As the casket was carried from the church to the adjoining cemetery that would be Kat’s final resting place, the sky was heavier and darker than it had been since her death. Before the final portion of the service was completed, umbrellas were erected all around the grave to ward off the sudden downpour that didn’t show any hint of letting up for a good, long time. Henry just stood with his hat in his hands, letting the cold winter rain fall over him, disguising his tears and empathizing with his aching spirit. Feeling the rain cease, he glanced up to see Oliver standing at his side, sharing the shelter of his umbrella as he said quietly, “You’ll become ill if you’re not careful.”

Henry wanted to say he didn’t care, but he knew that would sound immature and irresponsible. He had a son who needed him, and he didn’t need to add to the family’s burden by needing to be cared for himself.

Oliver had to practically force Henry away from the grave after everyone else was gone. Once they were in the carriage, Henry couldn’t keep himself from saying, “I’m glad that’s over. If I had to listen to that hypocritical imbecile say one more word, I think I would have given him a bloody nose, and that wouldn’t have been very appropriate for my wife’s funeral.”

He was surprised when Amala added vehemently, “I was seriously considering that I should hit him myself. Given that he already believes my very existence to be an abomination, it shouldn’t have been nearly as shocking to him for me to do such a thing.”

“What on earth do you mean?” Oliver demanded, and Henry realized from a quick glance at everyone’s expressions that Paulina knew exactly what they were talking about, but Kat’s parents did not. He had to remind himself that they didn’t know the whole story, and even though he didn’t really want to explain right now, he was the one who’d brought it up.

Henry turned more toward Oliver, who was sitting beside him, rather than looking at the three women who were sitting on the opposite seat of the carriage. He cleared his throat and tried to think of the simplest way to answer the question, well aware that Amala was highly uncomfortable with the topic, but given what she had just said about the vicar, he figured that some part of her would likely prefer to have this out in the open along with everything else.