Chapter Thirty-Three

The Captain and Mrs Gregg Get Married Again

Two weeks later:

Carolyn and Daniel were closeted in their bedroom for the afternoon, going over their latest manuscript for Hanover books. They had slipped behind their deadline. The work had not been going well over the past few days due to Carolyn's frequent bouts of morning sickness.

But this morning she'd finally woken up feeling better than she had in weeks. She'd even managed to keep her breakfast down and her head had cleared. Her need to cry for no reason had also drifted into the background. She sighed with relief.

"If you are not feeling well, this all can wait." Daniel watched her closely as she typed up their notes. He had no intention of allowing Carolyn to overwork herself.

"I think I have finally come through the first stage," she replied. "I'm sure we can get ahead of the deadline today."

Suddenly the telephone on the desk rang. They both stared at it in consternation.

"I hope and pray this isn't Harriet calling to say she's coming to visit…" Carolyn frowned as she reached to pick up the receiver. "We don't need any more interruptions."

"If it is her, tell that woman she will not push her way in here again," Daniel instructed, reading the page of the manuscript in his hand. "We'll be three chapters to the wind by the time she finishes talking."

"Sadly, that's easier said than done…" Carolyn briefly covered the receiver mouthpiece with her hand.

"Hello, Carolyn Muir speaking…" she said and then paused to listen. "Oh, hello, Claymore. What can I do for you?"

She turned to Daniel. "Yes, he's right here with me."

She held out the receiver to her husband. "He says he has wonderful news."

"Thank you…" Daniel took the receiver. "What news do you have, Claymore?"

He listened intently, nodding now and then. "Excellent. For once I stand in your debt. I will not forget it."

His brow creased as he listened again to his great-nephew speaking. "No, there will not be a further payment for your expediting the matter on our behalf. Consider my gratitude payment enough. We will need to be married as soon as possible. I will come down and see you shortly. Make sure you're in your office."

He handed the receiver back to Carolyn who returned it to the cradle. "It seems we may now perform a wedding ceremony."

He reached to take her hand, pressing a kiss into her open palm. "Will you do me the great honour of consenting to marry me again, Mrs Gregg?"

Carolyn sighed. "Yes, I would love to marry you again, Captain Gregg. I could not think of anything more perfect."

※※※※※

Four days later:

Ed Peevey entered Gull Cottage by the back door, looking all around nervously. He'd reluctantly agreed to stand up as a witness at this mysterious wedding being held at the house.

But it didn't mean he liked the idea. However, he did like Martha's cherry pies.

As he opened the inner door to the kitchen he inhaled deeply. "Of course, I could be persuaded to change my mind…"

Only the delicious smell of baking cherry pies kept him from turning around and walking out again. He ran an unsteady finger inside the collar of his best shirt before tugging at the knot of his tie. He was still poised to flee the house at the slightest provocation.

"Thank you for being on time, Ed." Martha greeted him as she turned from the open oven to place a freshly baked pie on the kitchen island. "I knew I could count on your love of my cherry pies."

"Are you really, really sure about this?" Ed asked worriedly, staring at the delicious-looking dessert. "Because I'm not sure at all. I know you said Mrs Muir's marrying this mysterious Captain Gregg and we're both standing up as witnesses. But somethin' just ain't right about it all. I never knew there was another Captain Gregg. He's certainly not from around here."

"I told you before he's from over in Beacon Cove. And he's been away a lot on hush-hush business for the navy. Now you will do as you're bid, Ed Peevey," Martha instructed him roundly, looking him over critically. "Or you know what will happen to all my cherry pies. You'll never see another one for as long as you live."

"Yes, yes, you already said that…" Peevey moved cautiously to the open kitchen door, looking across the foyer into the living room.

He frowned at the portrait hanging above the fireplace. "There's a lot of funny things going on in this house. Always has been even before you and Mrs Muir moved in. People saw and heard things and they were never the same again."

He grimaced. "One time a workman's hair turned white after only spending twenty minutes working here and he never again spoke to a living soul."

He pointed an accusing finger at the painting. "They say he's to blame for all of it. Won't admit he's dead. One of them's bad enough. How can there be two of them? It don't make any sense that I can see."

"Because there are two of them. That's just a painting of an old sea captain and this is just an ordinary house." Martha shrugged. "Anything else you think you see or hear is only your imagination. The Captain, Mrs Muir is marrying is as real as you or me. You'll see."

"Ah ha…" Peevey looked entirely unconvinced. "Then why're they getting married in secret now? I know Mrs Muir's parents were here for Christmas. I met them in town. Why didn't they get married then and have them as witnesses? I tell you summit just ain't right."

