Chapter 13
Three days had passed since her last meeting with the Duke of Rothbury, and Evelina had already taken the contracts to multiple solicitors, who had looked over all the terms with a critical eye.
Both men had announced that the contracts were in her favor, exceptionally so for a marriage contract.
Now, there was only one more thing to consider: would she sign them?
That was the question Evelina pondered as she joined her sister at the British Museum. She and Theodora had walked arm-in-arm until her sister skipped ahead, eager to gaze at the newest arrivals from Egypt. “Beautiful,” Theodora murmured as she beheld a magnificent sarcophagus.
Evelina nodded. The room was filled with such antiquities, so many that it seemed impossible to her that so many mummies and artifacts could exist in the world.
She bit the inside of her cheek, for she was a little wary of how so many artifacts came to be in their part of the world.
Evelina had followed with considerable interest Lord Elgin’s acquisition of marbles from Greece and the criticism that had followed.
Lord Byron, in particular, had been rather adamant that the artifacts were stolen.
That had left Evelina feeling a little unsettled because she had never in her life imagined a person she was less likely to agree with than Lord Byron, the most notorious of England’s rakes.
“Evelina?” Theodora asked. “Did you hear what I said?”
Evelina shook her head. “No, I apologize. What was it?”
Theodora gave her a soft look. “You have been quiet since we arrived. Is something weighing on you?”
Evelina sighed softly. “I—I suppose there is no point in delaying any longer. I had hoped to ask if your husband might agree to be my trustee.”
Theodora blinked. “Why would you need a trustee?”
“Because I want to ensure that, if I marry the Duke of Rothbury, my fortune remains my own. You know that the law will be kinder to me if a man is managing my money,” Evelina said. “I had thought about asking your husband.”
Theodora’s smile was watery. “And you trust Alexander so much?”
“He is like a brother to me,” Evelina said. “And he has—he freed our mother from a dreadful situation. I adore him, Theo.”
Theodora squeezed Evelina’s hands between her own. “I am so glad,” she said. “I have often thought about how happy I am that the two dearest people in my life love one another.”
“I am happy for you,” Evelina said, affection swelling in her chest for Theodora.
“And I would wish the same for you,” Theodora said gently. “Are you certain that you wish to get married?”
“It is the safest way to have a baby,” Evelina said. “I want to be safe. Having a child out of wedlock would not be ideal. I must think of what is best for the child, and His Grace offers benefits that I would not have if I chose any man I found in the tavern or elsewhere.”
“You are not wrong,” Theodora mused. “But I would prefer that you find happiness as I have.”
“I will find happiness as a mother,” Evelina said. “My husband is relevant only as he can provide me with children.”
“So you say.”
Theodora moved ahead, pausing to admire a collection of golden jewelry, laden with lapis cabochons.
“How does one…” Evelina trailed off, trying to find the proper way to word her next query.
“Yes?”
Evelina took a deep breath. Having no idea of how to best word the inquiry, she decided to simply ask directly and uncomfortably. “How do you know when you are ready to—to engage in the act needed to create a child?”
“I should imagine you are ready,” Theodora said, brow knitting in confusion. “That is required to have a child.”
Evelina noted that her sister seemed to be guiding her to a place in the museum which was less occupied with guests.
“Yes, but—but how did you do it? Is there something that I ought to be doing to prepare myself?”
“Well…” Theodora trailed off. “I would not say there is anything you—I mean, there is preparation, of course, but it is not the sort that happens—you cannot prepare so far ahead. He prepares you before the deed itself.”
Evelina bit her lip, thinking about the shared kisses. Was that the preparation that Theodora referred to? If that was all, Evelina did not imagine it would be terribly arduous at all.
“Of course, there is emotional intimacy,” Theodora added. “There was much of that before the consummation.”
“Yes,” Evelina said. “I remember your seven stages of romantic delusion.”
Theodora laughed. “I do not regret those. After all, my theories and experiments did result in me being married to Alexander. I could do no better than him.”
Evelina smiled, noting the warmth that came to her sister’s voice whenever she spoke of Alexander.
