Winter's Cold Heart (Seasons Book 1)
Page 7
“I suppose you’re right,” James answered, then finished his coffee and rose from the table. He had a difficult time standing on his own and Joshua rose to help him.
“Do you want to retire now or go to the drawing room and sit by the fire?”
“I think I’ll sit by the fire and read for a bit,” her brother answered.
Joshua helped him to the drawing room while Lydia cleared the table.
“Would you like to go for a walk, Lydia?” Joshua asked when he came back into the kitchen.
“I’d love to,” Lydia answered. “Let me get my coat and gloves.”
The night was crisp and beautiful. The moon was full and the wind was still. It was chilly, but Joshua wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him as they stepped across the dooryard.
“This has been an interesting day, hasn’t it?” Joshua asked as they entered the lane.
“Very,” Lydia answered. “I had no idea it would end like it did. When you mentioned that you thought someone had poisoned Mrs. Smithers and Ivan Crumbly, I have to admit that I didn’t believe you.”
Joshua’s arm tightened around her waist and he slowed his pace. “Did you think that my negligence had caused their deaths?”
“Joshua, it breaks my heart to think that I fell prey to the village prejudice. But truly, you never gave me the slightest reason to doubt your ability as a physician. Never.”
“Then what did you think?
“I honestly thought they’d died of natural causes but that you couldn’t face that possibility.”
Joshua continued their former pace. “I did think that was possible with Mrs. Smithers. She was over ninety years, after all. But when Ivan Crumbly died the following week, I suspected the two deaths were somehow connected. Other than being an alcoholic, Crumbly had no life-threatening injuries.”
“Did you ever suspect Ethel Weatherby?”
“No. I didn’t suspect her. But I have to admit that I suspected Doctor Weatherby.”
Lydia stopped and turned to face Joshua. “You did?”
“Yes. When I realized my two patients had been poisoned, he naturally came to mind. He’s a doctor, after all. He would know what medicines to use to end a life prematurely.”
“That makes sense.”
“If I had known the doctor better, I would have realized he wasn’t capable of murder. He truly cares for his patients.”
Joshua and Lydia walked on in silence until they reached the end of the lane where Joshua paused and turned to her.
“I would like to ask you something, Lydia.”
Joshua’s tone had taken on a serious note. Lydia turned to look at him but he wasn’t looking at her. He was staring off into the starry night.
“Yes?”
“I know we haven’t known each other all that long. Yet I feel as if I’ve known you for years. I feel as if I understand you as deeply as you know and understand me.”
Lydia’s heart beat faster in her breast. “I feel the same, Joshua. I feel as if we’ve known each other forever.”
“I also know that I love you. And, that I want to spend my life with you.”
“Oh, Joshua. I think I’ve loved you from the night you agreed to come with me to take care of James.”
Joshua took her hands in his. He brought her closer, facing her with eyes full of hope. “Would you consider marrying me? I know I’m not rich, but if things go as I think they will, in time I’ll be able to provide for you quite nicely.”
“Oh, Joshua.”
“I know this is sudden, but please consider being my wife.”
“I don’t need to consider your proposal. I already know the answer. And yes. I would like nothing more than to be your wife.”
“Oh, Lydia. I love you.”
Joshua wrapped his arms around her and brought his mouth down on hers. His kiss was born of emotion, telling her without words how much he loved her.
He deepened his kiss and skimmed his tongue over her lips, causing every nerve in her body to sing for joy. Lydia wished she could put into words how much she loved him. How eager she was to become his wife. How certain she was that she wanted to spend her life with him.
There was nothing she wanted more than to marry him and have his children.
He broke their kiss and gathered her to him, holding her close for a while longer. They’d left the house two young people filled with hope for the future. They returned to the house knowing they’d found it in one another.
“Where will we live?” Lydia asked suddenly.
“Where would you like to live?”
“Do you think Doctor Weatherby would sell us his house? It’s where the people of Middleton are used to going when they need to see a doctor. It’s set up with a surgery, and you could spend a greater portion of your time with me than if you were off across town. I might even be able to assist you if I have time.”
