Joy for Mourning
In a move that shocks nineteenth-century Philadelphia society, wealthy widow Laina Brighton turns her grand house into an orphanage for homeless children. Staid and stuffy teas quickly give way to peals of happy laughter echoing through the stately halls.With the support of handsome doctor Thaddeous Allen, Laina is determined to give these waifs a better life, despite the malicious gossip that surrounds them. As these two crusaders, bound by honor and courage, create a future for the forgotten, they change the course of their own futures in ways they never imagined. Along the way, they make a felicitous discovery: that sometimes people become a family in their hearts.
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PRAISE FOR DOROTHY CLARK AND HER NOVELS
“A dynamic story of two lonely people in a desperate search for love…riveting and fast-paced…a fabulous story. Top Pick. 4½ stars.”
—Romantic Times on Beauty for Ashes
“In Hosea’s Bride, Dorothy Clark skillfully lends a modern twist to the Biblical story of Hosea. A powerful faith message is deftly interwoven with a wrenching tale of a woman who doesn’t believe she is worthy of love. Top Pick. 4½ stars.”
—Romantic Times
“Dorothy Clark has woven a beautiful, compelling story of God’s mercy and healing.”
—ChristianBookPreviews.com on Hosea’s Bride
“This debut novel…is one that will keep you turning page after page until you all-too-soon reach the end. The forgiveness and love [the heroine] finds when she becomes a Christian is truly inspiring.”
—RomanceJunkies.com on Hosea’s Bride
This book is dedicated with deep appreciation to my talented writing friends and critique partners, Debby Dill and Nancy Toback, who have been with me from the beginning on this book.
Thanks for your unfailing graciousness and encouragement. You two are the best!
Contents
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Discussion Questions
Chapter One
New York, 1822
She couldn’t stand it! Not for another minute! She had to go someplace where there were people, laughter, life. Laina Brighton swept her gaze around her beautiful, richly furnished drawing room, and the despair she now lived with on a daily basis gripped her anew. It was so elegant, so perfect, so empty. She missed Stanford. Oh, how she missed him! If only they could have had children, perhaps—
Laina wrenched her mind from her heartrending thoughts, blinked away the tears that sprang so readily to her eyes these days and walked swiftly to the doorway. Her reflection flashed in the gilt-framed mirror as she hurried past. Her steps faltered. She turned and went back to stare into the mirror. The sorrow was still there, but so was a look of determination she hadn’t seen on her face since Stanford had died so unexpectedly nine months ago. She whirled and yanked open the door.
“Beaumont?”
The impeccably garbed butler materialized as if from thin air.
Laina frowned. And that was another thing—the servants hovered. They were so solicitous it was smothering her!
“Yes, madam?”
“I’m going to Philadelphia, Beaumont.” She ignored the quickly stifled look of shocked disapproval in his eyes—Beaumont was a stickler for convention. “Tell Carlson to prepare the carriage immediately. I wish to leave within the hour.”
“Within the hour? But madam, that’s imposs—” He stopped short as Laina stiffened her spine. He gave her a small bow. “Yes, madam—within the hour. Will there be anything else?”
“Yes. Send Tilly to my room to help Annette with the packing.” With a swish of her long black skirts, Laina spun about and headed for the ornately carved stairway that spiraled upward to the third floor. She glanced back over her shoulder at her butler as she began to climb. “And tell Hannah to prepare a food basket—enough for two days. And—” She cleared the sudden thickness from her throat. “And send Billy ahead to arrange for a change of horses. I’m not stopping until I reach Randolph Court!”
Philadelphia
“Laina! What a wonderful surprise. I’m so pleased you—” Elizabeth gasped and stopped her headlong rush into the drawing room.
“Do I look that disreputable?” Laina forced a smile and rose to her feet. The room spun. She put her hand on the arm of the chair to steady herself.
“Laina, dear, what’s wrong?” Her sister-in-law rushed forward and clasped her arms around her. “You’re so pale—and trembling enough to shake apart. Are you ill?”
“No. I’m simply incredibly weary.” Laina bit down on her lip to stop the laughter that was pushing upward in her throat. She must be hysterical. There was certainly nothing amusing— Bother! She blinked the sudden film of moisture from her eyes and stepped back from Elizabeth’s arms. It was too easy to give in to self-pity when others were sympathetic. “I came from home without stopping.”
“Without stopping? Are you mad?”
Laina jerked at the roar of words from the doorway. “No, dearheart—only desperate.” Her lower lip quivered as she watched her younger brother hurry across the room toward her. The tears she’d been fighting welled into her eyes as his strong arms pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Oh, how wonderful it felt to be held again! She rested her head against his hard chest. “Don’t scold, Justin. I simply could not stay in that dreary, lonely house any longer. I had to come.”
“I’m not scolding you for coming, Laina. Only for doing so in such a foolhardy manner.” Justin slid his hands to the top of her arms and held her a short distance away, frowning down at her. “Why didn’t you send word? I would have come for you. There was no need for you to make the journey alone, without care or rest. Look at you! You’re all but done in from fatigue.”
