A Place For Repentance (The Underwood Mysteries Book 6) Read Free Page B

the youth of his parish and as a consequence he was immensely popular with the young, and their grateful parents, who felt that his sedate amusements were far less dangerous than having their sons frequent alehouses and cock fights. He held classes to teach the poorer children how to read, write and reckon – and in this endeavour he was aided by two spinster sisters, the Misses Macey, who took the girls’ classes, whilst he taught the young men.
                  For the sons and daughters of the middle class parents he had to think of less educational pursuits, so he took the boys fishing while the young ladies busied themselves with handicrafts to sell to raise funds for the church.
                  As the daughter of a vicar herself, Verity was immediately at home in the busy rectory, delighted to join in with the young people in their enterprises. Alas, Underwood endured it as near to purgatory as he was ever likely to come. It was a shame he felt so very low and melancholy, because he was actually very fond of the society of young people himself, though he would never have admitted it – he could not have countenanced so many years as a tutor at Cambridge University if it had not been so, for all his vociferous complaints about the unruliness of the young men he had taught.
                  At first he hid his unhappiness well and was, in his lighter moments, pleased that Verity was enjoying herself so much. She had been used to being occupied all her life and it had taken her some time to get used to doing nothing but care for Underwood’s home and their young children. She thanked providence that she had her painting and that her husband encouraged her to use her skills, for looking after babies had not been her happiest time from a personal point of view. Of course she adored her daughters and lavished all her care and attention on them, but when they were tiny, they provided little stimulus for her and she longed for the day when they would be old enough to occupy themselves and engage with her in a more mature way. Being amongst these young folk was a breath of fresh air to her, small wonder, then, that she did not, at the onset, notice that Underwood was not enjoying the same level of fun.
                  Arranging country dances was a particular joy for Verity, and she persuaded Underwood to play the piano whilst she demonstrated the steps. This he could just about tolerate as he was not in the heart of the action and would not be called upon to dance himself – something which he didn’t care for but which he occasionally forced himself into for the sake of his wife.
                  Lindell joined him by the pianoforte and stood watching the dancers, amused that one or two of the younger girls were getting over-excited and veering dangerously towards being hoydenish and noting how well Verity brought them back under control without curbing their natural high-spirits, but rather harnessing their enthusiasm by giving them the lead positions so that they had to concentrate rather more and giggle rather less.
                  “Your wife has missed her calling, Underwood,” he said, with a warm smile, “she would have made an admirable teacher or vicar’s wife.”
                  Underwood did not bother to inform him how very nearly Verity had been just that, for Gil had offered for her before himself; not because he was in love with her, but because he had known that she was pining for Underwood and he thought that by threatening to marry her himself, he would force his brother into making a declaration – which, of course, had worked famously. His infatuation with Charlotte Wynter had withered swiftly when he realized what a spoilt and unkind young woman she really was. Verity was far superior in every way and he quickly forgot Charlotte once he allowed himself to discover Verity’s many