“Well, should there be a sudden crisis, and I needed to take her out of the situation on a whim, with no time spent in preparation, just whirl her off to the

bishop and marry her, would anyone object?”

What on earth is he doing? Katerina wondered .

“Hardly. And such a crisis is a real risk.” Julia agreed grimly.

“I know,” Christopher said grimly. “Father, you understand what we're

talking about, do you not?”

Adrian nodded, his expression serious.

Katerina's cheeks colored. So, everyone knows? I don't like that. And this conversation is ridiculous. “Christopher, stop teasing your parents. Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, Christopher and I got married this morning.”

Both of the elder Bennetts blinked in surprise. Julia recovered first. She jumped to her feet, chattering as she approached. “You did? Oh, very good. It takes a huge weight off my mind. I was so terribly afraid for you my dear.”

Though her friend's kindness made Katerina want to weep, she swallowed

the urge and replied in a calm voice, “You had cause. Thank you for sending him

in my direction.” She smiled, shyly because Mr. Bennett was there, and his intense and faintly disapproving expression made her uncomfortable.

Julia, exuberant as usual, scooped her new daughter-in-law into her arms and

hugged her. Katerina returned the embrace and again tears threatened. Julia smelled and felt like a mother—like the mother Katerina had lost a decade before.

Then the embracing arms compressed a sensitive spot and an agonized

squeak crept past Katerina's defenses. As she breathed deeply trying to dispel the

pain, she could feel Adrian's curious stare from across the room.

“What's wrong?” Julia asked, studying Katerina's face with concern.

Katerina exhaled. “Well, there was a crisis, just as Christopher said. That was

why we needed to act so quickly.”

Warm dark eyes searched hers. “Are you injured?”

“Yes, but I'm healing,” Katerina replied, trying to ignore the throbbing in her

back.

Julia noted the bruise on Katerina's cheek but said nothing more on the

subject. Instead, she kissed her on the other side. “Welcome to the family, love.

We're so very glad you're here.”

It was more than Katerina had expected. Her throat burned, but she

suppressed it. She would have need of more tears, but hopefully, most of them

could be shed in private. Too many people knew her sorrow already.

“Married, eh?” Adrian looked at his son's wary and damaged bride. He had not

been entirely in agreement with his wife's plan to match those two together, but

the obvious, dark bruise on her cheek made him powerfully angry. Her stiff uncomfortable movements spoke of other, more painful injuries. He turned to regard his son.

Christopher was watching his wife closely. As soon as Julia stepped away, he

swooped in, gathering up Katerina's hand in his and lacing their fingers together.

He's possessive of her in a way that speaks of intimacy. Looks as though the

deed is done, so there will be no chance of an annulment, not that either of themwould agree to it. He hoped Christopher was prepared for the problems sure to come from marrying such a woman.

A serving woman ducked into the parlor. “Dinner is ready, sir, ma'am.”

“Thank you, Marsden,” Adrian replied. “Please set two extra plates.”

She nodded and scurried away.

Meanwhile, the couples made their way to the dining room; darkly papered

and with a heavy, brooding fireplace, but lightened by a cheerfully glowing chandelier and a table set in a crisp white cloth. Miss Marsden had arrived ahead

of them and was setting two more blue and white plates along one side of the table as each husband escorted his wife to a simple, wooden chair.

A lovely smelling tureen filled with soup perfectly started the meal. Katerina

was so hungry she ate surprisingly well, and as she did, it struck her how unusual it was for her to have such an appetite.

Normally, she picked at her food, since dining with her father inevitably proved to be a stressful experience. As the wine flowed freely, weakening his already precarious control, the danger increased. Taking the time to savor a meal

had always been unthinkable. She could not remember a time when she had; instead, she tended to gobble just enough to stave off starvation and then bolt for

the marginal safety of her bedroom.

The Bennetts' dinner table felt almost as nerve-wracking; however, trying to