A note to all my lovely readers:

If you would love to read my recent novels retelling the original story of The Ghost and Mrs Muir then please go to Amazon (US) (UK) and look under Books for:

Lucie and the Captain and Lucie of Greystone Cottage

by Katherine Lange

They can be downloaded to any device with the Kindle app. You do not need a Kindle to read them.

Thank you for your attention, please enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sailing Down To Boston

With the sun cresting the far horizon beside her, the Carolyn sailed a steady course southwards toward Boston. Heeled over slightly before the wind, she cut a smooth path through the restless waters, her new sails, sheets, and halyards all creaking and groaning in the wind.

Her well-ordered decks were a hive of disciplined activity. Daniel and Lucius had chosen their new crew with thoughtful care, picking only men they knew could work hard and perform their assigned duties with the minimum of fuss. Nothing was left to chance and those men picked swore they would double their efforts to prove worthy of the trust that had been placed in them.

The newly formed shipping company would not carry any slackers or backsliders on their maiden voyage. All except one very debatable, last-minute addition. The ultimate fate of Seaman Elroy Applegate had been their only disagreement, with Carolyn finally securing his berth aboard the ship with her personal assurance she would help him to become a real seaman.

"This I must see with my own eyes." Daniel had raised sceptical brows against the possibility of that incredible feat ever happening, but he'd finally succumbed to the entreaty of his wife's pleading gaze and renewed assurances.

"Everything is going to be wonderful. I just know it." Carolyn sighed as she stood against the rail, holding fast to a nearby halyard.

She watched the sun rising higher, painting streaks of light across the dark waters around them as it left the embrace of the sea. She rose up onto her toes for a better view. On one hand, the ocean seemed limitless but if she turned her head, the rugged coastline of Maine still shouldered its bulky way into the sky, offering the solid comfort of permanence.

She was aware there would be no such comfort when they finally left Boston for London. The limitless blue of the Atlantic stood between them and the great city she'd always longed to see. It was going to be an adventure, but she also had serious butterflies dancing in the pit of her stomach. She laid a hand gently over her abdomen.

"It's going to be all right," she whispered to her unborn child. "Everything is going to be all right. I promise."

The whole family had moved in and spent their first night aboard the ship. The necessity of a dawn sailing had made it a wise move. Dealing with grumpy children and herding them down to the docks would not have been a wise move for their first venture.

Carolyn had risen early, checking in on her sleeping children, before she'd come up on deck to watch Schooner Bay fall away behind them and vanish into the jumble of countless bays and inlets that dotted this part of the Maine coastline. She wanted to see and remember it all.

In the many evenings to come, she would be writing her notes and making sure she remembered everything about the previous day's events. It was so exciting to be finally living one of her novels instead of simply reading about it from her husband's journals.

She smiled happily. "I have become my very own heroine."

Commanding the course of the vessel, Daniel paused to admire the picture his wife made. The strengthening sun painted highlights through her wind-tossed blond curls. Even sensibly dressed against the chilly morning, Carolyn looked infinitely desirable.

"Blast…" He heaved a sigh, deeply aware their ability to spend time alone together during the voyage would be limited by the necessity of his new command and the close proximity of their family.

Beside him, Nathan Jarvis smiled to see his captain's keen distraction. He turned his head and winked at Malcolm. The bare-footed cabin boy grinned back as he waited keenly for any new instructions to be barked his way.

All was right once more with their world. They were at sea again and that was all that mattered.

Yawning widely in the cold morning air, Lucius appeared at Daniel's side, an understanding smile gleaming in his eyes when he saw the reason for his friend's distracted frown. He shook his head, ruffling his fingers through his dark curls before settling his sea cap firmly on his head.

"Go on down to her, man." He pointed along the deck with his bearded chin. "Make use of me while you still can. Once I command the Rebecca, you're on your own and your lady will be pining for any hint of your company."

Daniel frowned at his impertinence, but the temptation was overwhelming. "Thank you, Captain Beaumont. The helm is yours for now. But don't get too used to it."

"Thank you, Captain Gregg," Lucius replied with a grin and a smart salute. "Duly noted."

