Emerald Seas

Chapter 13

It was dark outside, the ship sailing at full speed. The temperature was surprisingly pleasant outside. Inside there was a lot of chatting going on once Kate entered the dining room, lifting her royal blue dress walking down the stairs.

She noticed Emma and Greitzer at the front of the large table. Everyone had risen from their place on the chairs greeting her. Emma was signing her that she wanted to say something so as everyone returned back in their chair Kate stood beside her. The chatting continued
and Kate crouched next to her when Emma softly pulled her down by her wrist. Her face moving towards her ear as she whispered.

'Enjoy tonight' Emma's voice contained a cheerful mood and her face lit up. Kate wasn't sure what she was talking about but she saw Emma crooking her head into the direction of the entrance. Turning her head she saw Cutler bending down in the narrow doorway of the dining room at the top of the small stairs, asking her to come his way.

'We will dine elsewhere' Cutler spoke once Kate arrived at the stairs. He helped her out of the dining room and smiled at the confused look on her face.

'Elsewhere?' Kate smiled weakly and could not think of where else they could enjoy their supper. Cutler stayed silent walking, his arm holding her guiding her to the front of the deck. Kate noticed small lanterns everywhere that lit up the deck in the darkness. There was a small served table at the edge of the front deck. The sky was showing many stars this evening as there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Kate could not remember the last time she had seen such a clear sky at night. Without saying anything Cutler moved her to a place at the table. Sitting down in front of her his blue eyes were lit up by the candles in front of them. He took her hand.

'I did not think you'd be such a romantic' Kate teased him, grinning softly. Cutler smiled and lowered his eyes for a slight moment. After they finished their food while talking about everything that, cause of being at sea again, reminded them of years back Cutler raised from his place. He offered her his hand and Kate stood straight from her chair. The wind striking through her hair she leaned forward on the rail of the ship, watching the view of the dark waves crashing against the hull below. Cutler's hand next to hers on the railing touched it slightly. It reminded her of when they had been rescued and sailed to London again on the HMS Victoria. That night when she made the choice to not tell him about her feelings for him. A decision that she had regretted a thousand times over. His hand lifted and he carefully placed it onto hers, then taking her hand he softly squeezed it.

'I remember when we were just rescued. I knew you could not sleep that night, the same as every night on the hostile ship, and so couldn't I' like Cutler was reading her thoughts he spoke, staring into the distance, about the first night after getting
back their freedom.

'As I saw you standing on deck, probably awoken by the same nightmares that my dreams contained, I knew that was my chance. But I blew it' Cutler now returned his staring eyes away from the ocean on hers again.

'I should have told you back then how I felt, I should have fought for it even though everything and everyone seemed against it' Cutler took her hands softly as her lips formed a smile.

'I will never make the same mistake again, Kate. I promise you I will keep standing by your side no matter what. There is a way to prove to you that promise..' Cutler had turned his body towards her, he took both of her hands now away from the railing and lowered himself to the ground, getting down on one knee. Kate felt her heart making a jump and moved one of her hands to her lips, the other one Cutler was holding tightly.

'Will you marry me?' Cutler whispered, watching her smiling, his face carrying what seemed to be nerves, something she saw for the first time. It made her smile even more and the hand before her lips lowered to his hand holding her other one, she laid it on top.