PLEASE NOTE: This is the penultimate chapter of this engaging story. The story that Edward woke me up with at 2 am and told me to write! I must admit he has excellent taste in material and scope of work. I have enjoyed myself immensely. Thank you, Mr Mulhare.

Éirinn go Brách, Edward. Go raibh maith agat.

Slainté mhaith, mo chara. Téigh le Dia... Go with God…

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I Believe That Angels Breathe

"You don't have to be so blastedly stubborn, you know. I don't want anything from you. I just want to know if you are truly there and that I'm not standing here like a prize fool, talking to myself…" I frowned up at the Captain's portrait and waited impatiently for an answer.

Despite the lateness of the hour last night when we all went to bed, I was up early because I hadn't been able to sleep well. Things kept turning over and over in my mind. I finally decided to get up and take my confusion and questions to the original source.

I left Devon sleeping peacefully and came downstairs to share a welcome cup of coffee and the morning's gossip with Maria over breakfast. Danny came down not long after, stretching and yawning, to ask what there was to eat.

He helped himself to a cup of black coffee. "Can I borrow your Jeep, Mum? I need to get into town and buy some new clothes. Michael says I have to dress a lot smarter than I do now." He glanced down at his T-shirt and jeans.

"I'll take you downtown," Maria offered as she served his breakfast. "I've got groceries to buy. The way you eat…" She shook her head at his leanness. "I don't know where you put it."

They continued to talk back and forth. I warmed my heart to listen to them. It was so good to have my sons living with me. I knew I would miss them when they finally moved on with their lives and left my house. I could hope that when she finally arrived, Lucy would stay a bit longer while she got her bearings.

Maria continued to look after Danny, as she always did, with love and little scolds. My son took it all with good grace even as he grinned at me when Maria wasn't looking. Then they left the house together to go shopping and I was at a loose end until my husband finally got up. I wanted to show him the book. I was very pleased with how it had turned out and I had big plans for its future.

I was aware Edward had not come home last night. His bed was empty when I knocked and looked in. I presumed he'd spent the night with Kat. I smiled with quiet pleasure.

Ever since Kat had decided to stay in Montecito, instead of moving on, their relationship had blossomed, and I was very glad. My tall, usually no-nonsense, taciturn son was a different man whenever he was with her. Kat was good for him, and I hoped they would eventually make a life together. I had learned to keep my opinions to myself and allow things to develop in their own time.

So, the only masculine stubbornness I currently had to deal with was in this two-dimensional painting that I already felt foolish about talking to. But the sensation of being silently observed would not go away.

It had only intensified since last night when I'd shown Kat our book about the Captain and Emma. I could have sworn I felt someone hovering at my elbow and observing us silently as we discussed the book and my ideas for launches and signing afternoons. And I know I smelled the lovely scent of Shalimar before Kat walked in wearing it.

"Well?" I folded my arms and tapped one foot on the carpet. "Are you really there?" I shook my head. "Or am I truly talking to myself? I would like to know for sure."

※※※※※

The jeweller screwed his loupe firmly into his eye socket and bent down to peer at the ring through it. "This is a very beautiful piece…" he said, with envy in his tone. "The diamonds are perfectly matched and of excellent quality. And the mounting is exquisitely crafted. Despite its age, it has been very well cared for."

He gazed up at me with his free eye. "It is a fine example of an early Victorian. The cushion cut style of the diamonds gives the age away." He paused and then inquired, "May I ask, how did you come by such a fine specimen?"

"It was a gift. From a friend," I prevaricated, not wishing to say more.

"I see…" The jeweller removed his eyeglass as he straightened up. "Well, your friend has been incredibly generous. If you don't mind me saying, this beauty would bring you a minimum of fifteen thousand dollars on the open market. If you wished to sell it, that is."

His frowning gaze held a look of keen acquisitiveness. "Such beauty is timeless."

I inhaled sharply as I stared at him. I hadn't asked him for an appraisal, just a thorough cleaning. But I hadn't expected the ring to be that costly. I worried about what Kat would have to say when I told her.

"It's not for sale at any price," I managed to reply, shaking my head. "It's to be given to a lady I'm hoping to ask to marry me. Once it's been cleaned."

"Then she is one extremely lucky lady," the jeweller murmured with a sigh. "She must be someone very special to be worthy of such a lovely gift."

"She is…" I nodded and smiled. "She is, indeed."

"Then, please, take a seat, Sir…" The jeweller indicated a nearby chair. "I won't be long. I will make these beautiful gems shine in no short order."

"Thank you," I replied as I watched him turn and walk away through the curtains behind the counter. I sat down to wait impatiently for his return.

