"We could have held a wedding, albeit a small one but a wedding, no less," Bella said.

Lincoln laughed. "We are having a wedding, Bella."

Bella stood up abruptly and then tripped on her feet. Lord Anthony stood and darted in front of Bella. She fell into his arms. "Be careful, Arabella. That's the fourth time this week."

"It is? I'm not usually that clumsy." Bella poked Lord Anthony's right forearm. "Perhaps I like being in your arms."

Lord Anthony flushed and dropped—well, pushed—Bella on the couch. "I-I have w–work to do. I will visit later."

Bella ran and stood in front of him with her hands outstretched to the side. "You can't leave yet. I haven't shown you the rest of my dress collections."

"Arabella, I can come back later," Lord Anthony said, trying to move around Bella. Not much later, Bella was chasing Lord Anthony around the living room, screaming for him to wait for her.

I turned to Lincoln. "You and I have a marriage license. Louis is back home with Sarah. Baines is on his way to prison alongside his associates. It's a really good day, don't you think?"

Lincoln pressed me closer to him. "It can become much better if you'd like–"

I was pushed away from Lincoln forcefully. The culprit, my oldest brother, turned to Lincoln and me with a mild sneer, mostly directed at Lincoln. "I still haven't given my approval for this marriage."

"Ha. We don't need yours. I have Antoinette and Louis's consent and Victor has agreed to hold this marriage at the church this Saturday."

Harry's jaw dropped. The room became eerily quiet.

"Did you say Saturday?" Bella asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Why"

"You do realise that Saturday is a week from now," Lord Anthony said. "Generally not enough time to plan a wedding."

Suddenly, Bella gasped. "You don't have a dress."

"Or a venue for the celebration afterward," Lord Anthony said, looking around the small house.

"Or food," Kathy said as she walked past Harry to drop James and Eloise on the couch.

Bella was panicking at this point. "Oh, we haven't even sent out invitations." She bolted up the stairs, and Lord Anthony ran after her, telling her the doctor had said she shouldn't be running just yet.

To think I might have lost all this if Baines had met me in his house and not in the garden.

Ten days ago.

"He wants you in exchange for releasing Louis?" Harry asked. I nodded and five of the nine people in the Castilla living room swore.

"That's the beast you wanted your daughter to marry?" Christine yelled at Antoinette. "This wouldn't have been so complicated if you had thought of your family from the beginning."

Antoinette sat shivering, trying to make herself look small. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I trusted him and...please, I'll do anything to save Louis."

I sat silent with my head on the table, staring at my family in deep thought. Even at that moment, I couldn't even bring myself to feel disdain for Antoinette. The only thing that was grounding me to the conversation was Lincoln's fingers brushing rhythmically through my hair.

Lord Anthony clicked his tongue. "Focus. We have written pieces of evidence and witnesses to testify against Baines, am I correct?" He looked pointedly at Christine and Antoinette. They both nodded. "There are also people planted at the Baines house who have collected more information for me. I trust that the marchioness is friendly with Imelda and might be willing to cooperate.

However, these might prove ineffective in a situation where he denies and has other nobles of good standing with the monarch testify to his innocence. Hence, we need Baines to admit verbally that he's guilty in front of the law enforcement officers planted at his manor."

Katherine frowned. "That's impossible. The only person Baines would openly admit his crimes to is..."

"Me," I muttered my first word of the evening. "He would only admit his crimes to me."

"You know what you have to do, Imelda," Lord Anthony said. "If you are unwilling, I would find another–"

Harry flared up. "We are not sending Imelda to that lion's den alone."

"I'll do it. It's the only way we are sure of."

Without saying anything, everyone understood the details of what I had to do. I was going to the Baines mansion in ten days to offer myself to the tyrant in exchange for peace.

"But–"

Lincoln's hand slowed a bit before resuming in its normal place. "What happens if it doesn't work?" I couldn't look at Lincoln. If the plan didn't work, I would have to stay promised to Baines and his treason would go on. At least Louis might be free. "Also, there's no guarantee that he would release Louis. Louis is his bargaining chip to exercise control over Andrea."

"It's the only way." We turned to Sarah who was wrapped in a blanket, staring at a point on the table. "You can think I'm a little biased for wanting you to go, Imelda but know that I love you like my own and would never put you in danger if there was another way."

