The garden party hosted by Mrs. Taylor had been her first venture back into society after giving birth to her son, and while Elizabeth had been perfectly content with staying home with her darling boy, she also understood the need to make an appearance back into society before all kinds of unsavory rumors about the possible reasons for her absence, could start spreading amongst the other ladies. After all, becoming society's pariah, would result most inconvenient.

The title of the Commodore's wife, had offered her to a higher standing amongst the other ladies than the one she had enjoyed as the Governor's daughter. And due to James' well-respected character, even the old shrews' past criticisms over her 'unbecoming behaviors' had ceased almost in its entirety from the day she became married. And in spite of finding the insincere attitude rather irritating, it did made her attendance to the occasional mandatory party or functions significantly less cumbersome.

When the invitation was delivered to their home, she'd held very little interest in assisting. However, James' amiable encouragement to visit her 'friends' had eventually swayed her into doing it, not wanting to worry him over silly matters. Certainly, assisting such an event had presented with the perfect opportunity to make an appropriate appearance without having to become the center of all the attention herself.

And she'd found the exchanges with some of her old acquaintances to be surprisingly enjoyable after so many months had passed since she'd last seen them. Mary Wotton and Claire Thomas, accomplished gossips that they were, had offered particularly humorous gossip; learning that Edward Perry's daughter had decided to elope with a sailor that arrived at port some months back, had certainly felt ironic after remembering all the times the odious girl had mocked her for showing the sightless of interests in the blacksmith's apprentice. Elizabeth allowed herself to enjoy the fleeting sense of conceitedness over the news after remembering the shameless way in which the witch had claimed to be capable of taking James for herself.

The only other news that had remotely captured her interest had been the unusual sighting of a small flotilla of Companies' ships passing thru the West Indies few weeks prior. As she had only learned of the news while spying on her parents conversation, Claire had been unable to supplement precise details on the reason behind the voyage. And considering the varied reasons possible

Perhaps attending the gathering hadn't been as unpleasant as she dreaded.

However, after spending hours entertaining the prying inquiries about her husband and child, she determined the experience to have been positively taxing. So it was with a long exhale of relief that she watched the carriage cross the gate back into the estate, grateful to find two of the maids already waiting to attend to her.

The warm temperature in the foyer offered a very pleasant contrast to the strong breeze starting to blow on the outside.

Taking off the thick shawl that had been protecting her shoulders, she turned to look at Emma. Although the girl was the youngest one of all the maids that served them, she was the one who had proved to truly enjoy spending time with Casey. And so, Elizabeth had decided to entrust her with the task of watching over him for the duration of her brief outing, even if a little reluctantly.

As she walked towards the hall, she continued to move her hands deftly over the lace holding the hat to the top of her head until it came undone. "Where is my son?" she asked her with curiosity at not seeing him, moving her eyes around the hall once she was unable to locate any of his loud babbles.

Had he fallen asleep already?

To her confusion, the girl's expression became faintly embarrassed as her fingers twisted nervously in front of her.

"The young master was a little restless a few hours ago. But... I have not had the opportunity to see him since the Commodore arrived and took him into your room, Madame." Emma confessed with a meek tone.

Both her eyebrows met in a light frown as her gaze raised up the stairs; to the hallway that lead to their room.

"He's already returned?" she murmured in wonder, too aware that it was quite unusual for him to arrive home so early into the evening.

Finally becoming aware of the worry tormenting the young girl at the prospect of being reprimanded, Elizabeth gave her a reassuring smile as she directed her steps towards the staircase and reached for the balustrade.

"It's alright."

As she began to climb the steps, she stopped and turned back to the maids. "Has my husband been served dinner?"

"No Madame. He has not given any instructions since his return."

Had he been locked in the room with Casey all by himself?

Feeling even more confused, she quickly decided on an order, "Instruct the kitchens for a light meal to be prepared and brought to the room."

"Yes, Madame."

Even more surprising than the news of his presence home, was the form of her husband laying on the bed, appearing to be in a deep slumber.

Her husband, usually so composed and meticulous, lay utterly at ease, his face softened by sleep in a way she rarely had the opportunity to witness, much less while there were still vestiges of light passing thru the window. His features, usually set with determination and sharp focus, now looked defenceless; his brows relaxed and lips parted slightly as he breathed evenly.

As she approached him with careful steps, her gaze fell to their son, once she noticed he was peacefully resting on top of his chest, his tiny body rising and falling in rhythm with his father's slow breaths.

Disposing of her shoes, she was quick to sit on the bed in the space next to him, keeping the utmost care not to disturb either one.

