Chapter Ten

A Time To Love…

Later that night the foyer of Gull Cottage was dimly lit and the house quiet. Carolyn was with the children, in their bedroom, reading them all a bedtime story with Slugger happily gurgling on her knee.

Martha, dressed in her nightgown and robe, walked past the staircase, heading for bed. She was about to stifle a yawn but stopped when she thought she heard the jingle of sleigh bells from outside the house.

"It can't be…" Going onto tiptop, she crept back to the half-open doorway of the parlour and peered in. A figure, clad in a red, fur-trimmed Santa Claus coat, was putting presents under the tree before moving away toward the fireplace to fill the stockings hung there.

Above her, the children had heard the bells and hurried from their mother's storytelling to the turn of the staircase. They came halfway down, trying to see what was happening in the front room.

"Martha, what's going on?" Jonathan asked with wide eyes.

"We're sure we heard sleigh bells, just now," Candy declared, carrying Scruffy in her arms.

"I bet it's Saint Nicholas!" Jonathan crowed. "He didn't forget us! What's he doing down there?"

"Well, from what I can see, he's going up the chimney," Martha told them, putting a wondering hand to her cheek and hiding her knowing smile.

She winked at Daniel as he quickly placed the last of the presents in the stockings. He grinned as he nodded his thanks before he hurried to remove his red coat and hide it behind the curtain in the alcove.

The next moment the children heard the sound of sleigh bells fading into the distance. They looked at each other with awe on their faces. Nothing as exciting as this had ever happened at their grandparents' house in Philadelphia.

"For heaven's sakes, he is real!" Candy exclaimed.

"I told you so!" Jonathan said happily. "Gee, we just missed him. I wonder if he left us anything." He looked worried, thinking back over past transgressions. "I hope he did."

"When can we come down and see what he's left us?" Candy begged.

Carolyn appeared at the top of the stairs, carrying the baby. She was dressed in a red full-length red gown with deep white ruffles at the neck and sleeves over a white silk shift.

"How about now?" she asked.

The children needed no other invitation.

"Oh, boy, come on…" Jonathan encouraged as they went tumbling down the stairs, hurrying into the parlour as Martha pushed the double doors open. Daniel, now resplendent in a cream, roll-neck sweater was attaching ornaments to the tree.

"Merry Christmas." Martha beamed.

"Merry Christmas, Martha." Daniel winked at her.

There was a chorus of gasps and squeals as the children discovered the presents and the toys that had been left for them. As they burrowed beneath the tree, the three adults watched them indulgently.

"There, for the baby." Daniel stepped around the confusion as he approached Carolyn, holding out a rattle he'd taken from the pocket of his sweater. It was a silver bell on a flat ring of mother of pearl. He shook it, making the infant laugh.

"What a beautiful rattle," Carolyn marvelled as she took the gift, admiring it.

"Another present from the Bey of Tunis," Daniel told her, smiling at the beautiful picture his love made in the firelight.

"Really? For you?"

"For my household," Daniel acknowledged softly, loving how beautiful she looked.

"Ah, well, on behalf of the baby, thank you." Carolyn smiled up at him, loving the look in his eyes.

Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the front door. "Who can that be at this hour of the night?" Martha hurried to answer it.

She unlocked and opened the door. Claymore entered with a cheery smile, looking all around. He was dressed in formal wear and wearing a hat. Under one arm he carried a large Christmas goose wrapped in brown paper, while under the other he held a large ledger.

"Merry Christmas, Martha," he declared cordially, beaming at her.

"Claymore!" The housekeeper looked him up and down in astonishment. "What happened to you being happy to be alone with your bowl of gruel and your figuring?"

She frowned suspiciously. "You're looking a little flushed. Have you been nipping at the cooking sherry?"

"Oh ho, not Claymore!" he declared expansively. "Not anymore! You see before you a former humbug. I am a totally reformed character!"

He held out the wrapped poultry. "Here is the goose for the Christmas dinner to celebrate the joys of the season."

Martha accepted the package with wide eyes. "Incredible…" she mused.

Claymore leaned closer to whisper, "Don't tell anyone, but it was the last one in the shop, so I got a great deal on it."

