"I return to my room, eat a very cheap supper, wake tomorrow, and continue worrying about money."
"And if you say yes?"
"I worry about different things."
Nathaniel laughed softly. Evelyn looked at him.
"You laugh more than you pretend to."
"I don't pretend."
"You do."
He looked away. She had noticed too much already.
The following morning, Evelyn arrived at Blackwood Hall with one trunk, a small writing case, three books, and a box of sewing supplies. Nathaniel looked at the luggage.
"That is everything?"
"Yes."
"You may have more."
"I don't need more."
"You are about to become a duchess."
"That sounds like a reason to need less."
He stared at her. She smiled.
"Everyone will give me things."
"That is unfortunately true."
"Then I shall wait."
Mrs. Mercer, the housekeeper, was waiting in the entrance hall. She was a tall, silver-haired woman who had worked for the Blackwood family for more than twenty years. She looked at Evelyn's trunk, then at Nathaniel, then back at Evelyn.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
Mrs. Mercer smiled. "I like her already."
Nathaniel sighed. "You have known her for ten seconds."
"And I have known you for twenty years."
Evelyn covered a smile. Nathaniel pointed toward the stairs. "Come."
"Where?"
"I will show you your rooms."
"I already know where they are."
"How?"
"I asked Mrs. Mercer."
He looked at the housekeeper. Mrs. Mercer shrugged. "I was asked a sensible question."
Nathaniel began to suspect that Evelyn had already recruited half his household.
The wedding was deliberately small. Nathaniel refused a London ceremony; Evelyn refused a ballroom. They compromised on the chapel at Blackwood. There were only a handful of guests.
Lady Eleanor watched her son throughout the ceremony. When Nathaniel said his vows, his voice was steady. When Evelyn said hers, she did not tremble. Afterward, when everyone had gone to the reception room, Lady Eleanor approached her.
"You have done something very brave."
Evelyn smiled. "I am beginning to suspect it was foolish."
Lady Eleanor laughed. "That is an excellent beginning to a marriage."
Nathaniel heard her. "Mother, what—"
"You promised not to frighten her."
"I promised no such thing."
Evelyn glanced at Nathaniel. "Your mother is honest."
"She is relentless."
"I heard that." Lady Eleanor kissed Evelyn's cheek. "You will do very well here."
Nathaniel watched them walk away together. He had expected his mother to be cautious; instead, she seemed delighted. That should have been his warning.
The first week of marriage was strange. Evelyn had her own rooms; Nathaniel had his. They ate breakfast together because Lady Eleanor insisted. They worked together because the estate accounts required it, and they argued because they seemed incapable of discussing anything without disagreeing.
On the third morning, Evelyn looked at his breakfast. "You are eating nothing."
"I am eating."
"You have been staring at the toast for five minutes."
"I am thinking."