James had his large hands wrapped over the child's head and back in a way that kept him secured to his body, but his palms encased him so completely that she could barely find the bottom of his feet legs peeking out, his little face was carefully nuzzled against his neck in the place that was usually reserved for her. The sight made her insides flutter with delight and affection.

A smile drawing on her lips as she realized with amusement that James was no longer wearing his uniform. In fact, the only garments still clothing his body, were his underpants. His shirt an untidy pile next to his shoulder, one of Casey's fists in possession of it.

When she could no longer resist the urge to touch him, her fingers reached to carefully push away from his forehead the thin lock of dark hair that had escaped his ponytail. Leaning close to brush a kiss on the smooth surface, for once unhindered by lines of tension.

For him to have fallen asleep so deeply meant he had been truly exhausted.

Unfortunately, James seemed to remain alert even while resting, and so his eyes opened into disoriented slits at the contact.

"Elizabeth." he greeted tiredly when he recognized her, the sleep beginning to disappear from his eyes.

Finding herself inches away from his beautiful green, her face leaned until she felt her mouth press against his soft, pliant lips. His response was unsteady and slightly delayed, and it made her want to tease him further.

"I apologize for disturbing your sleep, Dear." she whispered, still carding her hand languidly through the strands of his dishevelled hair, distractedly noting how long it had become, the back of it reaching past his shoulders.

He leaned into her touch as one corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. "I had been trying my utmost best to help him find some rest." he murmured tiredly, glancing down at the baby who happily enjoyed a deep sleep.

The smirk on her face was much too obvious as she moved to lay next to him, fitting her body against his side as her head rested on his shoulder. "And, naturally, you concluded that leading by example would be the most effective course of action."

"I merely rested my eyes for a brief moment."

Traces of sleep still on his voice affected the credibility of his weak protest, making it clear that James had been resting for much longer than a 'brief moment.'

Forgoing a response to his evident lie, she continued with her light teasing, "At least you were not taking a bath. I doubt I would be able to carry out a rescue as gallant as yours."

As he was entirely restricted, James' only response was a soft bump of his forehead against her that made her chuckle.

"And you are not supposed to steal our son from the maids while they are meant to be caring for him." she attempted to chide after remembering the concern in the maid's eyes, although she was unable to entirely hide the mirth in her voice.

Still, she should scold him properly after causing poor Emma a fright.

Glancing down to look at the undisturbed child, he exhaled softly. "He was wailing loudly when I arrived. I barely managed to calm him down for long enough so the tiredness would send him into unconsciousness. It was quite exhausting."

Her features furrowed into a sympathetic grimace, painfully aware of the truth behind her husband's words.

Although their son was mostly, a tranquil and pleasant baby, sometimes he could behave like a proper terror. His bouts of crying would prolong with no end in sight. And he proved excellent at making his displeasure known until she guessed the reason for it.

"He looks comfortable now." she praised, idly passing her fingers over the knuckles of the hand James was using to hold his head.

"Thankfully," he agreed, almost too sincerely, lifting his hand from Casey to capture hers and bring it to his lips.

Both of them went rigid for a long heartbeat when their baby twitched in place and a small whine left his nose. Only regaining their breathing when he continued sleeping.

"For a moment I worried thinking I would lose my hearing." James confessed with a smirk, allowing his head back on the pillow.

A soft hum was her response, her attention shifting to the hand that was tracing absent circles over his naked shoulder. "And what was of your clothes?"

"He cried himself to sleep on my shirt." he informed, neither angry nor displeased. "And I was hoping to preserve the few ones left." he finished, pointing down at where Casey's mouth laid open and a small trail of saliva was gathering on his chest. "However, I think I have made a new discovery."

She regarded him with an intrigued eyebrow, "Which is?"

"He seems to prefer it. His cries stopped as soon as I held him this way."

"Then maybe I should try doing it as well." she mused playfully, leaning her cheek on the ball of his shoulder and stroking down the length of his arm.

The surprise in his eyes quickly morphed into a wide smile of pleasure, "You should."


"How could England possibly expect Port Royal to meet such unreasonable demands?" she complained in annoyance before finally taking a bite out of the piece of bread that she had been waiving in the air for over a minute.

"It is not an unreasonable order, Elizabeth." her oblivious husband defended with an indulgent smile, continuing to shake the delicate silver rattle he had gifted Casey in front of the child's face while attempting to finish his meal.

"Do not defend it, James." she warned with a frown, "There is not enough personnel in the island as it is. If Saint Vincent requests for so many of our soldiers to aid the fortification of their new garrison, then how can you possibly fulfill your duties appropriately?"

"It is entirely feasible."

