Page 21 of His Scandalous Siren
She turned to meet her father’s gaze and forced a smile on her face. “I guess I’m ready then.”
Sofia still hadn’t made a decision. Her time had come up, and it seemed she didn’t have any choice after all. It was time to marry Drew.
* * *
Drew couldn’t remember being sonervous in his entire life. Now that he was waiting with the vicar, he had too much time to think. He’d been making plans for weeks for this very day. Now he couldn’t stop wondering if it would actually happen. Sofia had kept him at a distance since he forced her to accept their upcoming nuptials. Would she keep being so cold even after they said their vows? What would he do then?
He turned as Sofia entered the room with her father. They had set up for the ceremony in the ballroom. Chairs had been brought in to accommodate everyone that would be there to witness the wedding. His parents were at the front with Sofia’s mother and another chair for her father. The Duke and Duchess of Huntly were on the other side of the makeshift aisle. His sister and her husband, the Marquess of Severn, were next to them. Sofia’s brother, Rafael and his wife Aletha had managed to make it back to England in time for the wedding, too. The entire family was there.
Drew kept his hands behind his back as Sofia walked toward him. He didn’t want anyone to see how nervous he was. His hands were shaking. Why was he so afraid? She was going to marry him. This was what he wanted, had planned for.
Finally, they reached him. He lifted his hand to take hers and bring her closer to him. She placed her hand in his and stared at their joined hands for several moments. His heart thudded inside of his chest. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “I can’t do this.”
He held on to her hand as she tried to yank it out of his. Drew couldn’t let her go. If he did, she’d run, and he couldn’t allow that. If she left, he might never be able to catch her. “Don’t do this.” His voice was hoarse as he spoke. “Please join me.”
“Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “It would be a mistake.”
“It wouldn’t,” he insisted. “Sofia,” he breathed. “Marry me.”
Her lips wobbled a little bit. “Now you ask me.” She shook her head. “It’s too little, too late.” She took a deep breath. “You don’t love me and I refuse to make you miserable, and I want more for myself than an empty marriage.”
Sofia yanked on her hand again, but Drew held on tight. He was losing her, and he had to do something fast before she freed herself or worse—someone got up to aid her in her escape. So far no one realized what was happening. “I suppose it’s time we were both honest with each other.”
She froze. “I haven’t lied to you.”
“No,” he said. “You’ve lied to yourself, and well, I haven’t given you the real reason why we are here.”
Drew hadn’t wanted to admit to himself why he had been so high handed with her. If he spoke the truth, then he would have to accept it, and nothing terrified him more. It was far easier to make her believe he didn’t have any true feelings for her. If he didn’t speak them aloud now, he would lose her, and he would not make another mistake where she was concerned.
“And what is it?” She jutted her chin out in defiance.
“You were right,” he began. “For years now you’ve seen what I’ve been too blind to notice.” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “We are meant for each other. I wasn’t ready then, but I am now. If you’re willing to take a chance, I’ll make it up to you.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“What can I say or do to help you come with me a few more steps?” Nothing he said was working. Fear gripped his heart in its grasp and was squeezing the life out of him. “I want forever for you. One night was not enough, will never be enough. Marry me…say yes. Say you still love me enough to have pity on my foolish heart.”
“My love was never in question,” she said. Sofia tapped her chest. “My heart still beats for you.” She closed her eyes and took a breath. “But inside my head, I know that can’t carry us both through. My heart and mind have been colliding for weeks. It’s time I listened to the reasonable one.”
“Bloody hell…” He dropped to his knees. “I always knew it was you.” He took her hand and placed it against his chest. “I want to say I was lost, but that’s not true. I’ve always been heading toward you. Even blind and dumb I recognized you inside my heart. My heart and mind were colliding too. My heart beats for you… but my foolish head thought that it wanted something different.” A tear slipped down his cheek. He hadn’t realized he was on the verge of tears. “Don’t walk away now. I won’t survive if you do.”
She leaned down and pressed her lips to his. “I could never stay away from you for long. I’m a moth consumed by your flame. Promise you won’t let me be consumed by my love for you.”
“As long as you’re mine,” he told her. “I’ll ensure you have everything you need, and in time, maybe you’ll trust me enough to realize that I will always love you.”
“I suppose we should say some vows or something.” Sofia chuckled.
The vicar grinned at them. “I’m not so sure any vows I have you recite can ever compare to that.”
“We will still say them,” Sofia said. “We need the words—the vows. It will help us practice saying what is important. We have both been too complacent and don’t tell each other what is in our hearts as much as we should.”
“I agree,” Drew said.
They walked to the altar and recited the traditional wedding vows. Drew felt lighter with each word he spoke. He hadn’t lost her, and he would ensure she knew how much she meant to him every day she was by his side. He never should have taken her for granted.
