Emma: There's No Turning Back

by Linda Mitchelmore

  How good it felt to be feeling enthusiastic about something again. Yes, going to Canada was the right decision to have made. Not because they were escaping the danger and threat that Miles was imposing on them, but because the world was opening up for them all. She didn’t want to bake for a living in Canada because she knew every time she mixed butter into flour and whipped up cream and eggs she’d be thinking of her old life, in her old home, with her old friends. And of all that had happened to her there. The bad and the good.

  ‘Well, won’t we be the best-dressed family in the whole of Canada?’ Seth said, dropping a kiss on Fleur’s mop of dark hair – darker than Seth’s if that were possible. He took his pocket watch from his coat and checked the time.

  ‘Almost time to go,’ he said, and smiled.

  Seth began to gather their bags nearer to them. Not that they were carrying much as their trunks had been sent on ahead to the shipping company and should be on board waiting for them. But just in case those trunks had gone astray, Emma had insisted on packing two changes of day wear each. And a book apiece to read, and some small toys for Fleur to play with.

  And a warm coat each because the travel agent warned them to expect temperatures of -20 degrees. Why, what patterns Jack Frost might be able to make on the insides of the windows in those sort of freezing temperatures!

  Fleur, stuffing a handful of stale bun crumbs into her mouth, squirmed in her chair and began to get down.

  ‘Have I got time to nip across to the shops?’ Emma said. ‘I’ve seen something I want to buy.’

  She saw the fear in Seth’s face at her words. He’d halted in his gathering of their luggage, his eyes searching hers – please don’t run out on me, that searching look said.

  ‘I’ll be five minutes,’ Emma said. ‘Our bags aren’t so heavy that we can’t run down to the dock if we have to. Five minutes. No longer. I promise I’ll be back then.’

  Grabbing her bag from the table, Emma ran to a florist’s shop she’d seen on their way to the café. Her feet flew over the cobbles and she darted around shoppers like a fawn escaping a predator.

  She’d never bought flowers in her life – it had always been wild ones for Emma because she thought them the most beautiful. But there were no wild flowers in England in March. She took no time at all finding what she wanted. White stocks. Seth had brought some for her when she’d been lodging with the odious Mrs Phipps.

  Racing back to the café and Seth, she saw him, his dark hair glistening like damp coal, head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd, standing outside it searching her out. He waved when he saw her. He had Fleur hoisted on to one hip and their luggage in a pile on the ground beside him.

  ‘I said I wouldn’t be long,’ she said, linking her arm through his.

  ‘Flowers?’ Seth said.

  ‘Bouquet,’ Emma corrected him. ‘The first thing I’m going to do when we get on board is find the captain and ask him to marry us. We’ll be Mr and Mrs Jago at last. You will marry me, Seth, won’t you?’

  For answer, Seth put Fleur down on the cobbles and took Emma in his arms and kissed her soundly – crushing the flowers between them almost so they were enveloped in the glorious, heady, scent of the blooms. But it didn’t matter.

  The kiss went on and on but eventually they pulled apart, laughing and breathless.

  ‘Try and stop me!’ Seth gasped.

  Emma picked Fleur up, nestled her on her hip and linked her spare arm through Seth’s, the flowers dangling from her hand.

  ‘Just try and stop me!’ Seth said again, as they hurried back towards the quay and RMS Royal Edward.

  ‘Hell would freeze over first!’ Emma laughed, scurrying along beside him, her coat tails flapping behind her.

  An officer checked their tickets at the bottom of the gangplank, and then she and Seth, with Fleur pointing excitedly at everything she saw, walked up it, squashing closely side by side.

  ‘Permission to come aboard?’ Emma and Seth said in unison as again their ticket was checked by an officer as they reached the deck.

  ‘Permission granted,’ the officer grinned back at them. He gave them brief instructions as to where they would find their cabin.

  ‘Halifax next stop, sweetheart,’ Seth said as they walked off in the direction they’d been given.

  And then a long train journey across Canada. Emma had thought from Devon to Bristol was a long journey, but the one across Canada was going to take days and days. What sights would they see from the train windows? Who would they meet? She was beginning to feel something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time – excitement. It was welling up inside her. What was it Dr Shaw had said to her, when she’d felt her world was falling down around her?

  ‘It’s not just wishes and dreams that make us happy, Emma, but making the best of the situations we find ourselves in.’

  ‘Yes, Canada here we come,’ Emma whispered, leaning into Seth.

  It was going to be all right, they’d make it so.

  Everything was going to be just fine.

  About the Author

  Linda Mitchelmore

  Linda has lived in Devon all her life, where the wonderful scenery and history give her endless ideas for novels and short stories. Linda has 300 short stories published worldwide and has also won, or been short-listed, in many short-story writing competitions. In 2004 she was awarded The Katie Fforde Bursary by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. In 2011 she won the Short Story Radio Romance Prize.

  Married to Roger for over 40 years, they have two grown-up children and two grandchildren. As well as her writing, Linda loves gardening, walking, cycling and riding pillion on her husband’s vintage motorbikes.

  Emma is Linda’s second novel – the sequel to To Turn Full Circle which was released in 2012.

  Follow Linda –

  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.mitchelmore

  and Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindamitchelmor

  More Choc Lit

  From Linda Mitchelmore

  To Turn Full Circle

  Life in Devon in 1909 is hard and unforgiving, especially for young Emma Le Goff, whose mother and brother die in curious circumstances, leaving her totally alone in the world. While she grieves, her callous landlord Reuben Jago claims her home and belongings.

