Suzette felt misery slide through her and turned her head away with shame, but he patted her hand.

“It is surely not a flaw in you, but him,” Jeremy said reassuringly. “And perhaps it is only because my heart is not engaged, but other than waiting to consummate the marriage until we are sure you are not with child, I see no reason for that to be an issue in our decision.”

“And what if I am with child?” she asked on a whisper.

A moment of silence passed and then he suggested, “Why do we not deal with that if it happens? You probably are not with child, and we must hope for that, but if you are, well, there are many options to choose from. It might be a girl, who wouldn’t inherit the title and estate anyway. Or the child might not make it to term.” He shrugged. “Let us take this one problem at a time. We both need to marry and suit each other’s needs in that manner. Let us leave the future to take care of itself.”

Suzette let her breath out on a small sigh as she nodded, and actually felt a little better. Her heart still ached, and she suspected she would spend a lot of time weeping, and would no doubt weep at the wedding because it was Jeremy at her side and not Daniel, but at least the other issues were taken care of. Her family would be safe from scandal, the markers would be paid, and Jeremy did not appear to be horrified, scandalized or disgusted by what she’d done.

“Suzette?”

She peered over her shoulder as her father stepped out of the trees and into the small clearing.

Lord Madison frowned when he took note that she was not alone and said, “I have been looking for you for several minutes and was about to give up and go back to the inn when I heard your voices and followed them.”

“Lord Madison,” Jeremy said quietly, getting to his feet. “I realize it is not well done of me to keep your daughter company out here like this, but we came across each other on the path and I thought seeing the falls would lift her spirits.”

“Do I know you?” Cedrick Madison asked, eyes narrowing on Jeremy.

“No. But I know of you. Actually, I hadn’t realized you were here as well or I would have sought you out before this,” he admitted with a wry smile.

“Why?” Lord Madison asked at once.

“Well, I thought we had some business,” Jeremy admitted, but then quickly added, “but I think now we can forget that.”

“What business?” her father asked sharply.