“When I marry the good reverend, this will be my home, and I will manage it as I see fit.”

Ellie suddenly felt ill.

“Do not think that you may live off my bounty,” Mrs. Foxglove continued.

Ellie didn't move for fear that she'd strangle her future stepmother.

“If you do not marry and leave, you will have to earn your keep,” said Mrs. Foxglove.

“Are you insinuating that I must earn my keep in some other way than I am currently earning it?” Ellie thought about all of the chores she performed for her father and his parish. She cooked him three meals a day. She brought food to the poor. She even polished the pews in his church. No one could say that she did not earn her keep.

But Mrs. Foxglove clearly did not share her opinion on the matter, because she rolled her eyes and said, “You live off of your father's largesse. He is entirely too indulgent with you.”

Ellie's eyes bugged out. One thing the Reverend Mr. Lyndon had never been called was indulgent. He had once tied up her older sister to prevent her from marrying the man she loved. Ellie cleared her throat in yet another attempt to control her temper. “What exactly do you wish me to do, Mrs. Foxglove?”

“I have inspected the house and prepared a list of chores.”

Mrs. Foxglove handed Ellie a slip of paper. Ellie looked down, read the lines, and choked on her fury. “You want me to clean out the chimney?!?”

“It is wasteful for us to spend money on a chimney sweep when you can do it.”

“Don't you think I am a bit too large for such a task?”

“That is another matter. You eat too much.”

“What?” Ellie shrieked.

“Food is dear.”

“Half of the parishioners pay their tithe in kind,” Ellie said, shaking with anger. “We may be short of many things, but never food.”

“If you don't like my rules,” Mrs. Foxglove said, “You can always marry and leave the house.”

Ellie knew why Mrs. Foxglove was so determined to see her gone. She was probably one of those women who could not tolerate anything less than absolute authority in her household. And Ellie, who had been managing her father's affairs for years, would be in the way.

Ellie wondered what the old biddy would say if she were to tell her that she'd received a proposal of marriage just that afternoon. And from an earl, no less. Ellie planted her hands on her hips, ready to give her father's fiancée the blistering setdown she'd been holding in for what seemed like an unbearable length of time, when Mrs. Foxglove held out another slip of paper.

“What's this?” Ellie snapped.

“I have taken the liberty of making a list of eligible bachelors in the district.”

Ellie snorted. This she had to see. She unfolded the paper and looked down. Without lifting her eyes back up, she said, “Richard Parrish is engaged.”