Chapter Fifteen

Captain Daniel Gregg in the Flesh

"Oh, this is just so exciting, Carolyn…" Harriet fussed with the table setting for the dinner. "Finally, I get to meet your Captain Gregg properly. I know Hazel is so jealous right now. I told her all about it earlier and she wants to know every detail."

She sighed and then her brow creased. "Oh, you don't think he'll decide he can't come at the last minute? I mean, he always seems to have more important things to do than visiting you. I would hate to miss him."

"He promised he'll be here tonight. And you can always count on his word," Carolyn assured her brightly. "He said he wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh, good," Harriet breathed. "Because I have so many questions I want to ask him. When he said that about you holding all his dreams and hopes in your small hand, his future and his past, I truly wanted to believe him." Her expression turned dreamy.

"And I'm sure he meant every word of it." Carolyn began setting out their best silver cutlery.

"Not according to his twin brother." Harriet shook her head. "When I asked him the other day, Claymore said that's just a line the Captain uses on all his women. He made it all sound so cheap and tawdry. I do hope he's wrong."

"Look, you need to forget all about Claymore," Martha advised stoutly, stirring the contents of the pots on the stove. "He's just jealous of the Captain and Mrs Muir's happiness. He didn't want to sell her this house, but the Captain told him he had to, for Mrs Muir's sake. You'll see that Captain Gregg is everything we say he is when he gets here."

She leaned over a pot to taste her cooking. "I certainly hope so…" she whispered to the fragrant steam.

Jonathan walked into the kitchen through the back door. "Why do we have to get all dressed up? And why's the Captain coming to dinner tonight?"

"I told you, he's coming to see Cousin Harriet," Candy replied, walking into the room behind him.

"Yes, he is." Their mother nodded. "So, you both need to look your best. And, there'll be no frogs joining us at the dinner table, tonight." She frowned at her son.

"Aw, but… Okay, I know…" Jonathan sighed gustily, putting a guilty hand over the moving bulge in his shirt pocket. "But I don't see why he wants to see Cousin Harriet again."

He delivered the bunch of herbs he was carrying to Martha. "She's just a girl."

"Well, it's because I want to see him again," Harriet replied, fussing with the flower arrangement in the middle of the table. "Properly, this time. I want to talk to him, get to know him better. Make sure he's the right man for Carolyn."

She glanced at her cousin. "I need to be sure everything is as it should be. Then I can rest easy."

"It seems useless to tell you again that it's none of your business," Martha remarked acerbically.

"Everything will be fine," Carolyn attempted to soothe the situation. "I know that Harriet means well."

Jonathan frowned, still trying to make his point. "But, the Captain's always around somewhere and he knows she's here. He said that Cousin Harriet's just a— Hey!" He didn't get to finish his comment because his sister pushed against him with her shoulder.

"The Captain said I was just a, what?" Harriet looked confused.

"He said you're just a dear for taking such good care of me," Carolyn reassured her quickly, shooing her children toward the stairs. "Go on and get changed now. And get rid of that frog before you come down again. The Captain will be here soon and you two need to show him your best manners."

"That's what family is for. To take care of each other," Harriet commented, frowning after the two as they left the kitchen. "But I don't see why the Captain needs to discuss me with the children."

"Oh, he loves the kids," Martha began to collect her serving dishes, placing them on the island bench. "He's with them all the time when he's ashore. I guess, things just slip out now and then."

"Well, I still think it's very odd…" Harriet shook her head as she began to fold the table napkins artistically. "And I know you truly meant what you said, Carolyn, but I'm sure that's not what Jonathan was about to tell me…"

The two Gull Cottage ladies exchanged significant glances. "I think it'll be better if Candy and Jonathan eat first," Carolyn decided. "Then they can watch TV in the living room while the adults get comfortable and have a nice long talk without any unfortunate interruptions."

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"All right, you can come out now. I want to have a good look at you." Daniel stood beside Claymore's desk, bracing himself for the inevitable.

He'd seen Claymore's ham-fisted interpretation of a sea captain before and none of it had been good. But there was no other choice if it helped to send Harriet packing.

The bedroom door opened slowly and Claymore peeked out. "You're putting too much faith in me. I just know I won't measure up," he wheedled. "Not for a whole evening. Can't I just telephone them and give my heart-felt apologies?"

"Put some steel into your miserable backbone, stop snivelling and get out here now!" Daniel barked in reply.

