Page 8 of Duchess By Accident
“I know. Perhaps I should have let Peter duel him.” Natalie muttered.
“You made the right decision. If mother had not been in France with Jane perhaps things would be different.” Rose wrung her hands. “Honestly, I am not sure what my sister was thinking.”
“She wanted to take the children on an adventure. That is perfectly understandable. Besides, it is not like she planned for this.” Natalie squeezed Rose’s hand.
The door opened and Emily, Rose’s youngest sister, and one of Natalie’s closest friends appeared, with a crying toddler in her arms. A thuggish looking man in the Marquess’s colours stood behind her.
Natalie’s heart sank.That was the last obstacle.
“I am afraid the Marquess has had us removed from the church.” Emily said as she hugged her son and glared at the brute who had escorted her from the church.
A moment later, Emily’s husband, Luke Baine, Duke of Warren appeared. He glowered at the Marquess’s thug. “If you do not unhand my wife, I shall see you hanged.”
The brute raised an eyebrow before walking back into the church and closing the door. Natalie wondered how long it would be before he was sent to fetch her.
“Did he hurt you?” Luke asked, glancing at Emily.
Natalie’s heart twisted watching them.I will never have a love like that. There will be no joy for me.
“No. He did not.” Emily shook her head. “And he did not even have a chance to lay a hand on Nathaniel.”
The toddler sniffled and then glanced up at Natalie, smiling. “Mama let me make a scene!”
“And you did very well.” Natalie smiled back at Nathaniel.
“He bit the Marquess’s shin.” Emily said, pride in her voice. “He was trying to get him to stop throwing a tantrum in the aisle, and Nathaniel bit him.”
“You are not supposed to bite people.” Luke frowned at his son.
“But Mama said he a toad. Toads not people.” Nathaniel gave the crowd an imploring look.
“Biting a real toad, like the ones you find by a pond, will make you very sick, so perhaps it is best to avoid it in future.” Natalie gave him a hug. “Though I must thank you, little godson.”
The toddler gave her a pleased look. Natalie surveyed the gathered group around her. The clock chimed one o’clock. The door opened and Alexander peered through it.
“I am surprised that you are still here. Though relieved you have not fled to Scotland, my dear Natalie.” Alexander moved towards her.
“It was tempting, but I would have missed all of you too much. Not to mention the scandal it would have caused.” Natalie sighed and cast one last look over her shoulder.No one is coming.“Well, I suppose we might as well get this over with.”
Alexander gently looped her arm through his, and she was grateful for his steadying presence. He opened the door to the church and as they entered she saw her eldest brother glowering at Lord Bolton. He continued to do so the entire way down the aisle.
“I have failed you. I should have been able to stop this…” Alexander shook his head.
“You have your daughters to think about.” Natalie squeezed his arm. “And your nieces. You gave me time, by forcing him to go through the reading of the Banns.”
“It was not difficult to convince the archbishop to deny his applications. I still wish that I could have done more.” Alexander murmured.
As she approached Lord Bolton, he smiled at her, and she was seized with a violent urge to punch him. But she knew that it would do no good, it would only hurt her family.
Instead, she raised her head, standing tall and enjoying the embarrassment clear on his face as she towered over him.
He grabbed her arm hard and whispered, “I shall expect you to be more punctual once we are married.”
“Then you shall be disappointed.” Natalie retorted.
“I shall break you. And I will enjoy every minute of it.” He looked up at her, the promise of violence in his eyes.
“I could not quite hear you, as far away as you are down there. Perhaps we should fetch you a box.” She smiled sweetly at him. Down at him, more precisely.
