"Surely you know. . ." Chapter 7
"And of course, you should come too," she said turning directly to Geoffrey who had followed her to the couple's side. "What, me?" he said with great surprise. "Of course," the psychic said aloud to him, "I assume you know exactly what is going on, don't you? Heaven's aren't you Geoffrey Collingsworth, the famous admiral?"
Realizing they had no choice but to attempt to bluff their way forward, the couple feigned a compelling show of surprised confusion. "Madam Tibaldi," Carolyn began, "are you feeling all right? Who are you talking to?" "Indeed," Daniel continued, "please come inside and rest yourself, clearly you've been impacted by the sun or the crowd here. Carolyn is this one of your cousins?" he continued, needing to make sure she didn't know he recognized her all too well.
She tittered, holding her fingers to her mouth, "Oh my dear Captain. Surely you know, it's obvious to anyone with abilities that you aren't really quite alive, are you?" and then looking a bit embarrassed she said with a conspiratorial air, "but I suspect I'm not supposed to know that, or especially that it's you, am I? I am quite sorry, I won't say it again in public, but you know, to anyone who has a sixth sense, or even a good eye for auras, it's clear. . ."
"Sshhsh!" Carolyn hissed, unable to stop herself from quieting the disturbing commentary. "If we must have this conversation right now, PLEASE can we take it somewhere more private?"
Despite the crush of wedding guests, they swiftly disappeared upstairs, heading for some guaranteed isolation. As they stepped into the attic, Madam Tibaldi released a deep sigh. "Ah, I KNEW IT, I knew you were here all the time. My friends on the other side have been chattering about it for over a week – the amazement that someone was granted a chance to cross the boundaries, to exist on both sides of the ethereal plane. Once I heard it was a sea captain and a lovely widow, well who else could it be?"
Slowly Geoffrey became visible and starting searching the room. Holding up a decanter he cursed under his breath, "Come Daniel, this isn't a time for Madeira, don't you have something stronger about?" "Geoff, is this your doing?" Daniel said with mounting fury in his voice. Raising one hand, Geoff took a step back, "Shiver my timbers Daniel, of course not, but clearly someone within the spectral fraternity is a blathermouth, this was supposed to be quite private, at least until we finished the first year report."
Stepping up beside her husband, Carolyn grasped his hand tightly, "You mean this is an experiment? That you were playing with us, with my family? With us, with me? Daniel, did you know?"
Opening his eyes wider, and staring furiously at the psychic and Geoff, he growled, "You two, over there, sit down, and be quiet before I throw you both off the widows walk! I don't expect you to move an inch until we return." Holding his bride's hand tightly, he walked her to the door, and turned with a warning look toward the two perched uncomfortably on the settee, "Do we understand each other?"
"Aye aye sir," Geoff said with a grin, and Madam Tibaldi just nodded, not willing to open her mouth a bit under the circumstances. As the door closed behind the two, she turned to Geoff, "So Admiral," she began brightly, "about the battle of Vera Cruz?"
As they got down to the second floor landing, Martha came dashing up. "There you two are! Everyone is asking for you, and Mrs. Mu . . . sorry, Mrs. Gregg, your mother is nearly frantic, what should I tell her?" Looking to Daniel, with a mix of worry and frustration, and seeing that this time he didn't have a facile answer, she patted Martha on the arm. "I, or we could just make up a story, but I think the truth is called for here Martha. One of our guests was a surprise. You remember Madam Tibaldi?" "Oh that fake psychic who did the séance, OH wait, I guess she wasn't such a fake after all," Martha turned with a fresh understanding and a raised eyebrow, toward Daniel. "That was before I knew about YOU, so no wonder you had to get her away from the party. How can I help?"
Daniel took a second to admire his bride, and gave her a gentle kiss on her temple. "Thank you Martha," he offered, "let Emily and the rest know we are dealing with a guest who is 'indisposed', or at least that's what she's going to be if we cannot get her to be silent! We'll re-join everyone as soon as possible, but first," he opened the door to the Master Cabin, "the missus and I need a brief chat. After you M'dear," he offered holding it open for her to pass through.
Muttering to herself, Martha marched downstairs, preparing herself, yet again to take up the offensive line for the family. 'Maybe I should just marry Ed,' she thought, 'I'm not sure how much more of this I can take.'
Closing the door behind him, Daniel stood, waiting for Carolyn to react to the disclosure upstairs. Prepared for tears, shouting or perhaps even having to duck a flying typewriter, he was not prepared for her silence. "Carolyn, M'dear, I'm not sure exactly what I can explain, but. . ."
He however, was not prepared for laughter. Afraid first this might be a hysterical reaction, he approached cautiously. But to his relief, she threw her arms around him, laughing even harder, and to his surprise, he found himself joining in. Tears in their eyes, he wiped one away sliding down her cheek. "Carolyn, my love, don't think me ungrateful, but why are we laughing?"
Reaching for a handkerchief, she dried her own tears and his as well. "Daniel, you don't understand, do you? This makes it real – makes it part of our actual lives. Come here," she said holding out her hand, and leading him to the balcony. "Look out there, after over two years together, today there are nearly 100 people filling Gull Cottage, celebrating OUR wedding. Hasn't that seemed like a fantasy or a dream to you anytime over the last week? It has felt that way to me, so many times. In fact, everything has worked out so easily I've been frightened. The ceremony with Claymore, the magically simple steps that made you legally here again, all the pieces that fell into place without struggle. Frankly, I've been doubting my sanity that this could possibly be happening at all, really. And now. . ."
She turned, and gave him the most passionate kiss she could muster. Arms wrapping him closer, her hand brushing up through his hair, she opened herself up to him completely in the moment. Faintly they heard the cheers from the watching crowd in the lawn below. She pulled back, and she laughed again, seeing his face a most amazing combination of arousal and confusion. "And now," she said softly, "that we have a problem, a HUGE problem to solve together. One that puts all of the fantasy at risk. Now it finally feels real. Do you understand?"
Somewhat stunned, still holding her hand, he settled solidly in her chair at the desk, pulling her onto his lap. "No," he had to admit, tracing the edges of her face with one finger, "I don't, but that's hardly any reason to complain, you are a woman after all. And no matter the century, women are meant to be mysteries, I believe."
She gave him another soft, sensuous kiss, "And let's add that to the list of things you and I can focus on later, but for now, talk to me about the . . . what did Geoff call them? Think it was 'blathermouths', what he meant by first year reports and then what DO we do about Madam Tibaldi?"
"Chapter 8 – Worlds Collide"