Sarah's dead eyes turned murderous, a form of fiery love burning in it. "Edward Baines needs to suffer. For you, for Louis. I want to watch as his plans turn to dust before his eyes."

For some reason, Sarah's last statements lightened up the atmosphere in the room. All the shoulders eased as we all thought of that day when Baines would be led away in handcuffs.

Lincoln turned my head towards his, that was lying on the table beside mine. "If Baines manages to keep you, just know I'll keep fighting to get you back, even if it kills me."

***

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate..."

I was hyperventilating. All the pep talks I received from Bella, Sarah, and Kathy as I was getting into this long dress had since stopped working. I thought of doing my breathing exercises but decided against it.

How would the congregation feel if they saw the bride taking lumps of air into her body while the priest—Victor—was conducting her matrimonial ceremony?

I felt Lincoln's hand close around mine, reminding me that he was beside me. I looked at his face through the veil. He could hardly hold back his smile. I tuned into the ceremony again.

"Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."

I held my breath, half expecting some madman to burst through the doors, yelling 'I object. I object.' Fortunately, that didn't happen. The said person would have had my shoes shoved down their throat.

Victor heaved a sigh of relief alongside Lincoln and me. It was no surprise.

I had pissed off a lot of people during my short time here, people who would be glad to ruin my wedding.

Victor gestured for us to face each other and looked at Lincoln with a kind smile. "Lincoln Andrew Castilla, will thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife? Will thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

Lincoln kissed my gloved palm. "Of course, I will."

Victor turned to me, his smile growing wider every few seconds. "Imelda Georgina Danbury, will thou have this man to be thy wedded husband? Will thou obey him, serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

"A thousand times yes."

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

My brothers looked among themselves. Obviously, none of them had thought about this part. Before Harry could step forward, Antoinette stood, her eyes wet with tears. "I, Antoinette Marie Selene Danbury, her mother in the absence of her father, giveth her to be married."

I smiled at her, for the first time, feeling her love for Imelda Danbury. She returned my smile and sat down, nervously wringing her fingers.

Victor cleared his throat to get Lincoln's and I's attention. "Repeat after me."

I leaned to whisper to Victor. "Don't worry, we learned the vows already."

"What an impatient couple." The congregation laughed. "Go on."

Lincoln took a minuscule step closer to me. "I, Lincoln Andrew Castilla, take thee, Imelda Georgina Danbury, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

I had heard these words at numerous weddings before but why was I crying now?

Lincoln almost lifted my veil but stopped when he saw the look Victor was giving him. "Andrea, why are you crying?" he whispered.

"I guess I was overwhelmed with emotion. I just love you so much," I said.

One crying bout and a soggy handkerchief later, I was ready to continue the vows. "I, Imelda Georgina Danbury, take thee, Lincoln Andrew Castilla, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."

A little girl ran to me with the rings on a cushion. "Miss Danbury?"

"Thank you, Andrea," I said, and took the rings from her, handing one to Lincoln and holding onto one.

I watched her run back to her mother, the woman who had treated me like nobility at the party. She didn't stop treating me like that when I went to invite her and her daughter to my wedding. After all, it was now public news that my best friend and sister-in-law was going to become Lady Danbury in three months.

After Victor blessed the rings, Lincoln slid his onto my left ring finger. "With this ring, I thee wed: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

I copied his actions, relishing in the satisfaction of my ring being on his finger. "With this ring, I thee wed: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." I lowered my voice to whisper. "You are mine forever."

Lincoln smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Let us pray," Victor declared.

Note to self: Start going to church and praying to God.

I bowed my head until the prayer was over.

"...I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. You may kiss the bride."

Lincoln didn't hesitate to pull off the veil and pull me to him. Since they were children in the crowd, not to mention we were in a church, the kiss didn't last as long as I'd have liked. "There'll be ample time for that later, husband."

"I'll be looking forward to it, wife."

"We officially share the same surname now," Bella squealed as she ran to us, immediately we stepped outside the small church.

"Not for long," Lord Anthony said as he appeared behind Bella.

Bella turned to Lord Danbury with a challenging stance. "Don't you think that's incredibly unfair? Why can't I remain a Castilla?"

