ARLENE

“So, what do you want to do now?” Matilda asked. “Besides going home to rest after the long night you’ve had, what’s the next step?”

I was delighted she had asked that question because it meant I could share my thoughts and have them vet them or give their opinions, which would help me plan better. “The next step would have to be getting married to Liam,” I replied and turned to him.

His arm around me seemed to stiffen for a second, then it relaxed. “If he’s okay with it. We need to push this arrangement forward. I don’t know what my stepmother is planning, but I can’t...