The Charlotte Series: Book 3: The Pretender's Gold

SECTION IV-RUNNING AWAY 10

Photo of SS Brittanic-the ship Em is sailingon. It carried 1720 passengers (220 Saloon Class and 1500Steerage). It set the record for fastest Atlantic crossing Westbound(1876) and East bound (1879) This was the only White Star Line shipto ever hold both records simultaneously. She weighed in at 5004 Tons andwas 455 feet from stem to stern.

Chapter 10

My dear Miss Windes:

You said you weren't sure about your plans to go to america yet, and I don't mean to rush you but i just got a letter. There is a sich situwa something happened at my ranch and I have to go home. I sold my watch and got tickets for Gerry and me to go steerage. * The ship leaves Liverpool in two days.

I didn't want to leave without saying good bye but I am not welcome at Dovesdale.

If you want to travel, me and Gerry will help you with your things and make sure you are not bothered. The mail stage departs in 3 hours and the messenger will wait for a reply if you want to join us.

Ever your friend, Mr. Reginald Brewster.

Em sighed and leaned back in the chair as she stared at the letter on the desk without really seeing it at all.

Well.

She was alone in the world, except for Stuart, who was never at home. And her friend Alice. Thanks to Aunt Abby, she was wealthy in her own right. That was something to consider.

The footman shuffled and her thoughts returned to the present.

Why not? Alice would surely accompany her. Having made her decision, she penned her reply.

Mr. Brewster:

I find that I am inclined to travel to America after all. But I shall not travel by mail coach. I have my own coach, as the late Lady Bentfield has left me hers. I shall be at the place where the foot path to my cottage breaks off the lane in one hour. It would please me if you would join us there.

I shall bring Alice and a groom and a footman. They shall return to Dovesdale with the coach, but Alice shall sail with me. I should like to have you and Gerry to travel with us.

Your company should be welcome and will no doubt keep undesirable attention averted from us. I will, therefore, upgrade your passage to saloon class* so that you may be near us.

Ever your friend,

Miss Emmaline Windes.

Handing the letter to the footman, she asked for her to send Alice to her at once.

With the decision made, Em grew excited. In fact, she felt as giddy as a child as she realized just how much Aunt Abby's gift was worth. She squealed in glee as she twirled around with her arms out. As she neared the window, she hugged her arms to herself and laughed at her reflection in the glass.

She was an independent woman of means. She didn't need to marry anyone now. She would have a roof over her head and food in her pantry. In fact, she could have a rather elegant roof over her head and servants to stock that pantry for her! She still would like to find a husband, but not on the marriage mart where her fortune was her only merit.

Perhaps she would travel for a year or two. In a year or two Freddie might settle down into his place at Dovesdale and perhaps...

A knock interrupted her reverie.

"Enter."

"You asked to see me?"

"Alice, I need your help packing as we will be leaving immediately. I want to pack lightly, just one trunk each. I shall purchase what we need when we arrive in New York City."