Read Online Land of the Free by Jeffry Hepple - Free Book Online Page B

if
we were worth joining. You may have noticed that when you called
for riflemen and musketeers nearly all came from the very back of
the lineup or from the docks where they had been
lurking.”
    She laughed. “I didn’t
notice it at the time, but now that you mention the fact, I cannot
deny it. In the future I must be more careful in judging
you.”
    “It would seem that we will
have plenty of time to become acquainted in our shared
tent.”
    “One would hope we might
become acquainted before that.”
    He blushed a brilliant
red.
    “I was thinking of getting
better acquainted over dinner,” she giggled. “What on Earth are you
thinking?”
    He gave her a helpless
look.
    “Or had you changed your
mind about dinner?”
    “No, no. Dinner.
Yes.”
    “Because if you were
thinking about taking me to bed, it might be better to wait until
we are properly married. In view of your delicate sensibilities
that is. But I’d be willing, if you were.”
    “No, no, that wasn’t what…
That is…”
    “But, as I said earlier, if
you wish to have the marriage annulled we will have to forgo that
pleasure after we are married so tonight may be our only
chance.”
    He opened his mouth then
closed it without speaking.
    “We can discuss that at
length over dinner. Did you want to watch me change my
clothes?”
    “Yes, but I’ll wait in the
hall.” He opened the door. “Might I ask a favor of you
please?”
    She smiled. “I can’t think
of anything that I wouldn’t gladly do for you.”
    He smiled back at her.
“Good. Then pick one language and stick to it. This switching
between French and English makes me dizzy.”
    She laughed. “I’ll try to
stick with English but I think in French so when…” She shook her
head. “I’ll try.”
    “Thank you.” He walked out
and closed the door behind him.

 
    August 21, 1804
    New Orleans, Louisiana
Territory
     
    A pale moon rising above
the river was casting a silvery glow over the ships. Yank was in
his dress uniform and Marina was wearing a long white gown. She
released Yank’s hand and looked over her shoulder at the tall masts
of the USS Undaunted, where she and Yank had just been married by the ship’s
captain. “That was very much nicer than I had
anticipated.”
    “Yes. It was very thoughtful
of Commander Thompson, his wife and Ensign Hogan to
attend.”
    “I especially liked the
kiss. How about you?”
    “I was too nervous to take
note of it.”
    “Well, remembering the event
now, is your recollection pleasant or unpleasant?”
    He looked at her and
chuckled. “You are a minx.”
    She wrinkled her brow.
“Minx? In French, that is a disparaging term meant to insult a
woman’s sense of propriety or her lack of decorum. Does it mean the
same in English?”
    He thought a moment. “In
English it means – it means – something else.”
    “What?”
    “I’m not sure, but certainly
not disparaging.”
    “What did you mean by
it?”
    “I only meant that you were
– I can’t explain. But there was no insult intended.”
    “Well, did you mean that you
liked kissing me or disliked kissing me?”
    “Does it really
matter?”
    “Yes, of course it
matters.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, so that I know if I
will be sleeping alone tonight, for one thing.”
    “What would you prefer?” he
chuckled.
    “I already told you that I
liked the kiss.”
    “I should think you would be
indifferent to men’s kisses by now.”
    She looked up at him. “That
was the first kiss I ever returned.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Oh come
now, please, Miss Cortés.”
    “It is perfectly true,” she
said heatedly. “I have never kissed a man in my entire life. And my
name is Mrs. Van Buskirk, if you insist upon addressing me
formally.”
    He started to reply but then
thought about her words. “Yes, you are Mrs. Van Buskirk, indeed.
Imagine that.”
    “In spite of my low birth
and my past, I swear to you that I shall do everything in my power
to avoid besmirching the name.”
    He stopped