“But,” Theodora continued, “you should not allow yourself to feel pressured by time restrictions. If His Grace seeks to force you into some arrangement without providing you with sufficient time to consider the consequences fully, you must not agree! That is the behavior of a man who seeks to hide something or else who believes that he shall become undesirable very soon.”
Evelina bit the inside of her cheek. Her sister did not know of the clause with the Dowager Duchess of Rothbury, but she was near enough to the truth with what she said.
“I know,” Evelina muttered.
It was the behavior of a disreputable man, and admittedly, Evelina had not seen the contract providing Her Grace with such power should the duke fail to produce an heir within ten months. What if it was merely a creative attempt to force her into marriage?
Nothing about His Grace’s character seemed to indicate that he was making their negotiations in anything but good faith, but Evelina knew more than most that one had to be cautious in making agreements with desperate men.
“If you think you may wish to marry His Grace, I think you ought to do it properly,” Theodora said.
“Even if you have made all the negotiations in your favor—and I trust you will be meticulous—you will still be legally bound to this man. It would be better for both of you if you knew something about His Grace.”
“What do you mean, do it properly?”
“Have a courtship,” Theodora said. “Spend some time learning about one another before you decide to wed. You will learn much about yourself during the process, too. More than you ever believed possible.”
Evelina frowned and thought about her first marriage. She supposed that she had learned a great deal about herself from that relationship, even though it had been mostly terrible. It seemed logical that she would learn even more about herself if she was in a happy marriage.
“But I do not intend for him to remain in my life any longer than necessary,” Evelina said. “That seems like a significant amount of effort for something that will be unneeded.”
“You never know,” Theodora said. “Suppose that you do like His Grace.”
Evelina frowned. “Well, I suppose that would be…” she trailed off.
What would it be like to like her husband? Evelina had not cared to consider the question; it was irrelevant how she felt about His Grace when her aim was simply to have children by him.
“You will never know if you do not try to acquaint yourself with him,” continued Theodora. “I support you, my dear sister, in everything that you do.”
“But?” asked Evelina.
“But you deserve more than a marriage of convenience,” Theodora said. “You deserve the best of everything. You deserve to have a child and a love-match, to be a happy mother and wife without having to sacrifice the other.”
“The world has seldom cared for what women deserve,” Evelina pointed out.
They halted by the wall, far away from the other lords and ladies who were clustered around the Egyptian artifacts.
Evelina glanced at her sister, a prick of guilt stirring in her chest. Theodora had wanted to view the Egyptian artifacts, and Evelina felt as though she had deprived her sister of all potential enjoyment by wanting guidance on her impending marriage.
“Do not let me disturb you,” Evelina said softly. “I know that you wished to see the museum today, and I do not want you to be so occupied with my problems that you do not enjoy yourself.”
Theodora shook her head. “Do not distress yourself over that!” she exclaimed. “I can do both.”
Evelina glanced at the artifacts, which were too far away for either of them to properly appreciate. “I think I really just need some time with my thoughts,” she said. “You have given me much to consider.”
That was true, although Evelina was uncertain that she really appreciated what Theodora had given her.
It was an impossible problem. If Evelina married His Grace quickly, there would be no time for a courtship—much less for her to learn much about the man.
However, if she delayed, the Duke of Rothbury might well decide to pursue other options. Then, where would she be?
Oh, Evelina supposed she could always renew her search for another man who might understand and be willing to give what she wanted! But that was a bitter medicine to swallow when she was so close to having what she desperately desired.
“Do you wish to be alone?” Theodora asked, her voice infinitely gentle.
“Yes,” Evelina said. “I think so.”
Her sister cast her a soft look. “I will be nearby.”
“Thank you.”
As Evelina watched her sister drift closer to the Egyptian artifacts, it was as though a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. Theodora was enjoying the exhibit once more.
If only Evelina’s marriage concerns could be assuaged so easily!
She smiled wryly, her thoughts drifting to the man who had captured her attention, more from circumstance than anything else.
Everything Theodora suggested was sound advice.
In a perfect world, Evelina would have a husband who loved her and a child, but this was not a perfect world.
If Evelina could only have one of those two, she knew what her choice had to be.