Page 86 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
Lord Ashton looked at him in fear and began to back up. “It wasn’t just me! I did not work alone! Surely you see that! I was given these ideas by—”
Charles stepped forward to Leonard’s side, placing a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder, and nodded to the constable, his face calm and assured. “The constable said that is enough, and I agree with him. You are holding us all here with your foolish stories and justifications. I believe your consequences will be severe enough without making it worse? Give up now, Ashton, we are finished with you.”
Lord Ashton opened his mouth, closed it, opened it once more and then started to sprint, panicked, to the back of the church. The constable, amazingly light on his feet for such a very large man, ran up and caught him before he could even reach the far doors. With one beefy hand locked around the back of Ashton’s neck, the Earl was marched down the aisle, much as Sarah had just been marched in the opposite direction.
“You’re going away, My Lord,” the constable said cheerfully. “And I’d imagine it will be for a very, very long time.”
“You’ll all regret this!” Ashton called, his voice high-pitched and pathetic as he was dragged out of the church. “I’m a powerful man! I’ll get—” his cry was cut off decisively by the heavy door slamming shut.
“His accomplice has likely already escaped to Italy,” Charles said regretfully, looking to Leonard. “I imagine we would have trouble finding him, but I offer to go myself, to find the man who has collaborated to do my great friend such harm.”
Leonard smiled. “You are a good friend, indeed, Charles.” They turned to the side, continuing to discuss the matter quietly.
Sarah, impatient now, tugged at her arm, trying to free herself from John’s still-tight grip.
Felix looked sharply at John. “I think you need to let her go now,” he said, with the barest trace of a threat in his voice. John complied, opening his hand, but not otherwise reacting.
Sarah flew across the church and landed solidly in Felix’s arms, burying her face in his chest. “You kept your promise. You came just in time,” she said against his coat.
He put his face in her hair and held her so tightly it nearly took her breath away. “I will never let you down, Sarah. Never.”
She looked up at him. “But how did you know to come here? Mother said she did not tell anyone.”
Felix grinned. “The strangest thing happened. When we arrived at your home, a boy came running out of the stables, screaming that they had dragged you to St. George’s and that we had to hurry. He wouldn’t even let us stop to ask any questions. I think he smacked Acorn on the rump.”
“Nut,” Sarah said with a smile of her own. He’d come through right when it mattered the most. She owed that child a very large debt. Yes, a large debt, indeed.
John came up to them then, red-faced and sliding his hands nervously together. “Listen, Felix,” he said. “I owe you an apology.”
Felix tucked Sarah under his arm by his side—she couldn’t have made herself stop touching him if she had tried—and looked at him without a word.
“I… I didn’t know. I treated you shamefully. I apologize, sincerely.” He lowered his head.
“John, I only ever wanted you to understand how much Sarah means to me.” Felix’s voice was endlessly patient. “She is my entire world. I would do anything, go anywhere, take on any challenge to be at her side. I would give my life for her smile. I only ask that you consider my request for her hand once more.”
John glanced at Sarah and rubbed a hand across his lips before nodding. “So long as you hold some sort of business in your hands or find some kind of income, which I am sure you will figure out, I would be happy for the two of you to be married. You have shown me your dedication, and I know you will succeed. I trust you now, as I should have before.” He stepped back. “I’ll talk to Mother, Sarah, and give you two a moment alone.”
Lady Marlow had watched the proceedings with a rising face of extreme shock, and was sitting still in her pew, looking overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.
Leonard had also tactfully disappeared, along with the men and the private investigator.
Sarah reached one hand up to Felix’s cheek, delighting in the feel of him. “I was so afraid,” she said softly. “But I knew in my heart that you would come. And you did, perfectly on time.”
“I would not have been able to forgive myself if I had been late,” he murmured, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
“I’m yours, now and forever,” she said, her heart in her voice.
“And I’m yours.” He put a warm hand to her check. “Now and forever.”
And the kiss they shared then was the sweetest kiss a lady in love could imagine.
Epilogue
One Month Later
“It’s the most beautiful day for a wedding there ever was,” Juliet said, clasping her hands to her cheeks.
“Juliet, please tell me you’re not about to cry again,” Sarah said with a smile. Sure enough, she could see the tears brimming in her friend’s eyes.
