"Carol Gregg Presents…"
A Ghost and Mrs Muir Story
By TunnelsOfTheSouth
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"The very essence of romance is uncertainty…"
Oscar Wilde
"Good evening, Mrs Muir." Captain Gregg materialised before the desk in Carolyn's bedroom. He was holding one hand behind his back.
Sitting behind her typewriter, Carolyn was frowning at nothing, in particular, a pencil clamped between her teeth in an effort to concentrate on writing her latest article. She sighed in frustration, removing the pencil from her lips.
"Good evening, Captain…" she replied absently, her gaze still unfocussed.
Daniel hitched one hip onto the corner of the desk, still holding one hand behind him. "I get the feeling your latest composition is rather challenging, tonight. Therefore, if I'm interrupting you, I can go away again."
"No, no, please, don't go…" Carolyn raised a detaining hand as she looked up. "I'm becoming rather sick of my own company. Nothing I try is working and I have a deadline I have to meet."
She pulled the blank sheet of paper from the carriage of her typewriter. "So, no, you're not interrupting me, because there's nothing to interrupt," she admitted ruefully, putting the page down on the desk beside the typewriter. "I was thinking of taking a break, anyway. I'm just getting in my own way too much with this article. Maybe I need some fresh air. I certainly need to find a fresh perspective."
She leaned back in her chair, looking defeated. "I swear as the years pass it becomes harder and harder to find a new idea and make it work. And lately, I feel all I'm doing is chasing deadlines and failing to meet them. But I still have bills to pay, including Candy's college fees. Jonathan's will be next. So, I'll have to think of something and soon."
She sighed again ruefully. "After all, I am supposed to be a writer."
"I suspected such might be the case by the long silence I detected from up in my wheelhouse, tonight." Daniel pointed with his chin toward the ceiling. "The constant clattering of your typewriter has become very soothing to my senses."
He smiled. "I remember when you first came to live in Gull Cottage. You were having a similar run of trouble with paying the bills. I offered you my help, then. If you remember I attempted to pass on to you one of my nautical tales about the Mary Anne and my many adventures aboard her. You sanitised my version until it was almost unrecognisable."
"Oh, yes, I remember that story only too well." Carolyn laughed ruefully. "That was the one that caused somewhat of a stir in Schooner Bay. Your secret rewriting of my article earned me quite the reputation of being a wild woman. Everyone was whispering about me. It took months for the furore to finally die down."
She frowned up at him. "But that was nearly ten years ago. Why bring it up now?"
"Because I have been doing some research on your behalf. For all of us." Daniel's cheeks coloured slightly as he withdrew his hand from behind his back. "Research, mind you, Madam, nothing more."
He held out a small collection of thin, paperback books. "These are for you to look at. To assist you in finding some fresh ideas."
"What are they?" Carolyn accepted the books with wary curiosity.
"I discovered Martha has been reading them when she thinks no one is at home," Daniel admitted. "She was so engrossed in one this morning, she barely noticed when I appeared in the kitchen. It made me curious about what was holding her attention so closely that she didn't even chastise me for pilfering one of her freshly baked peanut cookies."
"That is amazing. She must have been really lost in the book."
"Agreed. I was so intrigued that I decided to go looking." He indicated the paperbacks in Carolyn's hand. "And I uncovered these in her bedroom."
"Captain, you know Martha doesn't like you snooping around in her things," Carolyn replied severely. "I thought we had an agreement. No trespassing in the bedrooms, without permission."
"A mere bagatelle, Madam…" Daniel shrugged his unconcern. "Besides, these were lying out on her bedside table, in plain sight. I was simply passing through the room and happened to see them. And I knew immediately that they were the answer."
"Oh, you did, did you?" Carolyn shook her head at him, knowing he was totally unrepentant and there was nothing she could do or say to change his mind.
