The Vicar's Daughter by Josi S. Kilpack

Author:Josi S. Kilpack
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2017-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

Cassie smiled as the familiar spire of the church tower came into view through the carriage window. When she’d left Leagrave a fortnight ago, she didn’t think she’d be happy to come back, but two weeks away from the poor choices she’d made, and, most importantly, away from Mr. Glenside, had been the right course. She was sure of it. She had run through orchards with her nieces and nephews, helped make new curtains for Mary’s parlor, baked, cleaned, and filled several pages of her sketchbook with drawings and paintings. The activities had pushed Mr. Glenside from her mind just as she’d hoped they would.

She felt some lingering anticipation regarding how she might react when she saw him again, but she was convinced that her feelings for Mr. Glenside were nothing more than a misplaced reaction to her frustration at having had to wait on Lenora for so long. But no more! Now she was eager to have Lenora and Mr. Glenside further their connection—excited even. If they married, she could pursue her own attachments, as had been her original plan.

Perhaps without the distraction of Mr. Glenside, her opinion of Mr. Bunderson would improve. And if not, well, there were other young men to consider, and there would be even more once the London season ended and those who had gone to town returned home. Cassie would have new dresses and shoes next spring, baubles—to a point—and a reason to wear that pearl-studded tiara she’d loaned to Lenora the fateful night of the Dyers’ ball. That Lenora would be Mrs. Glenside by then would barely warrant Cassie’s notice once she found the right man for herself. She had grown through this hardship, matured and improved, and therefore it was not a waste. Rather, it was for her good. She was content.

The carriage slowed, and Cassie waited for the driver to open the door for her. By the time she stood on the cobbles, the driver was wrestling her trunk from the rack. Once it was down, she explained that a servant would come for it within the hour.

“Very good, miss,” the man said before working on the next trunk.

Cassie turned toward home and had just let herself through the gate when the front door opened and Mama came out to greet her.

Genuinely glad to see her, Cassie embraced her mother when they met on the pathway.

“You look very well, Cassie,” Mama said when she pulled back. “A bit browner, perhaps, but I expected as much.”

Cassie wrinkled her nose. “The weather was so fine these last two weeks, it was difficult to stay indoors. My nieces and nephews do love to run about.”

“I am sure Mary enjoyed you being there to distract them.”

“She seemed to, though she never seems to tire. I’m not sure I helped her much.”

“I’m sure you were a great help.” Mama put her arm through Cassie’s and turned her toward the house. “I’ll send Reginald out for your trunks, but you are just in time.”

“In time for tea, I hope.

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