Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,57

soft and low as he asked, “My love, what’s happened?”

While at times I found his confident reserve maddening, at this moment I clung to the calm authority of his tone.

Peeking past his shoulder, I could see the guests starting to shift in their seats as they tried to see what was happening. The soft murmurings in the church rose in intensity as word probably spread through the crowd that the bride had appeared, looking like a madwoman.

Richard’s body stiffened. He too must have realized we were now the subject of speculation among the wedding guests.

Placing an arm around my back, he ushered me back into the small dark antechamber. Sweeping his hand along the wall next to the door, he found the light switch. The room glowed with soft light from an ancient light fixture above us. Wrapping his hand around my forearm, he led me to a small grouping of richly upholstered chairs and sat me down on one. Lowering down on his haunches, he placed his warm hands on the tops of my thighs and looked deeply into my eyes. I hated to see his own gaze troubled and worried.

He was probably thinking I was getting cold feet about marrying him. It was the truth but not for the reasons he probably suspected.

Reaching up, he stroked my pale cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “Tell me,” he ordered, his voice a soothing dark honey on my frayed nerves.

I couldn’t even form the words. I raised my arm. Looking down, he saw the dreadful phone still clutched in my shaking fist.

Reaching for it, he had to pry my fingers loose. Rising to his full height, with a concerned glance at me, he took a few steps away and pressed the home button on the phone.

The room was deathly quiet.

It completely shut all noise from the chatter of the wedding guests out by the heavy wooden door. There wasn’t even a clock in this small anteroom to break the oppressive silence.

As I waited for his reaction, I couldn’t help but twist the delicate silk of my dress between my nervous hands. I was ruining it, but in this moment, a few wrinkles in the skirt of my wedding dress seemed the least of my worries.

“Goddamn it.”

His harsh curse broke the silence and caused me to jump.

Placing the phone in the inner pocket of his tuxedo jacket, Richard returned to me. Once more going down on his haunches, he placed a warm hand along my jaw. I held my breath, wondering if he would call off the wedding, having no idea if I wanted him to or not.

“It means nothing.”

My breath escaped in a shocked gasp. “Richard! How could you possibly say it means nothing?” Gesturing to the phone in his pocket, I continued, “There are countless photos of you with a laser gunsight on your chest!”

Richard rose and lifted me up by my shoulders. He then sat in the chair and placed me on his lap. It was a little awkward with the heavy skirts of my dress, but neither of us cared.

Placing a finger under my chin, he said solemnly, “Nothing. Nothing,” he repeated for emphasis, “is going to keep me from making you my wife today.”

“Who is she? Why is she tormenting us like this?”

Richard sighed. “She’s a mistake from my past and that is all I will say on the matter, Elizabeth. Do not ask again,” he finished firmly, his anger clear in the tightness of his jaw and furrowed brow.

“What if she tries to kill you?”

“My love, the queen is in attendance. There isn’t a single dark corner of this entire abbey that isn’t at this very moment being patrolled by both my security and her own. We are perfectly safe.”

I lowered my head, unsure of what to say.

Richard placed a hand on the side of my head and tilted it close to give me a chaste kiss on the forehead. “My poor little one. I promise I will keep you safe. You have my word. I will let nothing happen to you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

Richard tapped my nose, then said in a light teasing tone, “If you’re worried about me, that must mean you like me, perhaps a little bit. Maybe even love me?”

I pouted. “Don’t tease, Richard. You know I love you!”

He gave me one of his rare smiles, which made his dark eyes glow. “I love you, too. So, let’s go make it official; after all, it’s rude to keep