She selected one of the books, putting the rest aside. It was a thin volume of around two hundred pages with a lurid picture on the front cover of a half-dressed young woman, swooning into the brawny arms of a bare-chested man dressed like a nineteenth-century pirate. The background was that of a fully rigged sailing ship, heeling over before a raging storm.
"Hanover Books Presents…" She read the name of the publishing house aloud. She frowned at the title of the book which was declared as 'Taming Her Pirate's Heart…'
"Oh, my, I think she's certainly trying to do that…" Carolyn swallowed tightly, looking back at the cover picture. "It looks…um, ah…rather racy." She glanced up. "And you say Martha was reading one just like this?"
"Avidly, it seemed." Daniel nodded. "Excellent, I knew you would see my point immediately. It is the answer to everything that is presently troubling you."
"I don't see your point at all." Carolyn frowned at him in confusion.
"God give me strength, woman…" Daniel stood up with his hands spread wide, taking a quick turn about the room. "The answer is staring you right in the face and yet you cannot see it."
"It is?" Carolyn turned the book over, hunting for Daniel's meaning. "Sorry, but I don't see what you're driving at." She shrugged in defeat. "I doubt what is contained within this kind of cover would be of any interest to me."
"If I live for a thousand years, I never will understand women…" Daniel leaned over the desk and tapped the book cover. "Ten years ago, you eschewed the tale of my amorous adventures aboard the Mary Anne. And yet here is a tale told in similar fashion of such adventures. This cover expresses all that is held within."
Carolyn held the book up. "You've actually read this?"
"Of course. I told you, for research purposes only. It took a mere hour to read. I will say the tale was rather tame and somewhat overblown. And their grasp of all matters naval is sadly limited. But the essence of a good story is there for all to see."
He shook his head. "Except for you, it seems, Mrs Muir."
A dreadful thought suddenly assailed Carolyn. She rose from her chair. "Are you suggesting I attempt to write one of these…one of these…"
"I believe the term that is used is bodice-ripper," Daniel supplied helpfully. "An old-fashioned idea, but it suits. I will admit I may have accidentally ripped a few bodices in my time." He smiled reminiscently. "And I would not say, 'attempt'. You would be sure to succeed, with my considerable assistance."
"I couldn't possibly…" Carolyn sat down in her chair again with a thump. "How could I hold my head up in town, if this sort of thing got out?" She dropped the book onto the desktop as if it had suddenly caught fire and scorched her fingers.
"Of course, none of such novels would appear under your name. You would write your stories under a suitable non-de-plume. One we have yet to select," Daniel advised. "What could be simpler? With my tales and your writing talent, we would make a winning team."
"We tried that already, remember?" Carolyn sighed. "It gave people totally the wrong impression of me. Including that editor from Feminine View. And you know how that ended."
"That was ten years ago, Madam. Even I can see how much the world is changing around me, without my permission. You did say you have bills to pay and not a fresh idea to bless yourself with." He tapped his forehead. "I have a thousand such tales, just waiting to be told."
"But…" Carolyn passed a hand over her eyes. She drew a long breath, exhaling slowly. "Why would Martha have such books?"
"Ask her yourself, Madam, if you don't wish to listen to me." Daniel stood aside to indicate the bedroom door. "I do believe you will find her in her room, searching rather unsuccessfully for a small pile of books she just knew she'd placed upon her bedside table only this morning."
"Oh, you…" Carolyn snatched up the pile of paperbacks as she got out of her chair. "You truly do like to try my patience, at times."
"What else is a ghost for?" Daniel smirked, as he watched her hurry out of the room.
He dematerialised, content he had gotten his point across. He returned to his wheelhouse to await developments.
Carolyn hurried downstairs to the back of the house and knocked on her housekeeper's bedroom door. "Martha…?" she questioned, opening the door slowly. "Are you still up?"
"Yes, I am. Come in…" Martha replied in a frustrated tone. "I was just looking for something I can't find. I could swear I put them down beside my bed this morning…"
"Ah, are you looking for these?" Carolyn held out the small collection of paperbacks.
