Smoothing down the lapels of his dark green tailcoat, drawing in a shaky breath that could be heard by all, Dickie got to his feet. Schooling his face into an expression resembling sincerity, he bowed his head to Caroline, then slowly sank down to one knee on the Persian rug.
“Caro, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?” he asked tightly, keeping his head bowed.
Nervous laughter bubbled up from Caroline’s side of the room, drawing a cold stare from Max. What sort of fool would dare to laugh at such a serious situation? What sort of oblivious creature would mock the one chance she had to save herself? Max had known her to be reckless and rash, but he had never, until that moment, thought her to actually be stupid.
“Get up, Dickie,” Caroline urged. “This is absurd.”
“My Lord,” Max corrected tersely, indescribably bothered by the informality.
Dickie raised his head. “I am sorry, Caro, but I must fix this. I know it is not what you desire—I know it is not what either of us desires—but it is the only way.”
“But I do not love you,” Caroline said quietly, her face ashen.
She glanced at her brother in desperation, her thin frame beginning to tremble as she no doubt realized that there would be no escaping this. Then, she looked back at Dickie, as if willing him to stand up and retract the proposal, as if willing him to burst into laughter so she would know it was all a silly joke.
Max watched the carousel of emotions turn across her undeniably beautiful face, her plump, full lips thinning as she clamped them together, the rosy apples of her cheeks turning a shade redder, a muscle twitching in her slim jaw, her fingers agitatedly sweeping back stray locks of her raven black hair. She turned her eyes, the color of fresh honey, on Max and a glint akin to hatred flashed for a second, as though she blamed him and not herself or Dickie for what was happening.
Daniel put his arm around Caroline’s narrow shoulders, hugging her to him. “Love is not everything, dear heart.”
“That is easy for you to say whenyouhave found your true love,” Caroline rasped in reply, tears suddenly shining in those warm eyes of hers, turning them cold. “Should I not be granted the same courtesy? You have always said that I could wait until Ifound someone that I loved the way Mama and Papa loved each other! You promised me!”
Daniel held her tighter. “That was before, dearest Caro. This scandalwillsee the light of day, and when it does, any hope you might have had of finding a love like that will vanish in the glare.” He expelled a weary breath and pressed a kiss to his sister’s hair. “I am so very sorry, Caro, but Dickie is right—this is the only way to prevent your ruination. It is a very honorable thing that he is doing, and you must meet it with the same sense of duty.”
Caroline looked up at him, imploring him. “Do not command me to do this. I beg of you. I will be… trapped. I will be miserable. Dickie and I have often jested about how unhappy we would be together.”
“The ton can be cruel, Lady Caroline,” Max interjected, as Dickie rose to standing once more. “And as my brother seems to be a dear friend of yours—someone you do not mind spending time alone with—I suspect that something like love will have room to grow between you.”
Caroline gaped at him as if he had just struck her across the face with a glove, that glint of hatred transforming into a brighter burn of blame and anger. Why it was suddenly Max’s fault was a mystery to him, but if he had to bear the brunt of it to ensure that Dickie and Caroline were both protected from scorn, then so be it. He would be the villain if that was what it took.
“Please, Caro,” Daniel murmured, tears gleaming in his own eyes as he peered down at his sister. “I could not stomach seeing you cast out of society. Nor could our mother; it would shatter her.”
Caroline’s expression softened, the fury leaving her pretty eyes as she turned her full attention back to her brother. In that look, Max could see her resolve crumbling, and though he could take no pleasure in it, he knew it would be for the best, for everyone involved.
“Very well,” she whispered, dipping her chin to her chest. “I will do as you ask. I will do my duty but, if I may, I would like a few moments alone to speak with my future husband.”
Max raised a concerned eyebrow. “I do not think that would be wise.”
She glared at him. “What harm could it possibly cause now?”
“Leave us, brother,” Dickie urged. “She is right—a few minutes of privacy will not do any damage now.”
Daniel gave a subtle nod to Max, and as they would soon be family, Max did not feel inclined to refuse. So, with a warning look at his brother and an apologetic glance at Caroline—for he truly did feel sorry about the situation—he allowed them their moment alone, stepping out into the hallway with Daniel.
The door closed behind Max, and he prayed that Dickie was right, that no harm could come from giving them a few minutes alone.
Gray light streamed in through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting muted colors onto the unforgiving flagstones underfoot. A small congregation sat restlessly in the pews, their whispers growing louder with every passing minute, gazes flitting back toward the ancient wooden doors, ears pricked for the sound of a carriage approaching or the old hinges squealing.
It was hard to believe that a fortnight ago, Caroline had only daydreams of what her wedding would look like. She had imagined a church crammed to the rafters with guests, and fragrant flowers in every corner, while she wore a beautiful gown of cream silk and a smile so wide that her cheeks ached.
The reality was a sad echo, for the wedding had been rushed through with a special license, the invitations limited to family only. Even the Spinsters’ Club were prohibited, aside from Phoebe and Olivia, whowerefamily to her now.
“Daniel, this is ridiculous,” Phoebe said, coming to join her husband, who stood impatiently at Caroline’s side. “She should not be at the altar if the groom is not here. Let me take her back to the carriage. When Dickie arrives, I will inform you, but we cannot leave her waiting here like this.”
Daniel pursed his lips. “It is raining, darling. Better that she waits here than have to run from the carriage back to the church.”
“He islate, Daniel,” Phoebe urged. “Very late.”
“Do you think I am not aware of that?” Daniel muttered back.
