Seeing as it was two days before Christmas, the small chapel was decorated in holly and ivy and so many candles that Isabel worried the place might go up in flames during the vows. The snow continued to fall outside, and part of Isabel hoped it would deter at least some of the cousins from making it to Danby Castle for the holiday. But mostly, she was thinking about Mr. Lockwell when she should have been focused upon her sister’s wedding. As she stood at the front next to her sister, Lockwell stood next to Heathfield. Isabel stole a glance at him and then forced her head to face front again. Only within moments, she was looking again in his direction. She couldn’t help it. And she couldn’t help her obsessive thoughts about him, about their kiss, about whether or not it meant anything to him or if only meant something to her because of what had happened with her sister. Did he kiss her out of pity? Did he mean it when he said it had never been like that for him? And was that even a good thing?
