Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) (2 page)

Chapter One

Tiverton, Rhode Island

Late October 1890

A
lice Endicott exited the train, wound tight with anticipation. Carrying a satchel in each hand filled with all of her possessions, she paused and scanned the Tiverton rail station. Her betrothed, Frank Martel, had promised to meet her.

A handful of passengers disembarked onto the narrow wooden platform and swarmed around her as they filed into the modest two-story building. The unpleasant odor of burning coal hit her, and she coughed, but an even more disagreeable stench of rotting fish soon replaced it. The rail stop sat on the water—she’d overheard another gentleman say it was the Sakonnet River—so she supposed there was much fishing up and down the banks, hence the overwhelming foul aroma. Setting her bags down, Alice retrieved a kerchief from her belongings and placed it against her nose. She hoped that waiting on the platform would aid Mr. Martel in finding her.

Tiverton wasn’t a large town. She’d had to travel from Boston to Providence, then to Fall River—only eight miles away, but in Massachusetts nonetheless—until finally reaching her new home. Despite the lengthy journey, the Old Colony Railroad had been prompt; a quick glance at a pocket watch that had once belonged to her papa showed that she was right on time.

Eye contact with several passing gentleman proved unfruitful. None of them approached, although two gave her a pleasant nod of greeting. Grasping her bags and holding her breath against the God-awful smell, she slowly walked into the station building.

In the now nearly vacant lobby, Alice sat on a bench and waited. At the far end of the room a clerk busied himself behind a counter, helping an occasional customer. Across from Alice, a boy, likely not older than fifteen, organized his supplies of shoe shine equipment after the recent rush of customers. The train remained outside and would surely be departing soon to cross the Stone Bridge to Portsmouth, then on to Newport.

Alice watched the boy for a while. She brushed the wrinkles from her clothes...stared at the dust motes drifting through a shaft of late-afternoon light...smoothed back a loose strand of hair. After what seemed like hours, she checked her watch again. It had only been fifty-five minutes, but disappointment lodged like a weight at the base of her lungs.

Mr. Martel must have been detained.

She didn’t have much money, but it seemed her only option was to make her way to him.

Checking that her bonnet was snug, she tucked the kerchief into the cuff of her moss green walking dress in order to keep it handy. The snug wool garment had kept her warm on the chilly journey. It was the nicest outfit she owned; she’d wanted to look her best when she met Frank. When she’d fled her stepfather two years prior, she’d left most of her fine gowns and day dresses behind.

She stood, fetched her bags, and moved out of the train station. A striking woman in a cocoa-colored ensemble that matched her brown hair passed by, and Alice’s eye caught on the bonnet situated high upon the woman’s head. Atop it sat a replica of a bird’s nest. A pang of envy sliced into Alice over the woman’s stature and easy confidence.

One day perhaps I will have such certainty in myself.

“Miss, could you spare a penny?”

Alice turned to find a young boy, probably nine or ten years old, in ragged clothes staring earnestly up at her.

“You poor thing,” Alice said. “Where do you live? Where are your parents?”

The boy shrugged.

Alice set down her bags and considered the coins in her reticule dangling from her wrist. She really didn’t have much to spare. It had been over a month since the fire at the factory where she’d worked, and she’d had no income since. Marriage wasn’t just some romantic notion for her; she was in desperate need of food, lodging, and a warm hearth.

Miss McDaniel had been endlessly supportive to Alice and the other girls left nearly destitute after the fire, and it was she who’d helped to arrange the marriages. Alice had never desired to wed, especially after her forced betrothal to William Evans by her stepfather, but she’d quickly come to realize that her notions were too fanciful. Her friends had all embraced becoming mail-order brides, finally convincing Alice to do the same.

Even in the darkest of hours, Alice had been determined to never return to her stepfather, despite the financial respite that would’ve brought.

The boy grabbed her hand and began tugging for her to follow.

Alice attempted to stop him. “No. I can’t go with you. I must get to Martel Fishing Enterprises.”

“Please come, miss,” the boy pleaded. “I want to show you something.”

“Toby!” A man’s voice startled Alice. “Leave the woman alone.”

