7. Schemes

She motioned for Daland and Jem to join them, and the conversation was dropped as they all gave their attention to filling their bellies with the hot, delicious soup. When the meal was over, they leaned back in their chairs, each with a cup of steaming tea. Casper could not recall the last time he had felt so contented after a meal, and, judging from the relaxed, satisfied smile on Jem's face, he felt it as well.

"Alright, Senta," Daland began. "I think it's time you tell me what all that nonsense with Erik was about earlier. Why does he think he's getting our lighthouse?"

Sienna's eyes flicked between Casper and Jem. "I think we can save that conversation for a time when we don't have guests, Papa."

He waved her words away. "They'll be staying with us until the Midwinter festival. Besides, they've already seen me at my worst. What's a little bit of extra spectacle?"

"Besides," Jem added enthusiastically, "maybe we'll be able to help. As my dear old Mormor used to say, ‘Many hands make light work, and many heads make better plans…as long as one mouth is talking at a time.'"

Casper raised his brows. "I think that was her way of telling you to stop talking and get back to work."

Jem held a hand to his heart. "Your insinuation wounds me, Casp. I am a very hard worker."

Sienna chuckled. "Your Mormor sounds like an interesting woman."

The first mate's eyes took on a sad, distant look. "She was," he murmured softly.

"Right." Daland cleared his throat. "About Erik."

Sienna slowly spun her empty teacup on the table. "He wants the lighthouse."

"So I heard. He seemed to think that he was going to get it."

"That's the thing…he technically can claim it."

Daland shoved back his chair and flew to his feet. "What?! What do you mean? Queen Celesta gave the lighthouse to us. I signed the keeper agreement myself!"

The young woman sighed and motioned for him to sit back down. "Celesta and Drosselmeyer were here this morning, before you came back."

"Why?"

"It seems there's a law, put in place under Regent Stahlmaus, that basically says that any land or building that serves a public purpose can only be owned by an elf. It was all part of his grand idea to set up elves as the ruling class. Celly is working on getting the law repealed, though it might take a little while. But she said that we shouldn't worry about it, and she's not just going to give the lighthouse to someone else."

Jem drummed his fingers on the table in thought. "If the queen is the one who decides who takes care of the lighthouse, why doesn't he go to her?"

"He did. That's how she knew he was up to something, and it's why she stopped by. She wanted to make sure that I heard the news from her first. She said that she told him that she wouldn't do anything until she had looked into the matter thoroughly."

"And by looking into it thoroughly she means removing the law?"

Sienna nodded. "Erik might bluster and bully, but he can't actually do anything. The lighthouse is still ours until Celesta says otherwise, though she did mention that the salary might have to be put on hold until everything is ironed out."

A shadow crossed Daland's face, and his shoulders slumped. "By that time, it might be too late."

Sienna's face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't want you to worry…didn't think you had to know…"

Casper met Jem's eyes from across the table. The whole conversation up to this point had felt like they were intruding on a private family moment, no matter what the fisherman had said, and it seemed like things were going to get even more intimate and personal.

Should we leave? I don't know that we were meant to be here for this.

Jem, as if reading his thoughts, simply gave a small shrug and turned back to the drama unfolding with rapt attention.

"What's going on, Papa? I know it might be a few weeks, but we'll get by. You can go fishing more often; I'll take care of the lighthouse. And Celesta did say that we would be paid the full amount after everything is over. It will be tight, but we can do it."

Daland groaned and covered his face with his hands. "We're in debt, Senta."

She froze, and Casper watched as the color drained from her face. "What? But how?"

"The healers. There were so many of them, especially at the beginning." Daland dropped his hands and let them lie limply on the table. "The damage was much more serious than we thought at first, and the kind of magic that was required to keep you alive wasn't cheap."

Tears escaped and trailed down Sienna's face. "You never said anything."

"Of course I didn't. Why would I? There wasn't a price I could put on your life; I would gladly have given my own if I thought it would help. But the fact is that I was just barely able to keep on top of payments before. But without the keeper salary and with my boat at the bottom of the sea…" His voice trailed off hopelessly.

"Oh." Sienna's voice was small and quiet, and she hugged her arms around her middle.

The heightened level of emotion in the room made Casper's insides squirm, and he wished he could present some solution to their problem. Unfortunately, the business of chasing down and scaring away smugglers did not pay very well. He had nothing to offer but a week's worth of time and battered ship.

Jem stretched out his long leg under the table and kicked the bottom of his boot. Once he had Casper's attention, he mouthed, "The Petrel."

Casper looked at him blankly. "What?"

"The Petrel. To fish."

Understanding dawned, and Casper cleared his throat. "If it's a ship you need, I happen to have one."

Daland looked up sharply. "What?"

"I have a ship."

"But you…you're…it's…"

Casper could see the unspoken words in his eyes "You're the Flying Dutchman. It's a cursed ship."

"Not planning on using it this week, anyway," Jem interrupted. "He's here for the Festival, remember?"

"That's still seven days away," Sienna argued.

"Seven good days of fishing."

Daland appeared conflicted. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm just a fisherman. I wouldn't know the first thing about sailing a ship that size."

"But I do." Jem raised his hand. "And I've always wanted to learn more about the fishing trade. I would be happy to take you and however many of your crew you want to bring."

"Oh, I don't actually have a crew. We shared the boat and split the profits. But I will extend your offer to them." The fisherman hesitated. "I do worry about leaving Sienna alone."