Martha shook her head. "Claymore, you're not yourself. Generosity has never been your watchword. We both know that."

"I know." He giggled. "Delightful, aren't I? I feel like a new man. Like I've been reborn."

He patted the ledger he held with deep fondness. "And here is the golden egg."

Martha shook her head at him before she closed the front door. "I still think I'd better hide the sherry, just in case." She carried the goose into the kitchen.

Claymore turned to Carolyn, standing with Daniel in the door of the parlour. "Ah, my dear, dear niece…" He beamed. "If the baby's parents can't be found, I'm taking adoption papers out on him and you will raise him."

"Oh…" Carolyn gasped in shock, glancing up at Daniel. "Are you sure you're all right?" She looked at him seriously. "Uncle, have you been imbibing?"

"What is wrong with everyone tonight?" Claymore demanded to know, in a scandalised tone. "First her and now you. It is Christmas, that's all. I've been moved by the giving spirit of the season to be generous to my fellow man… and woman."

"And perfectly understandable. It's just that we've never seen you being so generous before. You said yourself, that awful word, charity, will never be found on your shingle."

"Yes, well, that was the old me. But wait, there's more…" Claymore held out the ledger. "And here's fifty thousand more or less for his upbringing."

"It's a miracle," Martha marvelled, returning to the gathering, still looking bemused.

Carolyn shook her head as she looked up at Daniel. "He must have been sipping at the brandy, as well."

Her fiancé smiled down at her. "I think the goodwill of the season has finally melted the ice on his heart as well, my dear. But I have never known such a Christmas miracle."

Carolyn smiled. "Then we will say thank you, Claymore. You're the most generous man in the whole world!"

"Oh, yes, I am, aren't I?" Claymore preened. "And to top off the spirit of the festive season, I'm closing the office for the entire holiday season! You may have the day after tomorrow off with my blessing."

"A whole day off…" Carolyn marvelled. "What will I do with such a generous gift?" She winked at Daniel.

"But a promise is a promise." Her uncle wagged a warning finger. "I still expect you to work that hour's overtime you owe me."

"It will be my pleasure." Carolyn smiled. "I knew you couldn't change that much, Uncle."

Claymore reached to take Slugger's small hand. "I've made inquiries and I have still to hear from the constable. But I fear our wee man's family is nowhere to be found. Perhaps the wee man's care was too much for them." He made cooing sounds to Slugger's wide-eyed astonishment.

"Then we get to keep him, right, Mother?" Jonathan asked from the floor where he sat with Candy, looking over all the presents. "That will make this the perfect Christmas!"

"Well, if his parents cannot be found…" Carolyn cuddled the baby closer, kissing the top of his head. "Then yes, we will become his family."

"Madam…" Martha stepped closer, holding out her arms. "Would you like me to look after him? I'll take him into the kitchen and let him play a little."

"Thank you." Carolyn handed Slugger over. "And we have some presents for you," she told Claymore.

"For me?" Claymore blinked. "Are you sure you have the right uncle?"

"Thankfully there's only one like you to a family," Daniel commented drily, watching his cousin walk past him into the living room, still clutching his ledger.

"Merry Christmas, children." Claymore sat down on the couch to accept his present from Candy. He opened it under the watchful eyes of his great-niece and great-nephew.

Understanding that everyone was fully occupied, Carolyn exchanged a significant glance with her fiancé. She turned away toward the front door, opening it to walk out onto the front porch and into the cold, starry night, away from watchful eyes.

Daniel followed her, closing the front door behind them as Carolyn walked along the front porch, gazing out into the darkness. Daniel came up behind her, looking down at her with deep affection.

"Did I tell you how lovely you are?" he whispered, studying the beautiful curves of her cheek and neck. "It was all I could do to keep my hands off you."

Carolyn turned to him, smiling. "I'm… so glad you came back for Christmas. I was so worried you'd miss it. Tales about that storm made me fear for you."

"I had to come back," Daniel replied softly. "From the first moment I saw you that first night, standing all indignant on the sidewalk, demanding I allow you to pass by, I knew you were the one. How could I stay away?"

"I have never been so happy. But it all seems so unreal, doesn't it?" Carolyn sighed.