  His son Seth is deeply attracted to Emma and sympathises with her desperate need to find out what really happened, but all his attempts to help only incur his father’s wrath.

  When mysterious fisherman Matthew Caunter comes to Emma’s rescue, Seth is jealous at what he sees and seeks solace in another woman. However, he finds that forgetting Emma is not as easy as he hoped.

  Matthew is kind and charismatic, but handsome Seth is never far from Emma’s mind. Whatever twists and turns her life takes, it seems there is always something – or someone – missing.

  Set in Devon, the first novel in a trilogy.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Hope for Hannah

  How can two brothers be so different?

  Hannah French has always wanted more from life than her sleepy Dartmoor village can offer. On the wild Devonshire moors, she loses herself in poetry and dreams of escape.

  And there are two men who are willing to give her that escape: William and Ralph Lawlor. They are brothers but their bloodline is all that they have in common.

  William is gentle, kind and sensitive; a painter who yearns for a creative life in France or Italy. Ralph is rugged, dangerous and extravagant. He is equally keen to show Hannah the world outside Dartmoor – but at what cost?

  When events in Hannah’s life take a devastating turn, she is no longer certain who she can trust. Will somebody come to her rescue or will she have to accept that Hope is all she has left?

  Set in Devon in 1903.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Grand Designs

  You
can change the house but can you change the man?

  Carrie Fraser is an interior decorator and cannot believe her luck when she is invited to work at Oakenbury Hall – a beautiful manor house in the heart of the English countryside. Nor can she quite get over the owner of Oakenbury – the gorgeous (not to mention, completely loaded!) Morgan Harrington.

  Morgan appears to have it all, but his previous life is clouded with sadness and heartache, which Carrie can relate to only too well. He is intent on running away from his troubled past to a glamorous, celebrity-filled existence in Cannes, but there’s a problem …

  Morgan is bound by his late father’s wishes to keep Oakenbury Hall within the family and have children, and the more time Carrie spends with him, the more she yearns to be the woman to fulfil this wish.

  But the likes of Carrie Fraser could never be enough for a high-flying businessman like Morgan … could she?

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details.

  Introducing Choc Lit

  We’re an independent publisher creating a delicious selection of fiction. Where heroes are like chocolate – irresistible! Quality stories with a romance at the heart.

  Choc Lit novels are selected by genuine readers like yourself. We only publish stories our Choc Lit Tasting Panel want to see in print. Our reviews and awards speak for themselves.

  We’d love to hear how you enjoyed Emma – there’s no turning back. Just visit www.choc-lit.com and give your feedback. Describe Seth in terms of chocolate and you could win a Choc Lit novel in our Flavour of the Month competition.

  Available in paperback and as ebooks from most stores.

  Visit: www.choc-lit.com for more details.

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  More from Choc Lit

  If you enjoyed Linda’s story, you’ll enjoy the rest of our selection. Here’s a sample:

  The Silver Locket

  Margaret James

  Winner of 2010 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Single Titles

  If life is cheap, how much is love worth?

  It’s 1914 and young Rose Courtenay has a decision to make. Please her wealthy parents by marrying the man of their choice – or play her part in the war effort?

  The chance to escape proves irresistible and Rose becomes a nurse. Working in France, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham, a dark figure from her past. He’s the last man in the world she’d get involved with – especially now he’s married.

  But in wartime nothing is as it seems. Alex’s marriage is a sham and Rose is the only woman he’s ever wanted. As he recovers from his wounds, he sets out to win her trust. His gift of a silver locket is a far cry from the luxuries she’s left behind.

  What value will she put on his love?

  First novel in the trilogy.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Highland Storms

  Christina Courtenay

  Winner of the 2012 Best Historical Romantic Novel of the year

  Who can you trust?

  Betrayed by his brother and his childhood love, Brice Kinross needs a fresh start. So he welcomes the opportunity to leave Sweden for the Scottish Highlands to take over the family estate.

  But there’s trouble afoot at Rosyth in 1754 and Brice finds himself unwelcome. The estate’s in ruin and money is disappearing. He discovers an ally in Marsaili Buchanan, the beautiful redheaded housekeeper, but can he trust her?

  Marsaili is determined to build a good life. She works hard at being a housekeeper and harder still at avoiding men who want to take advantage of her. But she’s irresistibly drawn to the new clan chief, even though he’s made it plain he doesn’t want to be shackled to anyone.

  And the young laird has more than romance on his mind. His investigations are stirring up an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what he wants – including Marsaili – even if that means destroying Brice’s life forever …

  Sequel to Trade Winds.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  The Reluctant Bride

  Beverley Eikli

  Can honour and action banish the shadows of old sins?

  Emily Micklen has no option after the death of her loving fiancé, Jack, but to marry the scarred, taciturn, soldier who represents her only escape from destitution.

  Major Angus McCartney is tormented by the reproachful slate-grey eyes of two strikingly similar women: Jessamine, his dead mistress, and Emily, the unobtainable beauty who is now his reluctant bride.

  Emily’s loyalty to Jack’s memory is matched only by Angus’s determination to atone for the past and win his wife with honour and action. As Napoleon cuts a swathe across Europe, Angus is sent to France on a mission of national security, forcing Emily to confront both her allegiance to Jack and her traitorous half-French family.

  Angus and Emily may find love, but will the secrets they uncover divide them forever?

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.