Page 33 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)

“She felt the same way about him.” He stopped and held up a hand. “Don’t be angry, but I enlisted Mr. Scoville and Sally’s help. It isn’t their fault.”

Kate wanted to dance a happy jig. “I could never be angry with you.” She looked around, then said in a low voice. “So where are Nicholas and Julia?”

“Sally lent Julia one of her dresses and she escaped down the servant’s stairs to a carriage where Nicholas was waiting. Mr. Scoville managed to have their trunks sent ahead, and the two of them should be married and sailing to the Continent for their honeymoon as we speak.” Andrew said in a rush.

“This is the best news I’ve heard.” Kate clapped her hands in delight. “They did get their happily-ever-after!”

She wanted to shout to the heavens she was so happy, but the increasing buzz from the guests stopped her. “The guests! The wedding! What are we to do?”

Andrew opened his mouth to speak, but Kate turned on her heel and hurried back to the waiting guests. She needed to tell her grandmother what had transpired.

“Grandmama, I have the most wonderful news.” Kate wound her way through the guests to her grandmother’s side. “Nicholas and Julia—”

Before she could finish speaking to her grandmother, Harry pushed his way out of the chapel doors and down the steps. “Where is my bride? What in the hell is taking so long?”

Harry’s eyes were wild and bloodshot, and the stench of alcohol was strong.

His morning coat was rumpled and the cravat at his neck was stained with food.

Kate reared back in disgust. The Dowager Duchess turned and stared at her grandson.

Anger was clear on her face. She slammed her cane down on the flagstones and the sharp crack of it stilled all talking.

“Enough!” the Dowager Duchess roared. The startled guests all turned toward the Dowager Duchess. Their eyes were wide with shock.

Lady Uxbridge was the first to speak. “This is an outrage. I shall not be yelled at like a common scullery maid. I should have known that this wedding would turn into a veritable circus.”

Her daughter bobbed her head in agreement, but a cutting look from the Dowager Duchess stopped her mid-bob. The dowager’s glare then turned toward her mother.

“Lady Uxbridge, my words were not directed at you, as I am quite sure you are aware. Yet once again you place yourself in the midst of the turmoil. Now, please go into the chapel and let me speak to the Earl without interruption.”

The Dowager Duchess’s voice was cold steel and brooked no argument, and except for a few cowering glances and darted looks her way, the guests moved quickly and silently into the chapel.

Kate went to follow them, but the dowager placed a cane across her path.

“Not you, Miss Avery.” She turned. “Nor you, Andrew. You will both stay put until I hear exactly what is going on.”

Andrew waited until his grandmother had corralled everyone into the chapel before he dared move next to Kate.

The tongues would be too busy wagging about the canceled wedding to concern themselves with Kate’s honor right now, anyway.

He stood closer to her and allowed his fingers to briefly touch hers.

She squeezed his hand and released it. It was a move that did not go unnoticed by the Dowager Viscountess, who had also chosen to stay.

“Now that the gossips are gone, I want you both to tell me what has happened to Miss Roves,” Dowager Duchess of Devonport demanded.

“Lord Pembrooke and Miss Roves have married,” Nicholas said.

“I will hunt them both down and there will be hell to pay. No one takes what is mine!” Harry’s face turned a mottled red. “Julia will dissolve the marriage and she will marry me . I don’t care if I have to tie her up and force her to do it. She is mine. As for Nicholas Avery, I’ll kill the bast—”

“Harry!” His grandmother’s voice cut him off. Harry glowered at her, but even now, he knew better than to argue with her.

Harry whirled wildly toward Andrew and raised his fist. “You are behind this! You couldn’t stand to see me happy. You are nothing but a miserable, gutless—”

Andrew’s fist found Harry’s jaw with a resounding crunch. A moment later, Harry crumpled to the ground. He stared down at his cousin, who lay unconscious on the ground. He hadn’t even hit him that hard. He chuckled. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time.”

Andrew hoisted Harry up and dragged him underneath the oak tree. It wouldn’t do to let him lie in the dirt, despite his unseemly behavior. Andrew would still try to be the better man.

Kate’s grandmother had been standing near the steps of the chapel, but with Harry out of commission, she moved closer to her granddaughter. She grasped Kate’s arm. “Did you know about any of this, Kate?”

Kate shook her head. “No, Grandmama. I only learned of all of this moments ago when Andrew told me.”

Her grandmother pursed her lips and made a small sound of satisfaction. “I think everything has turned out as it should. Don’t you, Petunia?”

The Dowager Duchess made a sound of agreement. “It has but look at all of this expense and bother gone to waste. You realize that this wedding that never was will be the talk of the ton for ages, Rose. Another blemish on my family’s reputation.”

“Yes, but it is better to have a blemish than have two people marry who would eventually destroy each other, don’t you think?

” Kate’s grandmother said. Her eyes lost their sparkle, and she said, “It’s all been rather much, hasn’t it?

I think we should retire to my sitting room and have a glass of sherry.

I don’t care if it isn’t even noon, yet.

My nerves need fortification. Kate, can you have them bring the carriage for me?

I fear a walk back to Renwood would be too much after so much excitement. ”

Andrew stepped forward before Kate could call for a servant. “I’m sorry, but I need everyone in the chapel first. It’s important that everyone hear what I am going to say. Grandmother.” He motioned for her to take his arm and he helped her up the steps.

Kate couldn’t let him make the announcement to the guests alone. She helped her own grandmother up the steps and said, “I’ll tell them the wedding is canceled, Andrew. It’s not your responsibility.”

“If you could please, for once, allow me to speak first, Kate.” Andrew’s voice was firm, and Kate felt the sting of his reproach.

“All right.” Her voice faltered, and she bit back a sharp retort. Something in his eyes told her that he needed her to trust him. And she did trust him with her heart and her soul.

The two grandmothers had a seat next to each other on the pew by the front altar.

The small choir that had arrived that morning to sing at the ceremony shuffled their feet and looked uncomfortable, not sure what was going on.

At an inquiring look from the curate, Andrew hurried over to him and whispered in his ear.

The curate nodded and sat down on the small wooden chair behind the altar.

Andrew motioned for Kate to join him at the front of the chapel by the altar.

She joined him and gazed down at the floor, unsure of herself.

He faced the guests and cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience as we dealt with a delicate situation. I’m afraid that the Earl of Winfield’s marriage to Miss Roves has been canceled. ”

Like angry bees disturbed in their hive, the buzz of talking started immediately, but Andrew held up his hands and asked them to stay quiet for a few minutes longer. “I have one more announcement to make.”