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

arrived at the doorway to the drawing room, a man stood before the fireplace, his back to her, his eyes on the portrait of her and Richard that hung on the wall. But even from the behind, and not having seen John for a year, she knew it wasn’t him. He was nowhere near as lean and well-built as this man, and his hair wasn’t as blond.  A chill ran down her arms. He reminded her of—no, it couldn’t be--
    “Yes?” She said, her voice unnaturally loud. “May I be of some assistance?”
    When the man turned swiftly around, air swooshed from Agnes’ lips and she placed a hand on her erratically beating heart. “Gilbert,” she whispered.
    She could wake each day, breathe, live a little, but only if she never saw Gilbert Crawford. Her handsome, sweet Gilbert. She couldn’t bear it. The room began to grey, and the last thing she saw was Gilbert striding toward her.
     
    #
     
    Agnes was waking up. Her eyelids lifted, faltered, and then lifted again. The right eye was horribly bruised and swollen. Gilbert longed to sooth it but knew there was little he could do. His fingers curled into fists as he fought the urge to stroke her porcelain jaw, her long auburn curls, her lips.
    Damn, Phillip. He had no doubt the violence on her face had been inflicted by his brother. He, too, had suffered the pains of standing too long in his oldest brother’s presence. Minutes ago, Lionel had shown him Agnes’ badly broken glasses. The staff, it seemed, was loyal to their mistress.
    “Gilbert.” The word was weak and held a foggy note of bewilderment. “I don’t understand. You said you would never return.”
    He straightened, cleared his throat, tried to recall his medical training. Indifference. He needed to find his indifference. “My uncle died. Receiving word and securing passage took nearly a month. There are…questions about his death.”
    “Questions?” Agnes struggled to sit. “About what?”
    “Never mind that for now, my dear. You’ve suffered a fright. Move slowly, or you risk relapse.”
    Before he could move to her side, the drawing room door burst open. Gilbert recognized Sara, Agnes’ childhood friend.
    “Duchess, oh Duchess, come quickly. The young Lord is missing.”
    Agnes did not hesitate. In one movement it seemed, she sat up and stood. “Missing? How could he be? I checked on him only two hours ago. Nurse is with him.”
    “Nurse is gone, too.”
    Agnes took a deep breath  seeming to sense that Sara needed her calm. “Perhaps Nurse noticed he was gone and went looking for him. You know how he dearly loves to hide.  I must check the nursery. ”
     
    After she left the room, Gilbert spoke briefly to Lionel before following her.
     

Chapter 3
     
    When Agnes entered the nursery, she shivered. Not only did she immediately feel the lack of Richard’s presence, but a cold breeze swept through the room, cooling it considerably.  The fire had not been kindled  and the April air was blowing through an open window, the drape flapping like a flag. Why was it open? She hurried over and closed it.
    Sensing Gilbert behind her, Agnes moved to the cupboards and wardrobes, giving them cursory checks while she gathered her thoughts. Had Richard mentioned wanting to return to the stables? If he was concerned about one of the ponies or horses or even a cat, he might have gone out. Her son had a mind of his own, and worried over every sick creature that crossed his path. She squeezed her eyes shut. Much like his uncle.
    No, she could not think of that now. Opening her eyes, she whirled around and crashed into Gilbert.
    His hands steadied her. “Whoa, not so fast. You’ve just suffered two shocks in a row.”
    Always, Gilbert had treated her as if she was delicate as a weak kitten. Stepping free of his hands which warmed her, as always, from the inside out, Agnes refused to meet his gaze. “I must check the barns and outbuildings.”
    “I’ve just sent a search party to check them. If he’s out there, we’ll