Chapter Three

Clytie bent over her husband as he slept, her grayish green eyes narrowed on his sleeping form. His lean, strong chest rose and fell steadily, and his face, generally so intense, was relaxed as he slept, making him look years younger than he normally appeared, perhaps even younger than he actually was. Then there was that scar on his shoulder, standing out whitely against his tanned skin. It served as a constant reminder to the Englehorns of a day not so long ago when Eric had saved Clytie's life…

Blue eyes opened, once again startling Clytie with their utter blueness. "What are you looking at, Clytie?" Eric asked, smiling crookedly up at her.

"You, of course, husband," she replied, sitting beside him on the bed.

He sat up and drew her into his arms, saying no words, needing no words.

(LINE)

The sea rolled and undulated beneath the prow of the Venture, sparkling gray-blue under the sun. Ann thought it appeared to be dancing. She smiled at that thought and leaned further over the rail to draw in more of the beautiful view with her eyes.

"It's lovely out here!" exclaimed a high-pitched voice from behind her.

Ann turned around. She smiled when she saw who was behind her. "Vanessa. Good morning."

"Good morning." The younger woman joined Ann at the railing. "I could get to love this, I think," she said, her cobalt eyes twinkling. "I suppose I should do that if I'm serious about David."

Ann smiled crookedly. "Are you?"

Vanessa frowned. "Am I what?"

"Serious about David."

The dark-haired girl grinned and ducked her head, blushing lightly. "I guess I am." She bit her lip. "He's sweet, isn't he? And incredibly handsome."

"I can't disagree," Ann said with a wink. "Though I must say, my tastes run more towards that writer, Jack Driscoll. He's a dream."

Vanessa cocked her head to the side, momentarily confused. Then she laughed. "Of course! He's your husband!"

Ann laughed as well, thinking that Vanessa Madison was the perfect match for David Seaborne.

Meanwhile, on the bridge, Eric Englehorn was beginning to grow a bit nervous about the closeness of Fabrice Rousseau. There were things that the Frenchman knew that the captain of the Venture did not particularly want anyone else to know. Things about that last mission he had refused…

"Eric, my love?"

He spun around to face his wife.

Clytie tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "What's the matter, Eric? You look kinda worried."

Eric swallowed. Sometimes he wondered if Clytie didn't know everything about him. "It's just…" He sighed, frustrated. "Rousseau…" He motioned toward the direction of Fabrice's boat.

Clytie frowned, knowing instinctively that there was something much deeper than simple dislike going on between the French captain and her husband. "Eric, is there something that I should know?"

What a very good question, Mrs. Englehorn. Eric pressed his lips together. "I might elaborate later. But for now…" He forced a smile. "Why don't you take a look at these maps with me? You are the expert on sea creatures. I thought you might tell me how far you think this animal could have traveled from the place where it was last spotted…"

Soon, the couple was bent over a map, lost in their calculations and plans, both of them slowly forgetting the close presence of Fabrice Rousseau.

Later that day, Clytie sat alone in the cabin she shared with the captain, lying on the bed and reading her Bible. She was completely engrossed in a chapter from 1 Samuel describing a war between the Israelites and the Philistines when suddenly, the door to the cabin burst open.

Clytie screamed and jumped to her feet on top of the bed.

Jimmy, who had opened the door, hollered as well, jumping back in fright.

Standing on the mattress, Clytie suddenly realized who had come in the room and giggled. "Oh, Jimmy! I'm sorry! I thought you were a Philistine!"

Jimmy laughed loudly, then pointed to the Bible in Clytie's hand. "Funny. Same thing happened to me once. I was reading about the Canaanites and got scared to death when somebody came up to me."

Clytie let out a deep breath and plopped back down on the bed. "What is it, Jimmy?"

Jimmy blushed lightly. "Sorry to burst in on you like that, Clytie. I thought you were in the galley with Mrs. Driscoll and Miss Madison."

"It's all right, Jimmy. What do you need?"

Jimmy held up some papers in his hand. "The captain wanted me to put these in here. So…" He laid them on the desk. "I'll see ya later, Clytie." He nodded to her awkwardly, then left the cabin, closing the door quietly behind him.

Clytie stood up and crossed the room to the desk, her eyes on the papers Jimmy had delivered. She was very tempted to rummage through them. After all, if the captain had instructed them to be laid out on the desk, fairly out in public, they couldn't be anything too private. With these thoughts in mind, Clytie stretched out her hand toward the small stack of papers--then abruptly jerked it back. German words were printed boldly across the top of the first paper. Clytie's knowledge of German was scant, but she instantly recognized her husband's name and former rank in the German navy, as well as a few words he had taught her, such as for and only.

These papers were for Captain Eric Englehorn, and him alone.

Clytie sighed and sat back down on the bed. She was very curious about the papers, but resigned herself to respecting her husband's privacy.

(LINE)

The day passed uneventfully for the passengers and crew of the Venture. Everything seemed to be running quite smoothly. Perversely, Clytie almost wished that it wasn't. She was loving being out on the ocean, but… She smiled as she leaned over the railing. She was always up for a little adventure.

By the time the stars appeared, Clytie was yawning. She quickly made her way up to the bridge. "Eric, darling, I think I'm going to bed," she told her husband, barely suppressing another yawn. She gave him a sleepy smile. "Good-night, darling."

Eric crossed the bridge to kiss her lips, stroking the side of her neck with his rough but gentle fingers. "All right, love. You look tired."

"Sweet dreams." She kissed his cheek, then headed off for the cabin she shared with Eric.

Eric watched her go, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. As soon as she was out of sight, he locked the wheel and strode out on the deck in search of Darby. He soon found his First Mate checking the ship's lights. "Mr. Galyon."

