Hey guys! I'm a terrible at updating, I know. And to the reviewers that asked when will I be updating—TODAY IS THE DAY! :D So, this is kind of a filler chapter, it's like the calm before the storm kind of chapter. Anyways, I have decided to dedicate each chapter to a few people. For this chapter I dedicate this to Suprina Juliette for being a constant reviewer and a sweetheart, XxMissWriter16xX for your smile tugging and flattering review, to Spencer . Dance for being so sweet and your reviews make me smile and to guest reviewer Britbrat for making me laugh out loud and I feel you, I read fanfics past midnight too XD
Winkawinkamika: Hey roomie! Here's the next chapter, sorry for the shortness but ehh. You know this is also dedicated to you, so please proceed stuffing your face. Ha! People think I'm funny here, L-O-L.
Twitter/Tumblr: yayiloveyellow
Previously on the Captive Bride
Calming down, slowly, Ally leaned back on her seat and stared outside the window moodily. "Well, it doesn't matter now, anyways. I'll never see Austin Moon again and we're leaving tomorrow."
Dez smiled and took his niece's hand, rubbing soothing circles on her hand.
"Oh, Dez. I'm glad we're going home."
Chapter 5
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A pleasant breeze ruffled Ally's skirt as she and Dez boarded the ship to Cairo. Ally was shown to a small cabin that she would have to share with another woman. Dez would be in the cabin directly across from hers. After their luggage was brought aboard, Ally went on deck for a last look at England. As she watched the ship's crew hustling and preparing to cast off, Ally recalled the frantic haste of the morning.
Ally had been awakened from another restless sleep by loud pounding on her door. Her uncle entered the room and stood beside her bed, a forlorn expression on his handsome face. She noticed the paper he was holding as she rubbed the sleep off her eyes.
"They came this morning, Ally. I'm afraid I'll have to leave immediately."
"Who came?" She yawned. "What are you talking about?"
"My orders. They came sooner than expected," Daz replied, handing Ally the paper.
Ally read it slowly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Cairo? You're going to Egypt? That's thousands of miles away!"
Dez shot Ally an apologetic smile and took the paper out of his niece's hands. "Yes, I know. I have to leave in an hour. I'm sorry, Ally, I won't be able to go back home with you." Dez sighed at Ally's crestfallen face then affectionately petted her head.
"I'm going to miss you, kid."
A sly grin crossed Ally's lips. "No you won't, Dez. I'm going with you! I have decided for quite some time now, that I'll follow you wherever you're appointed to."
"That's ridiculous, Ally! What would you do on a military post in Egypt? The weather is miserable. It's blazing hot!" Dez then struck a pose; head tilted, and a hand on the hip, "You'd ruin your complexion!"
Throwing back the covers, Ally jumped out of her bed and faced Dez. "I'm going Dezmond Worthy, and that's all there is to it!" It was miserable last year when you were gone."
She then spun around, seeing her belongings neatly hanged and folded. Yes, Ally Dawson was organized. "Oh, we're wasting time. You get out of here while I pack and get dressed. I won't be long, I promise."
Ally pushed Dez out of the room and called Hannah, the upstairs maid, to help her pack. She had to hurry so John would have no excuse to leave her behind.
She was dressed and ready to leave in less than an hour. Dez made no objections and and even told her he was glad she was coming.
And now, they were about to cast off for a strange land Ally knew very little about.
Looking over the the other passengers, she found it strange how Dez was the only army officer on board.
"Ally, you should've waited for me. I don't want you on deck alone."
Ally was startled at his words, but relaxed as Dez joined her at the rail. "Oh, Dez. You're being a mother hen. I'm perfectly fine here. Stop worrying now, will you?"
Dez shook his head. It was so like Ally to want independence. Well, he was sure Ally could handle herself, but she was in an unfamiliar place with quite a number of men aboard. He was just worried about her safety.
"Nevertheless, during the journey, I would feel more comfortable if you had someone to escort you."
Ally just smiled lovingly at her uncle. She understood why her uncle was worried. It was natural for him to worry about her. He was so caring and she loved him dearly. Giving in to her uncle's requests, she nodded and said "If you insist."
Scanning her surroundings again, Ally brought up her question earlier. "I was thinking how strange it is that there are no other officers on board."
"We usually do travel together, I was wondering the same thing. We'll see once we're in Cairo."
Ally's eyes shone with excitement, bouncing up and down a little. "Maybe they want you for something special!"
"I doubt that, Ally, but we'll find out once we land." Dez put his arm around Ally's shoulder as they watched England fall behind them as the ship sailed out to the sea.
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It was a long, boring journey for Ally. She hated confinement and the ship offered few pastimes. She at least made friends with her cabin mate, Ms. Erika de Sousa. Erika was Ally's age, with reddish brown waves and hazel eyes. She was a petite young woman and very motherly. Erika was only two years older than her and had visited England for summer. She was returning to Egypt to visit her fiancé who was colonel of the of the regiment where Dez was posted. But, Erika couldn't tell Ally why her uncle was being sent to Cairo. She only knew that the others were supposed to leave in a month.
