Page 78 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

She couldn’t explain it, but just looking at him, knowing he was there for her, quelled her fear. Together they would get through this.

She looked up at Harry. “Harry.” She tried to keep her voice calm and neutral. “Harry, you’re hurting me.”

“If I let you go, will you go to him?” She cast a glance at David, causing Harry to jerk her closer to him. “You will, won’t you? You said there was nothing between you!” His eyes were fury mixed with hellfire.

“I’m sorry, Harry. This is my fault. I led you on. My heart was never in this,” she pleaded.

Harry’s eyes widened. His face flushed red as a vein throbbed in his neck. “Did you lie with him?” His voice echoed through the church.

David’s eyes darkened. Ever so slowly, he crept up to the altar. Out of the corner of her eye, Jenny could see his form approach them. She needed to keep Harry distracted.

“Please, Harry,” she begged. “Let me go. Do not do this in front of everyone. Think of Elizabeth.”

Harry barked out a laugh as he shook her. “I am thinking of Elizabeth!” His eyes flicked to the pastor, who retreated behind the pulpit for safety. “You there. Marry us.”

The pastor shook his head. “I cannot marry someone who doesn’t wish to be married.”

With Harry’s back turned to the congregation, David was able to get close enough to tap him on the back. When the man turned, David threw a punch, knocking him away from Jenny.

If she thought there was chaos before, it was nothing compared to what happened after that. Thomas rushed David. David rushed the fallen Harry. Some people ran towards the melee at the front of the church, others ran to the back. Elizabeth jumped up and giggled at the chaos in front of her.

Jenny had a second to think about how she dodged a bullet with that child before her focus returned to the fight in front of her. Thomas and David had restrained a blustering Harry, who was whimpering about his bruised eye.

David cast a look at Thomas, who nodded to confirm that he had control over the deflating Harry. He looked Harry over once to make sure he wouldn’t attack him before he let him go. Then he stepped up to Jenny, who was standing alone at the altar.

He held her arm and noted the bruise forming where Harry held her. A low growl rumbled in his chest. He pivoted to return to Harry when Jenny reached out to grab his arms.

“No. He’s done. He doesn’t matter.”

David snarled at Harry, who cowered in Thomas’s hold. He returned to Jenny and cupped her face in his hands. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

His eyes roamed over her face, inspecting every inch of her, looking for any signs of injury.

She nuzzled his hand. “Despite what just transpired, I don’t think I could be any better. This is the best I’ve felt in a long time.”

David furrowed his brow. “How you continue to amaze me, Miss Bennett.”

Jenny scrunched up her nose. “That’s ‘kitten’ to you.”

David’s eyes flashed with heat. “I love you, Jenny.”

His words stole her breath.

“I’m a fool. I should have said it sooner. I was just so afraid of making the same mistakes and ending up hurting you. I couldn’t live knowing I hurt you.”

He leaned in and kissed her, and she melted in his arms.

“But when you left last night, it broke me in two. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think. I didn’t want to live knowing you weren’t with me. I won’t be the perfect husband.” He shrugged. “I’m not the perfect man. But I can’t go on another day without you in my life. Please, marry me.”

Jenny’s heart swelled at his declaration. Looking into his eyes, she found everything she had ever dreamed of. He showed up for her and only her. He saw her, wanted her, never told her she was too loud or too much or too anything. To him, she was perfect the way she was.

She rose on her tiptoes to capture his lips in a passionate kiss. A little too passionate, as she heard a gentle cough coming from Frances.

She pulled away, not one bit embarrassed at her display of affection.

“Is that a yes, kitten?”

Jenny smiled. “It’s an absolutely!”

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