Chapter 6
The engagement reception had another purpose.
I discovered it from the seating cards.
Victoria had planned a private toast after the public celebration.
Not written.
Social.
Several senior capos.
A few allied families.
Preston had been telling them I was ready to “settle the future.”
Meaning marriage.
Meaning Victoria.
Meaning eventually children from that marriage.
He had even joked:
“Caradonna finally gets a proper next generation.”
I stared when I heard that.
Proper.
Elena’s child would have destroyed that narrative.
Not because my family required marriage for legitimacy.
Mine didn’t.
But old men still thought in old shapes.
Victoria knew.
She feared being introduced as my wife while everyone also learned another woman carried my first acknowledged child.
She thought the room would see her as second before marriage even began.
So she hid the baby.
May you like
Not only from me.
From the story she wanted the family to tell about her.