Since there could be no answers until the journey was over, Ally put the mystery out of her mind until then. She spent much time reading on her cabin or on deck. Ally was also thrilled to discover that the ship had a small library. She would frequently visit the library and she found it quite interesting how there were quite a lot of books about the tribes that hid in the Arabian Desert. The tales ranged from nightly raids to captives being turned into slaves.
The days rolled slowly by without incident. Ally could hardly believe it when they finally reached Egypt. The weather had turned much hotter as they moved south, and she was grateful for the newly bought summer clothes she packed.
Their ship docked in Alexandria the following morning, Ally couldn't wait to put her feet on solid earth again, but the dock was so crowded with Egyptians and disembarking passengers that she would have to fight her way to get through the crowded mass.
Dez and Ally were standing on deck with their luggage when Erika came up and took Ally's hand. "Ally, sweetheart, remember when we discussed your uncle's orders? My fiancé , Colonel Carter, will be meeting me here. He might know about your uncle's orders. If you would want to, both of you could stay with me until I locate him."
"Yes, of course! I'm dying to know and I'm sure Dez is too."
Erika de Sousa waved to a gentleman in his mid twenties, who must be her fiancé, the colonel. They walked down the gangplank toward him. Colonel Carter embraced Erika and kissed her full on the lips. The colonel was lean but his stature was muscled, him being in the army and all. He had brown, wavy tresses and bright blue eyes. His sun kissed tan and one dimpled cheek made him quite a catch.
Not as attractive as Austin.
The small voice in Ally's head had the poor girl red as a tomato. She scolded herself for being flustered and was irritated with how the bastard had left such an impression. Psh, cocky bastard.
The colonel's affectionate words towards his fiancé snapped Ally away from her thoughts.
"It was awfully lonely here without you, love," the colonel said, holding Erika closely.
"I've missed you too, love." Erika replied, giving the colonel another peck on the lips. "I would like you to meet Lieutenant Dez Worthy and his niece, Miss Ally Dawson." She looked at the duo and nodded towards her fiancé, "This is my fiancé, Colonel Carter."
Dez and the colonel saluted each other. "What on earth are you doing here a month early, Lieutenant? The replacements aren't expected to arrive until next month," Colonel Carter said.
Dez replied, "I was hoping you could answer that question for me, sir."
"What? You mean to tell me that you don't know why you're here? Do you have your orders with you?"
"Yes, sir." Dez pulled out his orders from the inside of his coat and handed them to the colonel.
After Colonel Carter read the orders, he looked at Dez with a puzzled expression. "Sorry, son, but I can't help you. All I can tell you is that we didn't send for you. Do you have any enemies in England who might have wanted you out of the country?"
Dez looked shocked. "I have not thought about that, sir. I have no enemies that I know of."
"This is most unusual, but now that you're here, you must join us for some refreshments," Colonel Carter said, drawing his fiancé's arm through his. "The train for Cairo doesn't leave for another 2 hours."
Colonel Carter led the way through the crowd to a small café. They had a leisurely lunch in an open patio and then left for the station.
The train ride was hot and uncomfortable. It amused Ally that with all the trains in England, she had to come halfway across the world to ride on one. She chatted with Erika most of the time and both were currently seating in a comfortable saloon. "I've heard there are many dangerous out-laws in the desert. Is it true that tribes surrounding the desert make their captives into slaves?" Ally asked Erika curiously.
"It's all quite true, dear," Erika replied. "But, don't worry about it. The tribes fear Her Majesty's Army. They hide in the Arabian Desert, which is quite far from Cairo." Erika then shot Ally a playful look. "Why? Are you scared to be kidnapped? Or do you fantasize to be kidnapped by some hunk of a man and be taken as his love slave?"
Ally let out a snort then both girls fell into a heap of giggles.
"Oh, Erika. That would never happen. Plus, I don't want any lover soon. I'm not searching for love as of right now. Plus being held into captivity? I would rather eat nails than to be enslaved by some man."
Erika smiled fondly at Ally. She was very easy to get along with. She wrapped her hands around Ally's and rubbed it affectionately. "Someday, dear. You're going to find the love of your life. He might come unexpectedly and he might not be who you've pictured exactly, but just remember that no one, not even you, can control the course of true love."
Ally smiled gratefully at her new friend. She was glad for her advice, really. "I promise to tell you, once he comes."
The two girls continued chatting for a while then decided to retire for bed.
Ally's room was at the opposite end of the hall from Dez's. She went into her room where a hot bath awaited her. She shed her clothes off and slid into the tub. The heat and the crowded railway car had made her feel sticky and wet, making it absolutely heavenly as the hot water and lavender scented bath soothed her body.
After her bath, Ally got dressed and climbed up her bed. The hot bath relaxed her and the warm blankets made her sigh. She lay there on her bed and let sleep overtake her senses.
There's chapter 5 for you guys! Your reviews make me happy and I'm currently typing up the next chapter. *Hearts*