TAgged again by the lovely Jean Barrett so this is page 7 from my new historical. Its still in draft as Ive only done two chapters. Mrs. Padgett looked up at her daughter, frowning. “What could go wrong? It seems quite simple to me. Women are scarce in a colony like this, so what more likely that Mr. Taylor should ask his lawyer to suggest an English woman willing to emigrate.” “That’s all very well. But it has cost him a great deal, for he has to pay for not one, but five passages. What if he doesn’t wish to marry me after all?” “My dear child, what has brought this on?” “It is Mr. Audley’s fault. I was at the rail as I wanted to see everything and he approached me. We were talking but as we came close to land, he put his arm around my waist.” “I did warn you about encouraging him, but surely it is no great matter. You shall not see him again once we make port.” “It it this, Mama. There was a man on the wharf watching and he saw. He looked at me with such contempt. What if he says something and Mr. Taylor hears that I am a flirt?” “A stranger? In any case he cannot know who you are. Why would he do such a thing?” “I don’t know. He seemed…so…” She shrugged. “Perhaps I am making too much of it. There are many thousands of people in the colony, I am informed, so I may never see him again. He did not look like a gentleman.” Though what that had to do with it, Emily wasn’t quite sure. Further conversation came to a halt as a knock on the door signaled the arrival of the seaman to carry the luggage. Smartly dressed in his navy suit, he nodded politely as he picked up the valise and the small trunk indicated by Mrs. Padgett. Gathering her own small case and an umbrella with trembling hands, Emily followed her mother from the cabin. After all these months, the reality of what she intended to do had finally hit. It had taken the hard look from a stranger to bring home the reality of this irrevocable step. If all went to plan, she would be married within a month. Not going to tag anyone this time.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 16:31:24 +0000