Family of the Heart

Family of the Heart
Dorothy Clark

Indulge your fantasies of delicious Regency Rakes, fierce Viking warriors and rugged Highlanders. Be swept away into a world of intense passion, lavish settings and romance that burns brightly through the centuriesIn her silk finery, Sarah Rolph knew she was no more a nanny than the haughty widower before her. She'd made a profound error in judgment. How long would it be before Clayton Bainbridge cast her out? She vowed to pack up her trunks return to Philadelphia at once. But that city held memories of her lost fiancé, sweet little Nora Bainbridge desperately needed some mothering. Sarah might not be an expert in child rearing, but she knew a few things about grief. The pain in Clayton's stormy blue eyes told her that her journey here must be part of God's larger plan for them all. . . .

“The child will be fully in your charge, Miss Randolph. While I shall provide all that is needed for its care, I will have no personal contact with it. Is that clear?”

Sarah lifted her chin and met Clayton Bainbridge’s gaze with her own. “Your words… yes. But—”

“There is no but, Miss Randolph. Those are the special conditions of your employment. I realize you will require some personal time. The maid Lucy will sit with the child while she naps in the afternoon. And your evenings will be free. Other than that, you will spend all of your time with the child. Do you wish to accept the position?”

Incredible! The man might as well be a marble statue. Had Clayton Bainbridge no feelings? An image of the sweet toddler sleeping upstairs flashed into her head. “Yes, Mr. Bainbridge, I accept the position. I must, sir. Because your daughter is a little girl, not an it.”

Sarah squared her shoulders, whirled away from the look of astonishment on Clayton Bainbridge’s face and swept from the room.

DOROTHY CLARK

Critically acclaimed, award-winning author Dorothy Clark is a creative person. She lives in a home she designed and helped her husband build (she swings a mean hammer!) with the able assistance of their three children. She also designs and helps her husband build furniture. When she is not thus engaged, she can be found cheering her grandchildren on at various sports events, or furiously taking notes about possible settings for future novels as she and her husband travel throughout the United States and Canada. Dorothy believes in God, love, family and happy endings, which explains why she feels so at home writing her stories for Steeple Hill. Dorothy enjoys hearing from her readers, and may be contacted at dorothyjclark@hotmail.com.

Dorothy Clark

Family of the Heart

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God

will enlighten my darkness.

—Psalms 18:28

This book is dedicated with boundless gratitude

to my extremely talented writer friend and critique

partner, Sam Pakan, who read every chapter

(though there is not a fistfight or dead body in any

of them), encouraged me and prayed for me when

“life” happened and interfered with my writing

time, and stuck with me through the last two weeks

of my writing marathon though he was racing to

meet his own book deadline. You sure know how to

go the “second mile,” cowboy. Thank you.

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts

shall be established.”

Your word is truth. Thank You, Jesus.

To You be the glory.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty