Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

" Y ou look beautiful, Jenny. Doesn't she look beautiful, Thomas?"

Frances was trying, unsuccessfully, to tame the curls that refused to stay in place on Jenny's head.

Thomas looked at his sister. "She looks sick."

Frances gasped, horrified, and swatted at her husband. Thomas dodged her hand right before it made contact with his shoulder.

"What? Look at her. You didn't look green when you married me."

Frances and Thomas both narrowed their eyes at Jenny, who was currently staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

She heard what they were saying, but she didn't care. Thomas was right, she did look sick. If anything, she wasn't appalled by his comment, but grateful. At least someone was being honest about how ridiculous this all was.

Jenny kept telling herself this wedding was what she wanted. She even wrote in her journal that whatever was between her and David was over and she would eventually get over it. She just had to put one foot in front of the other. Only, today her steps were weighed down with regret and longing.

"Jenny?" Frances's motherly tone got her attention. "Drink some water, love, you do look a little pale."

"And green," Thomas piped up.

"Thomas!" Frances scolded.

Jenny couldn't help herself. The corner of her mouth quirked up. No matter how her life turned out, she was grateful she had those two in her corner. No matter how much they drove each other, and her, crazy.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and her maid entered.

"The carriage is here, Miss."

Jenny met Frances's eyes in the mirror. This was it. Everything she had worked for since she and Thomas arrived was now coming to fruition. Without a word, she pushed away from the vanity and stood up. She turned to Frances, who was watching her with anxious eyes.

A ball of guilt formed in her stomach. Frances was Jenny's true friend when the ton judged her and her brother upon their arrival. She had helped Jenny find her place in Society, and now that the day every young woman dreamt of was here, Jenny was acting like she was walking to the guillotine and not her happily ever after.

She forced her shoulders to relax. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remove the stiffness from her body.

"Thank you for helping me prepare for this day, Frannie. I appreciate it so much." She leaned in and placed a kiss on both of her sister-in-law's cheeks.

She moved to stand in front of Thomas, who was looking at her suspiciously. "Thank you, Thomas, for everything you have done for me. You kept a roof over our heads when Mama and Papa passed. You defended us, provided for us, and took care of me when I needed it the most." She kissed his cheek.

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Frannie, I honestly think there is something wrong with her."

Jenny smiled and patted him on his shoulder. "And I think you are colorblind. Your bride was all sorts of green on your wedding day—you must not have seen it."

She breezed past him. Harassing her brother didn't take all her pain away, but it did coax her first smile in what felt like a long time.

Frances giggled. "I think she's fine. Come, let's get this over with."

Frances and Thomas left her to find a seat at the front of the small church.

Jenny peered down the aisle and saw Harry standing at the altar next to the pastor, with little Elizabeth running circles around him. She smiled at the girl's complete disregard for decorum. However, the muscle ticking in Harry's jaw was bothersome.

She wished they were outside. She always loved this little church, but today, it felt stifling. Being outside would feel so freeing and would distract Elizabeth. If a few ducks needed to be sacrificed to let the ceremony progress smoothly, then so be it.

Jenny sighed into the wall. Who was she kidding? Indoors, outdoors, on the moon, there was nowhere this wedding could take place that would make her feel free.

The worst part was that she was her own jailer. There is no doubt in her mind if she told Thomas she didn't want this marriage, he would handle the fallout for her.

But her own stubbornness had a tight hold on her. She had set out to do something, and by God, she was going to see it through. Even if it meant locking her heart away.

A loud crash and a scream came from the front of the church. Jenny peered through the doorway in the vestibule to see the pastor dousing his vestment with holy water to put out flames.

A giggling Elizabeth holding a now-extinguished candle hid behind her horrified father as he, too, helped put out the burning cloth.

Frances caught Jenny's eyes and motioned for her to walk down the aisle, lest the poor child set the whole church on fire.

Jenny bit her cheek. She never minded a rambunctious child, but she was beginning to think Elizabeth needed more than just a mother figure in her life.

With one deep breath, she put one foot in front of the other. The guests all shifted in their seats and turned to her as she walked down the aisle.

Her feet shuffled under her dress. The closer she got to Harry, the heavier her steps became. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her breathing quickened. If she wasn't careful, she would faint in front of the congregation.

When she reached the altar, Harry stood looking frazzled. Not exactly the sight she had envisioned whenever she fantasized about her wedding day.

His eyes kept flicking to the nanny, who had a death grip on his young daughter, whispering empty threats into her ears to get her to behave.

The charade was becoming too much for her. None of this felt right. The church didn't feel right. She didn't feel right. The groom didn't feel right. Nothing was as it should be.

Jenny felt the sudden urge to drop her flowers and run. She shifted her weight to turn around when Harry's hand reached out and took hers.

Locked in.

The heavy sound of a chain locking echoed in her mind. This was it. She could waver all she wanted, but she was standing in a church, holding the hand of the man she was to marry. It was no longer about to happen. It was happening.

It was done.

Jenny's body swayed under the stress. And for a moment, her vision went black.

She heard screams, and Harry's arms caught her before she fell. She looked up into his eyes only to see him looking down the aisle.

The commotion she heard was not in response to her fainting but to a man charging down the aisle. An angry man.

An angry man who looked like… David.

"Stop!" he bellowed as he ran down the aisle.

"What is the meaning of this?" Harry was still holding Jenny in his arms, and his hold on her tightened.

She looked between both men, trying to process the spectacle in front of her.

"Do not marry this man, Jenny." David's eyes were wild and pleading. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair, usually combed to perfection, was sticking up as if he had been running his hands through it.

