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

warmed. Of course, such could be said of her, though there’d been no child from her own impropriety. She peered into his face and received a second shock. Even a nodcock could see the poor man had no idea what to do. “Then I can also assume you didn’t bring the child home with you?”
    “Good heavens, no.” Oliver shook her head. “She was delivered here, not long before your arrival, as if she were little more than an unwanted parcel.” He eyed the little girl who stared back at him with nothing except distrust. “What shall I do with her?”
    “Oh, don’t ask me that.” She had no time to iron the wrinkles from his life when she had so many in her own. “I simply cannot get involved in your Drury Lane debacle, for I have a rather large and piggish dragon to vanquish at the moment.” She placed her teacup on the table, being sure she fit the base into its saucer just so. With another glance at Daniela, she stood. “I am sorry, but I did only come here to encourage you to practice at being quiet. I need to return. I have a letter to write.”
    Really, this man and his problems were no concern of hers. Neither was that troublesome niggle of a reaction to him. She was quite done with men.
    “All right. Thank you for managing Daniela. I’ll have to learn that trick,” he replied and stood as well.
    The girl darted a panicked glance between them both, opened her mouth, and wailed.
    Eloisa closed her eyes. God grant me patience. When she looked about her once more, she caught the hopelessness in Oliver’s gaze and her heart squeezed. He was such a lost soul. Perhaps staying a few moments longer to direct his next decision wouldn’t be too bad. “On the other hand, I suppose the letter can wait until after refreshment.”
    As soon as she regained her seat, the child’s crying faded.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Oliver had never felt so out of place in all his life. He’d seen the shock and flash of disapproval in his pretty neighbor’s eyes when he’d revealed Daniela’s origin. For whatever reason, he wanted her to harbor no ill will toward him, wished she’d think highly of him, so he cleared his throat while attempting to formulate appropriate words. “I highly doubt the child is mine.” Dash it all, how did managing the girl come so easily to her?
    “Well, I am hardly the person to debate the subject with you.” Yet, she did glance at the girl then back at him. Was she trying to find his features in the child’s countenance or mannerisms? He followed her example even knowing the timing wasn’t right for him to have fathered the girl. Nothing about the child was like him. “The only way to know for certain is if you and your mistress hadn’t… um…” She came to a stumbling halt while a wash of pink color infused her cheeks.
    “Ah.” He cleared his throat again. Why couldn’t he draw upon the strength of the ages and appear unruffled under pressure? Hadn’t he learned patience and fortitude on the battlefield? So why did it flee him now? “That isn’t possible.” Damnation but he wished he could come right out and tell her why.
    “I see.” She fussed with the tea tray, even went so far as to offer a cake to Daniela even though she’d already stolen some. “Then that is a cloudy matter indeed. You cannot be sure she’s not yours, yet you are very much saddled with her for the foreseeable future. A conundrum really.”
    “Oh, I can be certain. You see, I left my mistress three years ago, so the time lapse is large enough that the child cannot be mine.” Devil take it, why did this need to be so embarrassing? Men had needs. It was common knowledge.
    “Ah,” she said again. When Eloisa held his gaze once more, he reeled under the force of those sparkling, green eyes. “What do you plan to do with her?”
    Oliver shook his head. “I haven’t a clue.” He glanced at Daniela. She was a taking little thing when she wasn’t creating a ruckus. “It’s clear she doesn’t