Wonderful Read Online Free PDF Page B

indeed.
    She didn’t like conceit or pretentious behavior and couldn’t bear the vicar’s bragging. His mother’s cousin had married another Drake cousin, so the connection was tenuous at best, but he’d boasted of the relationship a dozen times already. The more he harangued, the more irked she became.
    It was as if he was trying to convince himself—rather than her—that he was important, which indicated a lack of self-esteem. What bride would want a husband lacking in confidence? Not her, certainly.
    Stop it! she chided, and she assessed him, searching for some hint that there could be future affection between them, but there wasn’t one. He was an effeminate fellow, his gestures and bodily movements lacking in manly vigor. But then if masculine qualities were missing, so too would be the anger and temper that some husbands were wont to display.
    Still, she couldn’t help but remember the talks she’d had as a girl with Rose and Amelia. They’d often discussed the handsome swains and dashing libertines they’d someday wed. Princes and dukes and pirates and highwaymen. None of those dreams had ever included a fussy, grumpy vicar.
    Not for the first time, she wondered about Miss Peabody. While growing up under the older woman’s caustic eye, Evangeline had struggled and suffered as she’d worked to tone down her natural exuberance and enthusiasm. According to Miss Peabody, nearly every trait Evangeline possessed was a bad one that had to be moderated and restrained.
    Yet despite their differences, she’d always thought Miss Peabody had liked her—at least a little—but now she had to accept that Miss Peabody probably hadn’t liked Evangeline at all.
    Rose had been betrothed to a rich, landed gentleman and would be mistress of a huge estate. Amelia had been betrothed to Lord Run’s brother, Lucas Drake. So Amelia would marry an earl’s son, a viscount’s brother. But with the same swipe of a pen, Miss Peabody had betrothed Evangeline to Vicar Bosworth, a poor relative of the Drakes and not a very pleasant or interesting one at that.
    What was Evangeline to make of such a slight? Had Miss Peabody ever spoken to Vicar Bosworth? If so, what would have led her to believe Evangeline should be his wife?
    The question boggled the mind.
    What should she do? Vicar Bosworth had paid her coach fare to travel to Fox Run, and Evangeline had agreed to the match, had signed legal papers and everything. The dowry had been tendered, and from how Vicar Bosworth had preened over the new carriage he’d shown her in the barn, a substantial portion of the money had likely been spent.
    Evangeline had nowhere to go, no family to take her in, and her two friends—Rose and Amelia—were off to their own weddings. Evangeline could hardly pop up on their doorsteps, begging their spouses for charity.
    “Cousin Aaron has arrived.”
    “What?” she stammered, having been lost in her miserable reverie.
    “My cousin is at Fox Run. He doesn’t usually visit in the summer. Have you met him?”
    “Yes, he introduced himself.”
    “He’s invited me to supper.”
    “That’s kind of him.”
    “ Kind, yes, but definitely expected. I am the vicar in the community after all. I should be first on any guest list.”
    “Yes, absolutely.”
    “We may have to move you though.”
    She scowled. “What do you mean?”
    “You are my fiancée, and with the banns just being called, it’s over a month until our wedding. It’s not appropriate for you to stay at the manor while Lord Run is in residence.”
    Her heart sank. She loved the beautiful house, her pretty bedchamber, and Lord Run fascinated her. He was so worldly and sophisticated.
    He’d kissed her in the music room! He shouldn’t have, and she shouldn’t have let him, but it had occurred so fast there’d been no time to stop him.
    It had left her all jumbled inside, and she’d tossed and turned all night, had staggered out of bed grumpy and confused. She’d wanted to track