Oppressed & Empowered_The Viscount's Capable Wife by Bree Wolf

Author:Bree Wolf [Wolf, Bree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen – An Ulterior Motive

Out of the corner of his eye, Richard watched his wife as she spoke to Lady Weston, her eyes bright like the sun and her smile utterly disarming. When she had walked toward him in the chapel, he had nearly forgotten to breathe, not because she had looked breathtakingly beautiful–she had! – but because of the way her eyes had sought his as though she truly longed to be with him.

“You seem lost in thought, my friend,” Sebastian observed, jarring Richard from his daydream. “I must say I quite like that new look on your face.”

Clearing his throat, Richard shifted on his feet, briefly dropping his gaze before looking at his friend. “What look?” he asked, knowing the moment the words left his lips that he should not have. After all, Sebastian had always loved teasing him, and there was no doubt he would see this as anything else but an encouragement to do so.

As expected, a wide grin drew up the corners of his friend’s mouth. “A look of utter fascination,” he replied. “A look of disbelief that such a woman would accept you.”

Inwardly, Richard cringed. Did his friend not think him worthy of Miss Procten? Of…Evelyn?

“I quite remember it,” Sebastian continued, a sigh in his words. “I felt exactly the same way when I first saw Charlotte.” He laughed, “And when she accepted my proposal, I believed my hearing to be impaired.”

Richard relaxed. Once again, he had misunderstood his friend. Sebastian had not meant to criticise him but had rather tried to share an experience.

“Still, I admit it took some convincing,” Sebastian mused, his gaze distant as he remembered the time he had first met his wife. “When I asked for her hand, she gawked at me. She told me I was a fool for asking her, that I was acting like a spoilt child, wanting what I couldn’t have.”

Richard felt the corners of his mouth lift up involuntarily. “Miss Procten looked at me in a similar fashion.” Remembering the day, he had given her his father’s letter, Richard shook his head. Never would he have thought for it to turn out like this.

“Miss Procten?” Sebastian questioned. “She is Miss Procten no longer, is she?”

Richard inhaled a deep breath. “No.”

“She’s your lady now and quite a fine one, I must say.” He clapped Richard on the shoulder. “I’m glad to see you married to a good woman.”

Richard frowned. “What does that mean?”

Grinning, Sebastian shook his head, a hint of incomprehension in his eyes. “I thought that was fairly obvious.” He glanced at…Evelyn. “She is a kind and good-hearted girl, loyal and devoted. She’s a wonderful match for you.”

“How can you tell?” Richard asked, wondering how his friend knew after having made her acquaintance only two days ago.

Sebastian shrugged. “I can’t say. I simply believe so.”

Quite dissatisfied with his friend’s answer, Richard shook his head.

“Well, as glad as I am, I’m also surprised,” Sebastian went on undeterred, “that you married a woman who does not fulfil society’s unwritten requirements of birth, dowry and connections.

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