There was no clock in the church, but Caroline could feel every precious minute clanging by, ticking the time closer to the houraftershe was supposed to be married. She was not certain how long a wedding could be delayed before the vicar could declare that it was not going to happen, but she doubted her nerves could hold out much longer. It had been hard enough to come to the church in the first place.
Olivia appeared, bringing her husband, Evan, with her. The latter had been like a second brother to Caroline for her entire life, his worry a reflection of her own as he set a hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Keep your chin up, Caro,” he said softly. “All will be well. He would not dare to jilt you, for he would have me, Daniel, and the rest of the Spinsters’ Club’s husbands to contend with if he did.”
Caroline nodded feebly, glancing back at the church entrance. But instead of concentrating on the worn varnish and black iron studs of the double doors, her eyes flitted to the figure standing sentinel at the very rear of the church. As pale and still as a statue.
Judging by his grim expression, Max Dennis was either going to lose his temper or lose his mind at any moment, his muscular arms straining at the seams of his tailcoat, his broad chest rising and falling with haste, punishing the buttons of his waistcoat.
His sea blue eyes caught her staring, and the lethal glare she received in return made her breath lodge in her throat, her heart racing twice as fast as before until she felt like it might burst clean out of her chest.
How can someone so handsome be so unfeeling?
“Has no one thought to ask Maximilian where his brother is?” Olivia asked, thumbing back at that furious living statue.
Daniel’s lip twitched. “Of course I have. He claims his brother was right behind him.”
“Right behind him?” Phoebe squeaked. “Well, that is not a good omen, is it?”
Daniel sagged. “What would you have me do, darling?”
“Anything but this useless standing around,” Phoebe replied, reaching for Caroline’s shaking hand. “She is trembling like a leaf!”
Just then, the church doors shrieked open, and the entire congregation whipped around so fast that Caroline was certain she could hear the echo of necks cracking. Meanwhile, her heartstopped completely, holding her breath as a cloaked figure swept back their hood.
But it was not Dickie. It was Percival.
Casting a hesitant eye over the group by the altar, Percival hurried straight to Max and leaned in, whispering quickly and animatedly. Max whispered back, his stony demeanor splintering into a huffing, puffing vision of outright fury, his hushed hisses slithering down the aisle like serpents.
He is not coming.The thought popped into Caroline’s head at the very moment that Max strode toward the altar, his eyes two searing embers in the midst of his blanched face.
“My brother, in his infinite idiocy, has fled,” he announced, his tone thick with restrained rage. “Percy attempted to give chase but lost him in the woods.”
He is not coming,the small voice in Caroline’s mind repeated, softer and gladder than before, her racing heart slowing and swelling with secret joy. She knew she should be doubly worried about how this would affect her standing and her reputation, but she could consider those concerns later. For now, she was positively euphoric, though she was careful not to show it, hiding it by dipping her head and gazing at the floor.
“Are you quite serious?” Daniel erupted, grabbing Max by the lapel. “How could you have let this happen? You must have known there was a chance that he might run—he is your brother,for goodness’ sake! You should have marched him into the church yourself, not allowed him to ride behind you!”
“I agree; I should not have charged Percy with making sure Dickie arrived,” Max replied, immoveable as Daniel attempted to jostle him. “But you mistake my character if you think I will not take responsibility for my brother’s reckless behavior. I should have known that he would not do his duty, you are correct in that, but I shall do mine. I will remedy this for your family and mine.”
Keeping her head down to hide the smile creeping onto her lips, Caroline said in a gentle, sad voice, “There is no need. If you were to march Dickie to the church another day, he would only flee again. He has made his position clear, and I must bear the consequences.” She sniffed for dramatic effect, raising what she hoped were sorrowful eyes to Max. “Everyone has done enough to protect me—I shall face society myself and take whatever comes.”
Max looked her dead in the eyes, an ice-cold shiver quaking from the tips of her toes to the crown of her head, unable to avert her gaze. It was as if those blue pools had sucked her in, and now she was drowning in their white-hot ire, unable to pull herself out. A gaze that might have had a very different effect in a pleasanter setting. Ifhewere pleasanter.
“Reverend Stanforth,” Max barked, straightening up as he looked to the vicar, who seemed to be dozing off in a chair by the lectern.
The vicar jolted up and out of his seat, smoothing down the creases in his robes. “Is the groom here? Shall we begin?”
“No, the groom is not—” Daniel began to say, but Max cut him off.
“The groomishere, Reverend.”
Panic surged through Caroline, following the trail her shiver had forged, as her head snapped around to look at the church entrance once more. But there was no one there but Percival, wringing his hands.
Is he seeing things? Trying to delay the inevitable for another hour?She had no time to ponder her questions as a rough hand closed over hers, pulling her closer to the altar in a most unseemly fashion.
Before she could protest or find any measure of strength to pry Max’s fingers away from her hand—though she doubted even her greatest strength would be a match for the least of Max’s—she heard him say the words that took an explosive to her hopes and dreams and liberty. His voice shattered the world as she knew it, leaving her with a future she wanted even less than a marriage to Dickie.
“Iwill be marrying Lady Caroline today,” Max said, tightening his grip on Caroline’s hand. “So, if you please, proceed.”