The tall, handsome Irishman quickly spun around. "Yes, captain?"

"Have you gotten any rest today?"

"Yes, sir. I had a nap a few hours ago."

"Well, I'd like for you to take the helm for a few hours, Mr. Galyon." The captain looped his thumbs in his belt, trying to look inconspicuous.

Darby raised a dark, curved eyebrow. "Turning in, are ya, Captain Englehorn? I think I just saw your wife on her way to the cabin, so you might find her there."

The captain smiled slowly, crookedly. "Thank-you, Mr. Galyon. That will be all."

(LINE)

When Clytie reached the cabin, she found that she was not as sleepy as she had first thought. "I'm so bored I'm yawning!" she whispered incredulously to herself. She shook her head. "Clytie, you big baby! You're on the voyage of a lifetime, and yet you still manage to be bored!" Disgusted at her restlessness, she dressed in a rose colored nightgown, then dug a book out of her suitcase and spread out on the bunk to read. Her mind kept straying to those personal papers on the captain's desk, but she refused to do anything about them.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Clytie jumped a bit, then sighed with relief as she watched her husband walk into the cabin.

"You're not sleeping, Clytie?" he asked, shutting the door behind him.

"No. I'm too restless to sleep just yet." She sat up on the bed, laying down her book.

"Me, too," Eric replied with a slight smile.

Clytie raised an eyebrow. Why was he just standing there like that, staring at her? "What is it, Eric?"

One corner of his mouth twitched, and his sharp cerulean eyes sparkled. "You look so… so lovely tonight. I am… enchanted."

Clytie couldn't help but smile. She felt suddenly warm and tingly, pleasantly so. Keeping her eyes on Eric, she stood and slowly walked to stand in front of him. She reached up to touch his face.

Eric closed his eyes as his wife traced his features with her long, slender fingers, swallowing at the sudden tightness in his throat. Surprising her, he caught her fingers in his own and kissed the tips of them, opening his eyes to relish in the pleasant surprise on her face. Still keeping her hand captive, he pulled her close, very close, and bent his head down to softly kiss those rosebud lips whose every contour he now knew.

I'm the one enchanted… Clytie thought as her husband's lips captured her own, then moved to tenderly caress her neck. She closed her eyes and smiled, leaning into his embrace. The man knew just what to do to completely and totally seduce her. Clytie thought then that perhaps this was his best quality as a husband…

(LINE)

Amazing… Eric Englehorn laid awake on his bunk, with Clytie sleeping beside him. She had one arm thrown over his chest and one leg thrown over his knees. She always slept like that when he was beside her, as close to him as possible. Amazing, the ship's captain thought again. She's so sweet, so innocent, so gentle, yet she can be so passionate and romantic… seductive even… He smiled. I'm a lucky man.

The captain's eyes strayed to the small table where Clytie kept some of her things--her Bible, a few books, some handkerchiefs, a small vial of a lovely citrus perfume. Every time he smelled oranges now, he thought of her.

He turned slightly, careful not to wake her (she was a light sleeper) and kissed her softly on the forehead. I am truly blessed by you, Clytie Seaborne Englehorn. Your God knew what he was doing when he sent you to me.

(LINE)

Clytie awoke first the next morning. Ever so quietly, she sat up, slid softly past her husband, and stood. She stretched and yawned, feeling quite happy with herself, her husband, and life in general. Silently, she began to dress, stepping into a soft gray colored dress and a pair of comfy black boots.

"Good morning, love," Eric spoke up, sitting up in bed and blinking his blue eyes.

Clytie bit her lip and smiled at him. "Good morning, darling." She sat beside him on the bed, admiring his appearance, as she often did. The bright blue eyes, the crooked smile, the lean, strong chest… Clytie, must you always blush when you look at him like that? You have every right to admire him! He's your husband!

"I have a confession to make," Eric said, keeping his face expressionless.

Clytie narrowed her green eyes on him. "Oh?"

"I let myself be seduced last night," he said, his low voice serious.

Clytie fought down a grin. "So did I."

"You were seduced, too?" He raised an eyebrow. "That isn't possible. It was the other way around, as I recall. You seduced me."

Clytie let herself grin and shook her head. "No. You seduced me." She laughed softly. "It was a very chivalrous seduction, too."

They smiled at each other, their eyes saying more than could words.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Eric sighed. "Who is it?"

"It's Jimmy, sir."

"What do you need, Jimmy?"

"It's that Frenchman, sir. He says he needs to see you, says it's important. Something about those papers I put on your desk yesterday."

Clytie looked at the papers, then at Eric. "Eric, what is all this about?"

He glanced at her in alarm. "You haven't read them, have you?"

"No." She shook her head. "I was tempted, but I controlled myself. And anyway, my German is not that good."

Eric sighed again, closing his eyes and leaning back on his elbows. "I didn't want this to follow us."

"Didn't want what to follow us?" Clytie asked.

He opened his eyes and looked at her, then suddenly looked away.

Clytie bit her lip, knowing that nagging him would not do any good.

"Come on." The captain stood. "Let's get up to the bridge. I have a feeling that before this day is over, you will know everything."

"Everything?" Clytie stood beside her husband, suddenly nervous.

"Don't worry, Clytie," he said, his voice suddenly soft and low, almost a whisper. "I'll take care of things… take care of you…"

She reached to take his hand. "I know you will."

(A/N: I know this chapter may be a bit overromantic/sappy, but... Hey, I'm a girl, and I love a little romance. I hope some of my readers do, too. Anyways, sorry it took so long to get out. I've been working almost 40 hours a week, so, needless to say, I've been busy. And once again, thanks for always reviewing with good encouragement and advice. Keep it up! It keeps me going.)