Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) by Maureen Driscoll Read Free Book Online Page B

Heffner.  “The post, my lady.”
    Aunt Evelyn took the letters, then smiled as she
dismissed Finlay.  “A letter for you Melanie.  From Philadelphia.”
    That made Mary put aside her needlework as she
grinned at her cousin.  “Is it from your Mr. Parker?”
    “I am sure he is not ‘my’ Mr. Parker,” said Mel, as
she took the letter from her aunt. 
    “I am quite sure he is,” said Mary.  “He writes to
you once a week.  Why, he’s more constant than any gentleman in London, even
though he lives all the way across the Atlantic and halfway across the
continent.  What does he say?”
    “You would do well to study your geography, dear,”
said Mary’s mother, “for I am sure Philadelphia is not that far across North
America.  And give your cousin time to read her letter before you start
interrogating her about it.”
    Mary smiled, then went back to her embroidery. 
“Very well.  But I want to be the first to learn when they become betrothed. 
It is surely most romantical that he pines for her from so far away.  I would
surely love to be missed that much.”
    “One must go away before one can be missed,” said
her mother.  “And I cannot countenance your leaving home even one minute sooner
than when you will be married.”
    Mel smiled at her two relatives then went to the
window seat to read her letter.  Mary would be most disappointed and her aunt
would be rather scandalized to know the true content of the missive.  For Mr.
Parker spent much of his letters writing about prostitutes.
    Richard Parker was only a few years older than she. 
He was a leader in the Quaker school she’d attended and had dedicated his life
to various reforms.  He helped poor unfortunate women in London start their
lives over in America and Mel was helping him do it.  She found women who
wished to start life anew, then she explained to them the very real
difficulties they would face in America.  The jobs that waited for them in
Philadelphia were menial labor and they would have to work hard to sustain
their new lives.  Others chose to marry men who were looking for wives to accompany
them to America’s western frontier.  That life was dangerous and uncertain, but
the dozen or so women who’d made that choice said they’d rather face the
frontier than spend another moment in a London brothel.
    Richard’s letter was filled with tales of the latest
two women who’d made the journey to Philadelphia.  One was working as a
washerwoman and the other was about to set out for Kentucky with her new
husband.  Richard said he would soon have enough money to pay for the passage
of four more London women.  They had an arrangement with a sea captain who
transported women whenever he had room on his ship.  All they had to do was pay
for the women’s expenses on board.  But that was only a small portion of the
total cost.  Despite the captain’s generosity, transporting the women was still
expensive since the journey from New York to Philadelphia was a long one.  Given
the costs involved, it was important that Mel chose the women wisely.
    It was a great deal of responsibility, but Mel loved
the challenge.  She’d befriended several women who made their living in the
flesh trade.  Almost all of them were miserable, but not that many were
interested in making the trip.  Some had families they didn’t want to leave. 
Others were afraid to journey to the wilds of America.  Still others didn’t
think there was anything else they could do besides ply their trade.  They
figured it would be better to stay in a place they knew, rather than go to
America and find there was nothing they could do there other than what they
were already forced to do in London.
    It was terribly sad when a woman gave up on
herself.  But all Mel could do was try to change her mind and keep looking for
others who would take her up on the offer.
    “Well?” asked Mary, who could no longer contain herself. 
“Are we to plan a