As the service began, Carina felt a strong sense of unreality. She was glad of it. It would carry her through the next half hour.
The parson addressed Bertie.
“Do you take this woman – ?”
When he had finished the long question everyone craned forward to hear Bertie’s reply. They all knew how he worshipped his bride, and they were all certain that he would instantly say, “I do.”
But there was silence.
As he still did not respond, Carina stared at Bertie, who now looked worse than ever.
The parson tried again.
“Do you take this woman – ?”
“No!”
Bertie’s cry rang through the church, echoing out into the churchyard, so that the rooks rose into the sky, cawing madly.
“No, no, I can’t!”
Bertie half turned, found the nearest pew, and collapsed into it, weeping.
“Bertie, my dear!”
Car
