"And now, Ross." Aunt Doris put down her utensils and wiped her mouth with her napkin. Her benign smile left no doubt that she was coming to the thrust of her visit-the inquisition into Ross's character and fitness as Charity's man.
"You do look like a fine young man," Doris said, though she was frowning as she let her gaze run over him. "But I was surprised that the two of you would go ahead and marry without informing me."
Charity's mouth went dry. This was one of those dev astating little details they hadn't cleared up. "I... it was such a spur-of-the-moment thing…"
"And then she didn't know how to tell you," Ross interjected smoothly. "Charity composed letter after letter to you in her head, but she knew there was just no excuse for not having announced our marriage to you ahead of time, so she kept putting off telling you until she could think of a good way of doing it."
"And Mason beat me to the punch," she added. She searched Doris's face, hoping against hope that she would buy the story.
"Well, I know I'm not your mother," Doris said qui etly. "You don't really owe me anything-"
"Oh, but I do!" Charity reached out and gave her a heartfelt hug. "I owe you so much, Aunt Doris, and you know it."
Doris patted her hand. "Never mind that, darling. What I'm concerned about is this man you've married. Does he treat you well?"
Charity and Ross exchanged glances. "Of course," she said faintly.
"Is he prepared to provide for you and your children, when you have them?"
"Don't worry about that," Ross said quickly.
Doris turned toward him. "I understand you're a neu rologist?" she said complacently.
Charity met Ross's gaze and they both blanched. Seem ingly there were a few details of Mason's story that he had neglected to fill in for them.
"That's a rewarding career but a demanding one. Neu rology is such a specialized field, it must take up an awful lot of your time," Aunt Doris went on, heedless of the growing tension around her. She smiled encouragingly.
Ross swallowed hard, knowing he had to say something. For a man used to talking his way into one fortune after another, he felt unusually tongue-tied. He had a nightmare vision of Aunt Doris demanding to see some examples of his neurological skills right here on the spot.
"Well... uh... I do dabble in neurology now and then," he admitted reluctantly.
Aunt Doris's gray head snapped back at his words. "Dabble?" She looked aghast.
"Yes." Ross leaned back, managing to appear relaxed. Only Charity could read the panic in his eyes. "Well, there is all that suing these days, and now that Charity is preg nant, I've decided to try my hand at the business world. It's more secure, you know. And I find I'm better suited to the wheeling and dealing."