Sinners at the Altar (Page 136)

Yeah, then he’d be entirely responsible for screwing them up.

“Do you want kids?” Jace asked Aggie under his breath. He squirmed in his seat, not sure he wanted the answer.

“Only if they’re yours,” she said.

“Aw,” Eric said and reached over to pinch Jace’s cheek. “I think she likes you, Tripod.”

Jace felt the heat rise up his face to greet Eric’s fingertips. He’d been trying for years to control his blushing, but it was no use. “I should hope so,” he said. “She’s marrying me tomorrow.”

When they finished their meal, Eric rose to his feet and clanged on his glass with a spoon. The thundering music died, and everyone turned to look at him.

“A toast!” Eric called and those on the dance floor returned to their tables to find their glasses.

Aggie took Jace’s hand under the table—probably for moral support. There was no telling what was about to spew from Eric’s lips.

Jace offered her an encouraging smile and lost his breath as a face not belonging to Aggie smiled back at him. A face he recognized as the likeness of the long-dead Queen Katherine Parr. Heart thundering in his chest, he squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, releasing a sigh to be staring into the bright blue eyes of his fiancée. Perhaps he should lay off the booze tonight. Not that he’d had any yet.

“Thanks for taking time out of your jet lag to join us this evening,” Eric called out to the crowd. “I know it’s not customary to throw a Halloween ball in place of the rehearsal dinner or to invite more than the wedding party to the event, but I have a feeling that the happy couple will cut the reception short tomorrow afternoon before I’m drunk enough to spout sentimental drivel in front of all our friends and family. Lucky for you all, I’m on my fourth whiskey sour.” He downed his drink in several gulps and clunked the empty glass on the table. “Make that my fifth whiskey sour.” Laughter chased the downing of his whiskey.

“Even though these two are doing things out of order…” He lifted an eyebrow at them. “You’re supposed to consummate the marriage after the wedding, you know.”

The jibe was greeted with shouts of approval, catcalls, and whistles.

“You can talk,” Jace mumbled.

“…they’re finally going to make it legal. When they return to the States and get their actual marriage license. Do you have to say your vows again?”

Aggie nodded.

“Twice the opportunity to get it wrong.”

“Or right,” Aggie countered.

Eric winked at her and then turned his attention back to the crowd. “We all know that even though that piece of paper entitles her to half his shit, what’s important is that we all get to see the groom turn the color of cranberries as he tells this wonderful woman that he’ll never be worthy of her in front of God and everyone.”

Jace was turning the color of cranberries now.

“He’s worthy,” Aggie said. She squeezed Jace’s hand beneath the table.

“Raise your glasses in toast.”

Glasses were lifted.

“To the happy couple—Katherine and Thomas. May your love transcend time.”

Jace froze. Was he hearing things?

Rebekah slapped her husband’s thigh. “That’s not funny, Eric.”

“What’s not funny?”

“Saying their names wrong,” she whispered loudly through clenched teeth.

“I did?” Eric scrubbed at his mouth with his fingertips. “Maybe I should have stopped at four adult beverages. I meant to say: To Jace and Aggie. May it never come to her taking half his shit.”

Many of the onlookers laughed, but Jace didn’t and neither did Aggie. Saying their names wrong in jest wouldn’t have been a big deal, but why those particular names? Had Eric done it on purpose knowing how it would affect Jace after all the weird tricks his mind kept playing on him? What other explanation was there?

Jace downed his glass of champagne with everyone else, but inside he was rattled.

“Eric’s the one playing tricks on us,” Aggie said in his ear. “I’d bet my dungeon on it.”

It did seem like something he’d do, but the pieces didn’t quite fit.

Trey’s voice came over the sound system. “I think it’s time for the soon-to-be-Seymours to take a turn on the dance floor. What do you all think?”

Enthusiastic applause drew Jace to his feet. He hated dancing, but he loved being in Aggie’s arms, and this would fulfill his need to be close to her. Maybe he’d stop shaking with her to hold on to. He offered a hand to Aggie, but didn’t look her in the face. Part of him was afraid he’d see another woman in her place. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to handle it a third time. He felt like a complete coward—a feeling that did not sit well with him—but he had no experience with the weird and the creepy. He hadn’t figured out how to steel his emotions against all the strange things he experienced in and around this castle. But Aggie always gave him strength. He hoped she could lend him a little now.

Aggie took his hand and followed him onto the dance floor amid more applause.

“I dedicate this song to you two,” Trey said. “And my dog, Sparky. May he rest in peace.”

Sinners’ most famous ballad, “Goodbye Is Not Forever,” began to play. Jace drew Aggie into his arms and so he wouldn’t be reminded that everyone was watching them, he focused on the feel of her body against his. His hand rested against her lower back, and her breasts brushed his chest, but her skirt was too wide to allow him to hold her as close as he’d like.