As soon as our business was concluded, I intended to return to the antique shop. I had telephoned the proprietor and asked him to hold the gorgeous diamond and sapphire pendant I'd seen in the glass case when I'd purchased the forget-me-not frame for Kat's photograph.

It too would be a perfect gift for my beautiful Kat. But I would keep it a secret until the day I finally made her my bride.

※※※※※

Strengthening sunlight teased at my closed lids, forcing me awake. I rolled over and groaned. I opened my eyes to find I was alone. I reached out and found Carolyn's side of the bed was cold.

"All right, I guess I'm up…" I pushed my feet over the side of the mattress and stood up.

I had a busy day of appointments ahead and I needed to be out and about snapping some more great shots of the Butterfly Beach area. The scenery never got stale and the views were good sellers.

And that national magazine had contacted me to showcase a second article on my work. I also had the new exhibition of my work set for the middle of next month. And Christmas would also soon be upon us once more.

"So, there's no time to stand about wondering," I said. I collected my things and took a long, hot shower and got dressed before I went in search of my wife.

I walked into the living room to see her standing beneath the Captain's portrait, staring up at it with her arms folded while she tapped one foot. She looked impatient and fed up. I'd heard her talking to someone as I passed the open door on my way to the kitchen and my morning coffee.

I presumed she was with one of her sons or Maria. But when I looked into the room, there was no one there but her.

I was about to ask what she was doing when she turned away from the painting. "Have it your way, then," she muttered, pushing her hair back from her cheek. "If there's anything I detest it's a stubborn and contrary ghost."

She turned her back to the Captain's image and then saw me watching her. Her cheeks immediately coloured with embarrassment that she'd been caught talking to the painted canvas. "I was… just saying my piece to a stubborn spirit who has put me all out of patience with him."

"I heard…" I smiled. I couldn't help it.

My love looked so put out and annoyed by something she couldn't see or understand. "Now you know how I've been feeling about the both of them for weeks now. I think they're getting an oversized kick out of playing with us."

Carolyn stared hard at me. "So, just to be clear, you do think they're here somewhere?' she asked eagerly. "That they are watching us. That I'm not just talking to shadows and expecting answers."

"I didn't say that…" I tugged at the lobe of my left ear as I debated speaking the truth or framing up a lie to ease her concerns. "I certainly think there's more going on in this house than we know. Or could ever hope to know. Or it's all in our imaginations."

I hesitated and then said, "But I know I certainly saw something in those photographs I took around the house. Something that shouldn't have been there. I can show them to you if you wish."

My love's tensed shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you, and I'm glad to hear you say that. There are times when I thought I was losing it."

I pursed my lips and decided the truth was easier. "Kat told us we needed to make room for the Captain and his lady in this house. That this is still their home." I shrugged. "I have no idea how anyone goes about doing that, but I'm willing to give it a try. What can it hurt? They don't need to sleep or eat, and they are very quiet. In a way, they're the perfect house guests."

Carolyn walked toward me, her eyes shining. "I would like to see those photographs." She smiled. "When Kat and Edward came in last night, I was sure he'd seen a ghost. He had a very funny look on his face as if he had indeed just encountered one or two."

I pulled her into my arms and tucked her securely beneath my chin. "Did you ask him about it?"

"No, I didn't. In all the excitement over showing Kat our book, and then all that crazy talk about whose father you are, I forgot," she admitted.

"You could ask him now," I replied, nodding toward the stairs.

"He's not in," she said, drawing back to look up at me. "I checked before I came down. His bed hasn't been slept in, so he must have stayed the night at Kat's."

"And how do you feel about that?" I asked gently, watching her closely.

She smiled. "I think it's wonderful. They are so right for each other. It took them long enough to find out."

"Then we will leave them alone to get on with their love affair while we get on with ours." I leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Kat is so right for Edward. She takes him out of himself. He was wound up like a spring when he first arrived."

"Yes, she does…" my love agreed. "It's wonderful to see how much they've come to care for each other."

"Kat reminds me very much of you, my love," I replied gently. "A sweet lady with a deep and caring heart and a huge capacity for love. It takes a very smart man to notice."

I kissed her soft mouth slowly and with deep reverence. "And you possess a core of steel when it comes to protecting those who are very lucky to have your love."

"Are you angling for something more than a kiss?" she asked softly, as she ran the ball of her thumb back and forward across my bottom lip. "We are all alone, you know. Danny and Maria have gone shopping to get him a whole new wardrobe of clothes. He has nothing suitable to wear to work. And Edward still hasn't come in yet."

"I wish we could, my love," I replied with deep regret, taking her hand in mine. "But I have appointments I need to keep today. And I must take more photographs for the exhibition. And the magazine has been on the phone again asking when we can meet."

