Hello! As I've mentioned on my Tumblr, I will be working on this story first before moving on to "A Game of Pretend".
I hope you readers will have a wonderful time reading this story and please let me know what you think. Enjoy! :)

Two Hearts for One

Chapter 1

David Oswald stepped out of the carriage as soon as it came to a halt in front of his home. Relieved to be back after a tiring day at work, ensuring that everything was running well within Great Western Railway aside from securing a deal to extend the railway line to Reading.

So far, things were running smoothly since he had taken over the railway company two months ago and he was very pleased. As soon as he stepped into the mansion, his daughter appeared from the living room. She did not look pleased. His smile dropped.

"Clara," he called. "Is something the matter?"

"Father, as much as I appreciate you trying to provide what is best for me, I do not need to meet another suitor!" she said frustratingly.

Her father had been trying to match make her with several men since the past few years and she turned down every single one of them, not having a single interest in them or their so called wealth. She wanted to marry a man out of love, not out of her father's approval.

David sighed. He was confident she wouldn't find out anything about the meeting until a few days it would take place but somehow his clever girl always got her information from someone.

"Come, let's talk in my study," he murmured, entering the room with Clara tailing behind him.

He only wanted the best for her. She was his only daughter and he wasn't getting any younger. The last thing he wanted to see was his daughter being alone, miserable and no one to love her.

"Please, I have no intention of meeting this man."

He said nothing as he grabbed her hand and patted it. "Clara, I am only trying to do what is best for you. You are almost 30 years old, unmarried and I am not getting any younger."

His daughter looked away from him. It was difficult to get her point across. While she understood he is only trying to secure her future, she is more than capable of handling it.

"How about this," he suggested. "What if you just go along with it? Just meet him as a friend? He's a very nice young man from what his cousin told me and if you do not like him, then that's fine."

Clara bit her lip. She really wanted to tell her father the truth that she would say no in a heartbeat and for a good reason too. No matter how many suitors he may find, her heart will shut every single one of them out for it was already in the possession of another man. A man she had met just a month ago when she fell ill. A man by the name of Dr John Smith. She was sure her father would not approve. Besides, it was still unclear if the Doctor feels the same way about her.

"Very well. If, we do not get along, I want nothing to do with him and if I have no interest in him, we may remain friends as you've proposed, but that will be it."

David granted a warm smile. "Thank you," he said and kissed his daughter's cheek. "The two of you will meet in two weeks when he returns from York."

He had thought that John Foreman would be a suitable husband for Clara the moment he heard about him. Young, charismatic, intelligent and slightly childish. At least, that was how Harold Saxon had described his cousin. Not only that, but he is also the expected to take charge of the North Eastern Railway company. He was sure John Foreman would be a brilliant son-in-law.

Clara excused herself before she walked out of the study, in search of the head maid and friend, Donna Noble. She found her in the kitchen along with the driver.

Donna didn't need to ask anything as the solemn look on her face confirmed everything she was about to ask. "It's alright, Clara, just go through with it," she murmured as she placed a comforting hand on hers.

The news was discovered by the driver, Mr Rentford and since he considered Clara to be the daughter he never had so of course, he told her.

"I don't understand why he keeps on doing this," Clara complained.

Mr Rentford set his hat on the table before taking a seat in an empty chair. "Perhaps you will like this man? You'll never know unless you give him a chance," he said gently.

"Oh stop it, Henry!" Donna retorted. "Remember the last bloke? He was total prawn! Skinny, clueless and he had the nerve to say he hated my pear and apricot tart! Besides, you know she has eyes for one man only."

"To be fair, he did say he hates pears."

The maid had been teasing Clara since she first found out about her crush. It was obvious she was attracted to the Doctor the moment she met him, despite the constant denials.

"Please, stop," she groaned. "Was I that obvious?"

She didn't require a definite answer from them as their laughter was all the confirmation she needed.

Meanwhile, in York, Harold Saxon waited patiently for his cousin to return from his horse riding adventure. He was carefully choosing his words to break the news about his meeting with Clara Oswald, the daughter of the new owner of GWR.

Tapping his finger in a rhythm of four on the table, he took a sip of his tea before hearing the sound of the front door opening. Setting his tea cup down, he rose from his seat and swung the door of the study open.

"Hello, John," Harold greeted with a smile. "I'm sure you are wondering what I'm doing here."

"Oh, hello, cousin," he replied happily, taking off his gloves and walking past him to take a bite of a biscuit from the tray. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Harold finally constructed the proper sentence in his mind. "As you are well aware, John, your father has tasked me with finding a wife for you-"

"Which is absolutely unnecessary," he cut in, happily munching on his biscuit.

"While you may see it that way, I was more than happy to do so, especially since your father was the one who sponsored my education at Cambridge – it is the least I can do."

John rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, you've either found a woman who's more than eager to marry me because I'm the son of a railway company owner or a woman who's not very sane."

Harold straightened his back. "Neither of those. In fact, I've arranged a meeting for the two of you."

"And what if I decide to simply not be at this meeting?"

"It would be such a shame because I'm certain this woman is well, your type," he explained. "Strong-headed, has a mind of her own, extremely intelligent, independent, you know, a woman who's ahead of her time."

John began to listen carefully now. "Go on," he beckoned.

"Her father has agreed to introduce her to you in two weeks time. He has invited us to have tea at his home in London."

"What if I find no interest in her whatsoever?" John questioned. "You and my father should understand that I am a man of my own."

Harold nodded in agreement. "And we respect that. However, don't you think it's time to settle down, find a wife?"

John thought about it for a moment and said, "No."

Without another word, he stormed out of the study. He didn't care if this woman is the prettiest in all of Great Britain but if his heart says no, then there isn't much anybody could do about it.

"You will still travel to London with me, won't you? It's impolite to refuse the invitation!" Harold called out from the study.

"If it makes you and father stop pestering me, then yes!"

"It's set then!"