“Let me show you where I will be boarding the ship. It is not due to arrive for another week, yet. Then it will be in port for a week before it sails again. At this time, next week, I will meet you there, and you can let me know if you are serious. By the way, my name is Rand Huntington, and who might you be?” He put out his hand to her.
“Lettie,” she told him, placing her small hand in his large one.
“Just Lettie?” he asked.
“I don’t know my sir name,” she lied.
“An orphan, then?” he asked.
“You might say so,” she said hesitantly. Her father was going to have a fit if she defied him and went off on a ship with some strange man to a country she had never seen before, perhaps never to be able to return home again. But she certainly wouldn’t miss Aunt Meredith.
“If you have parents, I would need their permission to take you,” he told her. “I don’t want to get into trouble for abducting you.”
“My mother died when I was young, and I don’t know where my father is at this moment,” both of which was the truth, she thought cunningly to herself.
“Then it is up to you, lad. I wouldn’t mind having some company on the return voyage. Hope to see you in a week.”
“Thank you, mister Huntington,” she said.
“Rand, lad. You can call me Rand.”
“Then thank you, Rand,” she smiled. “But I have to be someplace right now,” she told him and started running back towards her aunt’s house.
Leatrisha, climbed into her window just in time to change back in her clothes, and make it downstairs for her dancing lesson. “Leatrisha!” her aunt cried, as she came through the hall. “What is that all over your face?”
She had forgotten about the soot, in her haste to get dressed.
“What?” she asked innocently. “Is there something on my face?”
“Goodness, child, you look like you have been climbing down chimneys!”
“I must have touched the coal bucket by my fireplace, and then rubbed my face,” she responded.
“Go wash your face at once, and stay away from coal buckets. We have servants to take care of things like that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Leatrisha smiled.
“We are having a guest for dinner tonight. I want you to dress your finest. He is not a person that will be calling on you later, since he is merely visiting London, but it will give you the opportunity to be able to practice what you have learned about being a lady.
Leatrisha, turned up her nose. More practicing being a lady. She was seriously considering taking Rand up on his offer to take her to America, if this was what she had to look forward to in the future. It was like she was this puppet on display, to see if she had learned her lessons right. Maybe she should embarrass everyone by saying something unacceptable, she smiled to herself.
The dancing lessons were tolerable, and then it was time to get dressed for dinner. Polly fussed over her more than usual, and all Leatrisha wanted was to get the evening over with, so she could have a little bit of solitude away from lessons and practicing at being a lady.
Leatrisha was late, and was hurrying to the dinning room, as the footman opened the door for her. She slowed her pace, when the doors were opened, but the moment she entered the room, she had to catch herself from tripping, when she looked up at her aunt, and then the man on the other side of the table across from her place, who was staring at her, as she entered. She could not believe that it was Rand Huntington, sitting at the table.
“Goodness, Leatrisha,” her aunt said, “Are you able to make it to the table without falling on your face?”
She gave an angry glare at her aunt. Talk about being a lady! That was a rude thing to say, and she wanted to call her aunt out on it.
“If you really want to see me trip, Aunt Meredith, I am sure I can accommodate you,” she smiled sweetly.
“This is Mr. Rand Huntington, Leatrisha.” Leatrisha gave a small curtsy. “This is my niece I was telling you about,” she said to Rand.
“You seem rather familiar,” Rand said, nodding at her, as the footman seated her at the table.
“I met you on the train,” she admitted.
“So you did,” he exclaimed.
“You two have met?” her aunt asked, looking from one to the other.
“He sat next to me on the train,” Leatrisha told her, starting to relax. She just hoped he did not recognize her as the urchin that he had offered to indenture. Now she knew she could not meet him on the dock in a week, because he would surely know that she was not the boy she had pretended to be.
She felt tongue tied, during the meal, and her aunt kept frowning at her, because she was supposed to keep up some useless banter, that didn’t make any sense. Just mindless talk to keep the conversation going about the weather, or the queen, or some other stupid subject that she was not even interested in, and she believed he wouldn’t be either.
When the meal was over, Rand came around and helped Leatrisha from her chair.
“May I have permission to take your niece for a turn around the garden?” he asked, Aunt Meredith.
“I believe that would be acceptable,” she said, and Leatrisha let out her breath. She felt much more comfortable around Mr. Huntington, without her aunt watching her every move.
Rand offered her his elbow, and ushered her out of the French doors, out to the back garden.
“So how are the lessons coming along?” he asked. “You seem to be acting much like a lady,” he chuckled.
“I hate every moment of it,” she insisted. “All useless mind boggling things.” She wrinkled her nose up at him.
As they removed themselves further from the house, he pulled her aside, and looked down in her face.
“So what was that all about today? Pretending to be some homeless lad?” he scolded. “I knew I had seen you some place before. Why did you tell me that you were some orphan? And a boy at that!”
Tears started to well up in Leatrisha’s green eyes.