"Blast…" Carolyn hugged my arm close to her chest. "I wanted you all to myself, Mr Miles."

"I wanted to be wanted…" I smiled down at the woman I loved with all my heart. And would love until the end of our lives, and maybe even beyond. I could not imagine ever being without her. "I love you and I cherish everything you give me every, single day…"

She smiled mistily in return. "And I truly love you beyond anything and everything…"

I felt humbled by her beauty and her love. "I'll get back as soon as I can…"

I was about to draw her into my arms when the French doors to the garden suddenly opened outwards. A soft wind blew into the room out of nowhere. It had been a very still morning without a hint of air movement. Then the sheers began to move and dance in the rising breeze.

The fine hairs across the back of my neck rose as a shiver tingled down my arms. Carolyn moved closer to me as the sheers at the windows began to move into shapes that seemed to be almost human.

"Crazy…" I muttered as I watched the movement of the curtains. "It's just the wind."

My love tightened her grip on my fingers to the point of actual pain. "Do you feel something?" she asked in a raw whisper. "I mean, I felt a shiver go right through me just then. Like we're not alone anymore…"

"Me, too…" I concurred as I frowned at the moving sheers.

I drew my love close to me to shield her with my body as the sheers moved again and the shapes held within resolved themselves into two human figures that were now quite discernible despite their strange translucency…

※※※※※

"How much did you say it was worth?" Kat asked in a shocked voice as she stared down at the Captain's ring that sparkled in the sunlight filling her small kitchen.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held it. The jewels were now snug inside a red velvet box with a white silk lining that showed them off to their best advantage.

I'd returned to her house after going into town. "The jeweller told me it would fetch at least fifteen thousand dollars on the open market," I repeated slowly, still not quite believing it myself.

Kat looked stricken. "Oh, they shouldn't have given it away," she said in an awed tone. "It's far too expensive. I can't let them do this. We must give it back to them. I doubt they had any idea."

I reached out to draw her closer. "I do understand your concern. But I have to ask, my love…" I replied. "What does a ghost need with jewellery?"

"I…" Kat looked from the ring to me and back again, her brow wrinkled with honest confusion. "I suppose that's a fair question. I hadn't thought of it that way."

"And Emma did leave all her jewellery to you in her will," I persisted. "Giving it back might hurt their feelings. They wanted us to have it."

I saw Kat's lips lift slightly at the corners. She ducked her head, but I heard her slight chuckle. "How does one offend a ghost?" she asked quietly.

"By trying to return a gift that was given with love and hope," I said, taking the ring box gently from her fingers and closing it.

She looked bereft for a moment as she stared down at the box in my hands and then up at me. "What do you intend to do with it now? I mean, you should put it into a safety deposit box at the bank. For safekeeping. I would hate to lose it."

"I could do that…" I smiled down at her. "Or I could use it for the original purpose it was lovingly given…"

I heard her sharp inhalation as I sank onto one knee, not taking my eyes from hers. "Katherine Morton, will you do me the great honour of consenting to marry me?" I held the box up and opened it slowly.

"My name is Kat," she replied tremulously, wiping a few tears from her eyes. "With a K, not a C…"

"Kat…" I replied with a smile. "I think we should get married so I can finally make an honest woman of you. I'm tired of taking cold showers."

"Me too…" Her smile grew as the tears ran unheeded down her cheeks.

I worried I'd somehow upset her, but I didn't move. I couldn't. I needed an answer. Even if it wasn't the one I was desperately hoping to hear.

"Oh, yes, please…" she finally whispered. "I would like that. Um, no, scratch that. I would adore for you to make an honest woman out of me. And as soon as possible, please. Oh, and I do love you so very much."

She heaved a tremulous sigh as she held out her left hand for me to take. Not willing to allow her a second to change her mind, I had the ring out of the box and on her finger before I released the breath I'd been holding.

"I love you so very much, too…" I stood up and opened my arms wide. "More than words can ever say…"

She didn't hesitate as she walked into my embrace, and I hugged her then as if I would never let her go again. Which, of course, I had no earthly intention of ever doing. Not now that she'd finally consented to be mine…

※※※※※

"Captain Greig?" I asked hesitantly as I eased away from the shelter of Devon's protective arm. "Emma?"

"Be careful…" Devon placed a restraining hold on my arm and I smiled as I put my hand over his.

"Don't worry. They won't hurt me…" I stared at the two hazy figures who had been revealed when the breeze died, and the sheers fell back into place behind them. They stood watching us silently.

The Captain was a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in the same formal naval uniform as his portrait. The woman at his side was petite and elegant in a beautiful lace and silk gown of peacock blue. They looked younger than I had expected, but then I knew nothing of how the afterlife worked. But I knew them both from the photographs in the album Kat had given to me — the ones I'd used for their book.

