Read The Bridal Contract (Darrington family Book 3) for Free Online Page B

He rested his gaze once more on Daniela. While she definitely resembled her mother, there was not one trace of Darrington blood in that child. Not even if he squinted could he imagine he saw himself in that face.
    “Why are you staring at her as if she were a bug to analyze?” Eloisa patted the girl on her bottom and gave her a tiny push away from the tea tray.
    “I’m convinced I’ve been deceived, and if I don’t do anything about it, I’ll be forced to raise this child as my own when she is, in fact, nothing to me.” Why would Maria do such a thing to him? Was it in retaliation for leaving or for not asking her to accompany him on his travels? Would one person hate another so much they’d use a child as a weapon to destroy a life?
     

     
    Eloisa frowned as emotions drifted over Oliver’s face. How had he not learned to school his expressions? “Be that as it may, she’s still here and you owe it to her to take care of her.”
    “I owe her? How, pray tell?” A trace of annoyance hung on the question.
    “Well, since you promised not to turn her out, what else would you do? You have to provide some way of raising her.” Her stomach clenched. What would she do in his position? No doubt it was extremely embarrassing, and would continue to be once word got out. If the girl wasn’t his, he had no obligation. Still, she wasn’t a commodity like a bag of rotted potatoes that one could send back. “No doubt she’s been through much already in her young life. At least allow her refuge here until a final decision can be made.”
    “I don’t know if I can do that.” Determination rang in his voice. “I hadn’t planned to stay in Brighton. I’m not the domestic sort and besides, Daniela hates me.”
    At the sound of her name, the child looked at Oliver. She’d wandered across the room, singing softly to herself. When she noticed the adults’ attention, she stuck a finger in her mouth and kept staring, but she didn’t cry.
    “She doesn’t hate you. She simply doesn’t know you yet.” Eloisa leaned forward. The man looked so lost her sense of duty rose. Sympathy for his position welled. “Let’s try an experiment. Come with me.” After she rose, she crossed the room and approached Daniela. Oliver slowly trailed her. “Hello, sweetie.” She knelt in front of the girl. “My name is Eloisa and I live next door to this nice man.” She gently removed the finger from Daniela’s mouth and gripped the hand as she stood. “Would you like to meet him?”
    “Where’s Mama?” the little girl asked.
    Oh, dear. What to tell her? Perhaps the truth. No sense starting her life in Brighton on a pile of lies. I hope Oliver forgives the assumption. “As far as I know, your mama is still in Spain.” She shot a glance at Oliver. Obviously the man wouldn’t offer to help. He barely knew how to handle such a situation. When he didn’t make a move to continue, she stifled a sigh. “But she wanted you to be a brave girl and have lots of adventures, so she sent you to England so you’d know…” Her voice trailed off and she again looked to Oliver. “What should I tell her to call you?”
    He rolled his eyes. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
    Well, that decided his fate. “Your mama wanted you to know your papa.” Her cheeks heated when Oliver sucked in a breath. Perhaps she’d overstepped after all, but then, he should have taken the lead.
    “He is Papa?” Daniela pointed at the viscount. Her eyes were big and round.
    “Good God, Eloisa, that’s a bit of a bammer.” He snorted then addressed the child. “No, I am not,” Oliver stated with heavy annoyance. “You may call me…” He trailed off and sent a desperate look Eloisa’s way. “I cannot very well have her call me Viscount Tralsburg, can I?”
    “That is rather a mouthful for a little girl,” she agreed. Most definitely she didn’t want to see the child left at yet another waypoint in her already trial-filled journey. She thought over