He smiled, trying to be just as bright about it. Perhaps that was what she had seen when she had lived his life, but... Newlyweds, she said, which sounded all sunshine and roses, like they ought to still be in some delightful honeymoon phase of it all – and all that did was make Evander think of the dreaded places they had been, the miscarriage and the threat of losing her and the arguments they’d had. He was no doubt a disappointment to her, and scared of the future; failing at marriage already...

And failing even at small talk. Evander did not often find himself able to read reactions in the moment, but even he could see Mrs. Warbeck suddenly radiating discomfort. (Discomfort, he knew well.) And no wonder why – would have been. Oh, he was a fool.

“Oh, I’m dreadfully – didn’t know – did you lose him long ago?” Evander stammered, the sentiments getting muddled and the apology not quite making it out into the air, though he hoped she could read it in his eyes and the sudden paleness of his face. He had lost so much of his family, and been so afraid on so many occasions of losing Caroline, that he had almost forgotten it could happen to other people too. “Of course, you don’t have to –” answer, he added in a hurry, wide-eyed. We can talk about anything else.

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