Page 83 of Foolish Bride
Jowls jiggling in an unnatural and disgusting way, Roxton bounced around the altar like a misbehaving child. Between that sight and the stench of her gown, Elinor’s stomach churned. Bile rose in her throat as one of the men who had helped to capture her prodded her up the aisle.
The other guard stood near the altar.
The dower-faced priest stood behind them. Holding his Bible in one hand, he tapped the cover with the other. He was red from too much sun.
Where were the guests? Why were no neighbors present? Elinor’s heart pounded in her ears. Panic rose up from her gut. This couldn’t be happening. Her feet hurt from traversing the castle and courtyard wearing ancient, ill-fitting slippers that matched the wedding gown. If the guard’s vice-like grip hadn’t held her up, her legs might have given out. She would have bruises on her arm to match the one on her face.
Elinor said. “You cannot actually believe that I shall go through with marrying you.”
Roxton frowned. “You do not seem to understand. I have not asked you, because the choice is not yours. I am in command here at Kerburghe. You will do as I say. Everyone here does as I say.”
“You have no business here. This is not your holding. Michael Rollins is the Duke of Kerburghe, and you are most certainly not him. He is a hero for the crown, and you are nothing.”
Before she could flinch, Roxton slapped her across the face. She immediately tasted the blood.
“This is a house of God!” The priest stomped his foot and raised his bible.
Roxton turned on him eyes bulging and spittle on his chin.
They were about the same height. Roxton carried more fat around his middle, and the priest wore spectacles.
The priest stood his ground. “Am I to understand that the young lady does not consent to this marriage?”
“I do not. I have been brought here against my will. I—”
An enormous meaty hand clamped over her mouth and blocked her breathing.
She struggled, but it was useless, and the bruises on her face stung from the added pressure.
“Of course she wished the marriage. I am a duke.” Roxton’s voice took on a sing-song quality. “All women want to marry a duke.”
The priest sighed and removed his spectacles. He closed the Bible and rubbed his eyes. “I cannot marry you if the lady is not willing. You shall have to release her and allow her to go.”
“Go! Where can she go? She is mine. I will never let her go.” He advanced on the priest and pointed his finger in the man’s face. “You will marry us, or I will put you out of Kerburghe. You will be left without a living.”
To his credit, the priest merely frowned. “I shall pack my things, for I shall not go against the church and marry an unwilling party.”
For a man who had obviously overindulged in food and drink for most of his life, Carter Roxton was surprisingly quick. He pulled out a long thin knife from his boot and pointed it at the priest.
The cleric only narrowed his eyes. “I cannot be threatened, my son. I do not fear death as it only brings me closer to my Lord. I would only fear for your soul should you kill me.”
Roxton’s freckled face spread into a grin. He turned the knife away from the man and toward Elinor.
Elinor also preferred the idea of death to marrying the fiend. However, the hand blocking her mouth kept her from voicing this.
“I wonder if those brave words hold up now.”
The guard continued to hold Elinor. He let go of her mouth and held both arms behind her back. Her shoulders ached from the strain.
“Father, I would rather die than marry him.”
Now Roxton pressed the edge of his blade against her neck. Cold steel sent a shiver up her spine.
“You are not going anywhere until this marriage is complete. I shall have her, or I shall kill her. You see, Father, I am in love with this woman, and I cannot stand for another man to have her. I am quite desperate.”
He didn’t sound at all desperate. In fact, his voice was almost melodious as he described her two possible fates. It was a game to him. His ruddy face colored a deeper red and puffed out. He would kill her, and he thought he could get away with the murder.
The priest looked at Roxton, then at Elinor. She could see that he too believed that she was in peril. “I am sorry, my child.”
