Page 9 of Beauty and the Baker
Imagine traveling on boats all over the world and bringing back items to sell,she thought.It sounded so romantic.
Much more romantic than cleaning out bedpans and changing linens.She quickly scanned the rest of the letter, until she got to the part she wanted to read.
I’ve been thinking about our correspondence. I know the time is right to ask you, my dear.
Come be with me in San Francisco.
When she read the words on the page, she let out a squeal and then quickly hushed herself in case somebody might hear her.Here was an opportunity to leave Baltimore!
The letter continued…
I have an apartment next to the harbor, where you can stand at the window and stare out at the waves. I imagine you standing there with my arms around you.
May I be so bold, sweet, sweet Georgina, to say I cannot wait for the taste of your lips.
I ask that you keep our arrangement a secret. It wouldn’t do to have your family or acquaintances try to talk you out of leaving.
It is a five-day train ride to San Francisco. I pray you leave soon, so we may be together as soon as possible!
Please let me know when you are to arrive, so I can be sure to meet the train. I leave for the West Indies in two weeks. I would love to have you on the voyage standing next to me.
Until we finally met, my sweet Georgina. I will caress the photograph you sent me, until I can caress you, my love.
Yours,
Lawrence.
Georgina sighed. She gave the letter a little hug and thought about everything she would need to do. The one thing she noticed, was that he made no mention of purchasing a ticket on her behalf.
For someone that was so wealthy, why wouldn’t he have sent money to cover the ticket? Her friends who responded to advertisements for mail order brides always received either a ticket or the money to purchase one.Perhaps he just forgot.
Afterall, he must have quite a bit on his mind if he owned a fleet of ships. It was understandable that he may have forgotten to put the money in the envelope.
Georgina folded the letter and placed it in the nightstand drawer. She would run by the telegraph office and send Lawrence a note in the morning, letting him know that she would be arriving as soon as she secured a ticket.
She fell asleep dreaming of a wedding along the water and adventure on the high seas with a dashing groom by her side.
Sending the telegram to Lawrence would be the easy part. Sneaking out of the house to catch the train, without her parents knowing would not. She couldn’t bear to look in Thomas’s eyes and tell him she was leaving, when she promised she wouldn’t just the day before.
She finished up her shift at the hospital and let the nurse know that she needed some time off for a bit. To take care of family matters, she said.I can always send them a telegram once I arrive.
She collected her last pay, said goodbye to the nurses and patients, without having to say anything more.
As soon as she got home, Georgina complained of a headache and told her family she needed to rest. It afforded her an opportunity to pack one bag with what she might need until she reached San Francisco. Lawrence was surely wealthy enough that he could provide her with a wardrobe once she arrived.
Reaching under the floorboard, she pulled out the jar with all of her money in it and placed it inside her bag, surrounded by dresses. She knew if she went to the bank and withdrew her savings, the manager would call her father. That is what happens when you live in a city where everyone knows everyone else.
She had just finished packing and put her portmanteau in the closet next to her train case. She was going to wait until everyone had retired for the night, when she heard a knock on the door.
Thomas peeked his head in. “Are you feeling better, Georgie?”
Georgina gave him a half smile. She was going to miss his face most of all. “I am, pet,” she said, gathering him in a hug.
“We missed you at dinner,” he said.
“I know. I just needed to rest for a bit.” Georgina noticed something in his hands. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the envelope he was holding.
“Oh, Mama asked me to bring it up to you. It is a letter from Aunt Maybelle.” He handed her the letter.
