Chapter 2

The following day, she saw neither hide nor hair of the captain until after the children had gone to bed. When she closed the door of her bedroom that night she saw that the balcony doors were open and that at least two dozen candles and lamps were burning brightly like a beacon to draw her closer.

She walked out onto the balcony and found the captain staring out at the sea. Carolyn moved to stand beside him and admired the wonderful view that the cottage afforded them. "I must apologise for my absence today, madam," he said, suddenly.

"The children missed you," Carolyn replied.

"Just the children?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Martha missed you, too."

"Oh?" he raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Yes. She wanted you to move the furniture for her while she was cleaning," Carolyn clarified.

"Oh," the captain grimaced. "Then I was fortunate indeed to escape. Though I did miss you all, too. You especially, my dear. I was called away to a rather dull meeting with my spectral peers and they snatched me away as though I were some lowly officer."

"How rude," she remarked, dryly.

"Extremely," he nodded, "I had no time to leave an explanation."

"Was it important?"

"It was not," he frowned. "Applegate had made his presence known one time too many and he was reprimanded. I was forced to attend as his senior officer. The blundering fool. I distinctly remember that me gave me his solemn oath, for all that it's worth, that I'd never again be forced to set eyes on him."

"I didn't know that ghosts had rules," Carolyn said, curiously.

"Loosely, yes, we do. But never have I been so furious at being summoned like a mere lap dog for those..." he hissed and thunder rumbled in the sky. "Regardless...it is finished and I am here now. I shall apologise to the children in the morning. However I count myself fortunate indeed to have escaped the wrath the drudgery that Martha's cleaning regime. But for you my dear lady, here is my apology to you," he handed her a glass of Madeira which appeared out of thin air.

"Apology accepted," Carolyn replied, graciously. She was long since past questioning his abilities or even batting an eyelid at them.

"Thank you, madam," he inclined his head, smiling.

A comfortable looking sofa appeared for them as she sat down against the soft cushioned back only to have an even softer blanket drape itself over her for warmth. The captain sat beside her and they sipped their wine and enjoyed the gentle breeze.

"My parents have booked a second honeymoon," Carolyn remarked after a moment, "It was a complete whim, they said. They saw an advert in the paper and called the company up then and there. They're leaving tomorrow. It's a month long cruise across the Mediterranean."

"A pleasure cruise?" the captain mused. "What a very modern concept. Admittedly all mariners love the sea but we also fear it. None of us would consider it to be the ideal location for an extended celebration."

"Maybe not in the nineteenth century," Carolyn agreed. "I suppose you're going to complain about women on ships now?" she smirked.

"Madam, I never once allowed a woman onboard my ship, but if I'd known you all those years ago..." the ghost trailed off and she stared back at him. After a moment he blinked and turned away, letting out a light cough. "Though, I still cannot associate a ship with your modern cruises. Life can be painfully slow at sea or frightfully deadly. There isn't often a middle ground to speak of. Perhaps with you, it would have been different. Alas, we shall never know," he lamented and trailed off.

After a moment he turned away from her and continued. "As it is, I wish them the safest of journeys with fair winds and following seas," he said, raising his glass in toast to her parents before taking a sip.

"I'll be sure to tell them," she remarked and he nodded.

"They struck me as remarkable people, your parents. I rarely ever saw two people in love," he said with all seriousness. "Even rarer to find two people willing to tie the matrimonial knot a second time after experiencing it for so many years. I confess I'll never understand the blasted appeal of the old ball and chain," he added in a much more mocking tone.

"Of course not," Carolyn smiled at him. "We wouldn't want you tied to an apron string, or put out to pasture, now would we?" she mocked.

"No, indeed," he shook his head, a serious expression on his face. "For one thing, I've yet to see you wear an apron, and for another, it is quite impossible to banish a spirit from his own house - to pastures green or otherwise," he added.

"So…if I wore an apron then…"

"Madam, that is entirely beside the point," he snapped.

"But you just said…"

"Oh, females and marriage," the captain lamented and looked to the heavens. "Some things really are doomed to eternity," he said.

