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CHAPTER 19

LIZZIE

A fter two weeks of lockdown, Richard was finally letting me out for good behavior.

It had been hard enough to convince him to let me out into the world after the bird incident and my escape to Paris, but after the attack at the dressmaker’s shop there was absolutely no talking to him about it. I was ordered to stay within the confines of the Mayfair House property or face something much more isolated.

I had no idea what he meant, but I overheard him on the phone once talking about needing to double the height of a wall and asking about a boat landing.

Although I didn’t have the courage to ask him outright about the mysterious woman Harris mentioned, I asked him if there were any suspects. All I got was a kiss on the forehead and told that he was handling it. Even though he had said nothing, I was certain it must be the same woman who had attacked me on the street.

What did she mean to Richard?

On more than one occasion I typed Richard’s name in Google intending to search old images and articles of him attending galas and such to see if I recognized the woman on his arm, but thought better of it. Richard said he was handling the matter, and I needed to just leave it at that. To keep pushing him would only invite his anger and possibly a punishment.

It wasn’t just the possibility of incurring his anger. It was obvious he was mostly angry at himself for this perceived idea that he had somehow let me down. Richard at his core was a very old-fashioned man who deeply believed it was the man’s job to provide and protect. The fact someone had gotten past his security on multiple occasions cut him to the quick. It was in the way he shifted from already being an overprotective, uber-alpha male to basically a caveman.

I once teased that if he could, he’d drag me off to some dungeon in some old family-owned castle and chain me to the wall for safekeeping. The light that came into his eyes chilled me to the bone. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that that precise scenario had occurred to him.

After that, I kept quiet on the matter and behaved like a good girl, never even trying to leave the property. It wasn’t that much of a sacrifice. The press had somehow gotten ahold of the story and printed all the gory details along with a photo of me flipping them all the bird.

Richard was beyond furious.

Even though he knew it was pointless, he sent an army of staff out into London to purchase every copy in the stands. Later, the paper that printed the story suffered a cyber-attack that crashed its website and wiped out all its servers. Every article, every document, all employee files… gone. They went out of business the next day.

They should have known better than to upset Richard.

Richard was already gone when I awoke. Next to my pillow he had left a note on his usual heavy card stock. It instructed me to wear my new Chanel suit and to be ready by one o’clock.

The very moment the grandfather clock in the entranceway chimed one o’clock, Richard strolled through the door.

I could see why he wanted me to wear my new Chanel suit. With its cream silk georgette top and ecru tweed overlaying dress jacket, it paired perfectly with his dark grey windowpane check flannel suit.

Richard grasped my hand and lifted it to his lips. He smiled when he saw my engagement ring. With the fifteen-carat central sapphire and six pear-shaped diamonds, each about seven carats, it was a very heavy, imposing ring. Richard had already ordered a more subdued version from Mouawad for me to wear every day. Although I suspected his version of subdued differed greatly from the average person’s idea.

“You look beautiful. Are you ready for our outing?”

“Yes!” I said, bouncing a bit on my toes.

It bored me to tears staying in the house day after day. Richard had tried to keep me entertained by bringing in all the best chefs around London to cook special meals for us, but it wasn’t the same as getting dressed up and dining out on the town. And of course, he also kept me entertained with some pretty creative games in the bedroom, but that was just the nights. It was the days when he had to work and left my side that dragged on. I missed him.

His presence.

His dominating energy.

I missed the flutter I got whenever he looked up at me with those piercing blue eyes that matched the sapphire in my ring.

Damn, I had it bad for this man.

Sometimes he scared me to death with his intensity and the scope of his games, but other times I couldn’t imagine a life without him.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Of course. Richard loved his surprises. I wished I could say the same.

We took the armored car flanked by at least four security vehicles. Richard was taking no chances as the cars navigated traffic around London. Eventually we pulled up to a very familiar sight, Westminster Abbey.

Reaching for his hand as I alighted from the car, I asked, “Are you playing tour guide today?”

“You’ll see,” came his enigmatic response.

Walking past a sign that read ‘closed for a private event,’ Richard swung open one of the massive wooden double doors and we entered the cool, dark interior.

It was hard not to be awestruck by the imposing Gothic cathedral. The stunning vaulted ceiling and all the glorious gold and marble that seemed to gleam even in the shadowed space.

Standing by the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, which was surrounded by bright red poppies, was a gentleman dressed in a brown tweed suit. He looked small. It suddenly occurred to me that all men looked small compared to Richard. It wasn’t just his height. It was the way he commanded a room and the respect of everyone in it. Something I believed had very little to do with just his exalted title.

The man stepped forward with his hand outstretched. “Your Grace, it is an honor.”

“Mr. Simmons, may I introduce my fiancée, Miss Elizabeth Larkin.”

Mr. Simmons shook my hand, his grip clammy and weak.

“If you would be so kind as to follow me,” said Mr. Simmons as he led the way down the center aisle. We walked past several workers who were setting up large floral arrangements of pink roses and orange blossoms.

With my arm looped through his, I squeezed his forearm in delight. “Look at the flowers, Richard! I love pink roses and the orange blossoms are beautiful! This would be the perfect arrangement for our wedding. We should see who the florist is.”

Richard only smiled.

Mr. Simmons led us down a marble white and black checkered aisle to the high altar.

“This is where the ceremony will take place. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh will be seated right over there.”

He was talking about our wedding.

Our wedding.

Our wedding with the queen in attendance.

My steps faltered.

