Page 43
After Mrs. Bidwell had disappeared inside, he waved Eden to one of the chairs, then collected his jacket and slipped it on.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?”
How did she approach something so delicate?
It would help if her stomach wasn’t a gnarled lump and fever wasn’t hindering her ability to parse her thoughts together.
Eden sank onto the chair and adjusted her shawl.
“I’m not quite sure where to begin.”
“I’ve found the beginning is always the best place.”
He gave her an encouraging smile, the corners of his dark brown eyes crinkling, revealing he smiled often.
Handsome and cheerful. She could do much worse.
“I’m sure you’ve heard about my . . . our change in circumstances.”
He leaned back into his chair and nodded, a tinge of wariness settling over him. His expression and posture didn’t change, but a guardedness she’d never seen before entered his eyes.
“Yes, a few parishioners have mentioned your difficulty.”
Of course they had.
Felt it their Christian duty, no doubt, to apprise him of her reduced circumstances. Probably visited him en masse to make sure he knew every sordid detail, the judgmental chinwags. Nothing worse than a religious gossip. They never recognized their own sins for wont of pointing out others’ iniquities.
She didn’t even scold herself for her uncharitable thoughts.
It didn’t help that for the first time Vicar Wright sat there regarding her in a manner that bordered on censure. She’d never known him to be anything but affable and considerate.
“I’ve been praying for you and your mother since I heard the news.”
Well, that was something, but she needed much more from him.
“Thank you.”
A silted silence descended upon them.
This was much harder than she’d anticipated. No sense beating around the bush.
Eden cleared her throat, both to dispel the nerves constricting it and to alleviate the soreness.
“I’ve carefully considered your offer and am pleased to say I accept.”
Again, she forced her lips upward, husbanding a semblance of happiness.
Eyes now hooded, he gazed blankly at her. Where he’d been relaxed and observant before, he now oozed strain.
“My offer?”
Good gracious, had he forgotten?
It had only been six weeks.
She swallowed against the soreness in her throat again and swept the area a quick glance. The last thing she needed was Mrs. Bidwell to overhear this awkwardness. As it was, the snoopy housekeeper was probably eavesdropping near the doorway.
Dread scraped along her spine. Eden clasped her hands until her fingers ached and quietly said, “Yes, your marriage proposal of a few weeks ago. If memory serves me correctly, it was the fourth.”