"Hmmm," Carolyn pursed her lip. "Such as the erm…dog house?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Point taken," he said and rested back against the sofa.

"So, how was Elroy Applegate?" Carolyn asked. "I am his den mother, after all," she smirked.

"Oh, by the powers, must I waste one more breath on that…"

At the word 'breath', she raised an eyebrow at him and smirked.

"Merely a figure of speech," he assured her, raising a hand and she nodded.

"Well, you can't help but feel sorry for the poor man. I mean, he did try very hard to…" Carolyn said.

"Now, belay that," he snapped, quickly. "The man is a bumbling menace, both in life and in the hereafter. And I resent the fact that his ineptitude has tugged at your heart strings. There are some things in life…"

"And the hereafter…" she interjected.

"Yes…that are not worthy of your sympathy."

"I thought he was rather sweet, actually," she said knowing just how much it would infuriate him.

"You…" he stammered, clearly stunned as he stared at her. "Madam, I have never before thought you to be a woman of such poor judgement. Elroy Applegate is a blight to all he happens upon. That mangy, bumbling, cowardly cad isn't fit to grace even the most rotting, barnacle covered hull of…"

As he continued his blustering tirade, Carolyn couldn't help but laugh, quietly at first but it quickly escalated at the look of such utter indignation on his face and the thundering roars that had begun to shake overhead.

"…the lowliest dingy on the seven seas. If only my spectral peers had seen fit to…to…madam?" he turned to her, finally noticing that she was laughing. "You're laughing…Why are you laughing…what in the name of sanity is…" he demanded.

"Oh, I'm…I'm sorry, captain," Carolyn said, trying to compose herself. "Really, I am…"

"You don't appear to be at all sincere," the captain said, petulantly.

"I just…I didn't mean to tease you, I'm sorry," she said, finally able to stop laughing. "You just get so wound up about him…"

"I have every right to do so. Three years he was aboard my ship. That should have been ample time to make a half decent seaman of him and yet, at the end of it, he couldn't even swab a deck. I've made perfect deckhands of all who crew my ship and he was my one failure. The only one, mind," he emphasised, holding up his index finger

"Perhaps he just wasn't meant to be at sea," Carolyn suggested.

"That would have been a perfect excuse, had he not already bumbled his way through every other profession before stumbling aboard my ship. He was discharged from every industry and ordered to never return and so, he was put out to sea in a last ditch attempt to make something of himself. Suffice to say, that he was unsuccessful. I was unsuccessful. I despise admitting failure, as I'm sure you know…"

"Hmmm," she hummed with a smile.

"However, in this instance, I am left with little choice. Now please, might we possibly discuss something else. Anything else," he practically begged her, his expression pleading. "I'd even go so far as to willingly utter Claymore's name in conversation if it means a change in the wind…"

"Well, now that you mention Claymore…"

"Oh, have mercy," he threw back his head and stared up at the nights' sky. "Was my untimely demise not sufficient, now I am to be haunted for all eternity by those unsightly bilge rats," he lamented, dramatically.

"Alright," Carolyn tried her best not to laugh. "No more Applegate and no Claymore," she said.

"Your word of honour?" he asked.

"My word of honour," she nodded and held up a hand.

"Thank you, madam," the captain relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I did have something to tell you, actually," Carolyn began.

"Oh?"

"I've had an offer…"

"Of marriage?" he snapped.

"No. A publishing company from Boston called me and it's really such a good offer I don't know how I can possibly refuse it. They read erm…'Maiden Voyage' and…"

"Ah, yes," he gave a smug grin.

"Yes. Anyway, they want me to write a book. They said that they like my other work as well and…well, they offered quite an advance on payment for it."

"Really?"

"Really," she nodded. "And that money would come in very handy. The car needs some work doing and I'm getting behind on the bills and…"

"Madam, if money is such a pressing issue I'm sure that I can be of some small assistance. I have enough trinkets amassed here that I'd be happy to donate to you and the children," he said, quickly.

"Oh, that's very kind of you, but…legally they belong to…"

"Don't say that barnacles' name," he grumbled.

"Well, as annoying as it is, it's true."

