{Author's Note: Apologies for the delay in posting. I've been traveling through the Southland and travel has a way of just nibbling up all of one's free time. When we last left them Jessica and Seth had just finished a morning of antiquing. Let's see what our honeymooners are up to now...}

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As he steered the rental sedan down the country lane back to the honeymoon cottage Seth smiled slyly to himself about the gold page marker he had found while he and Jessica were antiquing.

And to think grandfather Spencer had given it to a woman he had admired, so very long ago. A librarian, nonetheless! Also a woman of letters, he mused to himself. What are the odds...

"Seth, you're rather quiet. A penny for your thoughts," offered Jessica.

Seth looked over at his wife, I'm thinking about when to give you this gift, ran through his mind.

"Oh, just wondering about the vagaries of life," is what he said out loud.

"My, but aren't you getting philosophical," kidded his wife.

"Maybe. But then we're starting out on a new segment of our lives together; and at a time when many people typically take to their rocking chairs..."

"We're not 'many people,' in case you haven't noticed," adamantly countered Jessica. "And even though we're no longer spring chickens we have a lot of time ahead of us, God willing. Why, look at old Barnaby running a restaurant at 95. And that 101 year old woman we just spoke with. I hope my legs carry me half as quickly as hers do in the next decade or two. Speaking of legs, I didn't know that McCrady's Tavern also had dancing."

"I didn't say that they did, now did I?" teased Seth. "We'll be dining at McCrady's but dancing elsewhere. It's a secret."

"Oh? Keeping secrets from me this early in our marriage. Hmmm, I'm not sure that bodes well," laughed Jessica.

Thinking of the gold page marker hidden in his wallet, Seth gulped as they pulled up to the front of the cottage and tried hard not to look guilty as he turned off the engine. "Well, let's just say it's a surprise, then," he clarified as he leaned over and gave Jessica a peck on the cheek before going over to her side of the car and opening the door for her.

"We're running a little short on time," he noted as he helped her out of the car. "Why don't you use the house shower and I'll jump into the beach one, since I have my ditty bag there already."

"That's very sweet of you, dear. I'll see you inside," agreed Jessica. She then stopped close in front of Seth after he shut the door and laid her right hand tenderly on his cheek while looking deeply into his warm hazel eyes.

"But, before you go I just want to tell you that, no matter how long we have together, marrying you is one of the best things I've ever done in my whole life and I love you." Jessica then leaned in and pressed her lips to Seth's.

Completely taken off guard, it took Seth a moment to return the kiss and then put his hands on her hips only to slide them around the small of her back and tug her closer.

Jessica responded by trailing her right hand down Seth's neck to his collar while bringing her other arm around him and leaning in.

After a long moment their lips parted but they stayed in the embrace, both breathing heavily, with their foreheads touching.

"Jessica, do you want me to cancel our plans for tonight?" breathlessly offered Seth.

"Mmmmm, no," Jessica slightly gasped out. "You went through a lot of trouble. But, perhaps later..."

"Later, then," agreed Seth as he reluctantly released her after one more kiss and went down the path as Jessica climbed the stairs into the cottage.

Once showered, Jessica was in her slip and sitting at the small vanity putting on her makeup as Seth completed his ensemble.

Standing up, she plucked her dress off of the adjacent chair and slid it over her head.

"Seth, please come and zip me up."

Stepping over to her he said, "Of course. Although I think we have more fun when it goes the other way," Seth whispered into her hair as he completed his task.

"You're just terrible, you know that?" Jessica snickered as she turned around and looked at him. "Well, don't you look handsome!" She appreciatively took in his black slacks topped off by a crisp white dress shirt with fine, widely spaced black stripes running vertically through it and a natty black bow tie at his neck.

"Thank you, my dear. And you look absolutely gorgeous!" Enthusiastically complimented Seth as he took a step back to fully admire Jessica's knee length crepe dress with delicate elbow length flutter sleeves in a subtle deep forest green and cream mottled pattern. A thin, dark green velvet belt perfectly accentuated her figure and the dress had a shimmering effect when Jessica moved. An emerald pendant necklace, set in white gold, and tear drop emerald earrings completed the outfit.

"Wow! I'm not sure it's safe to take you out looking like that," cautioned Seth. "I guess I'll just have to hold on tight to you. For your own good, of course."

"Of course... I'd like that," she purred back as she took Seth's hand in hers and pressed it.

After a long moment of smiling into each other's eyes they simultaneously took deep breaths and let them out slowly.