“I hate it here. I don’t want to be a lady. I used to ride my horse bareback, with trousers on. Now I am going to be married off to some bumbling idiot, that I will not be able to stand, and live my life having babies who will repeat the mindless life I am expected to live.”
“This kind of life can’t possibly be that bad,” he murmured. “You have everything you could ever want or need.”
“Except to be who I really am. I have to bow to societies demands, and I refuse to bow to anyone. Even the queen!”
“I see,” he laughed. “You are young and headstrong. That is what your problem is.”
“Take me to America with you,” she begged.
“It would not be acceptable for a single man to accompany a woman on her own. He would either have to be engaged to her, married to her, or she would have to be his slave. And considering that you are a lady of consequence, I would have to have permission from your parent or guardian to take you. I doubt very much they would give that permission.”
“What if I was your indentured servant?” she asked.
“I would be accused of kidnapping you.”
“What if I was the lad that approached you on the docks today?” she responded.
“You would have to be in my cabin the whole time we were on board. It would not be seemly.”
“I’ve seen a man naked before,” she boasted. “I am not as innocent as you believe,” she said, her voice only shaking a little. “If no one knows but you and I, what would it hurt?”
“And what would you do, once you got to America?” he asked.
“I would be your servant, until I was free,” she insisted.
“But you are a lady of station. I can’t make you into a servant,” he said aghast. “No, it is out of the question.”
“Then what if I married you?” she asked, grabbing at straws.
“I am not prepared to marry at the moment, besides I do not know you well enough to consider you as a wife,” he said truthfully.
“Then let’s just get engaged, and then you can release me, once we get to America,” she begged.
“You are so desperate, that you would agree to marry a complete stranger, yet will not stay here to marry someone who is more your equal?”
“Marrying you, would not be like marrying someone here. America represents adventure. Here it is the dry protocol over and over again.”
“Then your true love is the idea of going to America, not marrying me or anyone else,” he stated.
“If my father chose a man for me, I would have to accept it, whether I liked it or not, without the adventure. If I am expected to marry someone I don’t even know, or possibly like, and muddle through, at least I should have some adventure on the side,” she insisted.
“You do amaze me, Leatrisha, or should I call you Lettie?” he chuckled.
“Call me what ever you wish. Just take me with you.”
“Very well, Lettie, I will approach your aunt, and ask for your hand in marriage. We will become engaged, and I will escort you to America. When we get there, you will revert to my indentured servant, though it rubs me the wrong way to make a lady my servant. If for any reason, you decide you don’t wish to remain in my service, you can contact your father, and I will send you right back here, where you can take up being a lady once more.”
“Oh, thank you!” Leatrisha cried. “I promise you won’t regret it!”
“How old are you, anyway?” he asked suddenly.
“I will be sixteen in three months.”
“My Lord! You are a mere child!”
“How old are you?” she asked.
“Twenty six.”
“That is not so old,” she insisted.
“Ten years your senior,” he pointed out.
“Young women marry elderly men all the time,” she told him. “Men their parents choose for them, I might add.”
“But I am not going to marry you, Leatrisha. This is merely a way to get you to America. Once we arrive, you will become my indentured servant. If you wish to return home, your father will have to return the fee of your passage, and pay for your fair home.”
“He certainly could afford it,” she informed him.
“Very well, but I must pretend to be besotted with you. If I kiss you, know it is for show. I don’t want you fainting over it.”
“I wouldn’t faint!” she insisted seriously. “I have been kissed before, and I didn’t faint!”
“Have you now? One so young? Perhaps that is why your father has sent you here to learn to become a lady.”
“Oh!” Leatrisha stamped her foot. “Don’t you start lecturing me like my father!”
Rand merely laughed. “I have a feeling I am going to have my hands full with you,” he bemoaned wondering what he was getting himself in for. But the imp was so enticing, that had she not been so young and innocent, in spite of her boasts, he may have considered marriage with her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Leatrisha, held on to Rand’s arm tightly, as he ushered her up the plank and onto the ship. She still chuckled to herself at her aunt’s expression when Rand asked her permission to marry her niece. Aunt Meredith, probably thanking God she would be rid of her niece, wired Leatrisha’s father, to get permission from him, and then it was agreed on.
Now Leatrisha, felt nervous, and excited all at the same time. She would be going to America. Even as an indentured servant, she was looking forward to it. But until they reached America, she had to behave like an engaged lady, and show her affection to Rand.
“I tried to get you a separate cabin, but it was too late to book one. Therefore you will be sharing with me. The captain gave his regrets, but I told him since we planned to marry anyway, the arrangement would be sufficient. Had I taken you on as an urchin, it would have been the same, only then I would have treated you like a lad. At least this way, I can be more considerate of the fact that you are a lady.”
“I told you I have seen a man naked before,” she whispered. “I have even touched him.”
“You are still a virgin, I hope,” he muttered, looking at her darkly.
“Yes. We merely touched,” she informed him.
“You should be more careful in the future,” he cautioned her. “Teasing men may prove to be dangerous for you, my dear. As long as you are under my roof, you will conduct yourself with ethics.”
