One doesn't recognize the really important moments in one's life until it's too late. - Agatha Christie
"Chloe and Stephen are getting married tomorrow."
Kate words resounded in Nicks mind like thunder.
"No," he whispered stumbling back.
"Nicholas, you are late," William said, "she left for Arundel in the morning with Miss. Bennet."
"She can't do this. I know what I want, Will, I want her, please tell me you are lying," Nick said his voice breaking.
"Nicholas, get a hold of yourself," Oliver said reprimanding.
"Wait! What is going on?" Seb asked.
He was falling down the endless dark abyss without the light at the end, that's what was going on. He couldn't comprehend why did this happen after coming so close. Nicholas can't help but curse himself for being responsible for breaking his own heart. His mind went to the night he realized he loved her, what if he would have gone to her that night? Or the time when he found her with tear-stained face in the hallway? What if? The tears in his eyes brought everyone else to their knees.
"Who amongst you knew about this?" Lady Faith asked in her most authoritative tone bending over to her youngest son crouched on the floor, his eyes watering.
"I had my suspicion," Oliver said.
Lady Faith looked over from Oliver to Hannah, Sarah, Seb all of them nodding no whereas Kat was looking at William.
"Kat!" Lady Faith said.
"William told me," Kat whispered.
"I saw them coming back from the southern stream disheveled, both of them with grief-stricken faces. I kept a watch. I warned him too. When he didn't do anything...," William explained.
"For the love of God, William," Lady Faith bellowed, "How can you be so cold and indifferent for your own brother?"
"Mother, I am not. I love him more than Seb," William said pouring a glass of brandy," The carriage is waiting outside to take him to Arundel."
"I want to break something on your head, Will," Kat said exasperatedly.
On hearing William's words, Nicholas stood up with renewed energy. There was still time all was not lost yet. The wedding was tomorrow, there was still time to fight for what he wants or right now run for it. If he left right now he can reach even before the wedding starts and he was bloody ready to fight with everything for her.
"Another scandal, this time we kidnap someone else's bride!" Seb said excitedly.
"I hope you ordered for more than one carriage, William," Hannah said.
They were on the road to Arundel after Lady Faith ordered Sarah to not leave with them and Seb stayed back reluctantly whining about missing the adventure. After series of argument, it was decided William with rest will attend the Prince's ball whereas Hannah and Kat will accompany Nick to Somerset in case he fails to persuade Chloe and Oliver to keep everything in control especially Hannah and Kat.
Cramped in the carriage with bated breath second felt like decades and every moment filled Nick with fear. Ever talking Kat was also silent which increased the dread in him by manyfold.
"We will be there on time," Hannah said breaking the silence.
"Will we be going to Gretna Green from there?" Kat asked hopefully.
"If she says yes," Nick said nervously.
"I must say you are the luckiest one Nick, you have us as a witness," Kat said.
"Yes, it is way better than a coachman and the pastor's mother who couldn't hear a thing," Hannah said.
"It was better than mine Hannah, my witness was Pastor's wife and their 5-year-old son who thankfully could write his name to sign the marriage register," Kat said pouting.
"I do not understand, why did Lord Bennet and Chloe decide to get married so suddenly without a proper courtship?" Kat asked skeptically.
"I was thinking the same thing. Chloe didn't say anything to us," Hannah said.
"I think Nick's courtship with Miss. Bennet might have influenced her to say yes to Stephen, but then again he was her suitor so she might have been in agreement with him," Oliver said.
Oliver's statement made everyone consider all the possibilities. There was only the sound of the carriage wheels rattling, while Nick was deep in his thought the three of them looked at each other thinking the same thing trying to decide who should ask the impending question.
"Nicholas," Oliver said, "Are you sure she loves you?"
Nick faced the serious looking brother and his sister in laws. He thoughtfully considered his words.
"I do not know," Nick said anxiously, "I mean she never said she loved me but then I never told her I love her either, but I feel in my heart that she loves me. Even if not love then she at least fancies me and I can work with that. I only want her to give me a chance. Because I don't know what will I do if she rejects me."
Everyone in the carriage felt various emotions on Nick's statement from happiness to pride and continued on their journey in comfortable silence.
The town of Arundel was ready for a celebration, every house every street decorated with flowers and trinkets. Their carriage stopped in front of the church which was packed with people on either side to welcome the new Countess of Arundel. Their carriage stopped at the front of the church and all of them ran towards the entrance.
