A Mutual Arrangement
Henrietta Gordon has one dream: to practice medicine alongside the uncle who raised her. But when he insists she stay in London and find a husband, she must figure out a way to earn money toward her goal. Could handsome earl Dominic, Lord St. Raven, be the answer?
Desperate to find a governess for his niece after his brother’s death, Dominic hires Henrietta—and is soon taken by her smarts and determination. But as Henrietta comes to care deeply for Dominic and his charge, the thought of inevitably leaving them feels impossible, forcing her to decide what’s more important—following her dreams or her heart.
He was a specimen of strong heritage.
Henrietta refused to fault herself for noticing the thickness of St. Raven’s hair or the confidence in his stride. His skin shone with good health and his white, cared-for teeth hinted at a fastidious nature.
Yes, even a doctor could note such things. The churning in her stomach was very natural, she assured herself. Simply a physical and chemical reaction.
And then he turned and saw her.
She, quiet and unobtrusive, edged as close to a wall as possible, yet he saw her. Their gazes connected. She looked quickly away, eager to discourage him from approaching her.
The tactic did not work. Trying not to frown, she nodded a greeting as he neared.
“I see you are walking without pain,” she said promptly.
“Is that why you were studying me so closely?”
Jessica Nelson believes romance happens every day and thinks the greatest, most intense romance comes from a God who woos people to Himself with passionate tenderness. When Jessica is not chasing her three beautiful, wild little boys around the living room, she can be found staring into space as she plots her next story, daydreams about raspberry mochas or plans chocolate for dinner.
Books by Jessica Nelson
Love Inspired Historical
Love on the Range
Family on the Range
The Matchmaker’s Match
A Hasty Betrothal
The Unconventional Governess
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JESSICA NELSON
The Unconventional Governess
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
—Hebrews 10:24
I would like to dedicate this book to Denise Petrovich, my very unconventional mother. Life would be quite boring without you. I love you and thank you for all of the creative ways you support my writing.
Many thanks to all of my fabulous writing friends, including the members of my Sunshine State Romance Authors group (Loretta Rogers, Darlene Corcoran, Barbara Cairns, Michael Ditchfield and many others), who one October Retreat night helped me brainstorm my hero into the unique and fabulous guy that he is.
Thank you to Emily Rodmell, editor extraordinaire, who is both kind and wise with her advice.
Final thanks to Jesus, my main squeeze. He is a God who is constantly teaching me in unconventional ways.
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
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dear Reader
Excerpt from The Rancher Inherits a Family by Cheryl St.John
Chapter One
England
Spring 1814
No conventional daughter of an earl desired to become a physician.
Henrietta Gordon did not fool herself into thinking she was conventional. As a woman of limited funds and genteel birth, there were very few socially acceptable dreams to dream. And while dreams were all well and good, accomplishment came by setting goals and pursuing them.
Which was why, despite the increasing suspicion that in order to avoid matrimony she might have to take on a governess post, she was determined to prepare for the life she wanted, rather than the life being foisted upon her.
If there was one thing she had learned in her twenty-four years that served her well, it was to persist in what she wanted.
On this brooding English afternoon, Henrietta had taken refuge in Lady Brandewyne’s expansive library. To her great delight, she found a copy of A Practical Synopsis of the Materia Alimentaria and Materia Medica. No sooner had she curled up in a plush wingback chair than Lady Brandewyne swept into the room.
The dowager countess, an old friend of Uncle William’s, had kindly allowed Henrietta to stay with her while she recovered from a bout of rheumatic fever. Uncle William had gone to London to teach a medical seminar. He’d promised to return to collect Henrietta, but it had been a month since he left, and she began to doubt his intentions.
Especially with Lady Brandewyne’s daily insinuations.
The fearsome lady now paused when she saw Henrietta reading rather than practicing the pianoforte, or performing some other expected feat of ladyhood. She sniffed, her regal, powdered chin tilted to display her disapproval more effectively.
“I have received a report that a man was found wounded nearby. His servants are bringing him here. Since the apothecary is on another call at the moment, it seems as though I may have need of your expertise.” She delivered the words stiffly, and Henrietta hid a smile behind the professionalism her uncle had taught her to display.
“Do we know the nature of his wounds? Will he require sutures?” She placed the book on a side table and stood.
“No, and I do not want you overly involved with his care. As soon as the apothecary arrives, you will remove yourself.”
Henrietta felt her eyebrows fly upward at Lady Brandewyne’s dogmatic tone. She hadn’t practiced medicine in England thus far. She’d been too focused on recovering from illness and Lady Brandewyne disapproved of her chosen vocation, at any rate. While here, she must observe propriety much more strictly than she had in the Americas.
Not for long, she comforted herself. Soon she’d be assisting Uncle William again, propriety be hanged. There were lives to be saved. Soldiers’ hands to be held while they verbalized their final goodbyes. Mothers to comfort as they birthed their children.
Her throat tightened.
As though noticing her discomfort, Lady Brandewyne drew near. “Calm yourself, my dear. I’m sure the apothecary will care for him
