{"id":5007,"date":"2010-06-17T16:00:54","date_gmt":"2010-06-17T21:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=5007"},"modified":"2010-06-17T16:00:54","modified_gmt":"2010-06-17T21:00:54","slug":"ransome%e2%80%99s-crossing-by-kaye-dacus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=5007","title":{"rendered":"Ransome\u2019s Crossing by Kaye Dacus"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

Kaye Dacus<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ransome\u2019s Crossing (The Ransome Trilogy)<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Harvest House Publishers (June 1, 2010)<\/p>\n

***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n Kaye Dacus, author of Ransome\u2019s Honor has a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in history, and a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction. Her love of the Regency era started with Jane Austen. Her passion for literature and for history come together to shape her creative, well-researched, and engaging writing.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n<\/embed><\/object>\n<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $13.99
\n Paperback: 336 pages
\n Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (June 1, 2010)
\n Language: English
\n ISBN-10: 0736927549
\n ISBN-13: 978-0736927543<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Portsmouth, England
\n August 17, 1814<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Ned Cochrane, first lieutenant, HMS Alexandra, stepped out of the jolly boat onto the stone dock and glanced around at the early morning bustle of the dockyard crew. Only nine days remained to fill the crew roster and fit out the ship with the supplies needed for the first leg of a transatlantic voyage. With yesterday lost in celebrating Captain\u2014no, Commodore Ransome\u2019s wedding\u2014and since the commodore\u2019s attention would be necessarily split between distractions on land and his duties to his ship, Ned would shoulder the burden of preparing the ship and crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, look out! Lieutenant Cochrane!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ned spun\u2014and fell back just in time to save himself from being swept off the quay by a net full of barrels swinging at the end of a crane. His hat wasn\u2019t so fortunate.<\/p>\n

The cargo swayed menacingly overhead. Ned scrambled backward, out of harm\u2019s way. Once clear, he leapt to his feet. \u201cYou, there! Watch what you\u2019re about. Secure that crane,\u201d he yelled at the negligent dock crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice\u2014an odd timbre in the chorus of tenor, baritone, and bass tones usually heard in the dockyard\u2014matched the one which had called the warning. He turned.<\/p>\n

A young man, not really more than a boy in a worn, ill-fitting midshipman\u2019s uniform, stood holding Ned\u2019s dripping hat. Sure enough, the lad\u2019s right sleeve was wet to the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing injured but my pride.\u201d Ned took his hat and studied the midshipman. The boy\u2019s tall, round hat concealed most of his dark hair, but\u2026Ned squinted against the bright glare of the sun off the water and surrounding gray stone. \u201cDo I know you, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy touched the brim of the shabby hat. \u201cCharles Lott, sir. We spoke last week. You said there might be a place for me aboard your ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, yes.\u201d Ned now recalled meeting the midshipman, who\u2019d answered Ned\u2019s questions when the boy had first approached him about a position aboard Alexandra last week, even the question Ned had missed the first time he\u2019d stood for his lieutenancy examination. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but we have filled the positions on Alexandra.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shocked disappointment filled the boy\u2019s elfin face.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I have recommended you to the captain of Audacious.\u201d Ned struggled to keep the smile from his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAudacious? Captain Yates, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ned sighed. He liked Commodore Ransome\u2019s friend extraordinarily and had looked forward to the fun to be had on Jamaica station with two such commanders. \u201cAlas, I am afraid to say Captain Yates has resigned his commission. Captain Parker is taking command of Audacious.\u201d Ned glanced around the quay. \u201cThere is his first officer. Come, I shall introduce you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, sir.\u201d Midshipman Lott straightened the white collar and cuffs of his too-large coat.<\/p>\n

Ned caught his counterpart\u2019s attention and met him near the steps to the upper rampart. He made the introduction and stood back as the first lieutenant of Audacious, Montgomery Howe, put a series of questions to the lad. Lott answered each quickly and with near textbook precision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell done, Mr. Lott. You are ordered to present yourself day after tomorrow to begin your official duties.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s face paled. \u201cSir, may I have until next Thursday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe day before we sail?\u201d Howe crossed his arms and glared at Ned and then at Lott.<\/p>\n

