Page 1 of My Beastly Duke

Chapter 1

“Iknew no sane man would wish to marry the likes of you!” Baron Wallace snarled at Marina, tilting his head back until his abnormally sharp nose pierced the air.

This can’t be happening, not now.

Marina allowed her bouquet of lilies to fall to her side, her fingers strangling the stems as she clenched her fist. The racing of her heart only added to the uncomfortable atmosphere already permeating the air.

The chapel was filled with members of the ton that looked her up and down with scornful glances. The low susurration that filtered through the crowd made her uneasy as she shifted from foot to foot. Her long train hung down the back of her silver dress, reminding her of the reason she stood in front of the altar. Alone.

“I have had just about enough of you and your sniveling family. My patience has all but worn out with the lot of you. You will pack your things immediately and take your mother, sister, and pets with you!” The baron hissed loud enough for the guests in the front to hear, his large belly protruding beyond his frame.

Looking at her mother and sister huddled together in the front row, Marina noticed the color draining from her mother’s face. Johanna Wallace’s usually pale skin now resembled a pitcher of milk. While her mother’s health had not been the greatest since her father passed, it seemed to take a turn for the worse whenever anything strange or stressful occurred.

Prudence huddled closer to her mother’s side, gripping her thin fingers as if her life depended on it. The young girl had never warmed to her uncle, but the feelings of hatred seemed to worsen whenever the new baron would go on a rant.

“I do not wish to sound indelicate, Miss Wallace, but we cannot wait all day. Perhaps it is time to accept that the groom has changed his mind?” The vicar stepped forward and spoke to Marina in a calm tone that did little to ease her nerves. The elderly man’s thin skin seemed to stretch over his knuckles as he clasped his fingers in a solemn gesture.

Focusing on the doors at the other end of the aisle, Marina took a deep breath and clenched her jaw until her teeth ached. Her long blonde hair, which had been plated into an elaborate braid, annoyed her beyond measure as she wished she could pull it all loose.

All of this for nothing…

The stems of her flowers turned to pulp beneath the pressure of her grip.

“Perhaps Mr. Marner heard the stories regarding her father…” The whispered sentence reached Marina’s ears just in time to see her mother fainting in the front pew.

“Mama! Please, wake up…” A wave of gasps filled the air as Marina’s fourteen-year-old sister began to sob beside her mother’s unconscious form that had slumped forward in her seat.

Marina was about to rush forward when her best friends came to her aid.

Penelope Patterson, the Duchess of Huxton rushed to Lady Wallace’s side, fanning her face furiously. Her doe-like brown eyes stared up at Marina while Lady Cordelia came to her friend’s aid.

“Marina, do you not think perhaps, that we should tell everyone to go home? This is only causing a spectacle.” She glanced wearily at the baron who was fuming with rage as he glared at the scene unfolding.

Guests craned their necks in their seats in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the fainted Dowager Baroness of Wallace who wasbeginning to stir. Prudence had managed to calm herself, yet her cheeks were stained with tears.

“I do not think that Mr. Marner is going to make an appearance.” Cordelia was apologetic, wringing her gloved hands in front of her.

How dare he jilt me at the altar?

Her pulse raced with anger when she looked over her friend’s shoulder at the judgmental glares of the ton. There were people she had never seen in her life, and then there were people who had once been her friends, or at least, had pretended to be her friends.

“Right.” She hissed under her breath and lifted the hem of her dress, stepping forward with her head held high. Some of the tiny white flowers that had been woven into her braid, fell at her feet as she descended the steps.

People’s heads turned in shock, watching her make her way down the aisle as Marina did her best to ignore their judgmental glares.

“Marina, where are you going?” Cordelia and Penelope both rushed to keep up with their friend’s hurried steps as sniggers and smirks followed them down the aisle.

Pushing open the doors, Marina stepped into the bright sun, her veil trailing behind her in the slight breeze as she stopped fora breath. Something needed to be done about the situation at hand, but she certainly was not about to further the scene in the chapel.

“Marina! Where are you going?” Penelope asked almost breathlessly, stopping for a moment on the stairs to fix her red dress. The richness of the fabric complimented her pale complexion.

“I am going to ensure that the groom’s family does right by mine.”

Cordelia and Penelope exchanged looks of concern while biting their lips.

“What do you mean?”

“There is one man who did not bother to return his invitation.” Marina narrowed her eyes at the imagined image of her supposed husband-to-be and set off down the street on her own.