Read Online My Sister's Prayer by Mindy Starns Clark - Free Book Online Page B

squeezed her hand and pulled her close.
    Soon she was slipping away from the inn to meet him at the market or to fit in a quick stroll along the Thames. In no time, Celeste felt that she would be willing to follow Jonathan to the ends of the earth—though there was no threat of having to. He had no plans to go anywhere. The problem was in convincing her parents to allow her to marry him. They wanted all their children to wed other Huguenots and preserve their faith and heritage, but Jonathan was Anglican. She broached the topic once, without giving specific details, and her parents made clear their expectations, as usual. All Jonathan and Celeste had were stolen moments together.
    Not that she felt good about that. She wasn’t usually the type for sneaking around—though, as it turned out, Berta was. Celeste was slipping back into the house one night just as her younger sister emerged from a window. They spotted each other at the same moment, and Celeste gasped. Berta, however, simply stood up straight, shot her a challenging look, and dashed off into the darkness. Obviously, she had a young man of her own—a fact that didn’t surprise Celeste. Berta had always been impulsive and reckless, not to mention secretive. And her beauty guaranteed no shortage of handsome admirers. What niggled at Celeste now, in the steerage of the Royal Mary , was that after years of wishing Berta would grow up and rise to a certain level of behavior, she realized she had lowered herself to Berta’s instead.
    Regardless, Celeste couldn’t seem to stop. Even when she and Jonathan weren’t together, her mind was consumed with thoughts of him—and of how she might possibly convince her parents to give their blessing.
    Before she could come up with a plan, however, Jonathan’s orders changed. They had been seeing each other only two months when he learned he was being sent to Virginia with new orders and the promise of a land grant. How could he refuse? He would bring honor to his family again, but even more importantly, he would be able to support a wife and children.
    In the time before he left, Jonathan was busy preparing to leave so Celeste didn’t seehim as much. But the night before he sailed, he came by the inn and begged her to follow him on the very next ship. She hadn’t made up her mind—until then. She’d never loved anyone the way she loved Jonathan, and she couldn’t imagine how she ever could. Celeste had intended to leave a week later on the Royal Mary , the ship Jonathan had recommended. But it was full, so she’d had to wait until its next voyage, more than three months later.
    Berta moaned again and shifted in her bunk. Celeste hoped Spenser would return soon. A damp rag would be so much better than the dry one she dabbed against her sister’s sweaty forehead.
    A few minutes later a man on the floor cried out, and she heard Spenser say, “Sorry, mate. I forgot you were there.” He was back with the water.
    Celeste sighed. Oh, to be out of the confines of steerage. She didn’t know how any of them had survived the horrible conditions. Spenser held the bucket steady, and Celeste spooned the liquid into Berta’s mouth. Thankfully, her sister swallowed. After she and Spenser drank too—the water was still brackish, so Celeste had to force it down—she dipped the rag in the bucket and sponged Berta as best she could. The stench of steerage had seeped into every pore of their bodies. Celeste couldn’t imagine how bad she smelled. She was determined that she would find a way to wash before Jonathan saw her.
    â€œSee if you can sneak on deck.” Spenser unwrapped a piece of hardtack, most likely his last, and handed her a portion. “Take a look at the New World, Celeste. It’s beautiful.” He grinned. “I’ll stay with Berta and try to feed her.” Spenser’s feelings for Berta couldn’t end well given his