Love on Assignment by Cara Lynn James

Author:Cara Lynn James
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Two days later, Daniel feared this Sunday morning would be especially chaotic without Charlotte to haul the children out of bed and find appropriate church clothes. After breakfast all the servants had Sunday morning free for worship service. So he was on his own and unprepared. Usually his mother found Tim and Ruthie appropriate clothes, but today she was in bed sleeping, still tired and weak.

He checked on Ruthie and Tim and found them both dressed for church and waiting in their playroom.

“I’m ready to go, Papa. Miss Hale and I picked out my church clothes.” Ruthie spun around in a white frock with a blue sash at her waist, her face aglow. “Do you like my new dress?”

“You look lovely.”

She smoothed her auburn hair pulled back at the crown with a ribbon. “Miss Hale fixed my hair differently. No braids.” Glancing in the mirror, she examined her reflection. “What do you think, Papa? Do I look older?”

Daniel laughed. He was hardly the best one to judge hairstyles. “Beautiful. And I do believe you look all of thirteen.”

A minute later, Tim appeared in the playroom nearly awake and dressed in a sailor suit with a crooked navy blue tie.

“Since we’re presentable, perhaps we can have a quick breakfast and leave for church.” Oatmeal soon arrived via the dumbwaiter and the three ate in the playroom.

As they headed for the door after breakfast, Bibles in hand, Charlotte stepped into the room.

“Good morning, everyone.” Her gaze swept by Daniel and settled on the children. Automatically she adjusted Tim’s crooked blue tie and pulled down the bunched shirt of his white sailor suit.

Delight mixed with anxiety rippled through Daniel’s chest. Yesterday he’d declared his feelings for her and she’d rejected his overture. So be it. A person couldn’t force someone to care for them. He’d learned that sobering lesson from Sarah. He’d leave this in the Lord’s hands and pray that He had a plan to somehow bring them together. Their friendship might appear unsuitable to many—probably most—people, but he didn’t think their social differences should raise an insurmountable barrier. At least for him, they counted for little.

He twitched a smile when Charlotte entered the playroom. “We’d be pleased if you’d join us for church, Miss Hale. We’re about to start off.”

Bewilderment flashed across her face before she nodded. “Of course, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll fetch my hat.”

She returned in short order dressed in a becoming light gray skirt and jacket and her unadorned straw hat. Softer and lovelier than in her uniform, Charlotte Hale was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen.

“Shall we go?” Daniel’s voice scratched.

They departed Summerhill, cut across the lawn, and headed for Cove Road, the easiest route to the campus church.

“You forgot your Bible, Miss Hale.” Ruthie’s face scrunched in a frown as they strolled across the dewy grass.

“So I did.” Charlotte smiled and continued to walk.

“We’ll wait for you if you want to get it,” Daniel said.

She shook her head. “It’s not necessary, is it?”

“We have Bibles in church, so you really don’t need your own,” Daniel said.

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