Page 34 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

Her mother frowned. “I don’t understand you, Patience. This is what you have wanted for years. You have been less than an enthusiastic bride. Why the change of heart?”

Patience rubbed her arms as if to ward off the sudden chill in the room. “We are not the same people, Mother. I was foolish to waste those years wishing Alex would return and save me from Cyrus.” She walked to the window and looked out. “Time passes and people change. Alex has been all over the world. He fought in a war, while I remained in London, spending all those years doing meaningless things.”

“I think you are being too hard on yourself, my dear. I don’t believe Alex would want you for a wife if he didn’t think you were well suited, regardless of the past four years. He could have anyone he wanted. He wanted you.”

She snorted. “No, Mother. He wanted to save me from a horrible match with Lord Skeffington and save himself from the bother of dealing with the Marriage Mart. Ever the gentleman.” She blinked rapidly to hold back the tears. “That is no reason for marriage.”

“Don’t be foolish. You are fortunate enough to be marrying someone whom you love.” She raised her hand when Patience began to speak. “You might tell me now you don’t love him, but I don’t believe that. Whatever has turned you against him will change, be sure of that, my daughter.”

She wiped the one tear that had escaped and patted her cheek. “However, if we don’t depart right now, we will be late for your wedding.”

Patience took one final glimpse in the mirror and wished with all her heart she could feel as she had as a little girl when thinking of her wedding day. Well, it was time to stop feeling sorry for herself. She was marrying a duke. A rich, handsome duke. A man who would take care of her and protect her.

So, what if he no longer loved her or she loved him? They were friends, they got on well, and if he restrained his overbearing attitude, they would have a content life.

The countess and Lady Patience made their way down the stairs to where her father waited for them, a huge smile on his face. “Hurry now, ladies, or we will be late to the church.” He extended his arm to his daughter, which she took. A footman escorted her mother to the carriage.

They all settled in and after her father tapped on the ceiling, the driver moved forward. Her father rubbed his hands together. “It is a wonderful day, is it not?”

She glanced out the window. It was nice to know someone was happy.

Chapter Eleven

Alex ran his finger around the inside of his cravat and glanced once more at his pocket watch.

“She will be here, Bedford. Stop fidgeting.” Hawk shook his head. “You know women are never on time for anything. You had better get used to it.”

Alex would not be surprised if Patience did not show up. All right, he might have been a bit overzealous when he’d declared to her father that she had accepted him. And yes, she had already turned him down. But there was no way he would allow her to marry that old lecher Skeffington, who had already buried two wives. And the sight of that mark on her face when he’d confronted them in the drawing room had been the final straw.

At that point, it had been either kill her father or marry to protect her. From Wilton and Skeffington. The past three weeks had kept them each busy—him with his newly acquired duties and going over reports from the stewards of the various estates held by the Bedford Dukedom, and Patience with their wedding plans. The few times they’d been together she had been quite cool. He had tried to make time for them to attend an event or two, but as luck would have it, he’d had to make a visit to one of his faltering estates, which had taken up more than a week of his time.

After he’d found them in the earl’s library, Wilton reluctantly admitted why he’d been so anxious for Patience to marry someone with deep pockets. The man was in debt up to his hairline, and the creditors were closing in. Alex had consented to assume all his debt after the man signed a paper agreeing to never again put a hand on Patience or Lady Wilton in anger.

“If you break this agreement, and I will know if you do, I will destroy you. Am I making myself clear?” He still remembered the flush of red that rose to Wilton’s face. But he had agreed.

Murmuring from the back of the chapel drew his attention. Patience had arrived, along with her parents. He breathed a sigh of relief, which evoked a grin and a snide remark from Hawk who was acting as witness, along with Patience’s cousin, Miss Suzanna Blake.

Alex dismissed the comment, and instead, studied his bride. Patience looked beautiful. Her pale blue gown was shot through with silver that shimmered as she walked with her father toward the front of the church. The matching bonnet hid her glorious hair, which he planned to run his fingers through when they retired for the night.

Which could not come soon enough.

Alex took her hand from Wilton and instead of placing it on his arm, laced their fingers together. Patience gave him a curious glance as they faced the vicar and the ceremony began. Since he’d spent the last four years in the military, he had not attended ver

y many weddings, so wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God…”

His thoughts drifted to his soon-to-be wife. She would be a perfect duchess, and a wonderful mother to their children. Her hand was cold, even through her glove, and she continued to stare straight ahead, which led him to believe she was still unhappy with the entire situation.

If only he’d had the time to talk to her and make clear how much he truly wanted her for his wife, and not just to avoid searching for one. He also could not allow Wilton to sell her to the highest bidder. She deserved more than that. Hopefully, once they were alone and he had the chance to explain, she would feel a bit better.

His attention was drawn to the vicar.

The vicar described God’s purpose for matrimony and then charged them both to confess any impediment which would prevent them from lawfully marrying, before instructing them to pledge their troth. Alex spoke his vows clearly, Patience’s voice was low, almost breathless.

The vicar requested the ring, which Hawk handed to him. As she watched him with a steady gaze, he slipped it on Patience’s finger, and said, “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Tears shimmered in Patience’s eyes.