Page 78 of A Bride for the Scottish Duke

Charity nodded, rising with her mother-in-law’s help. Together, they stepped outside. The church loomed grand before them, just beyond the narrow path from the parsonage. The day was bright and crisp. Charity closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of her father. Surely, he was with her, if only in spirit.

At the church door, Lydia paused.

“I have a wedding gift for you—though it is not solely for you. It is for us all.”

“Oh?” Charity asked, surprised.

“I shall tell you now, so you may walk the aisle relieved.”

“Markham will be sentences to transportation to the New South Wales colonies. He shall not bother us again.”

Charity sighed with relief. After his arrest, Markham had made all sorts of claims regarding the Book of Confidences, raising interest from the authorities. Knowing that the book may become subject to whatever trial Markham would be put on, Charity and Eammon had decided to do the only thing they could—they had looked through it, had taken only the most pertinent information, burning the rest.

Word quickly spread that the book had been destroyed, though some would always whisper about its continued existence.

This hadn’t affected Markham or his trial, however. He had been tried for kidnapping her, attempting to blackmail a nobleman, and attempting to kill both Thomas and Eammon. All his ramblings about the book had not helped him, for it only made those investigating his case more interested in why he would want it so badly. A thorough accounting of his family and their businesses was ongoing and would soon yield results. Not that it would change anything, what with Markham in New South Wales.

“We are free of him,” Charity said.

“Indeed, we are free. Now, go,” Lydia said, smiling. “Go make an honest man of my son—in the eyes of God.”

The doors opened. At the signal, Charity stepped inside. The church was filled with friends, family, and London society. But she saw none of them.

Her gaze fell only on him.

Eammon stood at the altar, beside the vicar and Thomas. As she walked, it was as if she moved through mist. He saw only her. And she, only him.

He offered his hand. She took it.

“My beautiful Charity,” he whispered. “How long I have waited for this day.”

“As have I,” she replied.

“Nothing and no one shall ever part us again,” he said in a firm tone that made her skin tingle.

They smiled at one another, and both knew it was true. At last, they were to be husband and wife. No secrets remained to keep them apart. No man living would dare come between them. They were one, united for all time.

The End?