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Lady Katherine stopped, statue-still, then turned to face Laurel full-on.

"Shame? Shame should fall upon those cowards who left a young woman here alone.

Your fiancé ought to be sent away to live on an island with savages for his reprehensible behavior.

" She paused to take a breath, her face beginning to redden with anger.

"Of course, he will bear no ill-effects of this event.

No doubt he is currently being congratulated on avoiding a life-long association with your family. "

Laurel’s eyes widened. This was some pretty plain talk from Lady Katherine, though it was not wholly unexpected from the venerable countess.

"You will come with us and remain at our home until this matter is sorted out." She glanced in the direction of the police wagon carrying Richard away.

Laurel opened her mouth to protest, but one look from Lady Katherine had her closing it and following her toward the carriage.

Undaunted, Lady Katherine had shepherded Laurel and Cassie to the Winchester family carriage, glaring at those remaining guests whispering behind their gloved hands.

"Heartless," Lady Katherine said, taking her seat.

"Vipers, more like," Lord Winchester said, appearing at his wife’s side to assist her into the conveyance.

Laurel could only stare, her mind not yet registering the facts of the last few moments.

Her only living relative arrested. Her wedding abandoned.

And now she was in the Winchester carriage while Lord and Lady Winchester debated the proper terms to be used for the most esteemed members of London society.

Once the ladies were settled inside, Lord Thomas Winchester leaned into the doorframe.

He was an American who had inherited the title from a distant cousin.

Though he always behaved as a gentleman on the few occasions when Laurel had been in his company, he still had a bit of a wild air about him, no doubt a remnant from his days on the American frontier.

"I shall get to the bottom of this," he said, holding his wife’s gaze.

"You always do, my dear," she said in a tone that was not entirely neutral.

He held her gaze for a moment then said, "You all should return to our home. I will make inquiries and join you there as soon as I can."

Laurel knew she ought to insist upon going with him in order to offer comfort to Richard, but he closed the door and was gone before she could say anything and, in truth, she was relieved.

She simply had no energy to care at the moment.

The ride through London to Winchester House ought to have only taken a few minutes, yet it seemed interminable. Literally dumbstruck, Laurel stared out the window as the rain continued to fall and appreciated the fact that neither Cassie nor Lady Katherine insisted upon talking.

Once they arrived, Lady Katherine herself escorted Laurel to a beautifully appointed guest room. "Please consider this your home for as long as you wish to be with us."

"You are much too kind to me, Lady Winchester. You do too much and take too much on yourself. Truly, I ought to go back to my home, in case my brother returns."

"Stepbrother," Lady Katherine corrected her and Laurel’s opinion of Lady Katherine rose even higher. She gave no quarter.

Lady Katherine studied Laurel for a moment. "It is not too much. Caring for a true friend is never too much."

Was Lady Katherine saying Laurel was her friend? Oh my, this was rather peculiar. On a day full of strange occurrences.

"My goddaughter, Cassidy, is the daughter of my dearest friend. Many women change their behavior toward their friends once they get married, or even sooner, once they are both out and competing for the attention of gentlemen or vying for position on the social ladder. You are Cassidy’s friend and have always been loyal to her.

I wish to return that loyalty to you now. I hope you will permit it."

"Thank you, my lady. I hope this will be cleared up soon and I shall be back at my own home within a day or two."

"Of course," Lady Katherine said, then stepped aside as footmen brought in Laurel’s trunks which had been packed in anticipation of her marriage.

How they had been located and brought to her so efficiently, Laurel had no idea, though she suspected that there was not much that Lady Katherine Winchester could not accomplish once she set her mind to it.

Cassie entered the room as the footmen were leaving. She had changed out of her damp bridesmaid dress, which probably gave her the same uncomfortable feeling that Laurel now felt in her wedding gown and she was eager to change as well.

"I shall leave the two of you to console each other," Lady Katherine said, "though I hope you will not be too sad, Laurel. I believe your intended showed his true colors today and good riddance to him, I say."

With that, she turned and left the room.

Laurel and Cassie looked at each other for a moment and then Laurel let out a breath. "Oh my. She is fierce and intimidating but also utterly fantastic."

Cassie laughed. "That is the most accurate description of Lady Katherine that I have ever heard."

Thankfully, a maid arrived bearing a tea tray. Once she had the service situated properly and left the room, the two friends set upon it eagerly.

"Never has tea tasted so good," Laurel said, setting her half-empty cup on its saucer. She leaned back in the chair and started to unpin her hair. "That’s better," she said when she had a tidy pile of pins and her hair fell loose around her shoulders.

She stood. "Now to get out of this wretched dress.

" Stretching her arms behind herself, she loosened the buttons that lined the back of her wedding gown.

With a groan she tried to reach the two in the very center of her back, then yanked at the fabric in frustration until Cassie came and finished the task for her.

"Shall I call a maid to assist you in changing?" she asked.

"No," Laurel answered, digging through her trunks and pulling out a day dress which was a particular favorite of hers before moving behind a privacy screen.

She wadded up her wedding gown and tossed it over the screen then slipped into the much more comfortable day dress in pale green before resuming her seat across from Cassie.

"This is much better," she said. "Though I still cannot believe what has happened today.

" She poured herself another cup of tea, added cream and sugar, then took a bite of cake which Cassie had put on a plate for her.

"I was supposed to be having wedding cake today," she said, then paused.

"Funny, but I suspect it would have tasted rather more bitter than this lovely confection. "

"Bitter?" Cassie asked. "Whatever do you mean? I am sure your wedding cake would have been delicious."

"I simply mean that I was not looking forward to marrying Lord Onslow.

Though I suppose I ought to be stunned by what happened.

What I find most revealing, however, is the fact that the man who was meant to be my husband did not even inquire after my well-being.

" She shuddered. "Considering the cold look in his eye when he gazed back at me from the altar, I am just as glad to be rid of him. "

"Do not lose hope," Cassie said. "Once this is all cleared up, I am sure you and Lord Onslow will be able to patch things up."

"No," Laurel said, looking directly at her friend. "I never wanted to marry him and now I have been given a reprieve. His actions this morning have only confirmed my suspicions of his lack of character."

"I never wanted to say this before," Cassie began, "but he has always given me an uncomfortable feeling.

I thought I was imagining it. Or perhaps I was simply envious of your advantageous match.

" Cassie reached across and gripped Laurel's forearm.

"I am sorry. Perhaps if I had said something sooner. "

"Thank you, Cassie," she said. "But it is not your fault. And no matter what you said or what I said, my stepbrother was determined I would marry Lord Onslow."

"Well, I do not believe he’ll be able to have much influence over you now," Cassie said.

Laurel looked at her and began to laugh. And laugh some more.

"Laurel?" Cassie leaned in her direction. "Are you quite all right?"

Laurel composed herself as best she could under the circumstances. "It is surreal, is it not? I did not want to marry Lord Onslow. In fact, I prayed to be saved from such a fate. And that prayer was answered."

"Perhaps you ought to be more specific next time," Cassie suggested.