I wondered if that was why they were here. I decided to find out. "Good morning…"

The Captain shook his head as he frowned at me. 'Madam, you accused me just now of being stubborn and contrary. That was not only unacceptable, but it was also inaccurate.'

I saw his lips move, but his voice echoed inside my mind. That same sensation of awareness feathered across the back of my neck and ran down both arms. I glanced at Emma as the beguiling scent of Shalimar drifted on the morning air. I resisted the urge to pinch myself to see if I was asleep and dreaming.

Of course, I knew I wasn't. I was awake and very aware. 'Wasn't I?' I tightened my grip on Devon's restraining hand. He had seen them too.

"I'm very sorry, Captain," I apologised quickly. "I didn't know what else to do or say. I was trying to get you to appear to me. And it worked."

'I see…' The apparition stroked his bearded chin. 'You seem to be a very resourceful woman. I can salute you for that.'

Emma nodded. 'Your skill as a writer is one of the reasons why we allowed Kat to sell you, our house. We wanted it to go to someone who could understand us and tell our story. People astute and generous enough to make room for us in their lives.'

"You allowed?" Devon asked, taking a quick step toward them.

The Captain's lips curved slightly. 'If we had not approved of you both, then you would have quickly regretted coming here. We would have haunted you out the very moment you stepped inside our home.'

"I think you'll find I don't scare that easy," Devon replied hardly, folding his arms across his chest.

The Captain immediately mirrored his movements. I watched with fascination as they silently measured each other, man and ghost. They were very evenly matched in height and build. They both possessed curling hair and deep blue eyes. I could have been looking at the same man, except for the span of the years that separated them.

'I'm afraid men are the same the world over, my dear,' Emma commented to me as she shook her head at the pair of them. 'They will never change…' She smiled at me and the beautiful scent of Shalimar strengthened.

"They are, indeed…" I smiled back.

I wanted to hug her. I couldn't help it. They were a charming couple. Just as I had imagined them to be. I felt I was in the presence of old friends, and I couldn't wait to get to know them better.

※※※※※

I held my left hand - now adorned with my engagement ring - up to the sunlight that was streaming into my bedroom through the un-curtained windows. The diamonds caught the light and sparkled brightly.

I glanced at the contents of the table beside the bed. After Edward had picked me up in the kitchen and carried me upstairs to bed, he'd set me on my feet before he carefully laid the framed photograph of the Captain and Emma face down.

He turned back to see me watching him. He shrugged. "It's just a precaution. We don't need an audience."

"I know…" I moved to stand close to him, pressing myself to him from hip to breast. "I'm sure they know how to be discreet in romantic moments like this. They were deeply in love."

He didn't reply as he tumbled me back onto the bed and came down next to me. He kissed me deeply as he allowed me to set the course of how our love would play out. I don't know if I could have loved him any more right then.

That sweetly tender moment had been hours ago now. The sun had passed overhead and was beginning to sink toward the distant horizon. But still, I was reluctant to move and break the spell.

"I can't quite believe this is all real," I whispered, bringing my hand back down to spread my fingers across Edward's naked chest. "I mean, I never expected to ever feel this happy."

"Or this complete?" he asked softly, as he pressed a kiss against my hair. "The whole world could be ending right now and I wouldn't care."

I snuggled closer to his warmth. "Me, too. I wish we could stay right here, just like this, forever."

"You read my mind…" Edward stretched against me, and then slid his naked thigh between mine, encouraging them apart. "But sooner or later we might get hungry."

"For what?" I teased, moving my hand slowly down over his ribcage and abdomen. "Food?"

He sighed. "A good point, but a very poor second choice to making love with you again and again and again. Then we would fall asleep in each other's arms."

"Oh, please, don't tempt me…" I tilted my head up to smile at his earnestness. His expression was full of love and simmering passion. I sighed regretfully. I wanted to stay but I knew one of us had to be sensible.

"We really do need to get up. We should go and tell your parents about us," I said. "They deserve to know."

"Yes, they do…" Edward moved closer to me as my questing fingers found their intimate target.

I pushed closer against him. I felt his heated strength against my inner thighs. That part of him that most assuredly made him a virile man eagerly welcomed my lingering caress.

Edward's breath hissed between his set teeth. "But they can wait. We still have some unfinished business I'm becoming very interested in getting back to…"

"I need a shower…" I protested as I kissed my way up his throat. "We really should be getting up…"

"Later. Then we can grab that shower together…" he promised throatily as he rose over me once more and there was no longer any need for words in the deeply intimate and heated space of our love…

※※※※※