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It didn’t seem like a good idea to say as much, though.

“You may call me Theodosia,” the woman added. “I am glad to meet you, and I am glad that my son has chosen what seems to be a kind, sensible woman.”

Beatrice swallowed. “I don’t have much money.”

Now, why had she chosen to say that? Perhaps it was Theodosia’s cool composure or the way she so strongly resembled her son, but Beatrice felt as though she were very much on the back foot with this woman.

Theodosia only laughed again, though. “That hardly matters, I think. My son hasplentyof money and has never concernedhimself very much with fortune. I understand that your engagement was a quick one. I would have preferred to meet you beforehand.”

“Yes, I am sorry we could not meet,” Beatrice said, smiling nervously.

In her mind, she had expected the actual wedding itself to be the hardest part, but apparently, she was wrong. Apparently, there was worse to come. The guests, for a start. Stephen’smother.

Although Theodosia did not seem to be the overbearing harridan Beatrice had feared. She seemed… well, she seemed ordinary.

As if she were reading Beatrice’s mind, Theodosia chuckled, reached out, and took her hand. “Stephen can be a handful. His childhood was… it was difficult, which is the case for too many children these days. He was a difficult young man, and sometimes I consider him a child still, not a grown man with a dukedom behind him.” She gave herself a little shake, something sad crossing her face, almost too quick for Beatrice to catch. “But enough about me. Tell me aboutyou, Beatrice. Stephen tells me that you are quite a scholar.”

Now, thatwasa surprise. Out of all the things Stephen could have told his mother about her, Beatrice would not have expected him to describe her as a scholar. It sounded as though he’d said it almost admiringly.

Or is that just wishful thinking on your part? And if so, why are you so eager for him to think well of you?

That was not a question she was keen to answer. Clearing her throat, Beatrice tried to concentrate on Theodosia instead.

“Our acquaintance was not long,” she heard herself say. “But his closest friend married my closest friend, Anna, so I suppose we were connected that way.”

Theodosia nodded, smiling, the look in her eyes intent. Beatrice had a feeling that lying to this woman would be a mistake. A mistakeanda waste of time, as she would likely see through any lies straight away.

Stop it.She’s a woman, not an oracle, probably torn between her delight that her only son is married and panic that he has chosen the wrong woman.

Does she know about his determination never to have children? If she knew, would she care?

It didn’t matter, of course, because Beatrice could not tell her about it anyway.

Theodosia’s silence made Beatrice feel as though she had to fill the quiet with words, talking and gabbling about nothing and everything, fidgeting with her dress, and altogether acting like a silly, giddy girl who was overwhelmed on her wedding day.

Which, she supposed, she was.

Does she know about my first wedding and the part Stephen played in calling it off? Has she guessed? Does she suspect I’m some sort of flirt, some schemer, or perhaps just an innocent girl who was caught up in Stephen’s schemes?

I’m none of those, I suppose. I’m not entirely sure what I am.

Theodosia interrupted Beatrice’s babbling with a gentle smile and a hand on her arm. “I like you, Beatrice,” she said.

Beatrice stared at her, baffled, but Theodosia went on. “I like you, and I think you’ll be good for Stephen.”

“Oh,” Beatrice managed lamely.

In the next moment, a gaggle of acquaintances descended on them both, everybody talking at once, and Beatrice found herself separated from Theodosia. She was trying to get out of the crowd when she ran face-first into a man’s firm chest.

No prizes for guessing who.

“There you are,” Stephen said, looking bored. “You look tired.”

“I am tired.”

“You can go up to bed whenever you want, by the way. Mouse ought to show you to your room. I suppose we should have shown you where you’ll be staying beforehand, but there reallywasn’t time. I imagine I’ll go to the club once this party has died down, and I might bed down at one of my apartments in town if it’s too late.”

Beatrice paused, blinking. “It’s… it’s our wedding night.”