She let out a surprised squeal, then giggled against his back.
“Highly irregular,” blurted the stunned priest.
“Irregular!” snapped Viscount Oldfield. “You cannot take my bride! Or quit your post! How will I become solvent again without you to—”
“Huzzah!” Mary Frances called out, clapping her hands in delight. “Someone get the door!”
One of the footmen immediately did just that, twisting the handle and pulling the door open wide.
Hudson marched down the aisle with his future bride over his shoulder. Scattered applause broke out from the maids and footmen. The Marquess of Brigsby stared at them with his mouth hanging open. Mary Frances tossed flower petals at them as they passed.
When they were back out in the sunlight, Hudson placed Tabitha on her feet. Her hair was mussed and her gown wrinkled beyond repair. He had never seen her look more beautiful.
“Where to now?” she asked. “Gretna Green?”
“Unnecessary.” He retrieved a piece of paper from inside his waistcoat.
She unfolded it in shock. “You secured a marriage license?”
“A good man of business is always prepared for anything,” he informed her with a straight face.
“How about an escape vehicle?”
Hudson lifted his fingers. Before he could snap, his barouche arrived from around the corner. He grinned at Tabitha. “You were saying?”
“A change of clothes?” she asked hopefully.
“You’ll find a new wardrobe in a trunk in the back.”
“Breakfast?”
“In the basket on the rear seat.”
“Happy ever after?”
“Ah.” He took her hand in his and kissed her cheek. “That’s something we’ll have to find together.”
And so they did.
Chapter 27
Later that afternoon, after a leisurely picnic breakfast, Tabitha and Hudson took a beautiful spring stroll through the park… during which Tabitha gradually grew more and more discomfited.
It wasn’t that she thought she’d made a mistake—thanks to Hudson, she knew she hadn’t. She loved him and he loved her. They made each other happy. There was no doubt in either of their minds that they were meant to be together.
As for Lord Oldfield’s feelings on the matter… Tabitha couldn’t bring herself to truly regret having jilted him at the altar, not once, but twice. She should never have been present at that altar to begin with. No one had asked her if she wanted to marry him. She’d been assigned the task before she was old enough to speak for herself, and even after she’d gained the capacity to express herself eloquently, nobody had cared about her wishes.
Until Hudson. Who was glancing down at her now with love… and concern.
“What is it?” he asked softly.
“Father,” she admitted. “I don’t regret choosing you over Oldfield, but I cannot bear the thought of my father dying both angry and disappointed with me. I have to see him one more time.”
“Of course you do,” Hudson said without hesitation. “As many times as you please. Shall I take you to him now?”
Relief eased a little of her anxiousness. “Would you?”
“Without delay.” He spun about on the walking path and led her out from the flowering trees and back to his carriage.