Harry stood between him and Jenny, and he looked to the congregation for help. "Someone restrain this man."

Thomas rose from his seat and turned to face the congregation, daring anyone to interfere.

No one moved.

"What is going on?" Harry sputtered.

"Jenny," David started.

"That is Miss Bennett to you. Soon to be the Duchess of Dovegrove," Harry snapped.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Thomas thundered.

David moved closer to the couple. Harry held his hands out, barring him from reaching Jenny.

Jenny stood motionless behind Harry. Her mind couldn't catch up to what was happening fast enough. Her instinct finally kicked in, and she stepped away from Harry.

"David, what are you doing?"

"Don't marry him, Jenny. Marry me."

Gasps rippled across the congregation as people shifted in their seats, all trying to get a better look at the scene unfolding before them. Even little Elizabeth was enraptured.

A hot rush of emotion washed over Jenny. The room began to spin, and once again, she feared she would faint. David lunged towards her. However, it was Harry who steadied her.

"Do you see what you are doing to this poor woman? Leave now!"

David shook his head. "I'm not leaving without Jenny."

Jenny looked up at Harry. He was usually so composed, other than the few times she saw him discipline Elizabeth. But now, he looked positively mad with frustration. His grip on her arms was beginning to hurt, and she yelped with pain.

David's eyes landed on Harry's hands and narrowed. "Let. Her. Go."

Harry looked at Thomas. "Are you going to let this madman storm in here and make these demands? We had an agreement."

Thomas, who was still standing, now with his arms folded across his chest, simply raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. Frances beamed up at her husband from her seat.

"And if you want to fight for something else, then we'll also stand by you." Frances's words from the other day echoed in Jenny's mind.

Jenny pulled her arms from Harry's grip. "Stop!" she demanded. But his hold was too strong.

Fear seized her body. Calm and respectable Harry turned into something that terrified her.

People pushed to their feet. Thomas stood behind David, murder in his eyes.

Jenny's eyes met David's. He was standing, ready to charge, but there was a calm air about him that soothed her.

She couldn't explain it, but just looking at him, knowing he was there for her, quelled her fear. Together they would get through this.

She looked up at Harry. "Harry." She tried to keep her voice calm and neutral. "Harry, you're hurting me."

"If I let you go, will you go to him?" She cast a glance at David, causing Harry to jerk her closer to him. "You will, won't you? You said there was nothing between you!" His eyes were fury mixed with hellfire.

"I'm sorry, Harry. This is my fault. I led you on. My heart was never in this," she pleaded.

Harry's eyes widened. His face flushed red as a vein throbbed in his neck. "Did you lie with him?" His voice echoed through the church.

David's eyes darkened. Ever so slowly, he crept up to the altar. Out of the corner of her eye, Jenny could see his form approach them. She needed to keep Harry distracted.

"Please, Harry," she begged. "Let me go. Do not do this in front of everyone. Think of Elizabeth."

Harry barked out a laugh as he shook her. "I am thinking of Elizabeth!" His eyes flicked to the pastor, who retreated behind the pulpit for safety. "You there. Marry us."

The pastor shook his head. "I cannot marry someone who doesn't wish to be married."

With Harry's back turned to the congregation, David was able to get close enough to tap him on the back. When the man turned, David threw a punch, knocking him away from Jenny.

If she thought there was chaos before, it was nothing compared to what happened after that. Thomas rushed David. David rushed the fallen Harry. Some people ran towards the melee at the front of the church, others ran to the back. Elizabeth jumped up and giggled at the chaos in front of her.

Jenny had a second to think about how she dodged a bullet with that child before her focus returned to the fight in front of her. Thomas and David had restrained a blustering Harry, who was whimpering about his bruised eye.

David cast a look at Thomas, who nodded to confirm that he had control over the deflating Harry. He looked Harry over once to make sure he wouldn't attack him before he let him go. Then he stepped up to Jenny, who was standing alone at the altar.

He held her arm and noted the bruise forming where Harry held her. A low growl rumbled in his chest. He pivoted to return to Harry when Jenny reached out to grab his arms.

"No. He's done. He doesn't matter."

David snarled at Harry, who cowered in Thomas's hold. He returned to Jenny and cupped her face in his hands. "Are you sure you're all right?"

His eyes roamed over her face, inspecting every inch of her, looking for any signs of injury.

She nuzzled his hand. "Despite what just transpired, I don't think I could be any better. This is the best I've felt in a long time."

David furrowed his brow. "How you continue to amaze me, Miss Bennett."

Jenny scrunched up her nose. "That's ‘kitten' to you."

David's eyes flashed with heat. "I love you, Jenny."

His words stole her breath.

"I'm a fool. I should have said it sooner. I was just so afraid of making the same mistakes and ending up hurting you. I couldn't live knowing I hurt you."

He leaned in and kissed her, and she melted in his arms.

"But when you left last night, it broke me in two. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think. I didn't want to live knowing you weren't with me. I won't be the perfect husband." He shrugged. "I'm not the perfect man. But I can't go on another day without you in my life. Please, marry me."

Jenny's heart swelled at his declaration. Looking into his eyes, she found everything she had ever dreamed of. He showed up for her and only her. He saw her, wanted her, never told her she was too loud or too much or too anything. To him, she was perfect the way she was.

She rose on her tiptoes to capture his lips in a passionate kiss. A little too passionate, as she heard a gentle cough coming from Frances.

She pulled away, not one bit embarrassed at her display of affection.

"Is that a yes, kitten?"

Jenny smiled. "It's an absolutely!"