Page 74 of A Lady's Dangerous Secret
Charlotte knew something was wrong. “What is it?”
“James is missing.”
Charlotte‘s heart sank. She tossed out all the hypothetical reasons James was not at the church and focused on the most likely. He had cried off the wedding. She was destined to always be theforgotten fifth. “I can’t believe it!”
Arthur was taken aback. “I’m worried something has happened to him.”
“What?” It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her head. “You really think so? He didn’t finally realize he’d be better off without me?”
Now Arthur appeared upset, which was a rare occurrence. “Charlotte Tipton, I have seen the way James looks at you. The devil himself could not keep that man from this wedding.” He stood over her with his hands on his hips just like when she had gotten into scrapes as a child. “All I know is that James left a brief missive for Carrington that he would meet him at the church instead of riding over with him from the town house.”
Arthur’s eyes quickly glazed over while his inquisitive mind turned over possibilities. Charlotte did the same. Per the note, James had not forgotten about the wedding but had been called off for some reason.
But what? Was it a trick by le Diable to get James alone?
Charlotte’s heart raced as genuine fear took hold of her body.
“What if something happened to him? We must find him.”
Arthur responded calmly, “We need to think about his absence methodically. I’ll send one of the footmen back to Carrington’s house to determine if any of the servants know where James headed, or at least in what direction.”
Arthur’s logic made perfect sense, but it would take time. Charlotte felt helpless. “We must do something now.”
“Let me check with Carrington once more and ensure there’s no critical information he forgot to mention.”
Arthur exited the atrium, leaving the door open, and Charlotte paced again.
It must bele Diable, Charlotte reasoned.
James had told her Jack was going to take care of this particular threat to her life, but he never said if the protection encompassed James as well. She could not lose him…she just could not.
Although there were only a small number of wedding guests, Charlotte could hear the din of their voices from the main part of the church. The sound grew louder and louder until suddenly…was that a cheer?
Arthur rushed inside the atrium. “He’s here!”
Relief flooded over Charlotte, but that was short-lasting. “I’m going to kill him for scaring me like that!”
A lopsided grin spread on Arthur’s face. “Charlie, don’t let marriage change you too much. Your combination of pragmatism and impulsiveness is incomparable. Just remember, in order to get married, your groom has to be alive,” he jested.
Charlotte could not help but smile. “Let’s get married then!”
Arthur forcefully nudged their father’s foot, and their father awoke with a confused look on his face. “Father, you need to walk Charlie down the aisle, remember?” he asked sternly.
After a few moments collecting his thoughts and a couple of glances around his surroundings, their father hoisted himself into a standing position. “Yes,” he muttered.
Her father walked toward Charlotte, his breathing labored. He stopped before her and seemed to see his daughter for the first time that day. “It’s your wedding day, Daughter.”
“How kind of you to remember.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
She’s going to kill me, James thought, while he waited at the altar for his bride to walk down the aisle.
He stood resplendent in a black, superfine long-tailed coat, gray waistcoat, and black breeches buttoned just below the knee, with white stockings and black shoes. James now had a valet who had dressed him up finer than usual, it being his wedding day and all. James felt like a dandy with his cravat meticulously fashioned into an Osbaldeston. Gabe stood beside him in his formal dress, looking dapper as usual.
The doors of the church opened, and James’s breath caught as the most beautiful image appeared before him. Well, almost the most beautiful. Charlotte was gorgeous in a white gown with an astounding number of sapphires and diamonds glistening upon her, but her brow was furrowed. Was she truly angry at him? He had hoped he would have a happy bride on his wedding day, in spite of his tardiness.
He saw her glance at the portly gentleman leading her down the aisle, whom he assumed to be her father, Lord Pulverbatch. Her brow furrowed more deeply. Ah, perhaps James was not the cause for her disdain.
