“Do you?” Mrs. Bennett beamed. “Excellent. Keep doing it. And if you

sometimes have to retreat, to pull back, don't fret. You can always return. A setback is not a defeat, and even the healthiest couples have them. Learning to make one out of two is difficult, but if you make yourself open to it, if you learn

to trust, eventually you will succeed.”

“I feel like I'm taking terrible advantage of him,” Katerina admitted.

Mrs. Bennett dismissed the question with another wave of the teacup. This time the liquid remained inside. “You're not. Every man wants to be his lady's hero. He's fortunate; he's already yours. Isn't he, Katerina?”

“Oh yes. He saved my life,” she replied fervently.

Her mother-in-law set the cup in a saucer so she could continue gesturing safely. “He did. Now you dedicate your life to pleasing him, and I'll encourage

him to do the same for you.”

“Oh, he can't do any more for me,” Katerina protested, pressing her hands to

her cheeks. “It's too much already.”

“Do you think this one act is enough to sustain you for a lifetime?”

She nodded.

Mrs. Bennett gave her a sad, kind look. “It isn't. He wants to give you more.

Let him. Let him fall in love with you too. You are worthy of it, you know.”

The conversation ended there because the men meandered through the door.

Christopher took Katerina's arm and eased her from the harpsichord bench,

leading her to the settee where he urged her to sit, joining their hands in his lap

while Adrian perched beside his wife.

“Well, dear ones, I think we should host a reception in honor of this

marriage,” Julia said. “I understand why such a small wedding was necessary, but there should still be a celebration.”

Katerina swallowed hard. A party in her honor sounded like… a nightmare.

She looked at her mother-in-law with panicky eyes.

Mrs. Bennett read the expression easily. “What, dear, don't you want a

party?”

“No thank you,” Katerina replied, desperately trying to sound calm. “You

needn't go to all the trouble.”

“It would be no trouble,” her mother-in-law assured her. “I enjoy planning parties.”

She's not understanding. “Please. You don't need to do that.”

“Mother, listen. She's telling you no.” Christopher said. “Kat, you can say no

to my mother. No one will be upset. Tell her what you want.”

Katerina shook her head. This is already too much attention. She closed her

eyes for a moment, blocking everyone out.

Christopher noticed her increasing discomfort, and pulled her into his

embrace, letting her hide her face on his shoulder.

“Looks like we've had enough togetherness for one day. We'll be back soon, I

promise. Come on, love, it's time to go.”

She nodded against his shirt, not wanting to meet anyone's eyes.

He helped her to her feet, and she suppressed a groan as her muscles and skin

stretched. Opening her eyes as they began moving toward the door, she saw Julia

regarding her with a worried expression, Adrian with an unreadable one.

Focused on her own discomfort, she didn't spare much thought for either one.

Christopher escorted his bride outside. Katerina inhaled deep breaths of icy

air as the breeze teased her borrowed clothing and cooled her overheated cheeks.

She shivered. Christopher tightened his arms around her. She drew herself

inward, blocking out sight but listening to the soft murmur of wind through fabric, the groaning of naked branches. The symphony of nature sufficed to soothe her better than any spoken reassurance. Especially if it involves Christopher's arms around me.

A distant clatter of hooves and jingle of reins cut into the quiet as a hansom

approached. With a crunch of wheels, the conveyance stopped along the curb.

“Come on, love,” Christopher urged, moving her toward the hansom and

helping her into the seat. As they progressed back towards Christopher's

lodgings, a burning shame fell on Katerina.