“No, I don’t pity you. I do this out of love for your daughter. She deserves the best in life, and I will give that to her. You are no less of a man for accepting the help of others. If you can do this, you will help your family. You are the one who will make the choice, even if I am the one who will fix the problems. You are still a man, and men can do great things. I don’t believe you will ever get another chance like this. It is up to you, whether you step up or not.”
“Perhaps a glass of brandy will help make the decision easier,” Ralph begged.
“No, not today,” the Duke told him. “You will have nothing to drink at this wedding. What you do tomorrow is on your own shoulders, but this day is for my brother and his wife, and you shall not ruin that.”
“I won’t,” Ralph pleaded.
“Better to be safe than sorry. I shall sit with you until my footmen return, and then I shall go and join the festivities. We will speak some more over the coming weeks. You have done some awful things, Lord Lincoln. Yet, there is always a chance for salvation.”
* * *
Bridget sat huddled with her sister and mother at one of the tables on the far side of the hall. There were many who would like to join them, but they gave the family space on their special day.
“Say that again,” Margaret begged.
“Please don’t make me say it again,” Bridget huffed.
“Please!” Margaret pouted. “It is my wedding day, after all.”
“I am glad you only have one wedding day,” Bridget muttered.
“Just say it.”
“Alright. I am in love with His Grace, and he is in love with me,” Bridget said.
Margaret squealed and rubbed her hands together. “Oh, my goodness! Mother, can you believe it?”
“I am very happy for you, Bridget. I still don’t understand what happened between you and His Grace, but we will have a lot of time after today to discuss it. Are we to plan another wedding?”
“Not yet, but I hope His Grace will ask me to marry him soon.”
“I always knew,” Margaret claimed. “From the moment they first met, I knew they were destined to be together. Oh, how exciting! We will be wed to brothers! And our children will be the same age. We will both become pregnant fast, won’t we?”
“We don’t have to talk about such things right now,” Bridget said.
“I am a little nervous about tonight,” Margaret admitted. “I am in love with Michael, but I am still more nervous than I have ever been.”
“You will be fine,” Bridget assured her.
“And you will be fine on your wedding night.” Margaret giggled. “We will have dinner parties, and balls, and picnics. Oh, do you think we will all live here on the estate?”
Bridget was caught up in her sister’s joy, but she also noticed her mother constantly looking over at Ralph. Her father looked like he was waiting for the footmen to leave so he could make his escape.
Bridget placed her hand on her mother’s arm. “It is a good thing he is here,” she whispered as Margaret continued to talk about all the things they would do together. “His Grace has done well to ensure he causes no fuss.”
“He is hurting,” Penelope mumbled.
Bridget squeezed her mother’s arm.
“Oh, my love, you are here,” Margaret said, looking up. She blushed upon seeing Lord Michael and looked down at her feet.
Bridget also placed her hand on her sister’s arm. It was fine to be nervous, and she knew Lord Michael would care for her sister.
“Do you mind if we join you, my love?” Michael asked. He was flanked by his brother and mother.
“Oh, please do,” Margaret enthused. “Is it not wonderful how everything has… worked out?”
Margaret needn’t have worried about letting the cat out of the bag. The Duke walked around the table to Bridget and kissed her on the temple before squeezing in beside her. Michael sat beside Margaret, and Penelope moved around the table a little to be closer to Rebecca.