"Perhaps, my darling, because this night is only a moment in our dream of being together for always…" Daniel replied in a gentle, tender tone.

He reached for her slowly, savouring his intention to kiss her. He had waited all day for this single moment out of time. He put an arm around her shoulders, drawing her deep into his embrace.

Carolyn went willingly, her arm going around him to prevent herself from falling. Their lips met in a deep kiss of love and understanding. The hushed silence lengthened, underscored by the soft sound of the night breeze.

Finally, Daniel lifted his head, looking down at her, as if he was only seeing her for the first time. He wanted to ask her about setting the date for their wedding.

"I love you, Captain Daniel Gregg…" Carolyn sighed as she turned her head to rest her cheek against his shoulder, revelling in the steady beat of his heart. "Can we make this more than a dream?" she asked softly.

"We make it anything we wish to be…" Daniel told her. "I love you, Carolyn, more than life itself. I always will…"

He sighed as she drew back to look up at him. "The best moments last forever and so will we…" He bent his head to claim her lips again and the only sound was the distant voices of the carollers singing 'Silent Night…'

Seeing the children were fully occupied with their gifts, Claymore happened to look through the living room windows into the night. In the pool of light spilling from the room, he saw Carolyn standing with her back to Daniel before she turned to him, her beautiful face radiant with love. Some whispered conversation passed between them before the captain took her in his arms and there was no longer any need for words.

"Merry Christmas…" Claymore sighed as he looked quickly away, respecting the privacy of such an intimate moment. He took off his hat, placing it on the couch beside him.

"Tell you what, children. How about we go and see if we can talk Martha into giving us some of her delicious treats? I know I'm hungry. I could eat two mince pies, maybe even three."

"Yeah…" Jonathan jumped. "Me too!"

"I want a gingerbread man," Candy insisted. "Race you!" she challenged her brother.

They ran from the room, followed by Claymore at a far more sedate pace. He glanced back, one final time, toward the windows. "A very merry, merry Christmas…" he whispered, smiling, before continuing on his way.

※※※※※

Two months after the most memorable Christmas Day of his entire life, Claymore drove his carriage out of town to visit his family at Gull Cottage. He'd become quite the regular visitor, mysteriously allowing Carolyn to spend more time at home with her children while still clerking for him from the warm comfort of the kitchen during the colder weather.

Even their dog had come to tolerate his increasingly frequent visits. A truce had been declared between them. Scruffy now only sneezed whenever he saw Claymore arrive and then went on about his own canine business.

With her fiancé's active encouragement, Carolyn had also taken up her writing again and had succeeded in having a handful of articles published in the 'Ladies' View' magazine of Boston. She was very pleased to discover that the magazine employed a progressive, free-thinking female editor. Sally Hall had allowed Carolyn to finally publish her works under her own name, which pleased her immensely and made her very proud of her literary efforts.

Recently, Sally had boldly suggested the interesting idea of Carolyn branching out into writing a full-length novel with a romantic theme and the required happy ending. She wrote that she was very keen to publish such a work as a weekly instalment in the magazine. If the first was well-received then Sally said that she was keen to commission an entire series of such works.

Daniel had supported the idea wholeheartedly. He was quick to assure his love that he had a fund of suitable stories that she could use. Buoyed by her recent successes, Carolyn had happily agreed to give the idea her serious consideration.

Claymore tied off the reins before stepping down from his carriage. He patted his horse affectionately on the rump before he walked quickly up the snowy front path and knocked on the door. He had important news to impart and he didn't want to wait.

"Good afternoon, Claymore…" Daniel answered the summons, not at all surprised to find his cousin again awaiting admittance.

"Good afternoon, Cousin. I'm afraid I have both bad news and good to tell you," Claymore said, taking off his hat as he stepped into the foyer.

"It sounds serious…" Daniel frowned at his cousin as he escorted him into the living room.

"It's about Slugger…" Claymore replied, turning the brim of his hat between his hands.

Daniel watched him with concern. "Carolyn is upstairs with him now. Should I call for her or it is news you need to tell me first so I may soften the blow?"

"Oh, no, no…" Claymore shook his head quickly. "It is good news for you and myself."

