The Vicar's Frozen Heart by Karyn Gerrard

Author:Karyn Gerrard [Gerrard, Karyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Admonishing himself for weakening and agreeing to this luncheon engagement took up a fair bit of Tremain’s time during the next forty-eight hours. But as the three of them sat in the wagon heading toward Hawksgreen, Tremain dismissed the thoughts and for once made a determined effort to enjoy the day.

The lingering snow from the late January storm had almost melted, and since it was the first week in March a distinct smell of spring loitered in the air. With the sporadic birdsong came a promise of renewal and rebirth. Perhaps he should take a lesson from nature and allow seeds to grow.

What seeds exactly? The words Jon spoke to him some weeks back never left his mind. They took root. At this time he still did not feel he was able to enter into a complicated relationship with Eliza, but they could enjoy each other’s company. And he was fond of Drew. In fact, he instructed Jon to contact the solicitor and begin the paperwork to make Drew his legal ward.

In the meantime, Tremain continued to see to his duties as vicar. Since the village and its surrounding farms constituted a small area, he had a good deal of leisure time on his hands. He made the expected rounds, sitting in parlors while the lady of the house asked, “More tea, Vicar?” and he also sat on a hard stool in places no better than hovels. He donated small amounts of food when he could and his poorer parishioners, though proud in bearing, accepted his gifts with gratitude. Tremain would also be donating seed later in the spring to farmers in need on behalf of his viscount counterpart. All these small acts of kindness helped to heal his tortured soul.

Being a priest to a vast swath of classes opened his eyes to the plight of those less fortunate. He’d quite a bit to report to his father. Tremain started a journal of everything he’d witnessed both as vicar and during the war. The unfairness of society and the wretched poverty. As the Duke of Gransford, his father held power within the aristocracy that could see things done. As second son and a viscount in his own right, Tremain also could advocate for fair treatment to the poor. As could Harrison, as the Marquess of Tennington.

And all this brought the looming specter of his future into sharp focus. When he became vicar he had no intention of keeping the position for the rest of his life. He understood his place in society and within his own family, and even if he did wish a career with the church, being a country vicar was not the path of a duke’s second son. He would be expected to become a clergyman in a prominent church in London with ambitions to become bishop, beholden to rich and titled patrons, and that prospect did not appeal to Tremain in any way. It was the main reason he didn’t enter the church after graduating from Cambridge.

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