"So does that mean you'll accompany me to the dinner at the Harbormaster's tonight?" Morgan opened her mouth to refuse, then closed it and nodded slowly, realizing that she had to or risk starting another fight.

"Yes, Carolyn, I will go with you. When will we be leaving?" Carolyn stood up moved closer to Morgan, toying with the laces of her shirt.

"Well, to arrive fashionably late we’d have to leave here at five, but I’d like to get there a little early. There are some guests that would like to reacquaint themselves with you, dear heart, and I believe you might receive a business proposition for you and that ship of yours." Morgan frowned a little as Carolyn continued. "I still have your formal wear in my armoire, so I think it would be best if you came down here at…say…four…to get dressed, then you can help me with my dress. I do remember we had quite a bit of fun getting ready for our last social outing." Morgan made herself chuckle at Carolyn’s inference, trying not to look as unhappy about the arrangements being made as she was. "Now, lover, why don’t you go get some lunch, since I know you haven’t had breakfast yet, and I will see you this afternoon." Carolyn smiled sweetly up at her, eyes cold and calculating, a triumphant smile on her lips. Morgan felt the jaws of the trap close around her as she lowered her lips to brush Carolyn’s cheek with a kiss. Carolyn accepted it graciously then leaned forward and nipped her earlobe. "Mine." She whispered. Morgan ignored the warning and slipped out of Carolyn’s embrace.

"I will see you this afternoon then." She said as she escaped from the room. Morgan leaned against the wall beside the door for a long moment, collecting her scattered thoughts before returning to her room. She jumped as she ran into a waiter coming out of her room and hesitantly walked through the open door. Allison looked up quickly from the table where she was laying out dishes, relief obvious on her face.

"Are you alright?" Morgan nodded and pointed to the food.

"I’m fine. Thank you for ordering lunch. I’m famished." Allison looked expectantly at her for a moment before following her lead and taking a chair at the table. Morgan served both of them then started eating, watching Allison push her food around her plate. "Allison?"

"Yes, Morgan?" Allison answered her, keeping her eyes on her plate. Morgan reached across the table and lightly touched her chin, making her look at her.

"Everything is fine, Allison. Please, eat. I’m not going to be able to have dinner with you, so I’d like to enjoy lunch." Allison’s eyebrows drew together and a slight pout tugged at her lower lip.

"Why won’t you be having dinner with me?" Morgan sighed softly.

"Carolyn has asked me to accompany her to the Harbormaster’s for dinner." Allison frowned.

"And you have to go?" Morgan shot Allison a slightly exasperated look.

"Yes, Allison, I have to go. Staying in his good graces is necessary for me to continue to make this my port, and staying in Carolyn’s good graces is essential for me to continue making this my home. I’ve ignored her, Allison, and that has her irritated. So I’m going with her and in doing so she will forgive me." Allison looked back down at her plate then shoved it away.

"I don’t think I’ve any appetite anymore," she said and left the table to curl up in the wingback. Morgan sighed and pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to ease the ache that had started to irritate her. Pushing her plate back she stood up and started to approach the pouting redhead when a knock sounded on the door. Frowning she turned and walked over, pulling it open and snapping at the man standing there.

"What." The man shifted uncomfortably in her glare and handed her a sealed letter. Morgan took it and glanced at the seal, noting Jacob’s stamp pressed into the wax. Frowning she unfolded the paper and scanned it quickly. Gesturing to the man to wait there she went to the desk and scribbled something at the bottom of the note then broke Jacob’s seal from the paper. Lifting up the chimney on the desk lamp she melted the end of a wax stamp and sealed the letter closed again, pressing her seal into it. Returning to the door she handed the paper back to the messenger with a gold coin.

"Return this to the sender as quickly as possible. And tell the doorman to have my horse readied." He nodded and hurried down the hall, and she heard him take the stairs two at a time. With a grim look on her face she shut the door and retrieved her boots, pulling them on with sharp motions. Allison looked up at her finally as she tied her hair back and wrapped her belt around her waist, and she cocked an eyebrow at the redhead.

"You’re leaving already?" Morgan nodded curtly. "Did something happen?" Morgan clenched her jaw and pulled her pistol out of her trunk, shoving it behind her belt.

"You could say that," she answered. "Someone tried to vandalize my ship."

"Tried?" Allison inquired softly.

"Hmm. Tried. Jacob had a couple of the men staying on the ship since the shipyard hasn’t been able to get her up and out of the water yet. Unfortunately I have made a few enemies over the years. So, a couple of thugs tried to set the ship on fire….my crew caught them before they could succeed." Morgan looked around the room, wondering if there was anything else she needed to bring. Allison frowned.

"So, everything’s okay, then?" Morgan turned and shot an angry look at Allison.

"No. Everything is not okay. Someone just tried to destroy my life!" Allison looked at her in bewilderment.

"Morgan, I’m so-," Morgan cut her off with a wave.

"Don’t worry about it Allison. I don’t expect you to understand. It’s one of the ways we are so different."