“Given the… ah,” Mr. Simmons cleared his throat and finished, “urgency, it will only be the primary royal family in attendance. The service will begin with a fanfare by the state trumpeters of the household of the cavalry for the arrival of the queen.”

I could feel Richard’s gaze on me but couldn’t look up. At this moment, the only thing I could do was concentrate on painfully sucking air into my lungs as the room spun.

Mr. Simmons continued to drone on. “Might I humbly recommend a seven-piece orchestral rendition of Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry’s ‘Bridal March’ from The Birds ? Princess Catherine processed to that piece of music for her own wedding and it was very well received.”

The marble-tiled floor swirled and danced before my eyes.

“As for the hymns during the wedding service, I have a few suggestions.”

Richard interjected. “Mr. Simmons, if you would be so kind as to give us a moment.”

Mr. Simmons snapped his leather portfolio closed and bowed as he stepped back. “Of course, Your Grace. Take all the time you need.”

Even though it was probably still months away, I wasn’t ready for all the pomp and circumstance, not to mention attention, the wedding would bring down on me. I wasn’t ready to be a duchess. I wasn’t ready for any of this. It was too much. I could feel the icy fist of anxiety squeezing my lungs. This was happening too fast.

Keeping my eyes averted, I whispered, “I can’t do this.”

“Look at me, little one.”

I kept my gaze lowered. My breathing was labored as I tried to stop the room from spinning.

Richard placed a crooked finger under my chin and lifted my head up. “You will do this because I’m not giving you any choice. You’re mine, baby, and it’s past time I made that official.”

My vision blurred as tears pooled in my eyes. “I don’t know how to be a duchess. I don’t know royal protocol. I don’t fit in your world.”

“None of that matters to me.”

“It should! It should matter to you.”

Taking my arm, Richard walked me the few steps till we were standing in front of the altar. “Here is what matters to me,” he said.

Taking both of my hands into his own, the timbre of his voice was quiet and solemn as he said, “Before God and man, I vow to take Elizabeth Adelaide Larkin to be my wife. I will love, comfort, honor and protect her, and will forsake all others, to be faithful to her as long as I live.”

I was speechless.

Then Richard took a step forward, then another.

“Richard?”

I took several steps back, trying to pull my hands free from his tightening grasp.

“Richard, what are you doing?” I asked as my alarm built.

Something hard hit my lower back, and I turned to look over my shoulder to see it was the altar. Richard finally let go of my hands, only to cage me in by placing his hands on the altar on either side of me.

“Those are the words I will say out loud, but this is what I want you to hear as I do…”

Richard leaned down to whisper in my ear as if he knew his words would violate the sanctity of the church and God’s order and therefore could only be uttered in hushed tones.

“I, Richard Payne the third, Duke of Winterbourne and various other exalted titles of the realm, do hereby claim Elizabeth Adelaide Larkin as my own. She will love, honor, and obey me as her rightful lord and master, forsaking all others and remaining faithful in her duty to me in mind, body, and soul, for as long as she lives, or face the consequences of my wrath.”

Oh, my God.

“Richard… I… you…”

Richard leaned in. I could feel the threatening press of his hard cock against my middle.

“Don’t test my resolve where you are concerned, little one. It is taking all my willpower not to force you to your knees here and now, to prove the truth of my words.”

I clawed at the lapels of his suit, trying to keep myself upright as my world tilted. I could feel the steady beat of his heart through my palms.

He was right. The truth of it hit me like a punch to the stomach. If he commanded me to fall to my knees, I would do so. He had that much power over me. There was nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice if he asked it of me.

Even if it meant eternal damnation for violating the sanctity of this church. I would burn for him, right on this spot.

Looking down, I could see we were standing in the center of the Cosmati Pavement. The inlaid stone mosaic depicted the elements of the universe and foretold the end of the world. How fitting.

These violent delights have violent ends.

He cupped my jaw, moving the pad of his thumb over my lower lip.

His voice was a low growl. “Would you like that?” He pushed his thumb between my lips. “Would you like me to force you to open these pretty lips and swallow my cock deep down your throat, here and now on this altar? My little sacrificial bird.”

My hand reached up to clasp his wrist. My small fingers barely wrapping around it as he pushed his thumb in deeper. I could taste blood as my lip ground against the sharp edge of my teeth.

My only response was a soft whimper.

Rubbing his wet thumb over my lips, he ran his mouth along my jawline before rasping in my ear, “If I were to put my hand between your legs, would my naughty girl be wet for me?”

“Oh, God!” I moaned.

“That’s right, baby. I’m your god now. You are my creation. My corrupted innocent and I won’t let you go… ever.”

His mouth claimed mine. Driving his tongue between my lips, he devoured me. Stealing everything right down to the very breath from my body as his hands wrapped around my middle to pull me close. I could feel the heat and power of his body as it pressed along every inch of mine.

His hands crept under my Chanel dress to grasp my ass, pushing my hips forward to rub against his cock. To my own ears, it sounded as if my groan echoed around the hallowed halls of the cathedral.

Pulling back, Richard placed his arm beneath my knees and swept me into his arms. As he carried me down the aisle, he said, “The moment we get home, I will sink my cock deep into your tight little ass till you scream for mercy.”

Oh, God .

Passing a startled and red-faced Mr. Simmons, Richard nodded.

Mr. Simmons bowed his head and called out to our retreating backs, “Thank you, Your Grace. See you tomorrow.”

Furrowing my brow, I looked up at Richard as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“What’s tomorrow?”

The corner of Richard’s mouth quirked up as his gaze gleamed. “Our wedding day.”