Page 75 of A Lady's Dangerous Secret
Charlotte pushed her shoulders back and tilted her chin up like the empress of his dreams and looked down the aisle. Charlotte’s eyes locked with his and her brow relaxed. A smile spread across her lovely face. As she walked down the aisle, James could not tear his own gaze from those two cornflower-blue eyes that were fixed upon him. He was the luckiest man in the world. He did not know what he had ever done to deserve such a breathtaking woman as Lottie.
When his soon-to-be bride reached the altar, her eyes were misty. James grinned like a fool, because he was so happy. Lord Pulverbatch left her side without so much as a glance. James would never be able to stop looking at Lottie. He would make up for all the times her family ignored the treasure that was Charlotte Tipton. He smiled even further. She would be Charlotte Hughes from now on, and be all his to worship for the rest of their lives.
James took hold of her hands, and the bishop began the ceremony. He was too busy memorizing Lottie’s every detail to pay attention to what the clergyman was saying. He noticed that one tendril of chestnut hair had escaped her chignon and curled near her right ear. He realized her eyes appeared a deeper blue than usual and matched the color of the Strait of Gibraltar as the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea became one. He had to remember every single part of this day.
James realized belatedly that the wedding guests had emitted a collective gasp and that Lottie’s mouth had formed a delectableO. He blinked and looked around, trying to understand what had happened. The guests spoke excitedly with each other.
The bishop looked down his nose at James. “Lord Thornbridge?”
Now James understood. The morning had been a blur. He had received an urgent summons from Morris just as dawn wasbreaking. James made haste to the docks, but was waylaid by his hackney throwing a wheel. He had to search for another one at such an early hour. Finally, he made it to his meeting spot with Morris, where the Bow Street Runner triumphantly held a piece of vellum they had found underneath a floorboard in Roberts’s apartment. James quickly learned that it was from the registry of the church in which his parents were married. James rushed back to Mayfair to swiftly change for his own wedding. He did not have time to notify anyone aside from dispatching an urgent message to the bishop.
James glanced to the front pew and saw his parents embrace with joy, despite the impropriety of the gesture. He turned back and found Lottie recovered from the initial shock. She quirked an eyebrow, and James shrugged his shoulders. Her chest vibrated with a silent chuckle. Meanwhile, the bishop tried to quiet the guests to resume the service.
The Duke’s voice boomed over the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Marquess of Thornbridge needs to marry his marchioness.” The guests laughed and settled down. His father ensured everyone’s attention was directed to the front of the church before he took his seat. The bishop cleared his throat and continued through the ceremony without further interruptions.
When the service reached the final segment, Gabe handed James the gold posy ring that had been worn by generations of Marchionesses of Thornbridge. The exterior had delicate floral engravings while the inside was inscribed with the words,My Heart is Yours. James’s father had given him the ring, not knowing if he would ever truly become the marquess.
James looked down at his beautiful bride and tears welled in her eyes once more. He recited the age-old pledge to forever love and cherish the woman before him.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
James slid the ring onto the fourth finger of Lottie’s left hand. After what felt like eons, the ceremony finally ended.
James looked at the woman he loved whom he could finally callwife.
Husband.
Charlotte could not believe she was married to James. She arranged the silk skirt of her dress on the seat of one of the ducal coaches to prevent wrinkles from developing before the wedding breakfast at the Westcliffe manse. James climbed in after her, and his imposing form seemed to take up the entire opposite side of the carriage.
He leaned forward and tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m so happy.”
Charlotte smiled widely back at him. “I am too, but why did you almost miss the ceremony?” She was no longer angry but curious as to what happened. James proceeded to explain the emergent missive that delayed him earlier that morning.
“I thought you had simply forgotten about me just like most of my family. But then, Arthur suspected something terrible had happened to you. I was sure it wasle Diableand feared for your safety. I can’t lose you.”
James reached out and grabbed her hands, his large palms easily surrounding her own. “I would never forget about you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give a warning in advance. Morris summoned me so urgently, and I assumed I would be able to make it back in time.”
“I forgive you,husband.” Charlotte’s cheeks flushed, and she gazed hungrily at the virile man before her.
“I accept your apology, my wife, my lady, my marchioness.” The side of his mouth lifted. “I didn’t need the title, but you deserve to have what you’re accustomed to and more.”
“I would have married you no matter what the circumstances. Our love is worth more than all the titles, all the gold and diamonds in the world.”
Charlotte tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. She added teasingly, “Or insurance money.”
James looked down abashed. “You know I really wasn’t going to turn you in,” he muttered.
“I’m grateful your father made the case disappear.”
James lifted his eyes. “I hate to admit it since I still don’t like theton, but I’m glad he has some powerful friends.”
“You’re one of us now,” Charlotte jested.
James let out a disgruntled sigh. Before he could lament his new place in Society, the carriage jolted as it made a turn. Charlotte, who had already leaned forward while James held her hands, lurched toward him. James caught her before she could fall and swiftly scooped her into his lap. He took care not to jostle her left arm.
“Well, this is convenient.” His mood changed and his eyes darkened. He looked like he would devour Charlotte.
“Is that so?” she responded playfully.
