"Oh that’s right, I forgot that the two of you have met. Isn’t it wonderful that our dear Allison has returned to us, Carolyn?" The blonde backed away from Morgan a step, turning to glare at Allison as the redhead accepted Morgan’s outstretched hand and tucked herself next to her. Isabelle watched with hidden amusement as Carolyn struggled to keep her face calm, her eyes staring daggers at the lovers. George stepped up behind his wife and smiled over her shoulder at the stunned Carolyn.

"I do hope you will enjoy our celebration this evening, Carolyn. We have much to celebrate." The blonde started to shake her head and back away, turning as if to leave, but was caught by one of the port town’s affluent matrons, Ellen Mays.

"Carolyn, dear, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you!! You simply must come over and chat with us!!" The blonde woman looked like a startled deer as Ellen took her by the arm and led her away. Anne barely stifled a giggle when Carolyn shot a glare back over her shoulder at her audience and Isabelle laughed softly.

Guests started to stream in and the family arranged themselves to receive them, exchanging greetings for nearly an hour. Isabelle was pleasantly surprised at how well Morgan and Allison’s presence with the family was received, having anticipated some cool responses despite George’s assurances to the contrary. Soon the flow of people through the doorway slowed to a trickle and she sighed gratefully.

"Well, I suppose it’s time to mingle," she said cheerfully, smiling at Anne as her daughter hurried off to join her friends. Morgan offered her arm to Allison and the two set off for the parlor where she had promised to go speak with some acquaintances earlier and Jack wandered off as well. George stood smiling at her for a moment then offered her his arm.

"It went well, didn’t it, Bella?" he said quietly as they made their way through the foyer. She smiled up at him and nodded.

"Absolutely. Allison couldn’t have timed her arrival better. And Ellen did a wonderful job of making sure that Carolyn didn’t make an escape." George laughed softly and nodded as he was hailed from the parlor, waving at some of the people chatting there before leading Isabelle onward.

"The big announcement should go well this evening," he said under his breath as they joined the majority of their guests in the ballroom. Isabelle nodded in agreement as they started moving among their guests, eagerly anticipating the reaction to George’s news.

* ting ting ting *

Morgan glanced up as the sound of silver on crystal rang through the dining room and voices drifted into silence. George stood behind the head table, smiling happily out at his guests and she felt butterflies start to tumble in her stomach. Allison looked on inquisitively, unaware of the news that George was about to share.

"Thank you all for coming this evening," he started, "but I must admit that there is more to this evening than merely celebrating my son’s engagement." Heads leaned together and a rustle of whispers swept through the room. Morgan eyed the table where Carolyn sat, trapped by Ellen Mays and her friends. The blonde had shot lethal glares at her and Allison all evening, causing Morgan a bit of amusement seeing her former lover played for a fool just as she herself was. George cleared his throat loudly and the room quieted again. "I want to thank all of you for your support of me in my position, and," George paused for a moment then held out his hand to Jack who rose to stand proudly next to him, "and, I hope that you will continue to support Jack as he assumes the role of Harbormaster." Morgan’s eyes widened in surprise as the guests surged to their feet, applauding loudly and she exchanged a delighted smile with Isabelle. George beamed at his son and clapped him on the back proudly, then waved his hands in an attempt to quiet the room. After a few moments the congratulations quieted down and George opened his mouth to speak once more, then closed it as he was cut off by a question falling loudly into the silence.

"So who will take Jack’s place?" George cocked his head for a moment and Morgan saw Isabelle stifle a laugh.

"Why, funny that you should ask that. After thinking long and hard and talking to Jack about who he would like to work with in the future, we have decided to give someone very close to our family a chance at the position. Jack will train and oversee the position as I did when he took over for me, and, if our choice proves worthy, then the assignment will be permanent." Morgan swallowed a laugh as Carolyn sat up straight in her chair and she looked hard at George, her speculation as to who George was going to say obvious by the small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. George looked around the room for a moment, meeting the eyes of various people then smiled. "My choice is someone who I have been close to for a long time, someone familiar with the harbor, its captains and ships, and familiar with the rules of our port." George paused for a moment then turned and met her eyes, a twinkle in his own as he motioned for her to stand. "I believe our own Captain Morgan will serve the town and port very, very well." Morgan pushed herself to her feet in the still silence that followed and looked out at the shocked guests.

"Don’t worry, my friends, my ship will be in other hands by the end of the week, and I will follow in Jack’s footsteps of keeping a tight rein on those that need be watched." George started to scowl out at the crowd as a scattering of applause picked up, followed by more as the guests absorbed the announcement. Isabelle stood up and rested her hand lightly on George’s arm, lifting her voice up to get everyone’s attention.

"I hear the musicians warming up!" she announced lightly. Morgan turned and looked down at Allison who was looking up at her in shock.

"You’re giving up your ship?" she asked quietly. Morgan nodded and sat back down, eyeing the guests as they flowed out the arched doorway.

"Yes, love. George’s health wouldn’t let him keep going as he was, and Jack was his natural replacement. Henry was supposed to follow in Jack’s steps, but we found out that that was what Carolyn was counting on." Allison nodded slowly, a frown still tugging at her brow.

"But…you love your ship!" Morgan laughed softly and reached out to take Allison’s hand. She gazed deep into the redhead’s confused deep green eyes.

"Yes, I do, but I love you more, and Jacob will take good care of her. I couldn’t ask you to live on a ship half of the year, and I couldn’t be a good captain to them anymore." Allison gazed down at their clasped hands, an incredulous smile curving her lips. "So, we will stay here until we can find a home that we like. Is that okay with you? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but George asked that I keep it a secret." Allison nodded happily at her and threw her arms around her neck, kissing her soundly. Morgan laughed and wrapped her arms around the redhead, holding her tight, letting the joy she could feel radiating from her lover warm her soul.

The rest of the evening passed smoothly, the Stromwells’ guests warming to the idea of Morgan as Dockmaster by the time they left. George and Isabelle spent most of the evening reassuring some of their more conservative friends and associates that the choice was a good one. Morgan and Allison were swept along from group to group as congratulations were offered, Allison charming everyone with her sweet southern charm and gentle humor. Carolyn slipped out not long after the announcement was made, escaping away from the well-wishers. Few of her former conspirators tried to follow, instead most concentrated on repairing the rift that Carolyn had created between themselves and the Stromwells’ allies.

The moon was well along its trek through the starry sky as the last of the guests bid farewell and departed, and Isabelle sighed softly in exhaustion and leaned against her husband’s arm.

"Well, Bella, we did it," he said softly, pressing a tender kiss against her temple. She nodded and smiled up at him then turned back towards their home. Anne had retired for the evening already having danced herself into exhaustion and Jack had left to escort his fiancée home. The house was extremely quiet after the bustle and noise of their guests, the silence interrupted every so often by the sound of servants cleaning.

"I think it’s time for some well deserved rest, George," Isabelle said softly, smiling into his eyes as he offered her his arm.

"Yes, my dear, I think so."

A brief knock on the door drew George’s attention away from the papers spread across his desk and he looked up to find Morgan waiting patiently in the doorway. With a smile he set his glasses down on the desk and leaned back, happy to see his friend more relaxed. "Afternoon, Morgan, how are you today?"

"I’m doing well, George. You seem to be feeling better?" she answered, letting a question lend a lilt to the end of her greeting. He nodded and stretched his arms over his head.

"Much better. You have no idea how relaxed I’ve been since you agreed to settle down." Morgan chuckled a little.