"You're marrying me, and so you'll take my title," Lord Anthony said.

"So you can't give up your title if I ask you to," Bella said with narrowed eyes. I turned to her with wide eyes, wondering why she was being unreasonable. When I saw the mischief in her eyes, I realised that she just liked riling him up.

"I...ah...what's the correct answer to this question?"

Bella huffed and walked away. "You figure it out."

Lord Danbury looked at me, begging for help. "She's being dramatic. Go to her apologetically with something sweet for her to eat. The food is a distraction. When she is distracted, hug and compliment her and she's yours."

He nodded. "Arnold, find me the sweetest thing at the reception, and flowers. I think women like flowers."

"Yes, my lord."

As the butler walked away, Lincoln yelled. "The more sugar, the better."

"Lincoln Castilla!" someone yelled behind us.

Lincoln let out a strangled sound and turned around with a plastered smile. "Great-aunt Evangeline."

The false enthusiasm made me want to burst into laughter. However, I composed myself. She was the first member of Lincoln's family besides Bella whom I had officially met.

She bent her head and looked at me with a derogatory glance. "Were you so desperate to marry that you picked the first town girl you saw? I sent you information about many others."

I smiled as sweetly as her words could let me, my left eye twitching dangerously. "I guess I was more suited to him and his requirements. Besides, selecting a bride isn't like selecting vegetables at the market. If it was, every silly bloke walking the streets of London would be married."

Her eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. "You have quite the mouth on you. Not a good trait for a woman."

"So do you yet the people hold you in high regard," I clapped back. Before she could think of a comeback, I rested my head on Lincoln's forearm. "Can we eat now, my love? My feet hurt and I haven't eaten anything solid for two days."

Lincoln's eyes smiled at me—I just knew they did—and he turned to his great-aunt looking apologetic but probably not feeling so. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. We can continue this conversation at the celebration in the square. You would join us, won't you?"

He steered us to the carriage that would take us to the venue of the district summer party a few weeks earlier that Marchioness Baines had found a way to provide to Lincoln and me as gratitude for freeing her of her tyrant son.

As soon as the coachman shut the door, Lincoln placed me on himself. "I haven't seen much of you this week."

"I'm yours now in every sense, aren't I?"

The sound of someone hitting the carriage door interrupted us. The door opened and Bella hoisted herself into the carriage, mischief etched in her features. Lord Anthony resignedly trailed after her, holding a plate of chocolate and flowers. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and slid off Lincoln's lap begrudgingly. Lincoln let me but not without upset grumbling.

"If it's not too late to ask, could you excuse us?" I asked.

Bella huffed. "No, I wish to ride in this carriage. I want to spend time with the newlyweds."

"We were doing adult stuff and would like to get back to our stuff."

"I'm older than you!"

"Married people stuff then," I said. Bella gasped like she didn't know that. I rolled my eyes. "Like you've not been thinking about doing it with Lord Anthony."

Her eyes widened, her cheeks flaming. "You can't say things like that."

I glanced at Lord Anthony who was staring outside the window with red cheeks and a playful smile. "Your man doesn't seem to mind it much, Bella."

Bella turned her wide eyes to Lord Anthony, silently questioning him. He shrugged. "The thought does cross my mind occasionally."

My sister-in-law then looked at me with accusation. "Your loose tongue is rubbing off on him."

"Don't deny. You like him better this way."

Before Bella and I started arguing—well, me teasing her and her refusing my accusations—Lincoln pounded the ceiling of the carriage and it began to move.

A few seconds later, I felt his hand snake around my waist and begin to play with a loose string on my dress. I leaned into his touch and he fully wrapped his arms around me. We stayed that way, comfortable to be in each other's embrace.

"Can we move our wedding date sooner?" Bella asked, staring at us wistfully. Lord Anthony choked on air and in a state of panic, threw the flowers up. Bella stared at him with an amused expression that eventually morphed into something else when she suddenly remembered something. "Hey, sister-in-law, did you invite your mother's family?"

I clicked my tongue. "They abandoned their daughter after a stressful incident. What makes you think they'll travel from France to see me?"

