Page 78 of The Duke of Kisses
The maid nodded and came forward, but Fanny pulled at David’s coat. “I’m not leaving without you.”
“Of course not,” David said. “Just give me one moment.” He squeezed her hand before giving her back to the maid and spinning around to address Fanny’s family.
“You’ll have nothing to do with Fanny from here on,” he said, his gaze roving over the three men as well as her mother. “You’ve behaved abominably where it comes to her and her sister. Fanny has done nothing to warrant your treatment except fall in love with me. I love her beyond words, and I would hope that would be enough to satisfy you.”
He spun on his heel and walked down the path, joining Fanny on the way toward the coaches.
She tucked her arm over his. “Thank you. I can see that took considerable restraint. I didn’t realize you were a violent person.”
“Typically, I am not. However, if you want to see me enraged, you need only strike my beloved.” He looked down at her with fierce devotion. “Your father was right about one thing—I’d commit murder to protect you.”
“I’m beginning to see how love can make someone do terrible things,” she said quietly as they reached the street. “Perhaps my great-uncledidkidnap your aunt.”
Though that was what David had heard and believed for so long, he wasn’t entirely sure it was true. What if there had been a letter? Why would Snowden lie about such a thing?
Because he was a nasty prick. That much Daviddidbelieve.
They crossed the street to Fanny’s coach, where her coachman rushed to open the door. David took her hand to help her up inside. “I plan to conduct an investigation when I return to Huntwell. No matter what we find, Fanny, we will still be married.Wecan still be happy.”
She didn’t quite smile, but her gaze was warm with love as she looked up at him. “I know we can. From the moment we met, I felt as though we were meant to be together. With whatever happened between our families in the past, perhaps it’s Fate’s way of making things right again.”
“What a lovely sentiment.” David glanced back toward the congregation, which included Fanny’s parents, still gathered on the path. How had such a kind and wonderful woman come from such horrid people?
Fanny turned to Barker. “I’d like to ride with David for a while. Can you please ride in his coach?”
The maid blinked in surprise but nodded. “I shouldn’t, but I know you’re shaken.”
“Thank you.”
David helped Fanny into the coach and climbed in beside her. She removed her bonnet and tossed it on the opposite seat. He drew her tight against him, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “This is rather scandalous.”
“No more so than fighting with my father in a churchyard on my brother’s wedding day.”
David would have laughed if his anger wasn’t still so close to the surface. “Try to put it from your mind.”
“I’m afraid it will be a long time before I can do that.” She fell quiet, her head resting on his shoulder.
David’s anger gradually receded into a hopeless despair. The Snowdens’ reactions and behavior had been appalling enough. What could he expect from his own family?
He was almost afraid to find out.