Alice turned to see a tall, imposing man approach. His stern expression made her wonder if he was the father. The boy—Toby—released her hand. Alice stepped back to let the gentleman handle the child.

“Run along now,” he said. “You know better than to harass the passengers.”

“Is he your son?” Alice asked.

The man’s gaze shifted to her, and she stared into his blue-green eyes. A black hat covered ebony hair, and his broad frame filled a double-breasted sable frock coat in fine form.

He shook his head. “No. He means to drag you around the corner where you’ll likely be robbed.” He looked back to the boy. “Isn’t that right, Toby?”

Alice gasped. “That’s terrible. A boy this young shouldn’t be living a life of crime.”

“Well, be that as it may, life is what it is sometimes.”

Alice frowned at the callousness of the man.

“Are you new to town?” he asked. “May I help you find your way somewhere?”

For a moment, Alice thought to keep her predicament private. But, truthfully, she could use help. “I was to meet a man by the name of Frank Martel, but it would seem he’s been detained.”

When she mentioned her betrothed, the man’s expression changed from stern to surprise.

“Do you know him?” asked Alice.

The man’s countenance closed down again. “He’s my brother.”

“Oh, lovely.” Alice extended her gloved hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Martel. Are you James or Theo?”

He frowned. “James.” He took her hand then released it.

“Would it be too much trouble to ask you for transportation to Frank’s home or business?”

Mr. Martel rested hands on his hips, looking a bit stunned. Alice wondered why.

“And
who
are you?” he asked.

“I’m Frank’s mail-order bride.”

“His what?”

A bad feeling settled over Alice. “Did he not mention me?”

Mr. Martel gave a slight shake of his head.

“Are you certain?” she persisted. “I’ve come all the way from Massachusetts, although I was born and raised in Newport.”

Mr. Martel’s gaze honed in on her. “What’s your name?”

“Alice Endicott, sir.”

She couldn’t be positive, but the barest hint of a smile tugged at the man’s mouth. He was undeniably handsome. She swiftly shook off that wayward thought. Perhaps Frank would favor the good looks of his brother. If that was true, then she might be fortunate to have strong, healthy children.

“Well, I do believe it’s my duty to escort you, Miss Endicott.” He retrieved her two satchels.

“My thanks, sir.” Abruptly she turned back to the boy; Toby hadn’t completely departed. She opened her reticule, dug out a five-cent piece, and handed it to the boy. “Try to stay out of trouble.” The lad grabbed the coin and ran away.

Still watching the youth, she retreated. When she spun around, she bumped into the hard wall that was Mr. Martel’s chest and jumped back.

“Why did you give him money?” he asked.

“Everyone deserves help in this life.”

“He’ll just keep stealing.”

“Then perhaps you should offer him a job and a place to live.”

“You have a far kinder heart than I do, Miss Endicott.” He strode away from her, and she had to walk quickly to keep pace with him.

She hoped Frank wasn’t as serious and unfeeling as his brother.

Chapter Two

“
W
hat could’ve possibly compelled you to send for a mail-order bride?” James asked his brother, leaning back in his office chair, letting out a frustrated sigh.

The day had started off bad and just kept getting worse. His meeting with Lillie Jenkins, widow of his friend Stephen, hadn’t gone as hoped. She was reluctant to merge Stephen’s fishing holdings with the Martels’, confounding James. He and his brothers had worked hard at the enterprise their father had toiled away at for years; now, James wanted to expand. He’d escorted Lillie to the train station when, soon after, he’d bumped into Frank’s new fiancée.

Frank pivoted from the window that overlooked Pierce’s Wharf, a pier along the Sakonnet River. “I’ll admit, it was rather impulsive, but it killed two birds with one stone.”

“I can’t wait to hear this,” James mumbled. Frank was
always
impulsive, the complete opposite of him.

“Well, Mary Jane and I had broken things off, and I felt a little lost. I thought this the perfect rebound solution. I wouldn’t marry for love, and Mary Jane would realize very quickly that she’d ruined her chances with me and regret it forever.”

This sounded like a Frank Plan. James remained silent to hear the rest.

“So, I found out about a ridiculous number of girls looking to marry. I guess some factory had burned down where they all worked, and they were out on the street and desperate.”

