Read Online Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) by Kristy McCaffrey - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristy McCaffrey
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, Arranged marriage, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, Rhode Island, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Charade, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, train station, Stepfather, Seamstress, Fisherman, Tiverton, Brother's Fiancée, Father's Troubles, Replaced, Avenging, Subterfuge, Worth Saving
Ads: Link
lounge drinking, and his enticing wife was lying upstairs in their bed.
William Evans appeared at the arm of the chair where James sat ruminating.
“Fancy running into you down here,” Evans said, “what with your wife nearby.”
James tilted his head to look at the man but remained silent.
“I’ll admit, I was quite shocked to see Alice here,” he continued. “I don’t suppose she told you, but before she ran off, I was securing our betrothal.”
James frowned. “I believe the ran off part should tell you all you need to know.”
Evans forced a smile. “Well, I’m guessing you haven’t met Alice’s father, Daniel. He won’t approve.”
“That would be Alice’s stepfather. If he has something to say to her, he can say it to me.”
“I’m certain he’ll want to meet you.”
James took a swallow of the smooth liquor. He stood, a good two inches taller than Evans. “And you’re to stay away from Alice.”
Evans gave an ambiguous sound, but left with a curt nod.
James knew this wasn’t the last he’d see of the man.
Chapter Twelve
A lice awoke during the night and heard a faint snoring coming from the stuffed settee in the sitting area. It amazed her that she’d never heard James return. She must’ve been more exhausted than she realized.
She could get up and invite him to the bed, where he’d be far more comfortable. He was still recovering from a broken ankle, and she could tell that it sometimes bothered him.
Her eyelids drifted shut.
I’ll beg him to come to bed tomorrow.
She awoke to sunlight streaming through the windows.
The sound of the hotel room door opening and closing brought her fully awake, then James entered carrying a tray. “Good morning.”
She scooted to sit. In the light of day, it dawned on her how frumpy she must appear. She wore her most modest sleeping gown—long-sleeved and buttoned to the neck—and she self-consciously fingered the braid trailing from the sleeping cap atop her head.
James was unbearably handsome in a dark suit and white shirt, his face freshly shaven. He set the tray onto the bed. Atop it sat a silver coffee pot, cups and saucers, cream, sugar, and a plate of sweetbreads.
She tucked her knees against her. “Thank you.”
He poured the hot, aromatic coffee into a cup and handed it to her on a saucer. “You were very fatigued. I’m glad that you got a good night’s sleep.”
She reached for the cream and added a dash to her coffee, followed by a spoonful of sugar. “I guess I was tired.”
“I have business to attend to today, but I’ve arranged for a horse and carriage to be available for you, in case you’d like to go anywhere.”
She nodded.
“As for this evening,” he continued, “I have a previous engagement, so I won’t be with you for supper. You can either eat in the restaurant or have something sent up. Please feel free to rest and relax. I promise not to be out late.”
Alice sipped her coffee and nibbled on one of the sweetbreads. James’ kindness warmed her heart after his rebuff following the kiss, but the previous engagement put her senses on alert. Did he have another woman?
Hurt and resentment filled her, but she remained silent.
“I’ll leave you to your morning ritual then.” He stood and left the room.
Annoyed once again by her husband’s abrupt departure, Alice sat in bed, holding her coffee in one hand and a piece of sweetbread in the other. Her appetite fled as her stomach twisted into a knot.
She knew who she would visit in Newport.
* * * *
James left the hotel room and Alice, settling his hat atop his head. He’d never seen her more enticing than now, her sleepy countenance drawing his attention even more than the bit of bosom she’d revealed the previous night in the lovely green gown she’d worn. At least this morning she’d been covered in a nightgown that hid her inevitably fine figure, one that he tried his best to ignore.
Glad for the diversion of business, he had
William Evans appeared at the arm of the chair where James sat ruminating.
“Fancy running into you down here,” Evans said, “what with your wife nearby.”
James tilted his head to look at the man but remained silent.
“I’ll admit, I was quite shocked to see Alice here,” he continued. “I don’t suppose she told you, but before she ran off, I was securing our betrothal.”
James frowned. “I believe the ran off part should tell you all you need to know.”
Evans forced a smile. “Well, I’m guessing you haven’t met Alice’s father, Daniel. He won’t approve.”
“That would be Alice’s stepfather. If he has something to say to her, he can say it to me.”
“I’m certain he’ll want to meet you.”
James took a swallow of the smooth liquor. He stood, a good two inches taller than Evans. “And you’re to stay away from Alice.”
Evans gave an ambiguous sound, but left with a curt nod.
James knew this wasn’t the last he’d see of the man.
Chapter Twelve
A lice awoke during the night and heard a faint snoring coming from the stuffed settee in the sitting area. It amazed her that she’d never heard James return. She must’ve been more exhausted than she realized.
She could get up and invite him to the bed, where he’d be far more comfortable. He was still recovering from a broken ankle, and she could tell that it sometimes bothered him.
Her eyelids drifted shut.
I’ll beg him to come to bed tomorrow.
She awoke to sunlight streaming through the windows.
The sound of the hotel room door opening and closing brought her fully awake, then James entered carrying a tray. “Good morning.”
She scooted to sit. In the light of day, it dawned on her how frumpy she must appear. She wore her most modest sleeping gown—long-sleeved and buttoned to the neck—and she self-consciously fingered the braid trailing from the sleeping cap atop her head.
James was unbearably handsome in a dark suit and white shirt, his face freshly shaven. He set the tray onto the bed. Atop it sat a silver coffee pot, cups and saucers, cream, sugar, and a plate of sweetbreads.
She tucked her knees against her. “Thank you.”
He poured the hot, aromatic coffee into a cup and handed it to her on a saucer. “You were very fatigued. I’m glad that you got a good night’s sleep.”
She reached for the cream and added a dash to her coffee, followed by a spoonful of sugar. “I guess I was tired.”
“I have business to attend to today, but I’ve arranged for a horse and carriage to be available for you, in case you’d like to go anywhere.”
She nodded.
“As for this evening,” he continued, “I have a previous engagement, so I won’t be with you for supper. You can either eat in the restaurant or have something sent up. Please feel free to rest and relax. I promise not to be out late.”
Alice sipped her coffee and nibbled on one of the sweetbreads. James’ kindness warmed her heart after his rebuff following the kiss, but the previous engagement put her senses on alert. Did he have another woman?
Hurt and resentment filled her, but she remained silent.
“I’ll leave you to your morning ritual then.” He stood and left the room.
Annoyed once again by her husband’s abrupt departure, Alice sat in bed, holding her coffee in one hand and a piece of sweetbread in the other. Her appetite fled as her stomach twisted into a knot.
She knew who she would visit in Newport.
* * * *
James left the hotel room and Alice, settling his hat atop his head. He’d never seen her more enticing than now, her sleepy countenance drawing his attention even more than the bit of bosom she’d revealed the previous night in the lovely green gown she’d worn. At least this morning she’d been covered in a nightgown that hid her inevitably fine figure, one that he tried his best to ignore.
Glad for the diversion of business, he had
Similar Books