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Claymore saluted as he jumped to attention, scurrying into the office to stand quivering before his nemesis. "But I can't do it! I still feel like I want to throw up…"

"By the powers…" Daniel groaned as he dropped his head into his upraised hand. "If I didn't really need you…"

"Well, I think I do look rather splendid," Claymore mumbled, preening in his brass-buttoned naval jacket and jaunty captain's cap. "I've always fancied myself as a sailor in the navy." He stroked the false beard above the collar of his white roll-neck sweater.

"Seaman…" Daniel muttered tersely. "The title is seaman! See to it that you remember that if nothing else!"

"Seaman, right…" Claymore hurried behind his desk and picked up a pen. He wrote the word on his left palm. He looked up. "Anything else you think I need to write down?"

Daniel frowned at him. "This is such a bad idea. But since we don't have a choice, we'll just have to make the best of it."

"Well, you made me pretend to be you the first time, when the Muirs came visiting," Claymore said defensively. "And then again for Mrs Muir's parents. You bully me into doing things I don't want to do. I'm not just some puppet on a string you can pull out of the drawer whenever you see fit. I do have a heart and a soul, you know."

He sighed dramatically. "And feelings. If you're so picky about my return performance tonight, why don't you do it yourself?"

"Because you don't look anything like me, you bumbling ninny! The game would be well and truly up the moment Harriet clapped eyes on me!"

"Well, who's fault's that then?" Claymore set his hands on his hips. "I can't help it if I take after my mother's side of the family!"

Daniel laughed mirthlessly. "That's the most intelligent thing to come out of your mouth all afternoon!"

Claymore readjusted the set of his cap. "Well, I don't care! You need me. So, you'd better be nice to me. All your shouting's giving me a headache."

"Very well then, let's shove off." Daniel sighed, walking toward the office door. "Come on, before I change my mind and throttle you."

"See, there you go again, making those awful threats…" Claymore trailed after him miserably. "I honestly do feel rather faint…"

※※※※※

Claymore brought his car to a halt beside the front gate of Gull Cottage. He cut the engine before leaning over to adjust his cap in the rear-view mirror.

"Ooohhh… I look like a total wreck," he groaned, staring at the sight of his haggard expression. He poked at the sallow skin around his eyes. "I should be taking a long holiday to somewhere warm."

Daniel materialised in the passenger seat beside him. "You look well enough," he growled. "Try not to be your dunderheaded self and you'll be fine."

"I get to keep the glasses on," Claymore wheedled, adjusting them on the bridge of his nose. "You know I can't see a thing without them."

"Keep them, it's all the same to me. I doubt Harriet remembers you that well. It was me who enchanted her last time when you failed so miserably. Now get out and get up to the house before you make me late for my own dinner party!"

"This is such a bad idea…" Claymore sighed, getting out of the car slowly. "I just know I'm not going to be able to pull it off convincingly. Then you'll hate me all over again and take away all my treasure."

"You can keep your blasted treasure, for now. You'll do all right because you'll have me behind you," Daniel replied, following closely as Claymore opened the gate and walked up the path. "I'll see to it that your performance tonight is splendid and beyond reproach. Listen to me closely when I tell you what to say and how to act."

"Easy for you to say…" Claymore mumbled, going slowly up the front steps. "You're not me, right now."

"And you're not me!" Daniel accused with a stabbing finger. "Now pull yourself upright and at least try to look like you're a proper sea captain instead of a blithering failure at living!"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Claymore snapped to attention and saluted, just as the front door opened.

Harriet appeared in the opening, smiling up at him with wide curious eyes. "Oh, there you are, Captain Gregg. I was beginning to think that you weren't coming, after all."

She leaned forward to look around, mystified. "Who were you saluting at, just then?"

"I… well, you see… I like to… to keep in practice…" Claymore stammered, snapping another weak salute.

"Say your good evenings, fool," Daniel growled at him, looking over his great-nephew's shoulder. "Greet her properly."

"Ahoy, my lady…" Claymore smiled feebly as he bowed his head. "It… it's lovely to be seeing you again, Miss Williams."

"Oh, just Harriet, please…" Harriet smiled as she eyed him with uncertainty. "I feel like we're almost family."

"Daniel, dear…" Carolyn hurried to move between them. "How wonderful to see you again, and so soon."

"Yes, um, just how soon is it?" Claymore's hand appeared to become stuck to his forehead as he saluted yet again. "I mean, yes, of course, so soon. It's all your fault, my dear. I simply… you know I can't stay away from your lovely place… I mean, face. Oh, dear…"

"Do not start blithering!" Daniel commanded in exasperation.

Claymore jumped as he swallowed tightly, dropping his hand to finger the neck of his sweater. "I see you in every fish I haul aboard and every iceberg I encounter. Do you feel warm? I feel very warm."

"Oh, how very… descriptive…" Harriet watched him warily. "You do seem to lead a very colourful life, Captain."

