Page 72 of Haunted Hearts

“I am.” Robert still hugged his family. “And I will carry on in Father’s stead. I will be the Lord of Alderwood Castle, since I am his only heir.”

“Does that mean Mother won’t have to marry Uncle Arthur?” asked Serena.

“Nay, of course not,” said Robert with a chuckle. “Why would she?” He gave his mother a kiss. “Mother, you don’t ever have to marry again if you choose not to. I’ll never throw you out.”

Lillith looked over to see Arthur sinking atop a chair, looking like he was devastated. However, Lillith felt so happy that she didn’t care what happened to the vile man.

“Well, shall we continue with your sisters’ weddings?” asked the earl. “I will stay for the wedding feast, but need to leave right afterwards.”

“Yes,” said the baron, Sir Edward, taking Lillith’s hand. “I cannot wait to marry this wonderful woman.”

“I’m ready,” said the priest, standing up at the dais. “Will the two couples please approach the dais?”

Lillith didn’t know what to do. Feeling as if her world had come to an end, she accompanied the baron up to the dais, where Blaze and Serena were already waiting.

“Wait a minute,” said Blaze with his hand in the air.

“Is there a problem, Sir Blaze?” asked the earl.

“Yes, I’m afraid there is, Earl Birmingham,” Blaze answered. “It seems I have been tricked into agreeing to marry the wrong Lady Bonnel.”

“Blaze, please,” whispered Lillith, knowing this could only cause trouble.

“What do you mean?” asked the earl. “You’d better explain, Payne.”

The crowd all mumbled softly, watching from afar.

“When I agreed to marry Lady Bonnel and end the feud, I thought I was marrying my childhood sweetheart and the love of my life, Lillith,” said Blaze.

Lillith bit her lip and looked to the ground.

“Go on,” said the earl.

“Lord Arthur purposely wrote up the proposal omitting the first name of which girl I was to marry,” Blaze continued. “I, of course, was sure it was Lillith, since we have had a verbal agreement with Lord Henri Bonnel since childhood that we’d marry someday.”

“Is this true, Lord Arthur?” asked the earl.

Arthur had been trying to silently sneak out of the great hall, but Minerva stood in his way, blocking him from leaving.

“Well, I can’t be sure,” said Arthur.

“I can,” said Minerva. “I’m Blaze’s mother and I can tell you that my son and Lady Lillith were inseparable when they were growing up.”

“That’s right,” agreed Beatrice. “My husband did have a verbal agreement with Roger. However, when Robert disappeared and the rumors started that he was cursed and killed by Lady Minerva because she was a witch, the feud started between our families and everything changed.”

“Feud?” asked Robert. “I think I’ve been gone longer than I thought. It seems I’ve missed a lot, and also caused a lot of trouble.”

“I’m confused,” said the earl. “If you two were promised to each other and both your fathers are dead, then why is Sir Blaze marrying the wrong sister?”

“I can answer that,” said the baron. “It is because Lord Henri Bonnel came to me with a betrothal just before he died. He offered me Lady Lillith’s hand in marriage, and I accepted. However, I didn’t know about the verbal betrothal that happened long ago. If I had, of course, I would never have accepted the proposal.”

“Really?” Lillith looked up, feeling hope for the first time in years. “Then, will you let us break the betrothal, so Blaze and I can marry?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind, but it seems it’s too late,” said the baron. “Blaze is already betrothed to Serena. Am I right?”

“Under false pretense,” said Blaze.

“Serena’s name is written on the document and signed by Lord Payne,” said Arthur. “It’s not my fault if he blindly signs things he doesn’t read first. They still need to get married. I refuse to break the contract.”