of the crowd, Eleanor Carlisle was the

ing, you are overwrought," the matriarch declared, her tone a perfect blend of grandmotherly concern and abs

I assure you, I am perfectly calm." She didn't lower her voice; if anything, she projected it further. "And the

k of journalists pressing against the velvet ropes. The implic

on of a second. She realized instantly that Clara had delibera

another command, Julian Car

's deep gray eyes locked onto Clara, no longer looking at a

ter-in-law, leaned in and hissed, "This is

ce. "You want an explanation," he said, his voice a low rumble tha

shockwave through the cathedral.

e sweeping over the family pew. It la

ng men s

sponsibility?" Julian asked, his tone as detac

the chair's armrests, her face twisted with disdain. She plainly had no intention of accepting a woman who had suffered such public disgrace on her wedding day as her daughter-in-law. Beside Le

he corner of her lips. She knew exactly what Julian was doing. He was testing her. He was offering

ce remained steady, cutting

d the control of the room

ine interest sparked in his cold eyes. "Oh? They

d. She descended the first tier of the marble altar, closi

ic

heel striking the marble echoe

cousins, are they

Julian

Aidan eventually returns and sees me at the dinner table, what should he call me? His

rds left the congregation speechless. I

Nathaniel, past Leo, past the glaring Victoria,

she stood like an unyielding iris in the middle of a vio

," she said, her voice not loud, bu

letting the weight of the moment press down on every person in the room. "But today, under the eyes of the worl

using to let him look away. "This

ate breath, preparing to d

of the Carlisle family, is

aring directly into Julia

an Carlisle.