"There they are!" Martha hurried to her. "I was so worried Candy might have taken them to read."
"I think fashion magazines are more her style these days." Carolyn smiled. "I doubt she's opened a book in years."
"Still…" Martha placed the books beside her bed. Then she frowned. "Why do you have them?"
"Ah, I…that is, you see…" Carolyn floundered, sitting down on the side of the bed.
"Captain Gregg!" Martha guessed shrewdly. "He thought I didn't see him pilfering one of my peanut cookies in the kitchen this morning."
"Yes, well, he did admit to removing your books. But it was all in a good cause."
"How so?" Martha sat on the bed beside her. "I never thought a man like him would read romance novels like these."
"He said he took them for research." Carolyn shook her head. "Um, do you remember ten years ago, when that rather racy article of mine was published in the Feminine View magazine by accident? And the furore it caused?"
"You mean, the one about the Mary Anne and the virgin stowaway?" Martha's brows rose.
She fanned her face with her hand. "Oh, my, yes. I remember that one, all right. It caused a real stir and I was quite shocked at the time that you could pen something...something, so, ah, rather racy. Why do you ask?"
"The thing is, I didn't write it," Carolyn admitted. "Captain Gregg submitted the article in my name, thinking he was helping me out."
"Oh, he did, did he? That figures." Martha frowned. "So why the interest now?"
"These books…" Carolyn reached out to take one from the pile. "You…enjoy reading them?'
"Pure escapism, I assure you, Mrs Muir." Martha waved a careless hand. "I will admit your story about the Mary Anne put some of these stories to shame, but I know they're not your style. As you surely told that Ellsworth Gordon in no uncertain terms, at the time."
"But this is nineteen-seventy-eight. Times move on, it seems." Carolyn frowned at the book. "And it seems tastes have, as well. My articles are not selling as well as they once did. People seem to want more."
"You know I was saying that to my ladies reading group, just the other night." Martha nodded. "Your story still does the rounds among us. The ladies love it."
"You read these books in a group?" Carolyn looked up in astonishment. "How did I not know about that?"
"Oh, it's just a small gathering," Martha hurried to reassure her. "We drink tea and discuss books." She looked a little guilty all of a sudden. "One of the ladies bought some of these paperbacks in Boston. She brought a few along to the group a couple of months ago. Just light reading, she said. We all took one home."
"And your ladies' reading group still reads them?"
"I…well…we all found they were rather hard to put down. I mean, it's the covers that manage to draw your eye…"
"Yes…" Carolyn shook her head. "You said my story in Feminine View is still being read. After all this time. I had hoped it'd been forgotten."
"Oh, yes, the ladies have always felt it was very well told. They're always asking me if you ever intended to write another. I told them that's not your style and the whole thing was a huge mistake. They were disappointed, but they understood."
She looked into Carolyn's thoughtful face. "It was all a huge mistake, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was then. But now…I wasn't aware such tales had become so popular…" Carolyn replied slowly. "How many of the town's women actually buy these?"
"Oh, we all have our standing orders at the General Store. Lorrie Hammond took a bit of convincing that they would sell. But he told me only last week that his order book is always full. The women can't get enough of them."
She shook her head. "Of course, the society ladies of the town would never be caught dead reading them. Or so they say…"
"How often are they published?" Carolyn studied the paperback in her hands with renewed attention.
"Every month a new batch appears." Martha smiled. "Some of my ladies have been known to drive all the way to Bangor to get more titles."
"It seems I have been missing a rather large picture…" Carolyn mused.
"Oh, if you don't know who to ask then you'll never see them," Martha reassured her quickly. "Lorrie keeps them out the back of the store just for us. He's still a bit unsure. There are certain customers he would hate to offend with a display of somewhat questionable material. But his wife is one of our reading group, so…" She shrugged.
"I can see I shall have to give this kind of writing some serious thought." Carolyn stood up.
