Page 11 of Married to the Cruel Duke

She turned to her friend, heart pounding. “Penelope, I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“As if I would miss your wedding! How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” she said, but Penelope’s frown made clear she wasn’t buying it.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“It doesn’t make a difference what I want.”

“Rebecca,” she trailed off.

“It’s alright. It isn’t about this. It's just…. Dorothy.”

“I see. Did she say something to you?”

“Doesn’t she always?”

“I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve that any day, much less today.”

“Thank you, but at least she won’t have as many opportunities soon.”

“So you’re still looking forward to it then?”

She gave a hesitant nod. “I think so.”

“That’s good I suppose.”

“Especially since there’s no going back now.”

“I don’t know. It isn’t too late for you to run off into the night.”

She chuckled. “No, it would be far better to just get this over with.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Give me a moment alone then I’ll see you once I’m a married woman.”

Penelope pulled her in for a tight hug. “I will come by and visit you as soon as it is proper to do so.”

“I know you will. And I promise I will tell you all about it.”

They shared a last look then Penelope nodded and released her.

Rebecca only had a moment or two to herself before Solomon was suddenly by her side, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Shall we get this over with?”

“I don’t- is this the type of thing one gets over with?”

He glared down at her. “It is in this case.”

“Right,” she looked down. “Then I suppose there’s no point in waiting, is there?”

“I’m glad to hear you are seeing sense.”

Then he snatched up her arm and all but dragged her into the church.

That was the first moment she caught a glimpse of her soon-to-be husband. When she saw him, her heart began to pound. She almost stopped in her tracks, much to Solomon’s annoyance, but she couldn’t help herself.

---