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    The Clipper Home: A Romance Novella
    The Clipper Home: A Romance Novella
    The Clipper Home: A Romance Novella
    Ebook121 pages1 hour

    The Clipper Home: A Romance Novella

    By Jessica Baverstock

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    About this ebook

    After the unexpected death of her father, Miss Ann Wainfleet must find the quickest way to transport her mother, younger sister, and herself from the shores of Foochow, China back to London. Since her mother believes traveling by ironclad steamboat is pure folly, Ann secures passage on a tea clipper—the Sea Harpy.

    Ann's friendliness and eagerness to learn endears her to the ship's crew, especially its captain Henry Burrell. But Ann soon realises that life and romance aboard a sailing ship is more dangerous and unpredictable than anything she has previously encountered.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJessica Baverstock
    Release dateMay 18, 2016
    ISBN9781310120596
    The Clipper Home: A Romance Novella
    Author

    Jessica Baverstock

    Jessica Baverstock has been a storyteller since she learned how to talk, and dreamed of becoming a writer from the day she first saw a typewriter at age 3. She writes an eclectic mix of endearing stories, crossing from science-fiction to historical fiction and everything in between.She is an Australian author and blogger. In her early twenties she moved to China. Now she lives in the South West of Australia with her husband and a modest book collection. When she's not busy working on her next story or globetrotting across oceans, she's usually curled up watching a good movie.

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      Book preview

      The Clipper Home - Jessica Baverstock

      The Clipper Home

      Copyright 2015 Jessica Baverstock

      Published by Jessica Baverstock at Smashwords

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      About the Author

      Other books by Jessica Baverstock

      Chapter One

      ANN WATCHED A soft pink petal flutter from the cherry blossom tree outside the window, gliding through the crisp May air and landing on the brown Foochow dirt. She wondered if Papa had been sitting here a week ago, his own brown eyes watching the cherry blossoms fall as his heart gave out within him.

      Through the glass she could hear the faint clatter of wooden carts on the cobbled streets beyond the stone wall that marked the boundary between the British-style house of hewn stone and the Chinese city beyond it. Her ear picked up the clipped dialect spoken by the Chinamen as they passed each other, so similar and yet different to the Amoy words she had learned back on the island of Ku Lang Hsu.

      Although that tiny island had only been their home for a year and a half, thanks to Papa’s mad scheme to shift his family somewhere exotic while his daughters were still his to direct, she had grown to love it dearly. The salt of the sea air. The fog that rolled in like a blanket from the ocean. The Chinese homes nestled next to each other like kittens nestled into their mother’s warmth, so different to the large, stately mansions that the westerners had built to bring a piece of their homeland to the Orient. And then there was the spicy seafood dishes never allowed in the houses of the British, but that the locals would delight in sharing with her when she snuck out onto the streets. She had developed quite a taste for the heat of chilies.

      And now here she was, in Foochow, with her mother and sister, called to Papa’s side too late to even say goodbye.

      The clatter of Mama’s china tea cup against its saucer brought Ann’s attention back to the room.

      I cannot go back to that island, said Mama’s shrill voice from behind her.

      Ann turned from the window and back to the extravagantly furnished room, identical to an English sitting room in every way except for the faint smell of incense that burned in the hall to mask the more unpleasant smells of mold and street life. Their host and Papa’s business partner, Mr. Carrington, had set this room aside for their personal use while they came to terms with their loss and considered their next course of action.

      Eliza, tucked into a wing-backed chair, looked up from Mr. Fordroy’s letter. Her eyes, the same green tinge as Mama’s, registered interest.

      I cannot even bear the thought of the trip, continued Mama, shifting her feet beneath the black silk of her mourning dress.

      But Mama, said Ann, careful to keep her voice quiet and respectful. Our belongings – our home – is back on Ku Lang Hsu. We must go b—

      How could he have done this? Mama said, for the seventh or eighth time. How could he be so inconsiderate as to die 200 miles away? She lay back on the sofa and covered her face with a hand.

      Ann glanced at Eliza, who remained silent but attentive. For once Eliza seemed to find her surroundings more interesting than her letters.

      I’m sure he didn’t plan it, Mama, said Ann, fingering the crape trim along the neck of her own black gown.

      Mama jerked her head from the cushion, red ringlets quivering. When has your father ever taken this family into consideration? When he picked us up from our comfortable home in London and brought us to China? Did he consider his daughters’ future then? When he decided to set up house on an island, 200 miles from his business in Foochow? When in all of that did he take his family into consideration?

      He chose Ku Lang Hsu because other white families lived there, she said, irresistibly drawn into the same conversation they had every time. He thought you would appreciate the society.

      Society! Mama’s colour was rising. At least now, with him gone, some sensible decisions can be made.

      Decisions? said Eliza, her surprise ill-concealed.

      Yes, child, I am perfectly capable of making decisions.

      Ann’s sharp look stopped Eliza’s next comment.

      And my first decision is our immediate return to London.

      Ann’s jaw dropped. London? She searched her sister’s face for the same shock and panic.

      Eliza’s eyes were wide, but the corners of her mouth were twitching. London. Really?

      Ann sighed. Of course, Eliza had as much reason to return to London as Mama. Mr. George Fordroy was waiting for her, and they were now both of age.

      Do you think it wise to move our family so soon? said Ann, returning her attention to Mama.

      The funeral is tomorrow, said Mama. After that there is nothing to keep us here.

      Mama. Ann lowered her voice to a gentle tone. We could return to Ku Lang Hsu, pack our things and then sail from Amoy when you are ready.

      Mama covered her face again and moaned. Send Sunli to pack the things. We can sail from here with what we have.

      Mama, cried Ann.

      I am sick of it. Mama sat straight up, her jaw set. It is bad enough we have to mourn your father in a strange city in someone else’s house. Once our duties are done, to spend any more time in this dreadful place is…unacceptable.

      Ann bit her lip. There was one last chance. Suppose you and Eliza return to London, and I could go back to Ku—

      Mama stiffened. Leave you in China? How can you even think such a thing?

      I like it here. I want to stay.

      Mama opened her mouth.

      Ann kept going, louder. I am 22, Mama. Old enough to be making my own decisions.

      We will talk no more about this. We are all returning to London and that is final. Mama snapped her gaze to

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