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Sarah’s eyes landed on the alarmingly empty altar and misstepped.

She heard a few murmurs and chastised herself for not paying attention.

All she needed was for her soon-to-be husband to find her splayed out on the altar from tripping on her new dress.

She knew she should have practiced walking in it; it was a bit longer in the front than she was used to.

Her vision refocused on the empty altar. She was certain Eli was just getting some air before the ceremony. It was awfully stifling in here.

Sarah pulled at the lace tightening around her neck. But the closer she got to the altar, the more she realized how foolish walking down the aisle was. What wedding has she ever been to where the groom walked in after the bride?

As she continued down the aisle, she nodded to friends she knew and offered polite smiles to the strangers who must be here for Eli.

Did the church always hold this many people?

Her foot found the first step in front of the altar and stepped up onto it. Her knees were knocking underneath her skirts as she turned and peered out into the congregation.

Nervous glances and whispers flittered around the open room. Sarah’s bottom lip quivered as she tried to smile.

A shadow moved to her right, and her eyes caught the movement of a man moving towards the back of the church. She squinted her eyes to see who it was.

The man stopped at the door of the church and turned to face the aisle.

Sarah brought a hand up to shield her eyes from the stream of sunlight that came through the door the man had opened.

The man looked a bit taller than Eli, a little broader than him as well, but that could be a trick of the shadows.

“Eli?” Her voice was a mere squeak. Her throat tightened around the word.

Just then she felt a soft touch on her elbow. She turned her gaze to see the softness of her mother come into focus in front of her. Sarah could see her mother’s mouth moving but her words sounded muffled to Sarah.

Heat blossomed across Sarah’s cheeks as her stomach swirled. Her mother still sounded as if she were talking through a wall.

What is happening?

Sarah craned her neck to peek around her mother’s shoulder.

Where is Eli? This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening. This is not how my story is supposed to go.

Her heart began to race as the world around her slowed down. She could hear every breath, feel every shift of the people around her. Sensations overwhelmed her body leaving her dizzy.

She felt the tender touch of her mother wiping an errant tear that must’ve fallen from her eye.

I’m crying.

Sarah’s eyes widened at the realization. Suddenly, reality crashed down on her. The congregation full of friends, family, and well-known dignitaries were all whispering behind fans, their eyes alight with the thought of scandal in the air.

Sarah had been left at the altar.

Sarah’s legs gave out beneath her, but thankfully, her mother’s strong arms were there to stabilize her.

“Mama?” Sarah managed around the tears.

Charlotte looked over her shoulder to Derek.

“We need to get her out of here.” Charlotte’s words were rushed and full of authority. Sarah had the wayward thought that she never really heard her mother speak with such direction. She was usually frivolous and dramatic.

I don’t understand what is happening.

Before she could blink, Derek was at her side, half carrying her down the aisle and out of the church.

He placed her into the carriage, where she slumped to the side, resting her head on the inside of the carriage.

Her body jostled as her mother and Beatrice filed into the carriage behind her.

Once more, their voices were muffled around her.

Her eyes stared, unfocused, as her mind replayed the looks of shock and embarrassment that were now forever seared into her memory.

She had been left at the altar.

She was ruined.

“I thought you said you looked into him and his family!”

Charlotte’s harsh whisper drifted in from the hallway.

Sarah couldn’t hear Derek’s reply, but his cadence was low and sure. She may not know what he said, but there was still some feeling left in her body that told her Derek would get to the bottom of it.

At least one of the Mallory girls found a knight in shining armor.

The thought unleashed another round of sobs that left her body feeling brittle and broken. Just when she thought she had cried her last tear, another wave of embarrassment, longing, confusion, and torment swept over her.

How did this happen? What did I do to deserve this horror?

Sarah’s door opened, and she watched her mother’s shadow along the wall as she walked towards the bed.

“Sarah, love? I brought you some tea. You should drink something, dear.”

Sarah lay with her knees tucked up close to her body. The thought of unfolding to reach for the teacup felt too exposing, so she stayed tucked into her little ball.

Charlotte sighed as she sat on the bed next to her. She reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Sarah’s face.

The touch took her back to the moment before she walked down the aisle when she made sure her hair was still tucked up. The pieces of her heart that managed to survive this long shattered into pieces with the rest of their brethren.

She whimpered into her pillow.

“I’m so sorry, my love.” Charlotte cooed. “Don’t worry, we will get to the bottom of this. Derek promised Eleanor he would find out at once where that sorry excuse for a man was.”

A tear fell down a familiar path on Sarah’s face to join the others that had fallen onto her pillow.

“It’s all I ever wanted, Mama.” She spoke into her pillow.

“What was, my dear?”

Sarah sniffled. “Someone to come to my rescue. Like Derek is doing for me now. But he’s Eleanor’s. Why can’t I have someone like that?”

“Oh my sweet.” Charlotte leaned over and covered Sarah’s curled-up body with her own. “You will get it, I promise. Just trust-”

Anger erupted within Sarah’s veins.

“No! Do NOT say ‘trust the process,’ Mama!”

Charlotte jumped back, shocked at the sudden outburst of emotion from her once almost comatose daughter.

Sarah took a few breaths. Within moments her body went from feeling as if it were sinking through thick sludge to feeling as agile as a cat. She bounded from her bed. A new, limitless energy flooded her body.

She was angry.

Sarah caught a glance of herself in the mirror. Her hair was an absolute mess; half was still pinned up, while the other half hung haphazardly around her face. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her once beautiful and perfectly cared for dress was now wrinkled and hung misshapen on her frame.

The realization of what that man did to her, to not only her reputation but to her overall well-being, smacked her in the face.

Anger turned into white-hot rage.

“I’m done.” She spat. “I’m not waiting for someone to rescue me any more. I’m going to find out what happened myself.”

Charlotte sat shocked as she watched her daughter run from one side of the room to the other, collecting her shoes and an overcoat.

“What… what do you mean? Sarah.” Charlotte reached out, but Sarah stepped around her outstretched arm. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

Sarah paused at her bedroom door.

“I’m going to the man himself. I will get an answer as to why he left me standing at the altar. I will rescue myself.”