Chapter 20
Twenty
Surely you do not believe that I am done?
I will stop at nothing to see you and your soon-to-be Duchess ruined.
The note shook in the solicitor’s hand as he read it, and Austin felt his face heat up with rage.
“I will have the investigator look into this.” Mr. Whitman, senior partner of Whitman, Harriet he did not pry too much into his life.
The elderly man closed the portfolio before him. “One last thing, Your Grace. The settlements are ready for your signature. Lady Deena’s jointure is generous but not extravagant, enough to secure her comfort should the worst happen. The trust for any future children is ironclad.”
Austin nodded once. “Good.”
Whitman rose. “I’ll leave the documents with you. Sign when you’re ready. I’ll be at the chapel tomorrow to witness.”
Austin stood as well. “Whitman.”
The solicitor paused at the door.
“Thank you,” Austin said simply.”
Whitman met his gaze without flinching. “You are most welcome, Your Grace. She will be safe and so will you.”
Deena stepped down from the carriage, one hand steadying herself on the doorframe while the other rested lightly in Dominic’s waiting palm.
The gravel crunched under her slippers. The family chapel stood before her, small, ancient, and ivy-clad; its stone walls were stained beautifully by centuries.
Dominic’s fingers tightened briefly around hers. “You ready, Dee?”
She managed a small nod. “As I’ll ever be.”
He offered his arm, and she took it. Together they walked up the short path, through the open arched doorway, and into the hush of the chapel.
Inside, the air smelled of old stone and faint incense. A single soft piano melody drifted from the gallery above. There was no choir, no organ swell, and no guests beyond the immediate family. Just the people who mattered.
“You look beautiful, darling!” her grandmother whispered loudly from where she stood. Selina was beside her. Mary was dressed prettily in a pink dress with flowers sewn along the hem, and Percy, whose hair had been combed meticulously for the occasion, stared wide-eyed at Deena.
Her eyes slowly traveled to the front of the pew, where she saw Austin.
He waited at the chancel steps in a dark blue coat cut sharp across the shoulders, a white waistcoat, snowy cravat tied in a simple knot. His hair was tamed, mostly, and his usual lazy half-smile was absent. When their eyes met, he gave her the smallest nod.
Her heart gave an unsteady lurch.
Dominic walked her forward slowly. The piano continued, gentle and unhurried. At the steps, Dominic stopped. He looked down at her for a long moment, searching her face, and checking one last time.
“You’re sure?” he asked, voice low enough for only her to hear.
Deena swallowed. “I’m sure.”
He bent, kissed her forehead. “Then be happy, Dee. That’s all I want.”
She nodded, throat too constricted for words.
Dominic turned to Austin. Their eyes met as old friends and brothers in everything but blood. Dominic placed Deena’s hand in Austin’s.
His fingers closed around hers, and his warm touch made her shiver.
Dominic stepped back to Selina’s side.
The clergyman opened his prayer book, and the ceremony began.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in Holy Matrimony…”
The words washed over her, familiar from childhood, from weddings she had attended as a girl. Austin’s hand never left hers. His thumb moved once, slowly and reassuringly across her knuckles.
Her breathing became shallow.
When the time came for the vows, the clergyman looked first to Austin.
“Austin Delves, wilt thou have this Woman to be thy wedded Wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? ”
Austin’s voice was clear, steady, carrying easily in the small stone space.
“I will.”
Deena felt the words settle into her bones.
The clergyman turned to her.
“Deena Archdall, wilt thou have this Man to be thy wedded Husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?
Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? ”
Deena looked up at Austin. His eyes were on her, steady and serious, and yet… There was the faintest crinkle at the corners. It was the same crinkle he wore when he was about to say something outrageous just to make her laugh.
She felt the corner of her own mouth lift helplessly.
“I will.”
The ring came next; it was a simple band of Welsh gold. Austin slid it onto her finger with steady hands.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The clergyman smiled as Deena repeated the words and placed the ring on Austin’s finger.
“I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
A soft collective breath released from the tiny congregation. The dowager dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. Selina smiled through tears. Percy clapped his hands once before Selina gently hushed him.
Austin turned to Deena fully. His thumb brushed across her new ring as he leaned down and kissed her. It was a soft, brief kiss. Chaste enough for family eyes, but long enough that she felt the familiar heat between them.
When he drew back, his voice was for her alone.
“You make quite a beautiful wife, Dee.”
She frowned at him but felt the heat rise up in her cheeks. “Thank you. And you look quite charming as well.”
Austin chuckled as they stepped out of the chapel into the cool late-afternoon air. He briefly let go of Deena’s hand and leaned close to Dominic, murmuring something too low for Deena to catch. Dominic’s brows rose, then he gave a short nod, lips twitching in annoyance.
Deena glanced between them, but Austin grabbed her hand and continued walking to their carriage with her family following closely behind. “What was that?”
Austin only smiled at her wickedly.
“Nothing you need worry about, Duchess.” He teased her, but the title landed strangely new and heavy.
She looked up at him, heart still racing from the vows, from the ring, from the kiss, but his smile somehow calmed her nerves.
Maybe they could make this work.
As friends.
Dominic clapped Austin on the shoulder just before they could enter their carriage. “Welcome to the family, Windemere.”