Charlotte and Édouard arrived at the palace. The servants were standing on either side of the cobblestone pavement. Édouard was holding Charlotte's hand and smiling.
She was nervous thinking everyone would be present at the wedding feast. She and her family might be ridiculed for marrying the Duke. She might be called a woman with no dignity.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Édouard wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her. She gaped at him, wondering why he did that.
Before she could ask him, he answered her queries. "It's a ritual to carry your bride in your arms," he stated and asked her to hold him tightly. Charlotte didn't lift her arms and continued to stare into his eyes when Édouard grasped his arm and brought it to his shoulder.
"I don't want to do this ritual," she stated and pulled her hands back. She asked him to put him down before others saw them.