"All the colours of the rainbow cannot compare to this fair lady of mine…" Claymore declared dramatically, as he took Carolyn's hand tightly, bending over it to kiss the backs of her fingers.

He turned to stare at her, his face turning very pale. "Please, I really do think I need to sit down…" he whispered.

"Oh, Daniel, dear, you're always so gallant…" Carolyn smiled as she put her arm around him and Claymore leaned his weight on her, making her buckle slightly at the knees.

"Oh, blast!" her husband exclaimed, watching the unfolding tableau in disgust. "He's barely in the door and the spineless jellyfish is about to pass out on me again!"

"It's happened before?" Carolyn asked involuntarily, taking more of Claymore's weight as he staggered inside to sit in the foyer chair.

"What's going on?" Harriet hovered anxiously. "Oh, look, he's gone that funny shade of green again. Just like the last time. How can a man of the sea get seasick on dry land? And why is his voice so different from last time? He sounds just like his brother, Claymore."

"There's nothing for it, my dear," Daniel muttered. "Stand aside and allow me to put some much-needed steel into this pitiful pip-squeak before he ruins everything!" He dematerialised.

Carolyn stood back, taking Harriet's arm. "A small relapse. It's just that he's still not used to being on land," she explained quickly. "When he's been at sea for so long, it can take a while for him to get his land legs back."

"How can you be so sure that's all it is?" Harriet demanded to know. "He looks ill. Maybe he needs a doctor."

"Because it's happened before," Carolyn reassured her, watching Claymore closely.

He moved and groaned. Then he lifted his head and smiled at her, his eyes alight with love.

"My apologies for the unwarranted alarm I may have caused you, ladies…" Claymore straightened, the Captain's voice now coming from his mouth. "My love is so very right, as always. My blasted legs are more used to the heaving of a deck upon the restless breast of the eternal ocean."

He stood up, stretching his limbs and appearing to be suddenly in fine fettle. He smiled as he turned to Carolyn, looking down at her with mischief in his eyes. "The memory of your beauty sails the lonely watery wastes with me and I am alone no more. I see your radiant face in my mind's eye, and rough and raging seas grow calm. Your hair is as wild as a storm at midnight and your eyes are like two beautiful pearls drawn from the ocean deeps. Your voice is an angel's song heard in the endless wind that carries me ever homeward to your loving arms…"

"Oh… that's just so lovely…" Harriet sighed, clasping her hands together. She turned to Carolyn. "I didn't know he was a poet, as well. Maybe you should be writing this down."

"I'm sure I have it somewhere…" Carolyn nodded quickly, remembering the lines were from the love letter Daniel had once written to the original Vanessa. She shook her head at him, wondering just where this surreal charade was heading.

"Simply a piece of doggerel I wrote once, a long time ago…" Daniel murmured, waving Claymore's hand dismissively.

He removed his cap, putting it aside before he took Carolyn's hand between his. Turning it over, he gazed at the pulse beating rapidly in her inner wrist.

He leaned down to kiss it with lingering intent. "Ah, that we could be alone together to pursue our romance in private, as a man and his love should be…"

He cast a knowing glance at Harriet. "Then I would show my beloved every colour of each rainbow that has ever graced the skies with its beauty."

"Ooohhh…" Harriet cooed, her state of confusion turning into simpering coyness. "Once he has his land legs under him, I can see why you've fallen in love with this man. He's divine!"

She batted her eyelashes at the Captain, all the while closely studying the ring finger of his left hand as he held Carolyn's. The absence of a wedding ring seemed to comfort her. But, of course, Claymore wasn't married.

"Um, Daniel, dear…" Carolyn murmured, not sure she could keep her face straight for much longer, but needing them all to make a move.

"Ah, I adore it when you say my given name, my love…" Her husband gazed at her out of Claymore's eyes with sensual regard.

"You know…" Hazel pondered, frowning. "I'm sure I've heard your voice somewhere before…" she mused. "I just can't quite place it…"

"Of course, you did," Carolyn rushed into the void, trying to draw her husband toward the kitchen door. "You met the Captain the last time you were here."

"Yes, yes, I know that. But that's not it…" Her cousin waved a dismissive hand. Then her expression lightened. "That's it. Last night, up in your room, I'm now sure it was the Captain I heard talking to you. I never forget a voice."

"Well, where's the mystery in that?" Carolyn laughed nervously as she attempted to change her cousin's course of thinking. "The Captain pops in and out all the time when he's ashore. You never know where you might find him."

"Yes, but you said you were alone, last night…" Harriet regarded her suspiciously. "Up there…" She pointed to the ceiling. "If he'd come visiting, I'm sure I would've heard him come in. I was only in the kitchen helping Martha with the dishes."

