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She pulled back, horrified.

Derek, who had kept walking towards her, was now in front of them. He took her hand and guided her towards him.

“Eleanor, please don’t marry him. I was a fool. I thought I didn’t have a chance with you,” he shook his head, “that I shouldn’t have a chance with you, but I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll go to balls or the opera. Let me go to the children’s hospital with you, so we can paint pictures with them. I’ll be whoever you need me to be if it means I get to be with you. We can make this work. Please.”

Eleanor could have sworn she heard a few feminine sighs coming from the pews. She couldn’t blame them, she was completely swept away by his declaration as well.

“You don’t have to be anyone, but who you are.” Tears formed in her eyes, and finally, they were ones she welcomed.

Simon huffed, and for a moment, Eleanor forgot he was standing there. He took a step toward the Duke to square up against him. Unfortunately for him, he was woefully unmatched.

“If you think I’m going to let you come in here, disrupt my wedding, and make a fool out of me, you’re wrong.”

Derek narrowed his eyes at Simon. “We don’t have to make this any bigger than the spectacle I’ve already created which I own up to.” He looked back at Eleanor. “Let’s go,” he said with a devilish wink and smile. “Let the gossip do with this as they will.”

Simon’s hand crashed down on top of Eleanor’s free hand and held tightly.

“I don’t think so,” he growled.

Derek looked down at where Simon’s hand held Eleanor’s wrist.

“What is the meaning of this, Hountshire?”

Simon sneered. “You think I’m going to let you take someone of Eleanor’s caliber without any compensation.” Simon huffed out a laugh. “Come now, Your Grace,” he said with obvious sarcasm. “I thought you were a successful businessman. Surely there is some kind of arrangement we can make.”

Eleanor felt the blood drain from her face. She was never set on marrying Simon, no matter how many times she told herself that she was, but hearing how he truly felt for her made her sick to her stomach. She really was just a means to success to him. His way to be seen by the right people, to be considered important and valued.

Derek took a step towards Simon. An arm came from behind them and touched Derek’s shoulder. Eleanor and Derek turned to see William, Derek’s friend, standing there at the ready.

If Eleanor’s emotions weren’t so wrapped up in what was transpiring in front of her, she may have laughed at the comely man in spectacles rolling up his sleeves to help defend his friend.

Eleanor turned back to see the pure greed written over Simon’s face. Had it always been there? Had her guilt over her feelings for Derek overshadowed her judgement of the man?

Derek nodded to his friend before turning back to Simon.

In a low, calculated voice Derek spoke. “She is not a bargaining tool. She is more than you or anyone else in the godforsaken church sees,” he seethed. “She is grace and passion personified. The truth is no one here, not even me, deserves this woman. How dare you think you can shake me down for what? To own her? She is not a thing to be owned. In fact…”

Derek turned to Eleanor. “I just realized that I have done most of the talking. You are your own person, and you always have been.I admire your honesty, I’m in awe of your intelligence, and your compassion far exceeds mine. What do you want, Eleanor?”

Eleanor’s world stopped. No one had ever made her feel seen as this man did. He stripped all the etiquette lessons from her, tore down all the pretenses that came from living in high society all her life, saw what was left, and made her feel worthy and capable of love.

Not once in her life had someone asked what she wanted. It was just assumed she was to do what was expected of her.

For the first time, she found herself looking at her mother. Charlotte had a knowing smile on her face and gave her a little nod. Eleanor’s heart swelled.Have faith, and trust the process.

Eleanor turned back to Derek. “I want you, Derek. I’ve always wanted you.”

Derek swept her into her arms and kissed her.

The church broke out in excited chatter. Some nosy people swarmed the couple to ask their questions about the beginning of their relationship. Luckily, William and Sarah were there and did their best to dispel the curious onlookers. Even Beatrice was shooing them away with a copy of a hymnal.

Simon shouted over the din of the church, “This isn’t the last you heard of me, Graynor. Expect to hear from my solicitor.”

Eleanor broke the kiss. “Derek.” She went to turn towards Simon, but Derek held her in place. She heard of men suing for breach of the marriage contract, and she couldn’t let that happen.

Derek nodded to William, who stepped forward after politely telling an old woman to sit down lest he break her cane.

“William Pranton, Esquire. My card. We’ll be in touch.”