"I'll ask Serena to delay the Ceremony a few months, so you have more time to listen to what God is calling you in your heart to do."

"Thank you," she says, because hey, a few more months to put off going to prison. A very upset Serena Joy is plausibly as bad as prison, but she doesn't have the authority to force her to have children without her husband's approval, probably, so that's cool. "And - if in a few months I still think he's calling me towards something you think is wrong?"

"Do you believe you are called to celibacy or to children within marriage?"

"Probably the second one. Under the circumstances."

"Perhaps we can introduce you to some likely young men."

Oh, man, this is gonna be a thing -

- but if she's married that's fine, right, they're going to make her have children either way, and at least this way she won't be doing anything wrong, right? 

"OK. I'm.... sorry about not being able to solve your problem."

"You'll have to work hard on becoming rehabilitated fast."

That gets at least a little smile. "I'll do my best to figure out the truth, then."

"Keturah?"

"Yes?"

"I promise you we will work this out somehow and I will not force you to do something that's against God's will for your life."

"Thank you, sir. That's... really good to know."

Fred leaves. 

When he's gone, Nick appears, backs Keturah against the wall, and says, "I know your secret."

"Oh," she asks, because most of her brain is trying to calculate exactly how concerned by this she should be, and that doesn't leave a lot left over for making words. "Well, uh, can you tell me so then we can both know?"

"You love me."

"Wh- "

She hasn't actually thought about that, though, maybe she should consult herself on this before saying anything definite. Hm. She kind of wants to punch him, but is pretty sure that would be a gross overreaction. Also she's trembling. That sounds like maybe not relevantly love.

"Well - I mean I try to love everyone."

And the award to stupidest comeback goes to Keturah Teller, Kentucky native, recently of Boston. We're all very glad that she has this one thing going for her.

"Sure."

He pulls away to let her leave.

Oh boy, thanks God, that could have been much worse. Hopefully she's overreacting and nothing will come of this and she will not have to kiss or punch any young men ever.

...the 'get married in the next three months' plan might be sort of hard to pull off.

She'll just go and do some chores in a completely different area of the house for now.

The next morning, Serena Joy says, "My husband says you believe God is calling you to delay the Ceremony for a few months."

"I... believe it would be a sin to consent to it. I'm sorry."

"Well, we certainly can't ask you to consent to something that you think is a sin." Her voice was tight. 

"Thank you, ma'am. I understand if you want to change our study plans to cover this topic instead."

"Perhaps I shall. But in the future. Tonight there is an ice cream social that you should attend so that you can meet eligible potential husbands." 

- she supposes this is another way to solve both of their problems, though it may well introduce some new ones on her side.

She nods. "OK. Thank you."

For the rest of the day, Serena Joy is seething with anger!

She continues to be consummately polite, but there's an edge to it.