"Here, let me help you on with your dinner jacket," Jessica offered as she shook out the summer weight ivory coat.

"Thanks, but I think I'll hang it in the car and put it on when we get to the restaurant so it doesn't wrinkle too badly," Seth replied. After laying the garment over one arm he extended the other. "Shall we go, my dear?"

And so they went, down the side roads and into the heart of the venerable city of Charleston. Just before pulling up to the fine old restaurant known as McCrady's Tavern Seth spotted a open parking spot and expertly pulled right into it.

"This is our lucky day, Jess. Street parking around here has always been as scarce as hen's teeth even though we have an early reservation!" Seth noted as they walked into the fine eatery. "Dr. and Mrs. Hazlitt," he said to the hostess.

"One moment please, I'll check to be sure your table is ready," politely responded the young woman before leaving them.

Jessica turned to her husband and said in a low voice, "Honestly Seth, I'm forever amazed that you can get a reservation on the spur of the moment by just saying that you're a doctor."

"A-yuh, it's a perk of being an M.D. Guess fate decided that if we had to get up in the middle of the night during a blizzard for babies being born that we deserve to eat well!"

The hostess returned. "Please follow me," she instructed.

As they walked through the sparsely populated dining area Seth drew Jessica's attention toward the ceiling. "Would you look at that chandelier, all beautiful and sparkly!"

"It's lovely," she agreed. "If memory serves me, that's a Baccarat crystal chandelier."

The hostess led them to their white linen covered table near a potted palm and and a little way from the deeply polished dark wooded bar.

After Jessica was seated Seth sighed, "Shoot, I was so happy to find street parking the I'm not sure if I turned off the lights on the rental car or not. I'll have to go and check. Please order me a mint julep, Jess. I'll be right back." With that he stepped back across the room to the front door.

A waitress promptly delivered two glasses of water to the table and Jessica gave the order for drinks. As she sat there gazing at the chandelier, waiting for Seth's return, she was unaware that she had caught the attention of a tall, lean man in a sports jacket who was seated at the bar.

The dapper, mustachioed patron, with more salt than pepper in his hair, had just turned his attention away from the lovely bartender and was casually canvassing the adjacent dining room when he happened to view the back of Jessica's head.

Goodness, that can't be her, can it? he pondered as he looked carefully at Jessica's golden locks. It's been a few years, but it certainly looks like... Oh, just let me go and see. Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

Leaving his drink unfinished on the bar he slid off of the leather covered stool and with an athletic grace moved between the tables until he came up behind Jessica.

By Jove, it is her! he realized as he came closer. Let me have a bit of fun with the old girl.

And with that he put his hands over Jessica's eyes and said, "Guess who?" in an impish voice.

At that moment several things happened at once:

Jessica started slightly and instinctively put her hands on top of the ones covering her eyes, noting them to be long and slender and slightly rough. Hmm, from the angle of his hands he's a tall man, and sniff, he wears good cologne. That's an accent even though he's trying to hide it...

The mysterious stranger noticed the glowing green teardrop emerald earring near his left hand. Oh, that's a nice piece, he thought. Just then her hand shifted and the light reflected off of Jessica's wedding ring set and the sapphires and diamonds glittered brilliantly.

Well now, there's an exquisite set if I've ever seen one! Let's see, emerald cut sapphire accompanied by petal shaped diamonds. Obviously custom work by a master. "One of the best examples I've ever seen of a wedding ring set..." he softly said to himself out loud.

At that point the stranger suddenly became aware of two things:

1. Good Lord, she's wearing a new wedding ring!

2. The warning bells loudly pealing in the back of his brain.

Said brain quickly added up 1 + 2 and came up with; And that means there's a husband, probably irate, and probably right behind me...

He was correct on all accounts.

A low, rather annoyed, and faintly dangerous voice insistently growled from behind him, "Would you please take your hands off of my wife!"

The mystery man immediately threw his hands up in the air just as Jessica deduced his identity and cried out, "Dennis Stanton! Is that you!?" and turned around in her chair to see her old friend quite pale with his hands in the air as if in a hold-up and an obviously miffed Seth looking around from behind him at her.

"Jessica, do you know this fellow?" Seth asked stridently.

"Yes, oh yes. He's an old friend from San Francisco. Dennis Stanton, jewelry, insurance, and last I saw of him, head of security on a cruise ship line. Dennis, do put your hands down now."

