She shifted in her chair. “We don’t exactly. Not well, anyway. I answered an advertisement for a mail-order bride. Mr. Banner was in San Francisco for a time and was able to come to an arrangement with me rather quickly. He’s the one who arranged travel on the Castle Crown.”
“So you two have never met?” He prodded for more information as questions assailed him. If she was a lady from a good family, wealthy enough to send her to finishing school, what was she doing becoming a mail-order bride? He found it impossible to believe that no man in the East would want her. After spending five minutes in her company when she was ill, he was having thoughts about a future he never thought he’d want.
She shook her head, but wouldn’t meet his eye. “No. We have never met. I admit it’s strange, but my circumstances made it necessary.”
“What circumstances?”
When haunted eyes met his, he cursed under his breath. “Forgive me. I did not mean to pry.”
But now he wanted to know more. The seed of curiosity had been planted, and he wanted to demand she answer each and every question he had about her past and circumstances. The more he found out about Kitty Jones, the more questions he had. None of it made any sense. A refined, educated lady from the East, traveling without family across a continent and an ocean to marry a man she’d never met?
It didn’t add up.
She smiled weakly. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Well, I’m grateful you’re dining with me. The voyage can get quite tedious without company, and I’d hate to do something to drive you away.”
“You’d have to ask much more impertinent questions to drive me away, Mr. Castle.”
Her smile caused warmth to curl low in his stomach. “Perhaps you’d be willing to join—”
The ship shifted sharply, sliding their dishes precariously close to the edge. His hand shot out for her goblet as it tilted near the edge, but instead of feeling the cool smooth texture of glass, his hand settled over hers.
She’d reached for the cup at the same moment.
A shock shot up his arm at the feel of her skin against his, and his fingers tightened over her hand, holding it in his grasp as hers gripped the cup.
Her eyes shot from their joined hands to his face, glazing over with a desire echoed in his blood. Their bond wasn’t affecting just him. He could see it clearly in her eyes, in the way her breath hitched, as color tinged her cheeks. She was as affected by him as he was by her.
A moment passed, neither willing to remove their hands, even though the ship had steadied.
Clearing her throat, she tugged her hand free and averted her eyes. But desire still hung thickly in the sea air.
She picked up her spoon and ate a chunk of beef before asking a bit too casually. “And you? Is there a wife or fiancée waiting for you in Hawaii?”
A rueful smile curved his lips. Infidelity was all too common in his social sphere. Men and women thought little of staying faithful in their marriages, but Kitty didn’t know him well enough yet to be sure he’d never behave in such a way. “No. There’s no wife, fiancée, or any other type of significant other waiting for me. Unfortunately, the only type of women desiring a connection with me are more interested in my wealth and social standing than anything else.”
Her gaze traveled over him slowly. “I find that hard to believe. I imagine women would desire a relationship with you even if you lost your standing and fortune.” She blushed, her gaze returning to her food.
He just barely stopped his jaw from dropping. Never, not in his entire life, had a woman said such a thing. They flattered and fawned over him, hoping to catch his notice, but never once had they expressed that it was he and not his wealth that they were after.
And yet, Kitty had, as if she couldn’t believe otherwise. He was the prize. Not his possessions or social connections.
His attraction sharpened to a lethal degree as he digested the feelings bombarding him.
There was no escaping it. No denying it.
Kitty Jones was special.
Chapter Four
Kitty closeted herself away in her room for two days. She was a coward and wasn’t afraid to admit it. But after dining with Warren, she knew she couldn’t subject herself to furthering their acquaintance until she brought her feelings for him under control.
Her attraction to him was outrageous and completely unreasonable. One touch of his skin, and her body had flushed as if he’d touched much more than just her hand. Nothing else had mattered in that moment. Including her engagement.
It was dangerous to spend time alone with him when she couldn’t trust her body. Or her heart.
She didn’t know how it had happened, but he’d managed to get her to reveal more about herself and her past than she normally shared. The only people in her life who knew more about who she was and what she ran from were Josie, Lessie, and Maddy.
Loneliness speared through her as she thought of her friends. The twins were headed to Utah to be mail-order brides for a set of cousins, and Maddy had agreed to marry a man in Nebraska. Kitty would never see them again. She wished they were here so she could talk to them. She could use advice from objective friends who knew everything.
Why had she ever thought Hawaii was a good idea? It may be far away from Frederick Craven, but at the time, she hadn’t thought about how very far it was from everything else. Her past, her mother’s and father’s graves, her friends. She’d left all that behind.
She slammed the book she held in her hands closed. There hadn’t been another choice. Not unless she wanted to die young in one of the many factories clogging up New York’s streets, living in squalor at filthy boarding houses she could barely afford from her factory pay.
No. She’d made the right decision. Timothy Banner was her life now. She was grateful to the man, and she would be faithful to him. She might not be able to help her attraction to Mr. Castle, but that didn’t mean she had to act upon it. Those feelings needed to be locked away and forgotten.