"What's their business is their business," Martha told him. "All they need you for is to be a witness. Do you think you can manage that without any more complainin'?"

"Yes, I can…" Peevey straightened looking offended. "I just needed to be sure there's not something funny going on here."

"Claymore's a justice of the peace and he's going to marry them," Martha stated firmly. "The paperwork is all in order and has been filed with the county clerk. Do you think he'd be a party to anything that's illegal?"

"Claymore Gregg?" Peevey raised his eyebrows and whistled. "He just might. Then again, he just might not. You never know with Claymore. That man would step over anyone to pick up a dollar."

Daniel marched into the kitchen, resplendent in his full naval uniform and looking harassed. "Martha, is everything ready? The forenoon watch is almost done."

He stopped and frowned at Peevey. "Thank you for doing this for us." He nodded shortly.

"I'm doing it for Martha." Peevey pointed a trembling finger. "And you look just like him…"

His finger moved to stab at the portrait across the hall. "Are you sure you're not him? I never heard of no other Captain Gregg from Beacon Cove or anywhere else around there."

He backed up toward the door. His face paled and his eyes widened with fright.

"A mere trick of the light," Daniel snapped. "Martha, you said you could make this work. We cannot afford any backsliders today. It's too important."

"Ed will be fine," the housekeeper reassured him. "I'll see to it. He knows what's at stake."

"Good." Daniel went to look out the kitchen window. "And where's Claymore? He's already late."

"He telephoned to say he'll be here directly," Martha soothed. "I'm sure he won't be long. Everything will be all right…"

"Excellent…" Daniel turned to leave the room. "I don't want to leave anything to chance."

He gave Peevey one final hard look before he stalked out again, his hand clenched on the hilt of his dress sword. Peevey sagged against the kitchen island.

"A trick of the light, he says…" he complained. "I don't like this. I don't like this one little bit. They look so much alike."

"There's nothing for you to like or dislike," Martha replied, putting the finishing touches to a plate of sandwiches. "Just keep my cherry pies in the front of your mind at all times and you'll do just fine."

"Yeah…" Peevey licked his lips as he stared at the cooling pie. "I guess any man with any sense would be a fool to listen to all those old wives' tales…"

※※※※※

"Where have you been?" Daniel pounced on Claymore the moment his great-nephew entered the house. "Mrs Muir is upstairs all ready and waiting to come down. If you think to delay us—"

"My car wouldn't start," Claymore bleated. "I thought maybe it may be a sign I shouldn't be doing this. I think I shouldn't be doing this."

"Balderdash!" his great-uncle told him roundly. "You've been paid well for your skinflint time. No more delays. Everyone else is already here. Now get into the living room and take your place. You know where to stand."

"Yes, yes, yes… All right…" Claymore hurried away through the open doors.

"Now, Candy…" Daniel turned to signal up to his step-daughter who was waiting impatiently at the bend in the stairs.

"Okay…" She nodded quickly and hurried away to the second floor to the main bedroom.

※※※※※

Candy descended the stairs, holding her basket of rose petals. She walked down slowly, casting fragrant offerings all around.

Veiled once more and wearing her wedding gown from their spiritual union, Carolyn paced slowly down the staircase, holding a fresh bouquet in front of her while Jonathan clasped her free hand. Despite his previous protests, he looked very excited and important in his reprised role.

As they walked across the foyer the space began to fill with numerous ghostly figures, silently materialising. Carolyn smiled at the faces she knew. The Admiral and Mrs Kearns alongside Lucius and Rebecca Beaumont. Carolyn felt buoyed by their smiles and good wishes.

"Oh, Jonathan, look. How neat. Lots of ghosts…" Candy whispered as she walked before them. "Now it's a real wedding."

As they turned toward the open doors of the living room more spirits appeared silently, filling all the available spaces around the room. There was more cheering and calls of good wishes.

"Are you cold?" Ed asked suddenly, standing next to Martha where she was seated at the piano ready to strike up a tune. "I suddenly feel real cold. Like there's ghosts in here or somethin'…"

He looked around. "I told you this house is haunted." He turned to stare up at Daniel's portrait. "I just know he's looking at me right now and he ain't happy."

"Oh, pish tosh. It's only your imagination," Martha hissed as she began to play the wedding march.

Standing in front of Claymore, Daniel turned as his wife entered the room accompanied by the cheers and clapping from the assembled crowd of ghostly onlookers. He knew what to expect this time but the sight of her still took his breath away. He doubted he had ever seen anyone looking so beautiful.

She walked to stand next to him, in front of Claymore. "Hi…" she whispered.

"You look so very lovely…" her husband murmured. "I do not know what I have ever done to deserve you."

