Her Longed-For Family

Meant-to-Be Mother

Lady Caroline Trelawney Dowling has always wanted a child of her own and her wish comes true when two abandoned children are temporarily turned over to her. She’s finding new purpose and joy—even more so after the handsome baron next door requests her help in renovating his house and refining his manners.

As the new Lord Warrick, Jacob has a host of duties, including updating his estate and providing an heir. Lady Caroline’s expertise in etiquette proves invaluable, and spending time together is a delight. But as the children’s origins are finally uncovered, can he keep her newfound family intact—and unite her dreams with his own?

“Thank you for your help, Carrie,” he said as he put his hands on her shoulders.

She bent to check Gil’s coat as if it were simply a casual motion instead of an attempt to keep herself from stepping even closer to him.

“As I have said time and again,” she said aloud, “it is wonderful to have tasks to fill my time. I will also ask the Cothaire servants to spread the word that you are looking to fill positions here. I have no doubts we will have many suitable candidates within days.”

“At least until they see the sorry state Warrick Hall is in.”

“Have faith, Jacob. By the time your family arrives, the house will be ready.”

“Are you sure of that?”

“Absolutely,” she said, even though she was not. However, she knew he needed to have faith…as she did that all would resolve itself as it should. A half sob caught in her throat, because she knew everything resolving itself as it should would mean some other woman relishing his sweet caresses.

JO ANN BROWN has always loved stories with happy-ever-after endings. A former military officer, she is thrilled to have the chance to write stories about people falling in love. She is also a photographer, and she travels with her husband of more than thirty years to places where she can snap pictures. They live in Nevada with three children and a spoiled cat. Drop her a note at joannbrownbooks.com.

Her Longed-For Family

Jo Ann Brown

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are dug.

—Isaiah 51:1

For Greg and Marcia Rose

Thanks for making us feel so at home in your home. It’s always a special treat.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Porthlowen, North Cornwall November 1812

Jacob Warrick pushed his spectacles up on his nose as he followed a footman and wished he could be anywhere else. Not that his surroundings were not pleasant. In Cothaire, the great house overlooking Porthlowen Cove, elegant furniture and artwork filled the hallway. The walls were not pocked with chipped paint. No dust or wet stains created strange scents in the corridor. Servants moved in an easy, efficient rhythm through the home, doing tasks needed to keep the Trelawney family in comfort.

Everything was exactly as the manor belonging to the Earl of Launceston should be.

Everything was the complete opposite of Warrick Hall, his estate.

Until last night, he had not been bothered by the sorry condition of the house he had inherited from his uncle, along with the title of Lord Warrick. He had easily looked past the peeling wall coverings and the definite stench of mildew. Instead, he had focused on safety at the estate’s mines. His uncle had apparently paid as little attention to maintenance at the mines as he had at his house.

Jacob had intended to repair the ancient manor house someday...until the letter arrived from Beverly Warrick, his stepmother, announcing she and his brother, Emery, and Emery’s wife, Helen, would be arriving at Warrick Hall to spend Christmas with him. It was not until the final line of her excited note that she had mentioned Helen’s sister, Miss Faye Bolton—in his stepmother’s opinion, a well-polished young woman—would be traveling with them.

He knew exactly what those few words meant. His stepmother was not satisfied with having arranged the marriage of her niece Helen to his brother. She intended to wed her other niece to him.

Understanding that had set him to pacing his bedchamber all night. One of the great advantages of moving to Cornwall, far from the rest of his family, was he could escape his stepmother’s meddling. Ignoring her was impossible, and resisting her plans created an uproar. He should have guessed his new title would attract her interference in his life like a hound to the fox’s scent. And she would be as persistent as a dog on the trail of its prey.

He had no time for courting. In his few spare moments, he had begun the arduous task of writing a textbook on engineering for mine operators. He had considered himself a skilled engineer after years of study and teaching, but many aspects of tin mining surprised him. Once he completed the manuscript, he would have the book printed. The profits from its sales would allow him to continue updating the mines. That would save lives, for conditions at the estate’s mines when he had arrived in Cornwall last year had been deplorable. Two years ago, a half dozen miners had died. He prayed every night the miners would emerge from underground alive the next day. So far, his prayers had been answered, but he was determined to make the mines as safe as possible.