Page 33 of The Odyssean Duke

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. Wasthatthe 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 youdolike His Grace.”

Evelina frowned. “Well, I suppose that would be…” she trailed off.

Whatwouldit 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 childanda 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.