Dennis dropped his hands, but not yet assured that he wasn't going to get punched, deftly stepped to the side, facing both Jessica and Seth, and plastered what he hoped was an apologetic expression on his face.

Seth stared up at Dennis. "Stanton... Stanton," he murmured. "Oh, I remember. Yes, Jess has spoken about you and your, ah, history with jewelry. Nice to meet you."

To Dennis' great surprise the hand extended to him was to shake, not to smack him. He gratefully took it and pumped it up and down, relieved.

Jessica also expelled a breath of relief as she watched the emotions shift quickly over her husband's face from one of zealous protectiveness to genuine affability.

"Please join us," Seth invited as he pulled out his own chair and waved Dennis into it. "I'm sure Jessica would love to catch up with you and I'd like to get to know you, too."

The waitress arrived with their drinks and promptly pulled over another chair for Seth.

Once they were seated Jessica exclaimed, "Dennis, what a surprise to see you! Let me more congenially introduce you to my husband, Dr. Seth Hazlitt."

The former jewel thief politely to Seth. "Very pleased to meet you, Dr. Hazlitt and my greatest apologies to you and Jessica for my foolish prank on your wife." Dennis also favored Jessica with a chagrined look.

"I'll totally forgive you only if you call me Seth."

"Done!" agreed a thankful Dennis. Turning to his old friend he asked with a twinkle in his eye, "So, Jessica, is this the same best friend doctor from Cabot Cove that you told me about years ago? When did you two get married?"

Jessica looked over at Seth and they smiled at each other. Taking his hand in hers she answered, "Just last Saturday. We're on our honeymoon."

"How marvelous!" exclaimed Dennis. "We must celebrate." Turning to the bar he motioned to the bartender for a moment. She smiled and nodded her understanding.

"Dennis, how is it we find you here in Charleston?" asked Jessica.

"The cruise line that I'm head of security for sails out of this port. My assistant is on leave for the birth of his first child and so I've been doing double duty for the last month. I just stopped in here to say hello to the lovely lady who heads up the bar. Nicole is a special friend." He smiled brightly as he looked over to her behind the highly polished bar and was delighted to receive a wink in reply.

The waitress stepped up to the table with a bottle of Dom Perignon and proceeded to pop the cork and pour three glasses of bubbly.

As they all picked up their flutes Dennis raised his and toasted them:

"May your joys be as spring flowers that grow

As bright as a fire when winter winds blow;

As countless as leaves that float down in fall,

As serene as the love that keeps watch over us all."

"That's right nice of you," thanked Seth. "Yes," added Jessica, "just lovely. Where is it from?"

"It's an old English toast," explained Dennis.

"Well, we appreciate it. And here's to seeing old friends again," said Jessica. "And to making new ones," added Seth as they all cheerfully clinked classes and sipped from the crystal flutes.

After catching up with each other for a little while Dennis looked at his watch and apologized, "This has been smashing, but I'm afraid that I must be taking my leave. Nicole is just about to go off shift and she and I are going out on the town before I have to go back on board."

Rising he took Jessica's hand and raised the back of it to his lips. "Dearheart, I hope we shall meet again soon."

There's that 'Dearheart' again, thought Seth as he stood up. What is it with the guys from the British Isles?

Turning to Seth, Dennis extended his hand which was quickly taken in a friendly grasp. "Seth, it was a pleasure to meet you. I promise that in the future I'll behave myself," he said with a grin. "Congratulations and my very best wishes to you both!" He added before turning and walking to the bar where Nicole was waiting for him. They left with a final wave to the newlyweds.

The waitress came to the table with menus and Jessica and Seth busied themselves with the delectable choices offered therein.

Jessica looked up and beamed a great big smile at Seth, who was busy studying his menu. Seth felt her eyes upon him and looked up over the top. "What?" he softly asked.

"Nothing dear," she said as she reached over with her right hand, palm up. Seth immediately released his hold on the left side of the menu and put his hand in hers. Her smile brilliant, Jessica softly caressed the wedding ring she had placed upon his finger and turned back to her menu.

Gladly taking in the affection Jessica was sending his way, Seth mused to himself with a small smile, Nope. I have no idea what this is all about but I'm old enough to also know to keep my big mouth shut and just enjoy whatever it is that I did right!

After enjoying a sumptuous meal starting with Oysters McCrady and moving on to Veal Blanquette for Seth and Roast Duck for Jessica, accompanied by Ladies Cabbage as a side, she declared, "I'm stuffed to the gills! I can't eat another bite."

