I posted a chapter yesterday afternoon, so make sure you read that one first.
I can't remember, did I give Captain Croft a first name? I didn't see one in Chapter 9 or Chapter 13-14, which is where I would have expected to see it (though I did give the elder Captain Wentworth a first name). I guess I will name him now.
You can skip the second half of the chapter if you'd prefer not to read about Captain and Mrs. Croft taking a "nap."
It took Sophia and Captain John Croft a few minutes to think about the fact that it was not just them in the room. Although it had been little more than a week, it was the longest they had spent apart besides from her winter in Deal. When the thought finally crossed Sophia's mind that her friends were there, it was with a bit of regret that she broke off the kiss with her dear husband.
As John had spied the other ladies as he entered the room, he did not try to prolong their kiss once Sophia stopped it, but he kept his left arm around her even as she turned back toward Mrs. Holmes and who he could only assume was Miss Elliot. These were not their rooms and he knew that it was quite selfish of them to make that kind of display, but how could he resist greeting his Sophy properly? And how could he properly be without her once again as she continued in her efforts to try to reunite her brother with his lady love?
The answer was that he could not, would not, if there was any way around it. He had never been one to call in favors, preferring to earn everything he had based on his skill alone, but there were ones in the admiralty who owed him and things that could be done for an admiral that could not be done for a mere captain. As he saw to the fitting up of his new ship, a sleek and newly commissioned man of war, he resolved that it was far better to control Frederick's posting than to merely try to get word of it. He also knew that his Sophie would be the best one to strategize with him about how to make his plans come to fruition.
First he would attend his formal promotion ceremony in London and get paid off his prize money with the rest of his former crew (some of whom he was determined would come with him), and then he would spend a few days negotiating and calling in favors. Seeing Sophia happy and bringing joy to her brother (who was so very like his father, Captain Thomas Wentworth that he had served under, a man John dearly cared for and respected, though Thomas had his own weaknesses that in the end he suffered dearly for) would make it all worth it even if he had to take the worst posting an admiral ever had to accomplish it.
John set these thoughts to the side as he greeted Mrs. Holmes and Miss Elliot. Mrs. Holmes he had known for quite an age as he had known her husband. It was a pity about how things had turned out for her and him. Yet at least she had a fine son who had every possibility of rising in the ranks if he was serving with the right captain. John wondered if he currently was; he would need to check on that. If he was calling in favors maybe there was something do be done for Midshipman Holmes if need be. At lease Mrs. Holmes looked far better than the last time he had seen her, but it did not surprise him that spending time with his wife would soon right most anyone.
Miss Elliot was not who he expected Frederick to be attracted to as it was almost immediately apparent that she was reserved, much more reserved than Frederick in temperament. However, it did not take more than that first conversation with her for him to see how sensible Frederick's choice was. Miss Elliot had a beauty about her that was enhanced by her thoughtful expressions. She took everything in and asked intelligent questions, not to gratify some idle need to fill the air or to draw one's attention, but because it was something she wanted to know which enhanced the conversation. He noticed that she made sure to keep Mrs. Holmes involved in the discussion and kept her from fading into the background as she was wont to do.
As much as John enjoyed getting to know Miss Elliot and renewing his acquaintanceship with Mrs. Holmes, there was only so much he could take of not being alone with his wife, so after a half hour or so he pointedly said, "Sophia, I have taken rooms for us. I am sure your friends will appreciate the extra space. We can all meet up for dinner later and I suppose you can pack up your trunk then. We will discuss further plans over dinner." It took only a minute for them to decide when and where to meet to take their evening meal and with that he was able to escort his Sophy to a set of rooms far removed from the other women.
While they were everything proper in the corridor, at least as proper as a husband and wife who had been missing each other dearly could be when rushing to be alone with one another, John was glad indeed when the door was closed and locked and he could take that "nap" with his wife. When aboard his ship, his crew soon learned that at least a couple of times a week, Captain Croft and his wife were in the practice of retiring for an afternoon when all aboard the ship was calm and there was nothing much that needed doing. He knew his crew liked to make ribald comments about his "naps" and had caught quite a few of them, but as long as they did not make such comments within the hearing of his wife, he turned a blind eye to it.
He knew, as was natural, that they were merely a bit envious. After all, most of them had to rely on mounting a corporal and four while at sea and even if they were tenants for life, it might be years before they would next see their wives. It was not so surprising then that many of them succumbed to the temptation of the nearest pitcher when in port though he had his surgeon instruct them most vigorously about how easy it was to acquire the token and what the results could be. Captain Croft was quite grateful that he had listened to Captain Thomas Wentworth's advice on the matter and doing so was rewarded when Captain Wentworth trusted his daughter with him. He was also quite grateful that Sophia had been willing to sail with him. While if need be he would have been faithful to her, it was so much better to have his lawful blanket with him all of his days.
Sophia, too, seemed eager for their "nap." They were no sooner in the room when it was she that leaped at him. If he were younger, it is likely they would have taken a flourish, but he managed to slow things down a bit as it was only right to give her the attention she deserved. It was a pity her dress had so many buttons that he had to undo before she was unrigged.
Though not strictly fashionable, he liked her sea dresses better than the ones she typically wore on land. Her sea dresses were much quicker to give him access to her diddeys, though they made it harder to enjoy her muff until she was completely unclothed. He was so fortunate she was a bushel bubby, but even if she had been chicken breasted he was sure he would have enjoyed her dairy just the same.
Once they were both in their birthday suits they dearly enjoyed their "nap." When they finally separated and he felt sleep overcoming him, Captain Croft's last thought was, although I missed Sophia dearly if this is the homecoming I shall always receive perhaps it is not such a bad thing to spend a week apart from her.
Sophia for her part was most content also. As always, she had enjoyed her rogering, but falling asleep in his arms afterwards, sated and confident in his loyal affections, was her favorite part.