"Ah hem," the handsome figure of Captain Daniel Gregg grumbled all too loudly, as he stood expectantly on the balcony. Despite their recent, more intimate connections, he made himself pause before entering every morning now. Granted, it took an immense toll upon his patience, as well on his desires, but he did not want Carolyn Muir to believe in any way he took her or their newly found and appreciated closeness for granted. So there he stood, hands clasped behind his back, waiting for her to respond to his call, and open the balcony doors so he might enter the Master Cabin to be with her.
On her side, Carolyn delighted in the mannered approach, the courtly behavior he now evinced each morning. Even though she would not have objected to his appearance at any time, she found his need to wait for permission, to pause before approaching her as the day began, a wondrous gift. So she paused, artfully arranging the neckline of her champagne colored nightgown and robe, before opening the French doors with a flourish that warm spring morning.
Walking past him, she strode out onto the 'upper deck' as he preferred to call the balcony and leaned onto the railing there watching the gulls call and the waves break upon the rocks below reviling in knowing that he was there watching her as well.
And he did indeed watch her with rapt appreciation. Finally he stepped closer to her and murmured into her ear, "Madam, just because you are seeking protection from those unnamed 'Heartbreakers' you indicated yesterday morning, surely you do not expect me to bypass any and all actions and behaviors that might gain me that disreputable title?"
Looking over her shoulder, she tossed her hair a bit, and grinned, "Well, are you asking me to identify which behaviors would . . ." "BLAST," Martha startled them as she shouted below from her stance next to the water hose. "I can't water the lawn until I finish the laundry. When will this bedraggled mess of a house allow me to run things efficiently and the way I need it to run?"
With honest dismay and disbelief, the Captain turned to his lady. "Surely Madam, she cannot be allowed to besmirch my home this way," he said with asperity. "The house of a seaman should always be considered the very essence of efficiency!" "Perhaps in your day my Captain" Carolyn offered gently, but with conviction, " but this is not your day. Stand close and you may learn something about the state of your 'command'," she sighed, heading into the closet, to get ready to begin her day and face Gull Cottage, not as he would wish it were, but as it was. And perhaps that too might bring them closer, if he were willing it be so.