A.N - I believe that I owe all of you an apology. My English teacher informed me, just this week, that stories written in the past tense, using third person, aren't all that gripping to read. Apparently, I have bored you for the past eleven chapters. Hopefully you will find it in your hearts to forgive me, and continue reading anyway.

In which case, I apologise for the ending.

Twelve

Stretching in through the open window, the first rays of sunshine roused Susannah from her fitful sleep. Groaning, she sat up, the shining white material of her dress catching her eye as she did so.

There was no way out of it this time. No running away, no Jesse to turn to. He was being killed at first light.

With a gasp, her eyes darted to her window as she realised that she was too late. Knowing Paul, he'd have been efficient enough that Jesse was probably …

She muffled her sob with her sleeve, furiously wiping at her eyes as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Her skin felt hot and her head was pounding. Each tear she cried doing what it could to ease her pain. But there was no point.

Susannah's eyes were drawn once again to the elegant, silky material that had been specially designed for her marriage to Paul. She was resigned to her fate, knowing that she would never feel true love for another man, now that Jesse was dead.

Shivering, Susannah eyed the glittering jewels that Paul's mother had leant her for the occasion, each one precious and worthy of a baroness.

I'm going to be a Baroness, Susannah realised sadly. Baroness von Slater.

The title was foreign; to her mind and to her lips as she whispered the words softly to herself.

She stood, glancing out the window towards the glistening expanse of the sea at sunrise, to the boat that was due to set sail this afternoon – Captain Felix Diego behind the wheel.

And she cried. Cried for her impending marriage, the loss of the life she'd love to lead and for Jesse's death, mourning him like a widow mourns, as the sun darted menacingly off the scarlet dome of the Mission. It had never seemed so threatening as it did in that very moment.

"How are you feeling, Susie?" Helen Ackerman walked into her daughter's bedchamber happily.

"Nervous," Susannah laughed un-prettily. "Weird."

"Excited?" Susannah only nodded, not wanting to vocalise the word for fear of choking on it. "Oh, I can't believe it," her mom continued. "My baby, getting married."

"You've had sixteen years to get used to the idea, mother." Susannah icily informed her. "This has been the outcome of my life since my birth."

Helen put her hands gently down on Susannah's shoulders. "That doesn't make it any easier, honey." She smiled tightly, eyes crinkling as she took in the image of Susannah wrapped up in a virginal white gown, hair pulled back elegantly. "You look beautiful!"

Susannah turned to the full-length mirror that had been set up for her, twirling and watching the hem of the gown flare out.

She was lost in the sight of herself. In spite of everything, she actually looked ready to be married to Paul. She felt her heart jump quickly at the thought and began to shake her head.

"No," she whispered to her reflection, watching her eyes widen. "No! I can't do this. I can't marry Paul!" She turned her eyes on her mother. "Please, mom. I can't."

"Susie," Helen sighed, glancing at her daughter studiously. "Is this about that captain?"

Susannah dragged her eyes away, eyes locked on the floor. "Maybe," her voice was small. "But I couldn't marry Paul, even if I hadn't met Jesse."

"I'm sorry, Susie," her mother continued. "But it's expected of you. I'm afraid you have to marry the Baron."

Without letting Susannah reply, her mother stood up and left the room, leaving her daughter behind her.

The music was playing. The organ was creaking out that familiar tune that had the guests standing up and looking expectantly at the doors that separated her from them. The music was playing, and yet she couldn't move forward.

She was stood alone, a few steps behind Andy who was patiently waiting to walk her down the aisle and give her away. Jake, David and her mom had already taken their seats. Brad hadn't been found before the wedding party had left the Ackerman household.

"Susannah?" Andy smiled at his stepdaughter encouragingly.

Returning the gesture, she gripped the bouquet of simple flowers tightly as she pulled her veil over her head and offered her arm to Andy. He opened the doors grandly and all heads turned to see the bride.

Only one face stood out for her, the others melting into decorative blurs, and that was the smirk of her husband-to-be, grinning victoriously at his bride as his eyes slowly perused her dressed in her wedding gown. She jerked her eyes away, uncaring of the burn his eyes left on her body. The man waiting for her was not the man she wanted there.

She reached the altar and Andy kissed her cheek before letting her go and stepping aside.

Susannah turned to Paul with tears in her eyes and she stepped up to raise her lips level with his ear.

"Is it true?" she whispered, faking a kiss to his cheek. "Is Jesse…?"

"Dead." Paul's hard eyes bored into hers. "Yes."

A tear fell from her closed eyelids as Father Dominic began the service and Paul grasped her hand in his, staking his claim.

The vows were said, Susannah's words disguised with a mass of tears, and now it was time to repeat those dreaded words. The words that would bind her to him forever.

"Do you," Father Dominic turned his attention to Paul, "Baron Paul Reginald Von Slater the Fourth, agree to take Susannah Simon to be your lawful wedded wife."

His reply was simple and he spoke the words quickly, glancing behind his shoulder nervously as he did so. "I do."

"And do you," Father Dominic turned sad eyes on the girl he thought of almost as a daughter, "Susannah Simon, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?"

Susannah's reply wasn't so quick, her eyes darted around the church as tears trailed down her cheeks. Paul's fingers grasped her chin, forcing her gaze back to him and she saw the threat in his eyes. Shakily nodding, she choked out her words. "I d-" She stopped and shook her head, composing herself. "I do."

"Then, if anybody present here today knows of any reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Silence reigned in the room, every person present daring to hardly breath, lest it be taken as a sign of their objection and they'd have to risk the Baron's wrath.

Waiting was torture. Jesse had watched from the shadows of the church as Susannah, looking more beautiful than he'd ever seen her before – which was a feat in itself – hesitated at the mission's doors.

He'd wanted to reveal himself then, take her in his arms and run away. So far away that Baron Von Slater would never be able to find them.

"No," Brad had insisted, restraining the man beside him. "Wait. Running away is not the answer."

Jesse gritted his teeth, knowing that Brad was right. It didn't make watching his querida walk down the aisle towards him any easier, though. He'd listened to the service, not being able to see through the heavy doors that had been shut behind Susannah, cringing at the promises Susannah had vowed to Slater and his heart broke at her hesitation of the words "I do."

When they got married – and they would – Susannah would never hesitate. He knew that.

Then the Father spoke the words that held his opportunity and he glanced back at Brad, longing in his dark eyes.

"Sure," he waved his hand, looking amused. "Go ahead."

Without waiting for further encouragement, Jesse threw open the wooden doors and his eyes searched frantically for Susannah's face. Her gasp at the sight of him – jaw and ribs bruised and red – was magnified in the silent room.

"Susannah," he called to her, "Querida. You can't marry him."

His name on her lips went unheard; she whispered it with so much reverence. But he saw it and smiled, taking a step forward and holding out his arms for her.

A smile broke out on her face as she snatched her hand out of Paul's and began running towards him as well.

Only, her progress was halted as Paul wrapped his meaty hand around her slender arm tightly and pulled her back towards him. A hand came to snake possessively around her waist.

"It seems like Captain De Silva arrived just a little too late," Paul sneered, pressing his lips to Susannah's cheek and revelling in the hatred that poured off Jesse with that action, before he picked up Susannah's left hand and let the gold ring nestled there glint in the sunlight. "Susannah is already mine."