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What was she doing there at the very back, sneaking around like a mischievous child?

“Ethan?” Hudson cleared his throat, drawing his attention back to the present.

Ethan frowned as he looked at his bride, who was smiling at him.

“I believe that you should take her hand now,” Hudson muttered.

Oh. Right.

Ethan fought the urge to grimace as he accepted Miss Delaney’s hand from her father. Fortunately, it seemed like the Baron had indulged in drink a great deal more than he should have and barely noticed that his son-in-law appeared loath to accept his daughter’s hand.

This was it. This was what the rest of his life was going to be like—married to a woman he did not want, fathering a child he did not plan for.

He never should have gone to that party.

He never should have been so careless…

“… Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace…”

Ethan closed his eyes as the damned minister paused for dramatic effect.

What the hell are they waiting for?Nobody would be so ill-mannered as to interrupt the wedding of a?—

“Stop! Halt this wedding at once!”

CHAPTER 4

Icannot believe I just did that!

Phoebe was shaking as she walked up to the altar, clasping her hands together as she fixed her gaze on Ethan, who was looking at her as if she had just lost her mind.

And maybe she just did.

Miss Delaney, however, was absolutely livid, and rightfully so. After all, in her eyes, Phoebe was nothing more than an interloper who dared to destroy the wedding she had carefully planned for.

But Ethan had already left his bride’s side, eliciting more whispers from the guests.

And to Phoebe’s wild, inexplicable delight, he was walking over to her—never mind that he looked as grim as a thundercloud.

“What is the matter, sweetheart?” he demanded icily. “Could you not wait until my wedding is over? Or—” He smiled coldly. “Is Hudson not the man for you?”

Phoebe wanted to curl up in mortification anddieright there. She deserved this. Deserved his anger and Miss Delaney’s fury and the censure of all the wedding guests in attendance.

She had made a fool of herself.

But if she did not, then Ethan would be making the biggest mistake of his life.

“Last night,” she murmured, licking her lips nervously. “Last night, I heard?—”

Her gaze darted to Miss Delaney, who had gone suddenly pale. The young woman shook her head at her as if to say “no.”

“Well, what did you hear?” a voice from the pews rang out, eliciting nervous laughter from the guests.

Ethan looked at Phoebe as if he was debating whether he should toss her out of his estate or thank her for the distraction she afforded him.

“Go on, sweetheart,” he urged her. “What did you hear last night?”

Phoebe swallowed audibly. “Last night, I heard my heart,” she said lamely instead.