Read Online Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) by Kristy McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page B
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
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surprise clear on her face. “Did you marry William Evans?”
“No, no. It’s nothing like that.” Alice accepted the tea from Vera and took a sip. She proceeded to tell the woman everything that had happened—beginning with her flight from Daniel Endicott to her job at the factory in Massachusetts to the fire that left her in dire need of a new situation. “Miss McDaniel really had all the girls’ best interests at heart. Becoming a mail-order bride was a perfect solution in so many ways.”
“I’ve heard of such arrangements, but don’t the brides-to-be generally travel out west?”
“Yes, there’s a greater need for women out there. But in my case, a suitor came forward and requested me specifically. And, as it turns out, he was from Rhode Island.”
“That’s remarkably convenient.” Vera’s eyes dimmed.
“I will admit, it seemed odd to me, but I was terribly eager to return to Rhode Island. In the end, however, I didn’t marry him. Instead, I wed his brother.”
“Why did his brother marry you? Is he...unable to gain a wife in any other way?”
“No. Not at all. He’s quite handsome, in fact. He owns his own company. He’s perfect in almost every way.”
“Except...”
“Vera, I have no one to turn to, so I must ask you—is it normal for a husband to wait on the marriage bed?”
Vera set her saucer and cup onto the coffee table and smoothed her hands along her deep blue skirt. Her hands bore dark spots, and her knuckles bulged. When had Vera become old? “You and your husband haven’t consummated the marriage?”
Alice shook her head.
“Well, perhaps he thinks to make the transition easier for you.”
“But there could be another reason, correct?”
“Alice dear.” Vera smiled and patted her hand. “It’s not for me to pass judgment on something of which I know nothing about. But an unconsummated marriage is more easily dissolved than one that is, at least in the eyes of God.”
A bad feeling settled into the pit of Alice’s stomach. “He plans to divorce me?”
Concern filled Vera’s gaze. “Does he know that Daniel Endicott is your stepfather?”
“Yes, but I didn’t tell him until after we’d met.”
“But before you married?”
“Yes, but...” Alice considered the chain of events. She’d reflected briefly over them the night before, but had hoped that she was entirely wrong. “Why would he care if Endicott is my father? I left him. There’s nothing to be gained.”
“Your husband could believe that you still stand to receive a sizable inheritance.”
Alice shook her head. “That’s not possible. Besides, I hardly think Daniel Endicott will leave me one penny. And I’m fine with that. I don’t want any ties to him.” She stared down at her hands. “I’m now Alice Martel, and I sincerely hope to remain that way. That’s why I wanted to know if you had any advice about how to woo my husband and make him never desire another but me—” Alice stopped short when she looked up to find a stricken look on Vera’s face.
“What is it?” asked Alice. “What’s wrong?”
“Martel, you say?”
Dread filled Alice. “Yes, why?”
“I’m afraid you’re not going to like this, dear.”
Chapter Thirteen
V era took a sip of tea, and then another, as if fortifying herself to deliver what she had to say. “When we lost your father, it was very sudden. Hazel was distraught. Daniel Endicott, being your father’s attorney, stepped in and handled all of the business affairs. In fact, he had his hand in more of them than your mother had realized. Your father had given him shares in many of the ventures.”
Vera set her cup on the edge of the coffee table, then continued. “Apparently, your father had a verbal agreement with a man named Jean Martel to finance his business in Tiverton. I believe it was called Menhaden Fishing, but upon your father’s death, Daniel refused to honor it. With nothing in writing, it really couldn’t be
“No, no. It’s nothing like that.” Alice accepted the tea from Vera and took a sip. She proceeded to tell the woman everything that had happened—beginning with her flight from Daniel Endicott to her job at the factory in Massachusetts to the fire that left her in dire need of a new situation. “Miss McDaniel really had all the girls’ best interests at heart. Becoming a mail-order bride was a perfect solution in so many ways.”
“I’ve heard of such arrangements, but don’t the brides-to-be generally travel out west?”
“Yes, there’s a greater need for women out there. But in my case, a suitor came forward and requested me specifically. And, as it turns out, he was from Rhode Island.”
“That’s remarkably convenient.” Vera’s eyes dimmed.
“I will admit, it seemed odd to me, but I was terribly eager to return to Rhode Island. In the end, however, I didn’t marry him. Instead, I wed his brother.”
“Why did his brother marry you? Is he...unable to gain a wife in any other way?”
“No. Not at all. He’s quite handsome, in fact. He owns his own company. He’s perfect in almost every way.”
“Except...”
“Vera, I have no one to turn to, so I must ask you—is it normal for a husband to wait on the marriage bed?”
Vera set her saucer and cup onto the coffee table and smoothed her hands along her deep blue skirt. Her hands bore dark spots, and her knuckles bulged. When had Vera become old? “You and your husband haven’t consummated the marriage?”
Alice shook her head.
“Well, perhaps he thinks to make the transition easier for you.”
“But there could be another reason, correct?”
“Alice dear.” Vera smiled and patted her hand. “It’s not for me to pass judgment on something of which I know nothing about. But an unconsummated marriage is more easily dissolved than one that is, at least in the eyes of God.”
A bad feeling settled into the pit of Alice’s stomach. “He plans to divorce me?”
Concern filled Vera’s gaze. “Does he know that Daniel Endicott is your stepfather?”
“Yes, but I didn’t tell him until after we’d met.”
“But before you married?”
“Yes, but...” Alice considered the chain of events. She’d reflected briefly over them the night before, but had hoped that she was entirely wrong. “Why would he care if Endicott is my father? I left him. There’s nothing to be gained.”
“Your husband could believe that you still stand to receive a sizable inheritance.”
Alice shook her head. “That’s not possible. Besides, I hardly think Daniel Endicott will leave me one penny. And I’m fine with that. I don’t want any ties to him.” She stared down at her hands. “I’m now Alice Martel, and I sincerely hope to remain that way. That’s why I wanted to know if you had any advice about how to woo my husband and make him never desire another but me—” Alice stopped short when she looked up to find a stricken look on Vera’s face.
“What is it?” asked Alice. “What’s wrong?”
“Martel, you say?”
Dread filled Alice. “Yes, why?”
“I’m afraid you’re not going to like this, dear.”
Chapter Thirteen
V era took a sip of tea, and then another, as if fortifying herself to deliver what she had to say. “When we lost your father, it was very sudden. Hazel was distraught. Daniel Endicott, being your father’s attorney, stepped in and handled all of the business affairs. In fact, he had his hand in more of them than your mother had realized. Your father had given him shares in many of the ventures.”
Vera set her cup on the edge of the coffee table, then continued. “Apparently, your father had a verbal agreement with a man named Jean Martel to finance his business in Tiverton. I believe it was called Menhaden Fishing, but upon your father’s death, Daniel refused to honor it. With nothing in writing, it really couldn’t be
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