“That is the problem, you see. Jameson has not returned either. This afternoon’s two o’clock train was the last arrival of the day.”
Had he turned his back on her? A flash memory of that day in church pounded through Anne’s brain. Harlot, you are not welcome here.
Was this another punishment for her sins in the past? For her terrible naivety?
No, she would not believe it.
Anne strove to remain calm. “Something must have happened. The weather is very bad. They must be delayed because of the snow.”
“That is quite possible,” Charlotte agreed, “which is why we have sent out a few grooms on horseback to search before it gets dark. There is only the one main road from here to the village station, so if they are stuck in the snow, we will find them.”
But what if they aren’t? Anne wondered frantically. What if Garrett never returned from London? What if he changed his mind about going through with this sham of a wedding, as she had considered doing earlier that afternoon? Was he headed for Greece?
Anne stood and walked to the window. She could barely see the first trees edging the drive, for the whole world had turned white.
No...she would not accept that Garrett would leave her at the altar. He knew what she’d suffered before. He would never humiliate her that way. If he’d changed his mind, he would simply tell her. Wouldn’t he?
She turned and faced Charlotte. “Something must have happened. I know Garrett. He wouldn’t just leave us all in the lurch.”
The clock was ticking, however. They had to marry by midnight or the terms of the duke’s will would take effect immediately. If all four brothers were not married before Christmas Day, the entire unentailed fortune would be awarded to the London Horticultural Society, and the family would be almost broke.
“I hope you’re right,” Charlotte said with some uncertainty, “because I admit...I am not so sure.”
* * *
At the sound of a whimper, Garrett rushed to Marcus’s side and grabbed hold of his hand. The boy was as white as death, but at least he was breathing.
“My chest hurts,” he complained. “Where am I?”
Overcome with relief, exhausted from the terrible ordeal of the past few hours—not knowing if the boy would live or die—Garrett bowed his head and said a quiet prayer of thanks.
He glanced up at the clock on the wall. It was just past midnight.
“You’re at the doctor’s office in Pembroke Village,” he replied. “Do you remember what happened to you?”
“I fell through the ice.”
Poor little Joshua was curled up asleep in the chair by the fire and did not wake. Dr. Thomas, however, who had gone to rest in the front parlor, came hurrying to the bedside.
“He’s awake?”
“Yes. It’s a Christmas miracle, to be sure,” Garrett replied as he watched the doctor—his own brilliant father—examine the boy. “You saved his life.”
Dr. Thomas’s eyes lifted. “We both saved him.” He leaned over Marcus’s face and spoke distinctly. “How are you feeling, son? Can you tell me your name?”
“It’s Marcus.”
“Good. Do you know what day it is?”
“It’s Christmas Eve. My pa is going to grind me up for dinner. Where’s my brother?”
Dr. Thomas stroked the boy’s hair away from his face. “By the hearth, and on the contrary, I think your father will be very happy to see you in the morning.”
“Does he know I’m here?” Marcus asked.
“Not yet. The storm hasn’t let up. We couldn’t get you home, but we’ll send Jameson out at first light.”
At the sound of their voices, Joshua woke and wandered sleepily to the bedside. “Is he going to be all right?”
“He’s going to be just fine,” Dr. Thomas replied.
Garrett backed out of the way so Joshua could see his brother.
Thank you, God. Thank you for letting him live.
Later, after they transferred Marcus and his brother to a more comfortable bed in the next room, Garrett and Dr. Thomas sat before the fire sipping hot tea.
“What will happen with you?” Dr. Thomas asked. “You’ve missed your wedding and your father’s deadline. Is there no way to plead for an extension? It was a matter of life and death. Surely the courts will consider that.”
“Possibly,” Garrett replied, “but at the present time I am more concerned with how Anne must be feeling, wondering why I wasn’t there to marry her. I hope she will forgive me. And father must be beside himself; he was so frightened of the curse.”
“If he is frightened, he will wake in the morning to discover the palace is still standing, strong and sure as ever.”