"I have plenty of treasure stashed about the grounds that he and his father knew absolutely nothing about."

"You do?"

"Yes, of course. And if you have need of it, at any time, for whatever reason, consider it yours. I hardly have a use for it now," he said, gently tugging at his ear and looking out to sea.

"Thank you," she said, sincerely and he muttered under his breath for a moment.

"Yes, well…you're welcome," he mumbled, gruffly.

"But I think you'd like the companies' idea," Carolyn added.

"Does it matter whether I approve of it or not? I shall not be writing this book and have you not proven, time and time again, that you are a 'modern woman' and do not require my approval?"

"That's true," she nodded. "I don't need your approval. Thank you for remembering. But I do at least need it for this."

"Very well then, for my own interest if nothing else, what is to be the subject of this book?"

"…You are," she admitted after a moment.

"I, madam?" the caption stared at her, stunned.

"Mmm hmmm," Carolyn nodded. "That's what they want. Apparently some of the publishers came around here for a holiday and they heard about you and they saw the retraction you printed in the local paper about your death. And then they found out that I live in your house so naturally they thought I was just the person to write your biography. I know we made a start on going through your documents so...well, we've already got a head start. But this won't be so much of a biography...more of a collection of adventures."

"Well, I was rather an important, adventurous figure in my day," he grinned and ran a finger down his beard. "I was one of the best mariners of my time, you know. I crossed the globe half a dozen times before I turned thirty and I've many a tall tale to tell. It's really no wonder that they think that a book pertaining to my travels would be a best seller."

"Uh huh," she rolled her eyes.

"Quite a remarkable, commendable, marvellous idea. These publishers must be very intelligent…"

"Right…"

"It's a completely fool proof idea, naturally," he preened.

"Naturally," she said dryly while he continued to ignore her sarcasm.

"And I have just the title for this novel," he declared.

"And what's that?"

"Blood and Swash," he said.

"Blood and…I think we might need a more…inoffensive title, captain."

"Nonsense. The title is perfect. And what's more, it is accurate. I did not lead an inoffensive life. I lived my life to the full and I enjoyed every moment of it," he bristled.

"Well, we can work on the title," Carolyn said. "If you want to write the book with me, of course."

"Why would I not? It should be a most enjoyable endeavour," he declared, rubbing his hands together with a smile. "I can finally set the record straight about quite a few things which, due to my demise, I was unable to do in life. Furthermore, if it will propel you to riches and stardom, I see no reason to hesitate."

"I don't know about stardom…"

"Your remarkable writing talents are simply being squandered and your ladies magazine publisher clearly doesn't know talent when he sees it. Honestly, forcing you to cover knitting patterns and flower shows, huh. The blagard," he scoffed.

"So my talents would be put to better use writing the 'heroic' stories of your adventures," she said, quite sarcastically.

"Correct."

"I see. Well, I…"

"Now please, there's simply no need to thank me, madam, for the work shall be its own reward."

"Right."

"When shall we begin?"

"I've got a few more articles I need to finish first so maybe in the next few weeks. At least that'll give you some time to get some ideas down before we start. I've never written a book before so we might have a hard time getting it done."

"Rubbish. Between the two of us, we should have no problems whatsoever. Why, it should be as easy as downing these marvellous glasses of Madeira," he said, draining his glass.

"I don't know about that," she smiled. "But if you're okay with this then I think we should at least give it a shot."

"Splendid. I look forward to working you, my dear lady."

She returned his kind smile with one of her own.

"Just…one thing," she began.

"Yes?"

"Nothing too risqué," she warned. "I'm not writing a…a bodice ripper."

"Not…but we cannot water down the truth of…"

"I think we can try, we don't need to know the names of every woman in every port that you…"

"Who says there was only one woman in each port?" he asked with a sly grin.

On seeing her unamused expression he sighed and relented. "Oh, very well," he grumbled. "I shall defer to your good judgement but we cannot leave out the facts. If I omit certain…indiscretions, it must be implied if nothing else. I was not a monk."

"Don't worry, no one would possibly think that," she inferred with a snort.

"Perhaps we could make mention of my dear sister," he remarked after the smile dropped from his face.

