Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta

Author:Jessica Dotta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Historical, FICTION / Romance / Historical / General
ISBN: 9781414395869
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2014-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Joy lit my father’s face as he peered at the front page of the Times the next morning. First his eyes widened, then he smiled, and lastly he threw back his head and laughed long and hard. “Good show, Isaac, good show.”

Isaac blinked, having been lost in one of his books. “Sir?”

My father laughed again but handed the newspaper to me with a twinkle in his eye. “Julia reads it first.”

I touched my fingertips together; they were syrupy from my sweet roll. But fearing my father’s impatience, I took the article. Instead of waiting, Isaac rose and crossed his arms over the back of my chair. The headline read:

CHRISTMAS ANGEL VISITS ORPHANAGE

The article embellished the story of how Lord Dalry and I secretly went to a girls’ home and lavished time and money. It reported how I moved about the children, keeping a little girl in my arms. The story made me sound saintly, beautiful, and it painted a picture of Lord Dalry as my protector and moral guardian. His political views were mentioned, along with the country’s eager anticipation for him to take his seat. It steered the reader to believe that my father’s wealth combined with Isaac’s sound views would lead to a marriage rich with humanitarian efforts.

I took a slow breath, my emotions varied. How would Edward feel reading about Lord Dalry being painted as my protector when it was Edward who had ruined himself to preserve me? Moral guardian indeed! Yet another part of me swelled with hope that Edward would see I hadn’t hardened while here, but I was becoming more like him. Charity was becoming as dear to my heart as it was to his.

“That man must have been a reporter for the Times,” Isaac said softly over my shoulder. “No wonder he was so pleased to learn our names.”

“What man?” my father said. “You never spoke of a man.”

“I meant to.” Isaac returned to his seat and retrieved his book. “My only complaint is his descriptions of Julia. It’s shameful a man of words didn’t manage better compliments.”

I looked up from the print. It was the boldest compliment he’d ever paid me. I gave him no smile. My father grinned, pretending not to hear, and dug through the other papers. I passed the paper to Isaac, wishing I’d never mentioned the possibility of our marrying.

The door swung open and Mr. Forrester entered, holding aloft a copy of the Times. “I thought we agreed she was to remain indoors at all times.” He threw the paper on a chair and unclasped his mud-spattered cloak. “Not only did you risk her making contact with one of his spies, but you took her to an orphanage and gave someone else the story! The public is eating this up, and I don’t even have a mention of it.”

He threw his muddied cloak on my father’s upholstered chair. My eyes widened in horror.

“What are you staring at?” he challenged me. “Do you have a problem with where I lay my capes?”

“Only your muddy ones,” I said.

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