Daniel shook his head as he descended the steps, walking slowly along the canting deck with the ease of long practice. "Have I ever told you how truly lovely you are?" he finally whispered, his hands settling on Carolyn's shoulders as he bent his head to study the beautiful curves of her cheek and neck.

"I seem to remember you telling me that, once or twice…" Carolyn turned in his embrace, smiling. "But I can surely bear hearing you say it again…"

Aware of the many sets of interested eyes all around them, Daniel drew closer, lowering his lips to her ear. "Everything I have to give is yours. From the moment I first found you on that snowy evening, I knew you were the one. I'm only sorry it took us so long to find each other. I cannot count the times I have docked in Philadelphia."

Carolyn smiled wryly as she drew back to look up at him. "Oh, we would never have met there. My mother would never have allowed it. She didn't consider the docks to be a suitable place for a lady to visit. Such awful places were too full of rough men who used bad language that must never be allowed to sully our delicate ears."

"Blast…" her husband whispered with a grin. "Blast and damnation take all such mealy-mouthed harridans."

Carolyn nodded as she placed a finger across his lips. "We're here, together. Nothing else matters right now. I don't think I have ever been so happy."

She sighed as she leaned in against his shoulder. "You have turned every one of my dreams into reality."

"As you have mine." Daniel slid his hands down her body to rest at the angle of her hips.

Carolyn shook her head with a small laugh. "And no one has ever given me an entire ship before. It's all so perfect, it's almost as if we're on our second honeymoon."

Her husband's voice deepened with regret. "Sadly, we'll have very little time to be alone together on this voyage as we had on our first honeymoon," he replied in a gentle, tender tone. "You have the children to care for and I have this ship. This is all we may have until we reach London. Then you may thank me properly for your gift."

"Then we will make it enough for now," Carolyn whispered. "And I promise not to be greedy and demand the intimate attentions of the ship's owner too often. I fear that my husband might become very jealous…"

"Minx…" Deciding he didn't care who might be watching, Daniel drew her against him, savouring the moment. His hands rose from her hips, his open palms cupping the softness of her face.

Carolyn went willingly, her arms sliding around his waist, her fingers gripping his linen shirt beneath his unbuttoned naval jacket, as their lips met in a deep kiss of love and understanding. Time appeared to stand still.

Finally, Daniel lifted his head, looking down at her, as if he was only seeing her for the first time. He teased the ball of one thumb across the curve of her lips.

"I love you too, Captain Daniel Gregg…" Carolyn whispered as she turned her head to rest her cheek against his shoulder again, revelling in the steady beat of his heart. "I think I always have…"

"I love you, Carolyn Gregg, more than life itself. And I always will…" Daniel sighed as he bent his head to claim her lips again as the voice of the wind made its own music through the creaking stays and straining sails of the Carolyn.

※※※※※

The crowded docks of Boston harbour bustled with life and chaotic purpose. Everything appeared to be moving, being hauled off one ship to be loaded onto another. Or pushed and lugged into the already bulging warehouses that crowded the rear of the docks, blocking the view of the city beyond.

Dock workers and the public all jostled together, everyone going about their own business. They shouted or harangued each other, their raised voices drowning out the softer sounds of the Massachusetts Bay waters and the screeching of the wheeling gulls overhead, constantly on the look out for an easy meal among the mass of humanity.

Insulated as she'd become to the quieter pace and nature of the Schooner Bay harbour and its sleepy town, Carolyn couldn't take it all in at once. Even though it hadn't been that many months since she was last here on her honeymoon. Boston Harbour at the beginning of the busy summer sailing season was all like an assault to the senses.

The sights, sounds and smells also momentarily silenced her children who had hurried up on deck as soon as they heard and felt the ship preparing to dock. They stood beside their mother at the port rail trying to see everything at once, commenting and pointing out all the sights.

"Oh, this is such a super adventure, Mother!" Jonathan suddenly declared happily, leaning out over the rail to look in every direction at once. "I'm so glad the Captain decided to give you a ship for Christmas so we could all come sailing with him!"

