutenant who appeared to return her feelings, at least on some level.

Not even the thought of having to wait six months to see him again could ruin her elation. She was in love and promised the stars above them both she'd be at the docks upon his return.