Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) by Kristy McCaffrey Read Free Book Online

created a tension between them—a longing that was fast proving to be a damn frustration. He knew she felt it. And God knew, the more time he spent with her, the more agitated he became.
    He’d married her to gain an advantage over Daniel Endicott, to right the many wrongs that had befallen the Martel family because of him. He had no qualms pursuing this course of action. But compromising Alice was untenable to him. She deserved better. Gavin Harrington’s daughter merited a man who would love and cherish her, not one who would marry her to gain access to her stepfather. As soon as the business with the inheritance could be handled, James would let her go.
    Frank reclined in the chair, stretching his legs and crossing his arms. Having come straight from a day on one of their steamships, the Three Brothers, his sweat-soaked shirt, suspenders, and stained wool trousers smelled of fish. It amused James to imagine Alice’s reaction when she came across Frank’s stench. Her vase of flowers on the nightstand did little to mask it.
    “Endicott will know you’ve got his daughter,” Frank answered. “It’ll give you leverage. And it’ll scare him too, which he more than deserves. It’s high time he knows that messing with a Martel was a bad idea.”
    Frank was right. Jean and Ada Martel had died in a carriage accident, the cause lurking like a fishing net dredging the sea floor. The official conclusion had been that Jean Martel had been drunk, a state in which he’d frequently been found in the years after his ruin by Endicott. But both James and Frank suspected that Endicott may have had a hand in it. Unfortunately, nothing could be proven.
    Frank sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “You don’t love Alice, so why do you care if she’s upset? As soon as this is done, you can divorce her and get on with your life. It’s what I’d planned to do when I initially sent for her anyway. You can still live your dream of sailing into the beyond on one of your ships.”
    James brooded. “I’d never abandon the family or the business.” Did that include Alice?
    “Will you at least consider attending the party?”
    “I’ll think about it,” he finally conceded.
    “Don’t think too long. It’s a Christmas party, set for December 12. You’ll need to depart soon if you want to make the journey to Newport without too much hassle. You could tell Alice it’s a belated honeymoon.”
    James swore under his breath as Frank left the room. A honeymoon implied marital relations. That was exactly what James had been trying to avoid these past few weeks. And he wasn’t keen about lying to Alice.
    You’re already misleading her.
    He needed to stop the sentiment seeping into him. He hadn’t desired to get married. He’d simply saved Frank’s hide and Alice’s difficult predicament. He didn’t owe her anything, except that she leave the marriage as unscathed as when she entered it. In return, he’d take back Menhaden Fishing, his papa’s heart and soul. Perhaps Frank was right. The sooner this business with Endicott could be addressed, the sooner he and Alice could get on with their lives.
    * * * *
    Alice entered James’ room, carrying clean linens, and tried to ignore his stewing temperament.
    “I want to get out of bed,” he said.
    “I agree. It’s time I freshened the coverings.” She set down her bundle and came to the bedside.
    James pushed the blanket away and swung his legs to the floor. Alice pretended that his near state of nakedness didn’t affect her at all. Since he seemed determined to stand, she wedged herself in the crook of his shoulder to allow him to lean on her.
    “I’m not an invalid,” he huffed.
    She stood her ground. “No, but you certainly are stubborn. Where is it you’re planning to go?”
    “Downstairs.”
    “Frank did procure crutches for you. They’re in the parlor.”
    His arm came around her and she wrapped hers around his waist, enjoying the feel of his bare