"Well, I'll be glad to get ashore and stand on a floor that doesn't keep moving beneath my feet," Martha grumbled good-naturedly as she joined them. "I seem to have left my sea-legs behind at home. I'll have to find them again before we sail for London."

"Oh, Martha," Candy replied with a giggle. "Everyone knows it isn't a floor on a ship. And we're all standing on the deck. The Captain's been telling us all about the things called decks, portholes, overheads and bulkheads. We're getting to be quite nautical."

Martha shrugged. "If it's made of wood and I stand on it, then floor is good enough for the likes of me. None of my folks were seafaring people."

She cast a longing look at the shoreline. "I'll go below and see how Ellen's getting on with Henry. The boy's been fretful with his new teeth coming through. He didn't sleep well last night and was awake early."

"Do you think she'll be all right, Mother?" Candy asked anxiously, looking after the housekeeper as she made her careful way back along the deck, ably assisted by Scruffy who was doing his very best to deter all the screeching gulls from landing on the ship's rails by running around and barking at them loudly.

"Don't worry, Martha will be fine," Carolyn quickly reassured her daughter. "She's just getting used to life on the ship. She doesn't want anyone to take her for granted or think she's not up to the task ahead."

"Oh, we'd never do that," Jonathan declared, leaning fearlessly out over the rail, further than his mother felt was safe.

She put out a hand toward him. "Please do be careful there, Jonathan…"

"The lad will take no harm if he's sensible," her husband commented, walking up behind them. "But there are his duties that he's been neglecting while he tarries here with the womenfolk."

"Oh, Sir! Yes, Sir, Captain!" Jonathan jumped back quickly to salute his stepfather. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again, Sir. I promise!"

"See that you don't." Daniel returned the salute and then pointed along the deck with his chin. "Go on now, Malcolm's waiting to show you what you need to do before we all go ashore."

"I won't let you down, Sir!" Jonathan scurried away, his young face flushed hot with embarrassment.

"It'll be good for him to have a purpose aboard ship," Carolyn commented, looking after her son. "Then he won't get into idle mischief or danger."

"There'll be a role for all of you when we sail for London," her husband remarked, leaning his forearms on the rail. "Lucius has left for us already. He was keen to get ashore and take stock of his own ship. He wants to make her ready to sail. We'll meet him again in London if all goes well. The admiral will be wanting to see a return on his investment as soon as possible."

"But what do I have to do aboard the ship, Captain?" Candy asked. "I would like to help."

Daniel turned to look down at her, seeing the girl was growing fast and keen for more responsibility. "Your role will be to look after your mother when I cannot," he told her seriously. "I'll need to rely on you to see to her every need and want. Nothing must overset her or the baby."

"Oh, I can do that," Candy replied stoutly, her chest swelling with pride. "You can count on me, Captain!" She saluted him as she'd seen her brother do. "Mother will not want for anything."

"I'm sure she won't." Daniel chuckled as he touched two fingers to the brim of his sea cap. "Your first duty though will be to corral that dog of yours and make him behave. Take him below before one of my crew sees fit to throw him overboard because of all the racket he's making."

"Oh, yes, Sir!" Candy immediately turned away to hurry along the deck. "Scruffy!" she commanded loudly, grabbing the dog's collar. "You come on down below decks now and stop making such a big fuss about a few silly birds!"

"You have such a way with children," Carolyn commented, linking her arm through his.

"They're a lovely reflection of their beautiful mother." Daniel took her hand and carried it to his lips. "But any ship must run on a strict discipline. If that breaks down then my crew will not be as willing to jump to my commands. That must be seen to extend to my own family. I can play no favourites."

"Aye, aye, Captain, Sir…" Carolyn saluted him swiftly. "We will gladly obey your every command."

"See that you do." Her husband sighed with regret. "But for now I must leave you and go about my own duties. You'll please do me the favour of returning below and waiting with the children and Martha until I come for you. I will not have you put in harm's way while we unload the cargo. Then we shall all go ashore. I know of a nice, intimate little hotel where we can all stay for the night. I've already sent a message ashore."

He cupped her cheek. "I remembered that you disliked the Parker and the memories it brought back to you. I think you'll find the Bridgewater is much more to your taste."

