Chapter 12
Waking up beside Amelia the next morning feels unexpectedly calming, nothing like the intimidating experience I had always envisioned. On the contrary, after everything that happened yesterday, I know without a doubt that she belongs to me, body and soul.
The sex was absolutely mind-blowing. Just thinking about her body beneath mine has me struggling to keep it together, resisting the urge to run straight back to our part of the castle and bury myself in her all over again. But there’s no time for that now.
We’re getting married in three hours at Bellington Chapel, and I want to know if the security measures have been increased after yesterday’s incident. Because if not, my wife won’t set foot outside this castle. I will make sure of that.
Yes, there’s still a lot unresolved between us, but I want to get to know her. I want a chance for her, for me, for us.
Eric is already waiting for me in the drawing room, and so is Cedric. There’s no sign of Damien.
“You look damn pleased with yourself,” Cedric greets me, and Eric laughs as a wide grin spreads across my face.
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.“
Now Cedric is the one laughing and Eric raises an eyebrow.
“Gentleman? That’s news to me. But jokes aside, how is Amelia?”
The mood instantly turns serious and I slump into one of the chairs by the window.
“She’s incredibly brave. If I were in her place, I don’t know if I could handle it as calmly as she does. What’s the security situation after yesterday? The wedding was rushed anyway, but after what happened, I don’t want to take any risks.”
Cedric sits down in the other chair while Eric furiously types on his laptop.
“If Phil hadn’t died, Amelia would be marrying him today, Nic.
” Just thinking about that makes my skin crawl.
Jealousy rises, dark and threatening, digging into my heart.
Which is absolute bullshit, because my brother is dead.
If he were still alive, I would never have gotten as close to Amelia as I have now.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
“It’s been planned for months, that’s why your father put so much pressure on it.
So security is at maximum level. The roads you’ll take later have been closed off, policemen and guards are stationed on every corner.
No one can enter the city unnoticed, the church is completely surrounded by police and snipers, and people are kept away from the entrance by barricades.
And even for the presentation on the balcony, you’re safe.
Trust me, no one will get to you, not even the press. ”
His words calm my tense nerves somewhat, but the unease inside me won’t fully subside. For now, this will have to do.
“Good. Then I guess I better go get ready for my wedding, right?” I ask a bit aimlessly, and Cedric starts laughing.
“Getting cold feet now, buddy?” he teases, grinning, and I give him the middle finger. He pours me a shot of whiskey from the always ready carafe, hands me the glass, and I throw it back.
Better.
“I’d like to see you thrown into the deep end like this. You’d have been gone long ago, my friend,” I let him know with a mocking tone, and he raises his arms in complete surrender.
“Damn, no way. Marriage is the last thing I want. Not for me anyway. For a woman like Amelia, maybe I’d consider it, but no thanks.”
Eric bursts out laughing and I get stuck on the words ‘for a woman like Amelia.’
I don’t like that. Not one bit.
“Don’t look at me like you want to tear my head off. I won’t get anywhere near your lady,” he says with a grin, trying to calm me down, and I grumble to myself because, of course, he’s already figured out what’s going on in my head.
“Where’s Damien?” I ask, because I haven’t seen him since he dropped that bombshell, and he hasn’t reached out either.
Even though I’m disappointed and didn’t handle the truth well, I still worry about my best friend.
“I don’t know. He’s been off the radar since the day before yesterday.”
“Shit, this is my fault,” I say, frustrated, running my hand over my face, looking first at Cedric then Eric.
“Let’s get out of here, I need to talk to you,” I nod toward the walls and they immediately understand what I mean. It isn’t safe to talk here. And what I have to say doesn’t need to be overheard.
Together we leave the room and almost bump into my mother, who, fully dressed in royal robes, is rushing down the hall with a maid carrying a large dress bag.
“Sweetheart, what are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be getting ready already?” she calls out reproachfully, giving me a disapproving once-over without even slowing down, and the two candidates standing next to me get the same treatment.
“And you two. Come on now, shoo shoo. The wedding is about to start. Be glad your father is already in the chapel,” she scolds without looking back. Still, the three of us lower our heads and stand there like three naughty boys as we watch her hurry around the corner and disappear.
“She’s intimidating. Even though that was a bit harsh,” Cedric murmurs and I nod but smile.
I know where she’s headed and I feel a nervous excitement growing inside me.
She’s going to help my wife. She loves Amelia and knows how hard this all is for her, especially without her parents by her side.
“Come on, let’s get going. I’ll tell you what’s going on along the way,” I urge the two and we head to my old room where my uniform is hanging. I tell them what Damien’s been hiding from me, and Cedric’s eyes nearly pop out of his head.
“That’s… wow… man, that’s intense. I don’t mean intense that he’s gay, we knew that, but that he and your brother… wow,” he says, shocked. Eric, on the other hand, is oddly quiet and doesn’t seem surprised.
“You knew, right?” I ask flatly and he looks at me seriously.
“I wasn’t sure—I suspected it. But I thought it wasn’t my problem, and as long as I wasn’t certain, I didn’t want to stir up trouble.” I exhale in relief, because it would’ve really pissed me off and hurt if one of my closest friends had kept something like that from me.
“That’s why he’s so messed up and keeps getting wasted,” Cedric murmurs, and yeah, that makes sense now. Damien lost his great love—my brother. It’s no wonder he’s completely thrown off. But I can’t focus on that now.
Today I’m getting married.
Damn, and I’m getting nervous after all.
“We’ll keep an eye on him and take it from there. He’ll have to show up today, if only for his parents. Maybe I can catch him later at the private celebrations.”
They both nod, and shortly after, I’m alone because Cedric has to get his suit and Eric goes back to his post.
And I get ready to officially take on my brother’s legacy.
Two hours later, I’m standing in the Bellington Chapel, pissed off and annoyed, and all I want to do is get the hell out of here.
My father is being his most disgusting self and has already threatened me four times to “get things sorted” with my wife, or he’ll do it himself. Which is ever going to happen over my dead body.
Then I got a lecture about how great my inheritance is and how important it is that I take everything seriously. In other words, he more or less subtly let me know that he thinks I’m completely incompetent and unfit.
And when he then started explaining how I should deal with my wife from now on, I bolted.
Now I’m standing on the gallery, taking a solid swig of whiskey from a flask.
Cedric and Damien are next to me, both staring down at the parade of high-society idiots and aristocrats filing into the church.
“What a catwalk of arrogance and conceit,” Damien mutters, and I have to agree. That’s exactly what this is. See and be seen. Everyone wants a piece of the pie.
“Well, it’s the event of the year. The most eligible bachelor is off the market—which will break a few hearts.
Especially Miss Wilshire. Look at her, she’s in mourning,” Cedric sneers, nodding downward to where Sarah is indeed making her entrance in a black gown.
She scans the crowd arrogantly and finally takes a seat in one of the front pews.
And I wonder what I ever saw in her. Because after last night, I know what truly good sex feels like.
The sound of the bells snaps me out of my thoughts. My boys square their shoulders and both give me a pat on the back.
“What could possibly go wrong?” Damien says, and I nod, grateful that he’s here.
Ced gives me a quick hug, and then both of them head downstairs to take their seats.
I stay for a moment, take a deep breath, and try to calm my racing heart before making my way down as well.
Showtime.