Page 70 of Seal My Fate

I stop, feeling a hard outline of something beneath his formal frock coat. And it’s not the dirty kind. “Saint?” I murmur softly. I feel the bulge in the back of his waistband again, and gasp.

He brought hisgun.

“Relax,” Saint tells me, under his breath.

“How can I relax, when you’re armed!” I hiss.

“It’s just as a precaution.”

“But Saint—”

“No.” He cuts me off firmly. “We don’t know who these people are, or what they’re capable of. Or when they might strike. So, yes, I’m prepared. I’m not letting anyone hurt you again.”

His face is set with determination.Protective. And damnit, I can’t help but melt, just a little. Fierce Saint can do that to me, every time.

“Bride or groom?” one of the ushers interrupts us, wearing an embroidered satin waistcoat that I already know was hand-sewn by nuns in Tuscany.

“We’re with both. St. Clair,” Saint gives his name, and the usher checks his tablet.

“Ah, yes. The bridal party is gathered in Chapter House,” he informs us. “And the groom has the use of our Darlington Suite.” He snaps his fingers, and two more staff materialize to show us.

“That’s alright, I can show them the way.” Hugh joins us, looking dapper in a coat and tails, with his usually rumpled blonde hair combed neatly back against his head. “I’ve already gotten lost twice,” he adds, grinning. “Barged in on two nuns praying, if you’d believe it.”

“Now, that sounds like the start of one of your dirty jokes,” Saint jokes, and Hugh laughs.

“I wish!” He kisses me on the cheek in greeting, and slaps Saint on the shoulder. “Looking fancy, the both of you. The lads and I have a running bet that nobody could look good in those feathered monstrosities, but you might just prove us all wrong, Tessa.”

“You’re too kind,” I remark dryly.

“We were trying to decide, is it more ostrich or emu?” Saint asks, slipping an arm around my shoulders. We follow Hugh down a side hallway, again bedecked with fresh flowers and gorgeous fabrics.

“No comment,” Hugh grins. “And if the bride herself should ask, I’m stunned into silence by the beauty of the occasion.”

“Smart man.” Saint chuckles. “How’s Max doing?”

“Oh, the usual cold feet. He’s threatening to climb out a window and abscond on one of the carriage horses.”

I gasp. “Really?”

“Nothing to worry about,” Hugh reassures me. “A couple of stiff drinks, and he’ll be right as rain. I’ll be the voice of reason, Saint, if you tell him life as a perpetual bachelor is severely overrated.”

“It is,” Saint says, giving me a satisfied smile.

Hugh groans. “Don’t tell me you’ve got wedding bells ringing in your ears, too. Soon, I’ll be the only sad, lonely fellow propping up the bar.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think there are a couple of single bridesmaids looking to mingle,” I tell him, thinking back to the bachelorette party.

“That does help, thank you.” Hugh points down a flight of stairs. “The girls are that way. Give my best to ‘Belle!”

“I’ll see you soon,” Saint says, dropping a kiss on my lips.

“And your father…” I venture quietly, glancing at where Hugh is checking his phone.

Saint nods. “My parents will be arriving soon. I’ll find a moment to talk to him. And don’t worry,” he adds with a smile. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

Hugh looks up. “Chop chop. Before Max takes that tumble out of the cathedral window.”

He whisks Saint away, and I go in search of the bridal party. The peals of laughter greeting me at the bottom of the staircase tell me I’m in the right place.

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