He knew that, in his heart.
Sebastian tossed a chair at Sherwood.
“That is not gentlemanly,” Sherwood grumbled, striking the chair from his path.
“Brandishing a sword is not gentlemanly,” Lucas said.
Sherwood laughed and directed the sword at Lucas. A few of the guests screamed, and in the next moments, they ran from the courtyard. Lucas and Sherwood were assailed by a flurry of pink and yellow lace dresses, then the courtyard emptied.
Lucas and Sherwood were alone.
“You ruined my wedding.” Sherwood’s nostrils flared.
“I don’t care.”
FINALLY, JULIET FOLLOWED her father and stepmother from the room.
A chambermaid approached.
“Hurry,” Juliet whispered, and her father began an undignified jog. Even her stepmother lifted her dress an inch so she could hurry unimpeded.
“This is going to destroy us in society,” her stepmother said.
“We’ll still have the estate,” her father said cheerfully.
“Lady Juliet, you’re needed in the courtyard,” the chambermaid said in a high-pitched, shaking voice. “Wait!”
Shouting sounded from inside the courtyard, and Juliet frowned. She turned to the maid. “Is something happening?”
“Only your wedding, Lady Juliet.”
This didn’t sound like any wedding.
Juliet turned her head toward the sound. She spotted Sebastian’s blond locks. Evidently, they’d come undone from his queue, and he was proceeding to jump on a row of chairs, while holding something that looked very much like a knife.
Heavens.
Juliet placed her hand over her heart. She craned her neck to see if she could find Lucas, but the window was too narrow. Clearly, the builder of this castle had not anticipated that he would need to install large windows to provide occupants with views of spontaneous courtyard fights.
And then she saw him.
Lucas.
Fighting the Duke of Sherwood.
Heavens, what had happened?
Juliet picked up her dress and rushed down the corridor.
“The exit is this way,” her father said.
“I’ve changed my mind!” Juliet found the staircase and headed down, conscious of footsteps rushing toward her as the maid strove to catch up with her.
Her heart squeezed.
Lucas was here.
Her Lucas.
He’d found her.
And if he was battling Sherwood, that meant he wanted to marry her, that perhaps everything would be wonderful after all.
Another more horrible thought occurred to her.
Perhaps Sherwood would harm Lucas. Perhaps, Lucas might die.
Her heart ached.
She wasn’t going to let that happen, and she hurried more quickly to the courtyard.
Finally, she pushed the heavy door to the courtyard open and felt grass underneath her slippered feet.
“Get away from there,” her father shouted. “It’s not safe.”
Juliet ignored him. If it wasn’t safe for her, it wouldn’t be safe for Lucas.
She rounded the corner and saw Lucas and Sherwood.
“Darling!” Sherwood said, still holding a sword.
She glanced at him. “Do not hurt him.”
“He wants to stop the wedding,” Sherwood said.
“That is wonderful.” Juliet beamed and looked at Lucas.
Lucas grinned, and Juliet knew everything would be fine.
Her heart swelled and soared.
Sherwood coughed. “I am afraid this man is attempting to ruin the wedding.”
“I’m so very glad,” Juliet breathed.
Sherwood clutched his sword, and it occurred to Juliet that her words might have been suboptimal for lowering the tension. Sherwood looked most ferocious.
Lucas inched slowly behind Sherwood, placing a finger to his lips. In the next moment, Lucas picked up one of the many chairs designated for guests.
Papa’s eyebrows darted up, and Juliet’s stepmother gasped.
Sherwood glanced at his sword. “Do not be frightened. I only intend to kill the Duke of Ainsworth.”
In the moment after that, Lucas threw the chair at Sherwood, and Sherwood toppled down. Lucas sprang toward him and snatched the sword away.
He beamed. “Good morning, Juliet.”
“I believe we should hurry,” Juliet said.
“Then so we shall.” Lucas took her hand, and they hurried from the courtyard, Juliet’s father and stepmother following them.
“I told you we shouldn’t pay for the tuition at that finishing school,” Juliet’s stepmother said loudly. “It clearly was not worth it. I’ve never been to a less organized wedding. A fight indeed.”
Juliet giggled, and Lucas squeezed her hand. Then Lucas took her in his arms and kissed her.
