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Chapter One in A Love So Bold In the following story, all the information colored RED is provided by the person who orders this book. Your information is entered into our database and our computers print the personalized story for your child or loved one. If the order form indicates that the information required is OPTIONAL, the story can be printed without that information. Each book will read appropriately with the information that you provide The Story Starts Here___________________________
This story was written especially for Michael Smith With Love From Danese Matthews February 14, 2002
Title Page: A Love So Bold Written by Alison Leigh Krysak
Page 1
As far as the eye could see and beyond, the ocean swelled in rolling whitecaps, its misty spray leaving behind its indelible mark on everything it touched. Danese breathed deeply of the tangy scent and rejoiced silently to be going home at last. Home certainly was where the heart was. A Small smile curved the corners of her mouth. She couldn’t wait to see her mother, Nancy, her father, Richard, and Anjie, Kelley and Sean. How her siblings must have grown in the time she was away! She had been packed off to England for a proper lady’s education had she had properly hated every minute of it. Of course, there had been good times, too. Danese had become very good friends with Maggie Johnson and had spent some enjoyable holidays at her parents’ country home. But Maggie’s mother had only reinforced Danese’s determination not to be a mat for her husband to tread on. The constant fluttering over the smallest details in order to please her husband had been very wearing on one’s nerves. No, she vowed silently, despite what her parents wanted for her, she could never be just a wife, just a mother. There was a whole world of things she could do. Curses upon society’s restrictions! Why, she could become a businesswoman in her own right. She could help those poor souls in Boston, the ones she had read about in English tabloids. She could lobby Parliament, taking a firm stand for women’s rights. Danese sniffed delicately. Women’s rights indeed! She had to face it. In this day and age there wasn’t anything a proper lady could do except be a proper lady. Danese’s sigh rent the air. Going home was like having her corset pulled so tight she couldn’t draw another breath of freedom. What was a woman to do?
Page 2 Danese turned as Mr. John Paul approached. He was a charming individual, well-educated and remarkably kind. She had become well acquainted with him over the last several weeks. A person couldn’t help running into the other passengers on a brig this size.In that instant, a sudden gust of wind pushed her panniers to the side and lifted her skirts to an embarrassing angle. She blushed profusely as she fumbled with the yards and yards of material. Being the gentleman he was, Mr. Paul ignored her situation. “Ah, my dear, I wondered what had become of you. You skipped your meal and the captain had become concerned.” “I was just getting a breath of fresh air. It seems the closer we come to the Colonies, the more I have to consider.” Danese’s blush had faded to a pale pink and Mr. Paul couldn’t help but notice how becoming it was on her. Her wavy, blond hair was twisted into a topknot of curls and long tendrils of it floated loosely in the breeze, enticing a man to reach out and sample its softness.“What dire matters could a pretty little lady like you have to consider?” John Paul wished he had only flirtation on his mind. Here was one woman he wouldn’t mind getting to know better. His own personal matters had already been considered. He was on his way to a new life, away from memories of English tyranny against the Scots, away from recent troubles with the British administration of Tobago, as far away as he could go to start a new life. He was going to change his name and begin anew. From the moment he set foot in the Colonies, he would be know as John Paul Jones, and by golly, he yearned to make his mark. People would remember him! Danese was flattered by the shy man’s interest. she quickly surveyed him head to toe. He was of medium height, medium weight, and medium brown hair. He was just, she sighed softly, medium.She was instantly ashamed of her thoughts. But she was disappointed also. Three years in London, and not one man had caught her eye. She supposed she was like every other female of the species. She wanted only the best. Danese wanted someone who had attractive features, a pleasant personality, and kindness and caring in abundance.
Page 3 Someone who loved laughter and wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself. Someone to share the day with and to romance the night away. But most of all, she wanted someone who would appreciate her just for being her, with all her quirky notions, her unfeminine ideas and her occasional flights of fancy. Did a man such as that even exist? Danese had trouble remembering what Mr. Paul had asked. She frowned and tried to reply, but her answer was abruptly cut off.“Ship to starboard, Captain!” Danese heard the voice from the crow’s nest and leaned over backward to see what direction he was pointing.Squinting against the sun, Danese saw the pin-point ship in the distance. She couldn’t help grinning at Mr. Paul. “At last, some excitement in our day!”He didn’t answer immediately, but continued to peer at the approaching ship. “Perhaps, Mistress Matthews, you may rue those words. If I’m not mistaken, the ship about to overtake us doesn’t fly the Union Jack, nor does she fly anything with which I’m familiar. I’m afraid we’ve trouble on our hands. This is a merchant ship. There’s nary a cannon or gun in sight to thwart a boarding.”“What does all that mean?” Danese had to shout to make herself heard above the din of orders being issued and relayed from the forecastle where the captain stood.“It means, Mistress Matthews, I suggest you follow me below deck to my cabin.” At Danese’s sudden gasp of disbelief, John Paul Jones shook his head. “Don’t put an outraged expression on your face just yet, my dear. I was merely going to lend you some of my clothes. Since you are the only female on board, it’s only right that the other ship not be made aware of such a fact. Being the innocent you are, it’s also fitting you don’t have any idea what I am talking about. Now, come along. With the wind at its back that frigate is going to be on us any minute.”John Paul Jones hurriedly ushered Danese through the passageway and into his small cabin. The slam of the door brought shivers to Danese’s spine. Somehow, she knew that from this moment on, nothing in her life would ever be the same.
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