She wasn’t Kitty Jones, the illegitimate daughter of the late Marshall Craven, billionaire railroad tycoon, anymore. She didn’t have choices.
She’d do best to remember that.
* * *
Warren’s muscles clenched as he stared out to sea. Boots braced apart, he listened to the winds picking up, slapping the waves into a frenzy.
“Do you feel that?” Captain James asked, taking his position next to Warren against the railing.
Warren nodded grimly. “How long do we have?” There was no question in his mind they were in for it, and it was going to be bad.
“A few hours, tops.” The wind-chapped man pointed to the darkening horizon. “You can see it coming in from there.”
“How bad will it be?”
Captain James spit over the rail. “It’s hard to tell, but I think we’ll have to fight.”
Damn. He’d learned that whatever the seasoned sailor thought would happen always came to pass. It was damned annoying at times, but it had saved his cargo, and his life, too many times to ignore his advice. “Could we outrun it?”
“Not a chance.” The captain scratched the red whiskers on his chin. “We’ll make it through.”
It didn’t matter if he truly thought that or not. If the sailors thought they were doomed, they’d have no reason to fight. And they would need every last muscle working to keep them alive. “Where do you want me?”
“In your cabin for now. Let my men ready things. Get rest while you can. You won’t have another opportunity for some time.”
Warren nodded his agreement before the captain left, but didn’t think he’d get much rest. If these were the last few hours of his life, he didn’t plan on wasting them.
He spun away from the rail, his boots clunking on the thick planks below his feet. He descended the steps two at a time, acknowledging a sailor he passed in the hall who only grimly nodded back.
They would survive this. They had to.
His knock was brisk, a
nd it only took a second before he was given entrance.
“Mr. Castle?” Kitty leaned up from her bed. Fiery curls cascaded over her shoulders, pooling on the pallet. “Whatever is the matter?”
He cleared his throat, realizing that he stared. “I bring some bad news.”
She stilled, arming herself for what he would reveal. “Then tell me.”
Seeing her on the bed, her eyes tired but now alert, disheveled, he felt an odd desire to protect her from what would happen. But there was no way to do that. He couldn’t whisk her from the ship. He couldn’t get her to safety in time. She would ride the storm with the rest of them.
And by heavens, she would survive too.
“A storm is approaching.”
Her face paled as she bunched the blanket in her hand. “How bad?”
“It’s impossible to be sure, but we think it’s strong.”
She rose from the bed. “What can I do?”
Her skirt was as rumpled as her hair, but he barely noticed. The determination, the fire in her eyes, is what held his interest. Who was this woman that she’d volunteer to help? He wasn’t naive enough to think that all women were like the silly girls he’d met in society, managing to turn a hangnail into a mortal wound, but regardless, he could honestly say that no woman he’d met would react in such a manner. It astounded him. Awed him. “The sailors are preparing now.”
She nodded. “I should go talk to the captain. I’m sure he’ll be able to give me some duty.”
Warren blocked the door.
“What are you doing?”
“Listen, Miss Jones. I admire your courage, but in situations such as these, your presence would only hamper the men.” Her arms crossed tightly across her chest, and he realized his error. He held up his hands in peace. “No doubt you are more than capable of many tasks. I do not suggest otherwise. I only mean to point out that they are a crew and have been trained in what to do. Unless you have sailed with them every day, you would only get in the way.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Then what should I do? Sit around, worrying over our fate?”
“I’d recommend latching your door and securing yourself between the wall and your bed. With the furniture nailed in place, it’ll be the safest spot for you.”
“And is that what you’ll be doing? Securing yourself?” She arched a brow.
“If the captain orders me to do so, I will. Until then, I’ll put myself at their disposal. This isn’t the first time I’ve sailed with this ship, and it’s certainly not my first storm.” He didn’t want to frighten her with the details, but he’d seen firsthand the type of damage a storm could inflict. Or the lives it could take. “I know what needs to be done if I’m asked.”
She shifted feet, but finally nodded.
She intrigued him, but he couldn’t put his finger on why exactly. She was different from the women he knew, yet some things were strikingly similar. Her manners, her refinement, her quality was evident in every move she made, every word she spoke. Yet where she differed was her bravery. Her willingness to work and not leave it to another. Who was she? Where had she come from to form into such an enigma?
“So, I’m to stay here?” Her shoulders sunk.
“It’s safest for you. No doubt the crew and I would be much more at ease if we knew you were secured in here with no possibility of slipping over the side of the ship.”
“Then that is what I’ll do.” Her eyes rose softly to his. “You’ll take care, won’t you?” she whispered.
His heart thumped hard. Did she care for him? “I’ll take every precaution.”
She searched his eyes as if telling him things she couldn’t say. And he couldn’t stand aside a moment longer. She may be engaged to another, but that man wasn’t here now, and they might not ever make it home.
Whoever she was, wherever she’d come from, none of that mattered. Right now they were just a man and woman, two people. And even with their short acquaintance, he cared for her more than he had any other woman.
