A Distant Shore by Kate Hewitt Read Free Book Online Page A

his livelihood. Then he really would have no choice but to rely on Riddell’s money.
    Wells narrowed his eyes. “You’re not frightened, are you, Campbell?” he asked softly. “Not afraid to put the full weight of your position—your reputation—behind these experiments?”
    “Of course not,” Ian said, knowing he was being drawn by the most obvious and base of methods, yet unable to respond in any other way. He drew himself up, his expression cool. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “Good.” Wells was already rolling up his sleeve. “Now let us get down to business. I want you to put me under the ether, and operate on my arm.”
    “We’ve done this before—”
    “This time you’re to only give me enough for my eyelids to flutter. We’ll see how low the dosage can go. That will give those fusty surgeons in Boston something to think about.”

Chapter Four

    Boston, 1838
    The sails of Henry’s clipper ship snapped in the brisk spring wind as he and Margaret stood on the quay of Boston Harbor. The Charlotte Rose , named after their daughter, was one of the fastest out of Boston and perfect for carrying tea and spices from China. Clipper ships were relatively new to the sea trade, and they did not have the storage capacity of other ships, although with their many sails they were certainly faster.
    Even so, the thought of Henry battling the China Seas on board that flimsy-looking boat made Margaret suppress a shudder with fear. She turned to Henry with a smile, determined for him not to see how afraid she was.
    “I shall miss you,” Henry said quietly, his expression tender as he gazed down at her. “I shall write to you as often as I can.”
    Margaret nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She didn’t want to point out that letters would take months to arrive, or even longer, for he would have to find someone heading towards Boston at one of the ports where he put in. His promise to write provided little comfort.
    “And I shall think of you every day,” she finally answered, her voice only a little choked. “And pray for you.” Pray for the safety of his ship and his men, his very life. The dangers and threats of an ocean crossing, never mind what waited for him in China, made her throat close up and she blinked rapidly.
    “Ah, Margaret.” Gently Henry drew her into his arms. “I know this is not easy for you.”
    Margaret pressed her face against the scratchy wool of his coat, her eyes closed against the hot onslaught of tears. She did not want to cry at this most precious of farewells, and with little Charlotte at her side too. She wished she’d been able to convince Henry of her good cheer, but he knew her too well.
    Finally she drew in a deep breath and pulled away from him. “Go safely,” she said, and this time her voice sounded sure and strong. “I trust you to God.”
    Henry stroked her cheek. “And you go safely as well, my love,” he said, softly enough that only she could hear. “I love you more than you could ever know.”
    “Papa.” Charlotte yanked on the bottom of Henry’s coat, her lower lip pushed out as she gazed up at her father. “Aren’t you going to hug me too?”
    “Of course I am, my poppet,” Henry said with a jolly smile, although Margaret saw his dear blue eyes were shadowed with worry... was it the same fear she felt, or was he simply worried for her own well-being? She had a terrible, creeping feeling that Henry was not being completely honest with her about the dangers of travel to China. The rough seas, the awful Opium Wars, the hostile Chinese government... all of it kept her awake most nights, staring at the ceiling, envisioning all the terrible ways things could go wrong. Ways she might lose Henry forever. And what if there was more he hadn’t even told her?
    Henry swung Charlotte up into his arms, and then hoisted her to his shoulder. “See that ship there?” he said, pointing to the clipper readying to sail.
    “Yes, of course I do,” Charlotte