"Your sister?" Carolyn asked.

"Oh yes, Anna Elizabeth Gregg. She was much younger than myself."

"I've didn't know you had a sister. What was she like?"

"She had such a kind soul. She was blighted by illness all of her life and died young, much too young. There's little, if any mention of her in the family records because she eloped with her suitor. The family disapproved so she was disinherited. I was away at sea at the time so the news arrived too late for me to protest it. She died shortly after the marriage in childbirth and then her child followed her to the hereafter only days later. I returned too late to even bid them goodbye," he said.

"Oh," Carolyn regarded him sadly. "I'm sorry," she said. "Is she a…what I mean is, is she…"

"A spirit?" he finished for her. "Alas no, at least I have never seen her. Not all souls become spirits who wander the earth. Perhaps because she had suffered so much illness in life, she wished to rest in death, rather than to live a half life for eternity. Who can know? How I miss her," he sighed.

"I'm sure we can talk about her in the book. At least that way she won't be forgotten," she assured him. "Her or her child," she said.

"Thank you," he said.

Carolyn rested her hand as close as she could to his where it rested on the sofa without having hers pass through his. He'd more than once described it as uncomfortable when things passed through him and she had no wish to cause him discomfort.

"I should leave you to sleep," he declared and stood up. "Rest assured I will make notes of my most interesting adventures for your perusal."

"Alright," Carolyn nodded and held out her empty glass for him.

"Nothing too risqué," he assured her. He reached out to take the glass from her and and for a moment, the breath caught in Carolyn's throat.

She sat up, startled and stared at his hand which now held her empty glass. She could have sworn that she had felt his hand touch hers. It had been cold, so perhaps it had been the glass not his skin but it certainly hadn't felt glass.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing…I just…I thought I…" she stammered. "I thought I…I felt…but that's impossible…isn't it?"

"What is impossible?"

"I…" she reached out her hand slowly and it hovered just over his which hadn't moved at all. "I thought I felt…"

"Wishful thinking, I'm afraid," he said when she moved her fingers and they went straight through his own.

"But…I…I was sure I…" she stammered. "And last night…I felt…something. I know I did," she said, raising her hand to her cheek where she'd felt the lightest touch of his lips against her skin.

"Were I able to touch you, Carolyn, you'd be in no doubt about whether I had," he said.

The two empty glasses in his hands vanished and he reached out, intending to brush a lock of hair off her forehead only for his fingers to pass straight through her.

"But I felt something," she insisted. She shivered at the cool, almost unearthly feeling of his ghostly form coming into contact with her own solid prescience.

"A dream, my dear," the captain assured her. "A dream only," he reiterated.

Carolyn let out a deep sigh and sagged into the sofa. She wrapped her arms around herself and she looked quite vulnerable and petite on the large couch. His heart almost tore in two at the sight and he knelt in front her.

"Don't distress yourself, I beg of you," he said, looking up at her with piercing blue eyes. "Now, here is what we shall do. Tonight while you sleep, I shall visit you in your dream and we shall waltz away the night together by the light of a thousand candles right outside Gull Cottage. With your permission, of course," he added.

"That sounds wonderful," Carolyn smiled at him sadly, her eyes still mournful.

"Then it is settled. We shall speak no more of imbeciles or of books and you shall rest your weary head for sleep," he said.

"Mmm," Carolyn hummed. "Alright," she said with a quiet sniff and stood up.

"Pleasant dreams, madam," the captain said and she managed a small smile before giving him one last glance, and retreating back into the bedroom.

When she was gone, the captain let out a sigh of his own and looked up at the sky.

"Heavens forgive me for lying to her," he whispered. "But if I cannot touch her for more than mere seconds, is it not best to conceal the truth? In time, perhaps," he whispered.

He glanced at the palms of his hands and swore that he'd master this ability as he'd mastered all others in his long and lonely afterlife.

A.N. I've no idea if the caption is mentioned as having a sister but I'm making this up as I go. I remember in one episode he mentions being an only son but he doesn't say anything about being an only child. Also the title for the book came from the film version. I love that film so much it's tragic but so beautiful.