**

WITH AN OVERACTIVE baby in his arms, Ethan had to admit to being tired. He was stuck caring for Elizabeth because Gretchen spent most of her days lately with the dressmaker, getting fitted for a gown.

Elizabeth always managed to get him on his hands and knees in an attempt to entertain her. When he got tired, he would send for a maid to retrieve Elizabeth. And right now, that was the case.

He rose to his feet, about to summon Jacob when he heard loud pounding in the building—it sounded like someone was running. He walked over to the entry way and peered down the hall, seeing nothing but Jacob standing there. Releasing a sigh, he motioned for Jacob, but as the butler approached, the pounding seemed to be approaching as well. Then, he heard it:

“Miss Riverside, stop!” Someone yelled. “We can't have Lord Williams see you like that!” She protested, obviously disheveled.

Curious and confused, he picked Elizabeth off of the floor and made his way toward the ruckus. He reached the front door just in time to see Gretchen who was dressed in what looked like her wedding gown, throwing herself into the arms of a man.

He frowned, his gaze fixed on the strange man who was now grinning, wrapping his arms around Gretchen as he did so.

“Lord Williams!” He turned to find Sue gawking at him. “No, get back!” She commanded, planting herself in the line of his vision. “You cannot see the bride before the wedding, it is bad luck.”

He wanted to point out the fact that his bride was in the arms of another man and if that wasn't bad luck already, he could survive the disaster that would come with seeing Gretchen before the wedding.

Without a word, he placed Elizabeth in Sue's arms and made his way down the stairs, ignoring the protests of the dressmaker.

He continued his descent, the man hugging Gretchen noticing him and releasing his hold around her. Gretchen turned then, her eyes bulging as she struggled to hide behind the man.

“Ethan! I had no idea. Wait, you can't see me like this.” She held the man before her like a shield.

He turned from Gretchen to the man who stood there grinning from ear to ear. “And who might you be?” He asked, running his gaze over the man.

“Hello, Lord Williams, it's nice to finally meet you.” The man began with an American accent. “I'm Matthew.”

Chapter Twenty Four

Matthew Steiner felt the gaze of the clearly uncomfortable soon-to-be husband of Gretchen on him as he took to strolling the grounds of the manor with Gretchen clinging to his arm and chatting nonstop.