Clara returned to their room to retrieve her books and art supplies she would need to complete her work. Benjamin had chosen to work with the crew. Their voyage according to the Captain could be anywhere from 4 to 6 months at sea.

Clara was in no rush to return. It was a dream come true having this time with Benjamin. As time progressed she enjoyed the fact that they ate every meal together. Would take strolls along the deck so she could stretch her legs and get some activity throughout the day. Her favorite time though was at night. There is just something magical about the sea at night, sometimes you don't know which way is up when the stars reflect in the dark ocean waters.

"It's nearly a full moon," Clara said looking up at the sky as Benjamin held her hand.

"Clara?"

"Hmm?"

"Were you terribly unhappy with me? Back in England?"

Clara stopped looking at the moon and stared into Benjamin's eyes. "I was never unhappy with you. Not really. Just saddened by the loss of time, so many missed opportunities. Too much time apart. It was difficult to live my life with you because I had to spend most of it without you, but it was the situation that distressed me. Not you Benjamin, never you."

Benjamin pushed a wayward lock of hair behind Clara's ear. It had grown longer in this past month, framing her face so beautifully. "This time at sea with you has shown me how much I have missed. I do not know how am to part from you again when we get to port and must return to our lives."

"We could run away together," Clara mused, "hide from the world, while exploring it? It sounds like it would be a grand adventure."

"Life on the run does sound romantic, Clara but not very realistic. It would be a great hardship and if I don't return, I can never return, because I would a traitor to the Crown."

"I know, Benjamin," Clara said touching his cheek, "it was only a daydream."

Benjamin covered her hand with his and he kissed her palm. "I worry I ask too much of you at times."

"My place is at your side. I would bear any burden to stay there."

But Benjamin did not want her to continue to sacrifice. He wished he could give her the one thing that she wanted. He knew how much Clara desired to have a family, a family with him. She had her sister and brother, their significant others and their children but she dreamed of a children of her own. He knew if it were possible she'd fill the house to the rafters with them.

But it had all gone so terribly wrong. The night they lost their child and he nearly lost her was more heartache then he could bear. Benjamin still felt the loss, burying his child, his infant was perhaps the hardest thing he's ever done. Just thinking how he had almost lost Clara too, pushed him to the mental brink; to a place so dark he feared if he ever ventured in, he'd never find his way out again.

Yet looking at her tonight. Seeing how vibrant she's become over these last few weeks, made him want to reconsider. Something about the sea agrees with her immensely. Clara was not nearly so thin as she was when they first boarded and he loved exploring her curves as they returned when they were alone at night. She came alive in his arms, every time he made love to her. He felt he was given a gift, so precious; he'd treasure it forever.

"Would you like to retire early my, dove?" Benjamin asked.

Clara shook her head no, which surprised Benjamin. "I'm on the rag," she explained.

"Oh I see," Benjamin leaned on the rail and stared out at the vast ocean.

"I'm sorry," Clara said, a variety of emotions played across her features.

Benjamin looked at Clara perplexed. "What ever for? Surely a few days is a small price to pay before we can make love again?"

"No," Clara said bending her head to the ground. "I'm sorry, I'm broken. It would seem my time at the center was a waste, which means the torment I put us both through was all for naught."

Clara was so disappointed when her menses came. Obviously, the treatments had not worked. She was still incapable of having children. With all the time she and Benjamin spent together. The calm they both had just by being near one another. She felt so certain this was their time, only to become disappointed once more.

The look on Clara's face was heart-wrenching. "You blame yourself but it is I that am to blame," Benjamin declared. "I drove you to this. It was my errors that lead you down this path. You are not the one broken, Clara. I am. I am a broken shell of a man without you."

Clara wrapped her arms around him and he held her in his embrace. "You're perfect, in every way. I was a fool. I just could not accept that certain things were not meant to be. I felt deficient in so many ways. I felt I failed you as your wife."

"Then you must be mad because you are all I've ever wanted. You, that is all."

Clara smiled and Benjamin brushed his fingertips along the side of her cheek. "The day you came into my life is the day I started living. I didn't know I was a dead man walking. You breathed life back into me. Gave me a reason to hope beyond all sense and sensibility. To believe I could be capable of great love and be loved in return. You are a gift, Clara. A precious gift I will treasure for all eternity."

Benjamin tilted her chin and claimed her lips. Clara closed her eyes as he took a masterful command of the kiss, deepening it, exploring. Clara surrendered to him, gave him all that she had, and then some.