His daughter put a hand on his arm. "I'll be fine, Papa. It's no different from all the other times you've been gone."

"I didn't know then that that swaggering, self-important bully was trying to force his way into our home," Daland argued. "I know you have fire, Senta, but not even that is enough to keep him from overpowering you."

"Ah, but Casper will still be here." Jem's voice was entirely too cheerful, and Casper suddenly had the sneaking suspicion that he was watching the pieces of his first mate's carefully laid plans fall into place. "What he lacks in height he makes up for in brooding, intimidating glares and a mean right hook. He'll look after Sienna."

The pointed raise of Jem's brows and the unspoken communication that seemed to be happening between him and Daland only confirmed Casper's suspicions.

"Hold on." Sienna firmly held up a hand, stopping the conversation. "I appreciate the sentiment here, but I'll be just fine here. It's just Erik—he might be a nuisance, but I don't think he'll actually harm me."

Daland's jaw was hard. "You don't know that."

"And you do?"

"Sienna, he's—"

"And besides that." Sienna seemed to have found her stride. "There's the entire matter of having a stranger staying in our house. You might trust them, Papa, but what will everyone else think? He can't just stay here alone with me. That will just start a rumor train worse than when Erik left me in the first place. Just because I'm fine living here alone with you for the rest of my life doesn't mean I want to do it with a reputation."

Jem snapped his fingers. "Tell them you're engaged. If he has a reason to be here, no one will think twice."

And there it is.

Casper pushed his chair back and stood. He looked down at Sienna. "May I speak with you for a moment?" He glared at Jem out of the corner of his eye. "Privately?"

She nodded and followed him as he grabbed his jacket and hat and stepped outside. The early afternoon sunshine was bright after the muted light indoors, and it took his eyes a moment to adjust. Sienna moved past him and off the path, following the line of the house until they stood beside the lighthouse tower. The silence between them was awkward as they faced each other, and Casper suddenly found himself unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry about—"

"Would you really—"

They both started speaking at the same time. Casper clamped his mouth shut and gestured for her to proceed.

"Would you really do it?" She stood close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye. A brisk breeze brushed over them, pulling loose strands of hair in front of her face.

"Do what?"

"Lend my father your ship and pretend to be my fiancé." She tucked the hair behind her ear, but it immediately blew into her face again, causing her to swipe at it with a frustrated growl.

Casper impulsively grabbed the knit hat from his head and pulled it onto hers, tucking the hair back as he did. She blinked wide, startled eyes at him, and he froze, suddenly realizing the familiarity of the action that was so at odds with the newness of their acquaintance. He quickly took a step back, clasping his hands behind him.

"I apologize."

She blinked several times and gave her head a small shake. "No, it was kind. Thank you." She smiled shyly at him, and his stomach responded by swooping up and down like a ship in heavy swells. He stubbornly ignored the feeling.

"You're welcome." His voice was gruff, but it was better that way. Jem might have grand plans for their allotted week, but he wouldn't lead this woman on.

I saw the tears that Erik caused, even after all this time. She doesn't need me to add to them.

She was looking up at him expectantly, and Casper realized he had not answered her question. "I'm happy to lend Daland my ship. Unfortunately, we can only commit to staying in Nivem for a week, but he may use it as he pleases during that time."

A crease appeared in her forehead. "But you're not keen on the second part—on pretending that there is an engagement between us."

He opened his mouth to explain, but she rushed on, cutting off his words. "It's fine. Expected, really. We've only just met one another, and I don't know a thing about you other than that you are the captain of a ship, you rescue drowning fishermen at sea, and can satisfactorily make a pot of tea. And, really, considering the circumstances, I am the one with much more to gain from this situation, though I really think that I can handle Erik on my own. Papa has turned into something of a worrywart over the last year, ever since the accident. But I think you'll have to be the one to tell him; he'll take it better coming from you."

Sienna finally paused long enough for him to get a word in edgewise. Casper blew out a long breath and rubbed the back of his neck. "Would it really be helpful to you?"

I can't believe I'm even considering this.

"No, no, no." She waved the question away. "I am not going to inconvenience you like that. You came here for the Midwinter festival, not so that you could hole up in this house and pretend to be engaged to a woman you just met." She paused for a moment, then snorted a laugh. "It really does sound ridiculous when I say it out loud."

Again, he repressed the urge to smile. She looked so exhausted, and her voice was growing more and more strained as the day went on, and he marveled at the fact that she was able to be so lively and chipper.

"It's not an inconvenience," he began slowly, still a little unsure of where he was going with the words. "But…it's not real. Doesn't the lie bother you?"

She crossed her arms and examined him, and he studiously avoided thoughts of how adorable she looked with his hat pressed down low over her brow.

"Are you planning on wooing other women during the week that we're here?"

The question caught him completely off guard, and he choked and coughed with surprise. "No."

"And, in the event that something even marginally dangerous were to occur, would you do your best to protect me?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in that answer.

"Does it bother you that I can't use magic? That I may never be able to again? Will that make you walk away?"

Casper frowned. "No. Should it?"

Sienna gave a sharp nod, as if coming to a decision. "Then you'll do. I agreed to marry a man who, it turned out, was willing to do a lot less. You're already far better than he was."

He was having trouble following her line of logic. "I'll do?"

"Yes. If the lie is what bothers you, then make it real."