Greenwich Glory
"Maritime museum historian Dr. Esther Blake gives the best tours in Greenwich—but when visiting professor David stays after hours, she shows him artifacts not in any exhibition."
Dr. Esther Blake knew everything about naval history. David's questions after her lecture revealed he knew almost as much.
"Yuh actually read my papers," she said, surprised. "Most academics just cite without reading."
"Your work on Caribbean maritime trade is groundbreaking."
"Yuh free tonight? I could show yuh the archives."
The archives after hours were a different world. Esther moved through them like a captain on deck, thick and confident among the maritime treasures.
"This sextant belonged to a Jamaican navigator. Eighteen century." She handed it to him reverently.
"Incredible."
"So is finding someone who appreciates it."
The appreciation grew mutual. History gave way to present tense.
"I shouldn't do this," she said as he kissed her among the archives.
"Why not?"
"Because yuh a colleague. Because mi reputation—"
"Is already legendary. Let it grow."
Among the maps and instruments, they navigated each other. That thick body charting pleasures like undiscovered territories.
"Yes! David! Right there!"
Her moans echoed off centuries of history. Adding their own chapter to the records.
"Don't stop! Explore everything!"
Their joint paper made waves in academic circles. Their joint life made waves of a different kind.
"Stay in London," she said. "Visiting professorship."
"Or permanent position?"
"That too. And other positions." She smiled. "Mi have many to show yuh."
David's office is now down the hall from Esther's. They publish together. Conference together. Live together.
Greenwich's glory.
Two historians writing their own epic.
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