He sighed. "Sadly, the baby's family is nowhere to be found. It's almost as if they don't exist. The constable has made extensive inquiries and come up with nought. No sign, no record, nothing. It seems his birth may never have been registered. It's a complete mystery."

Daniel stood with his back to the cheery fire. "Are you telling me we may now keep the mite and raise him as our own child?"

"It seems that way." Claymore nodded, his hands clenching on the brim of his hat. "I… have not forgotten the promise I made to him made on Christmas Eve. I will honour it. I agreed to pay for his upkeep and you may raise him."

He sighed. "I have already filed the paperwork to adopt him. I doubt there will be any objections. The Orphanage is full to capacity."

He looked somewhat discomforted. "I have also agreed to furnish the children with a large and refurbished premises along with warm clothing for the winter. Young Malcolm has become quite the ambassador for their needs and very forthright in his demands for his fellow inmates."

"Why, Claymore, I do believe you are an utterly changed man," his cousin marvelled. "Once such generosity would have been impossible for you to even consider, let alone admit."

"Yes, well… a promise is a promise." Claymore compressed his lips. He laughed shortly. "It's all your good lady's fault. And yours. You both have changed me. I never thought it possible. But I believe it was you who said man cannot live by gruel alone…"

"Yes, I did say that. But I think you were expecting the child to be reclaimed by his family."

"Something like that…" Claymore shrugged, closing his eyes briefly. "But somehow that baby has wormed his way into my heart. I find myself thinking about him and wondering how he's going on."

"Hence your increasingly frequent visits to this house and your generously allowing Carolyn to work from home?"

"Yes…" Claymore admitted honestly. "I now wonder what I did before he came into my life."

"It was empty and you were alone…" Daniel watched him with compassion. "So, you did your best to keep everyone at bay. You convinced yourself you didn't need people to care for you because you did not care for yourself or your own company."

"I… was it that obvious?" Claymore sighed.

"Only to myself and Carolyn," Daniel reassured him. "To the rest of the townsfolk, you were simply a scrooge and a miser driven only by greed and avarice. It will take time for them to realise you are a changed man."

"Was it that bad?" Claymore raised his brows. "Well, I'll freely admit, I am a changed man."

"I can see that," Daniel acknowledged, leaving the fire. "Do you wish to come upstairs to tell Carolyn the excellent news and visit with your son and heir?"

"I… would like that…" Claymore smiled, looking slightly overcome with the suggestion.

"And, of course, you are here again just in time for dinner," Daniel continued as they left the room. "May I suggest you stay and dine with us? After all, you are family."

"Yes, yes, I am, aren't I?" Claymore's eye shone with gratitude. "Thank you, Cousin. I would like that very much…"

※※※※※

A month later, Carolyn was standing on a chair before the mirror in her bedroom. "Are we going to be ready in time?" She turned around to study her reflection from every angle.

"If you'll stand still long enough to allow me to pin up your new lace on properly, you will be," Martha replied. "Two days from now you will be a married woman once more."

"I'm sorry…" Carolyn stopped moving. "I'm just so excited that our wedding day has finally arrived. I thought the winter was never going to leave."

"Now that the roads are passable again your parents will be here any time now." Martha nodded. "I think the Captain has worn out the welcome mat with his pacing back and forth every day, watching and waiting for the weather to finally turn for the good. He wants to make you his wife and he's getting very tired of the delays."

"Yes, he is becoming increasingly anxious for us to be wed…" Carolyn gave a shy smile. "And he can also see the ice is already leaving the bay."

"I know he'll be glad to get out of the Inn and return to the sea. But he would make an honest woman of you before that." Martha smiled, as she pinned up the last of the lace. "He will make a stunning bridegroom."

She stood back to admire her work. "And you will be the most beautiful of brides."

"Thank you…" Carolyn sighed as she looked down at her wedding gown.

It was the one she'd first ordered to be made for her wedding to Robert. The gown she never got to wear because they'd eloped. It held bittersweet memories and she'd hesitated to wear it.

But her love had told her she must because the gown needed to make some new and better memories. Carolyn had acquiesced, pleased with his assessment of her hesitation. She'd removed it from its box, deciding it needed some freshening up and the addition of some exquisite antique lace her mother had sent her for the bodice and sleeves.

