Papa and Mama had risen, as had Hope and Grace. With the alarming nature of the visit shared, their guests had nothing further to discuss. Sinking her hands into her skirts at her side, Grace clutched at the cloth as though it were an anchor keeping her firmly at home and away from the sea.
Why did either of them need to go? Perhaps once she reasoned with Papa, Mama, and Hope, they could reject the idea altogether. As much as she enjoyed Hannah’s company, Grace had no desire to part with home and family for such a foreign land.
“Thank you, Mrs. Carlbury. I do not doubt you on that account one whit.” Mama, ever the gracious lady, did not betray what she felt to their neighbor. In fact, she sounded somewhat grateful for the extension of the invitation.
Grace followed as they all walked to the front door again, no longer paying attention to Mrs. Carlbury’s words as she discussed plans for closing up her house. Instead she watched her sister, sensing the building excitement in her twin through the air between them. Her heart ached at the idea of being parted from Hope for so long.
Neither of them would go. Papa and Mama would make certain of that.
After their guests drove away, Papa closed the door. He turned toward Grace, Hope, and Mama, his intelligent eyes taking them in. Grace bit her bottom lip, waiting for him to pronounce the very idea of one of them going a ridiculous scheme.
“Do we even need to discuss who will go?”
Hope stood on her toes, her hands raising to cover her heart. “Oh, Papa, really? You will allow it?”
Mama stepped to his side, sliding her arm through his in an easy manner born from many years of practice. Grace’s heart sunk when she saw no evidence of hesitation upon her mother’s face. “We know our girls,” she said. “And Hope has always wanted an adventure.”
Grace’s stomach dropped all the way to her toes and she took a step back from her family. “No, Mama. You cannot mean it—”
Hope’s squeal of delight drowned out Grace’s whispered plea. She covered her mouth, shocked at her outburst as she was by Hope’s clear delight in the decision. Had her sister no thought of what it would mean?
“Thank you,” Hope sang out, her voice echoing through their hallway. Grace winced, wondering if the whole county might hear her sister’s happiness “At last, something has finally happened.” She leaped forward and embraced first Mama, then Papa, laughing all the while. At last she turned to Grace, her smile undimmed when she took up her twin’s hands. “Grace, I am so happy. I wish you could come too.”
Was that to be her only regret expressed on the matter? Grace ought to point out all the dangers ahead, all the drawbacks of leaving a settled and civilized country for the wildness of a sea voyage and islands. Months aboard a ship, even longer in the tropical climate, with foreign people and no family nearby for support. What about privateers? What of hurricanes?
When she hesitated to answer, Hope’s excited grin started to fade. All the elder twin had ever wanted, ever dreamed of, was to experience some wild and exciting exploits.
The Carlburys had been and come back again from the West Indies. They were experienced travellers. And they had given Hope the very thing her heart most desired.
Grace forced a smile. “We both know I could not enjoy it half so much as you. Congratulations.” Those simple words, which Grace had to force from her tongue, were enough to brighten Hope’s mood again.
“Come, let us find our atlas. We must plot the voyage.” Hope took up Grace’s hand and tugged her along, as she had all through their childhood, determined to make Grace enjoy the very things that made her most uncomfortable.
Whatever would she do without her sister?
Pre-Order your copy of Inglewood, Book 2: Discovering Grace. Available Summer 2019.
Author’s Note:
As always, I want to thank you for enjoying this book. I strive for historical accuracy, while still being relevant to the modern reader. I hope you will forgive any mistakes I might have made in this pursuit.
Look for the second book in the Inglewood series in the Summer of 2019. Discovering Grace is the story of Grace Everly and Jacob Barnes, childhood friends who slowly become something more.
Acknowledgements
There are so many people I need to thank and want to acknowledge. I want to start with my delightful writing group, Joanna Barker, Arlem Hawks, Heidi Kimball, and Megan Walker. They are powerful writers and wonderful friends. I also have to thank Shaela Kay, alpha-reader, cover-designer, and the very best of friends. She has been there through many a long night of working and struggling to tell this story the right way. These five women have become my dearest friends and I am daily grateful for them.
I also have to thank my editor, the fabulously patient Jenny Proctor, who is as kind as she is talented. Sometimes she makes me change things, and she’s always right. I also want to thank my two proofreaders, Carri Flores and Molly Rice, who helped tidy up some last-minute issues.
The grandest thanks always go to my family. My wonderful husband, who does the dishes when I’m in the writing dungeon, and even when I’m not. After eleven years of marriage, he’s still my hero and he always will be. I need to thank my delightful children for being interested in what their mother does, and even dressing up as “authors” during career day at their school.
Writing isn’t easy. There are difficult parts to every story, mistakes that must be corrected, errors that sometimes creep through. Despite my imperfect ability to tell a story, I have hundreds of wonderful readers who have reached out to tell me my characters have touched their hearts. To every reader who leaves a kind review, writes a sweet message, or joyfully tells a friend about my books, thank you! What would I do without you?
About the Author
Sally Britton lives in the desert with her husband, four children, and two rescue dogs. She started writing her first story on her mother’s electric typewriter, when she was fourteen years old. She knew romance was the way for her to go fairly early on. Reading her way through Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, Sally also determined she wanted to write about the elegant, complex world of centuries past.
Sally graduated from Brigham Young University in 2007 with a bachelor’s in English, her emphasis on British literature. She met and married her husband not long after and they’ve been building their happily ever after since that day.
Vincent Van Gogh is attributed with the quote, “What is done in love is done well.” Sally has taken that as her motto, for herself and her characters, writing stories where love is a choice each person must make, and then go forward with hope to obtain their happily ever after.
All of Sally’s published works are available on Amazon.com and you can connect with Sally on her website, AuthorSallyBritton.com.
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