My True Love by Cheryl Holt

Author:Cheryl Holt
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

MY TRUE LOVE 177

letting Jensen get the message loudly and clearly that he didn't intend to talk with his wife. The capable retainer would obey, and the duchess would need an army to move past the fortifications Jensen would erect to block her entrance. ' T would have thought the closed door would have told you as much."

"Very good, sir."

"However, I must speak with Purdy. Have him found and sent in immediately. Him and only him. Is that clear?"

Jensen exited, nodding, and Harold moved to his desk and laid Pendleton's missive in the center. With shaking hands he broke the seal and unfolded the note, reading quickly.

Westmoreland,

This is your last chance. Your daughter's future lies in the balance. What say you?

Lucas Pendleton

With immense relief he collapsed into his chair. He'd guessed right! He'd read the scoundrel correctly! Pendleton wouldn't hurt her. For the time being she was safe, and the game could proceed while his men continued to search.

A sudden gleam entered his eye, and he took a piece of parchment, dipped his pen, and wrote his reply.

******************

"Dearly beloved ..." the minister began curtly.

Penny barely listened to the opening words. The pastor Lucas had found was a tall, stern man in his late twenties who probably would have been quite good-looking if he hadn't appeared so dour and grumpy. He was another American visiting in London, as Lucas was, and Lucas felt that his nationality made him a better choice than any of his English counterparts whom they could have enlisted in their scheme. Just by the fact that he was a foreigner, he was less likely to run into any of the duke's men.

Her only concern about him other than his poor attitude was that he might not be officially sanctioned by the Church to perform

178 Cheryl Holt

a marriage on English soil, and she couldn't afford to be engaged in any act that would allow others to cry foul later on. All the details about the wedding had to be on the up-and-up.

Before the man opened his prayer book, she'd had a brief second to whisper her concerns to Lucas, and he'd quickly assured her that there were no problems with credentials or authority. Lucas had the special license in his pocket, and the man was a fully vested minister, so the service could go forward. She felt obligated to agree, but that didn't mean she had to like the fellow, and she refused to let him dampen her perfect moment with his foul mood.

Instead of paying attention, she let her gaze wander around the front parlor, and she was forced to muffle a squeal of unrestrained glee. She and Colette had spent the morning gathering flowers and greenery, trimming candles, and decorating the room. It looked like an enchanted bower, a place in which a woman could wed the man of her dreams, then proceed to living happily ever after.

The afternoon had passed in a frenzy as she'd readied herself out of sight of the two serving women. They believed that she and Lucas were already married, so Penny needed to continue the ruse.

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