The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel #1)(114)

He did not reply.

“I never intended for this to happen. I didn’t care that you were a marquess. Or that you were to be a duke.” She paused, but he gave no indication that he had even heard her. “I realize you don’t believe me, but everything I told you was the truth. I never wanted to return to London. I never wanted to marry an aristocrat.”

And then I fell in love with you.

She wanted to say that to him. But she couldn’t bear his disbelief.

She couldn’t blame him for not believing her, either.

“I ruined my family,” she said. “Seraphina has been exiled from Haven’s house, with child. None of my other sisters has a suitor worth his salt. My father’s lost the titled investors for his mines. Because I acted rashly. Yes. For a moment, I considered trapping you into marriage. But only because I wanted you so desperately. It never had to do with the title. Never with my family. Never for any reason but that I wanted you.” She paused, and whispered the last. “Forever.”

“Don’t ever say that word to me again.” The reply was cold and angry. “We do not have a forever. Neither of us deserves it.”

The words stung, but she refused to cry. Instead, she watched the road, rising and falling before them. “When I knocked on the door last night—”

I only wished to tell you I love you.

She didn’t say it. “—I’d already changed my mind. I don’t wish to marry you,” she said, instead, not knowing if the words were true or false. “I don’t wish for you to be saddled with me.”

“I shan’t be,” he said, the words cold and distant. “You needn’t worry.”

She did not care for the certainty in his words. “Where are we going?”

He did not reply, instead turning off the road and onto a smaller road, and then a drive that wound up to a great stone castle that rose up out of the landscape like something out of the Knights of the Round Table.

Outside the keep was a coach and six, hitched and ready, as though someone had just arrived. King pulled the curricle to a stop behind the coach and leapt down to bang on the door to the keep. Seconds later, the door opened to reveal the Duke of Warnick and a young woman draped in a green and black plaid.

Warnick stepped out of the keep with a smile, clapping King on the back heartily before turning to her. “Lady Sophie,” he said, coming forward to help her down, “Your husband-to-be is already neglecting you, I see.”

Sophie blinked. “Husband-to-be?”

Warnick tilted his head to one side, watching her with curiosity before turning back to King. “You haven’t asked her? A little late for that, no?”

King did not look at her. “She knows we’re to be married. She’s simply playing coy.”

Sophie forced a smile at the words. “Of course,” she said, attempting to hide her confusion. “I simply did not know that you knew, Your Grace.”

He laughed. “We have lax rules in Scotland, my lady, but the ones governing witnesses to weddings are fairly firm. I know, as your officiant.”

Sophie blinked. “Our officiant.”

“Yes! Don’t worry, I’ve been to several weddings. I shall take today seriously.”

“Today,” she said.

“Yes.”

“We’re to be married, today.”

“Aye,” the massive Scot said with a smile. “Else why would King have ferreted you away to Scotland?”

“Of course,” she said. “Why else?”

But she wanted to scream.

“You make a beautiful bride, if I may say so,” the duke continued as though all was perfectly normal. “Of course, the last time I saw you, you were much more . . . interestingly . . . dressed.”

“Shut up, Warnick,” King growled.

Sophie blinked, unable to be embarrassed of her footman’s garb as all her affront was taken up with the fact that she was about to be wed. “We’re to be married here. In your house.”

Warnick looked back at the massive keep. “One of them. Unfortunately, it’s not the nicest.”

“We won’t be going in,” King said. “If nothing else, the Scots understand marital expediency.” He looked to the plaid-covered girl. “I assume you are our second witness?”

“Aye, m’lord,” she said.

“And what’s your name?” he asked, the words an octave lower than his usual voice.

“Catherine.”

He smiled at her, and Sophie couldn’t help the way her heart pounded at the dimples that flashed there, in his handsome face. “Well, Catherine, you may call me King.”

The girl returned his smile warmly, and Sophie wanted to hit him. Hard.

King turned to Warnick, who was watching the scene carefully. “Let’s have this done.”

Warnick nodded. “I suppose we can skip the dearly beloved bit.”

“Indeed,” said King.

“I don’t know,” snapped Sophie. “Catherine seems fairly beloved.”

Warnick’s black brows rose and he looked to King. “Dearly beloved, then.”

King smirked. “Whatever my betrothed wishes.”

“Dearly beloved,” the duke intoned, “we are gathered here today to join this man”—he indicated King—“and this woman”—he waved to Sophie—“in holy matrimony.”