Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) by Kristy McCaffrey Page A

show me one afternoon.”
    She sampled her meal, pausing to swallow before replying. “If you like.”
    “Did you ever go out on a ship with your father?”
    Alice smiled. “Of a sort. Quite often he would take me aboard and let me scamper about while the vessel was still docked at the harbor.”
    He grinned. “A ship rat.” Having finished his meal and with the wine loosening the tension of the day, he sat back and enjoyed the image of a curious, blonde imp exploring a rig.
    “I suppose. I always thought that I’d sail around the world with Papa someday.”
    “I’ll take you, Alice.” The words were out before he could stop them.
    “That sounds like a lofty promise, James, but I do appreciate the offer.”
    He supposed he had no one to blame for the empty echo in her voice but himself. The vast distance between them was his own doing, but necessary, he reminded himself.
    “Alice Endicott?” A man’s voice interrupted the intimacy of their meal.
    Dressed in a fancy chestnut suit, a clean-shaven man with slicked-back brown hair stopped at their table. He put James in mind of a stuffy, arrogant horse.
    Alice’s face blanched and her upper-body stiffened.
    “I thought I recognized you,” the man continued. “I had no idea you were in town.”
    “I just arrived today.” Her tight voice put James on alert.
    “Does Daniel know you’re here?”
    “I don’t believe we’ve met,” James cut in. He stood and held a hand out. “James Martel.”
    “William Evans.” Alice’s jilted intended. James took an instant dislike to the man.
    “Have you brought our dear Alice back to us?” William asked.
    “I guess you could say that. I’m Alice’s husband.”
    The surprise on William’s face pleased James, since he didn’t like the proprietary way the man gazed at Alice. It would do well for him—and any man connected to Daniel Endicott—to understand that Alice was under his protection now.
    William recovered and turned to Alice, who remained sitting. “This is a bit of a shock. When did the happy occasion occur?” His voice held no gaiety or congratulations.
    She smoothed her napkin upon her lap. “About a month ago.”
    “Well, I’m sure Daniel must be quite pleased. I wish you all the best.” With a nod to Alice and a dark gaze upon James, he left them.
    James sat but kept his eye on Evans as he moved across the restaurant and had quiet but insistent words with his companions, then abruptly departed.
    James shifted his attention to Alice, who appeared dejected. “An old friend?”
    “You could say that. He was to be my husband.”
    Alice’s honesty caught James unaware. He’d really thought she would hedge around the subject. A worry began to gnaw in his gut.
    Was Alice secretly happy to have seen William Evans?

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    A lice entered the hotel room with James behind her. Fatigued and still reeling from the alarm of encountering William Evans, she wanted to be alone.
    But there was precious little privacy. How ironic. For weeks, all she’d craved was time alone with her husband, and now that she had her wish, all she desired was distance.
    She tossed her reticule on the table and began to pace. She simply wanted to curl up in her chemise on the bed, pull the covers over her, and pretend the world of Daniel Endicott didn’t exist.
    Earlier, she’d had to request a hotel girl to help her dress, and clearly she would need to do so again unless James would come to her aid, but she wasn’t of a mind to ask.
    How was she supposed to conduct herself with James present? They’d never been intimate.
    Frustrated, tears burned her eyes. She turned away so that James couldn’t see her face and stared out the window, the streets of Newport bustling below.
    “Do you still love him?”
    She spun around. “What?”
    “Is that why you’re so upset?”
    “No. I don’t love him. I never did. I ran away so that I wouldn’t have to marry him.”
    Relief shot across James’ face, and