It was actually pleasant waking up within the carriage beside Nicholas, though he’d been asleep much longer than she. He needed it, though. Claire was surprised he was still going; it was his first day out, and by the way she’d seen him previously acting she thought he would need to be home by now.

She was relieved he’d gotten them tickets for the ferry so quickly, as she wasn’t feeling very patient. He was taking her on an actual date, their first real date. Better yet, Nick didn’t even seem as put out as she’d expected. Perhaps France was in their future, one day. “Thank you,” she grinned when he kindly let her lead the way, acting like the perfect gentleman. Instead of taking this to be an act she tried to honestly believe he was wanting to treat her like a princess. If it was true, then Claire may have just married the perfect man.

“It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to sail the seas,” she joked, putting a hand on the railing as the ferry started. The breeze felt wonderful against her face after being so hot during their picnic. Claire was quiet for a moment, glancing at the others laughing together, having quiet conversation in groups of two, sometimes three. Not many of them were dressed as nicely as them. There were even a few children, tugging on their mothers’ dresses and asking for fathers to hold them so they could see the water below at a better angle. “Where does the money from our business go?” she asked suddenly, still watching the thin crowd. “I realize it goes to you and your father, but do you give any of it away?” Claire grinned, realizing how silly she must sound. “I mean charity. I always made Father give to the home the church runs for children without a place to go. Could we do that? If you have money to spare?” she asked, glancing at him before turning her attention to the destination in the distance. He probably thought her silly, but seeing the people around her had reminded her of it. What did he think?

When they arrived she put her hand in his, stepping onto the dock with excitement. “Are we almost there? Are you sure they’ll let us in…I’m starting to have doubts…”