Page 102 of The Duke's Vice

Beatrice sighed and rolled her eyes. “Mama. I swear to you, I made no plans with any other man. Amos and I will be married today. I saw to it.”

Her words caught in her throat. It was not for lack of trying but she needed to respect Ezra’s wishes. He had his reasons she couldn’t deny or overlook. He respected her wishes and her list. It was only fair she gave him the same allowances.

“Well, then. I think everyone is here. Shall we get started?” Charlotte took Beatrice’s hands.

Beatrice took a deep breath and pushed it out. “What is it that you always say? Trust the process?”

Charlotte smiled, leaned in and enveloped her daughter in a tight hug. “Always, my love. I’m so happy that you have found a way to have the life you want. I’m sorry if I tried pushing you in a direction you didn’t want. I just always had you and your sister’s best interests at heart.”

Beatrice could only offer a tight lipped smile. The enormity and finality of the day was beginning to take its toll on her constitution. She wanted to see this day through, but she also just wanted to be tucked away in her tiny corner room and lose herself in her books.

In stories that had happy endings, where the hero came for the girl, or where the girl at least received a desirable outcome, satisfactory to her wishes.

But her life wasn’t a story and, when all said and done, the ending to this chapter was satisfactory for her.

She squeezed her mother’s hands. “I’m ready, Mama.”

Charlotte pinched her daughter’s cheek. “I love you, Beatrice.”

“I love you, Mama.”

Beatrice watched as her mother flittered out of the room and down the aisle to the front row.

Beatrice caught her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t recognize herself. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, her dress was a bit too stiff for her liking, but this day was more for her mother than herself. When Charlotte gushed over the dress, Beatrice accepted it. The same as she accepted the flowers on each of the pews, the dinner menu, although she was looking forward to the desserts.

Her mother not only took care of the invitations, but every aspect of the day, which was fine for Beatrice. It gave her the time for her heart to heal somewhat, and wrap her mind around the changes that were happening around her.

With one timid foot in front of the other Beatrice made her way through the vestibule and stood looking down the aisle.

Heads turned to face her. Beatrice wasn’t too proud to admit their pleasant reaction to her appearance was a soothing balm to her aching heart. If she was going to enter into this facade of a marriage, at least she looked good. Her sister Sarah would be proud to hear such thoughts.

Beatrice couldn’t help but look over her shoulder to the opened chapel door. She could see the back end of the hired hackney that sat in the courtyard. Her heart lurched at the wayward thought that Ezra was connected to it.

She sighed and shook her head. Once again, her mother’s voice rang throughout her head.You read too much, Beatrice.

Beatrice fixated her eyes on the man at the end of the aisle. He wasn’t Ezra, but he was a good man. Someone who understood her and would give her a life of laughter and companionship. Some didn’t even get that. She should feel lucky, she could have ended up with someone garish and undeserving.

She began her walk down the aisle, smiling at familiar and not so familiar faces. She tried looking for the mystery couple but she made it to the end of the aisle before she could locate them.

Amos smiled and extended his hand. She slipped her hand into his and felt the chapter close. This was it. She was going to be a married woman.

“Stop!”

The bellow came from the back of the church.

Women gasped, men stood, and she was pretty sure her mother threw her handkerchief up in surrender.

Amos and Beatrice turned, squinting at the light shining from behind the man who was now charging down the aisle.

Ezra.

“You can’t marry him. I won’t allow it.” Ezra’s voice echoed off the rafters.

Beatrice’s heart was beating so fast she brought her hand up to her chest in the off chance it beat right out of her body.

“Ezra. What are you doing?” Her whisper barely reached him.

“You can’t marry him.” Ezra demanded.

---