Ned ground his teeth at the boy\u2019s impertinence, which was casting him\u2014Ned\u2014in a bad light. He\u2019d recommended the lad, after all.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. I am aware it is an inconvenience, but my mother is a widow, and I must see that she is settled\u2014that our business affairs are settled\u2014before I could leave on such a long journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it will take a sennight?\u201d Ned asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in the north part of the country, sir. \u2019Tis a three days\u2019 journey by post, sir.\u201d Lott spoke to the cobblestones below his feet.<\/p>\n

Aye, well should he be ashamed to make such a request\u2026though many years ago, a newly made captain had let a newly made lieutenant have four days to see to his own widowed mother and sister.<\/p>\n

Apparently, from the expression that flickered across Howe\u2019s face, he had also received a similar mercy some time earlier in his career. \u201cVery well, then. You are to present yourself to me on deck of Audacious no later than seven bells in the morning watch Thursday next. If you are late, your spot will be given to someone else. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, sir!\u201d Lott touched the brim of his hat again. \u201cThank you, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDismissed\u2014oh, and Mr. Lott?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy, a few paces away already, halted and turned, at attention again. \u201cAye, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake yourself more presentable by next week if you can. You can find plenty of secondhand uniforms available in the shops in much better condition than yours. And get a haircut. I do not allow midshipmen to tuck their hair under their collars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lott\u2019s hand flew to the back of his neck, eyes wide. \u201cAye, aye, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ned moved to stand beside Howe as the boy ran down the quay. \u201cSorry for the inconvenience, Monty, but I have a feeling that boy will do well by you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never heard a lad recite the answers so perfectly. He\u2019s slight. Says he\u2019s fifteen? Can\u2019t be more than thirteen or fourteen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome boys don\u2019t mature as quickly as others. You should remember that quite well.\u201d Ned bumped his shoulder against his former berth mate\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Howe shoved him back. \u201cJust because you gained height and a deeper voice before I did doesn\u2019t mean you matured faster, Ned. In fact, you could probably learn manners in decorum and respect from little Charlie Lott.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ned guffawed and bade his friend farewell. He wasn\u2019t certain if he could learn anything from the young midshipman, but he would certainly look out for him and do whatever he could to promote the boy\u2019s interest. He had the feeling Charles Lott would make a good officer some day.<\/p>\n

Charlotte Ransome dived behind a large shrub and held her breath. Footsteps crunched on the gravel garden path, coming toward her closer and closer.<\/p>\n

Had he seen her?<\/p>\n

Keep walking. Please, Lord, let him keep walking.<\/p>\n

When he reached her shrub, Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut, fearful of blinking. If the gardener had seen and recognized her, he would report her to the Yateses, who would in turn report her to her mother and brother\u2014and all would be lost.<\/p>\n

A gust of wind rustled the verdure around her. Her heart thundered against her ribs, and she feared she might be sick.<\/p>\n

But the gardener did not stop. Long after his footsteps faded, Charlotte kept to her hiding place. Quiet descended until only the noise of the streets and alleys beyond the garden walls filtered in around the enclosure behind the enormous townhouse.<\/p>\n

Peeking around the shrub, she found the path clear once again.<\/p>\n

Sneaking into the garden through the servants\u2019 entrance in the rear had proven risky but successful. She hadn\u2019t been sure she\u2019d avoid being spotted by any of the servants, busy with their early morning duties, but Providence appeared to be with her.<\/p>\n

She cautiously made her way across the garden to the back of the house. She peeked through the window of Collin Yates\u2019s study and, finding it empty, slipped inside, relieved no one had discovered that she\u2019d left it unlocked when she sneaked out of the house near dawn. She stuck her head out into the hallway, and, hearing no movement, made her way upstairs as quietly as she could. She paused on the landing and looked around the corner, down the hallway on which all of the bedrooms opened. No stirrings, no sounds. Heart pounding wildly and trying to keep her feet from touching the floor, she made her way along the thick carpet to the bedroom at the end of the hall and slipped inside, pushing the door closed with a soft click.<\/p>\n

Movement across the room caught her eye. Turning to face the intruder, she found herself looking at a bedraggled boy in an oversized coat and britches, a tall, round hat jammed on his head almost down to his eyes.<\/p>\n

She laughed, and the bedraggled midshipman in the mirror did likewise. Yes, her disguise was convincing enough to startle even herself. With a sigh she unbuttoned the coat and pulled it off, dropping it to the floor. When Lieutenant Cochrane had looked at her with recognition in his gray eyes, she was certain her entire plan would crash like a ship against a rocky shore. She sent up a quick prayer of thanks that he hadn\u2019t connected her appearance as Charles Lott with her true identity.<\/p>\n

