“We are about to begin the ceremony,” he said, and a rush of emotion passed through Charity. She closed her hands into a fist.It was happening.Oh, it was finally happening. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of two souls, Miss Charity X and Duke Duncan X.”
She could not even dare look up at herhusband to be,worried that he would somehow see just how nervous and jittery she felt. It was an excited nervousness, and it felt good to share this moment with everyone that she loved. They had been very intentional about their guest list, and she could confirm that there was not a single person present in the chapel who did not have the best of intentions for her.
When the officiant reached the final lines before the pronouncement, Charity felt her throat tighten so suddenly she nearly missed the cue, and the officiant looked between them.
“If any person here present knows of any lawful impediment why these two should not be joined together,” the officiant said, “let him speak now, or forever hold his peace.”
There was a brief pause that seemed ordinary at first, but then suddenly, the door at the back of the chapel opened with force.
A man’s voice rang out, loud enough to make several people turn sharply.
“STOP THIS AT ONCE.”
Charity’s entire body went cold and turned to face the sight that made her stomach drop.
Uncle Edward?
He stood in the doorway, face flushed, breathing hard as if he had run, and beside him was Robert, who looked less furious. More like smug, for whatever strange reason. Behind them were two constables in uniform.
Charity looked to Duncan, her mind immediately going to the worst scenario. Duncan, in turn, had a placid expression.
Edward pushed forward again, pointing as if he owned the space. She had not seen her uncle for some time now, but he had not changed even slightly. His entitlement was still the most noticeable thing about.
“Well, I hate to interrupt this little ceremony,” he started with a wicked expression on his face, “but I must. You cannot marry my niece, nor can you take them away from me.”
One of the constables stepped forward with a hand raised, as if he meant to stop Edward from charging down the aisle.
“Sir,” he said firmly, “you will keep yourself back, or you will be removed from this place before any proper business can be done.”
“I brought you here for a reason,” he snapped, barely glancing at the man. “Do your duty.”
The constable nodded once, and looked toward Duncan. He seemed to be taking stock of the kind of person Duncan was.
“Your Grace,” he said, sounding uncertain of himself, “We have been told there is a dispute concerning two minor girls who are kin to the Viscount of Orton, and we have been instructed to retrieve them.”
“You were told there is a dispute,” Duncan said, voice even. “By whom?”
The constable glanced back at Edward, then answered. “The viscount himself, Your Grace.”
Duncan nodded once, as if that confirmed what he already believed.
“And you were told I am trying to steal his nieces?”
“Yes,” the constable said, though his tone sounded less convinced now that he had to say it out loud in this room.
“Do you often accept a viscount’s accusation as fact without hearing the other side, or did you only decide that today was a good day to begin behaving foolishly?”
The constable’s face flushed. “Your Grace, we are here to prevent a possible unlawful removal of minors from their lawful guardian….”
“Lawful guardian,” Duncan repeated, with a calm that made the words sharper. “Is he their lawful guardian, or is he merely a man who claims he is?”
The constable hesitated while Edward snapped, “Of course I am.”
Duncan did not look at Edward when he answered.
“You will not speak again unless I ask you to,” Duncan said, and something in his tone made Edward go very still with shock and fury mixed together.
The constable cleared his throat, trying again. “Their parents are deceased, sir, and the viscount claims authority….”
