Page 68 of A Perfect Engagement
Charlotte pulled her gaze from the lady’s malicious expression to find all her friends standing in the open doorway, varying shades of outrage on their faces. Susanna and Olivia each grabbed one of Miss Thornton’s arms.
“You will not ruin our friend’s wedding day, or any day thereafter, you horrible shrew,” Susanna spat out. She looked over her shoulder at Ellie and Sophia. “What shall we do with her?”
“Do with her? What can we do to make her stay quiet? She is intent on ruining my life.” Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I say put her in the closet until we come up with a more permanent solution.” Ellie moved into the room. Sophia nodded and closed the door firmly behind her with a loud snap as she also stepped through the doorway.
“What? You can’t do that!” Miss Thornton’s gaze darted from lady to lady. Her eyes took on a wild look again. She began to struggle.
Susanna and Olivia exchanged a look. “Capital idea. Let’s lock her in the closet.”
Her two friends turned to Charlotte. Susanna quirked an eyebrow. Apparently, she had the final say.What a disaster.She had given up the man she wanted to avoid exactly the type of scandal Miss Thornton was threatening. And once again, she was trapped by circumstances. She met Susanna’s gaze and nodded.
“Right then, it’s the closet.” Susanna and Olivia pushed a frantic Miss Thornton across the small room.
“You can’t do this! I’ll tell everyone what you did. You will all pay for this!”
Ellie held open the door to the closet which held only a broom and one set of priestly vestments hanging on a hook. They shoved her inside and quickly shut the door. Ellie turned the lock and pulled out the key. Dropping it into the bodice of her gown, she grinned. “Oops, I just don’t know how they will find the missing key.”
Miss Thornton banged against the thick wooden door, her yelling muffled. Charlotte bit down on her lip. “Do you think she can breathe in there?” Maybe this had all gone too far.
“Oh, pish. She’ll be fine.” Susanna banged on the door. “We will let her out after she agrees to never spread rumors again.” She raised her voice so Miss Thornton could hear her.
Olivia took Charlotte’s hand. “Come, let’s get you to the vestibule. Your father is waiting.”
Upstairs her mother fussed with her father’s cravat. Lucius lounged against the wall by the front doors. They all looked relieved to see her finally appear. Susanna leaned in to give her a swift hug. “You look beautiful.”
Ellie was next to embrace her. “Are you ready?” she asked in a low voice.
Charlotte forced a smile. “Of course.”
Sophia Kingsley was last to approach. She kissed her on each cheek. “Be brave, darling. Walk down the aisle toward your future with a smile on your face.”
All four ladies headed through the doors into the sanctuary to find seats. Lucius stepped up beside her.
He leaned over to kiss her cheek and whispered, “Don’t worry, pet, he’s here.”
What? She grabbed Lucius’s elbow before he could walk away. “Who’s here?” she whispered urgently.
But Lucius simply winked at her. Then he walked over to their mother. “Come on, Mother, let’s get you settled in the front row where everyone can see you preen over your daughter’s excellent match.”
“Lucius! What a thing to say.” She gave him a cheeky grin and slid her arm through his elbow. The two of them disappeared through the doors.
Did Lucius mean Daniel was here? No. It couldn’t be. But who else would he be referring to? Her heart soared with the hope Daniel had come for her. But why now? She was about to walk down the aisle! Had Daniel come to watch her and Miles marry? Doubtful. Charlotte chewed on her bottom lip.
“Charlotte, ready? That’s our cue.” Her father stepped up beside her.
“Um, yes, I’m ready.” She placed a hand on his arm and let herself be escorted through the doors and down the long aisle to the front of the church. Her bridegroom stood tall and straight, gazing down the aisle at her approach. He wore formal black tails over a green silk vest and crisp black trousers. His white cravat lay uncharacteristically askew. As they neared, she could see a broad grin across his face, a familiar grin, with a dimple which winked at the corner. Her breath hitched.Daniel!
At the front of the church, her father gave her the obligatory kiss on the cheek and passed her off to her groom. Daniel took her hands in his and squeezed gently. His eyes soft and full of emotion captured hers, a slew of silent questions flowed between them.
How had he managed this? Where was Hawksridge? She glanced over Daniel’s shoulder; Miles stood in the shadow of a large column. He gave her a salute with one hand and then turned and walked out of sight. Startled, she focused back on Daniel’s face. He raised his eyebrows slightly, and one corner of his mouth turned up in question. He wanted to know if this was all right.
She glanced quickly out at the church full of guests. Then back at the man standing in front of her. A man she loved with all her heart. A man who had conceived a way for them to be together. By the time anyone figured out the brothers had exchanged places, they would be officially married.
But Daniel deserved more.
She wouldn’t hide her feelings for him any longer. She would never again make him feel like less than the amazing man he was. When she married Daniel, she would shout from the rooftops how much she loved him. A man who made her laugh, who made her forget all her worries with his kisses. A man who cherished her, even with her flaws.