Sinking into the chair at the dressing table, she yanked off the hat and pulled her long thick hair out from under the high collar of the uniform coat. She\u2019d tried pinning it flat to her head, but the cumbersome length of it\u2014past her waist when unbound\u2014created too much bulk for even the oversized hat to conceal.<\/p>\n

The small porcelain clock on the mantel chimed once. Half-past eight. Panic once again rising, Charlotte peeled out of the uniform\u2014picked up for mere pennies the first time she\u2019d been able to sneak away from her mother\u2019s and Mrs. Yates\u2019s chaperonage a few days ago\u2014stuffed it in the bottom of her trunk, threw her sleeping gown over her head, and jumped into the bed, still trying to find the sleeves with her hands as the bedroom door swung quietly open.<\/p>\n

At the thump of the water pitcher on the commode, Charlotte sat up as if awakened by the sound.<\/p>\n

Her maid curtsied. \u201cGood morning, miss. I brought you fresh water for washing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Charlotte grabbed her dressing gown from the end of the bed and shrugged into it, and then she stepped behind the screen in the corner. The scent of lilacs drifted up from the warm water as she poured it into the porcelain basin in the top of the exquisite dark-wood cabinet.<\/p>\n

After running most of the way back from the dockyard, the wet cloth felt good against her skin, especially on her neck and back where her thick braid had been pressed against her by her uniform coat.<\/p>\n

With the maid\u2019s assistance, she soon stood before the mirror where Midshipman Charles Lott had been reflected less than an hour ago, now looking upon a fashionable young lady. Fear that she wouldn\u2019t be able to pull off her plan swirled in her stomach, but she pushed it aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe irons are ready, miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlotte sat at the dressing table, sipped the coffee which had been delivered while she dressed, and reviewed her plans for the next eight days as the maid twisted and twirled and pinned her hair.<\/p>\n

Anticipation, anxiety, and excitement danced within her veins. In just over a week, she would leave Portsmouth on a grand adventure. A grand adventure that would culminate in arriving in Jamaica, being reunited with Henry Winchester, and marrying him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour new rank suits you, Commodore Ransome.\u201d<\/p>\n

William met Julia\u2019s green eyes in the mirror\u2019s reflection. Sitting in the middle of the bed in her white sleeping gown, her coppery hair cascading in riotous curls around her shoulders and back, she looked as young as when he\u2019d made the gut-wrenching decision to walk away from her twelve years ago.<\/p>\n

Now she was his wife. His knees quaked at the thought.<\/p>\n

He returned to the examination of his new uniform coat, delivered from the tailor just this morning. \u201cI am indebted to your father for arranging the promotion. There are many officers more deserving. All will say I received special favor because I am now his son-in-law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you should know by now,\u201d Julia said, climbing off the bed and crossing to her dressing table, \u201cmy father does nothing unless he thinks it best for the Royal Navy.\u201d Drawing her hairbrush through her fountain of hair, she ambled across the colorful carpet toward him. \u201cHe secured your promotion before he knew of our engagement, so that did not have any bearing on his decision.\u201d She pulled the mass of her hair over her left shoulder and continued pulling the soft bristles of the brush through it. \u201cAnd when have you ever worried about rumors going around about your being favored by my father?\u201d A mischievous grin quirked the corners of her full lips. \u201cIsn\u2019t worrying about rumors and gossip what got us here in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact she\u2019d forgiven him, that she could now joke about the past, both thrilled and humbled him. He did not deserve her.<\/p>\n

She set the brush down and came to stand behind him, looking around him at the reflection. She ran her hand along his sleeve to the braid-laden cuff. His arm tingled in reaction. He did not want to respond to her like this\u2014every time she spoke, moved, breathed, he lost track of everything but her. He had to conquer it; otherwise, her presence aboard ship would be detrimental to his command.<\/p>\n

