CHAPTER 7
Both awoke from the sound of splashing oars. A distant voice called out John's name, followed by several
„Everything's all right, eh?"
John jumped to his feet hurriedly. He stepped out behind the rocks and smiled rather sheepishly.
„Oh heaven, half past already? We must have fallen asleep. Wait. We'll be ready in a minute."
Margaret had already started gathering their belongings. She simply stuck her stockings and her wet shirt in the basket with the food and the cutlery and folded the blanket. Then she put on her hat, lowering down her veil. Well, a perfect lady again.
John took the awning and the basket and carried it to the boat. Then he went back to fetch his wife. Smiling she stood at the waterline, suddenly lifting her skirts and stepping in the water to meet him there.
„Only one more time", she whispered in his ear, „one more time feeling the water rushing around my feet."
Slowly he lifted her up. „I'm sorry, love", he answered, taking her on his arms.
„But what for, John? You gave me a wonderful day. Haven't we found paradise? It's ours, my heart. It doesn't belong to certain places."
They'd reached the boat and he lifted her in, joining her and the smiling Davey. The men talked about the weather and the catch while they rowed back to the cutter. Margaret kept silent and listened to their talk. Now and then her husband looked at her, taking her in from head to toe. He smiled and felt that she smiled back although the veil obscured her face. When they reached the ship and he handed her back in her naked feet dangled shortly before his face. Immediately he thought about the fishermen – would they notice? He wouldn't like it if they did, that he felt for sure. But where were those shoes, now he came to think of it? Had she put them in the hamper too? And how should she put them back on unseen? He jumped in the ship and thankfully realized that all men were occupied towing the boat back in. So he hurried to Margaret.
„Did you bring your boots, by the way? You could put them back on unnoticed now."
He saw a shadow crossing her bright and sunny face.
„Of course, you're right. I'll do it right now", she answered and started rummaging the basket.
What she found first were her stockings and her still wet shirt ... shoes or no shoes, she wouldn't feel dressed properly, especially when her petticoats touched her naked legs. Obviously her bootlaces had become wet and then dried again, leaving them stiff and hard to untangle.
John stared down on her, seeing her little fingers tugging at the stiff strings. At least he took the boot out of her hands.
„Let me help you," he said and tried his luck.
When he had opened the boots wide enough he simply knelt down in front of her and waited for her to stick her foot in. She had to lift her skirts a bit to manage and again it struck him how improper this seemed to be – and this of the woman he'd made love to in bright daylight and under the open sky! He laced both boots, taking care not to touch her naked legs and to look steadily on the ground. She felt his embarrassment and it infected her too.
When he stood up again their gaze met and he heard her whisper „Thank you, John."
He just nodded and they leaned over the railing, seeing the city and the harbour on the far horizon. When they at least reached the pier again he ordered a cab, fearing she would get blisters without her stockings.
Margaret yearned for the moment when he would help her in, being able to touch him again. After they'd shared so much intimacy the whole day, she felt alone and estranged now, standing just beside him. He handed her in and joined her, closing the door by himself. When the cab drove on he immediately took her hand, lifted it to his mouth and kissed it. He never let go till the horses stopped in front of the hotel.
„Do you know what I need before anything else?" she asked when they stepped in their room. „Lots of water to get rid of all this sand clinging to me. Didn't I leave a trail along the whole corridor?"
„You're right, me too", he smiled. „I'll call for the stove to be fired".
The maid told them it would take about a quarter of an hour till there would be enough hot water for a bath – should she bring some refreshment? So they took some tea in their itching clothes, not even sitting down but standing in front of their great window, cups in hand.
„Water should be hot by now", John announced, „shall I call the maid? Or shall I ..."
His voice trailed off. Margaret winced inwardly. How on earth should she explain all this sand, her hair, and, above all, her missing shirt to the maid. The girl would gossip for sure!
„That would be very kind of you – although I won't reduce you to my personal valet, you know. Tying my boots, doing my dressing ..."
„And undressing" he couldn't resist to say and of course he saw her blush. „Margaret, I'd do a lot more than that to see you happy and content, as you know for sure. Let's make a deal – whatever one of us offers voluntarily the other may take without hesitation. Meaning tying boots as well as ... „ Now it was for him to blush, for what he'd thought was „... sharing a bath." But he said after short hesitation „... Undoing cravats – ... or whatever!"
