Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

V ictoria was doing her best not to grip too firmly to her father's arm, but it was a struggle. The rest of her body was wound tight like a spring. She feared what might happen if she let loose the hold on her suppressed emotions.

As she and the duke made their way down the aisle of St. Georges Church, Hanover Square, her gaze darted left and right. So many people. The pews were close to overflowing.

Breathe in. Count to four, then breathe out. Slowly. Maintain calm.

This was her wedding day; she was meant to be the blushing happy bride. But it was all a lie. None of what happened today was her choice. She felt trapped.

I made one foolish mistake and now I am going to pay for it for the rest of my life.

She glanced up at her father, and the duke gave her an encouraging grin. Of course he was happy, this was a smart match. His daughter was marrying another senior noble. The only other person in the church who would be smiling more broadly right now would be her mother. The Duchess of Mowbray was beside herself with joy.

All week the invitations and RSVPs for the wedding ball had been flowing in and out of Mowbray House. At last count, the guest numbers for the ball alone were close to four hundred. Victoria didn't know that many people, but she was certain the duchess did.

Day after day, the members of the extended Kembal family, Augusta, Flynn, Coco, Serafina, Gideon, Richard, and Matthew had been pressed into service by Lady Anne. Made to mingle in one of the drawing rooms and pretend to be guests of importance while Victoria did her best to remember their names and titles.

But as she made her way toward the front of the church and her impending fate, she couldn't recall a single name amongst the faces which turned her way.

"Don't worry about anything, leave it all up to your mother. All you have to do is smile," her father had reassured her as she stepped down from the Mowbray town carriage. His words gave Victoria cold comfort. In a matter of minutes, she was going to be a married woman—a duchess. And with that came a great deal of responsibility.

And a wedding night.

Breathe. Slowly in and out.

She took one final glance at the crowded box pews on either side, and decided she'd looked at enough people. Eyes focused forward, her attention settled on the man standing in front of the bishop. The man who was about to become her husband.

Robert turned from making small talk with Hugh Radley, the Bishop of London, who also happened to be the uncle of the bride and looked back down the long nave. Victoria and her father were slowly making their way toward him. As they drew closer, he caught the tight smile on her face.

She'd probably been hoping to marry for love, and now she was about to be saddled with him. A wave of guilt washed through Robert's mind. He wasn't exactly an ogre, but he could imagine that he wasn't the sort of man Victoria had ever thought to marry.

I'm quite a few years older than her. I'm socially awkward. And I have few friends.

All marks against his name, but they were perfectly acceptable faults for a man to exhibit. His other shortcomings were however less agreeable.

I am a highwayman. A liar. An unashamed thief. A smuggler.

Heavens above, even he wouldn't marry himself.

As his future bride approached, Robert Tolley made a silent promise to the world. He would try and be the best husband he could be for Victoria. He would keep his illegal activities as far away from their marriage, and her, as was possible.

He would protect his wife. Victoria.

Their gazes met and he held out his hand to her. But as her father placed his daughter into his care, Robert was gripped with a moment of doubt. He had no right to be marrying this young woman, no right to be bringing her into his dangerous world.

She was meant to be marrying the handsome prince like in the fairytales, but somewhere along the way things had changed and now the fair maiden was about to wed the black-hearted villain.

He couldn't guarantee Victoria the happily ever after that she deserved, and in that moment, Robert truly hated himself.