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Belle gulped Her n for optimism "Well, yes," she stammered "I have"

Caroline turned to John "I think you had better leave"

"He can't!" Belle said quickly "He lives here"

Caroline's only outward sign of perturbation was a strained sing motion in her throat "I'm sure I misheard you"

John quickly stepped forward "Perhaps I had better introduce myself I am Blackwood"

Caroline didn't offer him her hand "How nice for you," she said acerbically

"And this," he continued,toward Belle, "is my wife, Lady Blackwood"

"Excuse me?" Not even a chink in her calm facade

"We're married, Mother," Belle said with a weak s look at her daughter, then at the hter "Belle, do you think I could speak to you privately for a hter's arm with a force that was at odds with her pleasant words and hauled her across the room "Are you crazy?" she hissed "Do you realize what you've done? Where on earth is Emma? And how could she let you do this?"

From across the room, John wondered if this propensity to ask questions in rapid succession without waiting for a reply was a fa, but Caroline held her hand up"Don't!" she warned "Don't say a thing to rabbed Belle's arm and deposited her back at John's side

"Mother," Belle said "If you'll just…" Her words trailed off at Caroline's quelling stare

"If you'll both excuse me," Caroline said smoothly She walked over to the door and called out, "Henry!" Belle and John heard a muffled answer, to which Caroline replied, " Now, Henry!"

"I don't like being made to feel like an errant child," John hissed in Belle's ear

"I am an errant child," she whispered back "At least to them So please be patient"

Belle's father appeared in the doorway Henry, the Earl of Worth, was an attractiveair about hihter "Belle! Darling! What are you doing in London?"

"Oh, this and that," Belle ot

"Did you hearto cruhed wearily and ran his hand through his thinning hair "Was there some reason you couldn't wait, Belle?"

"I was in a bit of a rush"

Caroline turned pink, not wanting to ponder the implications of that statement

"Surely you could have waited a few days," Henry continued "Did you think ouldn't let you have your choice? You know us better than that We've let you refuse a dozen eligibleActon, whose father happens to be h We probably wouldn't have had an objection" He paused "I presume this is the fellow you've married"