Tessa knew why the old lady was in such a grumpy mood: apart from being denied a grand wedding fuss, suitable to an earl, she was even more put out that she wasn’t even an official member of the wedding party.
Knowing that Tessa had no female friends or relations, she’d offered to be Tessa’s matron-of-honor, but Marcus had said a firm no to that.And then Lady Gosforth had announced that in that case, she would give the bride away, Tessa having nobody to perform that office either.But again, Marcus had said no, that he’d arranged something else.And refused to explain.
At the entrance of the church, Tessa hesitated.
“Nerves?”Lady Gosforth said.“Should have thought you’d be used to this by now.”She stomped into the church.
#
MARCUS WAITED BY THEaltar.He hated waiting.He itched to pace back and forth, but one didn’t pace in church, not with the vicar standing by and the pews slowly filling before him.His hand drifted up to loosen his neckcloth, but he forced himself to stop.One didn’t greet one’s bride with a disarranged neckcloth either.
Where was she?
Beside him his best man, Barney Wimple was wittering on about something, his voice low and confiding.Marcus wasn’t listening.Barney was a good fellow, but he often wittered on about things Marcus had no interest in.
He pulled out his watch and looked at it for the umpteenth time.She wasn’t late.But where was she?
“So, I’m sorry about it, Marcus.”
Marcus half-turned.“Sorry about what?”
“Those rumors.”
Marcus shook his head.“Not your fault.”He went back to staring at the church door, willing Tessa to appear.And not pacing.
“I’ve always found her terrifying.You know that.”
“Mmm.”Marcus was listening with half an ear.Less.“Why is that, d’you think?”
“Dash it all, Marcus, youknowyour aunt is a, agorgon.”
Marcus blinked.“My aunt?What has she to do with anything?”He glanced at her, sitting upright in her pew, wearing a massive gold and purple turban, glaring at him through her lorgnette.Still crabby at not being included in the wedding party, no doubt.
“Shemademe do it.I tried to tell her it would only make things worse.But she stares at a fellow through that glass thingummy and it turns a fellow to stone, I swear it.She’s a gorgon!”
“What things?What are you talking about?When did you talk to my aunt?”As far as he knew Barney avoided his aunt like the plague.
“Last month, when she summoned me.Yes, summoned, that’s the word.Sent a footman around to my lodgings.Before breakfast!Dashed if I know how she discovered my direction.Might have to move.Though my landlady does make an exceptionally good breakfast.”
“Hang your landlady and her breakfasts.What did Aunt Maude want?”
Barney rolled his eyes.“I already told you.I knew you weren’t listening.”
“Hang it all, Barney, I’m waiting for my bride to arrive.Of course I wasn’t listening.So what did she want?”
“For me to scotch the rumors about you and Lady Hewitt.”
“What?”
“I told her I hadn’t heard any rumors, but she insisted.Tried to tell her, too, that denying them would only stir things up, but would she listen?”He snorted.
Marcus’s fingers clenched into fists.So that was it.The cunning old witch.He’d thought there was something off about those rumors.And there was definitely something fishy about his aunt’s supposed opposition to his marriage.He’d walked right into her trap.Galloped, more like.
But he wasn’t the one who’d been trapped.
It was Tessa.
He’dwantedto marry her even before the rumors.But she hadn’t wanted to marryanyone.His aunt had convinced her she had to, in order to protect his good name.His honor.