„We'll do that – thank you, John", was what she answered before striding in direction of their bedchamber.
He followed her but hesitated as she headed for the bathroom. She opened the door and turned around.
„I'm afraid it would be best to ... undress in the bathroom ... if you don't mind. Otherwise we'll have some indian desert in our bedroom, you see".
„I don't mind at all – in you go, my sandy Nubian. Let's start with those infernal buttons".
So they laughed and talked till Margaret was at least ready for the tube. John clapped his hand to his forehead.
„We forgot to let the water in. You'll get cold waiting till the bath is ready".
But she shook her head.
„I'll open my hair over the tube so I can simply shake the sand out of it. And then I'll mix the water in the ewer, rinsing myself before I'll have anything like a bath".
„Maybe we could help each other", her husband mused. „Somehow I don't see you handling the filled ewer above your head ... Would you mind if I'd undress too?"
Before she could answer he started unbuttoning his shirt, saying offhanded
„You should do whatever you planned to do with your hair meanwhile".
When at least both stood in the bathtube, time for confessions had come. After avoiding eye contact and behaving very matter of factly until then, Margaret was the first to speak.
She grabbed John's hands and whispered, hardly audible „John, don't think bad of me, but I wished to join you in your bath already on our very first morning here".
He took her in his embrace.
„And I yours, believe it or not".
They kissed, happy, tenderly.
„All right", John said, taking the ewer, „I'll rinse you first. So when you later drop the ewer on my head, you'll at least be clean and proper when you call for the doctor."
And before she could answer that a gush of warm water over her head left her speechless. They managed to clean themselves and still have enough water left for a bath. First they simply relaxed in the warm water, sitting opposite to each other, somehow managing to sort out their legs. Then the problem arose which soap to use, and it was finally decided that it should be John's, as Margaret would use perfume in the evening anyway. So they sponged each other and Margaret washed John's hair, both indulging in giving and receiving so much tenderness. Although John was aroused he instinctively felt that Margaret wasn't, but sought his caresses and closeness, which he gave with pleasure. Their extended lovemaking had left him a bit weak in the knees, an obstacle easy to overcome if need be but ... right now there wasn't any need. When the water grew colder they again rinsed each other with a fresh supply and at least left the tube – very clean indeed!
While John dressed Margaret tried to brush her entangled hair in vain. So at least the maid had to be called for, despite all their wishes to be alone. John read the newspaper in the living room while his wife was magically transformed from the rather wet mermaid she'd been for the greater part of the day to a grand and stately lady. Again they went out for dinner, this time to a restaurant at the pier, taking in the excited and elegant atmosphere of the sea ressort.
„One more day and it's Milton again", Margaret mused over her plate.
„Are you afraid of going there again? Would you prefer to stay here?" John asked anxiously.
„As long as I'm with you I'd go everywhere, John. Besides, the mill's waiting for you. And to me, Milton is home long since."
„I'm glad you say so. Margaret, somehow I can't imagine how our life there would be. This is something so totally new, so big and important for me, I've no idea how it should simply ‚fit in'. I don't even want it to simply fit in. Our house, my work, it will have to change for us. Let's make a new start, help me in that, won't you?"
His face was so earnest that she longed to take his hand for encouragement. As this was not possible she smiled across the table.
„Let's not make too many plans. We'll see how things go when we're back. I know you'll have a lot of work to do when the mill's open again. Very probably you'll have to work late hours many a day. Let me help you where I can. We can share some time in working together if you find something useful to do for me."
Her eyes sparkled. „On the other hand, when I think of the last time we were in that office of yours ..."
He cleared his throat, remembering how Dixon had come over them then. For their better, for he still wasn't sure if he could have reigned himself in in that ecstatic moment. How frustrated he'd been when he'd had to let her go. And he hadn't even known what kind of passion was waiting for him! Immediately everything they'd shared by now came into his mind. He lowered his voice.
„Have you ever thought about ... children? We never talked about it, you see. Don't you think there may very soon be one ... on its way?"
„Well, of course I'll have your children, John! If God will bless us with them. – You're right, we can't even plan if I could share in your work. With a baby, I couldn't."
He searched her eyes: „Let's simply never forget what we promised here. About us. About our love. About our life together. Then come what may!"
Now she held out her hand, proper or not, and he took it.
„Come what may, John. I promise."
