ROMANCE: MAIL ORDER BRIDE: The Other Man’s Baby (A Clean Christian Historical Western) (New Adult Inspirational Pregnancy Romance) by Joyce Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

wishing she would come back. For some reason, the knowledge settled heavily in her stomach, something akin to disappointment rather than relief.
    “You seem to like my sister, though her disturbance was brief,” Clara said carefully. She did not want to offend.
    “I do, though not how you think.” He smiled knowingly - he had seen straight through her.
    Clara simply pursed her lips and nodded, shrugging slightly. “I apologize - I did not mean anything by it. We are the ones to marry, not Jessie.”
    “Do you remember what I said? That I do not want you to be pressured into marrying me if it is not what you desire?”
    “So you do not wish to do this, then?”
    Oscar frowned slightly, thick eyebrows furrowed. “You misread my words, miss Clara. I simply do not wish you to feel uncomfortable, nor do I wish things to proceed too quickly.”
    She nodded, feeling her cheeks warm. Oh, she was making a fool of herself here! If her mother was there, she would have been cringing at how her daughter spoke. Earlier that day she would not have cared, but now she wanted to make a good impression on the Duke. Why had her ideas changed in so short a time?
    There was a light tap on the door, and then the maid arrived with a tray of tea and sandwiches. “Good afternoon miss, Duke.” She gently set the tray down on the table and turned to Clara. “Is there anything else you require?”
    “No, that is all Lettie.”
    As the maid left, a mass of red appeared by the door in her place. Jessie again. She eyed Clara and the Duke cautiously. “Terribly sorry, but I do rather need that book.”
    With a sigh, Clara ushered her forward. “Grab it, then. Mother will be mad if she finds you interrupting like this.”
    Jessie cringed, quickly darting forward to snatch her book from a little table in the corner. “I know, I know, but I require it for my studies.” She hurried back to the door, lowering herself into a wobbly curtsy at the Duke. “Again, I apologize profusely. This won’t happen again.”
    As she left, Oscar laughed. “Your sister certainly is an odd one, is she not?”

Chapter 3
    Three days later, Clara stood in front of an impossibly huge manor, gazing up at the magnificent building. She had thought her own home was beautiful, but this one was beyond what words could describe. It loomed over her, intimidating yet hypnotizing.
    She was still gazing up at it when a servant opened the door. She jumped as the door creaked open, smoothing her skirts anxiously. “Clara Ollerton to see the Duke. He is expecting me.”
    The servant said nothing as he ushered her in, taking her coat and bonnet. A maid arrived a moment later to show her into the living room.
    The room, while only the size of Clara’s reception, was breathtaking. The mantelpiece alone looked like it cost more than all of the furniture in her reception combined. Sofas and chairs took up the majority of the room, the cream fabric surface pristine enough they looked as if they had never been used.
    Clara lowered herself into an armchair almost reluctant to crease the fabric. If there was even the tiniest particle of dust or dirt on her dress, it would stain the chair. She sat there for a moment, hands clasped, until Oscar arrived.
    His hair was slicked back the same way as before, a few strands hanging in his dark eyes. He smiled as he saw Clara, settling himself across from her on the sofa. “Good afternoon, miss Clara.”
    “Good afternoon,” she repeated, forcing her own smile.
    He was an incredibly handsome man, and he seemed even more so now. Perhaps it was just because he was in his own home - he was more relaxed, more himself. Clara found herself wishing she could touch that beautiful hair of his. She felt herself lean forward before she realized what she was doing.
    “Would you like me to escort you outside? The cooks have already prepared us our meal for the picnic.” He offered a hand to help her to her feet, then linked arms with her as he led her