Darby: Bride of Oregon (American Mail-Order Bride 33)

Author:Bella Bowen [Bowen, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Victorian Era, Western, Thirty-Three In Series, Saga, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, Short Story, American Mail-Order Bride, Bachelor, Single Woman, Marriage Of Convenience, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Oregon, Imitate Accent, Scotswomen, Brogue Lilt, Temper, Portland, Shanghai Tunnels, Dangerous Game, Phantom, Charade, Danger, Acting
Goodreads: 27826550
Publisher: Virtual Bookpublishing, LLC.
Published: 2015-12-21T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Darby took her time in the bathing room while a table was set in the master bedroom. She’d had enough putting on of brave faces, and she wasn’t about to put on another for the maids. So, only after it was very quiet on the other side of the door did she venture out again.

She willed her hand not to shake when she reached for the door that separated their two rooms, but it ignored her. She willed her body to step through the door, but it ignored her too. Instead, she stood on the threshold and waited for Rand to help.

He laughed lightly and started to stand. She remembered what a chore it would be for him and hurried forward. “Don’t get up.”

He checked her expression, then nodded and resumed his seat behind the impromptu dinner table. “At least I got you through the door.”

The joking helped more than she could have hoped. And for the second time since arriving in Portland, she sat down with her husband to enjoy a wedding supper, of sorts. But this time, when the meal was finished and the plates cleared away, neither of them left the room, let alone the house.

The night unfolded quite differently than she’d expected, and all her fears were chased away by a gentle and tender champion. In the morning, she was shocked to find how rested one could feel without having much real sleep at all. And though she’d avoided meeting Rand’s eye when first they woke, a few kisses chased away her embarrassment. And she reveled in the sense that she was no longer alone in the world.

Thankfully, he seemed to have a hard time letting her out of his reach, let alone his sight. In fact, when Shadow and Jezebel arrived that afternoon, in disguise, for their daily update of the Phantom’s movements the previous night, he invited her to join them.

For the past weeks, his men had taken turns wearing his costume and making their presence known while everyone in the city believed Rand and his bride to be were out of town. And since Harrigan had insisted he’d mortally wounded the Phantom, it only added to the rumor that the devil might not be mortal to begin with.

Darby prepared a tray of tea and small sandwiches and carried them into the library. It was a dark room that seemed to suit their guests and their topic better than the brighter rooms of the house.

Jezebel held one hand to her temple and claimed a headache. But when she moved her hand away to pick up her tea, Darby could see a slight lump. The woman gave her a sharp look that warned her to keep her thoughts to herself. Darby nodded discreetly and reached for her own tea.

The other woman gasped and dropped her cup carelessly on her saucer as she reached over and snatched Darby’s fingers. She looked long and hard at the ring, then sent a pointed look at Rand.

He met her gaze with a calm face, then tilted his head as if daring her to say something.

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