Chapter Twenty-Two
Selena’s heart pounded so furiously in her chest she could scarce hear anything else.
The second the doors opened, her eyes searched for him.
Momentarily blinded by the sun streaming through the stained glass windows, her panic nearly took her over, clawing at her throat and stealing her breath until her father squeezed her hand.
“Your betrothed awaits, my dear. Shall we go meet him?”
Selena jerked her head to look at her father and then turned back to the church interior. Searching until she found what she was looking for. Him. Edward. Standing at the front of the aisle, waiting for her. Just as he’d promised.
Her breath left her in a rush, and she started down the aisle, nearly dragging her father with her.
Her gaze met Edward’s, and the smile he aimed at her stole her breath and stopped her in her tracks.
Edward didn’t hesitate. He stepped down and rushed toward her, not slowing until he was right before her, his hands cupping her face, his lips upon hers.
Pandemonium broke out around them, and she didn’t care. She dropped her flowers and clung to her love, kissing him as though he were the very air she needed to breathe.
They broke apart just long enough to smile at each other. “You came,” she said, her smile so wide it made her cheeks ache.
He kissed her again, and she reached up to grasp his hands in her own. He brought them to his lips, kissed each one, and then held their clasped hands against his chest.
“I will always come for you,” he said, kissing her again so sweetly she nearly sobbed.
“In truth, I was not certain you would come,” he confessed.
“I?” she asked, eyes widening. “Why would you doubt me?”
“After the way I left last night…”
“Well, Jane aided in that a bit.”
He chuckled. “True. But after everything you told me, I should have said something. Should have stopped Mrs. Haddon from expelling me. Not until I told you that I loved you. That nothing you had told me had changed that. That if anything, it only made me love you more. And that I couldn’t wait to marry you. ”
She dropped her head to his chest with a happy sob, laughing when he lifted her face back to look at him, brushing his thumb across her cheeks.
“It is I who should apologize,” she said. “For waiting so long to tell you. For doubting you, even for a moment. I love you, too. And I have never been so happy in my life to see someone standing inside a church.”
He laughed again but she sobered slightly. “I do still fear for you though, Edward. Perhaps even more so. What if—”
“I promise you, I shall avoid all birds, horses, and bodies of water until at least a fortnight after we have signed that register. I will drink nothing but water so that my wits will not become addled. And I will eat healthily, sleep regularly, and rest as often as needed after we—”
A clearing throat snapped them out of the little world they had carved for themselves, and Selena glanced about with growing embarrassment to realize that not only did her father still stand mere feet away (and therefore had likely heard a fair bit of what they had just said, if not everything), but that the vicar had also followed Edward down the aisle and was standing purple faced and stuttering behind him.
Her mother, Lord Goodwin, Jane and Mr. Haddon, and Edward’s entire family seemed to be greatly amused by it all, at least.
“While I am glad to see you have decided not to abandon my daughter after all,” her father said, “however, perhaps we should continue with the ceremony before Mr. Burgess has an apoplexy.” He nodded at the vicar who truly looked as though he might suffer from the vapors at any moment.
“Yes, please,” Mr. Burgess said, gesturing them toward the front.
“It is customary to save such…activities for after the ceremony. When in private and not in the church,” he hissed, though more out of embarrassment than anger it seemed.
In fact, once they had gotten themselves situated before him and he’d taken a deep breath, he looked quite amused.
“I suppose I do not need to ask if you are giving yourselves freely,” he said with a little chuckle. “Now then, let us begin. Dearly beloved—”
“Wait!” someone shouted as the door crashed open, sending an echo through the church. “I object to this union!”
Mr. Burgess threw his hands up. “I haven’t gotten to that part yet. We’ve barely begun.”
“Well…” The man, who looked disturbingly familiar, frowned, a great deal of his bluster deflating with the lackluster response to his interruption. “I object all the same. This union cannot be allowed.”
“And why is that?” Edward said, his face darkening with anger. He stepped off the dais, and the gentleman audibly gulped and took a step back.
Selena gasped, suddenly realizing why the man looked so familiar. “Herr von Richter?” she asked.
“Are you acquainted with this man?” Edward asked, turning to her with a confused frown.