A knock on the door roused both of them. The maid Lady Dalrymple had assigned to Julia entered on Julia\u2019s entreaty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will leave you.\u201d William inclined his head and made for the door, and then he stopped as soon as he reached it. He turned and smiled at her. \u201cDo not be long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will join you for breakfast shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stood in the hallway a few moments after the door closed, separating him from Julia for the first time since their wedding yesterday morning. Pleasure and regret battled within him. Marrying Julia Witherington had, in less than twenty-four hours, brought him more joy than he could ever have dreamed or deserved. Yet when he thought of his duty, of his commitment to the Royal Navy, to king and country, he couldn\u2019t help but fear he\u2019d made his life more difficult by marrying at such a time.<\/p>\n

The east wing of the manor house at Brampton Park, home to Lady Dalrymple, rang with emptiness. While William appreciated the privacy afforded them by the dowager viscountess\u2019s invitation to stay in the unused section for their wedding night\u2014with hints she would like them to stay even longer\u2014the grandeur of it made his skin crawl, and he could not wait until he could deposit Julia at her father\u2019s house and return to his ship.<\/p>\n

After two wrong turns, he managed to find the small breakfast room, unused for nearly a century according to Lady Dalrymple, since the new wing and the much larger dining room had been completed.<\/p>\n

The small room, paneled with dark wood, set him somewhat more at ease. By ignoring the narrow, tall windows, he could almost imagine himself aboard a ship in this room.<\/p>\n

He paced, waiting for Julia, pondering how he could recover his good sense around her. When she entered the room a little while later\u2014queenly in a purple dress, her hair the only crown she would ever need\u2014he realized the only way he would be able to regain control of his mind would be to limit his contact with her.<\/p>\n

Trying not to watch her serve eggs, sausage, and toast onto her plate, nor admire the curve of her neck above the lace set into the neck of her gown, William piled food onto his own plate, held Julia\u2019s chair for her, and then took his place at the head of the small table.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must return to my ship today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Julia stirred sugar into her coffee. \u201cOf course. I knew you would need to spend your days preparing Alexandra for the voyage.\u201d<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat of the bite of egg that wished to lodge there. \u201cWhat I mean is that I must return to reside aboard my ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Julia\u2019s spoon clanked against her cup. Her face paled, and the light which had danced in her eyes all morning vanished.<\/p>\n

William\u2019s innards clenched. Perhaps he should have eased into the idea instead of blurting it out. He blamed it on her. He could not think clearly in her presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave\u2026have you received word from your crew that there is trouble?\u201d Her voice quavered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. It is nothing like that.\u201d Unable to stop himself, he reached across the corner of the table and took her hand in his. \u201cMy duty is to my ship, to my crew. I am needed there. Here, my attentions and loyalty are divided.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a brief moment, Julia\u2019s chin quivered. But she pressed her lips together and drew in a deep breath. \u201cI understand. And I have no desire to draw you away from your duties. I have already created too much inconvenience and upheaval in your life. I do not wish to generate more. However, I have promised Lady Dalrymple we would join her tonight for her dinner and card party as her honored guests. If we were to abdicate from her hospitality today, how would that reflect on her?\u201d<\/p>\n

Though well masked, the pain in Julia\u2019s expression made William want to retract his words, to promise her he would stay here with her the remainder of the time they had in England. Any other woman would have been offended by his blundering, unreasonable demand. Julia apologized for inconveniencing him.<\/p>\n

He raised her hand and kissed the back of it. \u201cAye. We will stay one more night.\u201d Then, giving in to impulse, he leaned over, cupped that quivering chin, and claimed her lips in a searing kiss. \u201cAnd I will not have you thinking yourself an inconvenience to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

His action resulted in the desired effect\u2014the spark rekindled in her green eyes. She ran her finger along his jaw. \u201cYou lie too well, Commodore Ransome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou start off our marriage ill, Mrs. Ransome, if you believe I would ever lie to you.\u201d He squeezed her hand and then tucked in to his breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cConceal the hard truth, then,\u201d she said, cocking her head and sending the spiral curls at her temples dancing, \u201cfor the last few days have not been a convenience to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn upheaval, certainly.\u201d He feigned a close interest in the piece of sausage speared on his fork. \u201cHowever, any inconvenience I have suffered has been more than adequately recompensed not just by gaining a wife, but by finally receiving the complete approbation of my admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

Julia\u2019s gasp preceded a gale of laughter.<\/p>\n

A surge of contentment washed away the morning\u2019s anxieties. Perhaps being married would not interfere with his duty to the navy as severely as he\u2019d feared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,52,34,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-england","category-historical","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5007"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5039,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007\/revisions\/5039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}