"You don't look too bad yourself," Carolyn teased, admiring his uniform with hungry eyes. "And the feeling's mutual."

"If you will both, please, join hands…" Claymore instructed nervously, looking around at the assembled throng of ghostly wedding guests.

Daniel took his wife's hand, sliding his fingers through hers. She rested her veiled cheek briefly against his shoulder.

"Do you, um… Captain Daniel Gregg…" Claymore swallowed tightly, momentarily losing his focus. "Ah, do you, Captain Gregg, solemnly declare before almighty God…"

He shuddered. "Do you come here today to take this woman, Mrs Carolyn Muir, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He gathered himself. "Do you promise to love her, cherish her, and protect her in both sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, keep yourself only to her so long as you both shall live…" Claymore swallowed tightly.

"I do…" Daniel replied solemnly.

"Good, good…" Claymore turned his attention to Carolyn. "Do you, ah, Mrs Carolyn Muir, solemnly declare before almighty God that you now take this…"

He paused to wave a helpless hand and the crowd of watching spirits began to murmur. "Ah, um, this man, Daniel Gregg to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

He blinked and shook his head. "Do you promise to love, honour and cherish him in both sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep yourself only to him so long as you both shall live?" He tittered nervously, earning a hard look from Daniel.

"I do…" Carolyn replied calmly, trying not to smile at Claymore.

"Excellent, excellent. Then I can now declare you to be, husband and wife…" Claymore wiped his brow with the back of his hand as cheering and shouts of joy broke out all around.

He leaned forward. "I… ah, still need the rings. Which of you has the rings?"

Everyone turned to look down at Jonathan who seemed momentarily mystified. "Oh, yeah, that's right…" He began digging in his jacket pockets, bringing out a few cherished items, before he proudly produced the rings and held them out.

Daniel took Carolyn's and replaced it on her finger where it belonged. She then took his and returned it to his ring finger.

"Thank heavens…" Claymore breathed a long, gusty sigh. "You may now kiss the bride…"

"Thank you, Claymore," Daniel replied ironically.

"Yes, thank you, Claymore." Carolyn laughed as she lifted her veil before going up onto her toes to throw her arms around her husband's neck.

"Welcome abroad, Mrs Gregg…" Daniel murmured as he bent his head to kiss his bride lingeringly.

"Mrs Gregg…" Carolyn whispered the moment they drew apart again. "I do like the sound of that. Very official." She reached up to kiss her husband again as cheering broke out in the room.

"He can kiss her…" Ed marvelled, watching them. "And she can kiss him. I guess he must be real after all." He turned to frown up at the painting over the fireplace. "The old boy doesn't look too happy. And I still say the likeness is real uncanny."

"Of course, the Captain is real. Like I told you all along…" Martha dug him sharply in the ribs with her elbow. "Now, hush…"

"Um, we still have the paperwork to sign." Claymore turned to bring forward a small side table holding the marriage license and a pen.

"Captain Gregg…" He picked up the pen and held it out.

Daniel signed with a flourish before handing the pen to his new bride. In a matter of a few minutes, both witnesses had also signed. Claymore did his part before he blotted the signatures then folded the document and tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

"Well, I think that's all. Here's to the bride and groom." He clapped as he began to move toward the doors.

No one stepped in to stop him from leaving. "I'll make sure the county clerk files these as soon as I get back to town," he said, looking around the crowded room before he made good his escape, slamming the front door behind him.

"Do I get my cherry pie now, so I can leave too?" Ed leaned closer to Martha. "I could still swear there's something funny going on in this house. I don't care what you say. I know I can feel people in this room and they're watching me." He looked all around at the gathering of spirits he couldn't see or hear.

"Come along, then…" Martha sighed as she took his arm and tugged him toward the kitchen. "I guess you've earned your fee. Maybe even two."

Admiral Kearns came forward to congratulate the newlyweds. "I must say, champion show, my boy, champion."

He turned to Carolyn. "And such a lovely bride. I don't need my eyeglasses to see how beautiful you are, my dear. Why if I was a hundred or so years younger…" He chuckled as he stroked the line of his walrus moustache.

"Why, thank you, Admiral." Carolyn smiled. She leaned closer. "What a pity you're not."

"Ahhh…" The old seaman sighed as he shook his head.

"He always was an old rogue." Mary Kearns regarded her husband lovingly. "All men never seem to change no matter how old they get."

The old lady's eyes narrowed as she looked back at Carolyn. "And they can also be blind. I must say you look as if you're truly blooming, my dear. It's almost as if…"

She turned her head to gaze thoughtfully at Daniel. "It's almost as if there can still be a miracle or two in this old world of ours. I am very pleased for you both."