“You are worse than my father,” she sneered.
“I own you now, Lettie. Until your indenture is paid in full through your service to me, everything you do will be regulated by me. I demand obedience from my servants and my slaves.”
“And what is the punishment for disobeying?” she asked, challengingly.
“Depends on the infraction,” he smiled. “But I am sure you are a completely obedient young lady. If you could comply to protocol, you can certainly comply to my demands. I am not unreasonable, you know.”
“Will you make me wear a dress when I ride a horse, and use a sidesaddle?” she asked, as he led her to the railing of the ship, while they waited for the ship to leave port.
Rand laughed. “You can ride naked, for all I care, as long as you are not flaunting yourself like that in public. My plantation, is somewhat isolated, so the only people around are the slaves, and occasional guests. I expect you to act properly when we have guests, but other wise, you are free to dress, and act as you please, as long as you fulfill all your duties.”
“And what will my duties be?”
“Acting as my future wife.”
“I thought…”
There is a certain woman, who is trying to find ways to weaken me into marrying her. I made the mistake of becoming her lover once, and now she wishes to have me permanently. It occurred to me, when I agreed to pretend to become engaged to you, that as long as I have you there, you could be useful. I have plenty of slaves to take care of everything else at my plantation, but you will become my partner at dances, and public functions. When I have guests you will be at my side constantly. Other than that, you will have the free run of my property, along with horses, and men’s clothing if you wish. But in public, you will remember your lady’s training, and act accordingly.
“And what is the woman’s name,” Leatrisha asked, suddenly becoming interested in this man’s past affairs.
“Monica Campton. She is very influential in the community. Her father is a judge. You must do all you can to keep her at arm’s length from me, even if it means sleeping in my bed, when she is in residence at my home. We often throw over night entertainment, and having once been a lover, she wants to recapture that past with me. No telling what she may try to do. That is why it is imperative, that you don’t get involved with any young men as long as you are my servant. It wouldn’t look convincing, if you know what I mean. She would throw it up at me, and insist I take her as a lover on the side.”
“I have no intentions of getting involved with young men,” she informed him.
“What about the man you claimed to have seen naked and touched?” he asked.
“I grew up with him. We were merely curious. My curiosity has been satisfied. I have no need to experiment any longer.”
Rand laughed. He could not believe the girl.
“Well that relieves my worries,” he chuckled. “If you feel like experimenting, you come to me, you understand? No more curiosities unless I am the one satisfying them.”
“Certainly,” she said in a low voice. Her eyes involuntarily went to that place where she had touched James. She noticed the bulge, and quickly looked away, which made Rand laugh even more.
The ship gave a lurch, as the ropes were drawn in, and the sails started to catch, and Leatrisha involuntarily grabbed out for Rand’s arm.
“I hope you don’t get seasick,” he muttered. “All I need is a woman, heaving her guts out, in my room.”
“I will try to refrain from that too, master,” she smiled impishly up at him.
“So thoughtful of you,” he laughed down at her. “If we
go down below, it will not be as bad,” he told her. “I’ll sow you our cabin.”
Leatrisha held onto his arm, as he guided her down to where they were to spend the next month together. It was a small space, with one bed. There were a couple of chairs, and a table, that was bolted to the floor. “I hope we don’t run into any rough seas,” he said below his breath, as she looked around the room.
“Quaint,” she said. But as she felt the ship rise beneath her, she clung even tighter to his arm.
Rand gave a low chuckle. “I feel like I shall be attached to you like this throughout the entire voyage, unless you can get some sea legs.”
“Perhaps I should sit down,” she suggested.
“Maybe you should lie down. You look tired, and if you just go to sleep, you won’t notice the moving of the ship that much.”
“Don’t leave me by myself in here,” she pleaded.
“Very well. I will lay down beside you, if you wish. Take your shoes off, and your top dress. You will be more comfortable.”
“I have always had a maid help me with my clothes,” she whispered.
“Turn around,” he laughed. “Apparently I am going to end up being your servant, it seems.”
Leatrisha felt him unfasten the buttons on her dress, and then he was lifting it up over her head.
“It might be best to take your corset and petty coats off, and sleep in your pantaloons,” he suggested, and he unfastened the ties on her corset, and then removed her petty coat as well, letting Leatrisha step out of it.
Leatrisha climbed under the covers, and looked over at Rand, as he removed his boots, and then his shirt, and got under the covers beside her.
“The ship will probably just rock you to sleep,” he predicted, as he put his arm around her and held her against him.
“I hope so,” she said in a small voice. Her curiosity was starting to rise within her, as she felt Rand’s warm hard body against hers, and the comfort his arms gave her, but she was not going to suggest he satisfy that curiosity for her. She tried to put it out of her mind, and go to sleep.
When she opened her eyes, Rand was no longer in bed.
“I brought you something to eat,” he told her, as he threw her wrapper at her. “Put that on, and come sit down,” he directed. She noticed two plates of food sitting on the table, with a bottle of wine and some glasses.
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