A month ago she'd sent a very carefully worded letter to her late husband's parents, inviting them to the wedding. She doubted they would wish to attend, given that they were still grieving over the tragic loss of their beloved son, but she needed to try.

Their brief letter back carried their good wishes and also their refusal. Carolyn completely understood why they would not come. She tried not to be disappointed that Ralph and Marjorie Muir could not be happy for her and wish her well.

It seemed they deeply resented her even considering getting married again. That stance had always put them at odds with Emily Williams even though they did keep in touch.

Carolyn had sighed. "I cannot go on wearing widow's weeds for the rest of my life simply to please them…"

Scampering footsteps suddenly sounded on the stairs, along with Scuffy's excited barking. Candy and Jonathan burst into the bedroom, followed by their pet.

"They're here! They're here!" Candy exclaimed excitedly. "They're finally here!"

"Yes, Grandfather and Grandmother have arrived!" Jonathan added, not to be outdone. "The Captain's downstairs with them now!"

"Yes, he drove them out from town," Candy added.

Scruffy barked and danced in circles, adding to the din. Carolyn put her hands over her ears.

"Children…" Martha wagged a finger. "What has your mother taught you about knocking before you enter a room?"

"Sorry, Mother…" both children hung their heads.

"It's all right…" Carolyn stepped down from her chair. "I feel just the same way. Now you run on down and pay your proper respects to your grandparents and I will be down as soon as I am out of this gown."

She too held up a warning finger. "And not a word to the Captain about what you have just seen. It's bad luck for the groom to know anything of the bride's gown before the wedding."

"Of course not, Mother. We know better than that," Candy reassured her as the noisy trio left the room.

"We had better get tidied up and get down there before they create mayhem." Carolyn shook her head, as Martha assisted her from her wedding dress.

"I suppose it will be nice to see your parents again after all this time," Martha commented wryly, as she hung up the gown to allow the wrinkles to fall out of the white silk. "I can honestly say I have not missed your mother or her opinions."

"I haven't either," Carolyn replied with a guilty glance at the door.

Martha pulled a face. "And I'm just grateful they didn't bring anyone else from the Williams' side of the family. Like your female cousins, Hazel and Harriet. Them I could never abide. Nosy, interfering busybodies, the pair of them."

Carolyn sighed. "Yes, well, Hazel and Harriet are still in Europe as far as anyone knows. No one has heard from them for quite some time. I hope they're well."

"Too much money and not enough sense," Martha observed acerbically. "Their sort never come to grief. They just cause it."

"Yes, I know…" Carolyn dressed quickly again in her everyday gown and attended to the arrangement of her hair in the dressing mirror. "At least my mother approves of my choice of husband. That we must be grateful for."

"Yes…" Martha agreed, shaking her head as she left the room to attend to the refreshments.

※※※※※

"Oh, Carolyn…" Emily Williams greeted her daughter the moment she walked into the front parlour. "I am so very happy to see you again. And under such wonderful circumstances. We were so worried about you…"

She took refuge in her handkerchief. Carolyn crossed quickly to her side to put her arms around the older woman's shoulders to hug her tightly.

"I am so glad you're both here." She smiled at her father, who was wearing his usual expression of worried harassment every time his wife resorted to her kerchief.

"This is a splendid house," he said looking all around. "The name 'cottage' does not do it justice."

"Thank you, sir…" Daniel nodded, watching the family tableau unfold with wary eyes.

He'd heard enough from his prospective mother-in-law on the journey out from Schooner Bay to convince him the less they saw of the woman, the better. Her catalogue of complaints and sighs about the wild and lonely countryside and her daughter's distressing stubbornness seemed endless.

Carolyn's father he'd liked immensely from the moment they had first met. Bradford possessed a good firm handshake and a clear eye behind his wire-rimmed eyeglasses. But his frowning worry over his wife's nerves and state of general health was also a drawback.

"My dear…" Daniel crossed to Carolyn's side as she stepped back from hugging her mother. "I have missed seeing you these last few days…" He stood as close as he dared without actually touching her.

"I know. I have missed you as well. But we have been so busy, with organising the wedding and everything…" Carolyn replied softly. "Now all the plans are in place."

