The Gentleman's Bride Search by Deborah Hale

Author:Deborah Hale
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The birds outside her window woke Evangeline the next morning with their joyful singing. She wished they would all fly away and let her sleep, for she had gotten little rest in the previous hours. Hard as she’d tried to put her argument with Jasper Chase out of her mind, bits of it had run through her thoughts over and over, making her head ache and her stomach churn.

Her employer had made no further mention of her leaving Amberwood. Then again, he’d had little opportunity with the children always present. He must know as well as she how they would react to such an announcement. She resented his attempt to intimidate her that way. It reminded her of how the Pendergast teachers had made Leah and her obey by threatening to punish their more sensitive friends.

The tactic had worked in both cases. In their later years at school, she and Leah had been less overtly rebellious. After her interview with Mr. Chase, Evangeline had warned his children not to mention going to Manchester until their father got used to the idea. Though, after the way he’d reacted, she doubted he would ever get used to it.

Perhaps it was just as well they’d had this falling-out, Evangeline reflected as she dragged herself out of bed to face the day. Lately she had become too close to him for her peace of mind. She’d begun to question whether someone else might do just as well at founding a new charity school, while the Chase family might find her impossible to replace.

It would not be the first time her liking for a strong-willed man had tempted her to abandon her plans for the future. Fortunately she had come to her senses when Mr. Preston tried to remake her into his ideal of the perfect submissive wife, as she was coming to them now. Her teachers had been wrong about a great many things, but they had been right to warn her that she would only get a husband by subduing her strong will. Men like Jasper Chase would always insist on having their way, even when their way was wrong and hers was right!

With that thought, Evangeline stabbed the last pin deep into her hair and marched out of the room as quietly as she could manage. Only consideration for her sleeping pupils kept her from slamming the door of her bedchamber behind her.

The sight of Jasper Chase sitting at the nursery table made her jump back with a barely stifled shriek stuck in her throat.

“What has you so nervous this morning?” he demanded in a gruff whisper. “Have you been reading Gothic novels before bed?”

Evangeline was inclined to view the question as a deliberate insult until she recalled that his late wife had enjoyed reading such books. Besides, he was pouring her coffee—a service for which she was willing to forgive a great deal.

“I did not expect to see you here this morning.” She marshaled her dignity as much as possible after her foolish fright.

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