Nicholas' feet froze at thunderous applause from the church followed by the trumpets and drums indicating the successful wedding ceremony. His eyes focused on the bride and groom coming out of the church accepting the gifts and greetings from the people.
"Lord Oliver, I am glad you can make it to the wedding despite the Prince's ball," Lord Stephen said nearing him, he greeted Nicholas, Hannah, and Kat with a bow, " Let me introduce you to my wife, the Countess of Arundel."
*********
The church was decorated most beautifully with flowers and chandelier, Lady Arundel made sure everything is befitting for the future Countess of Arundel.
Chloe was wearing a beautiful gown, feeling its softness and reliving the day of her wedding in this same church.
She was wearing the simple white dress for her wedding, walking down the aisle towards the man she will be spending her entire life with the promises of a happy future. With every step, she remembered the faces of her family that were unaware of her wedding.
Her father the man who treated her like a princess, he should have been the one to hand her over to her groom instead she was walking alone doing all this by herself. Her mother who loved her brothers more than her but she knew in her heart, being the only daughter her mother only wanted the best for her and loved her in her own way.
She was breaking the heart of her elder brother Louis and making everything difficult for him and she hated herself for doing this to him. Her younger brother Freddie the sweetest and the most mischievous of them all will be the only one who understands her. He will be the first one to forgive her. How she would have loved for all them to be here with her on the most important day of her life.
She looked up at the man standing in front of her with a boyish smile and watery eyes. She knew she was the love of his life. She couldn't understand his infinite love for her. The vows were said in a daze that she didn't even understand it. The vicar pronounced them husband and wife and he bent down to kiss her lips.
The thunderous applause and the sounds of trumpets and drums woke her up from the dream. Taking in her surrounding she was filled with extreme guilt and sadness, tears trickled down her face when Nick's face flashed through her mind. She wanted to confess and ask for forgiveness.
As soon as she was away from the crowd sobs wracked her body as she let herself break down completely. After the initial wave passed, words started to pour out everything that she kept inside her started spilling out.
"It has been so long. I once went up against my family for the love I believed in without thinking about the consequences and I lost everything. I believed I won't be hurt anymore if I let life lead the way instead of fighting for what I want but I am miserable more than ever before. I don't deserve him but I love him, I love Nicholas and I gave up on him and now I am dying inside. Will it be enough to repent for my sin?"
She cried her heart out before the man she married and lost. Instead of loving and warm arms to hold her, there was a stone cold grave because of her own recklessness.
"What sin?"
Chloe was cold as the grave before her when she heard Nicholas voice behind her. She was too afraid to turn around wishing it is just another nightmare she was in.
"Charlotte," He said softly.
His voice made everything very real and she wished for death for the first time on her greatest disgrace thus far.
He sat down beside her contemplating the right words to say.
"What did you do, Chloe? What can be so horrible that you had to give up on me? But before you do that let me tell you one thing," Nick said cupping her face in his hands looking in her teary eyes, "I am utterly unbelievably in love with you and I am never giving up on you."
Silence lingered between them as Nick let her cry to her heart's content.
"Why?"
She could get only one word out of her. She wanted to ask if he really loves her! Why does he love her? Wasn't he going to propose Rhia? What changed?
"What do you mean why? Why do I love you?" Nick said holding her hands in his, "I am afraid I do not know but I do know that my heart broke when I heard you left. I almost died when I thought you married someone."
She looked up at Nick confused.
"I guess, William has all the answers as always," Nick said his eyes twinkling.
"What about Rhia? You ordered an engagement ring for her?" Chloe asked worriedly.
"Will you please stand up? I need to get on one knee," He said taking out the engagement ring from his pocket.
"Nicholas, please!" Chloe said helplessly.
"Look at the ring carefully! What do you see?" He asked opening the box.
Chloe scrutinized the ring carefully. She was astonished at the color of the stone.
"It is grey, " Chloe said amazed.
"The same as your eyes!" Nick said immensely happy at the wonderful look on Chloe's face, " It is true I did order the engagement ring for you."
"But," Chloe said hesitantly, "I can't, it is..."
"Mr. Nevue," Nicholas said facing the grave, "I love Charlotte and I want to spend my entire life with her and I promise that I will keep her happy. I want to tell you that I am going to marry her," he turned to stare at her, "He loved you and he will have want you to be happy Chloe."
Charlotte laughed hysterically.
"But I killed him. I killed the man who loved me."
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