Read Online How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly - Free Book Online

be. Her mother truly loved her, but that she found Evie a trial was abundantly clear.
    â€œLet me have a look at you, my dear,” her mother said, as she always did before a party. One would think she would acknowledge that her daughters were old enough to get dressed by themselves, but such was not the case.
    Then again, their mother was still a great beauty. Unlike Evie and Eden, she was tall and slender with a perfectly proportioned figure and the finely turned ankle of a debutante. She had elegant features, brilliant green eyes, and luxuriant chestnut-brown hair. It had always been a source of grievance to her that her children—especially her daughters—took after Papa’s side of the family, a line that harked back to hardy yeoman’s stock.
    â€œFor once, you look rather elegant,” her mother finally said. “That color suits you, and the cut of the gown is quite flattering. You don’t look as top-heavy as you sometimes do.” She shook her head. “But try not to eat so much tonight, my dear. You don’t want to lose what little figure you have.”
    â€œMichael Beaumont doesn’t seem to find me unattractive, Mamma,” Evie said, unable to help herself. “In fact, he seems to quite like my, er, frame.”
    Her mother curled a lip. “How vulgar. But I suppose one cannot be surprised that Mr. Beaumont lacks a certain degree of elegance, given his background.”
    Evie barely managed not to roll her eyes. Though Michael’s family sprang from ancient and distinguished roots, going back to the Norman Conquest, they were Catholic. To her mother, that constituted an unforgiveable sin.
    Mamma glided over to the reading chaise in front of the fireplace, her burgundy and cream silk gown settling in graceful folds as she sat. “Evelyn, I realize that you are expecting Mr. Beaumont to make you an offer. And although your father and I have grave reservations about a union with his family, it would seem that you have few other prospects.”
    â€œWhat about my prospects, Mamma?” Eden asked, catching the last of their mother’s comment as she entered the room. “I’m the same age as Evie, after all. Actually, I’m older, which makes me even more perilously on the shelf than she is.”
    Evie repressed a grin. Eden had preceded her into the world by a mere twenty minutes, a fact her twin took great delight in pointing out. But the odd thing was, Eden acted very much like a big sister and was protective of Evie in a way that sometimes seemed more consistent with a parent than a sibling.
    Predictably, Mamma’s face lit up when her favorite child walked into the room. “Don’t be silly, Eden. You’re exceedingly popular. Just the other day, Lord Barton complained to me that you barely notice him. And you could certainly do worse than him, my love. He is the heir apparent to a marquess, after all.”
    â€œHe’s boring and has the most appalling teeth,” Eden said, ruthlessly disposing of one of her many suitors. “I refuse to have children with that man.”
    Her mother sighed. “Very well, but one of these days you must settle down. You can’t go flitting about like a butterfly for the rest of your life.”
    â€œI don’t know why not,” Eden muttered, flopping down on Evie’s bed.
    â€œEden, do not crush your dress,” Mamma admonished. “Now, as I was saying to Evelyn—”
    â€œMamma, look at the time,” Evie interrupted. “We’re already late, and you know how much you hate that.”
    â€œIt’s unattractive to lecture your elders, my dear,” her mother said. “As I was saying, you have an expectation regarding Michael Beaumont. Despite your lack of other alternatives, you should not be making hasty decisions or settling too quickly on a match that may not be to your advantage.”
    Evie exchanged a startled glance with her sister.