She longed to be held and kissed by him, but their interested audience of adults and children precluded such intimacy. She sighed, leaving Daniel's side to hug her father with real affection.

"I have missed you," Bradford said, smiling down at her. "I am so sorry I didn't make more of a push to contact you when you didn't reply to my letters. But Claymore insisted all was well with you and the children. I needed to believe that for your sake."

"I know. But it's all worked out in the best way possible," Carolyn reassure him, giving him another hug. "I couldn't be happier."

"I can see that…" Her father nodded gratefully, watching Daniel charm Emily, helping her to relax and smile a little.

※※※※※

The small church in Schooner Bay stood above the town on a hill overlooking the ocean. It had been decorated with flowers and ribbons and everyone from the town, including the senior members of Daniel's crew, turned out to attend the much-anticipated wedding of Captain Daniel Gregg and Mrs Carolyn Muir.

Jonathan and Candy were dressed for the occasion and had been given strict instruction to be on their very best behaviour. Slugger, now thankfully renamed Henry, had been left behind in the secure care of the nurse Claymore had hired for the day.

The warm spring afternoon made the small town look picture-perfect. White clouds dotted the blue arc of the sky. As they walked up to the church, everyone said it could not be a more perfect day for a wedding.

Daniel stood tall and proud in his full naval uniform in front of the altar waiting for the organ music to begin that would announce Carolyn's arrival at the front doors of the church. He kept his eyes fixed forward, grasping the hilt of his dress sword tightly in one hand.

"She will be here soon enough…" Beside him, Claymore leaned closer to reassure him. "Everything will go to plan."

He had been flattered and overcome when Daniel asked him to stand up as his best man. He took his role very seriously, applying his analytical mind to every aspect of the nuptials. He had left nothing to chance and he'd been well pleased with the final results.

"I know. Thank you, Claymore. For everything." Daniel nodded, just as the doors behind him opened and the organ struck up the music he'd been waiting impatiently to hear.

Even then he couldn't turn, he couldn't look behind him. He waited, holding his breath as his love walked slowly up the aisle toward him.

Carolyn held her bouquet in front of her with her father beside her. He looked very happy and contented to finally be able to give his beloved daughter away to a man who loved her so wholeheartedly.

"Thank you…" Carolyn reached up to kiss her father's cheek as they approached the altar.

"For sending you to wilds of Schooner Bay?" Bradford asked softly, begging her forgiveness.

"For everything…" his daughter reassured him gently. "I love you…"

"I love you too…" Bradford sighed as he patted her hand where it lay in the crook of his right arm.

Daniel stiffened as his bride-to-be stopped beside him. He drew a steadying breath before he turned to look down at her. What he saw stripped the breath from his body.

He doubted he'd ever seen any woman looking more lovely. Veiled and mysterious in an elegant silk wedding gown, his love was everything he desired to see and so much more. He struggled to find the words to express his feelings at the moment.

He reached one white-gloved hand toward her, taking her small hand from her father's care. "You look so beautiful…" he whispered.

"And you look quite magnificent," Carolyn responded, looking him up and down with wide eyes. He truly was breathtaking to behold. "I have always loved seeing a man in uniform…" She smiled up at him, her eyes alight with desire.

Reverend Farley moved to stand before them, smiling at the couple as he began the ceremony. The vows Daniel and Carolyn made, each to the other, were simple and from the heart. Claymore proudly produced their rings and they were duly declared man and wife.

"Mrs Carolyn Gregg…" Daniel said softly, turning to his new wife.

"It does have a lovely sound to it, doesn't it?" Carolyn smiled as she turned to hand her bouquet to Martha before she raised her veil.

"I love you more than life itself…" Daniel leaned down to whisper. "And I always will…"

"I will love you forever. And I'll hold you to that…" Carolyn sighed, watching him come closer and revelling in the wonder of now being able to kiss him in front of a church full of witnesses.

The surrounding crowd broke into cheering as the groom kissed his bride for somewhat longer than was considered to be truly seemly, but no one expressed an opinion or appeared to mind. Least of all, Carolyn. She held his hand between hers, wondering how soon they could slip away and not be missed.

Their reception was to be held out at the house. At least that was one step closer to their finally being able to be alone together. But there would be some hours yet before they could legitimately leave their own party.

