The Bridal Contract (Darrington family Book 3) by Sandra Sookoo Read Free Book Online Page A

the pass that brought him near her position, he sighed and finally halted. “Perhaps it is that. Both Felix and Charlotte have recently found matches, and apparently they’ve come about quite scandalously. My brother is married and is involved with matters of Parliament and running the estate, while Charlotte will no doubt be obnoxiously happy and gushing about her coup.”
    Eloisa snorted then hurriedly turned her amusement into a cough. “I see. Is it their romantic happiness you despise or the fact your mother wishes the same for you?”
    His bark of laughter held no mirth. “Mother doesn’t want happiness for her children. She wants grandchildren, plain and simple.”
    The poor man was practically beside himself. “Forgive me if I sound confused, but is that such a bad thing?”
    “Yes!” His eyes were a tad wild. “Er, it is for me. I’m not a family man, have no wish for children or a wife. I want my ship and the sea and the freedom found therein.”
    She gaped. Never had she heard such passion from a man. His blue gaze sparkled. A flush of color enlivened his face. Another tingle moved through her lower belly. Too bad such a magnificent man wanted to shut himself away. Equally as bad was his stance on wives and children. Good thing she felt absolutely no attraction to him whatsoever. Thank goodness she was still in love with Peter. “Well, that is a problem since you do have a child under your roof.” She didn’t bother to hide her irritation. Not passionate about a wife or a child? What sort of man was he? Didn’t all men wish to settle down with a love and a family?
    “Yes, it is.” He turned, and when she thought he’d pace again, he, instead, stood in front of the window with his hands clasped behind his back. “I wish you luck in getting your sister’s difficulty sorted, but I’m feeling quite fatigued at the moment and wish to be alone. Good day, Miss Hawthorne.”
    It was the first time she’d witnessed any trace of the viscount in him since they’d met. A thrill moved down her spine at the first use of his power she’d seen. “Very well.” It wasn’t even a polite dismissal. “I wish you well with Daniela. I hope you’ll promise to give things a chance before you dump her on an orphanage step. Regardless of how you hold her mother in your memories and regardless of whether the child is yours by blood, the girl is a small person and has feelings of her own. Don’t add to her trauma. None of it is her fault.”
    So saying, she exited the parlor without giving him an opportunity for rebuttal. Not that he would have. Oliver Darrington might be a handsome fellow, but he could keep his demons to himself. She had other things to worry about and none of them included delving into the secrets he kept to figure him out.
    Helen needs me more. As long as she remembered that, life would move on as normal.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    It had been three days since the advent of Daniela in the town house, and in those three days, Oliver’s patience had been tried more times than he could count. If it hadn’t been for Carruthers and Susan, he didn’t know what he would have done, for each time the girl needed something or wished to play, they quietly whisked her away. Once, he’d even spied his butler—old and frail Carruthers—racing the little girl down the staircase with laughter trailing in their wake.
    At least she hadn’t taken to crying again. Oh no. Since the older retainers practically gave the girl the run of the house, her new favorite thing to do was to stand in the doorway of his study and stare at him, usually with a finger in her mouth and a doll tucked under her arm. She never talked, never did much of anything except watch him. When she tired, she’d dash off into another part of the house, but invariably she’d return to his doorway. Twice he’d tried to engage her in conversation and twice, dark, unreadable emotion had sprung into her eyes before she ran away, yet