Page 83 of The Duchess’ Modiste

“I know what you mean,” Chloe said. “For so long I thought any intimacy between us was my own imagination playing tricks on me.”

“No such tricks,” Arthur said from across the carriage. “Chloe, Lord Felton asked for my blessing to marry him when he came down from London to fetch you.”

“He did?” Chloe spluttered in surprise.

“Oh yes. He was so nervous he managed to knock over a whole tray of drinks.”

“Ha! That sounds like Leo.” Chloe laughed at the idea, remembering the clumsiness of his proposal too. She was utterly charmed by him, in every way.

Before anything else could be said between them, the chapel came into view, appearing from behind a bank of trees. The carriage slowed down and soon came to a stop.

As Arthur, Maeve, and Rosaline stepped down, Chloe sat back and admired the chapel. Made of yellow stone and bordered with trees on one side, and late-summer flowers on the other, it was quite beautiful. From inside she could hear people chattering, their voices only slightly muffled by the stained glass.

Chloe’s mind wandered to who was waiting for her inside the chapel. Would Leo be pacing? Would he be so nervous he could not stand still? She would not have been surprised if he had knocked off his boutonniere by now in all his fidgeting.

Chloe thought back to the previous night when she and Leo had wished each other goodnight. Under the watchful gaze of Maeve, who had barely left them unchaperoned since the day of Leo’s proposal, he had said goodnight. Lifting Chloe’s hand to his lips, he had kissed her delicately, his lips brushing her skin like butterflies’ wings.

“Chloe?” Arthur called to her, holding out his hand and shaking Chloe out of the memory. Smiling, Chloe reached for her father’s hand and let him help her down from the carriage before moving to the church door.

When Maeve opened the door ajar and seemingly nodded at someone inside, the hurried conversation beyond those doors grew louder. Chloe took her father’s arm and waited for the organ music to begin. It was sudden and melodic, the sound coming out of the church doors with strength. Maeve and Rosaline took their places behind Chloe and her father, and they all moved toward the door as one.

The moment Chloe stepped through the door her eyes shot to Leo. She had to hold back her laugh when she saw that Leo had indeed knocked the boutonniere off his lapel, and the Duke was hurrying to fix it for him.

Seconds later, the Duke stepped back, taking his position as best man and leaving Leo alone at the altar. When Leo’s eyes lifted to meet Chloe’s, he smiled so widely that she couldn’t help smiling back.

Walking down the aisle, she would have happily run to Leo, but her father kept their steps in time with the music, and they walked slowly. Chloe amused herself by watching where Leo’s eyes went instead. They darted over her gown and back up to her face again, as he clearly admired it.

At the front of the pews, Chloe was moved toward the altar by her father. He offered her hand to Leo, who took it rather speedily.

“Take care of her, Lord Felton,” Arthur whispered under the cover of the organ music.

“You have my word, Lord Maywood. I intend to,” Leo promised. Arthur seemed delighted by these words and hurried to his place in the pews.

Once they were alone, Leo drew Chloe forward, so they stood on the stone step before the altar, waiting for the organ music to begin and for the vicar to approach. Bending down to her ear, Leo took the opportunity to whisper to her.

“You look beautiful,” he said softly. “Now I see why you tried to keep the gown so hidden.”

“I am glad you like it.” Chloe smiled back up at him, not remembering a moment when she had been so happy.

“Whilst we wait for the organ to stop, there is something I want to tell you,” Leo said quietly.

“What is that?”

“You once asked me what my dream was in life?” Leo reminded her. Chloe thought back to the night they’d had that conversation, and she nodded.

“I remember,” she mused. “You seemed to avoid talking of your dream.”

“That is because I was nervous to say it.” His hand rested over hers on his arm. “Now, I am not nervous.Thiswas my dream, Chloe. This moment.”

“Marriage?” she asked, feeling rather breathless.

“Our marriage,” Leo said, his smile spreading wider. “I could not be happier that my dream came true.”

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