Read Online Cross the Ocean by Holly Bush - Free Book Online Page A

and stood on a dressmaker’s stool being pinned, prodded and poked for days on end by Elizabeth’s modiste. And then, of course, there was the huge array of fabrics and trimmings to choose. Styles to decide. Matching shoes, purses and cloaks to select. Gert tried desperately to convince the women she needed more fabric than they provided to cover her chest. But to no avail. Gert would die of embarrassment the first time she had to go out in public in these clothes. And the time was quickly approaching. They left for London the following morning.

    * * * *
Gert had never seen such a procession in all her days. Carriage after carriage, hauling trunks and hatboxes with Benson, Briggs and Mrs. Wickham squeezed among them. What a bunch of hooey, Gert thought. But she could not deny the excitement. Melinda supplied an endless list of eligible men with Elizabeth nodding, sometimes shrugging and occasionally shaking her head emphatically. Melinda chattered the entire trip.
    “You’re too young to marry this year,” Gert finally said to Melinda
    “No, I’m not,” the girl replied.
    “You may be allowed to marry but knowing one’s mind at sixteen is another thing all together. You changed hats three times before we left,” Gert said.
    Melinda sat back against the black leather of the carriage seat and frowned.
    “What Gertrude is saying is that there is plenty of time. I didn’t marry Anthony till I was two and twenty.” Elizabeth cringed. “Thank God I waited.”
    “Why?” Melinda asked.
    “I’d be married to a pimply faced redhead with knock knees otherwise,” Elizabeth replied.
    Melinda laughed. “You both think I should wait before accepting an offer. But Father and Grand mama will be angry if I do.”
    “Let them be,” Gert countered. “Aren’t there things you want to do before you have children and a husband to care for?”
    Melinda’s eyes widened. “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.”
    “Then take the time to think about it. Do you want to travel or study?” Gert stared out the window dreamily. “Sail with a pirate or dig for gold. Study at a University? Climb a mountain or dance in the sand on a beach?” She turned from her musings to two shocked expressions. “What?”
    “Miss Finch, those things aren’t for the daughter of a Duke,” Melinda whispered.
    “Would be quite out of the norm,” Elizabeth added.
    Gert sat quietly the rest of the trip. Obviously her opinions on some matters were too outlandish for her hostesses. Wouldn’t stop her dreams though as a smile came to her lips. Panning for gold in a cold stream somewhere in California, camping above the clouds at the top of the Rockies or sailing on the great seas. A handsome, dark pirate ravishing her after felling enemies with his sword.
    Gert’s eyes closed as the pirate came into view. Snug black pants fit into high boots with a white shirt billowing in the breeze above a red satin sash. His face would be rugged and wind burnt when he bent his head to capture her mouth. Her eyes would be closed and when her lashes slowly fluttered open he would declare his undying love. She would stare into his blue eyes and ... heaven’s sakes, her pirate was Blake Sanders! They stopped in front of a huge mansion and Gert shook her head to clear her thoughts as she stepped down from the carriage. Her fairy tale had occupied her thoughts more vividly and thoroughly than ever before.
    “Love to, my dear,” Sanders said as he assisted Melinda.
    “What?” Gert said.
    The Duke turned to stare at her as if she had grown two heads. And she stared back. Her fanciful, lusty pirate had emerged as a stuffy, pompous Englishman. Her daydreams were ruined. Sanders was handsome enough to be her pirate and lusty enough to kiss her at will, but he was such … an ass.
    “Seen your fill, Miss Finch?” Sanders asked. “What term did you use before? Ah, yes, woolgathering, I believe.”
    Gert swallowed. “Daydreaming.” His smug smile riled