Her heated retort died in her lips as she spied on their son seizing his father's hand before bringing it down towards his mouth. Elizabeth was quick to understand her child's intentions, but was much too slow to prevent it. Before giving her the opportunity to warn her husband, Casey had already clamped down on one of James' long fingers.

A low hiss of pain released from between his lips, eyebrows furrowing tight as his face pulled into a pained mien. Still, he resisted any attempt to force the mistreated digit out of their son's grasp.

In a swift motion, Elizabeth stood and reached to pull firmly on Casey's chin, working to coax his jaw into relaxing.

"Please let go of your father, Darling." she ordered with a frown.

It took a few long seconds until her baby complied, opening his mouth with an adorable gurgle.

She watched James let go of the breath he had been holding, carefully moving his hand out of reach and flexing all of his fingers with a grimace.

"That was unexpectedly painful."

His declaration was accompanied by a look of evident confusion, which made her smile with pity and some guilt.

"I'm sorry. I forgot to warn you." she admitted, tapping two fingers to the middle of their son's forehead, "This one has been behaving like a biting menace for the last couple of days."

Casey began wriggling on James's lap, cooing determinedly as he attempted to reach for another one of his fingers.

Using a cautious thumb, he pushed down on the child's chin in the same way she had, separating his lips in order to glance inside, keeping the rest of his hand a safe distance from it. "His teeth are erupting." he observed with marvel, seeing the pearly white, tiny points that now decorated the front of his pink gums.

Instead of looking at his new discovery, her eyes focus on the thin trail of crimson liquid running down his finger.

"You're bleeding."

Holding onto his wrist, Elizabeth brought it closer to her face, easily finding the dent marks across its circumferences. The small cut over his knuckle being the one responsible for the blood.

Seeing the discontent scowl on her face, James used his thumb to rub her skin, offering her a pacifying smile."It is not something you need to worry over."

The attention was returned with an impatient huff, but she reached for a clean serviette, wrapping it gently around the wound.

"Wouldn't you agree that it's preferable he is strong and lively?"

The pride in his eyes was much too evident as he patted Casey's head and fiddled with his short curls.

Foolish man.

But watching Casey happily cling to James' shirt, left her unable to refute, giving them instead a resigned smile.

"You are supposed to be the rigorous parent." she informed him, staring at him with the faintest feeling of betrayal as she traced the length of his jaw with a thumb.

His eyes raised with confused curiosity, "I am?"

There was such genuine innocence behind his question that her lips curled upwards involuntarily.

"Wouldn't you think so?" she replied with happy laugh, "You are his father, and a military man."

A frown appeared between his eyebrows at the observation, "I do not believe I would appreciate the sight of my child trembling in his boots at the sight of me."

Her thumb paused its movement as she regarded him with a curious stare. "Decidedly not." she reassured him, feeling some confusion by his misunderstanding of her words. "But he will need to be scolded by one of us at some point in the future. And this child is much too beautiful," she lamented, watching Casey vigorously shake the rattle he was now in possession of. "I might cry if I see him cry because of me."

"So am I to be the one responsible for making him cry?" he inquired, looking mildly offended by the presumed task.

Accepting her defeat she shook her head in denial as she leaned down and offered him a distracting kiss to the cheek.

"At least you've learned not to leave your guard down around this little pup."

Taking advantage of their closeness James turned his head and let his lips brush against hers. Her eyes readily closed to accept the affection, only stopping when he pulled away and looked at her with a meaningful smirk.

"It's not like he's the first one to ever take a bite out of me while feeling in a particularly uncharitable disposition, Love."

At her bewildered expression, his smile widened, hooking a finger over his cravat before pulling down on it to expose a few of the tokens she had left on him just a couple of nights prior.

Heat surfaced to her face upon understanding the playful accusation, but her husband appeared to be immensely pleased by the flush that painted her cheeks at his reminder.

"You're absurd."

"And you're a biter."

"It's not like you never do the same, James." she defended poorly, feeling mildly embarrassed by her own declaration. Admitting that, while she tended to leave marks a little too liberally over his body, he was usually much more mindful about not doing it in places that might be seen.

"And a scratcher." he added arrogantly, almost as if he was boasting about it, leaving her unable to comprehend why.

"That's…"

Finding no way to argue against his claims, her lips pressed together in aggravation.

"I also distinctly remember your predilection for…"

Not wanting to risk any of the servants walking into the room and accidentally learning any of her private predilections in bed, her hand moved to cover his mouth, not willing to trust in how he might choose to finish that sentence.

"I think we can agree that your point has been delivered. Quiet now." she chided, still struggling to control the unexpected surge of heat at hearing his brazen provocation, only slightly affronted by the reminder that he still had not touched her properly.

When he responded with an endearing laugh, she decided that he would be able to afford quite a few more of those.