He stepped forward, taking her hand in his. “Kitty—”
She shook her head, pressing her lips together, but Warren knew what she felt. Those same feelings rushed through him. Simmering attraction and a confusing friendship that left him breathless.
No matter how much he might like to change it, she was still another man’s fiancée. She’d made promises. If there was one thing he’d never done, it was go back on his word. And he would never ask her to do such a thing either.
He couldn’t describe what she meant to him, but he knew he desired her, knew he wanted her. He regretted the lack of possibility to explore those feelings further.
“We’ll talk later,” she promised.
He’d have to accept that. If they made it through the storm, if they were both alive when it passed, there’d be time to figure it out.
He nodded, squeezing her hand before turning away. He had a purpose now. Things might seem impossible now, but only time would show what destiny had in store for them.
Any future held more hope than sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
Chapter Five
Kitty flailed as the ship creaked, its timbers groaning against the ocean’s onslaught. Bracing herself against the wall, the ship tilted, and she had no idea how they were still floating.
She wasn’t ready to die. Not here. Not like this.
She hadn’t escaped her brother’s clutches, traveled across the entire country, and boarded a ship to a foreign land only to die on the last leg of the journey.
Men screamed from the deck above her.
How many were lost? Thrown into a watery grave? Is that how they’d all end up? The ship couldn’t hold together much longer. She didn’t have to be a sailor to know that.
If she stayed here, tucked in her room and the ship capsized or broke apart, she’d be dead for sure. The only way she might have a chance was on deck.
But Warren’s words held her back. She didn’t want to get in the way. She didn’t want to distract the men and cost anyone their lives.
How much longer would the storm rage? It’d been hours already. Warren should have come down and given her an update by now.
Unless he wasn’t able. Her stomach clenched.
Unless he was dead.
No!
Her heart rebelled against that idea. Warren couldn’t be dead!
She pushed from her haven, clutching furniture as she weaved toward the door. Unlatching the lock, the door pushed in, allowing ankle-deep water to trail into her cabin.
Dread settled within her as she pulled herself up the stairs.
She was completely unprepared for the scene in front of her. Men scattered on the deck like flies, running from one place to the next as they fought to keep the boat afloat.
A few had been lost from what she could tell, but the majority had ropes tied around their waists. If a wave hit, they’d at least be tied to the ship if they went overboard.
She scanned the sailors, grateful that most still lived, but didn’t feel any relief. One man was still missing.
“Miss! Miss, what are you doing up here?” one of the men yelled. “It’s not safe. Go below!”
“Where is Mr. Castle?”
He turned from his duties. “What?” He strained toward her as her words were carried away in the wind.
She took another step toward him, away from the safety of the stairs. “Where is Mr. Castle?”
He pointed up to the wheel before wrangling a loose rope. “Now go below!”
But she ignored the sailor.
Warren’s shirt was ripped open to the waist, and his muscles bulged as he gripped the wheel. The wind whipped his hair savagely, beating against him as surely as the wheel fought his hold.
She couldn’t look away.
Pirates from previous decades, romanticized over the years, came to mind. He’d rival any of them.
He yanked the spindled wheel, turning it as the winds swirled around them. Why on earth was he
steering the ship? Where was the captain?
She couldn’t look away. She didn’t even blink. No matter how much her eyes strained, she held him in her sights.
Was he tied down at all? She couldn’t see a rope.
Fear raced through her. One wave and he’d be lost.
Her heart scrambled. He couldn’t let go of the wheel long enough to secure himself. Surely there was someone else who should take over that duty? But she knew that wasn’t true. Every man had a job to do and fought to accomplish it.
If Warren was at the helm, it was because the captain could no longer manage the task. She only hoped the red-haired man was alive.
There was only one person left who could see to Warren’s safety. Only one person who didn’t already have a duty.
Her.
She edged her way toward the wheel, clinging to the railing and praying she could make it to Warren before anything happened. She just had to get to him, and he’d be fine. They’d be fine.
The boat tilted, and she gripped the rail with all her strength. Her legs lifted off the floor before crashing back on the deck.
A man screamed as he went overboard, but his rope held tight.
She glanced up, judging the distance between herself and Warren. She’d have to cross ten feet without something to hold onto if she was going to make it to the railing that led up to him.
Ten feet where she could be lost.
“Kitty! No!”
Her eyes jerked to Warren as he fought the wheel.
“Go back!” His eyes pleaded into hers, but she couldn’t do as he asked. If he went over…
She pushed away from the rail, leaping toward the opposite side of the steps.
* * *
All blood drained from Warren’s face when he spotted Kitty on deck, but she was too far away for him to get to her.
Where was her rope? Good heavens. She wasn’t secured. If one wave hit her…
Get back in your room!
She clung to the railing, and every time the sea tossed them, he prayed. He prayed she would live. His strength was zapped, but no matter what he did, he wouldn’t let go of the wheel. Everyone depended on him. Their lives depended on him.
Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Bride 50) Page 3