“Clearly that would make them good wife material,” James cut in.

“But wait.” Frank moved to the desk and stared down James. “I managed to get a gander at the list of names. I requested her specifically. Her name is Alice
Endicott
. Don’t you see?”

James waited again.

“She’s Daniel Endicott’s daughter.”

“That’s impossible. Why would Endicott’s daughter be working in a factory?” Daniel Endicott was a wealthy man who made his home in Newport. He was also the source of heartache and discord for the Martel family. “She only had a few coins in her purse when I found her looking quite lost at the train station. Which, by the way, was terribly irresponsible of you for not meeting her.”

“Yeah, well, I forgot.” Frank started pacing. “Look, she’s his daughter. I made inquiries. I don’t know why she’s acting all poor and down-on-her-luck, but that’s for you to figure out.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I can’t marry her. You’ll have to.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Look, Mary Jane and I reconciled just last night. I can’t marry Miss Endicott now. I should’ve sent word, but obviously it’s too late. Besides, one of us
has
to marry her.”

“Why?”

“Several months ago, when I was down in Newport, I settled in for a bout of cards, and there was a fella at the table by the name of Evans. Seems he was destined to marry Alice Endicott before she ran off and disappeared. He was so liquored up he shared with the table that she’s to inherit Menhaden Fishing Company when she turns twenty-one.”

James eyes snapped to Frank. “Are you certain?”

Frank sighed. “Of course, I can’t be
completely
certain. Further investigation turned up nothing. I doubt her inheritance is meant to be public knowledge. In fact, I’m not even sure Miss Endicott herself knows.”

James’ pulse quickened. This was the closest he’d ever come to finding a way to exact revenge for what Daniel Endicott had done to his father almost ten years ago. Menhaden Fishing Company had belonged to Jean Martel before Endicott ruined him and stole it away. Jean had struggled to rebuild his business—renamed Martel Fishing Enterprises—but it had been a slow and laborious process, and he’d never recovered from the blow of losing his business, neither financially nor mentally.

“How old is she?” asked James.

“Twenty. Her birthday is December twenty-fourth. In two months, she’ll be in possession of papa’s heart and soul. But more importantly,
so will her husband
.”

James shook his head. “There are so many unknowns in this plan, I don’t even know where to begin. Not the least, of course, is marrying against one’s will. Mine and hers, I suspect.”

“She came here. Clearly she’s agreed to the marriage.”

“She agreed to marry
you
, though I can’t imagine why.”

Frank moved back to the window.

“Have Theo marry her if you’re so determined to use her like a horse you plan to run to ground,” James said, but as soon as the words were out, he didn’t like the sound of them. A vision of her blue eyes and rosy cheeks popped into his head, along with sun-kissed tresses peeking from beneath her bonnet.

Frank faced him. “You know Theo can’t handle her.”

James understood what he said, but pretended not to. Their youngest brother, barely twenty-one, was too wet behind the ears to handle a woman, let alone a wife. And Alice Endicott was a beautiful woman.

“She’s lovelier than I expected from the likes of that snake Daniel Endicott,” Frank continued.

“You seem to be forgetting Mama and Papa’s devout Catholic beliefs,” James asserted, even though he sensed his life was about to take a drastic change. “Marrying out of spite would have Mama fainting.”

Frank paused. “Leave it to you to throw our dear
maman
in my face. All right, marry Miss Endicott, but leave her virtue intact if you must. When all is said and done, get an annulment. No harm done. She’ll be free to marry again, as will you. I know you’re saving yourself for true love.”

Frank could convince a mother to give up her child if it suited him. He didn’t lack in charm, an attribute he inherited from their papa. Their mother had always had a soft spot for Frank. James understood it, but it also rankled. After the sudden deaths of Jean-Francois and Ada Martel five years prior, the struggling family business had been left to James to run. He was also responsible for cleaning up Frank’s messes.

He was about to mop up another one.

James stood. “I guess we best break the news to the young lady.”

Frank grinned. “You don’t have to look like you’re about to attend your own funeral. Enjoy it, older brother. By the end of the week, you’ll be married.”

James glared at his kin and departed the office to find his newly-betrothed.