Page 66 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
“Miss Snow, You do not want to marry him.” Rowan pointed accusingly to the groom, who grimaced at the gesture.
“I… want to marry him, Your Grace. I must marry him. You know this better than anyone here. I must do this. Like you said, we must move on with our lives.”
“What is going on here, Miss Snow?” The Earl furrowed his brow, turning to her. She felt the knot in her throat grow bigger, and her eyes began to sting with tears. “Tell him to go.”
“Do not listen to him. Please,” Rowan said quietly, finally giving her a look of complete earnestness. She had never seen him look so vulnerable, and it made her want to drop everything and bring him up onto the altar. “Alice, I love you.”
“You cannot be serious,” the Earl muttered.
But Alice did not hear him. Her entire world fell away, and it was just her standing before Rowan in a chapel, the sun shining on him from the window. “What did you just say?”
“I love you, Alice Snow. Fully and wholly. I am devoted to you.” Rowan furrowed his brow as if it was painful for him to even say.
“Your Grace, I cannot… I do not know what you want me to say.”
“Say that you love me back. I know that I made a mistake, and I will pay for it for the rest of my life, but if you tell me right now that you also love me, it will be enough for me. Please, Miss Snow. You do not want to marry this man.”
“This is ridiculous! Get him out of here.” Richard stood up from his seat, striding over, but his arm was caught by Xander, who gave him a firm look of disapproval. “He is harassing my sister.”
“I think you are the last person who should be speaking on that issue,” Cain mumbled.
“This is so ungentlemanly, Your Grace. Please, leave her be. She did not choose you,” Lord Eaton said quietly, his gaze flicking between his family, who looked puzzled, and the Duke.
“I did,” Alice said quietly, still staring at Rowan. “I did choose him… and I was reduced to nothing when you turned me down, Your Grace. You cannot understand how I felt.”
“I cannot make enough apologies with every breath I take in this life, Alice.” Rowan stepped closer, and the muttering in the pews grew louder as he stepped onto the altar. “Come with me. Choose me, Miss Snow.”
Alice was quiet as she attempted to read his face, feeling so overwhelmed by the decision.
Can I run away with this man that I have learned to love? Is this just blind jealousy, and he will decide to move on later?
She peered into his silvery gray eyes, which were bloodshot and glistening from tears. She had never seen him like this.
She stepped forward, reaching her shaking hand out to place it on his. “All right.”
“Miss Snow—” the Earl started, and she turned to see the frustration on his face.
“I am so sorry, Lord Eaton. We… Well, we both know this was not what either of us wanted.” She gave him a knowing look, not wanting to cause too much uproar in the crowd.
He looked down at his feet, giving a small nod. “I did want to marry you, Miss Snow,” he whispered. “I knew you would be a good wife and take care of my family. But I respect your feelings, as well. I must let you go if it is what you want.”
She gave him a thankful smile, wiping a tear that had run down her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Go. Get out of here quickly,” he whispered in her ear, pointing with his eyes to the exit. “It will be an uproar if you do not leave soon.”
Alice turned to Rowan, who stood like a child, waiting for his turn, holding his hand out to her with urgency. She slipped her hand into his, and he immediately grinned, walking her down the altar and to the back of the chapel, shutting the doors behind them.
A roar immediately followed their exit, anger, and confusion dripping from the muffled tones.
Before she could even say anything or comprehend what she had just done, Rowan had wrapped his hands around her face and crashed his lips against hers. She melted in his touch, which was firm but gentle, as he kissed her with what felt like ages of restrained feelings.
“I missed that.”
“I am sure this is not appropriate, Your Grace,” she said quietly. “We should go.”
“You will marry me, Miss Snow. I cannot have it any other way,” he said seriously, and she furrowed her brow at his tone, to which he laughed. “Will you marry me? Do not make a man beg.”
“After leaving me on that balcony, I think I deserve a bit of groveling, don’t you?” She cocked an eyebrow, making him smirk and run his fingers through his hair.
