Free The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund Page A

to the Indians of India or the Indians of the West?”
    He was right. “But the West is practically uninhabitable. How would we survive?”
    “I won’t lie to you. It’ll be rough.” His eyes probed hers. “But I promise you, if it’s too hard and too dangerous, I’ll make provisions for you to return home. I’ll find a ship to bring you around the continent—”
    “Priscilla!” A call from outside the schoolhouse door made her jump. “Priscilla, hurry! Mother wants you to come home right away.”
    She took a step away from the desk, away from Dr. Ernest. She hadn’t wanted to get married, and she’d wanted to go to India. How could she make such an enormous switch? Did she even want to?
    His eyes pleaded with her to say yes.
    “Exciting news!” Her sister’s voice came again as the door at the back of the room swung open. “Dr. Ernest has returned to town, and he stopped by and told Mother he would come to dinner tonight.”
    Mary Ann stepped inside and came to an abrupt halt. She glanced from Dr. Ernest to Priscilla and back and clamped a hand over her mouth.
    “I agree. It’s very exciting.” Dr. Ernest grinned.
    Mary Ann blushed.
    Priscilla stacked the books scattered on her desk. “Would you please tell Mother I’ll be home shortly.” She shot Dr. Ernest what she hoped was a censuring glare. Was he enlisting the aid of Mother in his marriage proposal? She would have no hope of resisting Mother once she discovered Dr. Ernest’s intentions.
    His grin widened, and he nodded, as if he could read her thoughts.
    “So I ran all this distance for nothing?” Mary Ann rubbed a hand over her protruding stomach until her fingers rounded the underside of her belly and lifted it, giving aid to the weight of the baby. “I wouldn’t be surprised if all this activity causes me to go into labor tonight.”
    “Well, if it happens at dinner, at least we won’t have to run for a doctor.” Priscilla’s tone was sourer than she’d intended.
    “True,” Dr. Ernest added. “I’ll be sure to bring my doctor’s bag—just in case.”
    Mary Ann raised her brow, and her eyes wavered with uncertainty.
    Remorse nagged at Priscilla. She had no reason to take out her frustrations on her sister. Lord, help me. When would she ever learn to control her jealousy? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Forgive me.”
    “I should think you’d be happy,” Mary Ann remarked slowly. “You’ve been praying all week for God to open a door for you to serve Him. And now He has.”
    Her sister’s words made their way through the cracks in Priscilla’s crumbling resolve. She had indeed prayed for God to provide a way for her to go. And here was Dr. Ernest. He’d gone down on his knee and had practically pleaded with her to marry him—even though he knew exactly what kind of woman he was getting in the bargain.
    If this wasn’t God’s answer to her prayers, she didn’t know what else could be.
    Priscilla jerked her gaze away from her sister and leveled it upon Dr. Ernest.
    His brows shot up.
    “Yes.” She slapped the astronomy pamphlet closed.
    “Yes?”
    “In answer to your question, my answer is yes.”
    A slow smile spread over his face, and the winter sunlight in his eyes began to dance. “Then it’s a deal?” He held out a hand.
    She slipped her hand into his. “We have a deal.”
    “Good.” His fingers closed around hers with the softness of a caress. And when his thumb brushed against the pulse in her wrist, her heart tumbled into a dizzying spin.
    She had agreed to a marriage of convenience, a marriage in name only. That’s all.
    And yet she couldn’t prevent a tiny thrill from winding through her heart. After the past several years of convincing herself that she wanted to be single, that she’d be completely content without a husband, she didn’t have to fool herself any longer.
    She was finally getting the opportunity to do something every girl hoped for—she would get to have a