Chapter 19: How Strange

• “I hope not,” Maria said. “But his family has a certain reputation. He seems nice enough, but the rest of the family can be pretty fierce. You need to watch your back with them.”
• “I appreciate the warning,” she said. “But I’ve dealt with Uncle Lawson, and I can deal with them.”
• Maria sighed, “Your uncle is an ambitious and unscrupulous man, and you’re not his match. You may have your new husband on your side, but I wouldn’t count on his support in everything—who knows what his family is pressuring him to do.”