Rose sighed softly, in a way that seemed to signal a close to the conversation. "I love him, Mamma."

Adeline closed her eyes. Youth! What chance had the most reasonable arguments against the arrogant power of those three words? That her daughter, her precious prize, should utter them so easily, and about such a one as he!

"And he loves me, Mamma, he told me so."

Adeline's heart tightened with fear. Darling girl, blinded by foolish thoughts of love. How to tell her that the hearts of men were not so easily won. If won, rarely kept.

"You'll see," Rose said. "I shall live happily ever after.

Author: Kate Morton