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“Y ou don’t mind, do you my dear?”

“Not at all,” Bella assured her mother-in-law.

“I am very happy to marry Luke again. I made those first vows as a child and did not really understand what I was promising.” And Luke had made his assuming he could get them annulled.

“To pledge myself to your son as an adult, in full knowledge of what these sacred promises mean, will make me very happy.”

“And besides, you were married in a tiny village church with no family or friends whereas—” Lady Ripton broke off. “Oh my dear, I’m sorry. I did not think.”

Bella smiled mistily. “It does not matter. I have been without family for a long time.”

“You don’t mind about the church? St. George’s Hanover Square is the most fashionable church, and it’s where all my children were christened and confirmed. But it’s not Catholic.”

Bella smiled. “I don’t mind. Papa was an atheist and, while Mama was quite religious, I was educated in a convent… the Inquisition—faith by fear?” She shook her head. “No, a church is a church. It makes no difference to me.”

“Excellent. Now, put on your shawl. It’s still a little chilly outside.” She adjusted Bella’s shawl and inspected her. “There, so lovely you look. Such a shame your own mother could not—No.” She broke off, dabbing at her eyes. “We will not cry and come to your wedding with red eyes.”

Bella touched her mother’s pearls. “I know. Mama has been very much on my mind. She was cynical about love, but at heart she was a romantic and she loved weddings. She would have loved to be here. She would have been happy for me.”

“Of course she would, and I’m sure she’s with you in spirit—oh dear.” She dabbed again at her eyes. “Now come along, we don’t want to be late. Who’s giving you away?”

“I don’t know. Luke said he’d arranged it, but he didn’t tell me who.”

“It will be one of the boys,” Luke’s mother said. “Gabe or Rafe or Harry. Such excellent friends. Ready?”

Bella made one last inspection of herself in the looking glass and nodded. She walked down the stairs arm-in-arm with her mother-in-law. “Good heavens,” Lady Ripton exclaimed. “Visitors? At this hour and on such a day? Who can have admitted them? We must send them away.”

In the hallway Molly stood talking to an elderly couple, a tall, distinguished-looking man with silver hair and a neat white beard, and an elegantly dressed little white-haired lady. She looked up as Bella descended and clutched the man’s arm.

Bella’s footsteps faltered. That little lady… it couldn’t be… Mama with white hair?

She stopped on the last step, breathless.

“I see you’re wearing your mother’s pearls,” the man said in a deep, husky voice.

She knew that voice. “Grandpapa?”

“You look beautiful, Isabella,” Bella’s grandmother said. “The image of your dear, dear mother.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

“I thought you were dead,” Bella whispered, embracing them.

“Oh, my darling girl.” Her grandmother hugged her tightly.

“We thought the same of you,” her grandfather said gruffly.

“But how… how did you know? And find me on this day of all days?” Bella asked when they’d recovered enough to speak.

“Lord Ripton tracked us down,” Bella’s grandfather told her. “Said he thought I might like to give the bride away.”

“Oh yes, please.” Bella wept and hugged them both again.

I t was a beautiful wedding, Bella was sure. Much more beautiful than the first time she’d married Luke Ripton. There were flowers and elegant clothes and fashionable guests and music.

But she didn’t remember this one any better. She was too full of happiness to notice anything. Anything except the blaze of love in her husband’s eyes as she walked down the aisle toward him.

“Love isn’t pain, Mama,” she whispered. “It’s joy.”