"Thank you, Daniel. I'm sure I will." Carolyn reached up to kiss his bearded cheek in passing as she made her way carefully along the deck to the stairs that led down to their well-appointed cabins below.

※※※※※

The unloading of the Carolyn went smoothly and more swiftly than Daniel had anticipated. They were all soon ready to go ashore, much to Martha's patent relief. But it seemed word of Captain Gregg's newly-formed maritime company had quickly spread and several wealthy merchants were waiting onshore for him to walk down the gangplank.

Carolyn and the rest of the family were quickly hustled to one side by a well-dressed group of men all eager to talk with her husband. They hurried forward to press cards and letters of introduction into his hands the moment Daniel's boots met the stout planking of the docks.

He put up with all their demands with good humour, but his patience soon began to wear thin when they wouldn't allow him to pass without assurances he would soon pay attention to their urgent business. He could see no end in sight or means of escape.

"Gentlemen, please!" He finally held up both hands in surrender. "If you will all leave your information with Mr Jarvis here, I'll make sure I get back to each of you in good time. Now, if you'll kindly excuse me…"

He managed to shoulder his way through the crowd of eager merchants, leaving his first mate to ably field all inquiries about available cargo space and their terms and times of sailing. Nathan Jarvis stepped forward eagerly, in his element as he set about soothing more than a few ruffled feathers over his Captain's impatient manner.

Carolyn took her husband's proffered arm, settling her hand into the crook of his elbow. "They all wish to deal with you only. Your reputation for fair dealing precedes you. You can't avoid them forever."

"Yes, they are certainly eager." Daniel glanced back at the crowd of men. "It seems Lucius has been overly fulsome in spreading the word of our new venture and making promises I hope we can keep. Blast him and his loose tongue."

"Don't be too hard on him. He means well. He wants to make a success of your new company," Carolyn reassured him as they all followed his lead from the docks and into the crowded city beyond.

The elegant but intimate Bridgewater Hotel presented a much friendlier face to her prospective guests than the imposing superiority of the Parker. It was tucked away in a side street that ran back from the bustle of the harbour. Carolyn smiled as the Gregg family walked together down the sunny street toward the hotel's tall front doors.

She linked her husband's fingers through hers. "Thank you…" she whispered. "I'm sure we'll all love it here. It does look warm and friendly."

"The Parker suited me well enough when I was single and alone," Daniel replied. "Now this hotel will suit us better. And Lucius will bring Rebecca to dine with us here this evening before we sail in the morning."

Carolyn nodded. "Thank you. I shall love meeting her again. We are going to have a lot in common to talk about."

Keenly alert for any potential new arrivals, the liveried doorman touched his white-gloved fingers to the brim of his dark cap when he saw the family approaching. He stepped sideways to open the highly polished brass front door for them to walk through.

"Welcome to the Bridgewater. The best hotel in Boston. We do hope you will enjoy your stay with us." The man turned to flick an urgent at a hovering bellboy to take their luggage.

"Thank you." Daniel relinquished the bags he was carrying to the young boy who hurried forward to take them all, carrying them inside on his smart metal cart.

"Our pleasure, Sir…" The doorman watched them with considering eyes as they walked past him into the hotel foyer. "We are always at your service, Captain." He smiled at Carolyn, against tipping his fingers to the brim of his hat. "Ma'am…"

"Good morning, Captain Gregg," the hotel's concierge greeted them fulsomely. "We received your message that you required two of our best suites of rooms. They have been readied for you."

His knowledgeable eyes ran over Daniel assessingly. "I'm sure you'll find our accommodations very suitable for you and your family. We aim to please every one of our valued guests."

"As long as it's somewhere that I can put my feet up that doesn't rock all the time," Martha inserted, looking all around the reception area with approval. "I'll be happy enough with that."

"Quite…" The concierge replied with a sniff. He hurried to turn the sign-in book around and proffered a pen with an ingratiating smile. "If you would be so kind, Sir…"

"We will be sailing again with the tide in the morning." Daniel signed the register quickly with a flourish. "We will require an early breakfast for us all to be served promptly at daybreak."

