Michael no longer tried to get in through Louisa's window. Not that he didn't lack the will, but he decided he did need to be strong. He was tempting Louisa and it wasn't good. She needed to be respected by society, after all, she would be a marquise and, even if in the distant future – or so he hoped – a duchess.
He took advantage while Louisa was not at Crawford Manor to prepare her in order to receive Louisa after the wedding. He'd made some changes, modernized some of the rooms, swapped out some furniture in the colors he knew Louisa liked best. In this way, the previous plan of waiting only one month would not be carried out.
In the second month, Emmeline and Roger were already at the table when Mindy, who had gone with them to the castle, came in and announced that Louisa was apologizing, but she wasn't feeling very well.
"Oh, what does she have?" Roger asked.
