Page 55 of Enticed By an Earl
He started to go, but his mother stopped him with a hand on his arm. She did not say anything, however, until Dev turned to her with a questioning look.
“You know that we love you, my darling,” she said, her face filled with worry. “And that we will stand by you, come what may.”
It was as much an admission that his mother knew the truth as possible.
Dev took her hand in his and squeezed it. “I know,” he said. “Once this is settled and the marriage vows have been spoken, we must all sit down and clear the air entirely. Kitty may very well need every bit of support the family can give her going forward.”
His mother looked as if she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue and merely nodded.
The rest of the morning continued under similar amounts of tension. Dev dressed with the help of his valet, then moved downstairs to pace the front salon while waiting for Kitty and the rest of his family. It was not entirely ordinary for the entire bridal party to travel to the church together, but nothing about the marriage was ordinary.
Dev’s anxiety around the situation vanished for a moment when Kitty came down the stairs in her magnificent bridal gown, Miss Jones attending her with a proud smile.
“My God, you are beautiful,” Dev said, leaving the parlor to cross the hall and take Kitty’s hand.
He could not take his eyes off her. It was not merely the gown, which was as sumptuous and stylish as Queen Victoria’s coronation gown. It fit Kitty so well that every non-feminine aspect of her body was softened and concealed to perfection. Miss Jones had styled her wig in a lovely, curling fashion that suited the shape of Kit’s face and made it appear gentler as well. But the true expression of Kitty’s beauty was in the hope and love that filled her eyes.
“I cannot believe this is truly happening,” Kitty said, squeezing both of Dev’s hands in hers. “I never would have dreamed anything like this was possible.”
“With love, all things are possible,” Dev said, not even scolding himself for sounding like a ridiculous romantic.
The rest of the family were impressed with Miss Jones’s skill and Kitty’s beauty as well.
“I have never seen such a beautiful bride,” Dev’s mother said, dabbing a handkerchief at the corners of her eyes as emotion filled her. “You are a welcome addition to this family, Kitty. You have my word.”
His mother definitely knew something. Dev did not have time to dwell on it, though.
The family carriages had been brought out to take them to the church, even though it was only a short distance away. They all piled in, Miss Jones accompanying Kitty and the rest of the women in one carriage while Dev went with his father and brothers in the other.
Once again, Dev’s emotions took a turn when they reached the church to find it far more crowded than he would have liked it to be. Many of their friends and neighbors had gone off to the country already, but not all of them. In fact, entirely too many of them appeared to have lingered behind in London for the occasion.
“Miss Dryden, you look as lovely as I imagined youwould,” Mr. Wilkes greeted them at the church door, where he stood along with Lady Everly and Kitty’s two friends.
“Thank you,” Kitty said, lowering her head and smoothing her hands across her wedding gown. “I know you had a significant part in all this, and I cannot thank you enough.”
“No thanks are needed,” Wilkes said, glancing to Dev. “That is what The Brotherhood is for.”
Dev frowned slightly. The Brotherhood?”
Wilkes went on. “We help each other. You can rest assured knowing that a great deal of help is but a whisper away, should you need it.”
Dev’s confusion was not lessened at all by the comment. He’d heard vague whispers of something called The Brotherhood in the last few years, but he had never investigated those whispers.
“I cannot believe this is truly happening,” Lady Georgiana whispered excitedly to Kitty, as if they had all been girls together and had dreamed of this day for years.
“You are the most beautiful bride imaginable,” Lady Alice agreed.
Kitty smiled at them, clearly happy, but also, to Dev’s mind, on the edge of tears. At least they would be among friends if something happened.
As they had arrived right at the time that was appointed for the wedding, they wasted no time in getting on with things. Dev, James, and their father moved quickly to the front of the church as Kitty, Lady Everly, Kitty’s two friends, and Miss Jones prepared at the back. The rest of the family took their seats in their assigned pews and waited.
Dev knew something was off from the moment the wedding march began and the vicar walked onto the chancel from his vestry. As much as Dev wanted to give his full attention to Kitty walking down the aisle to him, he could nothelp but note the stern scowl of disapproval that the vicar wore. It was a portent of disaster.
Kitty must have seen the man’s look as well. By the time she joined Dev at the front of the church and took his hand so that the two of them could face the vicar together, the vicar wore a sneer.
As soon as the music stopped, the entire church went silent, as if holding its breath. Kitty’s hand shook in Dev’s as they stood there in the silence. The vicar should have begun the service right away, but instead, he merely looked at the two of them as though they were taking him to be a fool.
When the silence stretched for too long, Dev’s father cleared his throat and stared hard at the vicar.
