Josie: Bride of New Mexico (American Mail-Order Bride 47) by Kristin Holt

adjustments. I had no idea how tall you might be, or of what size.”
    Josie watched as the older lady unveiled a blue satin day dress, while Adam watched Josie. She stared at the frilly concoction for a long moment and slowly reached out to touch it. “It’s beautiful.”
    “Oh, la, it is indeed. Thank you, child. Please, won’t you put it on?”
    Josie nodded and took the dress into their bedroom. She returned a few minutes later. She looked breathtaking.
    Spectacular.
    He reacted like any husband would, he imagined, his chest puffed up with pride, affection, and a sense of satisfaction that Josie was his, and his alone.
    He liked it.
    The parade of fashion he’d imagined even before he know Josie, would be an absolute delight.
    No better way to spend the evening.
    “Mrs. Bushnell, can you finish any minor alterations with the nightgown? My bride wishes to bathe tonight, and I’d like to see her have her night clothes ready to don.”
    “With pleasure, Mr. Taylor.”
     

     
    In early to mid October, the sun set before supper time.
    She’d worked with Mrs. Bushnell for what felt like two hours, examining lovely fabrics, looking through design books, discussing options and the styles Josie enjoyed most.
    Through it all, Adam had sat in an upholstered chair with a grin on his far too handsome face.
    How he found so very much joy in giving, in pleasing her, she didn’t quite understand.
    But he did— and as she realized her acceptance of his gifts made him happy, she determined she would forever respond favorably.
    Adam Taylor truly was a charming, endearing man. He would be so very easy to love.
    If she dared admit it to herself, this long, emotional, and exhausting day had shown her many different sides of her husband… different sides she knew she would love. In some ways, she was already halfway in love with him.
    The day had been lengthy, emotional, and exhausting.
    She wanted nothing more than to get past the uncomfortable first night’s ritual of turning in together. Going to bed tomorrow night and each night thereafter would become ever so much easier.
    She didn’t own a timepiece, but the more Adam checked his, the more she wanted to ease his discomfort. He was obviously as nervous as she, though Mrs. Bushnell had bade them goodnight and gone to her quarters. The stewards had left them alone, too.
    She met his gaze, charmed again by the compelling blue of his eyes. Would she ever grow used to them? “Would you mind, very much, if I took a few moments to wash up?”
    “You’re welcome to use the bathtub. Come, I’ll show you how to fill it.”
    “No—no, that’s quite all right.” She bit her lip, wouldn’t meet his gaze.
    “I promise to allow you ample time and privacy.”
    And that quickly, she remembered her vow to receive his gifts with grace and simply than him. “Thank you. I’d like that very much.”
    His wide smile made her insides tingle.
    He took pride in showing her how to operate the tub, how to stop the drain, find the temperature she enjoyed most, and brought out soaps and creams, comb and brush, toothpaste and toothbrush. “Do you need anything else?”
    “A towel?”
    He opened the cupboard and put a bath mat on the floor before the tub for her, then set two large, soft-looking towels in a lovely shade of yellow over two hooks within easy reach of the bath.
    “Anything else?” His expression seemed so hopeful, she searched her mind for anything she might ask of him… anything at all.
    It seemed far too early to ask him to stay, to wash her back…
    She could unbutton her own simple dress easily enough by herself.
    Clothes! She laughed with nervousness. “I need the nightgown and underthings Mrs. Bushnell brought for me.”
    “I’ll get them.” Adam darted out of the bathroom, and returned momentarily with the neatly folded stack in his hands. He set them on an empty lower shelf in the bathroom. Evidently the place set aside for clean clothes. Perfect.
    “Thank