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Kate, John’s wife, walked across the room and set down a tray on the bedside chest. ‘I brought you some lemonade and biscuits. Would you like me to stay with you for a while?’

Mary was sitting on the bed with her knees bent up and her body curled over her legs. She was too agitated to lie down. Her mind could not settle enough to rest. ‘Thank you. But I would rather be alone.’

‘You have been closeted away all day, why don’t you come down to dinner?’

Her mother, a number of her aunts and her cousins, Eleanor and Margaret, had come to the room to speak to her; offering comfort and setting aside the marriage they had all predicted would fail. It was, apparently, an unfortunate situation that should be filed quietly away as history.

When she arrived with all her possessions, Aunt Jane told her parents Andrew had been seen with a woman. Her father held her and told her he would publish a notice in the newspaper announcing the separation, to manage any gossip and ensure she was no longer tied to Andrew’s reputation.

She did not care. She had no intention of stepping out in public again. When she told him that, he did not believe her. ‘You will in time. Time will heal.’

He was wrong. Andrew’s scent lingered on her skin from their lovemaking this morning. Time would take that away and her memories would fade, but her love would never ebb.

Her forehead dropped onto her knees and silent tears spilled from her eyes. All she had done since she reached here was cry.

Her mother sat beside her for the first hour, until Mary asked to be left alone. But her family were unable to stay away, every half hour someone would come up to see how she fared, each of them bringing fresh words of reassurance.

None of their words could give her the Andrew she loved. The words he whispered as she had lain on his chest held more weight in her heart than any her family said. She wanted the man who cared for her last night and made love to her this morning – not the man who had betrayed her.

Why did he make love to me?

This morning, he had promised to be different, to make a home with her.

As well as buying a home for his other woman.

Kate’s fingers touched Mary’s shoulder. ‘Drink a little lemonade and eat. We can all see you have lost weight these last weeks.’

Like an automated toy, Mary lifted her head, reached for the glass and sipped; hoping that obeying would make Kate go away.

Kate sat on the edge of the mattress, looking at Mary. ‘What will you do?’

‘I asked Papa to take me home, but he said he cannot today or tomorrow as he has business in town.’

‘Are you sure what Jane said is correct?’

Mary smiled weakly. Trust Kate not to jump to conclusions, her sister-in-law had a tender heart. She gave people a chance. She had saved John from himself, with her refusal to accept him at face value. She was the first one not to begin by saying that leaving Andrew was the right decision.

‘It is true. I heard him talking of his mistress to his friend last night. He is buying a house for her with my dowry.’

‘Oh dear…’ Kate took the glass from Mary’s hand, then held her hand. ‘I was convinced of his good intent of late. He may have stepped back from speaking to us but he was being kind to you.’

‘We made love this morning.’ The words spilled out. ‘As though there were nothing wrong. He has not touched me since he hit Lord Brooke. He has slept in a chair in the other room. Then this morning…’ She sighed and wiped a tear off her cheek. ‘But yesterday he heard Aunt Jane telling me to leave, so I suppose he wants to avoid the embarrassment of a divorce… And he is not here, begging me to come back, is he? Probably because he can go to his mistress now.’

‘Have you told your mother this?’ Affection weighted Kate’s voice and softened her gaze.

‘No, and do not. Papa or John would attack him. It is bad enough as it is.’

Kate nodded. ‘Anything you say to me will stay between us.’

‘He is so believable,’ Mary said. ‘The look in his eyes expresses love, and when he touches me, it feels real; it feels as though he treasures me. I thought he loved me when I ran away with him. He said he did. He spoke in the way he did this morning. He is bitter inside, Kate, and stubborn, and short-tempered, but he is also kind. He even said Papa and John have a right to hate him, he did not hold their anger against them. Though, I know Andrew was spiteful at times.

‘Did you see how he was when he came here that afternoon? He looked lost. That day I asked to meet his family and even though he did not wish to, he took me there. They are horrible. They threw us out. That was the day he hit Lord Brooke. He stopped pretending to love me after that. But then this morning he changed again.

‘I thought I understood him; now I know I just believed his lies. Yet I still love him. Do you think there was always someone else? Do you think he loves this other woman, and only wanted my money?’

Kate’s fingers held Mary’s tighter, offering comfort. ‘How can we know?’

‘I will always love him, and…’ She had told no one this. ‘I think I am carrying his child. Please do not tell Mama and Papa, not yet, I need time to navigate this.’

‘Oh, Mary. I will not tell.’ Kate released Mary’s hand and hugged her instead. ‘All will be well. You have us all to help you.’

Mary had no idea what Andrew would do when he found out about their child. This was her pain, her secret – that she carried a child created with a man who did not love her. She could not hide the pregnancy forever, but she could hide herself; that is what she wished to do, hide away and pretend this had not happened. At least for now.

She pulled away from Kate and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

‘John and I told lies too,’ Kate admitted. ‘After the party he held in Ashford, while you were at the end of your mourning for your grandfather, we made love. I went to him because I loved him. He did not love me then, but I fell pregnant and John did the honourable thing. He loves me now, Mary.’

‘Of course he loves you.’ Mary clutched Kate’s hand. ‘I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you.’

Kate smiled. ‘I know. I did not tell you because I need your reassurance. I said it so you would know things are not always what they seem. Perhaps things will work out for you too.’

‘He has a mistress, Kate.’

‘And you are carrying a child which you both made. At some point you must tell him. The child must know its father. I once intended to marry another man and keep my child a secret from John, and you have seen how he adores Paul, it would have been cruel of me.’

Mary sighed. Kate’s mother had taken her own life; Kate knew what it was like when a child did not know its parent.

‘Why not come home to Pembroke Place with John and I? You may have time alone to think things over and heal a little, without the noise of all the children. We can go tomorrow. John can still travel into the city to attend the House of Lords. Then, when you feel able, I can help you talk to Andrew about the child.’

‘I would prefer not to see anyone else. I know it is selfish.’

‘It is not selfish. People will understand.’

Mary wiped her cheeks again and smiled. ‘Thank you.’

‘Now eat those biscuits, you must think of the child as well as yourself. I will tell John our plans.’

‘Will he mind?’

‘You know he will not. He would do anything for you, he loves you dearly, and he prefers being on the estate anyway, he will be glad of an excuse to go.’

‘Thank you.’

‘You need not thank me. You are my sister. Our home is your home.’

‘Would you send Mama to me, so I can tell her I will stay with you.’