Free The Bridal Contract (Darrington family Book 3) by Sandra Sookoo

used.
    “Well, that’s a fine turn of events.” Eloisa turned to her brother, but he hung his head. “You are nothing but a coward, Charles. A dismal coward, that’s what. Allowing your baby sister to be married off to that pig of a man and you watch like you’ve got no sense.” She shook her head. “I’m going upstairs to think upon this more. You may have abandoned Helen, but I shall not.” With a quivering chin and tears stinging her eyes, she marched upstairs and didn’t allow a collapse until she was hidden behind her closed door.
     

     
    A scratching at her bedroom door came accompanied with a discreet throat clearing. “Miss, Viscount Tralsburg is in the parlor,” her housekeeper announced in a puzzled voice. “He claims he’s here on a matter of some import.” Since Charles’ reduced circumstances meant staff cutbacks, the housekeeper had to serve in the butler’s capacity at times.
    As she sat up in bed, Eloisa rubbed her eyes. A headache pounded slightly in her forehead, and she still hadn’t a blessed clue how to solve Helen’s problem. That horrible meeting with Lord Everly had happened hours ago, but nothing she thought of could be considered as a solution. If only Peter had still been alive. He’d know exactly what to do. Alas, she’d need to figure it out herself. She looked at the tall, thin woman who hovered in the doorway. “Thank you, Gladys. Tell him I’ll be down directly.”
    “Very well, miss. And…” The woman lowered her voice even more. “He’s brought a child with him.”
    As if this was a development worse than appearing naked at the door.
    Despite the miserable cloud that had descended, Eloisa smiled. “Thank you for the warning.” Her mood lifted slightly to know Daniela was with Oliver. Perhaps the child could take her mind off her current circumstances, and if she laughed, all the better.
    Once the housekeeper left her alone, Eloisa rose from bed, smoothed the wrinkles from her moss green day gown as best she could, patted her hair back into its bun then left the room. Just before descending the stairs, she pinched her cheeks to prompt color into them but still felt she looked a fright after her crying earlier. A sigh escaped. How silly of me. It didn’t matter. This was merely a polite call from a neighbor. Nothing earth shattering and she didn’t need to look her best.
    By the time she entered the parlor, her headache kept time to her footfalls and the sadness she carried for Peter had intensified. There were times in a woman’s life when all she wanted was to be held by a man, kept safe in his arms and be told everything would work out right in the end—even if it wouldn’t. As she stifled the urge to cry, she shoved thoughts of him away. Now wasn’t the time for maudlin memories or chasing what-ifs. He was gone and there would never be another like him.
    When her gaze landed on Oliver, sitting stiffly on the faded pink, crushed velvet settee with Daniela prim and proper beside him in a lace-trimmed, navy dress, the cloudy thoughts scattered. How domestically adorable! “I assume that since you’re here with Daniela, you and she have called a truce?” she asked as she swept over the shabby Oriental rug. Did he notice their furnishings weren’t new or even stylish anymore, thanks to Charles and his abominable handling of his coin? Immediately, the girl squirmed off the furniture then ran to her.
    “Isa!” She wrapped her arms around Eloisa’s leg.
    What a darling nickname. “Hello, poppet. How are you?” Eloisa smiled at the welcome. There simply wasn’t anything better than being greeted with enthusiasm from a child. The problem of having promised Peter her life was the fact she’d never have a child of her own, never collect small moments such as this. As her heart twisted with grief, she did her level best to mask her pain. No need for the viscount to question her about that too.
    “I want to play.” She pointed to a doll, previously