imagined possible on any living human being. They brought to mind an aqua-marine gemstone with flecks of golden sunlight, beaming from within. His lips were full and moist, his mouth friendly, and his nose was perfectly proportioned. He had a strong jaw, bold cheekbones and a proud brow.
I, with my freckled complexion and burgundy hair, was positively mesmerized by his dark features and the deep timbre of his voice. He was like a hero out of a romantic legend, or a dream.
But of course, I thought he must be married or promised to someone. He was far too handsome to have escaped the clutches of some brilliant, ambitious young lady.
Like me?
“Miss Hughes, may I ask…?” He inclined his head slightly. “Were you named after Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline ?”
“I was,” I replied matter-of-factly. “My mother is also a romantic, I profess. My parents are a perfect match. But I’ve always wondered why she chose to name me after such a tragic character. I hope I will not suffer a similar fate. I would prefer to live a happier life and not spend the whole of it searching for a lost love.”
Mr. Fraser tapped his finger on his knee and gazed out the window. “Yes, we should all be spared that.” Then he met my gaze again. “Did you know Longfellow spent time, during his younger years, at the Portland Head Light? I believe his poem The Lighthouse was inspired by his affection for the place. Do you know that poem?”
“Year after year,” I said, “through all the silent night, burns on forevermore that quenchless flame, shines on that inextinguishable light.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Forgive me. Of course, you would know it, considering you are named after Longfellow’s greatest epic work.”
I sighed. “It is both a blessing and a curse, for my mother was always reading his poems to me when I would have preferred to run down to the pond with the boys and catch frogs.”
Mr. Fraser laughed and sat back. “A noble pursuit for a young lady,” he replied with a charismatic smile that caused my heart to flutter anew.
I swallowed hard in an effort to calm my spirits. “And what about you, Mr. Fraser? Have you lived in Cape Elizabeth all your life?”
“I have,” he replied. “My father was a sea captain—as am I.”
I raised my fingers to my lips. “Good gracious. Have I already blundered? Should I be addressing you as Captain Fraser?”
“Probably,” he replied. “Although I rather enjoyed the sound of Mr . Fraser across your lips. I don’t know why.”
His words struck me like a lightning bolt. Feeling suddenly shy, I lowered my gaze.
“Now it is my turn to apologize,” he said. “That was rather uncouth of me. It must be the weather, knocking me off balance. Or perhaps it’s your charming company. It’s a delight to encounter a fresh face on the Cape. We don’t see many like yours. You’re quite lovely, Miss Hughes.”
I cupped my hands together on my lap, and felt rather daring all of a sudden. “And I suspect there are not many faces like yours either. But now I am flattering you, quite shamelessly. Enough of that. You were saying…about living in Cape Elizabeth all your life?”
His shoulders rose and fell with a deep intake of breath. “Yes. My parents built our home six years before I was born, and when they passed, they left it to me, as I was the eldest.”
“My condolences. When was that?”
“Almost ten years ago.”
I gazed out the window for a moment and realized I had stopped shivering. A warm glow had settled around my heart. “You have siblings?” I asked, turning my attention back to the captain. “How many?”
“Three sisters and a younger brother,” he replied. “My sisters reside in Portland, and my brother lives in London. He manages our British shipping interests.”
“You own ships?”
“Yes. Eight of them. All steamers.”
“How exciting. Do you see your sisters often?”
“I do. And that is, as you put it, both a blessing and a
I, with my freckled complexion and burgundy hair, was positively mesmerized by his dark features and the deep timbre of his voice. He was like a hero out of a romantic legend, or a dream.
But of course, I thought he must be married or promised to someone. He was far too handsome to have escaped the clutches of some brilliant, ambitious young lady.
Like me?
“Miss Hughes, may I ask…?” He inclined his head slightly. “Were you named after Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline ?”
“I was,” I replied matter-of-factly. “My mother is also a romantic, I profess. My parents are a perfect match. But I’ve always wondered why she chose to name me after such a tragic character. I hope I will not suffer a similar fate. I would prefer to live a happier life and not spend the whole of it searching for a lost love.”
Mr. Fraser tapped his finger on his knee and gazed out the window. “Yes, we should all be spared that.” Then he met my gaze again. “Did you know Longfellow spent time, during his younger years, at the Portland Head Light? I believe his poem The Lighthouse was inspired by his affection for the place. Do you know that poem?”
“Year after year,” I said, “through all the silent night, burns on forevermore that quenchless flame, shines on that inextinguishable light.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Forgive me. Of course, you would know it, considering you are named after Longfellow’s greatest epic work.”
I sighed. “It is both a blessing and a curse, for my mother was always reading his poems to me when I would have preferred to run down to the pond with the boys and catch frogs.”
Mr. Fraser laughed and sat back. “A noble pursuit for a young lady,” he replied with a charismatic smile that caused my heart to flutter anew.
I swallowed hard in an effort to calm my spirits. “And what about you, Mr. Fraser? Have you lived in Cape Elizabeth all your life?”
“I have,” he replied. “My father was a sea captain—as am I.”
I raised my fingers to my lips. “Good gracious. Have I already blundered? Should I be addressing you as Captain Fraser?”
“Probably,” he replied. “Although I rather enjoyed the sound of Mr . Fraser across your lips. I don’t know why.”
His words struck me like a lightning bolt. Feeling suddenly shy, I lowered my gaze.
“Now it is my turn to apologize,” he said. “That was rather uncouth of me. It must be the weather, knocking me off balance. Or perhaps it’s your charming company. It’s a delight to encounter a fresh face on the Cape. We don’t see many like yours. You’re quite lovely, Miss Hughes.”
I cupped my hands together on my lap, and felt rather daring all of a sudden. “And I suspect there are not many faces like yours either. But now I am flattering you, quite shamelessly. Enough of that. You were saying…about living in Cape Elizabeth all your life?”
His shoulders rose and fell with a deep intake of breath. “Yes. My parents built our home six years before I was born, and when they passed, they left it to me, as I was the eldest.”
“My condolences. When was that?”
“Almost ten years ago.”
I gazed out the window for a moment and realized I had stopped shivering. A warm glow had settled around my heart. “You have siblings?” I asked, turning my attention back to the captain. “How many?”
“Three sisters and a younger brother,” he replied. “My sisters reside in Portland, and my brother lives in London. He manages our British shipping interests.”
“You own ships?”
“Yes. Eight of them. All steamers.”
“How exciting. Do you see your sisters often?”
“I do. And that is, as you put it, both a blessing and a
Similar Books
