A Dream to Call Her Own.....sounds like a nice title for the moment

"Come with me. It'll be a grand adventure," Darrin  had said.  That was twelve days ago, and the only adventure Meredith had had was cleaning Darrin's quarters on the big sailing ship he had commandeered. 

Darrin was from a prominent family in town.  He had wealth and servants and beautiful horses.  Meredith was not as fortunate   Although her family was well respected in their small village, her father was a miller.  Darrin's family had lived in the large manor house above the town for more than three centuries.  His father had many acres of land, that was farmed by the locals.  It was said that he had investments all over the surrounding county and beyond.  Meredith should have known that Darrin hadn't wanted her for his bride, but as his servant.  This is what she deserved for believing all of his pretty lies.  Now she was stuck on board a sailing ship on the way to who knew where, taking care of Darrin's daily wants and needs.  He had said she meant everything to him.  That she was his love.  Now she felt as if she could never return home.  So this was to be her new life. A servant to the man she thought she had loved, whom she thought had loved her.

"Meredith, dear.  I need you to go ask the cook for my breakfast.  And make it fast.  I will be pouring over maps all day.  Soon we will be docking in Portsmouth.  I will be very busy today and tomorrow.  Make sure everything in my cabin is in tip top shape.  And Meredith, I should like to spend tonight with you.  Be sure you are ready when I return."

"Yes, Darrin.  Right away."  Meredith answered demurely, as she backed out of his small cabin not knowing what he had meant by his last statement.  Unfortunately, that was when she bumped into someone walking down the narrow corridor.  Meredith had not been out of Darrin's cabin many times to investigate her surroundings.  She was only allowed to go see the cook for Darrin's meals and her own, which were never as lavish as his. That is why she was so startled.

"Oh, excuse me, sir." Meredith said as she pushed away from a very warm, masculine chest.  Meredith was not very tall. When she stood near Darrin, she came to his shoulders, but this man was much taller.  Her head barely came to his chest.  She had to turn her head up to look into his face, and then she thought she would faint.  Standing in front of her was the most handsome man she had ever seen.  Dark, chin length hair.  Dark brown eyes.  High cheek bones and a very square chin.

Meredith quickly moved out of his way and pressed herself against the far wall.  The man immediately bowed and said his apologies.  Meredith didn't hear them. All she could hear was the blood rushing into her ears.

"Pardon me," he said as he waited for her reply.  Beginning to think she was a simpleton, he started to turn away from her.

Gathering herself together, Meredith once again apologized for bumping into the gentleman.  Turning back toward her, he smiled and tipped his hat.  With a wink, he continued down the corridor and out to the deck above.

Meredith took a minute to slow her heart back down to a normal beat, then she continued to the galley to order Darrin's breakfast.  As she walked, she wondered about the gentleman she had just met, or rather ran into so clumsily.  Who was he?  Where did he come from.  She had never seen him before.  She had not been out of Darrin's cabin very often, but she was quite sure she would have noticed him. He took up a lot of space in the small corridor.   She was sure he would be very hard to miss on deck or even in a very crowded ballroom.  Not that she had ever been in a ballroom.  The largest room she had ever been in was her local town hall.

"Ah, sweet Meredith.  Come for your master's breakfast, have ye?"  Cook said as she entered the galley.

"Yes, sir.  Thank you for your kind service, sir."

"Always so pleasant to be around, not just to look at, ye are, lass.  What ever are you doin' on this ship, lass?  Why aren't ye home courtin' a nice lad? Ah, but don't be tellin' me yer story, lass.  I can see it in yer eyes when ye come to see me.  But today there's somethin' else, aye lass?  What ye have on yer mind today. Do be tellin' me.  I'll not be tellin' another."  he said with a soft smile.

"Well, you see. Um, no I shouldn't say." she began, but Cook just gave her a look and she began to tell him of her experience in the corridor.

"A tall young lad, ye say. Yes, we were in port last night.  I do remember hearin' that a young merchant had come aboard.  He's here to help yer master, darlin'.  Did you not know we had been in port last night then?"

"No, I'm afraid I haven't been feeling well lately, sir, and I took to my bed early.  I did not wake until this morning.  I have only now left Sir's cabin to plead for his breakfast.  But that explains why I have not seen this man before." After she spoke, Meredith began to think about the young merchant again.  Cook saw the far away look in her eyes and let her be.  Handing her the food tray, he directed her to the door.  Meredith walked back carefully, but there was a dreamy look in her eyes.

Had Darrin seen, he would not have been pleased with his serving girl.  After all, she was his.  He knew he would never marry her, but want her he did.  But he had big ambitions.  Once he made his way in the trading business, he would seek out the lovely Melanie Blanchard and ask for her hand.  He had wanted her since he was a young lad of 16.  She lived in the neighboring town and was the daughter of a prominent man.  She would give him strong sons and many more leagues of land to his title.  Yes, he wanted her.  But he knew what he had in Meredith.  She was so easily lead by him.  He had convinced her to travel with him.  He had filled her head with nonsense about his feelings for her and the belief that they would elope once they were sea bound.  All along he had planned to take her virtue and use her services while at sea.  He had never once believed any of his own lies.  Tonight, he planned to get what he wanted from her.  For the last few weeks, he had made her his servant, but not his lover.  No, but he was planning a large seduction tonight.  Then when he tired of her, he planned to drop her off at the nearest port.  He couldn't have her with him when he went to woo the lovely Melanie, could he?  This plan was so good, he began to rub his hands together with anticipation.  Tonight he'd have his way, and tomorrow, he'd leave Meredith in the next port.  With those thoughts, Darrin began to look closely at his maps.

His new partner, Michael Warren, had arrived the night before.  He was a merchant who dealt in silks and fine dress fabrics for the ladies as well fine wines from France.  He had a good eye and a sharp brain.  Darrin knew he would be the one to help him become a wealthy merchant.  He needed to enlarge his wealth if he wanted to impress the beautiful Melanie.  Yes, he had plans to see to. As he finished these thoughts, the door gently opened and in came the beginning of his plan.  Meredith.  He smiled at her, and her blood ran cold.