"Take this one…" Martha pressed one of the books into her hand. "Tell me what you think after you've read it. I am sure you'll find it a good read." She shrugged. "The writing is not as good as yours, but…"
"Escapism, you said…" Carolyn shook her head, but she held on to the book. It was the story about the pirate and his lady that she had been looking at earlier.
"I don't see that it's hurting anyone," Martha replied, slightly defensively. "I mean, we all know that such tales are totally untrue. Just flights of fancy from someone's vivid imagination."
"Of course…they are only flights of fancy…" Carolyn hurried to reassure her. "I'll return this tomorrow. Thank you, Martha."
"You're welcome." Martha frowned. "But I'm not sure what for."
"For opening my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and another way to pay the bills that keep coming no matter what I do. Good night."
"Good night, Mrs Muir…" Martha looked after her, as Carolyn left the room.
She stood up to fold back the covers of her bed, before slipping between the sheets with a grateful sigh. She reached out to pick up a paperback from the top of the pile. "Now, where was I…?"
Back in her bedroom, Carolyn shut the door behind her. "Captain Gregg?" she called.
The ghost of Gull Cottage materialised before her, looking well-satisfied. "You summoned me, Madam?"
"I will admit I may be having a few second thoughts about those books…" Carolyn admitted slowly. "Just maybe…"
"I thought you might. There is merit in my offer, Madam. If you're willing to see it."
"Yes, well, if I decide to write one of these…one of these, potboilers, no one, and I mean no one, is to know it's me," Carolyn insisted.
"My lips are sealed." Daniel swiped two fingers across his mouth. "I will take your secret to my grave." He grinned.
"I can't believe I'm even thinking of doing this…" Carolyn shook her head. "But if it is the way the literary world is heading. You said something about my using a non-de-plume…"
"I've been giving it some thought…" Daniel stroked his beard. "And since I am to be a part of this writing duo, I was considering a name that should include both of ours."
"Fair enough." Carolyn walked over to her desk and sat down. She inserted a fresh page into the carriage of her typewriter. "What did you have in mind?"
She held up a detaining hand. "That's if I agree to this crazy plan of yours."
"Of course, you'll agree. Because you can see the merit in my idea. Even if you won't admit it, yet…" Daniel moved to stand behind her, leaning over her shoulder, to frown at the page. "As I said, I have given it quite some thought. I feel I deserve to share in some of the limelight since the stories will be mine."
"I think that's only fair," Carolyn conceded reluctantly.
"How about Carolyn Gregg?" Daniel asked, raising one eyebrow. "It combines both our names."
"I think it's too close to home, a little too obvious." Carolyn bit her lower lip in concentration. "People will suspect too quickly."
"Very well. Then, what would you suggest, my dear?" Daniel asked softly.
"What about Carol Gregg…?" Carolyn replied, leaning forward to type the name onto the page. She sat back to frown at it, trying to see how and where it could be wrong.
"Carol Gregg…" Daniel studied the name for a long time, before nodding. "I think you may have the right of it, Mrs Muir."
"Now all we have to do is think of a title…" Carolyn mused.
"I believe Maiden Voyage has already been taken…" Daniel teased gently.
"I think we should give that one a wide berth, for now." Carolyn quelled him with a frown.
"Very well…" Daniel picked up a nearby chair and brought it closer to the desk. He sat down, leaning back with his arms folded. "We need something with a little more punch…"
"How much punch?" Carolyn asked warily, wondering at the trend of his thoughts.
"Oh, I don't know…" Daniel considered her closely for a long moment, before he said softly, "How about The Captain's Forbidden Love…"
"Yes…um, I think that will do very nicely." Carolyn looked away in confusion, her cheeks warming.
"All right, we might as well begin at the beginning…" She drew a steadying sigh as she rolled the sheet of paper back in the typewriter, before typing in the title above the name of the author.
They both sat at stared at it for some time, before Daniel began to dictate his tale…
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"If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were..."
Kahlil Gibran