Amelia (The Marriage Market Book 1) by Stevie MacFarlane Page A

she saw a crewmember with a face wizened by the wind and sun.
    "Excuse me, Ma'am," he said. "Your husband asked me to bring you some warm water at ten bells. He said he's sorry he's tied up in a business discussion with the captain, but he hopes to be free by noon." Entering the room he placed the pitcher of water in a bowl fastened to a stand.
    "Mr. Jordon requests you meet him in the Galley at noon, but not to wait for him. He'll join you as soon as he can. Best be on time, ma'am. The cook gets testy when folks don't show up at mealtime. By the way, my name is Charlie. Is there anything else I can get you?"
    "No. Thank you, Charlie. Where is the galley?"
    "Come out the door and go right. When you come to the end, turn left and it's halfway down the corridor. If Mr. Jordon is delayed, you're sure to have plenty of company, ma'am. There are a lot of ladies on this trip."
    Amelia nodded and closed the door behind him. Thankfully, Hugh had unlocked her trunk at some point and she pulled out a pretty cream day dress with green sprigs. After straightening the bed, she spread the dress out on top of it and smoothed the wrinkles away with her hands. Taking a seat in a large chair bolted to the floor, she poured the last of her chocolate into the cup and savored it.
    It was a few minutes before noon when she arrived at the galley, surprised to find a group of chattering women. As a new arrival, she was subjected to a variety of looks when the women noticed her standing in the doorway. Some smiled at her, some nodded politely and a few looked her up and down before returning to their conversations.
    A blonde haired woman sitting with a little girl motioned her over to her table. Amelia quickly made her way to her side. Soon they were joined by two more women.
    "Hello," she said as soon as Amelia was settled. "I'm Alice and this is my daughter, Delia. This is Jane and Martha."
    "I'm Amelia," she replied gratefully. "For a moment, I wasn't sure if I was going to be invited to join you or tossed overboard."
    "Oh, don't mind them," Jane offered. "Most of them are so nervous they can hardly string two sentences together. I guess that's what comes from going off to the middle of nowhere to find a husband," she added grinning.
    Amelia liked Jane, the older woman, immediately.
    "Are you going to Seattle, too?" Martha asked.
    "Why yes, I am."
    "To find a husband?"
    "No, I'm already married," Amelia said with a shy smile as she held out her hand and showed off her ring.
    "Oh, that's pretty," Alice said as the gold caught the light. "Have you been married long?"
    "One whole day," Amelia laughed.
    "Well girls, here's one you don't have to worry about," Jane called to the room in general. "She's already married."
    The room erupted with laughter and the looks this time were much more cordial.
    "All right, you chatterboxes," a deep voice boomed. "Grub's on. This ain't no pleasure cruise. You want to eat, get up here and get your vittles. I don't have time to wait on you."
    Amelia looked up in surprise and watched a very large man wearing a less than clean apron putting bowls and platters of food through an opening in the wall and onto a large sideboard with a two inch ledge.
    "Well," he barked. "What are you waiting for?" Grumbling, he walked away and returned with more dishes and a huge pot of coffee. "Don't know why this ship's full of women, no how. Every sailor knows they're nothing but bad luck," he muttered.
    "That's Mick, the cook," Martha whispered. "Come on, we'd best get in line." Rising from the table, she moved to the end of the line of women and the others joined her. Amelia looked down the corridor in search of Hugh, but he was not in sight. Finally she took the last place and followed the others.
    There were stacks of plates and utensils at one end of the sideboard and she took what was needed. Bowls of steaming mashed potatoes and platters of sliced ham quickly disappeared to be replaced by new. Peas and rolls rounded out the meal