How to Woo... A Reluctant Bride Read Online Free

again.
    Thank heaven his wedding was only a few weeks away. He just hoped he didn’t embarrass himself by being too eager.
    The door to his office opened and Uncle Frederick entered. “I thought I heard you in here. Working late?”
    Evan shrugged. “Not working is more like it. It’s hard to keep my mind on business right now.”
    His uncle smiled. “I understand. Zahra told me to invite you to dinner tonight. She would love to see you.”
    “I can’t. I’m taking Lydia to dinner tonight.”
    “Bring her along,” his uncle suggested. “Zahra would love to meet your bride. It is not as if she will be invited to the wedding.”
    “Introduce my gently born bride to a courtesan? You must be joking.” Besides, Zahra lived in a small house not far from the offices of Channing and Sons. The neighborhood was run-down, unsafe for a woman, even escorted by a servant, with prostitutes plying their wares on every corner. But it was convenient for Frederick, who spent more evenings there than he did at home.
    Frederick stared at him reproachfully. “You are too English, nephew. I always thought you should spend more time in India.”
    Evan sighed. “I’m not you, uncle. I’ve lived my whole life here.”
    “Yes, but must you be so rigid and judgmental? I thought you liked Zahra.”
    “I do. She’s a lovely woman, and if you’d married her, she would have been invited to the wedding,” Evan added hotly.
    “Touché. I should have made her an honest woman long ago.”
    Evan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Forgive me, I know it’s complicated.”
    “I know,” Frederick agreed. “If we’re to be successful in England, we must keep up appearances, at all costs.”
    “How is Zahra?” Evan asked to buy time.
    Frederick began to pace the office. “Lonely. She misses her family and friends in Calcutta.”
    “Yes, I can well imagine. She must love you dearly to come so far from home to be with you.”
    Frederick stopped by the window, staring out at the docks. “Yes. I’ve come to a decision, Evan. After you return from your honeymoon, I’m going back to India.”
    “But Uncle—”
    Frederick spun around to face him. “You don’t need me any more. You’re more than capable of managing things here. Zahra will be happier at home, and when she’s happy, I’m happy.”
    Evan stood and walked to his uncle’s side. “If that is what you want, then so be it. I will miss you, though.”
    Frederick smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “Nonsense, boy, you’ll have your new wife to keep you busy. Are you sure you won’t come to dinner?”
    Evan started to refuse again, and then thought, why not? Perhaps he should introduce Lydia to the other side of his heritage before they wed.
    “Very well, but I make no guarantee Lydia will agree.”
    “Fair enough. Now get your things and let’s go.”
    Evan took his suit jacket from the coat rack and donned it, then returned to his desk.
    His uncle’s gaze dropped to the book lying there. “Is that what I think it is?”
    “Yes, the book you gave me.”
    “Has it been of interest?”
    Evan shrugged. “Yes and no. I’ve found it to be an odd mixture of practical advice, odd superstitions and ludicrous notions about how young people should behave. I’d be clapped in jail if I tried to kidnap Lydia from her parents’ home!”
    Frederick laughed. “Such behavior isn’t as far in England’s past as you may think. Two centuries ago, debtors conspired to kidnap heiresses and force them into marriage.”
    “I’d forgotten about that part,” Evan replied. “Some of the other suggestions are quite…intriguing.”
    His uncle merely raised an eyebrow. “I rather thought you’d find them so.”
    “In fact,” Evan said, “I’m not sure some of them are even possible.”
    Frederick chuckled. “You won’t know until you try.”
    * * *
    When Evan picked her up for dinner, Lydia was surprised to see his uncle was with him. As chaperone, perhaps?
    She