Looking down the aisle, she saw Patrick. His eyes were locked on her.
“He wanted me to do this for you rather than stand with him, but I told him I can do both,” Stephen said.
“You are a good friend,” she whispered, still looking at Patrick.
She saw guests out of the corners of her eyes. Some she knew, but others she didn’t, and then she was standing beside him.
“Hello,” she whispered.
“Hello. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
He took her hand when Stephen held it out to him.
“Trust me, Sophie.”
“I would ask you to trust me also, my lord,” Sophie whispered.
“If you are ready, my lord, we shall proceed,” the minister said loudly.
The service was a blur to Sophie. She spoke her vows clearly and even remembered all of his names.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
He faced her. “It will be all right, Sophie.” Patrick kissed her softly and then took her hand as they turned to look at their guests as man and wife.
CHAPTER 35
“When will I see you again?” Patrick heard Amelia ask Sophie as both women battled tears.
“Soon, I promise, and we will write,” his wife said.
His wife.
When he’d seen Sophie enter that church, his chest had felt tight and emotion nearly choked him.
Patrick wasn’t sure what this feeling inside him meant, but he knew that Sophie was important to him, so keeping her safe would be his priority.
Patrick didn’t give her a chance to back out of the marriage, and now she was his. He watched a tear trail down her cheek as her eyes followed her friend being escorted to a waiting carriage to take her home.
“We will be back in London soon, Sophie,” Patrick said, placing a hand on her spine.
“I-I know. It’s just that I’ve never had a lot of friends, and Amelia is important to me. Plus, she’s not happy,” Sophie whispered.
“Because her mother is a nasty shrew?”
Sophie nodded.
“Now, you are not to worry,” Lady Carstairs said, arriving next. “Timmy, Doddy, and I will be leaving for your estate tomorrow and have plenty of people watching over us until then.”
“Stephen will be accompanying you,” Patrick said. “Plus two of my men.”
“There. You see, dear?” the older woman said, hugging Sophie. “All will be well.”
“I-I will see you soon, Timmy. You be good for Letty,” Sophie said, bending to kiss her little brother.
“Can’t I come with you?”
