How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly

the earl believed his youngest son far too willing to spend his money on the undeserving poor .
    â€œIf you wish,” Michael replied with a smile, “but it’s a lovely day out. If you’d like to do something else, we can work on the books later.”
    â€œNow, Miss Evelyn, why would ye be wantin’ to spend the morning with your head in a fusty old book?” Captain Gilbride said from across the table. “Surely we can do better, especially on a day as fine as this.”
    Evie peered at him, mystified by the captain’s inconsistent brogue. Most times, his accent mirrored that of an English aristocrat who’d spent his formative years at Eton and Oxford. But once or twice last night he’d slipped into a Scottish accent heavy enough to make her think he might leap to his feet and commence dancing a reel. She was beginning to suspect that Gilbride affected the accent as more of a joke than anything else, although she couldn’t imagine why. Her suspicions were confirmed by the incredulous lift to Will’s eyebrows as he eyed his friend.
    â€œNo doubt you’re longing for an excursion in the great outdoors,” Will commented sardonically to Alec. “What do you have in mind?”
    â€œI’ve heard about some bonny ruins no more than a half hour’s ride away. An old abbey, I believe.”
    â€œThat would be the Abbey of St. Osmund,” Eden said in a bored voice.
    Most visitors to Maywood Manor made the trip to the picturesque ruins, and Evie and her sister had been there at least a dozen times. As pretty as the ruins were, she had no desire to see them again.
    â€œYes, that’s it,” Gilbride said with a smile so charming that any woman but Eden would have dissolved into a puddle at his feet.
    But Evie’s twin simply shrugged, making her disdain for the suggestion abundantly clear. “It’s an old Cistercian abbey that fell into ruins after the monasteries were shut down. It’s pretty, but nothing unusual.”
    â€œAye, but it sounds like the perfect way to spend the morning with a pair of lovely lasses such as you and Miss Evelyn,” Gilbride said. “There’ll be ample opportunity to wander among the ruins, I imagine, and no telling what a lad and a lassie might get up to.”
    The captain punctuated his outrageous comment with a broad wink at Eden. When he winced, Evie was certain Will had just kicked him under the table.
    After several moments of highly fraught silence in which Eden seemed too stunned to respond, Mamma dredged up a strained smile. “I think that’s a splendid idea, girls,” she said. “You can either take the landau or ride with the men.”
    Of course.
    This was what Mamma had been hoping for all along, probably intending to throw her together with Will. She had little doubt her mother had told Gilbride about the ruins in the first place.
    â€œThank you, Mamma,” she answered, trying to sound appropriately regretful. “I’m afraid Michael and I have a great deal of work to do this morning. Perhaps tomorrow might serve.”
    Her mother put her teacup down with a decided click. “Evelyn, that kind of cavalier rudeness is something I particularly abhor. Captain Gilbride has gone out of his way to propose an entertainment that all the young people can enjoy. I’m shocked you would respond in so negative a fashion.”
    Evie froze. Rarely did her mother deliver her scolds in front of anyone but family members. To be castigated publicly, especially in front of Will, made Evie sick to her stomach. Then again, her mother had never treated Will with any special consideration, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’d heard Lady Reese take her daughter to task.
    Sure enough, when Evie snuck a peek at him, Will was regarding her mother with open disapproval. In fact, he scowled so fiercely that Evie began to worry that her mother would both take notice and