“Not personally but…I believe he is Otto’s brother.”
“Otto?” His eyes widened again. “Number five?”
“Yes,” she said faintly.
She had never met the man, Johann, but he and Otto had a similar look about them. This man had darker hair, was a bit shorter, stouter. But the eyes were the same. The cut of his jaw. The angle of his nose. She could definitely see her last betrothed in the man before her.
He glanced at her with a slight sneer but gave her a sharp nod.
“What is your business here? What possible objection could you have to our union? Especially after the foul treatment of my betrothed at your brother’s hands.”
“My brother’s hands?” he said. “It is her hands that have blood on them, my lord.”
Selena and the other women—and Mr. Haddon—gasped at the accusation. Edward’s brothers just watched as if they couldn’t decide if they should be entertained or ready to defend her honor. Which she found quite sweet, all things considered.
Edward stepped in front of Selena, shielding her from the man before them. “Careful,” he said, his voice a growl of warning.
“That is quite a serious accusation,” Lord Goodwin added, placing a restraining hand on Edward’s shoulder. “One for which I doubt you have evidence.”
Selena’s spirits were buoyed somewhat by their defense of her, and she straightened her spine. “I have no blood on my hands, Herr von Richter. I do not know what happened to your brother, but my conscience is clear.”
“There. You have your answer,” Edward said.
“No. She lies.”
Edward took a step forward with a growl, but Anthony held him back.
“You have thirty seconds to explain yourself before I let him go,” Lord Goodwin said.
Johann watched Edward uneasily, which at least showed he had a healthy appreciation for just how tenuous his current predicament was.
“If she had nothing to do with his disappearance,” he said, “then why has no one has seen nor heard from him since the day he was set to marry that woman.” He jabbed his finger at Selena and for a moment, she thought Edward might just reach out and break it off.
She stepped around Edward, despite his grunt of protest. No matter how angry or confused Johann was, she knew she had nothing to hide.
And she was well enough protected by not only Edward, but her father who had come to stand beside him.
And Lord Goodwin who flanked his other side.
And Edward’s brothers and father who hadn’t yet moved closer but who stood near their seats, watching and waiting.
Even Mr. Burgess had moved closer. Though she wasn’t sure how much protection the man could offer.
He looked as though a strong wind might blow him right off his feet.
But she appreciated the support all the same.
Besides, Johann didn’t look murderously angry. More confused and frustrated. And that was one thing she could understand.
“Herr von Richter,” she said, “what do you mean no one has seen or heard from your brother? I assumed he had been home this past year.”
He shook his head in sharp, jerky movements. “No. According to the servants, he left the morning of your wedding, and he never returned. I have searched for him for months and haven’t found a trace.”
“What?” she said faintly. She let out her breath in a rush and dropped onto the nearest pew. “Forgive me, but I cannot make any sense of that.”
“Sense of what?” Johann said, following her, though a slight movement from Edward stopped him from coming too close.
“It is obvious what happened. You married him and disposed of him, as you do of all your husbands. And then you came here to find your next victim. You should thank me for saving your life,” he said, glancing at Edward who was staring at him with a dangerous fire in his eyes.
Lord Goodwin’s grip on Edward’s shoulder tightened visibly. “You should thank me for saving yours,” he muttered, though Selena wasn’t sure if anyone heard him but her…and Edward, whose stance relaxed slightly as he snorted.
She turned her attention back to the problem at hand. “I have no victims, Herr von Richter, past or future.” Then she frowned. “How did you find me? I left no word to where I’d be traveling.”
Johann’s eyes narrowed. “This!”
He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. Selena leaned closer to see the wedding announcement her mother had placed in the paper.
“I knew your father’s name and thought to appeal to—”
Selena could do naught but laugh. Out loud.
And once she started, she couldn’t stop.
Nothing about this situation was funny in the least, but at the same time it was so ridiculous she could scarce believe it was happening.
Of all the catalysts to this monstrosity of a situation, that her wedding announcement was what could possibly ruin everything was one insanity too far.
Johann seemed dumbfounded for a moment but then pointed at her, his anger flaring again. “You see? The evil woman laughs at her misdeeds. She should be arrested and—”