"They won't be coming," Lord Anthony said. We all turned to him with curiousity, waiting impatiently for him to continue. "To say the very least, they supported Baines' idea, not just in name but with their resources. I wrote a rather distasteful letter to them, mentioning that I was displeased with their conduct and how wise it would be for them to steer clear of trouble especially because the victim—you, Imelda—is my future sister-in-law."

Gently, Bella picked up the tray of chocolate and placed it beside me before jumping on Lord Anthony. The carriage lurched a little to the side at the sudden weight balance.

"You're the best partner in the world," Bella mumbled.

Lord Anthony's eyes lit up. "You think so?"

I groaned. "Can you two not make us feel like intruders on our wedding day?"

Bella stuck out her tongue childishly. "You're not as impressive a couple as we are."

My jaw dropped. Before I opened my mouth to rip into my best friend, her husband gripped my waist tighter. "Why don't you save your strength for later?"

I blushed instantly and settled into his side, all my fight gone. Bella grimaced, trying to suppress a smile. "On second thought, we should have taken your carriage, Anthony. They look like they want their space."

Lord Anthony turned to Bella with an incredulous look. "My love, we're nearly at the venue. It's pointless now."

"Oh. I'm sorry, brother and sister-in-law. I solemnly promise to try my hardest not to interrupt you two anymore."

Lincoln turned his gaze out of the window with a satisfied nod. "That being said, don't come home tonight."

None of us could believe Lincoln had said that. The carriage remained in silence until we arrived at the venue. Bella and Lord Anthony scurried out of the carriage immediately to go mix with the guests.

Lincoln looked at my lips. I placed my right index finger on his lips to stop him from moving. "There's no time right now. In an hour or two, I'm all yours." I looked through the window. "Although Bella and Lord Anthony handled the invitations, there are still more people than expected."

"Your mother helped too," Lincoln reminded. "After the news of Baines' treachery, many people must have reached out to her to congratulate or befriend her and she felt like she could invite them since the bill was taken care of."

By Marcus Arden and his family, Marchioness Baines, the noble Danburys, and all the other nobles who felt indebted to Lincoln and me through our direct or indirect influence.

Even Lady Davidson had given an expensive jewelry set the day before her entire family was taken to court for questioning.

I smiled. "So in a way, I elevated her social status—the dream she'd been chasing all these years."

"You might not realise, Andrea, but you've been fulfilling many people's dreams recently." He then came out of the carriage and held out a hand to aid me in alighting. "Shall we?"

I beamed and intentionally 'tripped' over my two feet so that he could catch me. He caught on to my plan and added his flair. When he caught me by the waist, he lifted my legs with his one arm. After an elaborate spin, he delicately lowered me to the ground. The crowd that had gathered to watch us cheered in applause. I had to restrain myself from dipping into a dramatic stage bow.

"Come, my love."

"About time. We all ought you were procreating in there," Louis said.

Sarah slapped his shoulder. "Louis! You can't walk properly. You're clearly at a disadvantage in a fight."

"It's too late for that, Sarah," I said, handing Lincoln my shoes.

My husband took them, shaking his head with a smile. He then bent to mutter at a volume only I could hear, "I repeat, I think you should save your strength for later."

I stopped advancing towards Louis. Lincoln made a good point. He made a very good point.

"On second thought, Louis. I'm feeling rather excited today. You don't mind if we postpone this squabble to some other day, do you"

"Certainly not. The food table seems rather attractive today," Louis said and limped off with Sarah behind him yelling for him to slow down.

"The queen sends her congratulations," someone said beside me.

"Sir Arnold. Welcome," I greeted with a smile at the royal guard that saved me from Baines.

He gave me a flower bouquet. "Congratulations on your marriage. If you weren't involved with Mr. Castilla here, you would have been a fine woman to take as a bride."

"Why, thank you."

Lincoln's tense body blocked my vision. "Don't you have somewhere to be? I would like to be alone with my wife."

Sir Arnold gave my jealous husband a bow. "Of course, Mr. Castilla."

Lincoln watched him walk away with a deep frown. I waited for him to gather his thoughts before he spoke.

Not that I couldn't predict his next words.

"I might have to find a way to prevent other men from seeing you," Lincoln said.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's go greet the guests. I want to be home before sundown."