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had never seen this side of her man, and was

moved by his sincerity. He cares for those he commands.

No wonder his officers and men respond to him as they do,

she thought.

“He tried so hard to please me,” Anthony was saying, speaking of Pitts. “He was always eager and carefree unless the need arose. Then he could be very serious. He would have made a fine captain.” Anthony had written to Pitts’s father. The letter included not only comments about the young man’s bravery and ultimate sacrifice, but also some of the pleasurable times they’d had. When Anthony had finished the letter he laid it down and said, “Words seem so hollow. How do you tell a father his son is gone, and at the same time try to ease his pain by telling him Merle died heroically while doing his duty in some far corner of the world that he’s probably never even heard of? That his body was buried at sea and therefore there will be no grave to visit? How do you say all these things? It sounds so cheap saying he gave his life for England.”

Anthony took his pipe and walked to the porch to light up. Seeing the letter lying open on the table, Deborah picked it up and read it. Reading the letter she couldn’t help but cry. Laying the letter on the table and using her handkerchief to wipe the tears from her eyes, she rushed out onto the porch and took Anthony in her arms.

“Oh, Gil, you wonderful man. Your letter was so perfect. I wanted to stand up and shout. No one could have said better about Merle and made him sound so heroic. His father will be hurt, but he’ll be proud.”

Later that night as Anthony was holding Deborah, she snuggled even closer and whispered to him, “Ever consider marrying an old widow woman who has proved she’s utterly shameless?”

Anthony sat up, wide awake. He looked her in the eyes and said, “Do you really mean it?”

“Yes, my brave captain.”

Anthony pulled her closer and kissed her. Their lovemaking seemed to make him feel whole again. Later in the wee hours of the morning he spoke, “Deborah!”

“Yes, Gil.”

“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

“And I’m the happiest woman in the world,” she replied.

“You hungry?” Anthony asked.

“No.”

“I’m not talking about food, Deborah.”

“Oh, you dirty man. I’m starved.”

***

The wedding was planned for May.

“I’d like to be a June bride, but that is too long. So May it’ll be,” Deborah had commented. It would take that long to get announcements and letters to the respective families. Anthony was torn about what to do in regards to his invitations. He didn’t want to offend Gabe or his mother by not extending an invitation. However, Maria would not want to be embarrassed by being present if Anthony’s mother were there. Knowing his mother, Anthony was sure she’d say something to insult Maria for being his father’s mistress. Another thought came to mind. Did Mother even know about Gabe? Anthony didn’t think so but wasn’t sure. How would he handle that situation? He intended to ask Gabe to be his best man and if mother came how did he introduce the two? “Mother, this is one of my lieutenants.” No, he’d not dishonor Gabe or his father in such a manner. One look and mother would know the truth. Father could never deny Gabe, Anthony thought. Well, I’ll warn Gabe and we’ll cross that bridge when we have to. However, in regards to Maria, what should I do?

I’ll leave it up to Becky, Anthony decided finally. Mother has been “ill” lately and it was possible she wouldn’t be able to make the voyage. If mother weren’t able to come, Becky would extend an invitation to Maria, encouraging her to make the voyage with Becky’s family.

***

Deborah and Anthony invited Gabe, Bart, and Dagan to dine with them the following evening. They wanted them to be the first to know of their plans. Deborah was apprehensive, but Anthony hushed her fears by kissing her lips.

“They all love you and will be happy for us,” Anthony said. “Just wait and see.”

Dinner had been served, and the men poked fun over Anthony’s getting fat on such fare. After a full meal and a succulent pudding for dessert, the men gathered on the porch to enjoy their pipes. One of the servants brought out a decanter of claret and fresh glasses. As the glasses were filled, Deborah walked out on the porch as if on cue. When the men stood up, Anthony looked at them…his friends…his family.

He cleared his throat and said, “Men, this is a special occasion for which you all were invited. I look on each of you as a very special part of my life. Some would say family. We in the Navy know it goes beyond family. Ties that bind us by both blood and battle have formed a union no landsman could fully understand. I have asked for another union, and Lady Deborah has graciously accepted my humble proposal. I…we…have invited you three here tonight to share in our joy before it is publicly announced.” Anthony looked at the men who stood before him, their mouths agape. Concerned about their acceptance he continued, “It’s been no secret how I feel about Lady Deborah.”

Before Anthony could finish, the men’s shouts and cries of congratulations interrupted him. “We have been wondering when you’d get enough wind in ya sails to ask,” Bart stated in his strong accent. All it took were those few seconds for Anthony’s words to sink in before the then reacted, as he knew they would.

Anthony pulled Lady Deborah near, enjoying the good-natured bantering to which the three men were subjecting their commanding officer.

“I knew you was smitten, Cap’n. Told Mr. Buck I did. I jes’ know’d it,” Bart continued.

Gabe turned to Lady Deborah and japed, “Are you sure, Madam? You don’t know him same as we do.”

Dagan surprised everyone. He used the end of his pipe to tap on his wine glass and get everyone’s attention. “Gentlemen,” he said, “A toast! To the commodore and his beautiful lady. May you always have fair winds and following seas.”

“Here, here,” they all said in unison as they drained their glasses.

Anthony was taken aback by Dagan’s manner, and his elegance. This was another side of this mysterious man he’d neither seen nor imagined.

Anthony then placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulders, surprising him. “Gabe, would you do me the honor of being my best man?”

That Gabe was moved was obvious to all. “Of course,” he muttered. “But what about Mr. Buck?”

Anthony looked directly into Gabe’s eyes as he responded. “Rupert is my first lieutenant and a dear friend. But you, Gabe, are my brother.” Then they all hugged, and Anthony suffered through Bart’s telling and re-telling of the incident where he’d had the cocked pistol in his pants pointed at his “wedding tackle.”

Later, after retiring for the evening, Anthony asked Deborah, “If the gun had gone off and I was ah…ere…crippled, would you still have agreed to marry me?”

“Huh,” was all she said.

A few days later, after the engagement had been made public, the bosun questioned, “Where you headed this time, Bart?”

“To help Lady Deborah pick out a wedding gift for the Cap’n, ‘iffen it’s anything to ya.”

The bosun snorted, “The commodore, you idget. Yew’s the cox’n and still calls him cap’n.’’

“That’s cause he’s still me cap’n-me and the lady’s cap’n, that is.”

“You and the lady’s? Yewed think ya was blood, family.”

“Oh, I is,” quipped Bart. “Jus’ ask the cap’n iffen ya don’t believes me. He’ll tell ya!”

Chapter Fourteen

The mail packet, Heron, had just set sail. Anthony watched and couldn’t help but feel a degree of envy for her commander. He was only a lieutenant, but when he stepped aboard his ship he was given the same honor as a captain on a first rate. It was the freedom that Anthony envied. The Heron’s skipper was free of the humdrum duties associated with the fleet. Governors and senior naval officers, such as Commodore Gardner, who was starved for the latest news and gossip, generally welcomed him as an honored guest.