She nodded to Carolyn. "When you feel you can share your news I will be waiting. I wish you both the very best of everything this world had to offer."

"Thank you…" Carolyn acknowledged, grateful the admiral's wife didn't inquire further.

"It was a lovely ceremony," Rebecca Beaumont offered shyly.

"Yes, I would say the noose is well and truly tied around your neck now, my friend." Lucius chuckled to Daniel. "Twice married is forever."

"That will not be long enough," Daniel replied solemnly, drawing Carolyn close against his side with an arm around her waist.

"It will never be long enough for us," Carolyn agreed before they both turned their attention to accept more best wishes from the assembled crowd of ghostly attendees as Martha returned carrying a tray of food.

※※※※※

"Mrs Carolyn Gregg…" Carolyn mused, sitting cross-legged in the middle of their bed next to her husband. "I really do like the sound of that. I am glad I finally get to use it."

She trailed her fingers lazily from Daniel's hip to his shoulder and back again, luxuriating in the smooth bronze tone of his bare skin. It was after midnight and the last of the ghostly guests had left the wedding party. Everyone in the Gull Cottage had retired to bed, exhausted from a long but exciting day.

But the Captain and Mrs Gregg couldn't sleep. There was still so much to plan and organise.

"Now that we are official in the eyes of the human world I have phoned and made an appointment to see Dr Ferguson next week. Do you still wish to come with me?"

"Of course…" Daniel reached up to cup her cheek. "We might as well start as we mean to go on. But I will be keeping a very close eye on that young whippersnapper. I don't trust him to physic you properly."

"Please don't frighten him," Carolyn pleaded. "He's a good doctor with fresh, new ideas."

"There was nothing wrong with the old ideas," Daniel countered, reaching up to kiss her. "Remember, I did cure you of the ague with my Willow Bark Golden Elixir."

"You are never going to let that one go, are you?" Carolyn shook her head.

"Not everything old is therefore obsolete. Some things were made to last."

"Yes, they were…" Carolyn looked him over lovingly.

"Speaking of your new name. You could use it for your novels," Daniel offered, capturing her fingers and carrying them to his lips where he kissed each one in turn. "I would like that. There's nothing to stop you now that I have been made real in the eyes of the human world."

"I still have no idea what to say to my mother about any of it. She will be disappointed but it cannot be helped. Discovering that I'm already married and I also write historical romance novels in the same moment may be too much."

"Well, one thing we have circumvented is that blasted Harriet returning to push a spoke into our wheel. I doubt your mother has been able to keep our secret."

"No, I doubt it too…" Carolyn sighed gustily. "But, once she knows, it will make Harriet even more determined to sniff out the truth. I do not want her broadcasting to the family that I'm pregnant until I'm ready to tell them. It's none of her business."

"I do not wish to talk about that woman or your family anymore tonight," Daniel declared, using his hold on her hand to pull his wife down against him. "We have a whole wedding night to be alone. Or what's left of it."

"It's not every lucky woman who gets to spend two wedding nights with the man she loves beyond everything," Carolyn teased, trailing kisses from his navel up to his chin.

Daniel rolled over, taking her with him, nestling her softness into the mattress. His hand came to rest on her abdomen, his fingers spreading out.

"Miracles truly do happen now and then…" he whispered against her mouth. "But this one…" He shook his head.

"We cannot question it," Carolyn reached up to brush his dark curls back from his forehead. "We can only accept it gratefully. I'm sure Dr Ferguson will tell us all is fine. We have yet to talk about all the other aspects of my anti-natal care. You may not like some of it. But they can wait until we have time to discuss them fully."

"Yes…" Daniel's brow creased beneath her palm. "But should we even be doing this, now? I mean, what if…?" He floundered into silence.

"I'm having a baby," Carolyn reassured him lovingly, her hands settling on his waist. "It's something women have done since the beginning of time. It will be all right. You're allowed to love me as before."

"You are the bravest woman I have ever known," he replied, drawing her body closer to his. "Even if one day you may not be able to see your own feet."

"I seem to remember you telling me the night we first met that there'd been at least ten or twenty women in your life once…" Carolyn teased. "Maybe half a hundred?"

"That's hitting below the belt," Daniel accused softly.

"I know…" Carolyn murmured, her hands slipping lower to the solid curves of his outer thighs. "Fun, isn't it?"

His only reply was a low growl of intent as her questing fingers moved to encompass all that made her incredibly alive husband a potent man. His body eagerly welcomed her soft femininity and Carolyn smiled knowingly, understanding that his ability to deny her love did not exist. Not in this world or the next…

※※※※※