"Me too," agreed Seth.

As he paid for their eclectic and delicious meals Jessica looked expectantly at him and mildly demanded, "So, Seth. Just where are we going dancing? We need to work off some of this fabulous food."

Glancing at his watch, which read 7:25 p.m., Seth replied, "Your timing is perfect, as always. If you're ready to go, your carriage awaits you, my lady."

"My, how gallant," Jessica giggled as the rose. They walked hand in hand out of the restaurant only to discover a white carriage, with a red velvet seat cushion and pineapple lanterns on each side, waiting for them.

Turning to her husband with her mouth dropped open Jessica cried, "Seth! You really weren't kidding when you said that a carriage awaited us! This is wonderful!"

The driver handed them up and they settled in cozily close to each other as he took his seat and twitched the reins. "Giddup," he said to the white and brown Appaloosa mare, who proceeded to clip - clop down the street.

After winding their way around the block the carriage made its way to Waterfront Park where the driver pulled up just outside of the Pineapple Fountain, now alight as dusk fell across the Cooper River.

Seth got out of the carriage and put his hands around Jessica's waist as he lifted her out.

Jessica looked around, admiring the large flowing fountain and the fading light reflecting on the river. "This is lovely, Seth. But I still don't see a band for dancing," she grinned.

"You are one difficult woman to please," Seth smiled back at her. Turning to the driver he said, "Maestro, if you please," as he led her to the fountain and took her into his arms.

And with that the driver leaned over and fiddled with something below his seat and music began to play. First, "Fly Me to the Moon," followed by "Moonchild," "Moon Shadow," "Harvest Moon," and a host of others as the twilight melted into darkness and the moon gleamed brightly overhead.

Various other strollers were in the circle around the fountain and smiled when they saw Jessica, shimmering like a forest gracefully swaying in the wind, and Seth in his ivory dinner jacket dancing by the light of the fountain under the silvery, nearly full moon. Several couples joined in the dance, including a father with his young daughter standing on top of his feet for her first lesson, and his wife who was holding their one year old son over her shoulder and swaying to the music.

"Dear, this is wonderful! It's perfect in every way. Thank you so much," Jessica sighed delightedly as Seth held her close in a slow dance.

"I'm glad it pleases you, my love, but all good things must come to an end - I think this is the last song," he replied as "Moondance" began to play. Seth and Jessica picked up the tempo of their steps as the jazzy tune played on.

As the song finished Seth pulled Jessica in close to him and whispered, "I love you, Jess," before warmly kissing her mouth.

The kiss broke only due to the cheerful applause and "ahhs," of their fellow dancers, who had stopped to watch the honeymooners strut their stuff.

Slightly out of breath, and a little embarrassed, they waved to the small crowd as they boarded the carriage for the trip back to the sedan.

After piling into the rental car they make their way home, both still awash in the romance of the evening, listening to long forgotten tunes on an oldies station on the radio.

As they walked up the steps to the cottage Jessica sighed, "This has been a perfect evening and I'm just not ready for it to end. Let's sit on the swing and I'll get some tea for us to drink."

Seth heartily agreed and rested himself on the porch swing. A few moments later Jessica reappeared with glasses full of ice and tea. They sat and sipped and spoke in hushed tones so as not to break the spell that the night and the moon had cast upon them, all the while watching the tips of the waves do their own dancing in the moonlight.

At long last the tea was gone, the moon was passing behind them and an overwhelming sense of contentedness and torpor overtook them as they comfortably leaned against each other on the swing.

"Seth," Jessica whispered, "I think it's time we went to bed."

Merely nodding his assent they both rose, leaving the glasses to enjoy the rest of the night air, and made their way into the cottage.

Ever the gentleman, Seth let Jessica do her nightly ablutions first. After his turn he rounded into the bedroom to find her stretched out in the middle of the bed with her right arm across her stomach and her left arm reaching out straight across the bed.

Pausing for just a second to admire her, Seth lowered himself gently onto the bed and turned to tuck his head into the crook of her shoulder, the side of his face against her chest, while snugging his left arm around her middle.

Jessica instinctively tightened her arm around Seth, cuddling him closer to her body.

They simultaneously released a sigh and relaxed into a deep, delicious sleep - wrapped up safely in the arms of the one they loved.

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{Author's Post Note: McCrady's has recently finished renovating their facility. I haven't been there yet, but I'm sure it's still someplace not to be missed in Charleston.}