Read Online Summerset Abbey: Spring Awakening (Summerset Abbey Trilogy) by T. J. Brown - Free Book Online

trials—”
    “That’s why you don’t want him going to the front,” Victoria said, reality dawning on her.
    Prudence bit her lip. “I just couldn’t stand for anything to happen to him. I mean, I couldn’t have stood it before, but now, with the baby . . .”
    “Oh, my dear.” Victoria moved to Prudence and put her arms around her. For the first time, Victoria felt as if she were comforting Prudence rather than the other way around. “Colin will be able to help. We will keep him safe and sound so he can change nappies.”
    Prudence giggled just as Victoria had hoped she would. “Imagine a man changing nappies!”
    A knock sounded on the door and Victoria heard Susie answering it. Victoria got to her feet just as Kit breezed into the room. They had been excessively careful of one another since the fiasco at his mother’s tea. Neither of them had mentioned the incident, but they hadn’t completely fallen back into their old teasing relationship.
    “I’m going to be an aunt!” she blurted the moment he filled the doorway.
    His eyes widened before she realized what he was thinking.
    “Oh, no!” She laughed. “Not Rowena and Sebastian! Prudence!”
    “Oh.” Relief crossed Kit’s face. “That’s good, considering their wedding has been postponed again.” He inclined his head toward Prudence. “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you.” Prudence stood and bade everyone farewell, and to Victoria’s consternation within minutes everyone had left her and Kit alone together.
    They needn’t have bothered , she thought resentfully. Why did everyone insist on pairing her with Kit?
    Kit poured tea for both of them from the pot Susie had left and took the seat Prudence had just vacated. He crossed his long legs, and Victoria found herself annoyed at how handsome he looked in his olive-colored uniform.
    “I find it difficult to believe that the fates decided to make you an auntie.” He sounded like his old mocking self and Victoria responded in kind.
    “Don’t you think I’ll make a good auntie?” she demanded. “Can’t you picture me bouncing the babe on my knee, reciting poetry and fairy tales?”
    He tilted his head. “Perhaps you would be a good auntie . . . as long as the Good Lord doesn’t make you a mother.”
    “Ha! We finally agree on something. Motherhood is one adventure I will pass on, thank you very much.”
    “As will I. Fatherhood, that is,” he clarified at her amused look. “You know what I meant.”
    She toasted him with her teacup. “Aren’t you supposed to be off fighting Germans or Austrians or something like that?”
    “Can’t wait to get rid of me? Actually, I’ve come on an errand of the utmost importance. Colin’s leaving the day after tomorrow. I’ve been sent to inform you that he and Annalisa are getting married in the morning.”
    Victoria clapped her hand over her mouth. “Tomorrow? What does Aunt Charlotte say?”
    Kit shrugged. “What can she say? War changes things, and he and Annalisa don’t want to wait. After Sebastian was calledup so quickly and the wedding was postponed yet again, they weren’t left with much of a choice. Sebastian has no idea when he will get leave and Colin doesn’t want to take the chance that the same thing will happen to him and Annalisa. Your aunt, Rowena, and your uncle are coming up on the train just before the ceremony, and then we will be having a wedding breakfast right after.”
    A sense of sadness settled over Victoria like a fine powder. “All of our friends are leaving. Sebastian has been gone for several weeks already. Colin is leaving. Even Edward and the rest of the boys are gone. Soon the Clever Coterie will be completely bereft of all its masculine members.”
    “The war can’t last that long,” Kit said, his voice hearty.
    “You don’t believe that, do you?”
    He sighed and shook his head.
    “I don’t either. I read the newspapers and I can read between the lines, as well. I think the whole world has