"Well, he wasn't actually here last night. Daniel is a sea captain, after all," Carolyn hurried on. "I often try to use his term of phrase or style when I'm sounding out the nautical things for my writing. I like to try and catch the flavour of the work."

"Yes, but in his actual voice…" Hazel looked totally nonplussed. "It's so deep and delicious. You're not that good an imitator to fake it. Sometimes, you make him sound almost like he's a… like he's a ghost or something."

She smiled weakly, seeking her cousin's reassurance. "Of course, that can't possibly be…"

"Oh, Harriet…" Carolyn sighed, shaking her head. "Sometimes I honestly do think your imagination is more vivid than mine." She laughed. "Maybe you should become the writer in the family."

"Well, now…" Daniel raised his great-nephew's head, sniffing the air in appreciation. "Mmmm, my, something smells wonderful. It seems I have arrived just in time. Shall we eat? I'm starving," he continued smoothly. "As a mere thorn between two beautiful roses, how can a simple man possibly fail?"

He linked arms with them both. "Shall we retire to the kitchen and see what delicacies Martha has in store for us for dinner?"

"Don't overdo it…" Carolyn warned in a muttered aside, as they entered the kitchen arm in arm. "If you oversell your winning ways and charm, Harriet will never want to leave. She's already half in love with you."

"Ah, my dear, you have so little faith in my immense powers of persuasion," Daniel purred, assisting her to take her seat before escorting Harriet to hers.

"Martha…" He turned his head to nod his acknowledgement to the housekeeper as she hovered behind them, holding a covered tureen and looking vastly curious at the sudden, unexpected turn of events.

"Captain…" she responded warily, looking him up and down. "My, I've never seen you looking so well and so… Captain-like…" She raised one eyebrow and shook her head.

※※※※※

"And there I was, all alone in the vast blue ocean off the wild coast of New Zealand, swimming for my life…" Daniel shook his head ruefully, as the four adults sat talking over the remains of their delicious meal. "That shark had dinner on its mind and me as the main course. He was already tying on his napkin and reaching for his knife and fork as he trailed me."

"Well, I must say, after all the build-up, I was expecting something a bit more dramatic than you poking the thing in the eye with an old piece of driftwood." Martha smiled, sitting back in her chair, remembering the last time she'd heard the same tale.

"Ah, but you forget…" Daniel shook his head. "Without the advantage of that piece of wood floating by I could've been an easy meal. And I would not be here now, to pay court to my lady love." His borrowed eyes caressed Carolyn.

"Oh, what a tale…" Harriet gazed at him in rapt attention. "I would have been so scared. I don't like the water. I don't even like the beach. And I certainly don't like sharks."

"Ah, then you could not come sailing with me." Captain Gregg shook his head sadly. "My Carolyn is a superb seawoman."

"She is?" Harriet's eyebrows rose. "I didn't know you sailed, Carolyn?"

"You never asked," Carolyn turned the question aside with a shrug. "Would anyone like a sherry?"

"Tell me, Captain…" Harriet ignored the question as she leaned in to gaze closely at their guest. "Jonathan mentioned that you've spoken to the children about me. He never did tell me what exactly it was that you said."

"How about some dessert? One of my famous cherry pies and whipped cream coming up," Martha offered brightly, getting up to collect the used dishes. "And I know I could sure use a sherry right now."

"Just a moment…" Harriet held up a denying hand. "I want to hear the Captain's opinion of me that he shared so freely with the children."

"Ah, once again, you must forgive my frivolous badinage…" Daniel took Harriet's hand as he looked deep into her eyes. "I will admit to an error of judgement in not telling you myself. I simply commented to the lad that his mother is very lucky to have someone as dedicated to her family as your good self." He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed their tips gracefully.

"Ohhhh, my…" Harriet's cheeks flushed warmly. She turned to her cousin, who was watching the exchange with worried eyes. "You were right the first time, Carolyn. He is too good to be true!" She giggled with enchantment.

"Told you…" Carolyn laughed with shaky relief.

"Yes, but he's even more fascinating than last time…" Harriet sighed. "If only I could find another man like you, my dear Captain…" She put a hand on his forearm, smoothing the fabric of his jacket sleeve.

"Thank you, Harriet." Daniel gently removed his arm from her clinging grasp before he winked at his wife. "But I'm already well and truly spoken for."

He leaned Claymore's borrowed body back in the chair, extending his long legs out before him beneath the table. "Now, I believe someone mentioned a glass of sherry? And something about a cherry pie. I adore Martha's cherry pie."

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