My marriage will be vastly different from the sweet, gentle love match I expected to make. —Diary Entry of Miss Tess Blanchard In the end, Tess agreed to marry the Duke of Rotham. When she sought out her godmother to report her decision, Lady Wingate seemed appropriately mollified by her capitulation, and allowed that since the house party at Wingate Manor was scheduled to last three more days, Danvers Hall would serve best for a small, quiet wedding ceremony. However, the baroness opined, it would be most fitting for the newlyweds to repair directly to Rotham’s family seat afterward, so as to remain out of the public eye for a time. Additionally, such a magnificent estate as Bellacourt would remind the Beau Monde just what a grand match Tess was making, even if it was a bit tainted by scandal. Lady Wingate also softened her condemnation of Tess with something of an apology. “You may think I am being cruel, my dear, by forcing this marriage upon you—and I do regret that you object so violently to taking Rotham as your husband.