Joshua turned his head and looked at her. There was a smile on his face and a gleam of pride in his eyes. “I think that would be a remarkable idea. I’ll talk to Doctor Weatherby before he leaves.”
Lydia’s heart swelled to the point of bursting. She had thought her life was over when she came to stay with her brother. Little had she known it was just beginning. Little had she known that it was Doctor Joshua Jarvis who had the power to change her life.
How very blessed she was to have met this one good man who had the power to melt her winter’s cold heart.
Over one million pages of Laura Landon books are read each month. Read more by looking for Laura on Amazon, or at www.lauralandon.com.
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About Laura Landon
Laura Landon enjoyed ten years as a high school teacher and nine years making sundaes and malts in her very own ice cream shop, but once she penned her first novel, she closed up shop to spend every free minute writing. Now she enjoys creating her very own heroes and heroines, and making sure they find their happily ever after.
A vital member of her rural community, Laura directed the town’s Quasquicentennial, organized funding for an exercise center for the town, and serves on the hospital board.
Laura lives in the Midwest, surrounded by her family and friends. She has written thirty Victorian historical romances, all of which are selling worldwide in English, one in Japanese, and several in German. Two are Scottish historicals.
Always beautifully set and with a mysterious twist or bit of suspense, Laura’s books average a million pages a month read by her loyal readers.
LAURA LANDON IS A PRAIRIE MUSE PLATINUM, KINDLE PRESS
AND AMAZON MONTLAKE AUTHOR
WWW.LAURALANDON.COM
Other Books by Laura Landon
Published by Prairie Muse Publishing
SHATTERED DREAMS
WHEN LOVE IS ENOUGH
BROKEN PROMISE
A MATTER OF CHOICE
MORE THAN WILLING
NOT MINE TO GIVE
LOVE UNBIDDEN
KEEPER OF MY HEART
THE DARK DUKE
CAST IN SHADOWS
CAST IN RUIN
CAST IN ICE
CAST IN SCANDAL (novella)
JADED MOON
THE DEVIL’S GIFT
ONE MYSTICAL MOMENT
BEWARE THE RICH MAN
BEWITCHED BY THE POOR MAN
BETRAYED BY THE BEGGAR MAN
BEHOLD THE THIEF
WINTER’S COLD HEART
Published by Montlake Romance
SILENT REVENGE
INTIMATE SURRENDER
INTIMATE DECEPTION
THE MOST TO LOSE
A RISK WORTH TAKING
BETRAYED BY YOUR KISS
RANSOMED JEWELS
Published by Kindle Press
THE SECRET ROSE
DARK RUBY
DECEPTION IN EMERALDS
THE TRAITOR’S CLUB
WHERE THE WOMAN BELONGS
Published by Dragonblade
A VOICE ON THE WIND
See all of Laura’s books at Amazon.com
COMPANION BOOKS (series)
by Laura Landon
THE BROTHERHOOD
When Love is Enough | Broken Promise
RANSOMED JEWELS
Ransomed Jewels | Jaded Moon
Dark Ruby | Deception in Emeralds
THE REDEEMED
The Most to Lose | The Dark Duke
CAST IN SCANDAL
Cast in Shadows | Cast in Ruin
Cast in Ice | Cast in Scandal
THE TRAITOR’S CLUB
Ford | Hugh | Jeb | Caleb
RICH MAN | POOR MAN | BEGGAR MAN | THIEF
Beware the Rich Man
Bewitched by the Poor Man
Betrayed by the Beggar Man
Behold the Thief
SEASONS
90-Minute Reads
Winter’s Cold Heart
Spring’s Tender Heart (Coming February 2020)
Summer’s Wistful Heart (Coming May 2020)
Autumn’s Wild Heart (Coming August 2020)
All of Laura Landon’s books on Amazon
Visit Laura at www.lauralandon.com
©2019 Prairie Muse
All rights exclusively retained by
Prairie Muse Books Inc
ISBN 978-1-937216-47-4
No portion of this book may be used or duplicated by any party for any reason without the express permission of the author Laura Landon
or Prairie Muse Books Inc Lincoln, Nebraska