Adelaide turned, her eyes wide, her mouth tight. “Is it, indeed? From the back?”

He grinned at her perfect quip and shrugged. “Seemed so.” He looked at its place at the base of her throat, now that he could see it, and nodded firmly. “Exactly right. Perfectly designed for your wearing alone.”

“Don’t be so tiresome,” Adelaide scolded halfheartedly, though she could not keep her smile away entirely as she took his reoffered hand and finished her descent completely. “There is much enjoyment ahead of us, and I intend to take advantage of every last bit. I have been learning all the traditions from Emblyn, as well as Julia Roskelley, and even learned a few of the common dances. This time, it will be for you to not embarrass me.”

“When have you embarrassed me?” Harrison asked as they moved to the front of the house for their things. “I’ve never accused you of any such thing.”

Adelaide waved him off. “Had I been less than I was at our first ball, you certainly would have. Kindly do not forget your own duty, as we have discussed before.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” he said on a wry exhale. “Be attentive and adoring so you are the envy of all.”

“But do not outshine the groom’s devotion to the bride,” she insisted with such earnestness he had to choke back a laugh. “This is a love match, and it would be unseemly to deprive them of deserved attention.”

Harrison nodded as any obedient student might have done. “I see. I may forget some of the finer points, but I trust I will not fail you entirely.”

Adelaide rolled her eyes as she allowed her cloak to be draped about her shoulders, tying the knot quickly. “Basset…”

“You may have to be more specific at this gathering,” he suggested with a wince. “There may be more Bassets at this wedding than ourselves.”

His wife speared him with a dark look before proceeding out of the door toward the waiting carriage. He grinned and followed, tugging at his coat sleeves. Nettling her would never cease to be entertaining.

The carriage ride to the village church was not particularly long, and Adelaide was silent for most of it, which suited Harrison well enough. It left him ample time to reflect on their recent days and to consider what the future might look like.

Things had shifted slightly since that day she’d become lost on the moors. Some of the spite had left her, and some of the irritation had left him. They still bantered, certainly, and annoyed each other when they were of a mind to. She still said the most extraordinary things of a superfluous nature, though none that offended his sensibilities. She had passed another time of anticipated courses that did not come, so it seemed very likely that she was indeed with child.