were three nieces,” Vicar Small said to the duchess, eliciting smothered chuckles from the prince and the marquess. “Has she been away?”
“Victoria is a sickly child,” the duchess explained.
“Well, miss, I am certainly glad you are feeling better today.”
“The will of God has made me better.”
Vicar Small turned to lead the way into church. Victoria smiled at Alexander and slipped her arm through his.
‘“God’s will had nothing to do with your presence,” Prince Rudolf whispered, leaning close to them. “Alex’s will prevailed.”
The Duke and Duchess of Inverary led the way and marched down the aisle to the front of the church. They nodded to the villagers, most of whom did business with the duke, and sat in the first pew.
Angelica and Robert, accompanied by six-year-old Colin, Robert’s nephew by his deceased brother, and six-year old Daisy, Robert’s and Angelica’s adopted daughter sat in the second pew. Their year-old twins were too young to attend services.
Samantha and Rudolf claimed the third pew. Eleven-year-old Grant and nine-year-old Drake, their adopted sons, as well as Princess Zara, Rudolf’s daughter by his first wife, sat with them. Their six-month-old twins were also too young to attend services.
Alexander and Victoria sat alone in the fourth pew. He passed her the prayer book as the vicar began the service. Opening to the first page, Victoria pretended to focus on the words.
Alexander lifted the upside-down book out of her hands. He turned it around and passed it back to her. “Behave yourself.”
“I forgot my spectacles,” she whispered.
Victoria began to panic. First comes the prayer book and then comes the hymn book. If she stayed here, Alexander would realize she couldn’t read. Would he cancel their wedding? More likely, he would hire a tutor, but if she was unable to learn, he would hold her in contempt for the rest of their lives. He would think she’d tricked him into marriage. She couldn’t bear him knowing how stupid she was.
Her panic level rose. Victoria knew she needed a distraction. If she told him she felt dizzy, Alexander would know she was lying, but if she actually—
Victoria dropped the prayer book and grabbed his arm. “Alex, help—” Relaxing every muscle in her body, Victoria fell into a swoon. She trusted him to catch her before she hit the floor.
Victoria heard the exclamations of alarm as she went down. She almost smiled as Alexander caught her and lifted her into his arms.
“I’ll help you,” Victoria heard Prince Rudolf say. A moment later, she was floating on air as Alexander carried her down the aisle. Victoria struggled against a bubble of laughter when she heard the vicar saying, “Let us pray for the quick recovery of His Grace’s niece.” And then she felt the fresh air as Alexander stepped outside the church.
Moaning softly, Victoria opened her eyes and gazed into hazel eyes filled with concern. “I can stand,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m taking you home.” Alexander set her down but refused to release her. “I’ll climb inside,” he told the prince, “and you help her up to me.”
When he turned his back, Victoria winked at Rudolf and mouthed the words, “Do not laugh.”
“Help her up.” Alexander lifted her into the coach and settled her beside him.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Rudolf told the earl. “With the congregation’s prayers, Tory will soon recover.”
When they reached the mansion, Alexander climbed out first and then helped her down. Unexpectedly, he scooped her into his arms and carried her inside.
Tinker opened the door. “I told you so.”
Victoria feared he would realize her ploy. “Help me upstairs?”
Putting his arm around her, Alexander helped her to her chamber. He closed and locked the door. Victoria decided she couldn’t have planned this any better. The Lord did move in wondrous ways.
“Shall I bring you a pot of tea?” he asked.
“Will you help me
“Victoria is a sickly child,” the duchess explained.
“Well, miss, I am certainly glad you are feeling better today.”
“The will of God has made me better.”
Vicar Small turned to lead the way into church. Victoria smiled at Alexander and slipped her arm through his.
‘“God’s will had nothing to do with your presence,” Prince Rudolf whispered, leaning close to them. “Alex’s will prevailed.”
The Duke and Duchess of Inverary led the way and marched down the aisle to the front of the church. They nodded to the villagers, most of whom did business with the duke, and sat in the first pew.
Angelica and Robert, accompanied by six-year-old Colin, Robert’s nephew by his deceased brother, and six-year old Daisy, Robert’s and Angelica’s adopted daughter sat in the second pew. Their year-old twins were too young to attend services.
Samantha and Rudolf claimed the third pew. Eleven-year-old Grant and nine-year-old Drake, their adopted sons, as well as Princess Zara, Rudolf’s daughter by his first wife, sat with them. Their six-month-old twins were also too young to attend services.
Alexander and Victoria sat alone in the fourth pew. He passed her the prayer book as the vicar began the service. Opening to the first page, Victoria pretended to focus on the words.
Alexander lifted the upside-down book out of her hands. He turned it around and passed it back to her. “Behave yourself.”
“I forgot my spectacles,” she whispered.
Victoria began to panic. First comes the prayer book and then comes the hymn book. If she stayed here, Alexander would realize she couldn’t read. Would he cancel their wedding? More likely, he would hire a tutor, but if she was unable to learn, he would hold her in contempt for the rest of their lives. He would think she’d tricked him into marriage. She couldn’t bear him knowing how stupid she was.
Her panic level rose. Victoria knew she needed a distraction. If she told him she felt dizzy, Alexander would know she was lying, but if she actually—
Victoria dropped the prayer book and grabbed his arm. “Alex, help—” Relaxing every muscle in her body, Victoria fell into a swoon. She trusted him to catch her before she hit the floor.
Victoria heard the exclamations of alarm as she went down. She almost smiled as Alexander caught her and lifted her into his arms.
“I’ll help you,” Victoria heard Prince Rudolf say. A moment later, she was floating on air as Alexander carried her down the aisle. Victoria struggled against a bubble of laughter when she heard the vicar saying, “Let us pray for the quick recovery of His Grace’s niece.” And then she felt the fresh air as Alexander stepped outside the church.
Moaning softly, Victoria opened her eyes and gazed into hazel eyes filled with concern. “I can stand,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m taking you home.” Alexander set her down but refused to release her. “I’ll climb inside,” he told the prince, “and you help her up to me.”
When he turned his back, Victoria winked at Rudolf and mouthed the words, “Do not laugh.”
“Help her up.” Alexander lifted her into the coach and settled her beside him.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Rudolf told the earl. “With the congregation’s prayers, Tory will soon recover.”
When they reached the mansion, Alexander climbed out first and then helped her down. Unexpectedly, he scooped her into his arms and carried her inside.
Tinker opened the door. “I told you so.”
Victoria feared he would realize her ploy. “Help me upstairs?”
Putting his arm around her, Alexander helped her to her chamber. He closed and locked the door. Victoria decided she couldn’t have planned this any better. The Lord did move in wondrous ways.
“Shall I bring you a pot of tea?” he asked.
“Will you help me
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