Faithfully Yours

Faithfully Yours
Lois Richer

TEMPORARILY YOURSTaking a new teaching job wasn't as easy as Gillian Langford had hoped. First she clashed with the school's proper–but very handsome–new principal, Jeremy Nivens. Then her aunt decided Jeremy needed a little matchmaking. Now everyone in town believed Gillian would soon be walking down the aisle, leaving her little choice but to go along with the "engagement."But pretending to be Jeremy's intended wasn't difficult at all–which truly had the unlucky-in-love Gillian frightened. For though she had decided never to risk her heart again, Gillian knew Jeremy could change her mind…if she dared give him the chance.FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY: With a little help from these matchmaking ladies, romance is sure to bloom for three very lucky couples.Welcome to Love Inspired™–stories about life, faith and love that will lift your spirits and gladden your heart. Meet men and women facing the challenges of today's world and learning important lessons about life, faith and love.

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#uc645e94f-37c8-55d4-81af-3892743bdd11)

Excerpt (#u62eaa8ce-597d-5929-843f-3bed07ee7d98)

About the Author (#u8b1e7a16-e8b1-5f9b-b3ce-6cd18c76aa7f)

Title Page (#u1b340cd4-0a2e-5862-8894-e976c8d6f1e8)

Epigraph (#uf868b469-feba-537d-a48a-442ec7920134)

Dedication (#ue9954ce9-eac0-5dc3-afb0-d5b88a3cf4b5)

Chapter One (#udb32d538-ce3b-5eaa-9a62-9cb4c1b3a054)

Chapter Two (#u0ebe9b66-4fe0-5d79-95c4-1dc53ce480d3)

Chapter Three (#u5a2c0ec6-8f62-5e2d-b57b-39c493ddaf02)

Chapter Four (#u76fd3882-bf0e-58c1-95fa-14052d1b9cbc)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Preview (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“Well, it’s just a bit late for regrets, Miss Langford,” Jeremy said. “Especially now that the whole town thinks we’re about to be married!”

“Look,” she began, angry at the way he was hinting that this was all her fault, “I was only trying to spare your aunt. She was just a little confused and I didn’t want to make it worse.”

“Well, you’ve made it much worse,” he complained. “Now we’ve got the minister planning our wedding. What are you going to do about this situation now?”

Gillian felt tears press against her eyelids. But there was no way she was giving in to them—not with him standing there watching.

LOIS RICHER

credits her love of writing to a childhood spent in a Sunday school where the King James Version of the Bible was taught. The majesty and clarity of the language in the Old Testament stories allowed her to create pictures in her own mind while growing up in a tiny prairie village where everyone strove to make ends meet. During her school years, she continued to find great solace in those words and in the church family that supported her in local speech festivals, Christmas concerts and little theater productions. Later, in college, her ability with language stood her in good stead as she majored in linguistics, studied the work of William Shakespeare and participated in a small drama group.

Today Lois lives in a tiny Canadian town with her husband, Barry, and two very vocal sons. And still her belief in a strong, vibrant God who cares more than we know predominates her life. “My writing,” she says, “allows me to express just a few of the words God sends bubbling around in my brain. If I convey some of the wonder and amazement I feel when I think of God and His love, I’ve used my words to good effect”

Faithfully Yours

Lois Richer

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

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

—I Samuel 16:7

To my husband, Barry, on our fifteenth wedding anniversary, with much love and appreciation for your unwavering support.

Chapter One (#ulink_8269e6f9-31c8-5ae0-a18b-2fca51d767e3)

“That man will turn my hair gray,” Gillian Langford sputtered, twisting the emerald engagement band around the ring finger on her right hand in frustration.

“Not yet, I hope,” Mary Teale teased, her eyes flashing. “This is only your third year teaching—your first at JFK Elementary.”

“And it may be my last in the fair town of Mossbank, North Dakota,” Gillian retorted. “I’m not kidding! Mr. Nivens is so strict, I’ve forgotten half of the six thousand rules he’s made in the past five weeks.” There was a sudden silence in the staff room, and Gillian turned around in her chair to see why, her heart sinking as she did.

“That fact is very evident, Miss Langford.” Her nemesis stood behind her, his face hardened into the usual stern lines. “I would like to speak to you privately, please. In my office.”

“Now?” Gillian heard the squeak of surprise in her voice and wished she had been able to control it. He didn’t need to know how badly her feet were aching.

“If you please?”

She forced herself to follow his tall form and noted the short, precise cut of his hair above his stiff white shirt collar. Jeremy Nivens was at all times perfectly groomed with never a hair out of place or a spot on his tie. Gillian hated that. She felt like a grubby child when she stood next to all that neatness.

“Be seated, Miss Langford.” He sat stiffly behind his massive desk, his back ramrod straight, arms resting on the desktop. “I wanted to discuss this afternoon’s unfortunate incident with you.”