Page 69 of A Perfect Engagement
The vicar began speaking the age-old words, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God—”
“Father, excuse me. I have something important to say,” Charlotte interrupted.
The vicar startled, looked down at his book as though he perhaps had started with the wrong words. Charlotte took a deep breath. Then raising her voice to make sure everyone could hear, she said, “Lord Hawksridge, I cannot marry you. I am in love with your brother.”
A shriek of despair rang out from the front row. Charlotte gave Daniel’s hand a hard squeeze. Then she turned and fled back down the aisle, past a sea of shocked faces, to her freedom.
*
Daniel stared atCharlotte’s retreating figure. He closed his mouth, which had fallen open in shock. Had she just said what he thought she just said? Had she declared she loved him in front of the whole of society and her family? He turned to the vicar, who looked as though he were about to have an apoplexy, poor man. A rumble of outrage erupted from the front row.
“This is all your fault! You never could control that girl,” Lord Markham shouted at his wife—who promptly fainted, her limp body sliding down the wooden pew, to collapse at her husband’s feet.
The twittering of not-so-quiet whispering rose to a dull roar. Daniel shook his head, willing his body to take action. He bounded down three stairs and raced down the aisle after his brave bride. He emerged into the bright sunshine just in time to see Charlotte disappear into a carriage. He rushed forward, but he was too late. The driver snapped the ribbons, and the carriage took off down the street.
“Wait,” he shouted fruitlessly. His brother stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Where is she going?” he asked Miles.
“I’ll answer your question if you answer mine. What the hell happened in there?” Miles asked.
“She interrupted the ceremony to announce to the whole room she couldn’t marry me. I mean you, because she is love with your brother, I mean me.” Daniel tore off his hat and smacked it against his thigh. “She just told everyone in the goddamn church she loves me! Then she ran down the aisle and out the door.”
“That explains why she came racing out of the church at high speed. She said she needed my carriage. And I should tell you to meet her where the lavandula angustifolia bloom. Whatever that means.”
Daniel grabbed his brother’s shoulder. “It means she’s headed for Brooksdale. That’s where Mother’s lavender blooms.” He couldn’t stop grinning. She loved him, and she didn’t care who knew it.
Miles wrapped an arm around him in a brief hard hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, Miles. That means a lot.” He slapped his brother on the back. “So, do you think you could help me arrange for a special license before we leave town?”
“Absolutely.”
“Weston!”
Daniel and Miles both turned to find Charlotte’s father barreling toward them, his face mottled red with anger. Lord Markham didn’t stop until he stood right in front of them. Then he pulled back one beefy fist and punched Miles in the face.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Daniel bounded upthe steps to his house, taking them two at a time in his eagerness to see Charlotte. The night air sang with the sound of the frogs who resided in his pond. A light breeze blew the fragrance of lavender in his direction—a scent that would always remind him of home, his family, and now of Charlotte.
He let himself in through the front door. He really needed to get a proper staff for this house now that they would all be living here full time. He wondered if he would be able to lure Vincent from London. A low murmur of voices drifted down from the library. He followed the sound and threw open the door.
“Charlotte?” But the only people in the room were Phoebe and Charles. They sat together on the sofa, a plate of tea biscuits on Charles’s lap, his arm around her shoulders.
“She’s not here,” Phoebe replied. Daniel’s heart sank. “I sent her up to your rooms to rest. She was exhausted. More mentally than physically, I think. Mrs. Howell took a hot toddy up to her, not a half hour ago.”
“But she’s here? She’s just upstairs?”
“Yes.” Phoebe smiled. “We fed her dinner, and she filled us in on the events of this morning. She seemed quite worried you would not follow her. You’re arriving very late.”
“It took some time for Miles and me to track down the archbishop this afternoon. I needed to procure this special license.” He pulled the paper from his breast pocket with a flourish.
“Well done,” Charles said.
“So you and Hawksridge worked things out?” Phoebe asked.
“Yes, we did. It was his idea to switch places at the church.” He tucked the license back into his pocket. “He and Charlotte’s brother Lucius are contacting her close friends. They will all arrive this week for the wedding.”
“Whose wedding?” Mrs. Howell came into the room. “I see you have finally arrived, Lord Weston.”
