“With this ring, I thee wed.” He slipped the ruby ring on her left hand this time. When the vicar proclaimed them man and wife, the only thing he wanted to do was protect her, and he almost carried her off out the side door. They had to end the threat as soon as possible.

“You must sign the register,” the vicar whispered.

Once that was done, Eleanor placed her hand on his arm. “Shall we go?”

“Yes.” John scanned the growing number of people who had decided to come to watch the weddings taking place that day.

They were almost to the door when a grimy man not far from Eleanor jumped up and shouted. It had to be Dobbins. John pushed her back behind him. His brothers-in-law ran in front of them, but the people abandoning the pews around the criminal kept them from getting to the man himself. From the corner of his eye, Hugh and Gideon were waving their canes, one on the pew behind the blackguard and the other on the same pew as the scoundrel. They rushed Dobbins and hit him on the head with the metal knobs of their canes. The man cowered for a second, but it was enough time for Turner to bash Dobbins on the head with the grip of his pistol, knocking the blackguard out.

“What the deuce were you thinking?” Kenilworth grabbed Hugh.

The boy’s chin firmed. “We had to protect Aunt Eleanor.”

“Papa.” Gideon looked up at Worthington, who had a firm hand on the child’s collar. “He had a knife. No one was looking at us.”

“We can’t very well punish them,” Kenilworth muttered.

“No. We can’t.” Worthington picked up his son. “But we can get them back to the house.”

From behind John, Lady Alice drawled, “This is an interesting way of concluding a wedding ceremony.”

“Interesting indeed,” Lady Madeline said, “however, I do not think it should become the fashion.”

John’s jaw dropped. He had expected them to be at least a little frightened. Then he saw the parasols. They looked very much like Eleanor’s.

Three constables ran in through the front door, the first one demanding to know what had happened.

“Montagu.” Stanwood touched John’s shoulder. “Leave others to speak with the constables. You and Eleanor should depart. Go out the side door. I’ll send the coach around.”

Less than forty minutes later, Turley and Merton were shown into the drawing room.

Merton accepted a glass of champagne. “We gave statements and agreed to testify. I told them both Stanwood and Worthington would press charges.”

“I am glad it is over,” Eleanor said.

Grace rose. “Our guests will be here soon.”

Just over an hour after that, John and Eleanor were in his large traveling coach on their way to Canterbury for the night.

Eleanor had removed her bonnet and he placed it on the shelf above. “How long is the trip today?”