Soon enough they fell into a simple routine and he became accustomed to her presence, waking beside her in the morning, the sounds of her in the kitchen and main room, the small changes in the house as she replaced worn and damaged items. Once he had gathered enough feathers she began stitching a large downy comforter. He eyed the black and blue squares curiously. "These look familiar". Carolyn laughed at that. "It's the blue dress from the wolves and the black from the fire. Being around you seems hard on clothes but they still work for this."
After finishing the comforter she seemed content with the state of the house and switched back to painting and helping Ellen with her embroidery. She had him repeat his stories of naval battles and after working through a number of sketches presented him with small paintings of some of the battles. She also got fishing tack and showed him the colonial style of fishing which was less efficient than he was used to but he could not deny the enjoyment of sitting on the grassy bank with her lazily in the afternoon sun.
A few weeks later he came in one evening bursting with excitement. "Look what I have found" he pulled her into the den in unrolled a map showing a stretch of coast line and directions inside. "They say there's a lost city here." She scanned the map over his shoulder, turning to the chest pulled out a coastal map. Scanning the lay out she pointed to a bit of coast in the gulf and pointed to it. "It looks similar to this section, doesn't it?" She looked up at him, her eyes shining. "It's so exciting. When do you mean sail?" He looked up at her in surprise. "It would take about a week to get supplies and a crew together. It would be a long trip I'm afraid. I could be gone for weeks." She sighed nodding. "Still, in exchange for what there is to be learned I think it's worth it. Don't you? I don't suppose the area is free of pirates?" He grimaced and shook his head. "There's always reports of activities coming from the area. Otherwise I would I would ask you to come." She leaned her head on his shoulder "It's probably for the best. School has just started again after all. Maybe next time. I'll be fine."
She thought for a moment then continued. "Though if they are in the area I think we should do some upgrades to the Aquila before you go. Do you have time?" He laughed "Plenty of time, the problem is money. Naval upgrades are expensive. It's best to do major changes all at once so you don't end up needing multiple sizes of all the shot." She gestured over to the money box sitting on a table in the corner. "Well, do what you can." He opened the lid and tried not to gawk at the amount inside. "Where did this all come from?!" She laughed "Free market. You never did read that book, did you? I've been sending ships down at the same time as ships from Boston to cut down on defense costs and losses. They sell the perishables along the way and then take the hard goods further out all on the same trip. You would not believe what they're willing to pay for fine clothes and spirits in Port Royale. " She grimaced. "I would prefer not to sell to pirates at all, but the money they spend on clothes and parties is money not going into arming their ships. It only seems fair to upgrade your own with that. Oh and I was able to double what we paid to the people in town and still turn a good profit. " She beamed with pride. Connor looked at her in amazement. "And you do not mind spending it like this?" She looked at him "It's your money, Connor. You can do with it what you like. But no I do not mind spending it to have you safer."
Together they compared the maps and discussed routes and the supplies needed. The following Saturday the ship was loaded and ready. Carolyn went down first to oversee the last delivery of foodstuffs and to make sure everything was ready. Connor finished packing his supplies and thought about how long he would be gone, the first time he had left her alone for any length of time in the house. Leaving his bedroll in the hallway he snuck downstairs and cleared off the portraits from the wall. One by one he fed them to the flame, throwing Haytham's on last. "Goodbye, father." He watched the canvas crackle and burn until only ashes were left. A thought occurred to him and he returned briefly to the den to dig out the sketch of her and add it to his gear before heading down to the dock.
Reaching the dock Carolyn spotted him and ran to him, throwing her arms around him and shaking in his embrace. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted me to go." She held him tighter. "It's not that. It's the sailors. They say…" her voice was quiet and full of fear " they say the Sovereignty never made it to Kingston. She's presumed lost with all hands." He looked at her startled, his arms tightening around her protectively. She continued to tremble, her eyes full of sorrow. "The captain. All those people. It's horrible." He raised her head and met her eyes "But not you. You're safe." He bent down and kissed her. "Do you want me to stay?" She shook her head. "No, I want you to go. Really I do. I was just surprised is all." Already the color was returning to her face and she took a number of calming breaths. "Will you write to them in Kingston and let them know you're alright?" She thought about it for a moment and shook her head. "No, let Carolyn Blair be dead. She's gone anyway. I never met the governor or his family. The position was in remembrance of my father. There's no one there to weep for my loss." She looked oddly relieved at that.
It was a Friday nearly a month later just before school got out when Carolyn's lecture was interrupted by shouting from the road that the Aquila was back in port. She dismissed class with a laugh and tried not to fidget at the children laughed and packed up. Closing the door behind them she made she everyone was safely on their way and then took off for the house in a run earning knowing laughs from the people she passed.
Reaching the house she checked the rooms eagerly. "Connor? Are you here?" but there was no answer. She ran out back to the ledge and saw that the Aquila was in port as reported but couldn't spot his blue jacket among the people at the dock.
"Did you miss me?" His voice came from behind her, clearly amused. "Desperately" she launched herself at him as he bent over arms open. Wrapping her arms around his neck and she kissed him fiercely, her legs wrapped around his waist. He caught her, adjusting his stance so they did not both fall. His hands were hot on the back of her thighs. "Me too. Don't you want to hear about what we found". With his hands holding her up she leant back and started frantically tugging on the buttons of his jacket. "Later. Tell me later." She pressed herself against his chest breathing in the smell of his skin. "I've missed you. I missed you at dinner. I missed you at breakfast. I missed the smell of you on my skin. I can't wait any longer."
He laughed at that. "I missed you to." She traced the line of his neck. "Show me?" Trying not to drop her he carried her into the house though they only got as far as the kitchen.
When they were done she reached up and tucked a sweaty strand of his hair behind his ear. "That's better. I think next time I should go with you, pirates or no. " Her eyes sparkled. "Now tell me what you found! "