That night he held her in his arms and prayed that he'd be forgiven, for all the pain he has put this woman through. He did not deserve her. Yet knowing this only made him cling to her all the more fearful she may discover this truth and leave him.

The next morning, he woke up in his cabin alone. "Clara?" She obviously had risen early. He had no idea why he spoke her name. There was nowhere to hide in such a small cabin.

He washed up and dressed and found her topside, with Captain McCullen. The two of them were standing at the helm laughing together over something witty McCullen must have said.

Benjamin felt the pangs of jealousy. James had sworn time and time again that he had no designs on his wife but the ease at which the two of them spoke together, the way McCullen could quickly bring a smile to Clara's lips, drove Benjamin insane at times.

Had he known when he agreed for Clara to use the Captain's quarters meant that he was giving McCullen everyday access to his wife he would have reconsidered his choice. Yet he knew part of him allowed this to happen, because the more time McCullen and Clara spent together, the more the Clara he knew, the Clara he fell in love with came back to him.

So he allowed it, but seeing them now as McCullen maneuvered himself behind Clara to position her hands on the helm made Benjamin want to rip the man's arms off and beat him senseless with them. Benjamin tried to calm himself before approaching. To come off as the jealous husband would not be proper form.

"There you are?" Benjamin said, giving Clara a peck on the cheek to greet her.

"Good Morning!" Clara declared with laughing eyes and flushed cheeks. She was divine. "I didn't wake you did I?" she asked.

Benjamin felt buoyed by the question as that would mean she has not been topside long. "Not at all. Thank you for giving me the extra time to sleep."

Clara smiled at him.

"You handle this ship better than James here."

McCullen's smile was filled with chagrin. "I do believe you're right, Benji although I'd hate to admit it. Keep your voice down around the crew would you. If I'm not careful they'll likely mutiny and take her on as their new leader."

Clara laughed again and Benjamin found himself laughing too at the notion. "Ah, my Clara, the Pirate Queen."

"He said it not me," McCullen quipped to Clara who just giggled.

"I must admit it does have a nice ring to it," Clara admitted. "What say you men?" Clara hollered to the crew. "Would you forgo your Captain for the likes of me?"

There were several shouts of "Aye" coming from among the rigging and shrouds and Clara laughed hardily at the look of rejection on McCullen's face.

"I'm afraid my, dear Captain the gig is up. You owe me your hat."

With a sad expression, James took off his hat, and placed it on Clara's head. "A wager is a wager but I do believe I was bamboozled. I never stood a chance against you."

Clara tilted the hat to a cocky angle. "Maybe next time you'll learn to pick your fights a little bit better, eh Captain?"

"Temptress," Captain McCullen pouted. "The sooner you get this woman off my ship the better. Before I know it she'll have me marooned. I already know she has my First Mate Hodgkin half in love with her along with most of my crew."

"What's not to love?" Benjamin said as his eyes met Clara's and she blushed. How she could remain so innocent yet be the temptress that James claimed her to be. It was the same intoxicating concoction that brought him to heel and had him marrying her.

James looked from Clara to Benjamin to Clara again. "I see how it is. I've ceased to exist in his presence." James threw his hands in the air in surrender and Benjamin took his position behind Clara to help her steer that ship, although he was pretty certain she didn't really require his assistance.

"You've become close?" Benjamin said near Clara's ear and she smiled though he could not see as he stood pressed against her back.

Clara knew it was not right but she enjoyed the note of jealousy that she heard in Benjamin's voice. She enjoyed the fact that she still had to power to excite him in such a manner after all she wouldn't want Benjamin to become too complacent.

"He has become a good friend," Clara said staring ahead. Despite all the praise of what a good sailor she was, just the thought that this ship was now in her control had her shaking on the inside.

"Just a friend?" Benjamin hated how pitiful he sounded to his own ears. It was difficult for him not to feel insecure around her.

"Of course," Clara reassured "you can't possibly believe there is another man that could replace you in my heart. Surely I've proven my loyalty to you?"

Benjamin thought of Captain Redgrave, Lord Fitton, even young Sturgis and now McCullen, never has she waivered. Not once. "You have nothing to prove, Dove."

He felt her body relax as they were still pressed together.

"Would you like to get something to eat?" Benjamin asked.

"I always enjoy our meals together," Clara said, "but who will..."

Hodgkin's stepped forward. Clara should have known he wouldn't be far away. "Allow me," Andrew said taking the helm from her.

"Thank you, Mr. Hodgkin," Clara said relinquishing the wheel to him.

Benjamin and Clara were off to spend another perfect day together.