"Of course, Sir. As you wish. I'll be sure and send a message down to the kitchens." The concierge turned the book back to flick a well-practised eye over the entry. "Will Mrs Gregg require anything special to be sent up to your suite for her convenience?"

Daniel sighed brusquely as he shook his head. It seemed that all hotel concierges were the same everywhere.

"Feel free to ask her yourself," he replied shortly, indicating his wife. "She's standing right in front of you. My wife is free to speak of her own wishes."

"Oh, yes, certainly, Sir. Of course…" The man's obsequious face flushed at his error as he turned his attention quickly. "It's an honour to have you gracing our hotel, Mrs Gregg. Ah, may I be of any further service to you or your family?"

Carolyn's lips curved with suppressed amusement. "Thank you. I will be sending two telegrams. Please send for the Western Union man to come up to our suite in an hour." She placed her gloved hand on Daniel's forearm.

The concierge bowed quickly. "Of course, Mrs Gregg. I will get onto that right away."

Carolyn drew closer to her husband as the family followed the bellboy carrying their luggage toward the wide staircase leading to the upper floors. "The man meant no harm. He was just being courteous."

"Blast every man who thinks a woman is inferior to them," Daniel muttered. "But it's to be expected, I suppose."

"Of course. It's a rare man who allows his wife to think and speak for herself," Carolyn confided with a chuckle. "But that's what going to make our wonderful new life together so interesting."

Once they were settled in their suite, Carolyn sat at the desk and took the time to pen her two telegrams. The first was easy enough. A note to Sally Hall advising her of their new plans and assuring her there would still be manuscripts for her to publish.

But the next was to be addressed to Carolyn's parents. It was far harder to write and she crumpled up several sheets of notepaper before she finally managed to get the words right. Or so she hoped.

"Am I being too much of a coward by not telling them all about our happy news?" she asked, tapping the end of the pen against her lips. "I promise I will tell them when we sail back to Schooner Bay."

She shrugged. "It's just that…"

"I can understand your reluctance," Daniel replied gently, watching her indecision. "You know what will result if you alert them too soon."

"Yes, both Harriet and Hazel were relentless in their attentiveness to my every need when I was having Candy and Jonathan. My poor husband was banned from setting foot in our bedroom."

She grimaced. "I swear I could not move a muscle for fear of one of them discovering me doing something they thought I ought not. They almost smothered me with their caring kindness."

Daniel nodded. "Then you have your answer. There will be time enough when we return to try and outmanoeuvre their intentions."

He shook his head. "I swear I've plotted sea battles that do not require as much planning or concern."

"Thank you." Carolyn nodded, sighing her relief as she handed both telegrams to him. "Then this is the best I can do. I can only hope my mother understands. I don't wish for there to be further discord between us. Ellsworth Hall had no right to involve her in his schemes."

"We cannot worry about Emily's sensibilities. She's a woman deeply disappointed in her life. But this is your life," her husband reassured her.

He kissed the back of her hand before he walked away to deliver the telegrams to the Western Union man who was waiting patiently outside their door. The man tipped two fingers to his cap, quickly accepting the payment for his services Daniel dropped into his open palm. He turned and hurried away down the hall.

Daniel closed the door behind him. "Now, we may get changed and enjoy a convivial evening in good company. Lucius is as eager as I am to be setting our course. With the extra cargoes on offer, we will have a busy season before the winter closes in again and confines us to harbour and home. The admiral will be pleased when he sees his investment finally bearing fruit."

He walked to his wife and drew her to her feet, placing his hands on her hips. "Then we shall sail for London and I will enjoy showing you how truly beautiful the world can be when you are by my side." He kissed the tip of her nose.

Carolyn palmed his bearded cheek lovingly. "We shall indeed go downstairs and enjoy a lovely meal in excellent company. Then, in the morning, we will go back to the ship, cast off and sail away across the blue horizon and leave all our cares behind us. I know they'll all be here, waiting for us, when we get back."

"I couldn't agree more." Daniel drew her close and held her comfortingly against the strong and reassuring beat of his heart.

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