Arabella mustered a smile through her tears. ‘I was more eager than I should have been, I know. Your gown is ready, and it will be easy to have all the flowers. Mrs Fitch will make the cake and all the food. I will begin changing the invitations today. Perhaps you could help me?’
‘I would be glad of it.’ She smiled and squeezed Arabella’s hands.
And she realised that she needed the distraction of writing out invitations as much as her mother did. It would keep her thoughts away from the fear that she was making a terrible mistake.
Three days later
‘What are we going to do?’ Gabriel demanded. ‘You need to tell Lady Regina what happened.’
‘I already tried yesterday and the day before,’ Dalton said. ‘Her mother refused my calls.’ And after Lord Havershire had ordered him out the last time, he wasn’t entirely surprised. But this was a problem beyond anything he’d ever anticipated.
The bride didn’t realise that her bridegroom had run off to Scotland and married someone else. Dalton had sent several notes to Regina, but it didn’t seem that she had paid them any heed. And now, a more dire meaning had become clear. He had received a revised invitation to the wedding only a day ago. Lady Regina was under the mistaken impression that Lachlan still intended to marry her this morning.
‘I will go there now,’ Dalton said. ‘I’ll find a way to speak with her.’ He would climb into Regina’s bedchamber if he had to. She didn’t deserve to be left stranded at the altar—not if he could stop it.
He hurried to his carriage and then checked his pocket watch. There were two hours before the ceremony. If the guests were planning to arrive, so be it. He couldn’t stop the wedding, but he could save Regina.
After he arrived at his father’s residence, he hurried up the stairs to his room. There, he sorted through his clothing until suddenly, he stopped short. He stared at the kilt in the colours of his mother’s clan. They were similar to Lachlan’s colours, since they were neighbouring clans.
He didn’t know why he was considering wearing it. There was no reason. But a sixth sense prickled at him.
It’s a terrible idea, his conscience warned him. There’s no need.
But what if there was? What if Regina was waiting for a Highlander bridegroom who never came?
He had delivered Lachlan’s note calling off the engagement, as promised, but he wondered if Regina had read it. He was beginning to think she hadn’t. And if she didn’t know her bridegroom wasn’t coming, it would mean public humiliation.
He finished getting dressed and stared at himself in the mirror. What he was about to do went beyond all civilised manners. It was the actions of a Highlander, not a gentleman. But Regina needed to be rescued, and he would do anything necessary to help her. He opened a small chest and perused its contents of silver cuff links and a gold pocket watch until he found what he was looking for and tucked it away.
A sudden rush of nerves caught him. Never had he imagined such a reckless plan. And if she refused to let him save her, he didn’t know what he would do.
Dalton glanced outside the window and saw that the streets were crowded from an overturned cart. Carriages and coaches were stopped, while several men tried to turn the cart upright. There was no means of driving to the wedding now; he would have to walk and hire a hackney cab further away.
Dalton stared at his attire, wondering if this was a mistake. His intention was to help Regina, but she might refuse his aid. He gathered his sense of resolution and walked downstairs. Then he ventured out into the streets amid the chaos. There was still time to reach Regina.
And when he reached her house, he intended to offer her the choice—a chance to escape...or he would marry her himself.
Regina could not stop her sense of foreboding. Her maid finished helping her dress, but despite the gardenias in her hair and the sky-blue wedding gown trimmed with lace, she felt that something was very wrong. There had been no answer from Lachlan over the last day or two, and she questioned whether he was aware of the new wedding date. Her mother had assured her that of course he knew and that he would be there. Arabella had sent a servant to his father’s house to ensure it.
But there was no sign of him yet, and it was time for the ceremony.
‘You needn’t go downstairs yet,’ her maid Nell offered. ‘We can wait until he arrives.’
But Regina felt the need to see for herself what was happening. She could not hide in her room like a frightened mouse. ‘No, the wedding is supposed to be at ten o’clock. It’s nearly a quarter after the hour.’
She opened the door to her room and stepped into the narrow hallway. Her mother had wanted them to be married at the house, so the clergyman was waiting. There were nearly fifty guests standing, and her father’s face softened with joy when he saw her. He crossed the room to offer his arm, and she took it. He looked dashing in his double-breasted black cloth coat and silk waistcoat. ‘My dear, you are a vision,’ he said. With a slight laugh, he added, ‘If only your bridegroom were here to see it.’
He lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘I sent one of the footmen to fetch him. He must have been delayed, but do not worry. Some of the guests mentioned that the streets were more crowded because of an accident with a cart. But be reassured—the laird is a man of honour, and he will be here.’
She wanted to believe it but could not be certain. ‘Then I will wait.’ She went to stand
