Page 12

“And with obtaining a special license—as you requested,” Father added, “many of our relatives already know, as well.”

Marie wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t a problem with any of them spreading the word about the union. Until now.

“Does Tristan know?” Mr. Charles Shepherd asked next.

“No. It was easy enough to keep him in the dark, what with his constant presence in London,” Mrs. Shepherd said.

“And we prefer to keep him in the dark, as well,” his father said next. “Otherwise he may stay away from home for longer if he fears we attempt to marry him off, too.”

Mrs. Shepherd hid her smile behind her fingers, though her son stared at her as if she’d lost her senses.

“So how many people do know?” he asked.

“Let us say this,” Mrs. Shepherd said, “if you do not wed Miss Oakley, the entire town will know about it by morning.”

“How?”

“Because you are supposed to attend a ball tonight to celebrate your union, and everyone expects to see you both there. Happy.”

“A ball?” Mr. Shepherd exclaimed.

“That was also in the letter,” his mother said with an innocent smile.

“Is this ball the one you wrote to Tristan of a month ago?”

“Oh, no, that is another ball you must also attend—one we are hosting.”

“Heavens above,” Mr. Shepherd continued. “First a wedding, then another ball. What is next, a revelation that Miss Oakley is pregnant with my child?”

Gasps sounded about the room, horrified looks from the Shepherds and a deeply disapproving shake of his head by Mr. Berryman. Marie forced herself to remain unaffected, breathing deeply to dispel the blush threatening to creep across her cheeks.

There rotted the apple even more.

“Forgive me,” he said, seemingly aware of crossing the line of propriety. “I am simply...” He rubbed the back of his neck, ending his words with a sigh before facing Marie directly. “Miss Oakley, as this concerns the two of us more than anyone, what say you on the matter?”

Marie remained silent, thinking through whatever weighted words she chose to deliver. In not marrying him, she would be resolving Mr. Shepherd’s dilemma but causing grief for herself and for others. In marrying him, she would be solving Father’s problem while causing grief to one obnoxious but otherwise guiltless gentleman.

But she would not be put into the middle of all this.

“This decision lies with you, Mr. Shepherd. I have nothing more on the matter to say other than I agreed to this union beforehand and am a woman of my word.”

She expected the gentleman to pace about the room again, but all he did was raise his chin. “I am a man of my word, but no word of mine was given.”

“The letter to your mother would beg to differ,” Mr. Berryman said pointedly.

“Thank you, Mr. Berryman,” Mr. Charles Shepherd said stiffly. “Timely comment, as expected.”

“Always happy to help.”

Charles didn’t look away from the vicar, his scowl increasing. Heavens above. What sort of man was this to create a silent battle of wills with a vicar? And more importantly, how on earth could Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have ever thought Marie and their son could be happy together when he was so...childish?

She was but two years older than he was, and already, she felt as if she was looking at a young boy who was pouting at what plates of food were placed before him at the dinner table. She wasn’t happy with this arrangement either, but he would not see her whining about it like a petulant child.

“So what is it to be?” Father asked, clearly finished with the affair. “Will you fulfill your duty—though unexpected—and marry my daughter, as per our agreement with your parents? Or will you subject her to a lifetime of grief and a destroyed reputation?”

A lifetime of grief? That was a bit melodramatic. She’d be quite happy spending the next few years attempting to find another husband. But Father was right. The chances that she would be able to find a spouse now would decrease even more if Mr. Shepherd left her, essentially, at the altar.

Mr. Shepherd didn’t respond for a moment, a battle clearly raging within him. “Could we not postpone this a week or two? Allow me the opportunity to come around to the idea?”