"If ever I was running, it was towards you." ― Jennifer Elisabeth

Today was Kathalina's wedding. William was in his private estate. He was surrounded by melancholy while his family members were preparing to attend the wedding of the woman he loved and left.

His family felt it would be utterly inappropriate if they didn't attend the wedding despite understanding William's stand against Lord Liverpool and they requested William to join them for the sake of his political image.

But William didn't want to think that the woman he loves will be marrying another man. He wanted to live his life in oblivion for as long as he can. He wanted to pretend, that they will still meet in another ball where they try to catch each other attention. He dreamed of once again protecting Kathalina from her father when she sneaks into his office.

He wanted to dream a bit longer. She would barge into his estate, her red hair wild and her freckles on display. He would then banter with her jumping from one topic to other and getting lost on another whimsical adventure that would come to her mind.

He wanted to take her to his duchy at Warwick. They could try to locate all the secret passageways and chambers of that ancient palace and walk along the edges of the flower fields where you can hear the sound of water falling somewhere deep inside the mountain.

There was so much he wanted to live with her. So much he could only dream now, for the reality was getting sealed as Kathalina walked down the aisle. He wondered how she would look in her white wedding gown.

Her wedding gown fitted her slender waist, her hair made up perfectly atop her head a rebellious strand escaping and flowing with the veil. Simply the angel that would walk towards him.

But why was she walking towards him with her skirt bunched up in her hand?

William looked around him frantically and he was indeed sitting in his estate's garden. He looked back again and there she was barging towards him, her lips muttering. He knew she was cursing, with the expression she wore. William sat upright in his place. Was he hallucinating?

He tried calling the people in his house, but after his pitiful request to leave him alone, everyone had scampered off to their duties. There was no one to bring him out of this.

This was a nightmare for William. He didn't want to wake up and find Kathalina absent from his life. He shut his eyes tightly praying to wake up from this horrible dream. It was impossible for Kathalina to be here. It was her wedding day for god's sake. He prayed to ease his pain to no avail.

But then a glimmer of thought lit up in his head. Could it be real? Kathalina always did things that no one would even think of doing.

He opened his eyes slightly and Kathalina was standing before him gasping for breath.

"Will," She said cheerfully as soon as their eyes met.

"Kate," William whispered, "What brings you here?"

He still felt like he was in a dream.

"I thought a walk and fresh air would do me good," Kathalina replied still catching her breath, "It is quite stuffy in this darn dress."

"That is a wedding dress," William said still wondering if it was reality or a dream.

"Ah, yes," Kathalina chuckled, "The wedding. It slipped my mind."

"It is your bloody wedding," William said emphasizing.

"Yes, I remember," Kathalina said bored, "I also remember what marriage stands for me."

"And what is that?" William asked perplexed.

"For me, marriage stands for love and loyalty," Kathalina said, a small smile on her face, "I could never love that prick of the man who is my fiance but I thought at least I could be loyal to him."

"Then why are you here?" William questioned crashing back into the reality.

"Because marriage is holy for me and I have sinned," Kathalina said thoughtfully, "I can't marry anyone else for, pardon my language, for I have already been with you as husband and wife are supposed to be on their wedding night."

William staggered in shock. She was telling him she couldn't marry anyone else because he slept with her. The thought made him happy but uncomfortable too for he had ruined her. He had ruined the angel and he wasn't worthy of her.

"I am sorry, Kate", William said remorsefully on the verge of tears. He couldn't do anything more than apologies.

"I should have been a better man. I should not have given in to my instinct. And somehow it is even worse because we were under the influence of spirits," He continued.

"Now now, no reason to lie, you were under the influence of alcohol I was completely sober. I seduced you and compromised you so I am asking you William Kentshire to elope with me and marry me, I promise to keep you happy forever," She said gallantly.

William looked at Kathalina perplexed.

"This is not how it works, Kate," He said dumbfounded.

"Why not!" She shrieked, "If a lady can have control of her fortune and as in your vision has the right to get the same education as the gentleman, god forbid the freedom to vote and have a profession like men then why can't a lady ask a man she loves for his hand in marriage."

William's eyes widen in shock.

The man she loves!

Did he hear her right?

"The man you love," He whispered puzzled.

"Now, don't break my heart, William," She said her face cracking up. The vulnerable side of her surfaced.

"You love me?" He asked her still surprised.

"And here I thought you were one of the smartest politicians of the kingdom," She said her voice hesitating. She was trying to stay strong in the fear of rejection.

"Kate," He said tears threatening to fall.

"Yes, I love you," She said her face heating up, "Now, we will need to leave before my father realizes I am missing from my own wedding."

"Kathalina," He said stopping her.

Her heart cracked. He rarely calls her by her name, this surely meant he was going to reject her. He would tell her he doesn't want her. She never considered his choices even though she knew beneath this stone-cold man was a human.

"How can you be so nonchalant about this?" He asked incredulously.

"I am not. I am utterly serious," She replied.

"Are you certain you want to marry me?"

"Yes."

"Ledger will again run a mile with your name on it,"

"I know."

"More ghastly rumours than before."

"Yes, I can see them already thinking about it."

"Once we are married there won't be any way out."

"William!"

"I won't let you."

"What?"

"I won't let you leave ever, no matter how much we break each other's heart, how much we hurt each other, I will forever love you," William confessed.

Kathalina made a bold move and captured his lips in hers. William tighten his hold on her and deepened the kiss. They soon had to break apart when someone coughed too loud for humans.

"My lady, my lord," The butler said his eyes away from them, "The carriage is ready if you are. Better to make haste."

"What for?" William asked.

"The lady said she is eloping with you and needs a carriage that won't be recognized as Liverpool's or Kentshire," His butler said nonchalantly.

William looked back at Kathalina amusingly. She was prepared and the thought of eloping with her elated him. He was a stickler for rules but this time he felt better while breaking them. It was like she would say an adventure.

"It is now or never," She said reading his mind.

Indeed! It was a lifetime of an adventure with her and William felt enthralled to start.

"Pray, your father or fiance do not find us before we reach Gretna Green," William replied excitedly.

"They won't. Your butler arranged the carriage for us and I brought my own driver," Kathalina said.

They made way to their carriage. The driver that came with her last time was already waiting for them.

"Are we really doing this?" William asked once they were seated inside and the carriage began to move.

"No, no, wait," Kathalina said, "I forgot to do this."

William's heart stopped beating for a second in the fear of her leaving.

She took his hands in hers and took a deep sigh.

"William Kentshire, will you fancy eloping with me?"

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