They both sighed for the same intimate reason as they finally fell apart to face the crowd and the cheering increased in volume. Everyone surged forward with hearty congratulations.

Candy and Jonathan hurried up to hug both of their parents. They chattered excitedly about everything that had caught their attention. Behind them, a tearful Martha had resorted to her handkerchief, but she was also smiling.

In the front row, even Emily looked content, smiling through her tears. "Oh, if only Harriet and Hazel could see her now…" She sniffed. "Such a pity we cannot find husbands for them as well, before it's too late. Claymore Gregg is said to be a wealthy man and he is unmarried."

"I think you will find that the twins are more than content with their lot as spinsters," Bradford said hastily. "They have extensive funds and property. Carolyn needed a husband who could look after her. And she found the perfect one. I pity any man who had any idea of engaging with either of David's headstrong girls."

"Yes, I suppose you're right…" Emily sighed. "But maybe it's not too late. I had word they will be home any day now It seems Harriet is not well and they have finally had quite enough of Europe. Perhaps that nice Mr Masterson is still looking for a wife…"

"Emily, do not meddle. They will not thank you for it," Bradford warned before he turned away. "I wonder if it's more that Europe has had enough of those two troublesome women…" he murmured.

He refused to allow anything to spoil his enjoyment of the day. He sighed with relief as he watched his beloved daughter turn from the altar on the arm of her new husband. He prayed all would go smoothly in the future of the Captain and Mrs Gregg as he went forward to wish them well.

※※※※※

On the front lawn of Gull Cottage, an elegant wedding reception had been set up. Lines of paper lanterns were strung across the yard and candles blazed all around in a myriad of holders, lending a fairy-tale look to the whole scene. A wooden dance floor had been laid down on the lawn, with a long table of refreshments to one side and another on the front porch for gifts.

A small musical ensemble seated within a gazebo was the source of the beautiful music that greeted the partygoers. The guests began arriving in a line of carriages following the one decorated with streamers and ribbons that conveyed the bride and groom, along with their attendants.

Even the weather was compliant. The unusually warm spring day had turned into a balmy night full of stars complete with a rising full moon. The whole scene could not be more perfect or magical.

The moment she alighted from her carriage, Martha took charge of the set-up, making sure her instructions were being followed to the letter by the servers and cooks Claymore had hired for the evening. She bustled about, completely in her element and enjoying herself immensely.

Carolyn accepted her husband's hand as she stepped down from the coach. She had never been so happy in all her life.

"Thank you, Captain," she said, taking his arm as they walked through the open gate.

He looked down at her with love alight in his blue eyes. "You are most welcome. Mrs Gregg. But I think it is safe enough now for you to address me as Daniel."

"Thank you, Daniel…" Carolyn stared up at him.

She loved seeing him dressed in his formal naval officer's uniform and he truly was breathtaking to behold. But its stiff formality was another barrier she would soon wish to dispense with.

She leaned closer so no one could hear her say, "It is a shame we are not both invisible. Think of how we could slip away from all this and go upstairs…" She smiled around at the crowd of well-wishers.

"My thoughts exactly…" Daniel sighed, nodding his receipt of yet more best wishes for their future happiness. "We shall just have to make the best of it until we can slip away undetected…"

Carolyn leaned her cheek briefly against his shoulder. "I suppose we can manage to look as if we're enjoying ourselves."

Daniel smiled gravely. "Of course." He looked down at her. "What a lovely sight you are."

Carolyn was caught in the warmth of his smile. For a moment nothing else existed but them.

A cheery voice broke the spell. "Wonderful party, Captain," a young man in naval uniform enthused brightly.

"Thank you, Mr Jarvis." Daniel inclined his head in acknowledgement of his first mate.

He turned to Carolyn. "May I introduce you to my wife, Mrs Carolyn Gregg?"

"Good evening, Mrs Gregg…" Nathan Jarvis touched two fingers to the brim of his cap as he bowed to her.

"I am very pleased to meet you." Carolyn dropped a quick curtsy, liking the young man's open and honest face.

"And I am very pleased to see my Captain so happy." The young man smiled. "Nor have I ever seen a more lovely bride. May I beg the honour of a dance, later?"

