Mail Order Bride: Deception (Historical Western Romance): Clean Romance Series (Western Mail Order Brides Book 1) by Samantha Price Read Free Book Online

men out there who aren’t who or what they say they are.”
    “I’m sure you had your choice of men.”
    A small smile twitched at the corners of Beth’s mouth, as if she were thinking of the many suitors she’d had. “I had a few to choose from.” After a moment of silence, Beth said, “Jennifer Pollard is the seamstress. We’ve known her for many years. She’ll be able to sew something up for you, something suitable.”
    “It’s very nice of you to take me there. Thank you again. It’s been a while since anyone’s done anything like this for me.” Her thoughts turned to Austin and Beth’s brothers. “Beth, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why does Calvin walk with a limp?”
    “He was born with one of his legs too short. More correctly, one bone in one of his legs is too short. There was no real answer as to why it happened, none that anyone knows. I think that’s what led him into medicine.”
    “How long has he been a doctor for?”
    “Nearly five years now.”
    “He’s very young to be a doctor.”
    Beth nodded. “That’s all he ever wanted to do, and it’s lucky that he was smart enough to do it.”
    They pulled up in front of a small store. “Here it is,” Beth said nodding her head toward the small establishment. It was wedged between a general store and a candy store. The window display was only large enough for one mannequin, and that mannequin was dressed beautifully in a fine black and white dress, with lace, and ruffles. It was the very latest style from Europe, Leah was certain of that.
    When Beth entered the store, an attractive lady met her. She had blonde hair caught tightly on the back of her head. “Beth.” She clasped Beth’s hand. “And you must be, Victoria?”
    Leah had caught up with Beth. She smiled at the woman who stretched out her hand toward her. “Yes, I’m Victoria.”
    “It’s lovely to meet you, Victoria. Please call me Jennifer.”
    “Likewise. I mean, please call me Victoria,” Leah said.
    Jennifer looked Leah up and down. “How many dresses would you like?”  
    Beth answered for her.  “She needs a wedding dress, three dresses for everyday wear and one for best.” 
    Leah’s fingertips flew to her mouth. “Are you sure, Beth? That’s five dresses altogether.”
    “That’s what my orders are, from Austin,” Beth said.
    Leah rubbed her chin. Now she felt worse than she. She didn’t want him to waste that kind of money on her. How could she stop this nonsense? It occurred to her that she could pretend she was ill, and needed to go back home. 
    “How soon can you get the wedding dress made?” Beth asked.
    “I can have something made for you by tomorrow if I’ve got suitable fabric here. Why don’t you see what you like over there?” Jennifer waved a hand toward the rolls of fabric against the wall.
    Leah had never been in such a fine store, and figured that it wouldn’t hurt just to take a look around before she pretended to be ill.
    Beth eyed the fabric, and then looked at Leah with raised eyebrows.
    “Oh, yes, I should be able to find something in amongst all those fabrics,” Leah said.
    Jennifer took the tape measure from around her neck, and made a few measurements of Leah’s body. “You go over there, pick out some material, and then I’ll get a few designs ready to show you.”
    At that moment, Leah wished she were Victoria. Everyone would be even angrier when they found out who she really was. But what could she do? It was too tempting to wear a fancy dress for once in her life. She allowed herself that indulgence, and did not run out of the store, saying she was ill. As she walked along the wall of fabrics with Beth, she decided that she would pay Austin back every cent of the dresses when she was able.
    “What sort of dress do you want to get married in?” Beth asked.
    “Well, nothing fancy; I’m not a person to like anything too fancy.”
    Jennifer walked over to them. “What about this one?” She pulled out a