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

Michael is the most honorable person I know, and the causes he supports cry out for justice. I’m very proud of him, even if no one else in this family seems to understand why.”
    Eden glided over to rest her hands on Evie’s shoulders. “Darling, I do support him, and you.” Her sister’s cornflower-blue eyes, identical to her own, inspected her with a rare gravity. “But sometimes I wonder if his work is the only thing that’s attracted you to Michael. It’s admirable what he does, but it takes up most of his life and now it’s doing the same with yours. Don’t you want more than that from marriage? You’ve always wanted a comfortable home in the country and children to spoil.”
    A sudden lump formed in Evie’s throat. She could never hide anything from her twin, nor could Eden hide anything from her. It was both the most wonderful and the most frustrating aspect of their relationship.
    â€œOf course I do,” she forced out, “and so does Michael. But his work is very important to him, and I understand that.”
    â€œYes, but I’m worried that his work will always come before you.”
    Evie broke away from her sister and rummaged in her dressing-table drawer for a fan. “Would you rather Michael be a typical young buck, wasting his days gambling and racing his curricle and his nights drinking and whoring? That is how most of the men we know spend their time, isn’t it?”
    Eden scoffed. “Wolf ’s not like that at all. He’s serious, and it’s one of the reasons you got along so well with him. You were like two old scholars in an ivory tower, always reading and discussing things.”
    â€œAnd that’s what Michael and I do as well, so I would think you would like that. Would like him. ”
    â€œI do like him. It’s just that I don’t think you love him,” Eden insisted. “Not truly. Not that way you want to love and be loved.”
    Evie sighed. She adored her twin, but she was like a mastiff with a bone once she got an idea in her head. “You mean like the way I used to love. No, thank you. I do not care to repeat that experience. Michael and I have a perfectly comfortable relationship based on mutual affection and interests. I wish for nothing more.”
    â€œUgh. That sounds ghastly.”
    â€œIt does not—”
    â€œYes it does, and you know it,” Eden interrupted. “You’d never be happy in such a tepid relationship. You’ve always been passionate about things, about people, no matter how much you try to hide it. But you’re not passionate about Michael Beaumont.”
    Eden took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for an unpleasant task. “Darling, don’t bite off my head, but I think Mamma is partly right. I think you are settling for Michael, and that worries me.”
    The lump that had been forming in Evie’s throat now felt like a rock. She sank back onto the padded silk stool of her dressing table. “But what else can I do? Spend the rest of my life here with Mamma ordering me about? As imperfect as life with Michael might be, I truly cannot envision spending the rest of my days with our mother.” She peered up at her sister. “ You don’t want to spend the rest of your life with our parents, do you?”
    Eden gave an insouciant toss of her head. “I can handle them, though I agree it’s not an ideal situation. Then again, neither is marriage.”
    â€œThat doesn’t leave you with many options, now does it?”
    Eden began wandering around the room, inspecting the Staffordshire figurines of Robin Hood and Shakespeare on the mantelpiece, and then the books on the small table next to the reading chaise.
    â€œWell?” Evie finally prompted.
    Her twin flashed her a dazzling smile, her eyes glowing with the vibrancy and zest for life that had attracted so many suitors over the years. “You know