My heart skipped a beat at Nathaniel's intense expression. Whatever he needed to tell us seemed serious.
"What is it?" I asked, stepping slightly in front of Evelyn protectively.
Before he could answer, the door opened wider, and Old Mrs. Ricardo appeared behind him.
"There you all are!" she exclaimed, her eyes brightening when she saw Evelyn. "The announcement is about to begin, dear. You can't hide your lovely wife away now, Nathaniel."
She took his arm, patting it affectionately. "Everyone's waiting. Come along, all of you!"
Nathaniel's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "We'll talk later," he murmured to me, his eyes conveying urgency.
As we moved back toward the ballroom, I offered Evelyn my arm. "Are you alright? Do you need to rest?"
"I'm fine, dear," she said, though her complexion remained worryingly pale. "I want to be there for your announcement."