“It seems my little girl is going to be just fine,” her father mused.
Juliet smiled. “I’m going to marry my favorite duke.”
EPILOGUE
Staffordshire
Juliet surveyed the people in the ball from the mezzanine. Guests glimmered in their loveliest attire, and Juliet was clothed in a red gown.
“You look beautiful, my dear.” Lucas kissed her hand.
“Do you miss your navy tailcoat?” Juliet asked. “And your spectacles?”
“I’m finding that I have many more people looking at me now,” Lucas said.
“That would have to do with your handsomeness,” Juliet said.
“Oh?” he asked, his blue eyes glimmering, with the same magnificence as Lake Ullswater on the very finest day.
Fine days happened irregularly in the Lake District, but Lucas’s eyes sparkled every day.
“Perhaps you miss those clothes.” He elbowed her, and she giggled.
A few guests looked up at them, hearing her laughter, but Juliet didn’t care. They could hear her laugh, even if she wasn’t flickering a fan before her mouth in a feminine manner, and even if she might cause the violinists to lose their place in the music.
“I don’t miss your waistcoat.” She’d made certain Stanley relieved Lucas of that particular monstrosity at once. Stanley had gamely agreed.
She’d thought Stanley might miss the Lake District, but he seemed to enjoy being in Staffordshire. No doubt, he was relieved to no longer work in the shadow of Sherwood Castle anymore.
Lucas scanned the throng. “I thought you said your friend Genevieve would be here.”
Juliet turned to him. “Didn’t I mention? She’s moving to the West Country with her mother and younger brother.”
“The West Country?” Lucas raised his eyebrows.
Juliet nodded uneasily. “It happened suddenly.”
“How odd.” Lucas was silent. “Did she by any chance mention which part of the West Country?”
Juliet furrowed her brow. She’d never been to that section of England before. “I believe it was Cornwall.”
“Oh, dear.” Lucas appeared stricken.
“Is something the matter?” Juliet asked.
Generally, Lucas didn’t appear horrified. Lucas opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally, he inhaled valiantly. “I’m afraid Sebastian has returned to Cornwall.”
“Fiddle-faddle.” Juliet stared into the middle distance. Finally, she turned to Lucas. “Do you think Cornwall is large enough for both of them?”
“Let’s hope so.” Lucas extended his arm, and she took it.
They strode down the steps to the ballroom, the musicians playing merrily, and joined the sea of vibrantly colored twirling dresses and immaculate suits.
NEXT BOOK: A Duke Never Forgets, about Genevieve and Sebastian. Tap to order now.
MY FAVORITE DUKE
Sebastian, Duke of Sandridge, adores one thing: swimming. He is perturbed to discover that his cottage by the sea has been rented. Worse, it has been rented to a woman he despises. He resolves to reclaim the cottage, no matter the protestation
s.
Genevieve is new to Cornwall. After Genevieve's father encountered financial difficulties, her mother took Genevieve and her younger brother to Cornwall, the furthest point from the Lake District. When a grumpy duke wants to take the cottage away from Genevieve and her mother, Genevieve must hold on to it.
When Genevieve witnesses the duke have a diving mishap, and he forgets his identity, Genevieve decides to teach him a lesson.
Tap to order now.
MORE BOOKS BY BIANCA BLYTHE
The Duke Hunters Club
All You Need is a Duke
A Duke Never Forgets
WEDDING TROUBLE
Don’t Tie the Knot
Dukes Prefer Bluestockings
The Earl’s Christmas Consultant
How to Train a Viscount
A Kiss for the Marquess
A Holiday Proposal
MATCHMAKING FOR WALLFLOWERS
How to Capture a Duke
A Rogue to Avoid
Runaway Wallflower
Mad About the Baron
A Marquess for Convenience
The Wrong Heiress for Christmas
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Texas, Bianca Blythe spent four years in England. She worked in a fifteenth-century castle, though sadly that didn’t actually involve spotting dukes and earls strutting about in Hessians.
She credits British weather for forcing her into a library, where she discovered her first Julia Quinn novel. Thank goodness for blustery downpours.
Bianca now lives in California with her husband.
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My Favorite Duke (The Duke Hunters Club Book 2) Page 19
