A Chance of Rayne by Suzanne G. Rogers

Author:Suzanne G. Rogers [Rogers, Suzanne G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947463332
Publisher: Idunn Court Publishing
Published: 2019-12-26T22:00:00+00:00

Although Rayne had expected to share her modest, windowless cabin with another lady, the attendant informed her she was to be the only occupant. As the steamship left Liverpool, she changed out of the black and white gown she had worn since the prior evening, washed her face and neck in the basin, and lay down on her berth to rest. The rocking motion of the vessel was vaguely disorienting, but no more so than the circumstances in which she found herself. Not only was the notion of making her own way in a foreign country terrifying, but she missed Dell more than she would have thought possible. Tears trickled down her face as she remembered dancing with him at the Sawyer ball in an exquisite gown fit for a princess. At least she would always have that beautiful memory to hold dear.

After a while, the emptiness in her midsection made her yearn for dinner. Her father had not bothered to buy her anything to eat on the lengthy journey from London to Liverpool, probably because he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. The appalling circumstances of what amounted to a kidnapping filled her breast with boiling fury, so she tried to push him out of her thoughts. Someday she would get even with the man, but right now she needed to take inventory of her resources and concentrate on survival.

She sat up, shuddering at the sight of the rumpled dress she’d discarded on the floor. Since the garment reminded her of the trauma she’d experienced at the hands of her father, it was a shame she didn’t have the luxury of tossing it overboard. Rayne hung the black and white gown in the closet, planning to sponge and press it as soon as may be. The attendant’s services would cost money, but perhaps the woman could assist her.

Unfortunately, Rayne possessed only two other gowns, neither of which were suitable for evening. She donned the plainest one—a midnight blue cotton dress with a white collar and cuffs—and arranged her hair in an elaborate fashion, with a myriad of braids and coils. If she draped a paisley scarf around her shoulders and pinned it to her bodice with a brooch she’d made last year out of her woven hair, hopefully nobody would look at her askance.

When Rayne left her cabin, she was in a slightly better mood than before. Although her father probably didn’t mean for her to enjoy her exile, she couldn’t help admiring the shining brass sconces, the plush carpet underneath her feet, and the pretty artwork mounted along the corridor walls. She was traveling on a luxurious steamship, which was something she had never contemplated before. Tomorrow, once the sun rose, she would have her first view of Ireland while the steamship weighed anchor at Queenstown to take on additional Irish emigrants. Thereafter, she would see nothing but open seas for seven or eight days, depending on the weather.

As she passed a small library, she paused to glance inside.

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