Dear Patience — Leslie Lance

Patty's employer and flatmate was getting married, so Patty was to lose her job and her home at one blow. She feared she was losing her sweetheart, too. Dear, faithful, hard-working Chad, her loyal friend since their schooldays, had just achieved a well earned promotion and the house which went with it. He was eager to marry Patty . . . but not to adopt the small orphaned nephew and niece for whom she had made herself responsible.

Miss Mercy's suggestion of a visit to Starbrooke Farm and a temporary job as housekeeper looked like a godsend. Patty fell in love with Starbrooke on sight, but it came as a horrid shock to discover that Miss Mercy was planning that Patty should marry her forthright, masterful nephew, Jonah, and mother his young, motherless family.

Patty didn't even like Jonah, who called her mockingly "dear Patience" and suspected her of being a designing widow . . . but he was good with children and he could be kind . . .