Page 113 of A Lady of Means
“Here, take it.Evenyoucan be a duchess,” a piece landed next to Kate Herring.Kate looked down at it like it was something toxic and life-giving both at once.
“Andyou?You could be a duchess.”She heaved a piece of tiara in the direction of Letitia.
“Why not you?You are definitely duchess material.”Another landed at the feet of Carina Smythe.
“Or you?Fancy being a duchess?”
Another piece of the crown.Moria threw two more.
The seam of one of the arms of her gown gave a little tear on her final throw.A couple of hairs slipped from her coiffure.She must look a fright, but Devyn smiled at her.She could only hazard a guess at all the reactions around her in that church, didn’t bother to look too closely because his was the only one that seemed to matter.His smile, full of pride and awe, like she was both a madwoman and a heroine, suffused her with hope.
Moria felt so many pairs of eyes assessing and judging her, it didn’t feel like a heavy weight she needed to carry anymore.At least not alone.“When you hold your future in your hands, it isn’t all that you thought it would be.What if it’s all fake?All for show?Do you still want it then?”
Silence.
She chanced a glance at her family, several had tears in their eyes; there was love, there was pride.Olivia and Noelle were holding hands.
“Because I don’t.”She turned to Devyn.“I’m tired of being the best liar in this town because I wanted to tell you all for a long time that my affections are no longer for sale.I made a promise to a man long before now and if he hadn’t nearly died, I would have kept that promise.But then I thought maybe this was how it was supposed to be.It’s what I thought I was destined for anyway,” she clutched his hand tighter for support.“But clearly it wasn’t, or you’d have died or my feelings would have changed.And they never have and they never will.”
He was rushing her, pulling her into him with their enjoined hands, fusing his mouth to hers.She hadn’t had the fortitude or the respect or whatever the hell one wanted to name it to care howwrongthat was, in this place of all places, on today of all days.She was supposed to be kissing the man she’d come here to wed, having promised to love, honor, and obey him.But there was only one man she could make such a promise to, even the obey part, and he was kissing her in full view of society’s highest inner circles.
A throat cleared in front of her, but Moria didn’t let go of Devyn, only peeked one eye to see that it was Jasper.
“Oh god,” she said, pulling her lips from Devyn’s possession.“You’re going to challenge him to a duel, aren’t you?”
“Which he?”Jasper said, quirking one eyebrow.And then, he pulled the Duke by his lapel, and hit him with a stout right hook.The Duke was holding his bloodied nose in his hands.
“Westmoreland!What the fuck haveIdone?”
“No one talks to my sisters like that,” Jasper said, his fists still balled.“Not even a Duke.”
Lawrence scoffed, taking a step forward to back his brother up, but Fitz and Henry held him back.
Devyn looked to Moria, still holding her against him.“That waswicked,” he said next to her.She had to bite her lip to stifle a giggle.
“If you’re still here hanging around like a bad smell,” Jasper turned to the guests seated in the pews, “then you might as well adjourn to Pembrooke House to dismantle the mounds of food and mountains of cake waiting for the luncheon for this farce of a wedding.”He turned to the Duke with an accusatory finger, “Except for you, you slanderous villain.”
“I’m going to love being part of your family,” Devyn said, his mouth so close to her hair.Her eyes closed at his nearness.
“And I’m going to love surprising you every day and keeping your bed warm every night.”
He hung his head against her shoulder.“I’m getting hard in a church, thanks for that.”
Moria whispered in his ear, “Get us a carriage back to the house, and I’ll get on my knees for you.I’ll make you my church.”
Devyn swore.But he didn’t answer her, one hand gripping her waist, he called for Llewyn.
“Vicar!Do you perform hand fastings?”
Olivia gave a little squeal, squeezing Peregrine’s hand.On the other side of Peregrine, Tristan gave Moria a wink.Kathleen said, “Moria, you did change your bridegroom on the day of your wedding, you little minx!”
Fitz and Noelle both collapsed into each other laughing.Lawrence lifted a flask in salute to Moria and her soon-to-be-bridegroom, then handed the flask to his cyprian, Sarah.Letitia had picked up the flowers Moria had dropped and handed them to her.Lady Gretchen and Carina both grasped Moria from behind in an obsequious embrace.
Moria looked over her shoulder, it was just those she cared for most in the church now, those who weren’t invested in catching one lady of means as she fell from her pedestal, long vacated.
“This is by far the best wedding I’ve ever been to,” Carina offered, squeezing Moria’s waist.
“It’s about to get even better,” Devyn parried, kissing the top of Moria’s head.“Everything only gets better with you, my lady.”
