My equally lonely bed, August 29th, 1829,
To my future husband,
Battles are fought on many fronts, my love. As I lay reading your last letter, I imagine my hand as yours. I close my eyes and imagine your weight pushing me into the mattress, my legs wrapped around your waist.
I pretend you are here, your mouth tasting me everywhere. Ah, my love, I blush at my wayward thoughts.
Soon, husband, soon.
Yours Forever,
Maggie
He couldn’t wait.This waiting was killing him. And yet the wedding was still nearly two months away.
Adjusting his trousers in order to accommodate his very inconvenient response to her writings, he glanced over when he heard a carriage approach. He didn’t even wait for it to come to a complete stop before he was opening the door. She apparently couldn’t wait either and flung herself into his arms.
“Are you ready?” He could hardly believe that this day had finally arrived. He would be certain to appreciate such joy. They would have difficult times. They would face sadness sometimes, and possibly loss. But he would appreciate even those, as long as he had her at his side.
“I’m so excited! I was dying to leave, and Esther was concerned with braiding my hair.”
Sebastian stared down at this amazing woman. “You are worth the wait, Maggie. You are worth any wait.”
But the time had finally come. “Are you ready to meetThe Diana?” He gestured along the newly constructed dock to where his other passion awaited them.
He’d wanted her first time onboard to be special. And so it was. Today, they would sail down the Thames and then west toward the opposite end of England. They would sail to their wedding venue rather than drive.
All of their trunks had already been loaded, and so he took her hand and led her carefully up the plank to board. Her eyes shined in excitement as he introduced her to the captain and then she greeted every crew member who had lined up.
This was only the beginning of their journey, of their life together. After they married, they had plans to sail across the Atlantic again. She’d insisted they finish his exploring together. And then after they’d sailed all along the Eastern seaboard, they would return to England and continue their lifelong journey of living, loving, laughing.
The anchor was pulled in, ropes were untied, and the two of them watched as the city became smaller and smaller and then impossible to see.
They stood on deck together quietly, her watching the horizon, him watching her, until she finally turned and met his eyes.
“You know,” she grinned and then feigned a yawn, “I’m awfully tired. Is it possible that you might show me to my bed?”
Sebastian swallowed. “But I promised you—”
She took hold of his hands. “I’m releasing you from your promise as long as we’re at sea.” She backed toward the stairs that would take them below. “I have this fantasy...”
“Indeed?” He allowed her to pull him along.
“Oh, indeed. There was this great sea warrior… and this mermaid…”
Sebastian kicked open his cabin door and closed and locked it behind them. Already, he knew, this journey was never going to be boring.
Epilogue
Fey Abbey, East Essex, near the coast, Oct. 12th, 1834
“Willyou read it again tomorrow, Mama?”
Maggie chuckled at her eldest son Charlie’s request.
“Yes, Mama! I like the part about the bears.” Geoffrey removed his thumb from his mouth to second his older brother’s plea.
“Don’t you want me to read you something else?” Although she could hardly blame them.
