I have a note to the readers. I don't know the family situation of Horatio, so I'm making it up. He has a mother and father, both alive, an older sister, three younger ones, and a little brother who is the youngest in the family. His older sister is married. This will help later on. I am going to write a scene where he introduces Mariette, but I don't know when.
After they had drank their fill of beer, they decided to go a jeweler. All three agreed on a ring. Then they decided to go back to the ship. Horatio hadn't drank as much as the other two. The barman called them a carriage back to the dock. Matthew who had also been out was back to the rowboat within ten minutes of their arrival. He and Horatio rowed back to the ship. When they got there, Horatio helped both Archie and Remy to their quarters before proceeding to is own. He could her noises in there, sounds of light breathing, pages turning, and slight movements. He sighed and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came Mariette asked in her sweet French accent. He knew what he had to ask.
"It's Horatio, ma'am." he didn't know why he addressed her as ma'am.
"Horatio, come in." as he entered and closed the door behind him she asked "Why did you knock? These are your quarters."
"I didn't know if you were changing or such." she had made no mention of the title he had accidentally given her. He was grateful for that. She was sitting in the chair at his table, reading one of his many volumes of books attempting to read the English. It was a good way for her to get better at English. He knelt down beside her. He pulled the ring out of his pocket, and examined it for a moment. She was still engrossed in her reading. He placed a hand in her knee, and she looked down at him. Her eyes grew as round as teacup saucers.
"Mariette, will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?"
"What will my brother say?"
"I have already asked him. He has agreed to let us get married, if you will have me that is."
"Of course." she said with a half-laugh.
He jumped up and hugged her while she was sitting in the chair. The captain was walking by when he heard Mariette's laughter. He smiled knowingly to himself knowing full well what had just transpired.
Happy, Happy fluff.