The Bridal Contract (Darrington family Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

window.
    “I’m sure the Darringtons won’t be bossed like you’ve done me,” her sister called in a sing-song voice as Eloisa dashed out then down the stairs.
    “I don’t boss,” she muttered as she let herself outside. “I don’t even manage. I just see an easy way of fixing a problem,” she said aloud while she quickly stepped through her own gate. Seconds later, she’d traversed the walkway leading to the Darrington house. In a twinkling she manipulated the gate’s latch and entered their garden.
    The little girl she’d seen before was no longer in sight, but the front door to the town house gaped open, and from the sound of things, chaos reigned inside.
    Eloisa shook her head, as if that action would suddenly quiet the storm. The closer she came up the cobblestones, the louder the discord grew as well as the anxiety crawling over her skin. She’d never met any of the Darrington clan, had never encountered them while in London and her knowledge of them only consisted of repeated stories and innuendo. Perhaps it was the height of gauche to arrive uninvited, but the noisy situation must be dealt with.
    When she reached the doorway, she stepped over the threshold and assessed the situation. “Oh, dear heavens.” Two older people stood in the entry, looking at sixes and sevens, with the woman holding the crying child in her arms. Another man, younger than the first, stood off to one side, spectacles balanced at the end of his nose while he read a letter. He seemed oblivious to the discomfort of the others in his party. Obviously, the situation wouldn’t be resolved until order was restored. “I beg your pardon, but can someone tell me what’s happening here?”
    The older man shook himself from his stupor. “We’ve had a bit of a surprise this morning, miss.”
    “No matter, but we must placate the child if anyone on this street will know peace.” Eloisa stepped up to the woman. “Please, let me try my hand at soothing her.” She took the pretty child into her arms and held her, balancing the girl on her hip. Her cousins in Italy were forever reproducing. Attending to a child now seemed natural. “Hush now, darling. Nothing can be as bad as all that.” She petted the mass of curls. The child quieted. “There. Isn’t it better not to spend needless energy crying?”
    The little girl watched her with the darkest brown eyes Eloisa had ever seen, but she didn’t smile, only put a finger in her mouth. With her other hand, she gripped onto Eloisa’s arm tight. Every so often she’d take a hiccupping, shuddering breath. Though the crying had stopped, the tears still fell, albeit more slowly now.
    “Well, this is better than before.” Eloisa glanced at the older couple then finally rested her gaze on the other gentleman, who didn’t appear that much older than herself. “Good morning. I’m Miss Eloisa Hawthorne. I live next door with my brother and desperately need to write a very important letter, but the noise issuing from this house completely broke my concentration. Can I offer my assistance?”
    Heavy silence hung in the entryway, growing ever thicker by the second. The younger gentleman did nothing except stare at Eloisa over the tops of his wire-rimmed glasses. A letter lay crushed in his hand. Expressions shifted over his face, first of shock, then of astonishment, followed by confusion and finally annoyance. Well, if he thought to give her a dressing down for interrupting such a bizarre scene, he could think again. He really should learn to control his household better.
    “Pardon my forward attitude, but are you Viscount Tralsburg?” When he gave a barely perceptible nod, she smiled. “I thought so. You have the sort of bearing that bespeaks of a title.” Unabashed and more curious than common sense allowed, she studied him.
    She’d heard rumors, of course, for what was life in London without rumors and stories? Whereas the older Darrington son had inherited the earldom then shortly