Page 104 of The Duke's Ultimatum

Eleanor smiled. “I feel that way.” She glanced back down towards the altar of her church where Derek was laughing with Sarah and William. Everyone seemed so relaxed and excited, a far cry from Eleanor’s last wedding.

“I miss Papa with every breath, but if he… well, then Derek wouldn’t have come and…” Eleanor brought her hand up to cover her eyes. “Oh, I’m being terribly inappropriate, aren’t I?”

Charlotte lowered Eleanor’s hands. “There’s no reason for an apology, love. I know you miss your father and would do anything to have him back with us, but I know what you are saying. There was a silver lining to your father’s passing.” Charlotte leaned in. “And to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the old fool didn’t have his hand in this. You know how much he had to be in control of things. He wanted the best for his girls, and he would’ve wanted someone like Derek for you.”

Eleanor’s heart twinged at the thought of her father and Derek meeting. They would have gotten along smashingly. Unfortunately, one needed to leave for the other to come. She sighed. Such is life.

“Now enough of this melancholy. Your father definitely would not have wanted this.” Charlotte tilted her head and took her daughter’s appearance. “There is nothing I can do, you are already the image of the quintessential bride, and you can’t fix perfection.”

Heat bloomed across Eleanor’s cheeks. “Thank you, Mama.”

The slight cough from the front of the church caught their attention.

“Seems they’re ready for us.” Charlotte extended her arm for Eleanor to take.

“You don’t have to walk me down the aisle if you don’t want to. You could take your seat with Sarah and Beatrice.”

Charlotte shook her head and wiped a stray tear that fell. “Your father would have wanted me to be a part of this somehow. He knew how much I wanted this for you.”

Eleanor slipped her hand through her mother’s arm. “Well then, shall we?”

Her mother nodded, and they began their walk down the aisle.

“Thank goodness you and Derek held it at our church. The thought of walking down a long aisle again almost made me reconsider,” Charlotte whispered to Eleanor’s giggle.

Unlike her last walk down the aisle, Eleanor’s focus was on one man and one man only. Earlier in the day, Charlotte prompted her to look at the congregation as they walked down. She told Eleanor to nod and smile and acknowledge those who came out in support after the falling out with the Viscount, but Eleanor couldn’t drag her eyes away from the man waiting for her.

Derek. Her Duke.

He was standing in his best suit that accentuated his long, muscular legs and athletic build. His coat hugged his shoulders, and his hair curled over the collar just the way she liked it. His dark blue eyes were like beacons leading her home.

Whereas at her last wedding she had to physically manipulate her legs to carry her, now they seemed as if they couldn’t move fast enough.

What seemed like ages were only a few moments, but she was finally at the altar, standing with Derek.

“Eleanor.” Derek’s voice held reverie and warmth. “You look,” his eyes raced over her, “absolutely breathtaking.”

Eleanor couldn’t contain her smile. “Your Grace. I’m glad to see you’re not late.”

“This is the most important deal of my life. I would’ve slept here if William would have let me.”

Eleanor laughed and flicked her gaze over to where William sat, cleaning his spectacles with his handkerchief.

“I appreciate the thought, Your Grace.”

Derek leaned in. “What did I tell you about calling me by my name?”

Eleanor smirked and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Derek.”

Derek’s pupils dilated, and his body shook. “Hmmm, if you’re going to say it like that, perhaps we should stick with ‘Your Grace’ until we are alone.”

Eleanor blushed. The fact that she so greatly affected a man like Derek never ceased to amaze her and she hoped it never would.

The priest shifted his weight.

The couple both turned towards the altar.

“Are we ready to begin?”

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