Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Bride 50) Read Online Free

was the most beautiful, enchanting woman he’d ever seen, and there was something about her that called to him.
    He knocked on her door, preparing himself for another onslaught of desire. When the door cracked open and she smiled at him, he realized he couldn’t brace himself enough against her.
    He forced a cheerful tone. “I heard the cook has prepared a hearty stew. Shall we?”
    She closed her door before slipping her arm in his. It felt so natural to escort her like this, like they’d done it many times in the past. “I hope it will agree with you.”
    She chuckled. “So do I. But I have high hopes. My stomach has settled for the most part, and if my pangs of hunger are any indication, my body will fight off sickness just to keep nourishment down.”
    “Then we’ll hope for the best.”
    He led her to his cabin where he had a table arranged with his personal china.
    Her hand slid away from his arm at the threshold. “This isn’t the dining room.”
    He coughed. “No. It’s my cabin. I know it’s unorthodox, but I thought we’d be able to talk more easily without the other men around. It’s perfectly respectable though,” he rushed to say once her eyes locked on to his bed. “The door will be open, and one of the men will be with us to see to our needs the whole time.”
    She blushed. “I didn’t mean to imply…”
    “Of course not,” he said, covering her embarrassment. “I imagine this seems rather odd for someone who’s never traveled by ship. I can assure you, though, that dining like this is common on merchant vessels. Isn’t that right, Robert?” He looked to the sailor who waited to assist them.
    “Ah, yes. Mr. Castle is correct.”
    “I see.” Her smile returned. “Forgive me, then. Apparently, I’m not cultured enough.”
    He belly-laughed. He doubted other women of his acquaintance would be willing to admit to such a thing. Her honesty refreshed him. “I don’t know if etiquette for dining on merchant ships is taught in finishing school, but regardless, I wouldn’t worry over it.”
    He led her over to the table, pulling out a chair. His lips tugged at the way she blushed. He couldn’t get enough of her.
    She placed her napkin in her lap. “It isn’t taught, by the way.”
    He’d just taken his seat. “What isn’t?”
    “Etiquette for dining on ships.”
    “Is that so?”
    She nodded, sipping at water from her thin-stemmed glass. “Yes. At least at my school I was never taught such things, and for a time I felt like they taught me everything I’d need to know for every circumstance.”
    He discreetly studied her dress. It wasn’t shabby by any means, but it wasn’t exactly the finest quality or style. Not that he cared about such things. She looked fresh, beautiful. But she didn’t seem to come from a background able to provide luxuries such as finishing school. If she had an affluent background, her choice to become a mail-order bride to his foreman confused him even more.
    Although there were all types of schools, catering to both middle and upper-class patrons, he had a feeling she’d attended the latter. One way to find out. “And what things were you taught there? I’ll admit I’m intrigued by the hoops women have to jump through to become refined.”
    She chuckled. “More than you’d ever want to know. Dancing, flirtation, fashion. All the niceties for mixing in society along with more practical matters: meal planning, mathematics, literature, sewing, finance. Anything a woman might need to know to run a household.”
    “How to be an accomplished lady.”
    “Exactly. We’re instructed on both social and business dinners, parties, balls. Honestly, most of that part of my education felt silly because I knew I’d never use those skills.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because my husband won’t have a need for such skills.”
    “Your husband?”
    Conversation paused as Robert placed hearty bowls of stew in front of each of them, along with a platter of thick,