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Mary watched Andrew, her husband of one day. He stood before his mirror, tying his cravat. He had changed into evening clothes, as had she. ‘I shall be only a moment more.’ He watched his reflection as he tied the knot into a clever decoration and set it just so.

He had laced her corset and now she waited with her back turned so he would button up her dress.

He turned to her.

His fingers brushed against her bottom through her petticoats and worked their way up as he slotted each little ivory button into place.

They had spent a quiet afternoon over the chessboard.

It was easier to believe they could form some sort of an acceptable marriage from this mess when he behaved companionably.

She had pulled herself together after he left her alone to go riding this morning. Yes, he still claimed to love her. But a man is known by the company he keeps, and his friends were sly, scheming, cruel-minded men. Also, he had failed to mention that he had asked her sister-in-law to go to bed with him. How could she believe in his love when she knew those other things.

Yet, whether he loved her or not, he was now her husband. She made this choice, she had no option but to live with him, and therefore she must make their marriage work. After all, she still loved him, and sharing his bed was enjoyable.

‘There you are, all done.’

Mary caught sight of her image in the mirror. She was unable to do anything elaborate with her hair other than to twist it into a tight chignon and pin it up. It looked acceptable.

She turned to the small bag in which she had put her personal items and jewellery. She searched out a pretty silver comb and looked in her mirror to position it in her hair, to make it look more ornamental. Then found out a necklace with a small silver cross which her father bought for her.

‘Here, let me.’ Andrew took it and looked at it for a moment before securing it about her neck.

The feeling of the new wedding ring on her finger called its presence, she had kept her finger curled a little all afternoon so it would not slip off. Then earlier Andrew had tied a thin band of leather about it to stop it slipping.

‘Are you ready?’ he asked.

‘Yes, apart from my shawl.’

It was on the bed. He picked it up and lay it about her shoulders. At the same moment Mary heard a strong knock strike the front door downstairs.

‘That will be my parents.’

‘Perfect timing then.’

‘Yes.’ She turned to hurry away.

‘Mary.’ His fingers caught her forearm and stopped her. ‘Let me walk you down. What time will you return?’

‘Midnight, or possibly later. I am unsure.’

‘Then I shall come home before midnight. I will be here when you return.’

She thought he liked her at least. She knew he liked her body, but she thought he liked her company too. A vast chasm stretched between like and love, though.

They walked down the stairs in silence.

A footman clothed in her half-brother’s, the Duke of Pembroke, livery, waited at the open door. John and his wife, Kate, must have come with her parents. The footman stepped aside as Andrew’s fingers gently closed around her upper arm and led her out.

Another footman held the carriage door open, waiting to help her. She saw her father and John inside the carriage. They watched Andrew with accusing eyes.

Andrew’s fingers fell to hold her hand instead of her arm, so she could use his hand to steady herself as she climbed the step into the carriage.

‘Goodbye. I hope you enjoy your evening,’ he said.

She glanced back and saw a genuine look of goodwill.

He did like her. She was sure of that at least.

She smiled. ‘Goodbye. Enjoy your evening too.’

He bowed his head.

She settled into the seat beside Kate. Then the carriage door shut. Andrew raised a hand as the carriage pulled away.

Mary rested back against the squabs, still looking through the window, unable to look at her family. The infancy of her marriage was nothing like theirs. It felt as if she were playing a game of husband and wife. She had stepped back into the life of her childhood this morning, when she walked back to John’s town mansion to collect some books and sewing to keep her occupied if Andrew was not in his rooms, and now again, she was with her family, going to a musical evening, without her husband.

‘Why is he not coming?’ John asked.

‘It is not Andrew’s sort of entertainment.’ This morning, she told them he was in a business meeting. If he continued to choose not to face her family, she would spend her marriage weaving a whole web of white lies to prevent them disliking him any more than they already did. She wanted her parents to think she was happy. If they were angry with Andrew, it would only make everything worse.

‘What is his preferred entertainment?’ her father asked.

He had not told her.

Kate’s fingers touched her hand. ‘It was good of him to walk you out. I am sure in future he may be persuaded to join us.’

‘I hope not. I do not want him anywhere near you, Katherine,’ John said.

‘He is Mary’s husband,’ Kate answered.

‘Kate is right, John,’ Mary’s mother agreed. ‘We must make the best of this now for Mary’s sake.’

‘But I cannot stand him either,’ her father responded.

Mary looked at them all. ‘Please, do not argue… and must you keep glaring so horribly at him? I was silly to let him persuade me, but I am married to him now and?—’

‘And you love him,’ Kate finished for her, squeezing her hand. ‘Otherwise, you would not have chosen to elope with him. You should remember that, John.’

‘I do not blame you, Mary,’ John leaned forward and touched her hand.

Her father sat in the far corner. ‘You love him… even knowing he lied to you.’

‘I cannot choose to love or not, Papa. I cannot simply stop the emotions, and he is not all bad. He still says he loves me too.’

John made a disparaging sound.

‘You may tell him, I will give him a chance to prove himself worthy of you,’ her father said. ‘But as I told him yesterday, if he does one thing to harm you…’ He left the threat hanging in the air.

What else had her father said to Andrew yesterday? Had he been making threats and accusations when the two of them went to buy the special licence for their marriage? Was that why Andrew stormed off when she took her father’s side? Was that the reason he had been so angry with her?

When he had apologised this morning, Andrew said he was angry with John and her father and taken it out on her.