Free Amelia (The Marriage Market Book 1) by Stevie MacFarlane

sure you will, you're so sweet and Delia is adorable. What man wouldn't want such a wife?" she scoffed. "I also am marrying a man affiliated with timber. Perhaps they are acquainted. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were friends?"
    "Yes, it would make everything better," Martha agreed. "What is his name?"
    "Hugh Jordon. Has your fiancé mentioned him perhaps? I really know very little about him."
    So this is the young woman Mr. Jordon had chosen over her, Alice thought. Well it wasn't any wonder. She was lovely and wanted children, what more could he ask for? Alice waited a moment to consider how she felt about this. Jealousy or envy would be appropriate responses given the circumstances. Mr. Henderson wrote her that the Jordons were the wealthiest family in the territory, but Alice found she didn't feel any of these emotions.
    She liked Martha and was happy for her. Mr. Henderson seemed to be exactly what she wanted in a husband. As a rule, she didn't care for a calendar full of social obligations. She'd much rather be home of an evening, sitting by the fire knitting or reading to Delia. Cooking was something else she enjoyed. She didn't want a cook in her kitchen shooing her out. No, things have a way of working out for the best.
    "I hope you'll be very happy," she told Martha sincerely. "My Mr. Henderson works for the Jordons so I imagine we'll see each other frequently, at least I hope so."
    "Oh, so do I," Martha gushed.
    "The deck seems to be filling up," Alice observed. "I had no idea there would be so many women traveling with us. Perhaps we'd better find our cabins."
    "I agree. I was a bit worried about traveling on a ship with so many men, but I see that's not going to be a problem."
    Working their way through the group of women, they found the steward and asked to be shown to their cabins.
    "I'm afraid there has been a miscalculation, Miss. There seems to be a lot more passengers than we usually have, a lot more ladies. Would you two mind sharing a cabin?"
    Martha and Alice looked at each other and smiled.
    "Not at all, in fact we'd prefer it," Alice replied.
    "Thank you, ma'am, that's good news indeed. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your quarters."
    They followed the man below deck and down a long corridor.
    "This here's the galley," he said, stopping for a moment as they peeked in a room full of tables and chairs. It's where you'll be taking you meals starting tomorrow."
    Continuing on, he made a turn and walked past an open door. Martha and Alice both paused and gasped.
    "Whose cabin is this?" they asked at the same time, sticking their heads in and looking around at the luxurious furnishings.
    "That's the owner's cabin and the door is usually shut," he replied, ushering them on and pulling the thick oak door closed. "He sails with us now and again. In fact, he'll be boarding in the morning for this trip and word is he'll be bringing along his new bride."
    "This certainly is a marrying section of the country!" Martha laughed.
    "Oh yes, ma'am. It doesn't take long out here for a woman to catch herself a husband. There's a real shortage of the feminine gender in the west. In fact, if you ask me, I'd say we was transporting a bunch of them Mail Order Brides."
    "You don't say," Martha drawled.
    "Oh yes, I do say, I do indeed. Here we are ladies," he said, opening the door to a cabin with two wide berths. "I'll be back once I get some of the others settled to see if you need anything."
    "Thank you, Mr…."
    "Oh, just Charlie, ma'am. Everyone calls me Charlie."
    "Well, thank you, Charlie," Alice said sweetly.
    Martha broke out in giggles as soon as he closed the door.
    Delia pulled on her mother's hand. "I gotta go, Ma Ma."
    Alice located the chamber pot under the berth and helped her daughter on it.
    "Do you really think all those women are Mail Order Brides?" she asked.
    "Possibly and I'm glad we got our men before the stampede," Martha said dryly.
    "Me too."
    * * *
    Hugh slipped his arm around Amelia's waist