"On your way, Mr Jarvis," Daniel commanded. "The lady is already spoken for. I am sure there are other young women here who will be eager enough for your company."

"Aye, aye, Captain…" Nathan Jarvis saluted with a cheeky grin before smartly effacing himself.

"I would like to dance with him," Carolyn imparted.

"Do not allow his boyish charm to fool you," Daniel advised her. "That young man has a certain future as one who will happily enjoy the company of many women, married or single."

"Oh, I think I could have handled him," Carolyn replied with a smile.

"I have no doubt, my dear." Daniel nodded.

Not far from them, Claymore was bowing politely to Mrs Coburn, a comely widow of the town. "Shall we partake of some refreshments?" he asked.

They walked up to the refreshment table beside where Carolyn and Daniel were standing. Claymore busied himself with serving two glasses from the punch cut-crystal bowl. He was blissfully ignorant of the fact his partner was looking up at their host with feminine approval.

"Captain…" Mrs Coburn fluttered her fan in front of her face. "It was a beautiful ceremony…"

"Thank you…" Daniel smiled as he bowed to his guest gallantly, which only seemed to encourage her fawning attentions. He glanced back at Carolyn's disapproving expression and shrugged.

Carolyn watched Mrs Coburn continue to give Daniel the eye, fluttering her lashes and her fan. She wished she was invisible so she could poke her tongue out at the simpering woman.

"Shall we promenade?" Claymore reclaimed his partner's attention.

"I'd love to." Mrs Colburn accepted the glass of punch he handed to her, as they walked away. She glanced back at Daniel over her shoulder.

Carolyn turned to Daniel. "Invisibility would certainly have its advantages with a woman like her. She has no shame."

"Yes, but tonight there are even greater advantages," Daniel replied softly, his eyes lingering on her beautiful face.

In the same gallant gesture that had always caught Carolyn's breath, he took her hand and pressed a warm kiss to the back of her fingers before turning her hand over and kissing her open palm. He straightened, smiling down at her wondering expression.

All around them the music began to swell. The lanterns flickered, shedding pools of soft, coloured light. The other couples stood waiting for them to take the floor for their first dance as a married couple.

"Would you care to dance with me, Carolyn?" Daniel bowed formally, extending one hand to her.

"I thought you'd never ask…" Carolyn whispered as she secured the train of her gown with a loop around her wrist.

With the dance floor to themselves, they waltzed freely, sweeping around and around, as the music continued to play, slipping seamlessly from one tune to another. It seemed as if time itself, had been suspended, and this one night could last forever…

"I never knew you waltzed so beautifully," she told him, gazing up into his eyes.

"That fact I have always known…" Daniel smiled down at her, his gaze centring on her softly parted lips. "But it is only because I have the perfect partner."

"Of course, you do." Carolyn nodded. "You do everything so well…" She wanted nothing more than to be held closer, much closer than their formal dancing allowed.

As they continued to move together, the other couples took to the floor, swirling all around them in a kaleidoscope of colour. Lost in their own world, they paid them no attention.

"Carolyn…" Daniel said, softly. "Carolyn, look at me… please..." His hand at her waist moved to the small of her back, drawing her closer than was socially allowed.

"Yes… Daniel…" Carolyn hesitated for one more heartbeat as she took each set of his gleaming naval buttons in turn, all the way up to his beautiful eyes.

They came slowly to a standstill, staring at each other in wordless communion. Daniel released her outstretched hand to place his gloved hand on her shoulder, his thumb moving sensuously against the pulse beating in the side of her neck. He drew her closer, dropping his head down to hers.

Their lips moved slowly toward each other. Carolyn was aware they were about to kiss in front of anyone who cared to look and now she welcomed the intimate caress with all her heart.

The dancing couples continued to waltz all around them, but the newly married couple may as well have been standing alone in the middle of the wooden floor, for they were aware of no one but each other.

"I pledge thee, my eternal love, now and forever…" Daniel softly repeated part of his wedding vows.

"As I pledge thee mine, forever and always…" Carolyn sighed, as their lips met and no one else existed in this new, private world of love they had created for themselves…

※※※※※

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage…"

Lao Tzu