Page 71 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Rogue

Rowena giggled again.

“Naturally,” she said. “Surely, you didn’t think otherwise.”

Sally blushed and looked away sheepishly.

“Of course not,” she said. But the smile on her face and the relief in her eyes belied her, and Rowena felt great love for her maid. “However, if it’s all right with you, I wish to reject the idea of a promotion. I would have no other place than at your side.”

Rowena embraced her maid again and nodded.

“Very well,” she said. “I believe I’d like that.”

They reached the carriage and all the women were buzzing with an excitement that Rowena remembered only from Nancy’s wedding day. She relished every second of it, feeling her own joy rise with each minute as the carriage drew nearer to the church. It was truly the wedding day Rowena had always dreamed of, and she thought she would surely burst with joy.

When they reached the church, the footmen helped the women from the carriage. The viscount, smartly dressed, stood outside the doors of the church, smiling when he saw them arriving. As Rowena reached him, he held out his arm to her.

She took it, pleasantly surprised to find that he smelled of cologne and soap, not alcohol for a change. She realized instantly that he was sober, just in time to walk her down the aisle.

“My darling,” he said, kissing her cheek. “You look absolutely beautiful.”

Rowena nodded, giving him a small smile.

“Thank you, Father,” she said.

She readied herself to walk into the church with her father. But instead, her father turned and pulled her into an embrace.

“I’m sorry, Rowena,” he said softly. “I was a disgrace, trying to force you to marry Lord Axenshire. That was a selfish, inconsiderate thing to do, and I know it made you feel valueless to me. I do not think ten lifetimes would be enough for me to make it up to you. But I would ask for your forgiveness. I love you, sweetheart. And I am truly sorry that I ever made you think I do not.”

Rowena gasped softly. She had never expected her father to apologize to her. He had been largely absent since her engagement to Andrew began. Now, not only was he apologizing to her at her wedding, but he seemed to be doing it completely sober.

It still stung, recalling the pressure her father had put on her to marry the earl. That day at the races, where he had gripped her arm so tightly it hurt was not forgotten, either. But she was truly happy, and the viscount seemed genuinely regretful for his actions. And he was her father, after all. If he was willing to admit to his wrongdoing, she was willing to accept his apology.

“I love you, Father,” she said, gently kissing his cheek. “And I forgive you.”

The viscount’s eyes lit up, filling with tears as he offered his arm to his middle daughter.

“Oh, thank you, my dear Rowena,” he said, caressing her cheek. “And I love you, too. I will make sure you never doubt that ever again.”

Rowena nodded. She took her father’s arm just as the organ music began.

“It is time, Father,” she said.

Lord Worthingwood gave a nod, wiping at his eyes before they started down the aisle.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.

Rowena nodded and smiled.

“As I am of you,” she said.

They made their way ceremoniously down the aisle. The pews were quite sparsely filled, as the couple had opted for an intimate ceremony, with only their closest friends and family as guests.

At the altar stood Nancy as Rowena’s matron of honor and Edmund as Andrew’s best man. The vicar stood waiting on the steps, smiling at Rowena and her father as they approached. And there, looking handsomer than ever in his crisp, black suit and a new, cream-colored frilled shirt, stood Andrew. And his smile was the biggest of all.

As her father stepped aside to put her hand in Andrew’s, he gave her one last kiss on the cheek. Then, he bowed to Andrew before taking his seat beside the viscountess. Rowena turned to face Andrew, who was staring at her as though she was the only other person in the room. She was instantly lost in his hazel eyes and everything around her vanished.

The vicar began the ceremony, but the spouses-to-be could not take their eyes off one another. Wave after wave of tingles coursed through Rowena as her gloved hand rested in Andrew’s. When the time came for them to exchange vows, Rowena felt overcome with emotion. She had to pause once to catch her breath as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks.

Andrew also had to stop to clear his throat, and Rowena’s heart skipped a beat. There was no denying they were irrevocably in love with each other. Even as she promised her life and heart to Andrew, she could hardly believe how lucky she was. And she could see clearly in Andrew’s eyes that he felt the same.

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